Life Lessons from Lupines

My mom and I went on our annual outing to see the lupines this past weekend - and while each year brings another wonderful experience, this year was especially marvelous! You see, that first year we heard about the lupine patches growing on Bald Hills (see info about the area at the bottom of this NPS Scenic Drives page), we excitedly took the drive and eventually, after rounding a corner, were astounded by what my mom calls the "carpets" of purple. It looked a little something like this (taken this past weekend):

But every return visit since then, we've been a tad bit disappointed. The lupines were still beautiful and still blooming, but nowhere near the way they had that first year. And then my mom heard online that this year would be different.

I was skeptical. I mean, we always hoped each year would be like the first - that this would be the visit when we'd once again be blown away. But as each new spring came, it didn't happen, and I was afraid to get too eager for something that might never come to pass again.

Still, as we got closer to our destination this past Saturday, we noticed that more lupines were blooming along the sides of the road than in recent years. Just little patches, but I began to think that maybe, just maybe, this year really would be better.

And we rounded the corner, and there they were... The purple carpets. The "royal waterfall," as I referred to them in Bleeding Heart. Maybe my mind didn't explode right away with the wonder of it like that very first time, but as we drove near the patches and finally got out of the car to take pictures and walk among the blooms, I was thrilled by the volume - the grandeur that I had been so hoping to see every time we returned.

My mom explained to me the probable cause of it - and it struck me as a lesson very pertinent to this season of my life.

Life Lesson: In order to see growth and multiplied blessings, sometimes you have to go through fire and seasons of waiting.

I suppose this isn't overly profound (in the sense that it's a very commonly heard saying), but it struck me afresh on this outing. My mom noted that they had burned the area a couple/few years back, I believe. So we experienced years of less blooms. And the disappointment grew with each passing year that demonstrated little change. But the fire, the tending, the time - all contributed to making this year more spectacular than ever, fulfilling a long-held hope.

Life Lesson: Blessings do come, and true hope won't end up disappointed.

I won't say that things like blossoming lupines will always come to pass at some point. I guess what I am saying is this experience reminded me that God does abundantly bless us, care for us, and bring about His good purpose in His right time.

We glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 Romans 5:3-5

Life Lesson: The magnitude of a blessing - whether seemingly "big" or "small" - doesn't change the fact that it's a blessing.

I currently feel like I'm at a crossroads, where a huge dream lies just beyond my grasp, and the alternative scares me because it feels "less" and unimportant and monotonous. I'm afraid to hope - to open myself up to being badly crushed. And I'm afraid not to hope - to face new seasons of fire and waiting without knowing when they might end. I have no idea if this next step is going to be a time of glorious blooming or a time of continued preparation. Perhaps I shouldn't make those two ideas mutually exclusive, though. Because, as the last few very enjoyable lupine outings have reminded me, the number of the blooms (or lack thereof) couldn't take away the joy of the experience unless I let it.

My mom and I were unexpectedly blessed this year with the purple carpets we had so longed to see. I'm grateful for the reminder that trials that bring growth eventually bring rewards. And I'm thankful for the fact that God is merciful and loving, blessing us in all sorts of ways - even in something so "small" as a day among the lupines.

Let's Go Hiking!

Every year at Camp Humility (at least so far), we have to go on a hike! God's creation is so beautiful, and there's so much to see and appreciate. Today I'm going to take you to the Trees of Mystery, where we'll go on a walk through the redwoods. But first, we have to take a detour through the lupines on the Bald Hills Scenic Drive...

Oh, just look at that view! The sky is so blue, the clouds are so light and wispy, and the lupines are so lovely.

Let's get in close to admire the color - and snap a picture in this great setting!

We've got to zoom out again to see the grand picture - certainly quite grand! My friend Elena pointed out the distinct line between the different types of trees on that far hill - almost looks like a shadow on one side!

Don't you just want to frolic through the flowers??

Nothing like a sunny summer day spent with family and friends. =) Such a gift!

Aww, look at my beautiful mom among the lupines!

Anybody up for a game of hide-and-seek? ;)

Take in one last whiff of that sun-drenched-lupine smell. There's nothing like it!

Now, on to the Trees of Mystery! Up there is the "lightning tree" - see how jagged it is, just like a bolt of lightning?

And there's the Cathedral Tree. It's the site of many a wedding. That's my "the-only-thing-I-need-is-a-man-to-complete-this-picture" pose. ;)

You can see that the redwoods are amazing just by looking at their huge trunks. But let's tilt our heads back and gaze up at the sky - I think we'll get a whole new perspective.

Want another perspective? Let's take the Skytrail (riding in the gondolas) up to the top!

What a view from up here!

And...back down we go!

Before we leave the redwoods, let's take a quick stop at the Forest Cafe across the street. Isn't it so cute?? (And the food's not bad either! The pulled pork sandwich and the sweet potato fries that were the lunch special yesterday? - Mmm!)

Wait!! Oh no!! The bear got me! (I guess that's my frozen-stupid-in-fear look, LOL!)

Oh, no worries! We were just playin'. ;) (But seriously, I look as white as a vampire!)

Be sure to wave good-bye to Paul Bunyan - he might just wave back! 

I hope everyone enjoyed the hike (and more)! Remember, the giveaway closes this evening when I put together the last post of Camp Humility 2012. See you at the campfire!

(Pictures were taken yesterday by my mom and me on an actual outing with my dear friend, Elena. We had a fabulous time, and I'm so grateful to my mom for taking us!)

Sunday Among the Lupines

Last week my mom and I went off on the great lupine hunt, which has now become an annual summer tradition. There is a place about an hour from where we live where beautiful patches of lupines carpet the hillsides in the summer. I guess this year and last year my mom and I were a bit eager, because we went in May and the lupines weren't quite as numerous as we had hoped!

However, we were still able to find some of these beautiful flowers, and one of the pictures my mom took has become this season's main picture here on my blog. (Summer has come a little early to "Seasons of Humility," I suppose! But this is a wonderful season to enjoy, and since Camp Humility starts tomorrow, it seems like this is a good time to welcome summer!)

In the Seasons of Humility, summer represents a time in one's life when one is humbly following God and trusting in His guidance and purpose, through His grace. It is a season full of hope and joy. I want this literal summer's blog design to remind us of this "season of humility."

One book I have had for a while is called A Handful of Flowers by Cookie Lee. This book discusses the various meanings of flowers and is full of lovely pictures and poetry/quotes. The symbolic meaning of the lupine flower is "imagination," and it is listed under the category "Ambition & Success." How very fitting for summer!

What I mean is that "imagination" is fitting both for the literal and symbolic summer. In the literal summer, all the colors of creation, all the vacation time in the sunshine, and all the reading (and writing, etc.) time is an open invitation to use our imaginations and to celebrate creativity--both God's creativity, as well as the creativity He has given us!

And in the symbolic summer of humility, when we are humbly walking with God there is so much "scope for the imagination," as Anne of Green Gables might say. ;) Ponder these words of Scripture:

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well." ~ Psalm 139:14

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:20-21

God's creativity and purposes are beyond what we can ever imagine! Note Ecclesiastes 8:17--

"Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea farther; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it."

I found this quote on Goodreads from Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery that sums it up so well:

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"

May this season's blog design encourage you to use your imagination for God's glory and to praise Him for this mysterious, amazing life He has given us! In Jesus we can have hope for an eternal life with God that is beyond all imagination!