Written by: Cheryl Shattuck
In preparing for this journey, I was riding on the Derry/Windham rail trail. This is one of my favorite places. Most of the trail is under a canopy of trees. One feels very secluded from the businesses and residential areas nearby.
This particular day, I was confronted with the sights and sounds of major construction. The canopy had been ripped wide open. Construction vehicles of all sizes and sounds were invading the peace and serenity I had taken for granted. Initial shock gave way to anger. And then a thought occurred to me that changed everything.
My grandson is three years old and he is enthralled with construction vehicles. In a moment, my invaded world was transformed by the eyes of a three year old, savoring every sound and watching every move. I asked myself, is this what it is to see with the eyes of faith? To be able to reframe how what I see and experience could be viewed by another?
Presently, we are living in community—22 of us. We are united by a common goal. We are dependent on one another. We have a support team who feed and provide water for us throughout the day. We each have strengths and weaknesses. We cannot accomplish this trip independently of each other.
It speaks to me of being one body with many members as in 1 Corinthians 12:12: “For just as the body is one and has many members and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
I am experiencing this verse, and God is increasing my vision.
