Tumbleweeds

Tumbling Tumbleweeds in New Mexico

The wind whistled through every window and door, blowing with such ferociousness that she thought it would blow her down. She hated to even have to leave the comfort of home and step out into the constant onslaught of wind. Pulling her coat more tightly around her, she opened the door, stepping into the wind, clinging to the rail for support. Moving quickly to her Jeep, she closed the door and waited for her ears to readjust as she warmed the car.

Driving was a challenge. Debris from people's yards, limbs, leaves, plastic bags all scuttled across the roadway in front of her. Gusts of wind seemed so strong she wondered how she would ever stay on the road. Once she left town, the open land around her gave no protection from the relentless wind. She would find herself being slowly pushed toward the center of the road. Correcting her path, she would find herself drifting toward the center once again. It felt as if she were driving a zigzag path down the road.

She caught sight of a wall of debris headed her way. It darkened the sky and obliterated the landscape. Pulling to the side of the road, the wall of leaves, limbs, and tumbleweeds surrounded her. After a few moments it had all passed her, with just a few straggling tumbleweeds racing behind.

As she continued her journey, the road turned slightly and instead of cross the road, the tumbleweeds raced along the side of the road. First one would speed ahead, then slow down as it caught and another raced ahead. Watching them roll in the wind she almost envied their carefree existence--nothing holding them, no responsibilities--just drifting with the wind or resting in a crevasse.

The words of an old western tune ran through her mind:

"Cares of the past are behind

Nowhere to go but I'll find

Just where the trail will wind

Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds.

I'll keep rolling along

Deep in my heart is a song

Here on the range I belong

Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds."

(Tumbling Tumbleweeds by Bob Nolan)

A life without worry . . . putting the past behind . . . living in the moment . . . trusting upon God was what her walk with God was supposed to be about. She knew she was supposed to trust God, but it seemed so hard--especially when she held on to so many "things" about her life.

She knew God was always there for her; that God protected her; that God provided for her. Could she really trust God to direct her path? Could she allow God to blow all the baggage, worries, and cares of the past out of her and trust God to sustain her?

God of wind and change, it frightens us to let go and trust you. Yet all around us we see evidence of your provision. You provide rain and sunshine to nourish the ground and cause the crops to grow which provides nourishment for our bodies. You provide sights and sounds, sunrises, sunsets, and rainbows to surround us with beauty so that we may see and recognize you. In good times and hard times you are always with us, protecting us and providing for us. Help us to trust you to direct our ways, to be with you as the tumbling tumbleweeds. Help us to know that we are never rootless but rather allow ourselves to be directed by you. So be it. Amen.

The Sons of the Pioneers rendition of "Drifting Along with the Tumbling Tumbleweeds" may be view at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzxz0M7Wws0.