Devotional: blessings in the bluebells

by Pat Hallstrom

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  Matthew 6:28-29

Our family moved back to Minnesota in 1981 and built a house in Mantorville. One spring day as I was on a walk I came to a nearby woods and discovered a path  the deer had made so I decided to follow it. The path ran along the Middle Fork of the Zumbro River and after a while I came to a steep hill, passing through thick stands of ferns and underbrush.I continued walking, stepping and crawling over fallen trees and sloshing through a swampy area. When I came to the next hill and looked up, there before me was the entire floor of the woods covered with a carpet of bluebells as far as the eye could see. It was breathtaking with the sun shining down through the tree branches. I walked down the path for at least another quarter of a mile seeing beautiful bluebells nodding their heads in the breeze. I was in awe taking in the majesty of God’s creation surrounding me. I sat down on a fallen log and this became my secret place each morning for the following three weeks where I could be still and worship giving glory to the Creator of this great natural beauty. I started bringing my bible and water bottle and would find a place to read and pray. I could hear the river rippling by and the birds singing in the trees. I sang along, “How Great is our God.” There was a sweet spirit in this place and I loved just being there, basking in Gods love.

Every walk became an adventure. I began watching more closely as I walked that path and discovered different species of wildflowers everywhere that I had never seen before. In early spring there were white Bloodroot flowers, Dutchmen’s Breeches and clusters of tiny Pink Ladies. The bluebells leaf out and have pink buds that bloom and open up into delicate powder-blue, bell-shaped petals. A few weeks later I’d see Jack-in-the Pulpits, Wild geranium, Trilliums, Trout Lilies, and small white Anemones mixed in the blue carpet. Sometimes a deer would hear me coming and run across the path and his white tail was visible as he scampered away. It was delightful to watch. King David wrote in Psalm 16:11, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore”.

I couldn’t keep this wonder to myself so over the years in early Spring I’d share this place in God’s creation with my family and so many of my neighbors and friends. The bluebells only bloom for 2-3 weeks and then the woods becomes thick with underbrush and prickly nettles and its difficult to walk through the woods anymore. Those walks became a springtime place for me to have regular quiet times with Jesus my Lord. I thought of it as a little glimpse of heaven.

Many changes have occurred in my 84 years and also to the bluebells in the woods since I first began walking there almost 4 decades ago. Lots of trees have fallen, there is an invasive weed called garlic mustard that is creeping into the area, and a wide mowed path that is used by 4-wheelers. New homes have now been built not very far away up by the road. Lately I have to be much more careful walking as I make my way on uneven ground up to the bluebells. But the bluebells and other wildflowers return in their beauty every Spring and so I go to visit at least once or twice each year and it still blesses me and brings me great joy!

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Pat and her husband, Tom, have been active in various ministries at CEFC for over 35 years. They have 3 married children and 6 grandchildren who all live nearby. She is excited to welcome all the new people coming to our growing, thriving church.