Sometimes we are given gifts by grace to experience something beyond our daily nose-to-the-grindstone lives.

This happened to us this week; it all started with a call Tuesday morning from our friend Chaplin Rick, the very proud but humble new owner of an apple orchard near Yakima asking if we would like to come pick the apples left after harvest. We'd been wanting to see his orchard for some time but our schedules had not matched up until last Tuesday. So off we went over to the other side of the Cascades on a spur of the moment for a much needed adventure. This was the first gift of this orchard experience.

After a pleasant 2 hour trip we pulled up to the orchard, passing by a row of beautiful apple trees that had not yet been picked. After a tour of Ricks new shop and current living quarters he suggested we go out a look at this row of trees that had been left be the previous owner for testing varieties. These had not been harvested because his main crop is honey crisp apples. These "left-over" apples of many varieties, a gift from the previous owner, was to become our second gift of the day.

We spent the next 2 hours picking apples enjoying the third gift of a beautiful day and a wonderful peaceful location with views of the mountains and time together being back in an orchard. Oh yes, this was not new to us, orchard work is in our blood, but this day's experience was made special by the shear spontaneity of the call and the decision to go. Talk about grace, He knew we needed this.

After picking about 500 pounds of apples, we retired to the shade for great conversation, cool water, and just sitting enjoying the view from rocking chairs. Gift number four.

The ride home that evening was perfect, we even missed the I-90 closure for blasting with 3 minutes to spare. (Could be argued this was also a gift, at least the pups think so)
That evening I put put out the word we had apples to share.

The next morning friends arrived armed with cutting, slicing, and coring tools as well as a big propane stove and 8 gallon cooking pot. Gift number five. The gift of help, the gift of being allowed to share the gift given to us, the gift of good friends, the gift of being able to spend time together, and the gift of yet another beautiful day. Apples were cored, sliced, prepared for drying, pie and pastry making, as well as many gallons of applesauce were made that day.

We made apple turnovers to give away, dried cinnamon apple slices to share and we still had plenty of apples left over to share. So the word went out again: come to Valley Camp and share with us the bounty of the harvest.

More apples as well as applesauce and dried apple slices were given away and still we had more. The cupboard was not getting empty.

Saturday afternoon a nephew and more of our long time good friends showed up and we were able to once again share not only many apples but time together. Gift number six.

How long this gift will keep giving is only known by the original giver of the gift, we can hope He chooses to allow us to continue to be stewards of his gifts.
So, if you have not already gone to the Greek Lexicon to look up 'Oikonomia' I guess I owe you the courtesy of explaining why I chose this Greek word in the title of this blog post. Oikonomia although normally translated as stewardship, is also translated as commission, edifying, task, trust, dispensation, steward, and in Ephesians 1:10 oikonomia is translated as God's plan and in 1 Timothy the variant oikodomen translates as building up. Stewardship then is not only about sharing and caring, it also asks of us to be part of God's plan, and to be building each other up.

This past week showed us once again something seemingly as everyday as apples can teach us much about grace, gifts, the joy of sharing, and being good stewards of the gifts of the creator. Quite possibly the best lesson was to be open to experiencing gifts and the opportunity it gives us to experience sharing in His plan and the gift that being a steward of His gifts returns to us.

It is our privilege to be allowed the joy of being part of His creation; to be stewards, caretakers, and keepers of all our Lord's gifts.

What have you been given to share?

Pax Domini