This weekend I went to an orchard with my small group. It was deemed our "summer day". During this time of year peaches are in season in addition to Tomatoes, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Green Beans, Squash & Cucumbers, and this is what they had. If it was peach they had it. Peach salsa, peach ice cream, peach slushies, and it was all delicious. I got my peach slushy, sat down on a bale of hay, and listened to a bluegrass band, after eating three peaches. The Little Mountain Boys, as they called themselves, consisted of an upright bass, a mandolin, steel guitar, acoustic guitar, and a banjo. In this moment all was right with the world. There is something to be said about the hillbilliy way of life, not very complicated and not bogged down. It feels more connected to me. It felt less pretentious, stripped down, and obviously slower.
Enjoying and drinking in is something I don't do enough. Thinking of this striped down, country way of life where people of the past and people here, without digital entertainment, share earths good food and the pride of their work, their own crafted music, and conversation. If all things are road signs as it were, to heaven, this was a good pointer and opportunity to again get in touch with my own longing, not for the Appalachian mountains, but for the city of God.
Thank God for peaches, strings, and straw.
