I believe God gives us signs along our paths.
Some can be a little fuzzy.
Some seem like they are just there to confuse us.
I encountered these signs on the last two adventures I made. The most recent one, well, I won't call it a trip, I took a journey to attend a mushroom foraging certification class. No, it wasn't that kind of mushroom trip. This is serious stuff. Mushroom Mountain gives an intensive wild mushroom identification class that teaches the difference between edible and non edible mushrooms and gives you the authority to sell mushrooms in several states. I was a little apprehensive, because if you saw my last mushroom update you know I started out knowing almost nothing about mushrooms. There are so many delicious and valuable mushrooms around my house, I felt it was only natural to learn about them and use the resources the Lord provides.
On my journey I felt the pull of adventure and the affirmation that I was on the right track as I blasted my music across Georgia. I totally scored on an Airbnb and found a place that was comfy and restful with a place to study. The class was held at the woodsy and spacious Georgia International Horse Park. I drove past the RVs and horse trailers and followed the signs that read, “Mushroom Class.” Pulling in to the gravel lot I had to smile as I spotted a plethora of mushroom art and positive messages for bumper stickers. My favorite one simply said, “I hope you have a really great day today.” I walked away from the horse people and entered the classroom. “Ah yes, these are the right people,” I thought as I sat between the the chemist/biologist college students and the farmer/preppers, a colorful group to say the least. I made a joke about how it was easy to descern the class from the other group at the park. They laughed and lovingly referred to each other as “mushroom people.”
There was a lot to learn in a two day class and I was a little intimidated by the depth of knowledge some of the class had. We went on a couple foraging walks and as the conversation went over my head, I drifted away from the entrepreneurial chemists and found some lovely hippies, or farmers to follow. Before the big test, we approached a trail along a small pond. The group of men and women were like children as they exclaimed over to shear cuteness of some tiny boletes. As we continued along the path finding more treasures I was struck with how once again, I had found my tribe. The sunlight hit the water and highlighted the fusha lilies on the pond. It was absolutely beautiful and I was torn between relapsing back to my art retreat week and getting my camera to capture the Monet scene before my eyes. I stayed on target and turned my attention to the woods. After the gruelling test I returned to the pond to take pictures of the glistening scene.
Sadly, I had lost the light.
I continued my walk around the pond even though I couldn't capture its former glory. I was on a business trip to become a certified forager. I could hear my hubby saying, “quit playing around and come home.” That is about the time I spotted the hiking sign pointing this way and that. God's signs are all around. Not usually road signs, but sometimes they are pretty obvious. I am working at playing or playing at working. I feel pretty good about the direction I am heading.
Update, I passed my test.
Your writing I just adore it. I always feel like I’m right there trudging along the trail and looking at a scenic pond beside you.