Memories Rewind: Wild and Free in the Corn Patch

My grandparents first house was in a little neighborhood where everybody knew everybody. One thing that set my grandparents apart was that they had a garden that had everything you could imagine: Bright red tomatoes, Green beans, Squash, watermelon, and corn. I still remember how that corn tasted, even today.

It took awhile for the corn to grow, so my brother and I made the corn patch our secret playground. When I wanted to get away after a long day at school I went to the corn patch. One day my brother said, "Wanna go to the corn patch?" He didn't have to ask me twice. I was off in a flash.

As I pushed back those bright green leaves, semi darkness enveloped me. My cheeks were flustered from running, so I stop to take in the cool breeze. My brother called out, "Wanna race?" "Sure," I said, "but where are you?"

"It doesn't matter" he called out, "just run." I raced to the end of the corn patch, looking left and right. I saw no sign of my brother, but I heard leaves rustling. I headed in the other direction.

My brother had succeeded. He had distracted me long enough for him to map out another course of action. "Shoot," I thought. I fell for his little trick. Determined not to give up I took off running, kicking up dust as I went. In a brief moment of genius, I went to the outside of the corn patch. I know you're thinking, "You dummy! What do you think you're doing?!" You'll see. Keep reading.

A ha! I spotted a bright red shirt in the distance. "I've got 'em now," I thought to myself. Filled with a renewed sense of hope, I ran faster and faster. He didn't want to lose, but I think he felt sorry for me and let me win. I run slower this time, breathing heavily. My mind was thinking about one thing--tagging him in his red shirt. I didn't think about school, I didn't think about the homework that awaited me, or even the supper. I finally reached his red shirt. I let out a sigh of relief. I asked, "Are you mad because I won?" "Nah," he said. We walked back to my Granny's house ready for supper.

Side note: When my brother said, "It doesn't matter" he called out, "just run", that's how God is. He wants us to run, trusting in Him and not ourselves. We just have to trust that He knows what He's doing, even though sometimes it seems like it would be easier for him to tell us what He's up to. It's all about the journey. If we're concerned about getting there quickly, we will miss people on our path and other important things. If my brother had told me where he was right when I asked, I wouldn't have had to think for myself, and I certainly wouldn't have had near as much fun.