The Weathered Old Barn
A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking. He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off he was crazy. He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked. He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale. I told him he had a funny idea of beauty.
Sure, it was a handsome building in its day. But then, there’s been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and howling wind. The summer sun’s beat down on that old barn till all the paint’s gone, and the wood has turned silver gray. Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired. Yet, that fellow called it beautiful.
That set me to thinking. I walked out to the field and just stood there, gazing at that old barn. The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den in a new country home he’s building down the road. He said you couldn’t get paint that beautiful. Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
It came to me then. We’re a lot like that, you and I. Only it’s on the inside that the beauty grows with us. Sure we turn silver gray too… and lean a bit more than we did when we were young and full of sap. But the Good Lord knows what He’s doing. And as the years pass He’s busy using the hard wealth of our lives, the dry spells and the stormy seasons, to do a job of beautifying our souls that nothing else can produce. And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy!
They took the old barn down today and hauled it away to beautify a rich man’s house. And I reckon someday you and I’ll be hauled off to Heaven to take on what- ever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.
Source: http://www.moytura.com/reflections/barn.html
Categories: All about Hoofbeats & Footprints
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Isn’t that something. I understand what he means about that lovely weathered look, hard to reproduce. Love your analogy here! No need for plastic surgery for me, I’ve got that weathered look going myself😂👏👍👍 Great post
LOL! Funny, I never thought of all those wrinkles in that way.But you are truly right. Life’s wisdom is shown in our faces.
A wonderfully uplifting post!!!
“Grow old with me! The best is yet to be.” Robert Browning
I can see it now. You and I – two doddering old goats in rocking chairs on a porch somewhere geezing about the past.
I love that thought! ❤
I guess that man had a good eye for beauty. Wonderful story and photos, Emily.
Thank you so much and am truly happy you enjoyed this post. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.
Great photos and story! I’ve acquired several more layers of the weathered patina this past winter, so I know just what the story is all about. 😉
With all that snow and ice you had, I’m not surprised. A true outdoorsman you are. 🙂
Wonderful photos to accent a great story. Loved it!
Awww…thank you so much my dear.
What a beautiful post, Emily! So full of poetry and truth! 🙂
Thank you so much Fatima. Thrilled you liked this post.
vintage love
So well said Edgar.
Great post with beautiful imagery!
You are truly too kind Cynthia. Thank you so very much.
Definitely a beautiful post.
A truly generous compliment from you. Thank you so very much for your kindness.
That was really beautiful. The images are well fit for some frames or books. And clearly the story has a lot of us smiling a little deeper (no matter our age).
Thank you for this.
eLPy
You think so for the images? Humm..you may just inspire me enough to try it. I love this story and get something from it each time I read it.
Absolutely! Think about the photos you’ve seen in hotels, you know you’ve got some works of art in abundance!
Long, long ago my Grandpa went around the area looking for old barn wood to add to the house they were building. Ironically, my sister wants barn wood cabinets! I guess barn wood is still in in some circles!