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Listen
As I walk along my country road each day I have many opportunities to just take in my environment and listen. It’s amazing what a person can digest when there are not a lot of other influences to permeate the brain. There are intricate sounds everywhere. The gravel crinkles as I walk. Leaves rustle in the trees. Underbrush snaps with the scurrying of small creatures. The birds flit about with their delightful songs. My mind is acutely aware of all that is going on around me because there is nothing or no one else around to interfere. Now if only I could do as well listening when God is speaking…
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A Living Hope
It is easy to let fear take hold right now. Every newscast is filled with reopening strategies on the one hand but tales of gloom where other countries have relapses with increased social interaction. Worry rears its ugly head way more than I like. I want to trust God but I get concerned with the increasing havoc this deadly virus creates and that, at times, overwhelms me. Commercials abound that state we are all in this together and we will get through these challenging times. TV presentations of encouragement are supposed to help. In many ways they do not. I feel even more isolated as I see what I am…
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A Teacup for Mother
I remember the old neighbourhood hardware store. The floors creaked as I followed my dad around. The musty corners beckoned me with their variety of goods to explore. Each aisle contained a new adventure with a mixture of housewares and tools and gardening supplies stacked haphazardly on the shelves. I checked out various items as I waited for my father to finish his errand. I enjoyed being able to explore all the interesting knickknacks on this lovely Saturday morning. As I roamed through the various areas of the store I came across the most beautiful teacups. There were five cup and saucer sets, each with their own unique floral…
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The Explanation
My husband has a great love of movies. He likes the challenge of media that makes him think as well as those that offer action and adventure. Recently he recorded the Matrix series of movies. We had watched pieces of these movies together at various times, but his thought was, if I can see the events in sequence from the beginning to the end, then I will understand the movies better. Because this type of movie makes him happy, I am game to try it out at least. Watching the start of the first movie I wonder if I really have made a wise decision. Very little makes sense to…
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Hemmed In
This week I had the opportunity to video chat with my daughter and her three young children. Every time we communicate with each other my heart goes out to them. They are restricted to a small townhouse with a tiny yard. My daughter, being cautious, and wanting to keep her children safe, doesn’t want to let her children go outside those parameters. Their world is confined, complex, and energetic. They are a classic case of being hemmed in. Tripping over each other most days. Tussling and active on a regular basis. Bouncing on the furniture. Camping out in improvised tents. Their lives are governed by circumstances that are out of…
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Being Invisible
As I sit here alone it is easy to feel like I am island. My country home is lovely but very lonely when my husband is away. The days stretch ahead of me, one like the other. Limited interactions, other than some through my phone or computer, make me feel insignificant at times. I realize how easy it could be for me to just get lost in the isolation. These times of solitude make me pensive. Too much time to think is not necessarily a good thing. Without the perspective of others, some things easily get magnified and cause more havoc than I would like. It is definitely a…
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Joy in the Lord
A man sits in prison, unjustly accused. His living conditions are deplorable. It is cold and dark and he never sees the light of day. Rats infest his living quarters and the minimal food he gets does little to nurture his failing body. Yet, this man is filled with praise to God. He continues to encourage those around him and share the good news of faith in Jesus with all who will listen. Not only does he find cause to rejoice each day, but he actively encourages his followers and friends to do the same. A woman sits in a prison camp, put in there because she and her family…
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Doubt versus Trust
Let’s face it, in troubled times, we are looking for help. We want a way out. We want someone to solve the problem and make it all better, preferably right away. When life gets tough we can lose our perspective. Let me share a story of two men and observe how perspective makes all the difference. Both men want something from Jesus, but take a close look at how they approach the matter. The first man is a troubled father with a son who is possessed by a spirit that has taken away the boy’s speech and causes him dangerous convulsions. The man is frustrated and troubled and is looking…
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Letting Go
Today I sit alone at my table looking out at my snow-covered yard. My heart is heavy. Family invigorates me, but my loved ones aren’t here. As I face the prospect of weeks and possibly months of little or no physical contact, I grieve. The tears are close to the surface today. I want what I cannot have and I ask God – why? As He has many times in my life, God asks me to let go. That is so hard. I don’t want to. I want to snuggle my grandchildren and share intimate moments with my children. I want to embrace my family and show them how much…
