Chapters

I don’t know how I could be more than halfway through a book before realizing that it doesn’t have chapters. But I was, and it doesn’t. It happened this morning – I kept promising myself that I would ‘get some work done’ when I got to the end of the chapter. However, as much as I was enjoying it, the chapter just never seemed to end. So I flipped the pages to see how much longer I could delay ‘getting some work done’ -- and I flipped all the way to the end of the book. Now a normal person would have figured it out at this point, but I had to check, so I started at the beginning of the book and sure enough – no chapters.

Maybe this is one of the reasons I’ve been taking my time on this book. I like chapters -- beginnings and endings. Those elements help me make sense of life. But before you think I am a hopelessly linear thinker, you should also know that I have at least two books on the go at any given time – and sometimes up to 5. I really need to finish the chapterless book so that I can pass it on to a friend. I know she’ll enjoy it – chapterless and all.

Where am I going with this? It’s about chapters in our lives. I’m so glad our days are organized that way. For my liking, some of those chapters could have been eliminated altogether – or if they had to be in the ‘book’ – couldn’t God have made them really short? Of course there have been other chapters where I wanted to put down some deep roots and stay awhile.

Last night I was reading words written by Dr. James Dobson. He tells about the last time he prayed with his father. His dad said, “Lord we know it can’t always be the wonderful way it is now, but we thank you for the love we enjoy today.” Just a month after praying this prayer, his dad had a heart attack and later died. And a chapter closed.

All chapters have beginnings and endings. Even when I'm enjoying an especially wonderful chapter, I know at some point, it will come to a close. But I can enjoy the time I’m there – and know that when it ends, another begins. And so on for the rest of our lives...

One of my favourite passages of scripture is:

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven…

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Thank you, Father, for the chapters of our lives.
For order and reason and purpose.
As this year comes to an end, and another begins,

help us know Your love in all the chapters and
hold fast to You in those times that don’t seem to make sense.
You are the author and perfector of our faith,
a loving Father who wants what's best for us.
Help us to trust our days to You.

Christmas Already?

If you are reading this at your computer knowing that all your Christmas preparations are complete, I want to live at your house! I have never been so far behind – and yet I feel strangely calm about it all.

I’m not sure what happened this year… but for some reason, those things that used to matter a whole lot, just didn’t get done. (baking, Christmas cards, lights, and thoughtful meaningful gifts) I got the tree up two days ago, the cards will have to wait until next year, and when I finally got to town today, the ‘gift card frenzy’ was my only dance (except for the ‘bakery two-step’, I mean.)

I don’t get it. What went wrong? I asked our son if he remembered in the ‘olden days’ how I was always prepared. I certainly remember always having lots of cookies and other goodies prepared and in the freezer. I remember that I always sent cards (with letters and pictures!). I even remember having gifts purchased and wrapped and under the tree at least a month before Christmas.

But he doesn’t remember that. No, he claims the tree went up a couple of days before, and ‘there was a lot of yelling.’ Yikes!

Maybe those perfectly orchestrated Christmases I so fondly look back on took place before he could remember them.

I ran into our Pastor in town this week. He must have noticed my ‘stunned/crazed look’ – you know the one – worn only by those not even in the running. He gave me some good advice: “Don’t let the distractions keep you from the true meaning of the season. Don’t let any of it keep you from experiencing the wonder of Christ.”

I’ve decided to heed his advice. I don’t know how many Christmases we’ll have with family, but I know we’ll never have this one again, so I’m going to enjoy it and not stress about those things that really don’t matter.

II Corinthians 9:15 reads, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.”

“Thank you, Father, for meeting us where we are, in the person of Your son, Jesus. May we know Your presence in this season.”

We’re celebrating a birthday! The most wonderful birthday ever. Distractions like baking and cards shouldn’t keep us from the pure joy of knowing that the baby in the manger was God’s own son, sent to redeem the world.

Fire up the music and tap your toes. Or better yet, when I put out the butter tarts, do a ‘bakery two-step’ with me!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Shoo Fly!

Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
For I belong to somebody.

I can’t get it out of my head!

Our little granddaughter was here today, and as she was being tucked into her car seat, I heard that peppy tune (sung by children, of course) playing in her vehicle. And now it’s going ‘round and ‘round in my head.

I walked up the road after they left, and those words kept bouncing around with my every step. I checked on the cats’ food and shoveled the sidewalk --- moving in time to that crazy song.

I was so desperate to lose this melody, that I put on some Christmas music when I came back into the house, but whenever there was a break between songs, back it came:

Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
Shoo fly don’t bother me
For I belong to somebody.

The worst of this is that I can only blame myself – I gave her the CD!

Next time, I’ll be a little more choosy about the tunes I buy for her. Maybe a little Bluegrass? Bet her parents would like that!

As I share this story with you, I remember Psalm 37:31 “The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip.” and Psalm 119:11 that talks about the value of knowing and treasuring God’s word in our hearts. “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”

I’m grateful now for the scripture verses I committed to memory as a child as well as those I learned as our son worked on his Kids Club memory badges. How many times has a scripture verse I memorized years ago, come back to me just when I needed the reminder! I’m glad those verses are tucked away in my heart.

Now if I could just get rid of Shoo Fly!

No -- that's not the answer! It would be more fun if you sang along! Just click on this link:

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Cottage/3192/Shoofly.html

All Shapes and Sizes

I ‘ooohed’ and ‘ahhhed’ over the shells and pieces of coral, carefully inspecting each one before adding it to the growing collection in my bag. You see, I have a rock garden here at the ‘end of the road,’ and I love the idea of having all kinds of rocks placed between the creeping greenery. My friend, Elaine, loves rocks, too. She once told me that we don’t ‘steal’ rocks, we just move them. And after we’re gone from this earth, someone else will move them again. So far, I have 'moved' rocks from the coulee below our house, my grandfather's homestead, and Arizona.

A week ago, I took a leisurely morning walk along a beach in Mexico, looking for some additions to my garden rock collection. The shells and coral pieces were plentiful; I could have had bags in just minutes. But I was being quite choosy. They had to meet my standards before making the ‘cut’. My luggage was already overweight, and I wasn’t keen to pay extra just to get these pieces home. They had to go in my carry-on and there was precious little room there, too.

So, I had to be ruthless in my choosing. No broken pieces, only shells that were well-marked and well-polished. Nothing too large, too small, too heavy, or too fragile. I thought about how just one ‘fault’ would result in a piece being discarded.... And I thought about how wonderful it is that our God doesn’t choose this same way.

The second chapter of Luke, records the Christmas story. In verse ten we read the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth,

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”

This message was for ALL people – not just the pretty, the well-polished, the ‘right-sized’ or the strong -- but ALL people. Through the precious gift of His own Son, God welcomes us ALL into His family.

“Thank you, Father, that you don’t choose only some –

but that you welcome all who seek you.”

It will be many months before I place these wonderful shells and pieces of coral out in my rock garden. It's 25 degrees below zero here today and garden is covered in snow. Spring seems far away. But when I do place my new additions, I'll remember the beach in Mexico and thank God, once again, that He doesn't pick favourites -- ALL are welcome.

It's Good To Be Home

I just returned from a great vacation in Mexico. This time we travelled with our son and daughter-in-law. SO MUCH FUN!

One of the highlights for me was visiting the Mayan ruins and climbing to the top of the oldest pyramid in Mexico! This was a remarkable accomplishment because, you see, I am stair-challenged.

No kidding. From as far back as I can remember, I have fallen down stairs quite handily. Mom used to say that she’d see me at the top of the stairs with my foot out, ready to descend, and down I’d tumble for no apparent reason.

Later, as a teen, one of my most embarrassing moments involved falling down a flight of stairs in a store. My sister didn’t watch my klutzy move, but when she heard the clatter, she knew what had happened. “Just Joey, falling down some stairs again!”

Years later, when I taught at a community college, I was a little concerned that almost all my classes were booked for classrooms on the second floor of my building. I managed to avoid falling on those stairs – but I really took my time, and held onto the railing for dear life!

So, you see, for me to successfully climb this pyramid (and get down without falling!) was a thrill beyond belief.

It was a great vacation. Lots of sun, fabulous food, and great company. But I’m glad to be back home at the ‘end of the road’ once more. I have a flight of stairs here, too, but they aren’t nearly as steep as those on the pyramid and, when I take a tumble, the carpet provides a cushion that the cold, hard stones on the pyramid steps do not. Ah, yes, it is good to be home!

This evening I've been thinking about our steps in life. Proverbs 4: 11-13 reads:

I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

“Father, thank you for guiding my steps on that pyramid.

Help me to hold on to Your instruction for all of my journeys in this life.

Plant my feet on Your pathway and guide me all the way --

until I say for the last time,

"It's good to be home."