I am entering my mid-70s. Bob is two years older. We are finding that what his mother told us once is too true. As we age more and more of our friends are falling ill and some die. She said eventually she got to the point where she knew very few people anymore. She was not one to try to make new friends as she proved when it was necessary for her to move into assisted living. She went to a few meals, but basically isolated herself.
There are two we know of who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Another one died of same disease in the last five years. One is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time. One died from cancer recently and one a few months ago.
The woman down the street was in a treatment center with Alzheimer’s disease. She passed after a couple years there. The other neighbor lady with Alzheimer’s and heart disease passed about the same time. Another friend died from early onset Alzheimer’s.
One man has heart issues. He also suffers from allergy or asthma? Some sort of breathing difficulty. Now they say he needs back surgery.
Suffering, diseases and death. How can we keep our faith fresh and lively in the midst of all that? One verse says, “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” Another verse “even to old age and gray hairs you are with me.”
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV
There is so much turmoil here that some of us are willing to openly express that we are looking forward to graduation into the arms of God.
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16 NIV
Revelation says there is no more death there, or suffering or crying.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”
And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:4-5 NRSVUE
Yes, there is great value in accepting aging and the limitations that can arrive with that aging. We are told to keep our faith strong and ready. We are to be sober, vigilant, and aware that our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion seeking the ones he can devour. I do not want to be one caught in those evil jaws. These admonishments seem to take on more significance the older I get. As I tire more easily it would be easy to just relinquish hold of those precious promises and quit. I pray for strength to fix my eyes upon the author and FINISHER of my faith. I do want Jesus to find faith on the earth when he returns. Even if mine is the only faith to find.
Tough stuff, but we need to cling to the positives and stay as cheerful as possible.
I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121 NRSVUE
Do you part to cling right to the very last breath!
At the end of a very long and lovely liturgy called For One Suffering Anxiety, Every Moment Holy suggested writing this out or memorizing it to use in times of anxiety. I had no idea at the time I would need it on so many days!
So meet me here, O Mighty God. Meet me in the midst of my disquiet. Meet me in the seat of my anxiety, and bid this storm within my soul Be still! Now calm my heart, O Father. Now soothe my mind O Christ. Now breathe your peace, O Spirit, upon me. Release me from my cares, O God, as I release my cares to you. Amen.Every Moment Holy Volume 3, Page 243
For the fourth time this summer I am battling ants in the kitchen pantry. These are those tiny little ‘sugar’ ants. It was hard to find an online photo as they are SO small.
It is not unusual to find a few exploring in early spring. I got rid of those. Then while we were on vacation my Grandgirl found them in a cookie tin. (I had to wonder if the lid was left askew?) She killed them off and cleaned up the pantry.
We were not home two weeks when they returned to the pantry. I sprayed, cleaned got rid of them. Yesterday I not only found them in the pantry but in that same cookie tin with the top firmly affixed. HOW?
Reading up on safe ant repellent sprays I mixed blue Dawn soap 50/50 with water and put it in a spray bottle. It was also said they hate lemon so I mixed lemon juice into the sprayer. I sprayed the suspected tiny crack where the footer boards meet inside the pantry. I sprayed the baseboard they were traveling upon. As the website said, it made for easy cleanup wiping up Dawn solution!
I am not afraid of bugs, but I do not like them IN our home. There is a spider living under one bathroom cabinet. I have only seen it once or twice. It leaves a pile of dead pill-bug carcasses on the floor beneath the edge of the cabinet and I know it has been well fed. I leave it alone.
Last night as I was about to take my blood pressure I spied a spider on the rug next to my side of the bed. I tried to capture it but it literally jumped away under the bed frame. Drats. I do not like spider bites. As the blood pressure cuff was inflating I spied a tiny ant walking across the base of the floor lamp. I am literally outnumbered! Yes, this is the same wall area as the pantry. https://www.science.org/content/article/how-many-ants-live-earth says Counting ants is a bit like counting grains of sand on a beach. But six researchers have proved they were up for the task. They’ve come up with the latest—and most comprehensive—estimate of the number of ants in the world: 20 quadrillion. That’s 12 megatons of biomass—more than all the wild birds and mammals taken together. Yes, we are seriously outnumbered!!
Good news is that while the ants and spider aggravated me, my blood pressure was nice and low.
Now, to go check that pantry for any possible invasion!
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Proverbs 6:6-11 NIV
Not liking the humidity this summer, we still need to walk this feisty beagle 4 times a day. The only time she will pee in the yard on her own is if she did not go out the night before because of thunder and is desperate in the morning. Then we simply tie her out early as her only option. Maybe we should get hard heart-ed and make this a new practice!
I was complaining to my neighbor about having to walk this dog. Then I began to notice the evening sky. I would have missed these sights had I not taken Lucky outdoors.
“The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent.”– Psalm 104:2
The snapdragons have kept me entertained as the other plants bloom and wane. This guy was an extremely busy bee!
He is inHe is outExploring for more bountyTake a rest little fellow!!
Year before last I bought a Mallow shrub. It did not survive the winter. Sadly, I could not locate teh receipt to return it for a refund. Last autumn, I bought another mallow and kept the receipt just in case. It survived the winter and is starting to amuse us with saucer-sized flowers. What a strange delight.
Enjoy your summer, whatever the weather where you abide! Keep your eyes open for those treasures in plain sight!!
Sometimes I have to just return to home. The home plate with my Father.
I am easily distracted and must withdraw from the many distractions if I am to maintain equilibrium. The Audience of One, the Holy One who loves me, that is where I find rest and restoration.
Daily I need this. When things are too busy I need this more than once a day. Do you have a similar practice? When you get tired of all the outgo, how do you open the faucet for inflow?
This can be especially difficult when my physical being flares up in pain or distress. Why is it so very difficult to ignore the flesh and flow in things of the Spirit? That will be one of my most pressing questions in heaven!
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord,one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:1-6 NIV
Those who have served in countries less privileged and less developed than America always seem amazed at how joyful the people are. I have wondered if the Americans think those people should be sad they do not enjoy the ease of our wealth? The truth is more likely the quote below.
Perhaps the most radical act of resistance in the face of adversity is to live joyfully. Ari Honarvar
The poorer people of other countries seem to have grasped something the others have missed. IF your hands are full of things, it is more difficult to lift them in praise. If you think you possess all you need, it is hard to give thanks for the lesser things that are out of your control but can still bring you joy.
When we are in situations that demand that we empty our hands and look up to the heavens we can begin to understand that even in the face of adversity, we can live joyfully.
In New Mexico I bought a new t-shirt. It shows a Native American Indian and simply says DISOBEY. The site, myartbroker.com comments about the popular OBEY piece saying,
Shepard Fairey’s OBEY campaign, launched in 1989, has become one of the most iconic and influential symbols in contemporary street art. Originating from a simple sticker, OBEY evolved into a bold critique of authority and social conformity. Fairey combines graffiti, pop art, and political commentary to create a visual movement that transcends art and challenges viewers to question established structures of power.
So to me the Native American Indian with the word Disobey says even in this political society of distrust and division, if we choose to live joyfully we have won a contest. While disobeying the fear tactics and often repressive decisions, we can participate in the radical act of resistance.
In the World War II concentration camp psychologist Victor Frankl discovered that those who survived the longest had a capacity to not let others have control over their minds. “They kept a place of living within themselves that was not available for repression.”
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” Viktor Frankl
What decisions are you making for how you live in today’s political climate? Is there a place within you that is not available for control by others? Are you in a mindset of obey or disobey? Paul, the three Hebrew boys, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and Daniel all resisted and disobeyed those in authority over them. Jesus refused to stop working miracles on the Sabbath. The disciples continued preaching even though the Sanhedrin told them to stop.
“In short, civil disobedience is allowed — and possibly required — any time the commands of men contradict the will of God,” writes The Daily Declaration from Australia. So when we are told to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) that will likely require that we disobey things like the tearing down of the structure to make our lives more aware of diversity, equity and inclusion within American society. (DEI)
but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls. Hebrews 10:38-39 NRSVUE
We need God’s help to persevere and not shrink back. Holy Spirit strengthen our faith to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with you.
For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8 NRSVUE
We have much work to do! We are made in the image of God. He does not rate one person as more valuable than another in his Kingdom. He sees us with diversity, equity and inclusion. Can we see each other in the same way? God does not show favoritism or partiality. Romans 2:11
I have a few neighbors that need a home cooked meal now and then. Since I have never learned how to cook for just two people, it is my pleasure to share with those people. Usually they get whatever we are having for dinner that day.
One gal is divorced, has raised 5 kids mostly on her own, and now lives with some nasty chronic illnesses. She works mostly from home and puts in long hours. She recently hit a few financial snags with appliances breaking down, car repair, plus the cat was diagnosed with diabetes requiring medications. She has appreciated anything I drop off. My husband does not like watermelon so recently I shared some cut up melon with her since I cannot eat a whole one before it goes bad. I could almost hear her dancing with delight as she texted her response at finding the melon along with green beans and ham at her door.
Another fellow was widowed a few months ago. His wife had Alzheimer’s disease. He went to see her at the nursing facility every day for 2-1/2 years. He lost a tremendous amount of weight. His stability even with his walker began to be in question. When she finally took her last breath he was a physical wreck. I told him we need to fatten him up! I took him a couple meals. Once when I delivered food he was assembling a foot cycle machine similar to the photo below.
He told me he is determined to get his strength back so he can take walks in the neighborhood. I took him some green beans with ham and potatoes last week. I left it on his porch and texted that I had left it for him. I went early in the morning and did not want to disturb him in case he was sleeping in. He shortly texted back that he got it.
If he comes down the street in his car he always stops to speak. He never drives away now without saying “How’s Bob? I love you!
When I was walking Lucky the other evening he was working in his garden. He came wobbling across the grass towards me. I cringed not wanting him to fall. When he got close enough to speak over his barking dogs, he dropped his city ways and spoke in his Indiana country twang, “Them was some good beans!” He had not commented on the food previously. I took his words as a high compliment!
We are told in Scripture to love our neighbors and share one another’s burdens.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12: 30-31
Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 NRSVUE
Is there someone you could reach out to with love and compassion? If not with food, perhaps with other things you are capable of? Often, most everyone just wants a listening ear and a kind heart to come close. Do not let those the Lord sends your way remain invisible. Give a smile, send a note card. Simple things are usually the best!!
Many who know the hobby of my husband know he has a wonderful eye for photography. When he retired from the laboratory his fellow employees wanted to know how best to gift him. I suggested they take up a collection towards a new camera. More than once he has considered dropping photography as his hobby. The verse that follow tells what happened next. Loosely based on the ideas from If Your Give a Mouse a Cookie.
If you get a retiree a camera He will want to buy the instruction manual And then spend a month reading the manual Playing with settings, and learning the camera Just when you think he will never take a real photo He will venture out to snap some shots
When it is time to go beyond the house he’s gonna want a case And if the book doesn't fit in the case He is gonna need a new case
If you get a retiree a camera He is going to need time to edit And through away the “junk” shots And print only the perfect ones
If you get a retiree a camera There are episodes of frustration Away from home on a special occasion When the settings somehow escape him And he goes back to the book Fuming that it seemed so simple When he practiced in the living room
If you get a retiree a camera You need to plan time to review The videos and best shots And praise his hard work learning the contraption And the expert eye that is seeing The things you had hoped all along he would capture
All of the photos below are by rmdutina
Yes! Always give this man as many cameras as he needs! What does your eye see most often? CAn you capture it in a photo?!?
There is nothing like a spring morning to remind me of choral harmony. Recently I realized that The Cornell University app called Merlin was repeatedly picking up five birds singing simultaneously on Wednesday and Thursday and other days. There are times the singing sounds like a cacophony of voices, but there are also times when they seem to blend into five part harmony.
Once it found the voices of Carolina Wren, House Wren, Chipping Sparrow, American Robin and Northern Cardinal. Another morning House Finch, Blue Jay, Song Sparrow, Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Cardinal.
Why does five part harmony amuse me? Remembering Revelation 7, I recently posted on my bathroom mirror the song of the angels: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” This is a reminder to me for when my mind wanders to lesser things. I try to return to this holy song being sung continuously, that I too, might join in the heavenly chorus.
The angels surround the throne of God, the elders, the four living creatures and the ones wearing white robes. A countless multitude most likely singing in heavenly harmony to the Almighty God of our faith. I mean, as a former choir member, I have to wonder would they be likely to sing off key or out of harmony to the Host High?
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The Scriptures are replete with references about singing praises to our God. Five birds singing in a harmony that heaven created and adores. Might we add our voices today towards the Holy One in constant adoration? What would your lyrics be today?
LORD, let not our souls be busy inns that have no room for You or yours, but quiet homes of prayer and praise, where You may find fit company where the needful cares of life are wisely ordered and put away, and wide, sweet spaces kept for you; where holy thoughts pass up and down and fervent longings watch and wait your coming. - Julian of Norwich
Can you tell I am confused? My editor for the book about prayer has instructed me that it is not proper to capitalize the pronouns that refer to God. Oh golly. I have capitalized those pronouns for years as a sign of respect. So if you look back on the re-written prayer you can see my now inconsistent writing. Below is the Old English copy of the prayer. Which do you prefer?
Lord, let not our souls be busy inns that have no room for thee or thine, But quiet homes of prayer and praise, where thou mayest find fit company, Where the needful cares of life are wisely ordered and put away, And wide, sweet spaces kept for thee; where holy thoughts pass up and down And fervent longings watch and wait thy coming.
Julian was born in 1343 so obviously we have no photos of her!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 