The Afternoon of Life

The phone rings…and life changes.   It could be something insignificant…an appointment reminder…a politician looking for a donation.   It could be something a little more significant…a child or grandchild is ill…a friend is going through a hard time.   And then there are the life-changer phone calls that turn your world upside down.   A friend has died unexpectedly…a parent is having a biopsy.   Those phone calls make you pause…make you search your soul.   Those are the phone calls that send the questions spinning through your mind.   I’ve had those phone calls in my lifetime…too many of them, I want to think.   I know God is working on me and in me and doing things to bring me in line with what He requires of me so that He can give me the blessings He wants to pour out on me.   I’m really clear about that.   I’ve had to much experience to not understand that.   I’ve wondered often if I create some of the crises in my life that re...

 …we need to remember that impossible situations are opportunities for the Lord to teach us valuable lessons that we’d never learn any other way. …the perfect plan and the power to implement it come only from God, not from human solutions and resources. …whenever we yield our flawed solutions and meager resources to Him and step out in obedience, He does great things in us and through us. …Each step required trust and obedience, especially since Christ’s method seemed so illogical. …God knows how to solve your problem, but He may choose to require your cooperation, possibly even asking you to do something that seems unreasonable. This morning my friend Beth shared a link on FB to a devotional that included the above statements.   They came after reading John 6:1-14…the familiar story of the feeding of the 5,000 with the 5 loaves and 2 fish. ( http://www.intouch.org/magazine/daily-devotional#.To2X2jUpnxA.facebook ) In light of my earlier study this week about how God uses difficu...

I found when I was with mom that "blogging" was good for my soul.  It allowed me a place to express myself when there was no one around to talk to.  Now that she's moved to her new and permanent eternity with Christ, I've missed being able to sit down and enjoy getting things out that seem stuck inside.  Putting them on paper makes problems more manageable...makes thoughts straighten out a little...makes joys and memories last a lot longer.  So I've been praying about how to continue blogging.  I don't want to just write for the sake of writing...even if I do love it. But this morning I realized that I could be putting my quiet times on paper.  I could "see" how God is speaking to me and leading me.  I let Him direct me to his Word this morning...that means I did the "open-and-point" method.  I don't highly recommend this method.  But already it's been confirmed that I was reading the "right" thing and that He is wantin...

 Fall afternoons have sounds that we don’t get to hear the rest of the year.   The dry leaves brushing against each other in the breeze.   The sound of children’s voices playing a pick-up football game across the street.   The distinct “thump” of a foot making contact with the pigskin.   The deep squeak of school bus brakes. I don’t remember the last time I listened to children playing unsupervised by adults.   That’s almost unheard of nowadays.   On the playground at school they’re supervised by their teachers.   After school they seem to all be supervised now by coaches.   But there’s a different sound in their voices when they get to make up the rules.   I keep expecting to hear arguments.   Voices rise for a moment…and then there’s the sound of young boys giggling…yes, giggling.   Somehow all seems right with the world when young boys are giggling. I love living in this small town.   I love the sun when it peeks through...

 My absence this summer from my wonderful husband made me determined that one thing would change when we came home.   I was committed to finding or scheduling “Dan Time”.   Dan is the least selfish person I know in this world.   He does so much for so many and asks absolutely nothing in return.   But I knew his heart’s desire would be that I would WANT to be with him…not just that I’d be with him because we’re married (sad smile).   So while we were together in Louisiana I suggested he pick one day of the week and we would commit that day to *US*.   No babysitting…no coffee with the girls…we would try to avoid conflicts so that we could focus on us.   It might mean we clean house together.   It might mean we go for a long (expensive…sigh) ride together.   We might plan something special…or we might just veg out together.   But it was going to be about us…and being together.   Being apart for so long this summer truly did make...

Home!   I live in western New York, where mountains sprout from the ground to surround the beautiful Allegany River that meanders it’s way through the countryside.   As we drove home tonight, after eleven weeks of the hottest summer of my life in Louisiana, I found myself growing silent.   It’s time to switch hats again.   If I’ve learned nothing about death this past year, I’ve learned that life goes on.   There once was a time when a person was expected to mourn…when they were given “time” to mourn.   But in this fast-paced world, mourning happens in bits and pieces that have to be found.   The world doesn’t slow down for the death of a loved one.   Well…that’s not totally true.   There was the visitation and funeral, where people gave up their precious time to let us know how special mom was to them…and I am so grateful for that sacrifice from all of her dear friends – many whom I now call friend.   But there’s a longer time ...

 Tonight I sit in the place of which dreams are made.   I’m curled up on a couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket, inside a cabin sitting high on the bluffs of Petit Jean Mountain in Arkansas.   I went out on the porch a few minutes ago and was enchanted with the view, even in the dark.   The towns, farms and houses down below look like stars on the ground.   The Arkansas River flows by and the light of a tugboat pushing a barge moves slowly through the night.   Unfortunately, it’s too chilly to stay out on the screened porch too long.   The wind is blowing and making the wonderful sound of fall as the dry leaves brush against each other.   There are soft chimes blowing in the wind…perfect for the mood of the evening.   There’s a wonderful porch swing where I intend to plant myself for a while tomorrow and just enjoy the incredible view.   There’s another mountain range about 20 miles from here that can be seen, and in between here and there i...