Sonny’s Story . . .

Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” (Matthew 11:25-26)

I’m not the only around here who has faced serious challenges this year. One of my friends from work and CLA, Linda Hill, has had more than her share of life-and-death crises over the last two years. While I was in the rehab center recovering from my auto accident, she was out on Family Leave, taking care of her twin brother, Sonny, in Sophia, West Virginia. He has has several bouts with cancer, but this latest one proved to be his final journey.

Linda had been traveling back and forth for months, until Sonny’s condition worsened, and he needed full-time care. So she took a block of unpaid time off to care for him herself. Linda’s devotion is awesome. As traumatic as events in her life have been, she’s fought her way through all of them, trusting God and holding on tightly to His power to heal and deliver. Each of her testimonies are awesome all by themselves, but her brother Sonny–well the story of his victories over life ’s challenges is enough to make the rest of us stop whining!

Relationships in the River . . .

I’ve been thinking lately that it’s not such a bad thing to have circumstances turn your life upside down! OK, so maybe that ‘bone-crushing, knee-breaking, chest-ripping” bit was a little over the top, trauma-wise. But some really wonderful, Life-enhancing changes have come from that chaos.

First of all, the geographic changes have made an incredible improvement in my over-all morale. Thanks to Curt & Vi, I now live in a comfortable, friendly, blessed house with another family of missionary-believers. And, as a result of company downsizing, outsourcing, and consolidation, my worksite has moved–from a I83 off-ramp and a death-trap morning drive–to a site that I can reach over country roads, past farms, and fields of wheat, corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. I arrive to work prayed-up, energized, and ready to deal with my day.

Fields of Summer Wheat & Corn . . .

OK,  so those fields I thought were alfalfa are actually spring/summer wheat. My friend Curt, with his PhD in Agronomy,  identified them for me. He tells me alfalfa is bright green. ; )

He also pointed out that the fields of low-to-the-ground green vegetation are soy beans. Who knew?

I’m from New Jersey–I know what tomatoes, peppers, and corn look like for sure! But nobody in my neighborhood grew wheat!

Narcissus Redeemed . . .

Caravaggio’s Narcissus

One of literature’s ancient parables is the legend of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own image reflected in a perfect pool of water. Narcissus ultimately destroyed himself, undone by his obsession with self-admiration.

There’s a lesson there somewhere, not just for Christians, but for all of us. I was thinking about my responsibilities as a disciple and the nuances of narcissism today, as I listened to a rebroadcast of a show, Radio Smart Talk, from WITF fm, our local NPR station. The host was interviewing two psychology professors, co-authors of The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement.

The co-authors were talking about America as an increasingly narcissistic society. Their dialogue started me thinking about the dichotomy between Christian discipleship and cultural influences that pull all of us in opposite directions.

Whatever The Cost . . .

The road home winds through miles of farms with cows, and freshly-plowed and fertilized fields. The aroma of manure, damp earth, and alfalfa fill my senses. The smells remind me of my childhood, a pinto named Sparkle, and the Gaskel family. They ran a farm nearby, and my parents would drive over to visit on Sunday afternoons. We would play in the stable, or in the house with Bobby and Patty, their kids, while the adults talked in the kitchen. The sweet odor of Sparkle’s hide and tack returns to my memory as I drive into the hovering dusk.

Legacies & Heroes . . .

Memorial weekend’s about honoring heroes, and remembering their legacies. It’s a solemn time in the lives of many, many Americans–a time to remember and revision who we are, as a people and as a nation.

I’ve been spending this Memorial weekend with my friends, Curt & Vi, and their five grown children. Everyone flew in or drove back to Pennsylvania to celebrate Curt’s 70th birthday with a surprise family reunion weekend. Four of the children, Curtis, Cheri, Kimberly, and Ryan, have been adopted, and one of  them, Wayne, is their biological son. All of them have given Curt & Vi years of joy and happiness, along with the usual doses of parental angst. It was an awesomely peaceful, sunny, loving tribute to the lifelong legacy my friends have built around everyone they know.

Growing in Relationship . . .

Have you ever noticed that life changes also  change the folks who experience them

Have you experienced a life change that has opened you up to more compassionate, understanding insights? That’s a God thing. God always  intervenes to bring good fruit from life’s meaner circumstances–if we let Him!

Breakfast and The Squirrel in the Bird Feeder

The chubby, furry bandit stared back, through the kitchen window at me as I sat enjoying my breakfast coffee. Then he scurried down onto the sunflower seed container, scooped out a paw full of sunflower seeds, and nibbled on them, defiantly. I reached over and opened the window. That sent his tiny thievin’ legs into overdrive. He dropped the seeds and bolted across the lawn! YESSS!

Rain, Rain, & More Rain . . .

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-4)

I’m feeling really grateful this week. I’ve been freed to go back to work, and I almost have everything unpacked in my new apartment. But I’m also feeling a little overwhelmed with all the changes.

It’s Hot . . .

Our Dogwood and Cherry Trees blossomed yesterday. Small wonder–they think it’s past time! It’s been seriously hot all week. Temperatures have been ranging between 84 F and 97.7 F across the state. Here it’s averaging 90 degrees. It’s been a period of weird weather changes–last Monday it was 38 F and overcast, then it rained for 4 days! I have all the windows open, the heat and dehumidifier off, and I’m staying in the shade.