Wednesday February 12, 2009
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12.
The cold is not subsiding, I still breathe through my mouth which dries out overnight and tastes like the bottom of a birdcage in the morning. But it is a reminder that every setback in life causes us to question our attitude to life and whether we are going in the right direction. Every day going the wrong way is wasted time. I remember in my architectural student days, we had to do some freehand drawing which I was not particularly fond of. The instructor reminded us that we were going to put two hours of our life on that paper, hours we would never have again.
Some say time is money, but in fact time is life. Money spent can—in theory at least—be replaced, but time wasted can never be restored; it’s gone forever. How many times have we heard of someone changing their whole attitude to life when it is threatened? Facing our mortality may be morbid for many but it is a corrective to our thinking about life and certainly teaches us “to number our days aright.” In fact, the closer age brings us to death the more critical it becomes to make all our moments worthwhile.
That’s probably why shortage of time promotes wisdom. Who really wants to look back on life lived at the bottom of a birdcage? The reverses of life, however unpleasant—and in my case a simple cold and impending surgery—are meant to make us aware of our eventual accountability. We may get away with a meaningless, selfish or even destructive existence in this life, but not in the next. Do let that cold—or whatever—get you down. It may make the difference to the rest of your life!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Wednesday February 11, 2009
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work . . . Exodus 35:35.
The greatest skill I have for yesterday and today is blowing my nose! I was hit with a heavy cold suddenly Monday night; I can only hope it goes as quickly as it came. It meant a trip to the store for boxes of tissues, always having one in reach, every job a burden and generally feeling sorry for myself. There is an old saying that you should feed a cold and starve a fever. My appetite has not diminished so I guess it is a cold not a fever and I’m not really ill!
Being loath to do anything I can put off, got me thinking about the many people that surround us that have skills and attributes that smooth our way. Some folk from the mission society offer to help us when the work becomes too heavy for us to handle and loaned us the mission van to ferry our family around. My sister and her niece have provided extra transport when necessary to get around. An old friend, Christine, kindly hosted our girls and their families for eight or nine days in her 300 year old cottage. Much of what we have accomplished is a result of the kindness and abilities of those around us for which we are extremely thankful.
So for now, I am going to sink into oblivion, learn to breathe through my mouth and generally milk this cold for all it’s worth. Ann is one who has many skills to help people out and I’m counting on her for comfort and support during the next few days. But I think her perceptiveness will set some appropriate limits on any subterfuge, particularly as we have a busy time for the weekend ahead and she is in the middle of a final paper for university.
He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work . . . Exodus 35:35.
The greatest skill I have for yesterday and today is blowing my nose! I was hit with a heavy cold suddenly Monday night; I can only hope it goes as quickly as it came. It meant a trip to the store for boxes of tissues, always having one in reach, every job a burden and generally feeling sorry for myself. There is an old saying that you should feed a cold and starve a fever. My appetite has not diminished so I guess it is a cold not a fever and I’m not really ill!
Being loath to do anything I can put off, got me thinking about the many people that surround us that have skills and attributes that smooth our way. Some folk from the mission society offer to help us when the work becomes too heavy for us to handle and loaned us the mission van to ferry our family around. My sister and her niece have provided extra transport when necessary to get around. An old friend, Christine, kindly hosted our girls and their families for eight or nine days in her 300 year old cottage. Much of what we have accomplished is a result of the kindness and abilities of those around us for which we are extremely thankful.
So for now, I am going to sink into oblivion, learn to breathe through my mouth and generally milk this cold for all it’s worth. Ann is one who has many skills to help people out and I’m counting on her for comfort and support during the next few days. But I think her perceptiveness will set some appropriate limits on any subterfuge, particularly as we have a busy time for the weekend ahead and she is in the middle of a final paper for university.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday February 8, 2009
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23.
These must be some of the greatest words ever penned, as Jeremiah faced Jerusalem devastated by war and he gazed on the misery around him. Recent pictures of Gaza give some idea, but in Jerusalem then, the extent of the desolation and lack of any humanitarian aid, caused women to eat their babies. So Jeremiah’s words were ether great foolishness or great faith. You have to decide. It’s easy to have faith in the good times, but the faith of many will be tested in the current economic turmoil. Rage against God or rest in him: what is your response?
Our time here in England with a missionary organization has made us some great friends. Some of the folk working here face the most difficult circumstances. One family faces the eventual death of their two sons as a result of a genetic disease. The father has already given one kidney to lengthen one son’s life. Another wife is dealing with the deteriorating mental stability of her husband which is creating chaos in the home. Yet in both instances, their outward demeanour shows nothing of the agony within. Is their dependence on God faith or folly?
The impending surgery for my prostate cancer that Ann and I face pales in comparison to the horrendous challenges others face. Yet every setback in life raises the same question: Am I willing to trust God to take me through? Will it drive me away from God or draw me closer to him? For Jeremiah and countless others in Scripture and down through the centuries, there was no other recourse. The one who created and cares for us; who became human and died for us, can be the only ultimate resource for our ills. Every other course is a dead end and makes no sense. Where else can we go but to the one who has life and eternity in his hands?
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:21-23.
These must be some of the greatest words ever penned, as Jeremiah faced Jerusalem devastated by war and he gazed on the misery around him. Recent pictures of Gaza give some idea, but in Jerusalem then, the extent of the desolation and lack of any humanitarian aid, caused women to eat their babies. So Jeremiah’s words were ether great foolishness or great faith. You have to decide. It’s easy to have faith in the good times, but the faith of many will be tested in the current economic turmoil. Rage against God or rest in him: what is your response?
Our time here in England with a missionary organization has made us some great friends. Some of the folk working here face the most difficult circumstances. One family faces the eventual death of their two sons as a result of a genetic disease. The father has already given one kidney to lengthen one son’s life. Another wife is dealing with the deteriorating mental stability of her husband which is creating chaos in the home. Yet in both instances, their outward demeanour shows nothing of the agony within. Is their dependence on God faith or folly?
The impending surgery for my prostate cancer that Ann and I face pales in comparison to the horrendous challenges others face. Yet every setback in life raises the same question: Am I willing to trust God to take me through? Will it drive me away from God or draw me closer to him? For Jeremiah and countless others in Scripture and down through the centuries, there was no other recourse. The one who created and cares for us; who became human and died for us, can be the only ultimate resource for our ills. Every other course is a dead end and makes no sense. Where else can we go but to the one who has life and eternity in his hands?
Friday, February 6, 2009
Saturday February 7, 2009
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour. Proverbs 12:24.
We are all leaders in some way, and how far our influence spreads depends on whether we take our leadership seriously or not. To abdicate that leadership, especially in our families, is likely to make us—and what is worse, our children also—followers of destructive and manipulating influences from elsewhere. Yet how we extend our influence still remains something of a mystery to me.
Our three daughters live in eastern and western Canada and New Zealand, major distances apart. But having just spent eight days together with them, for us the most rewarding part was watching their interaction and obvious love for each other and their lavish appreciation for Ann and I. Seeing the breakup, anger and upset that so many other families endure, I wonder why ours should be so close knit.
It is all too easy to commend ourselves, the ideal upbringing we accomplished, and above all our commitment to our Christian faith as the reason. But any diligence we may have practiced cannot be the final answer. For one thing, there are many parents that have a greater commitment to these ideals than we and have still suffered broken relationships. Also, there is always the regret that we failed in so many areas in our children’s growth. I’m sure that most parents feel this and their children will enlighten them if they don’t!
Mystified as I am with this process, it simply reflects that finally God is a mystery. In fact, that mystery is the source of all vitality and meaning in this life. The one thing I do know is that to raise children to be happy and productive adults is beyond our ability, they will make their own decisions despite our care for them. We can only aim to be good parents and then pray and trust God to oversee our children whatever the outcome.
Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour. Proverbs 12:24.
We are all leaders in some way, and how far our influence spreads depends on whether we take our leadership seriously or not. To abdicate that leadership, especially in our families, is likely to make us—and what is worse, our children also—followers of destructive and manipulating influences from elsewhere. Yet how we extend our influence still remains something of a mystery to me.
Our three daughters live in eastern and western Canada and New Zealand, major distances apart. But having just spent eight days together with them, for us the most rewarding part was watching their interaction and obvious love for each other and their lavish appreciation for Ann and I. Seeing the breakup, anger and upset that so many other families endure, I wonder why ours should be so close knit.
It is all too easy to commend ourselves, the ideal upbringing we accomplished, and above all our commitment to our Christian faith as the reason. But any diligence we may have practiced cannot be the final answer. For one thing, there are many parents that have a greater commitment to these ideals than we and have still suffered broken relationships. Also, there is always the regret that we failed in so many areas in our children’s growth. I’m sure that most parents feel this and their children will enlighten them if they don’t!
Mystified as I am with this process, it simply reflects that finally God is a mystery. In fact, that mystery is the source of all vitality and meaning in this life. The one thing I do know is that to raise children to be happy and productive adults is beyond our ability, they will make their own decisions despite our care for them. We can only aim to be good parents and then pray and trust God to oversee our children whatever the outcome.
Friday February 6, 2009
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6.
Well, the week of our family reunion in England is over, and we have several hundred pictures to help us old folk remember it! What do I remember most? Most recent in my memory are the trips to Heathrow airport to ferry them back to their planes. Long traffic delays on one day that threatened to miss a flight, and a fast run the next in rain and fog! Alex’s flight to Montreal delayed a day because of weather. Sufficient frustration to make the text above meaningful. Bad weather is threatening again so I’m glad all the girls and their escorts are back safely.
But those aren’t the significant memories that will linger for a lifetime. Here are some: the generous use of a nine seat van that would take us all to visit the places of our childhood and early married life; eating together in a restaurant overlooking the beaches where we “courted”; watching the girls interact during and after meals (they all live great distances apart); and above all the warmth we felt in our renewed but short-lived family circle.
We spent time with our nearest relatives and also had a wider family “open house” where we contacted many family members unseen for many years, and with whom we plan to keep in touch. We were reminded again of the goodness of God in providing us with the growing family that we enjoy so deeply.
It was a busy time, Ann for the last few days throwing up occasionally and feeling weak. Some days we were busy from 5.00 am until late in the evening to maintain our responsibilities at the guest house and participate in family activities. We now have a break for a few days before it gets busy again. Time to recuperate, for Ann to catch up on her university work and for me to respond to some publishing needs—and perhaps be more regular in my blogs!
But the effort expended is less likely to be recalled in the light of the marvellous time we had—thanks to the willingness of our daughters and latest grandson and our granddaughter and husband, who all made the considerable effort and cost to join us. We love you all dearly.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6.
Well, the week of our family reunion in England is over, and we have several hundred pictures to help us old folk remember it! What do I remember most? Most recent in my memory are the trips to Heathrow airport to ferry them back to their planes. Long traffic delays on one day that threatened to miss a flight, and a fast run the next in rain and fog! Alex’s flight to Montreal delayed a day because of weather. Sufficient frustration to make the text above meaningful. Bad weather is threatening again so I’m glad all the girls and their escorts are back safely.
But those aren’t the significant memories that will linger for a lifetime. Here are some: the generous use of a nine seat van that would take us all to visit the places of our childhood and early married life; eating together in a restaurant overlooking the beaches where we “courted”; watching the girls interact during and after meals (they all live great distances apart); and above all the warmth we felt in our renewed but short-lived family circle.
We spent time with our nearest relatives and also had a wider family “open house” where we contacted many family members unseen for many years, and with whom we plan to keep in touch. We were reminded again of the goodness of God in providing us with the growing family that we enjoy so deeply.
It was a busy time, Ann for the last few days throwing up occasionally and feeling weak. Some days we were busy from 5.00 am until late in the evening to maintain our responsibilities at the guest house and participate in family activities. We now have a break for a few days before it gets busy again. Time to recuperate, for Ann to catch up on her university work and for me to respond to some publishing needs—and perhaps be more regular in my blogs!
But the effort expended is less likely to be recalled in the light of the marvellous time we had—thanks to the willingness of our daughters and latest grandson and our granddaughter and husband, who all made the considerable effort and cost to join us. We love you all dearly.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Monday February 2, 2009
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24.
Christmas comes but once a year, but real snow comes to Britain only every twenty years. Then place a little snow on the ground and everything comes to a standstill. For the last 24 hours, London was without buses, many roads were closed, rail service sharply disrupted and airports shut down. Reminds me a bit of Vancouver. They have the same mentality—a denial that winter really goes there! To be fair, the snow is the wet slippery kind that keeps the wheels spinning by day and handily freezes overnight. We trust that everything will be back to normal on Wednesday when the girls fly home.
It certainly disrupted plans for our girls who had booked for a trip to France via the channel tunnel. Instead we opted for a together time close to home, a chance to catch up on some reading and photo swapping. If the last several days have been a race to run, we have certainly felt the energy expended, but also the exhilaration of achievement. Today, was a breather, we felt more like the tortoise than the hare. For us, to complete the race is more important than winning.
There is always something each day to keep the back burner alight in relation to my prostate cancer—another race that needs to be completed. Today I had confirmation of surgery at the Lethbridge regional hospital for March 30, 2009. We arrive home on March 11, so a few days to prepare. We both feel that this will probably be our last trip of this type to England—we are getting too old for this game! Mind you, we’ve said similar things before, but adventure still calls.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24.
Christmas comes but once a year, but real snow comes to Britain only every twenty years. Then place a little snow on the ground and everything comes to a standstill. For the last 24 hours, London was without buses, many roads were closed, rail service sharply disrupted and airports shut down. Reminds me a bit of Vancouver. They have the same mentality—a denial that winter really goes there! To be fair, the snow is the wet slippery kind that keeps the wheels spinning by day and handily freezes overnight. We trust that everything will be back to normal on Wednesday when the girls fly home.
It certainly disrupted plans for our girls who had booked for a trip to France via the channel tunnel. Instead we opted for a together time close to home, a chance to catch up on some reading and photo swapping. If the last several days have been a race to run, we have certainly felt the energy expended, but also the exhilaration of achievement. Today, was a breather, we felt more like the tortoise than the hare. For us, to complete the race is more important than winning.
There is always something each day to keep the back burner alight in relation to my prostate cancer—another race that needs to be completed. Today I had confirmation of surgery at the Lethbridge regional hospital for March 30, 2009. We arrive home on March 11, so a few days to prepare. We both feel that this will probably be our last trip of this type to England—we are getting too old for this game! Mind you, we’ve said similar things before, but adventure still calls.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Saturday January 31, 2009
May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, Ps 69:6
Well, it’s been a week since I last put pen to paper—er—fingers to keys. It’s been a hectic but delightful time, most days from 5 am to 10 pm or later to ensure a time together with our family from various parts of the world, and at the same time keep the guest house running that we are responsible for.
It started when we left home at 5 am on Tuesday to pick up Alex and her two year old from Heathrow airport, and then met our daughters Heather and Karen in the evening that my sister had later picked up from the same airport. That evening was supper at Christine’s, a friend who has kindly hosted our family in her 300 year old Smithy Cottage.
Wednesday was a slow day allowing for jetlag, and our granddaughter and husband joined us in Brighton that evening for supper at my sister’s house. Thursday we toured many of the places that Ann and I haunted during our “courting” and early married days. Supper that night was at with our niece Becky, her husband Andy and their two boys. It was Andy’s birthday.
Friday was a day for the boys—Alex’s Luciano and Becky’s two, Louis 5 years and James 3. And Matt, our granddaughter Jenny’s husband was clearly one of the boys too. That evening we finished up at Christine’s again. This time it was a birthday supper for her!
Saturday, was a reunion for all our local relatives, about thirty or so joining us in the afternoon for an open house. For me, the morning was another run to Heathrow to drop off Matt and Jenny. It will be church tomorrow morning, and another couple of days after before our next run to the airport to return our daughters to their respective homelands and husbands.
If this has you confused, we are not much less so, but excited that all has gone more or less according to plan and we have accomplished much of what we all felt was important. But in all this, we stop for a moment to ask ourselves the question implicit in today’s text: Have we been a good witness for our Lord?
May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, Ps 69:6
Well, it’s been a week since I last put pen to paper—er—fingers to keys. It’s been a hectic but delightful time, most days from 5 am to 10 pm or later to ensure a time together with our family from various parts of the world, and at the same time keep the guest house running that we are responsible for.
It started when we left home at 5 am on Tuesday to pick up Alex and her two year old from Heathrow airport, and then met our daughters Heather and Karen in the evening that my sister had later picked up from the same airport. That evening was supper at Christine’s, a friend who has kindly hosted our family in her 300 year old Smithy Cottage.
Wednesday was a slow day allowing for jetlag, and our granddaughter and husband joined us in Brighton that evening for supper at my sister’s house. Thursday we toured many of the places that Ann and I haunted during our “courting” and early married days. Supper that night was at with our niece Becky, her husband Andy and their two boys. It was Andy’s birthday.
Friday was a day for the boys—Alex’s Luciano and Becky’s two, Louis 5 years and James 3. And Matt, our granddaughter Jenny’s husband was clearly one of the boys too. That evening we finished up at Christine’s again. This time it was a birthday supper for her!
Saturday, was a reunion for all our local relatives, about thirty or so joining us in the afternoon for an open house. For me, the morning was another run to Heathrow to drop off Matt and Jenny. It will be church tomorrow morning, and another couple of days after before our next run to the airport to return our daughters to their respective homelands and husbands.
If this has you confused, we are not much less so, but excited that all has gone more or less according to plan and we have accomplished much of what we all felt was important. But in all this, we stop for a moment to ask ourselves the question implicit in today’s text: Have we been a good witness for our Lord?
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