Friday, October 28, 2011

The Clarificatiion

“Grandma, can we go on the carousel?”

“Emily, mommy told us not to ask,” her older sister Ashlyn admonished.

Undaunted, Emily continued. “Mommy said not to ask if we could go on the carousel. Mommy said not to ask if we could go on the train. Mommy didn’t say that we couldn’t go if someone asked us.”

While struggling to keep a straight face, I looked into her little face. Her five year old mind had the perfect solution. Listen to mommy but let grandma know that participating would be fine.

As adults don’t we sometimes use the same reasoning? The tax code didn’t actually mean that. No one at work said that it couldn’t be used at home. It wasn’t really a lie; he just didn’t ask that exact question. That wasn’t gossip; just a detailed prayer request.

Proverbs 16: 2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.

Dear Lord, guide me to do what is right and not twist the truth. Amen

Sunday, October 23, 2011

The Horrific Experience

While looking out the window, a terrible tragedy unfolded in front of me. With no warning, the roof and walls of a tall building collapsed by the power of a raging flash flood. I was paralyzed.

“We have to close the window!” I screamed.

Just as the latch snapped shut, water reached to the seventh story window and continued rising. Like staring into a gigantic aquarium, I peered through the window in disbelief. An awful realization hit.

“We’re trapped. How can we get out?” I wailed.

Before I could devise a plan or faint from fright, the nightmare ended. For several minutes, the horrific scene played over and over in my mind.

Before bed the night before, the evening news showed the horrendous crash of a stage at the Indiana State Fair. While the reporter told the details, the shocking scene played over and over. The tragic event caused a heavy heart for the victims, their friends and families. My home state grieved. So did I.

Unconsciously, that horrific experience festered in my sleeping mind. Thankfully, the dream only occurred once but still had an impact.

Both good and bad experiences mold us. Whatever is allowed into our lives influences our thoughts and actions. A diet of trashy or violent movies, books, and computer sites can cause acceptance in real life. Cursing, sarcasm, and putdowns affect relationships. If all of this affects adults, think how it shapes children and young people. In our anything goes society, we are surrounded by unpleasant and disturbing events and situations. It takes an effort to ignore and avoid them.

Whatever is put inside rattles around and often comes out in unexpected, unhealthy ways. Garbage in. Garbage Out.

Proverbs 4: 14-15 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it.

Dear Lord, guide us and protect us from the evils of the world. Amen

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Tragic Secret

A long haired, young man lives in a rundown trailer with his grandmother and hordes of little cousins but hopes to become President. A teenaged girl wants to further her education but became a teenaged mother. An intelligent eleven year old was saved from suicide by her brother who found her hanging. Each one strives to escape the poverty and hopelessness of their culture.
With each story on 20/20 with Diane Sawyer, memories returned. I was there again. Though it had been a few years since my mission trip to the huge South Dakota Pine Ridge Reservation, conditions had not improved.
Excessive unemployment, rampant alcoholism, and extremely high numbers of diabetics plague Native Americans. When land was confiscated, their way of life disintegrated. The government yanked children from families and forced them into boarding schools to “civilize” them. Motivation and self respect declined. Little help was offered. Few seemed to care.
My eyes were opened during our week there. Our team was based at an isolated Christian school down a long dirt road. Part of our work included surveying families of children attending the school. The director wanted information so specific help could be given.
Some of the questions stunned me. We were in America not a third world country. Do you have electricity? Do you have running water?
Their answers appalled me. Some did not have electricity in their old trailers. Several also had no running water. How could they raise their children adequately without those necessities?
At a neatly kept home, my Native American companion and I entered the small living room. Smiling, but curious faces, welcomed us.
“How many people live here?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” the lady replied. Then she began counting. Finally, a large number was given.
Her home was in a well kept area but many weren’t. Scattered trailers dotted the rugged countryside. Old tires held down roofs. Government housing near Wounded Knee appeared to be in fairly good condition.
A sense of hopelessness and despair permeated much of the area. Though we met friendly, smiling people, stories abounded of unseen trials and difficulties. The recent 20/20 episode showed the country what we experienced on our church mission. Unfortunately, many other reservations have similar problems. The plight of Native Americans is a tragic secret to many Americans.
When homelessness in my county was exposed on 20/20 a few months ago, people responded. Work is being done to help. I pray that the same will happen for children on the reservations. Education, jobs, and programs for addictions will bring lasting change.
Go to www.abcnews.com and click on Diane Sawyer. There are video clips along with other information about the children, the reservation, and ways to help.
If anyone knows of groups there that are offering assistance, please let me know. I no longer have a contact in that area.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

We Need a Bible Story

“Grandma, let’s play a game,” said Ashlyn.
“You have to brush your teeth and get your pajamas on first. It’s almost time for you to go to bed,” I answered.
After a song and prayer, little Molly snuggled down with her pacifier and baby. Then I concentrated on the two older girls. I knew the game had to be short since I tried to follow their parents’ instructions on bedtimes.
“As soon as the game’s over, you have to go to bed,” I reminded them. I knew there was a routine of reading a book, singing, reading the Bible and praying but hoped they would forgo it since time was slipping away.
Our Uno game began. Emily and I gathered a fist full of cards while Ashlyn’s decreased. Then she had to draw, and I saw that the game would not end for their 8:30 bedtime.
“After one more round, we have to stop. Whoever has the least cards will win.”
Reluctantly, they agreed. Ashlyn won.
I hurried them off to bed and reminded them it was past 8:30. They scrambled to bed. I prayed and leaned over to kiss Emily. Ashlyn had to stretch down from her top bunk for a kiss.
The clock was blinking from an electrical outage. I had to fix that. The fan had to be turned on. Finally, the light went off.
“Goodnight, girls. It’s past your bedtime,” I repeated a few times.
With the door closed, I sighed. We were only a little late.
As I walked away, I heard a voice.
I opened the door. “You aren’t supposed to call me after you go to bed.”
“But grandma, we didn’t read a Bible story,” Ashlyn said sadly.
“We played a game and now it is time for bed,” I reminded them.
Stubbornly, Emily added, “I won’t go to sleep until mommy comes home and reads a Bible story.”
Knowing Emily’s determination, I relented. She would not go to sleep which would be worse than being a few more minutes late.
Three Bibles laid on their bookshelf. My mind searched for a short story.
“Grandma, the little Bible has stories that are only two pages,” Ashlyn said.
Quickly, I found the story of Noah which was appropriate after two days of continuous rain. The girls could have recited by heart the story and questions that followed. After reading the accompanying prayer, they were satisfied.
Two more kisses and the light went out. Two happy girls and a grandma who received another sermon from her granddaughters.
If only adults were so adamant and faithful in reading the Bible each night.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

A Modern Miracle

A handful of dirt. Spit. Mixed together a paste formed. An unsanitary, filthy concoction. The strange mess covered two sightless eyes. As it fell from the unseeing eyes, shadowy forms appeared. With another application, the world opened. The touch of a gentle hand transformed darkness into light. A healing miracle of Jesus over two thousand years ago.
Surrounded by black clad technicians, strange machinery, and the overhead lights, I lay on a table staring upward and wondering what I was doing. My doctor positioned my head and began his work and commentary.
“This will hold your eye open.”
“Stare at the green light.”
“You’ll feel some pressure.”
“One is done.”
His explanations helped. Before each step, I knew what to expect. With one finished, I knew it would not be much longer. My anxiety lessened.
“We’re done. You did great.”
Slowly I rose and walked to another room where Alan waited. In less than fifteen minutes, the procedure was over.
With blurry eyes, I scanned the room. My vision was worse than before the surgery. Would it get better?
Gradually, as the drops were absorbed, I could see more clearly.
More instructions.
“Follow the directions for the drops.”
“Wear dark glasses.”
“Put the shields on at night.”
“Come back in the morning for the follow-up.”
After an initial period of discomfort, I emerged from the blurry world. White blobs across the lake turned into ducks. Our T.V. became 3-D. Leaves appeared on faraway trees. All day I marveled at the changes.
For more than fifty years, glasses and contacts had been my constant companions. Fogged lenses, unclear, and missing contacts became part of my life. Phone calls were made. At church the story was related over and over. My new gift had to be shared.
Even though no grimy paste covered my eyes, a miracle happened. Modern inventions, capable assistants, and a competent doctor worked together to restore my sight. Some people only believe in Biblical miracles, but I believe that God still performs miracles today. The process may have changed but the results can be the same. How blessed I am for the gift of sight.

Mark 8: 22-25 and John 9: 1-12.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sight and the miracles performed in your name-even now. Amen

Friday, October 7, 2011

The Foghorn

Blarrrrrrre. Blarrrrrre.
Every few minutes the ship’s foghorn blasted through the dense fog. My world shrunk to only a few feet of ocean. From every window, a gray cloud obscured the view.
More booming. No dolphins or whales to watch. Even the sun retreated. My world closed around me.
Were other ships nearby? Would there be a collision? How could the captain maneuver safely?
Then I realized that the constant blaring alerted other ships to our location and was a source of protection. Instead of being a disturbance, the foghorn became a comfort. With the modern instruments and his knowledge, the Captain knew what to do to navigate the ship.
Sometimes lives are closed off by depression, grief, shame, guilt, rejection, or inadequacy. Stepping out into the uncertain fog of life seems too hard or even dangerous. Remaining isolated feels easier.
Like a foghorn, the Bible provides protection from the world. Jesus is the Captain who leads to make the voyage less frightening and the way more clear.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NIV)

Father, guide me through the fogs of life. Thank you for your Word. Amen

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

A Surprising Missionary

“Amen.”
Alan and I looked up to see who joined us in prayer. A blonde server smiled shyly. “Are you Christians?” she asked.
After we answered, she said she was too. Her story unfolded. She had attended a missionary school in Ukraine, affiliated with a school in Iowa, Alan’s home state. While at home in Ukraine, she was involved in clown ministry. She also worked as a missionary with Muslim children in Lebanon. Unfortunately, because of the poor economy, her support dwindled, and she returned home to Ukraine.
Her decision to work on a cruise ship came because she wanted to help her family. Most of her money was sent home to reduce medical bills from her father’s bout with cancer. Thankfully, her father recovered.
After only a short time onboard the ship, she realized that it was not for her. Many of the other crew did not share her Christian values. She missed fellowship with other Christians and wasn’t able to attend Bible studies because of her schedule. She longed to return to her work with children.
Her story touched us. Each day we talked as long as we could without keeping her from her duties. I gave her my daily devotionals, a Guidepost magazine, and a book of Psalms that I had brought to study.
After that first meeting, she explained what an encouragement we had been to her. We noticed that she smiled more and always stopped to talk.
The last night her dinner duty was behind the dessert buffet and not working the tables. After we talked for a minute, she said she would like to give me a hug but couldn’t because of her job. I gave her my email address and asked her to write.
A few minutes later while having a cup of tea, we looked up to see her beside us. Alan said, “She wants to give you a hug.”
I jumped up, and we hugged. After final goodbyes, she returned to her position.
Maybe we will hear from her and maybe we won’t. However, we know that seeds are planted without always seeing the fruits. Meeting and encouraging the young Ukrainian girl was a surprising mission for us. Learning about her mission to her family and to children was a blessing to us.
Opportunities to minister occur everywhere. That door opened when we said a prayer for our meal. What door will open next?

Hebrews 13: 16 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” NIV

Dear Lord, open my eyes to opportunities to minister each day. Thank you for the blessings of knowing people around the world. Amen