Shade Tree Wisdom 11/19/07, Remembrance on Birthday

And what a birthday it was, starting during the week early when son Dan gave his birthday call, early because he had to be out of the country on the day. Even before that when daughter Q came for an overnight, left us with a chicken pot pie ready to heat and serve.

Then, on the Wednesday before, we had lunch with two ladies whom I had confirmed in Michigan in their teens. One, now living in Texas had a son being married, and her sister came for this happy event. Then they got on the phone and set up a lunch date. What a refreshing thing, reminiscing and talking about their plans and families.

On my birthday our daughter and so-in-law came up from Houston and took us out to lunch. They brought along an edible arrangement. That’s a bouquet of fruit, melons, grapes, strawberries, and pineapple, arranged like a flower bouquet, Nice looking, and tasty too.

And the cards, the emails, and phone calls, almost too many to track. What rich blessing.

Now what have I learned in these years. Here’s a thought I read in the paper, “A retiree is someone who knows it all, and has plenty of time to tell you about it.”

I see where we try to fit God into our lives, instead of the other way around. Writing a message is work. Oh, there are times when the writing just seems to flow, there are other times when finding just the right word or the fitting phrase takes real time and effort. Or chasing the elusive idea, or remembering the forgotten detail. The mind seems to work in fits and starts.

The Dutch have a saying, “He who is on the outside of his front door has the hardest part of his journey behind him.” It’s that way with doing any task. The start is the hardest, so begin. It makes any task easier.

I have also learned it is better to take quiet action to solve a problem rather than allow it to fester and grow into a major danger to the Body of the Church. Really, it is better always to “forgive, as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you”.

Recently the Choir sang “I Am Forever Who I Am”. One of the stanzas reads:

“We buy and sell, we lose or gain. Our fortunes shift like sun or rain.
Sustain our lives, reward our toil, With bread and honey, wine or oil.
Save us and others from our greed, You give us always what we need,
I Am Forever whom I am… Be still, and know that I am God.”

The Psalmist declared, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere,. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the House of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84,10. So true. So, now that the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, then in mercy grant me, in Jesus Christ, a quiet rest, and eternal peace at the last.

GPD 11/19/07