The Vow

Around the table [another lent meditation]

I'm convinced the most important piece of furniture, at home or in the church, is the table around which the family gathers for meals. While growing up at home, we always, or as much as possible, gathered around the table for the evening meal. Rare was the time when that didn't happen, and if it didn't it was because of an emergency or dad worked overtime. There we enjoyed the company of the whole family; laughed and discussed the deep issues of life that were troubling us. Yet sometimes there was as much conflict as comfort, sibling rivalry between my sister and me; correction and direction that needed to be meated out. But regardless of the atmosphere, prayer always began our meal, and somehow we always got through it knowing the bottom line was family was greater than anything else.

So its still a great joy when family gets together around the table ... its a special time!Its a special time in the church family also. Matter of fact our common table sits right in the center of our worship space, and has the words "In Remembrance Of Me." Its no coincidence that the greatest tool Jesus left us, that brings both memories and promises, is a table laden with bread and juice. Table fellowship is crucial to the lifeblood of our church family.

Yesterday I rejoiced as we shared, after AM Worship, a "homemade bread and stew" luncheon. The food was good, but the fellowship was even better; yet it always saddens my heart to see anyone eating alone, so my meal is always more of a hit and miss, as I nibble from chair to chair; something my mother certainly would not have allowed. Even in our church family we don't always see eye to eye, and sometimes conflict seems to take priority over comfort., tensions seem to strain everyone's nerves and stretch our patience ... in those times we look again to the table in the sanctuary.

This Wednesday, Ash Wednesday, we'll gather around another table, same motto, different style, and we'll celebrate the beginning of this Lenten Journey. We'll start the route back to where it all took place - the cross; the road back will hold many memories, and perhaps even create some future ones. Though the path will be well trodden, there will be new challenges if we dare to open the eyes of our heart, and block out the cacophony of noises from the world. We'll share some selected scriptures, lift our voices of praise, we'll receive the Sign of the Cross in Ashes, and then we'll eat and drink together his symbols of love and grace and promise. And we will all be reminded again, that which makes us family is far more important than the issues of life that would divide us - we're blood relatives, through His blood.

The Station

Good morning.
Last night was my first Hastings City Library Board meeting since Mayor Bob had appointed me this past Dec. to the council. I really enjoyed the meeting, although I wasn't up to speed on half that went on .... but nonetheless, my fellow Board members are really nice people and have a 'community' love at heart that is refreshing.

In doing a little research on our town early this morning I came across a poem, "The Station," quoted by our recently retired Judge Fisher. I've really enjoyed this poem because of its 'transcendence' of going from one phase of life to another, knowing that no phase is permanent, only eternity is. A few points of interest before I share a portion of that poem with you. The author's name is Dr. Robert J. Hastings; no no ties to Hastings, he was born, lived in Illinois. The author was a writer for Broadman Christian press. Some artist drew a train depot on the same paper as the poem and in many ways it looks like our old train depot on Apple Street ............. now maybe these are coincidences or I'm just seeing things. I guess the older you get the more you see things more thru the lens of what you want to see!

Here's the part of the poem I really enjoy:
Sooner or later we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an illusion ... it
constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrows
a faint sunrise. Only today is there light enough to love and live.
So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of
today that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow.
Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24
'This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.'"
http://www.thestationessay.com/

Rejoice now, there is a divine reason why God has chosen life for you today!
HIS peace
pt.

Lenten devotional

Its not the ideal place to begin one's career, or ministry, or business. No one would chose a lonely, desolate place to celebrate a high water event, especially after a spiritual mountain top experience. Nonetheless Peterson interprets Mark as saying that "this same Spirit pushed Jesus into the wild." [Mark 1:9-13] At best it's as though Jesus had to be persuaded somewhat against his will to enter the desert. But who can blame Jesus, this becoming 'human' was proving to be not such an around great thing. First, in polite society, he was said to have been born in a barn, then because of him the family had to flee to Egypt for a number of his early formative years before returning to Israel. Its seemed no one understood his true mission in life, and his family wasn't exactly excited about his leaving home to hunt up his erratic, unstable cousin John, who himself lived in the wilderness.

Though he certainly wasn't about to disobey his Father's will, he was a bit perplexed as to what the desert and wild beasts would have to do with his growing into "humanity." But it had certainly been reassuring to have had his Father just moment's earlier publicly proclaim
his joy and affirmation of Jesus' progress. Maybe this desert thing wouldn't be so bad?!

As we journey into this new week perhaps the greatest beast we will face will the unknown.
But the promise we have is that our heavenly Father is with us, he knows the route we're to take, plus Christ has already traveled it, and we know the HOly Spirit will never lead us astray. Maybe I should learn to enjoy the desert, rest my care in God's hands and be more
quick to obey. No one said it was going to be easy growing into my spiritual maturity.

A New Home

Last week I had to tell my mother that she would be taking up a new residence the last of this week in a nursing home. Of course this is not good news for anyone, especially for a woman that for the last 25yrs. has come and gone when she pleased, and gone where ever she wished .... but the time is at hand. According to all my relatives [her 98yr old mother, brother, sister and my wife, and my neice]I'm about a year late in making the decision. This past weekend her younger sister stayed with her which helped to convince her, though it didn't lessen her fears, it was time to find residence in the nursing home.

I know that this in no way pleases mom, but its come to that phase in life when I must, for her safety and well-being, make the hard choices. It reminds me of when I would have to make a decision for my kids well being when it was the opposite of what they wished, and in many ways what I would have wished for them. I was still holding on to the hope that there were other options available until I had a nerve-racking experience when I stayed with her last week - it totally convinced me there was no choice any longer.

With great anxiety I fear the coming moving days; for a couple of days I had such an upset stomach I couldn't keep anything down, but that seems to have settled. This morning mom just cried on the phone; and tonight she acted distant - quite distant, and this I never really expected, but I guess its part of that hated transition. Its almost as though she fears the whole world is against her, and I can't get her to see that there's new possibilities in this aging phase of her life.
But I'll keep trying.

"Slash and Burn"

Another classic by Colin Cotterill in his "Dr.Siri" series set in Laos. Colin lives in Thailand with his wife. I think there is a lot of subterfuge about how government quite often deceives the people it serves. Aside from that this thriller is very good, and involves old Dr.Siri's new wife in a mystery. But I must say I'm more than ready for the author to take us to new places and new incidents .............. then he did! For it seems our ageless coroner at last has some information to keep the troublesome judge Haeng off his back - at least for awhile! I look forward to the next book.
Cotterill, Colin. "Slash and Burn" 2011 New York, New York. Solo Press,Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-61695-116-0
ENJOY

Let me in!!

A couple weeks ago I went home for my regular weekly visit. Arriving home after a two hour road trip, the front light was on so I figured mom was waiting for me. Upon approaching the front door I found the opposite ... mom was not up, and had forgotten that I was coming.

For 50 minutes I banged on the front door, her bedroom window, and kept calling her phone. I heard the phone ringing at her bedside, and finally began to panic....was she just deep in sleep; had she suffered a stroke, or worst of all "was she even alive?" Finally, about to back out of the driveway and go to the police station she answered the phone. Mom is always confused when woke up from a deep sleep. She approached the front door and asked who was there, I replied, "Timm." Timm who? she asked. Finally I convinced her I was her son, and then she said, "I can't unlock the door, I don't know where my keys are." Once inside she told me, "I know you're not going to believe this, but a lady was in here talking to me about ten minutes ago!" You're right I said, I can't believe you because I've been outside trying to get in, so unless this lady was a ghost she wasn't here. But I was too shook, and tired to talk this one out .... so I just said, "Mom, lets go to sleep, and we'll talk about it in the morning." This is just further evidence that that inevitable day when mom
must go to a care facitilty is fast approaching.

This is one of those life experiences that you can plan for; mom long ago purchased nursing home insurance, and even told me when the time is upon us to let her know. But planning is good, but actually beginning the process is hell. I know mom knows her mind is playing tricks on her, and memory hardly exist; but she's also distraught to think the time is near. It's also a life experience no child wants to
go through, and until you do, you never know all the 'invariable' this journey involves. I know that it's not going to get any easier, I just pray it gets less complicated and somewhat smoother.

"May I have the first dance!"

This would be my first dance ever. Oh, I went to my Senior Prom, but with a group of guys, and never had a dance. In my elementary years my parents had signed waivers so that I didn't have to attend P.E. classes when dance was taught. I come from a rather strict Amish-Mennonite background; and my first 'real' dates took place after h.s. graduation. So I was a bit mystified and terrified when I accepted my 8yr. old granddaughters invitation to take her to the annual "Brownie Dance!" Was I going to make a fool of myself and embarrass my granddaughter, would I stumble over her feet, or worse yet step on them. Finally the pressure became too much and so I consulted a couple buddies of mine in church who were veterans of these brownie dances. Don't worry Rob told me, once you get there the girls all get together and have a great time and the adult men just stand around and talk about weather, sports etc.

Was that ever misguided information. My precious granddaughter, who made Jon Benet look like a runner up, in her new black dress with a white lily collar wasn't about to let Grandpa feel like a wall flower. After a wonderful, interesting meal at Paniera's we arrived at the dance. Then they took our picture, and I'm really starting feel like something special by now. Once inside the gym my granddaughter saw a friend and rushed over to greet her, then she remembered she was with Gramps. Hurrying back to my side, she apologized for leaving me alone; I was floored by the sincere concern that she had left me on my own - wasn't it suppose to be the other way around. For the next hour and half she rarely left my side, even bringing me desserts and water from time to time... if this was what "going to the dance" was all about I had missed a lot in my school years! Of course, those young ladies would have had a challenge in competing with my granddaughter. What an experience for grandpa's to dance with their young g.daughters, tears gathering in your eyes as they look into yours - the innocence, the trust, the love.

Finally as the last half hour started, my granddaughter looked at me and said, "Gramps, I'm going to spend some time with my two friends on the dance floor, and this would probably be a good time for the adults to take a break!" Do ya think, I wanted to shout?????? .... if only this idea had occurred to her a half hour sooner; I smiled and tried to put on a little disappointed look, but I think I failed .. and
she happily skipped off to dance away the last half hour with friends, while I held her shoes and reflected over the night's adventure. It took little reflection for me to know that "I wouldn't have traded this night for Anything!" I hadn't tripped over, or stepped on her feet [okay, I stepped on her foot one time], or fell down. But I had certainly moved parts I'd forgotten were attached, and delighted to find out some rusty, creeky parts still moved.
Dancing with granddaughters isn't so scarry, if anything its beyond imagining!

One Amazing Thing

As mom and I were waiting in the lounge area while uncle
Denny and Grama B were in with the doctor, a lady walked
by, stopped right in front of me and said, “Stay there, don’t
move!” in a nice but determined manner. I looked at mom
and asked if I looked sick …. What was going on, why would
a lady I didn’t know, suddenly stop, look directly at me and
demand I not leave??

After a few minutes she returned, stood in front of me and
said, “You don’t recognize me, do you?” ….. then after a
few seconds I replied, “Jackie?!” Yes she said, and after
giving her a hug we became reacquainted. Jackie was the
day care office manager I had hired; and by far the best office
manager I’ve ever known! Jackie and her husband
Glenn had become great friends of Sherry & I, as we worshiped
together in the same church the day care was a part of.
After exchanging pleasantries and inquiring about her sons
Jason & Caleb, I told her that earlier, in the fall, I had seen her
cooking entries at the county fair. She said to be sure and tell
Sherry hi, and left. I am so glad she recognized me, for I would
have smiled and not spoken to her. She said I looked so much
like my dad, to which mom said after she left, “I don’t think
you look like your father, do you?” “Well mom, I replied,
just about everyone else, including Sherry says that I do!”
Perhaps mom doesn’t wish me to look like my father? Though
I sincerely doubt there is an ounce of jealousy, with dad and my
sister gone, looking like my father is too close to her feeling
alone? Mom often times says, ‘she feels alone’ or ‘if grandma
were to die she’d be alone’ and I must remind her I’m still here,
and so are two of her brothers and younger sister, a tribe of
grandchildren and many friends. However I’m slowly realizing
what mom may really be talking about is the intimacy of her
relationships … especially with a memory that continues to rob
her not only of what used to be, but perhaps what never was??

Stqy there - don't move

As mom and I were waiting in the lounge area while uncle
Denny and Grama B were in with the doctor, a lady walked
by, stopped right in front of me and said, “Stay there, don’t
move!” in a nice but determined manner. I looked at mom
and asked if I looked sick …. What was going on, why would
a lady I didn’t know, suddenly stop, look directly at me and
demand I not leave??

After a few minutes she returned, stood in front of me and
said, “You don’t recognize me, do you?” ….. then after a
few seconds I replied, “Jackie?!” Yes she said, and after
giving her a hug we became reacquainted. Jackie was the
day care office manager I had hired; and by far the best office
manager I’ve ever known! Jackie and her husband
Glenn had become great friends of Sherry & I, as we worshiped
together in the same church the day care was a part of.
After exchanging pleasantries and inquiring about her sons
Jason & Caleb, I told her that earlier, in the fall, I had seen her
cooking entries at the county fair. She said to be sure and tell
Sherry hi, and left. I am so glad she recognized me, for I would
have smiled and not spoken to her. She said I looked so much
like my dad, to which mom said after she left, “I don’t think
you look like your father, do you?” “Well mom, I replied,
just about everyone else, including Sherry says that I do!”
Perhaps mom doesn’t wish me to look like my father? Though
I sincerely doubt there is an ounce of jealousy, with dad and my
sister gone, looking like my father is too close to her feeling
alone? Mom often times says, ‘she feels alone’ or ‘if grandma
were to die she’d be alone’ and I must remind her I’m still here,
and so are two of her brothers and younger sister, a tribe of
grandchildren and many friends. However I’m slowly realizing
what mom may really be talking about is the intimacy of her
relationships … especially with a memory that continues to rob
her not only of what used to be, but perhaps what never was??

"PRAYERS FOR SALE" ... a review

“Prayers for Sale”
How many of us, at difficult times in our lives, would have given everything we owned to have someone pray for us with full confidence their prayer[s] were always answered? What in the beginning chapters of this book appears to be just a hoax turns out to be one of the most important ingredients of this book. The author presents us with a story where prayers are that subtle subject that in many ways controls the outward circumstances. Though I am not one for ‘feel good’ endings,in this novel those endings seem like they might never come about, and are genuinely welcome in the end; for they have been earned.

For the ‘first’ time I can recall I read this book one chapter every night,wanting to savor not the action but each character’s plight. When I was about four chapters from the conclusion I couldn’t hold back my interest a day longer and finished it. This is definitely an amazing book that talks about building relationships in a hostile atmosphere, and forgiving others when it’s the last thing you ever plan on doing. I look forward to reading the author’s other books.
ENJOY!
DALLAS, Sandra. “Prayers for Sale” New York, New York.
St.Martins Press. 2009 ISBN: 978031238518-7

Meaner than a Snake!!

“He’s Meaner Than A Snake”
That’s what great aunt Alice used to say about him!
I’m going to call him Herman, not because I don’t like the name, but simply because I don’t feel free to use his real name, was the father of a good friend of mine and one of the nastiest neighbors I’ve ever known.
Herman was a very dark figure and had moved to our town from a nearby
larger town. Herman’s first wife had died under mysterious circumstances
as it was well known that he had beat her often.
His second wife was a lot younger than he was, only a few years older
than his son who had been born by his first wife. One day Herman found
out that his son was having an affair with his young wife and threw his wife
out even though she was pregnant, with her the young child they had had
while he was married to his first wife. Now here’s another mystery, I never
had any idea there was an older son than the friend I grew up with, for he
and his sister never mentioned an older brother; unless my friend was the
son? Herman then had a third wife, and it too became rather common
knowledge that he frequently would beat her; and was suspected in her
death but never formally accused. There were many who thought that
Herman’s wealth and vast property holdings were the result of his inheritance from his wives??. He was very frugal and ended up paying
The government for eleven years of shorting the government w/ a devise
he had rigged up in his garage that keep the voltage meter less than it
should have been. Herman was tight, he was cruel and he worked at the
factory where my uncle was a foreman and for a while my mother worked
at. My uncle said that Herman had no friends because he alientated himself
by his cruelty.
What initiated this discussion was that while visiting my grandma at the
nursing home, his daughter stopped by and said hi. It was good to see her
after so many years. Later my uncle told me that she was the only one he
knew that Herman was half-decent to – and now she would ultimately
make the decision where he would live …. Gram said most of the nurses
at the home hoped he’d go home or somewhere!
Here is another mystery; my uncle Sammy [bro. of earlier uncle, and a
fictious name] became a good friend to Herman. Uncle Sam lived in the
old house where I grown up most of school years [we had moved to the
other end of the street by then], across street from Herman.
So Herman now resides a couple doors down, on the same side of the hall
as gram …. She has already begun to accumulate some stories!

"The Kommandant's Girl"

A book review
“the Kommandant’s Girl” by Pam Jenoff
In the early 70’s as I began my journey into the study of Psychology,
Thinking that I might become a Christan Psychologist, I remember that
one of the hot button topics was ‘situation ethics.’ What might we do in
desperate times for our own, or a family/friends survival that in normal
times we would consider unethical and/or immoral?
I think that this book centers around that question as the author introduces
us to a Polish Jewess Emma Bau. Though Emma is a fictional character
there were undoubtedly many Jews in occupied Nazi territory who faced
the same survival choices. How could she work for the very government
that was enslaving and murdering her people in concentration camps?
Didn’t the fact that she was able to supply the Resistance with information
justify her sleeping with the Nazi kommandant? Didn’t her close relationship with the commandant keep a young boy, the son of a famous
rabbi, safe? Wouldn’t her husband, Jacob, a member of the Resistance want
her to make this difficult decision to keep herself alive, so that if they
should both survive the holocaust, they could be together again?
Was it sheer coincidence that before I read this book, I had watched a
series on ‘Nazi Collaborators’ on the history channel; and that one French
collaborator justified his turning over many jews to the Nazi on the basis
that he was able to keep from fulfilling the numbers demanded by Hitler
and thus safe at least a few. Although towards the end of the war the continued discrepancy between what was demanded and what was handed
over became almost non existent, and he was finally corrupted by the need
to survive himself.
I think this book challenges us to be extra sensitive to how we view
history, and those caught up in radical circumstances, in the end to
evaluate our own daily lives …. And are there exceptions we make for
ourselves that we would condemn others for? I thoroughly enjoyed the book
and even though it has a ‘hollywoodish’ ending, it still leaves you with the
challenges and Emma Bau with an uncertain future. Oh, did I mention that
in the process Emma Bau gets pregnant – whose baby was it, the kommandant’s or Jacobs, when he had been able to sneak a couple days
visit with her at his aunt’s house where she lived??? I guess that depends
on we evaluate the book …………….. ah, hah, the author got us in the end!
JENOFF, Pam. “the Kommandant’s Girl” Ontario, Canda. MIRA Publ. 2007 ISBN: 13:978-0-7783-2342-6

Ohio's Civil War Generals

Ohio’s Unknown Generals.
The Willaims County Historical Society was holding its Annual Banquet
and Meeting. The featured speaker was a Mr. Mark Holbrook, who is a
rather famous Ohio Historian and Civil War Re-enactor. Being a Society
member and spending the month’s sabbatical with my mother in my hometown I decided to attend. Though the meal was a little less than
desirous, I was grateful for it, but to my delight the Speaker was great.

I learned many things, both about men from Ohio who fought in the
Civil War and their lives stories, which were both great and sorrowful. But
perhaps the thing that intrigued me the most was a man named William
Burnham Woods. William also had a brother Charles, who fought in the
Civil War on the Union side and became a general also.

Now William fought alongside General Sherman in his march to the sea, and
enjoyed the South so much that when the Civil War was over he returned to
settle in Alabama. The precise location was Bentonville, now known as the
hometown of Walmarts. William also married the daughter of Senator Warner from Alabama. Gen. Wm. turned out to be the first post civil war
U.S. Supreme Court Justice from the South.

The interesting thing about Gen. Woods is that my oldest daughter’s husband’s last name is Woods, and he, and his relatives hail from Alabama;
So one of my genealogical searches is going to be to see if my son-in-law
Is related to the Northern General……………….wouldn’t that take the cake;
A proud old southern family - descendants of a northern yankee!