One Year Later

One year ago this evening while getting out of the car at my brother's house, I saw a scraggly, smelly, skinny, patchy-haired 4 legged creature with its nose down the grate near the curb I had pulled up to. Getting out of the car, I motioned toward the animal and said, "Who's that?" "Oh," he replied, "it's been hanging around here the last couple of days. I dunno where it came from." I paused to look at the dog and was a little repulsed by the sight. "Man", I thought. "That is one ugly mutt." I turned to walk away, but looked back. The dog had laid down by the grate in the yard and I walked toward it, curious. As I approached, she looked at me with sad dark eyes, the skin hanging loosely from her muzzle and gave a small twitch of her tail. She looked like she had just had pups, however her ribs were showing and obviously she was not in good nutritional health.

"She's awful. Let's put her in your backyard and I'll take her to the Humane Society tomorrow." I put a rope around her neck and tugged, and she followed me hesitantly, a little unsure if she could trust me. While we were waiting for dinner to be ready, I hopped in the car, and my husband looked at me incredulously. I asked him if he wanted to come along to get some dog food and he emphatically said, are you NUTS????

When I got back the dog gulped both cans of food down and drank a bowlful of water, then stood at the back patio door, her scrawny face peering through the glass. We ignored her while we ate, and I promised to return the next morning to take her away.

The next day my daughter and I returned. As we put her in the car we discussed what all could be wrong with her, and how much money it would take to fix her. I didn't even know what vet I could take her to on a Saturday. She offered her vet services, and wouldn't you know it, they were open. Wouldn't you know it, they could see her and evaluate her. We took her in, armed with a generous brother's financial aid and some money of my own.

I decided on the way over there that if she had heartworms, I was going to put her down. If she had mange, I wouldn't treat her. She had neither of those maladies, but a lot of other issues. Skin infection, mites, fleas, crusted over skin sores, seriously underweight, ear infection in both ears, a couple of small skin growths, broken and cracked teeth-the list grew. The vet saw signs of abuse and severe maltreatment.

I brought her home and I named her Lydia. I spent money on her I shouldn't have, but one year later, she is beautiful to me. She's gained 20 pounds. She's ornery. She's smart and she's just what I needed. She's learned to trust me, and does so implicitly. She's a member of my family, and she gets on the couch when I'm not home, but that's okay with me. I know that someday I'll face the heartbreak of laying her to rest-but you just do that when you take the risk to love and care for someone other than yourself.

In a very ordinary way, I rescued someone who needed me. How very much more does God do the same for us! How very much more does He love us, care for us, want us to trust Him implicitly, and yes, He longs for a relationship with us even when we're unlovable, stinky, hairless, and have all kinds of problems requiring all kinds of help. We're in the gutter, trying to survive on our own, and here He comes - He sees you and me as his children, with potential we don't even know we've got. Lessons from Lydia-I learn 'em every day. And I'm grateful for her and for Jay - I'm not sure why he thought I needed her, but as usual, he was right. Thanks brother, for your help a year ago-what did you see in that mangy scraggly animal that you thought I might need? One of these days you'll be learning your own lessons from someone God brings into your life-and I'll have the privilege of watching you do that.

You deserve a donut today

I was getting gas at the QT the other day when I noticed a sign in the parking lot. The sign featured a glazed donut, with these words: "Life is too short to eat oatmeal." What do you think about that? I, personally, was taken aback and a little, oh, not offended, but who do these people think they are? They are basically saying, you're going to die anyway, and maybe soon, so just enjoy yourself and have a fat and sugar-laden pastry while you're at it. Don't eat wholesome "boring" cooked oats. You deserve more! You deserve to get all the gusto you can get! After all, donuts can bring happiness and pleasure. You're going to work hard today-reward yourself!

Speaking of health issues, here's some things you don't want to hear during surgery:

"Rats! Page 47 of the manual is missing!"

"Don't worry. I think it's sharp enough."

"That's cool! Now can you make his leg twitch?"

"Ya know, there's big money in kidneys and this guy's got two healthy ones..."

"Hand me that...uh...thing-a-ma-jig."

"What's this doing in here?"

"There go the lights again."

And, here's some medical definitions:

Benign: What you be after you be eight.
Artery: The study of paintings.
Bacteria: Back door to cafeteria.
Dilate: To live long.
Labor Pain: Getting hurt at work.
Pelvis: Second cousin to Elvis.
Urine: Opposite of you're out.
Colic: A sheep dog.
Outpatient: A person who has fainted.

Expand your horizons

Two websites rapidly becoming my favorites and I check them every day:

www.earthshots.org

http://videos.komando.com

Earthshots is a photograph featured every day of places around the earth I'll never get to see-today's is a shot taken in the Swiss Alps. You can view photos of previous months by activating the slideshow feature. Clicking on photo details in the far right corner of the pic will tell you where it was taken, and it's interesting to read the comments about the picture from other photographers. There's something about it that transports me to another place for just a minute.

Videos.komando is a daily video website. I've seen the most interesting things on here-the four fingered pianist from Korea, the ant colony that someone poured cement into and then excavated it to see how large it was (it was gi-normous), on Sunday the 18th, it's featured a couple from west Texas who live literally in the middle of nowhere much like the pioneers did, with no running water, electricity, or phone. Today, this website features 3 videos about 3 different kinds of reptiles. They are all short, less than 3 minutes. The first one is about a Pebble Toad, the second one is about a lizard that walks on water, and the 3rd is about a gecko which is so small it could drown in a drop of rain, but doesn't because...we'll, you'd have to watch it.

Although these websites don't intend to do this in their purpose, for me, they point to a creative master Designer-a purposeful Composer, Author and Sustainer of even the smallest details of the universe-how vast and wonderful and awesome is the earth we've been given to live our lives on and - how much we don't know about what's all around us - it is mind boggling. Think about the Swiss Alps on your way to work or wherever you go-think about the Pebble Toad who survives by rolling into a hard ball and falling down a mountainside away from it's pursuer, think about the 4 fingered pianist who can play the piano in an amazing display of grit, courage, and determination, and wonder at it all.

Sunday Reflections

Here it is, October 18, 2009. Since my last posting, which was a video and no writing (as someone pointed out to me), I've sat here several times, trying to think of what words to use to communicate to you unfortunate people who check this blog, but I've not had much success. There's a lot going on in my head, but it's not coming out my fingertips onto the keyboard. I'm troubled but I'm not sure what it's about. I'm lonely, but I don't know why. I'm sad at times, but then, on Friday when I saw the sun for the first time in about a week, I cannot tell you how my spirit lifted as I drove to work. It was like a tonic to the soul.

I'm dissatisfied with things and am making changes, but see that I need to make a lot more. The ministry I have at church is puzzling to me, and is lacking in some way, but I don't know what. Due to some extraordinary situations right now, my job is making me weary in body and spirit. I feel sorta like I would like to draw the curtains and stay at home for awhile. It's hard to describe.

So that's that. Not a lot here, I know. But we'll see what happens this week.

Also today, I'm thinking of those in my extended family who are facing serious illness and life changes. God be with you, Pilgrim on the Way, as you step into the unknown. Your faith is extraordinary, your life is an encouragement to me. Blessings to you- from your niece.

Acapella Jazz Choir

Enjoyed the video below very much and thought you might like it too. It's an acapella jazz choir. A little more than six minutes long, it will give you a mental vacation break.

African thunderstorm

African thunderstorm

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Wednesday Encouragement

Several days ago, I blogged about anxiety. A friend of mine who faithfully reads my blog sent me an email in response so I asked her if I could post some of what she said and she agreed.

"Trust is a learned thing, and the process of learning involves being willing to just step off a cliff everytime God calls, believe He will NEVER fail you, for He ALWAYS keeps His promises or He would not be God. If He sometimes allows the worst to happen, it is for our learning on some level, as a consequence of sin, as a wake-up call, sometimes to teach us patience, and sometimes for many other reasons that only He knows. He is the greatest parent we could ever have. However, in our arrogance we don't always recognize this.

I think the most difficult thing for all of us to realize is that life truly isn't about us, because we all go about thinking we are really something, but in truth, we are absolutely NOTHING without God. How arrogant we are, for we could not take our next breath were it not for God allowing us to do so. God is the author of this drama called life. He wrote the beginning and He wrote the ending, and the REAL play does not truly begin until our physical death. In the meantime, we are all in this temporary play (school) trying to pass all the tests so we can graduate. I am learning that THE MOST important thing in our life is our relationship with God and we don't even come close to realizing the true awesomeness of this. We tend to treat God far, far, too casually, sort of like Joe Smith down the street.

I have spent 71 years in school and guess what? I am realizing more and more than I am still in kindergarten. ...There is always hope and God is incredibly patient. The truth is...we are all sick and seeking the Physician. We are ill and seeking a cure. The {Orthodox Church}... is the inn and hospital in which every sick and distressed person can be cured, and God knew the depth of my illness and where I needed to be, and I was finally willing to check myself in...The way truly is narrow and difficult and a real struggle sometimes to overcome ourselves, but it is the only way. The choice is in our attitude as we confront whatever God allows to appear in our lives, for the plan is His."

I think her response is worthy of posting. I also want to note here that there is a manifestation of a "clinical" level of anxiety which many folks struggle with on a daily basis, and I am certainly not opposed in any way to the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder-I myself have in the past have taken medication for that purpose. I hope her words, however, are an encouragement to you as we think about God's willingness to reach us in our distress and illnesses, and in His inifinite patience, to bring us abundant life now, and in the future. Blessings to you readers, whatever "befalls" you today.

"Be Thou, my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou, my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, and Thou with me Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son,
Thou in my dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my Battle-shield, sword for my fight,
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight.
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower.
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always;
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won!
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all."

Be Thou My Vision. Translated from Old Irish to English by Mary Bryne in 1905. Versified by Eleanor Hull in 1912.