I belong to a Memoir Writing group.  On June 9th, a wicked cough prevented me from reading A PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME.  Our topic, for July 28th, was A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE.  I have combined the two, because I think we have significant milestones throughout our lives.  Often those milestones come because we meet a person – who inspires us - who puts a face - to an issue.  I met a homeless man in Tucson who gave homelessness a face.  I met a man who showed me the face of persecution.  

NOTE:  I HAVE REMOVED THE NAME OF THE TOWN, THE SPECIFIC CHRISTIAN COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH, AND THE MAN WE SPOKE WITH, TO PROTECT HIM.

A PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME AND A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE

I was on vacation with our daughter, her husband, and at least two grandkids.  Daughter and I decided to go for an adventure.

Now, I love to see churches and I found a picture a beautiful church.  It was shaped a bit differently than most, but the windows.  I am a sucker for stained-glass windows.  Off we went.  Would we get inside?  Would a door be unlocked?  Well, duh, if the door had not been unlocked, I would not have a story.  Not only did we get in, we were greeted by a friendly man.

I asked if we could look inside and see the windows.  “Of course.  Follow me.”  He put his cell phone in the pocket of his black robe, turned on the lights, and asked where we were from and why we had stopped here.  Being more talkative than my daughter, I answered his questions.  He smiled and said, “Let me show you around.”  He began to explain the stained-glass windows, paintings, and icons.  I quickly found out he had a sense of humor.  He pointed to one picture and with a straight face, said, “I need to send this one back.  It is the feeding of the five thousand and I can only count 4,999.”  We made our way around the sanctuary and came to the front. 

I assumed our tour was over.  “Let me show you the altar,” he said as he pushed a button.  The curtains parted and I was speechless.  The beauty.  The awe.  It took my breath away.  I know that is a clique, but it is the truth. 

Are you thinking, “This can happen at any number of churches.  Why were you inspired?”  My poor hubby is used to me saying, “Pull over!  I want to see that church.”  I have entered churches across this country.  We have worshiped at a few.  BUT, at no church have I ever met a man so willing to give us his time and tell us the church’s story. 

As we sat down, he asked what we knew about the Coptic Christians.  We told him what we knew and he took it from there.  He started by telling us, “You know more than most.  Our services are conducted in English and in Arabic.  In English because some had been here long enough to understand English.  In Arabic, for two reasons.  Some hold onto the tradition of the service being in Arabic, BUT the main reason was to help those that were continuing to arrive from Egypt.”  It was then that he turned serious.

He told story after story of persecution by the Islamic population.  ISIS and other Islamic groups would kidnap young girls to be married to Muslim men.  Coptic Christians were imprisoned if they spoke out against the Muslim faith.  Being outnumbered, they have few resources to fight with when forced to either convert to the Islamic faith, pay a fee instead of converting, or be beheaded.  He discussed this with us for almost an hour.  I heard many stories I will never forget. 

We entered a church because of the windows and the outside beauty of the building.  We left having seen the beauty of the sanctuary and being changed by the stories of the congregation. 

BUT why pick this for my writing on a person who inspired me and now for a significant milestone?  This man, representing Coptic Christians, opened my eyes to a level of persecution I cannot imagine and to the strength it takes to stand against persecution.  I was inspired by what he said and by the tears, he did not try to control, as he told the story of the church and those that attended.  This is a significant milestone because, when I hear or read of the religious persecutions of Christians in Egypt and other countries, there is a face that appears.  The face of a gentle soul that told stories that broke my heart.

So far, I have the freedom to attend the church or religious opportunities of MY choice.  So far, I have the freedom to speak up for my beliefs.  So far, I have never been threatened because I am a Christian.  This Father inspired me to defend my beliefs and to NEVER allow my religious freedoms to be taken away!!  I pray I am never tested and I pray that, if tested, God will give me the strength to stand tall and say, “Do to me what you must, but I believe in the One True God and in His Son Jesus Christ, who willingly took my sins upon himself, so I can stand before God as his daughter.”

 

 A SIMPLE TASK

It was a simple task.  Or so you would think.  

I got out of the car and pushed the zapper button that opened the hatch.  I pushed it twice, just like I was supposed to.  The hatch did not open.  I tried again.  Nope.  I used the button, on the door, and it opened fine.  That means the battery in my zapper needed replaced.  

And so the simple task began.

I always keep a spare battery in the car.  Then I remembered that I had needed a CR2032 for a lamp and used the one out of the car.  I would replace it.  But, I had not replaced it and there was no spare in the battery drawer.  Bless my sweet hubby.  Off he went to the store to find batteries.  

Batteries in hand and the simple task continued.

The package said “now in childproof packaging.”  I am not a child, so this should not take long.  WRONG!  Childproof must define child as anyone under the age of 120.  This getting-closer-to-80 child could not even get the cardboard to tear.  Out came the heavy duty kitchen shears. 

This is no longer considered a simple task!  It is now a challenge and I will win.

I swiftly cut two batteries off the package of six.  One for my zapper and one to put in the car.  I quickly realized cutting the cardboard was the easy part.  Those batteries were sealed in plastic.  AND NOT A SOFT, EASILY CUT PLASTIC!  It took strength to cut through the plastic, but I finally got a battery out and put in the zapper.  Problem solved.

What about the battery for the car in case I was out in the middle of nowhere and the zapper stopped working?  I couldn’t just stick it in the car.  I don’t carry heavy duty shears with me.  I cut the battery out of its plastic bubble.  I put it back in and taped it shut.  It is in the car, just in case and can be easily removed from the now un-childproof container.

A simple task completed.  I feel like I need a gold star.  Or I should have found a four year old and had them get the battery out.  They would have had it out before I could get the scissors.

I hope you could picture this simple task being completed.  I hope you can feel the frustration.  I hope it makes you want to rush out and get a back up battery for your zapper.  I hope it makes you un-childproof the battery before you place it in your car.  Hint:  To easily find your battery, put the un-childproof battery in an envelope and put it in with your registration and proof of insurance.  

Hope this made you smile, because, believe me, I was not smiling as I finally completed a not-so-simple task.

Although, I do believe God was laughing.  I believe He was watching and told Jesus, “I knew one day she would need a battery.  I knew it would be frustrating for her.”

“Then why make it so hard for her to get a simple battery out of the package?” Jesus asked.

God replied, “Mary needed to see she could get through the little frustrations in life so she would understand that she could make it through the big ones.”

 I WANT

The 23rd Psalm starts out:  The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  The trouble is, I DO WANT!  And I have a long list of things I want.  My goal is to acquire each and every one of them.  Will I?  Time will tell.

BUT, don’t we all have lists?  Probably more than one list.  I have a bucket list.  Over the years, it has changed.  I have been to all fifty states, so that was scratched off.  I took sky diving off when I realized the ground could be hard and I know bones break.  I still want to ride a motorcycle.  We all need a bucket list.  It shows we have not given up on life … adventure.

I have a weekly list.  Blog needs to be ready to post Friday morning and Sunday School lesson needs to be prepared by Saturday afternoon.  Laundry is a must.  The weekly list has things on it that I find very easy to overlook.  Dusting can wait until next week and cooking can easily be put off if the day  was hectic and takeout is handy.

Of course, there are other lists.  Those include doctor appointments and meetings.  

The weekly list, the doctor appointment list and list of meetings cannot be called ”wants.”  They would fall under the category of life demands.  The bucket list is a list of wants.  But is there another list?

Ohhhh, YES!  This list is long and is my absolute I WANT list.  This is the list I am working the hardest to acheive.  What is on this list?  Simple things, really, but not in any certain order.

Salvation, Forgiveness, Mercy, Joy, Love, Compassion, Grace, Wisdom, Justification, Faith, Trust, Servant’s heart,  and ……..

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am a Child of God.  I am a believer in God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  

Well, what do you know.  My absolute I WANT LIST is complete.  

Amen.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I have not done a random thought for a long time.  That is where I let my mind wonder and see what pops out.  I know.  I know.  This can be scary.

Can you see the video of a child getting glasses or hearing aids, for the first time, and not smile?

When you see a video of kids playing in the mud … admit it … you wish you were still young.

Airplane: Take off or Landing?

My favorite flower is the white rose.

Who started putting silent letters in words?  We don’t say “he ad.”  What purpose does the a perform in the word head?

And, why not spell “cat” with a “k”?

How did anyone come up with the word: Supercalifragilisticexpialidociou?

The song is in your head now isn’t it?  You are thinking of Mary Poppins.  

Don’t get me wrong, I love Sunday School crafts, but how many actually make it home in one piece?

During a long prayer, do you open your eyes to see if everyone still has their heads bowed?

Do you put your money in numerical order or just stuff it in your wallet?

Do you spend change or save it?  Have you missed pennies?

When you are counting your blessings, do you give thanks for windows?  Really think about a window.  Now you want to count them as a blessing, don’t you?

What about chairs?  Another forgotten blessing.

Do you enjoy waking up to the sweet sound of birds or do you know what that bird could do with its chirping before your first cup of coffee?

Do you think God laughs when he sees us trying to find something to watch on 327 stations and 14 streaming services?

One more…

What would your day look like without God?

 THEY FOUND GRASS

An area we drive by needed a cleanup, but that never seemed to happen.  Until last fall.  We noticed some changes.  Improvements.

One yard seemed to be shy of a few yard ornaments.  An old washer and dryer no longer sat by the front steps.  The broken lawn chairs decided to leave with the washer and dryer.  The old truck tires had been painted and now held flowers.  Oh. My gosh!  There was grass!  And the screen that had hung by one hinge was repaired, repainted, and hung proudly on all three hinges.

Then it started.  One home after another emerged from under years of being ignored.  

I believe the women were the driving factor.  I can hear it now.  Susie, looking out the window, says, “Fred, George has cleaned his yard and is mowing.  They have grass.”  Fred replies, “We have grass.”  “Then go find it!”

And, from house to house, the men, at the not so gentle urging from the women, found the grass.  

I don’t know this is how it happened, but the area sure looks better.  There are no front yards that look like landfills and it all began because “George”cleaned up his yard and could mow the grass.

One person made changes and others followed his lead. Thankfully, the changes were positive.

“What about you, Mary?  Taken any broken chairs out of your yard lately?”

Broken chairs?  I don’t have any broken chairs God.  Oh, I get it.  By broken chairs, you mean sins.

“You are quick.  Yes, I mean sins.  For example, when others see you worry less and trust more, they want to do the same.”

Do people really see when I make changes in my life?  My changes can encourage them?

“Yes, Mary.  One way faith grows is by observing how other Christians handle life’s situations.”

(Sigh). Oh great.  So I have to be a Christian 24/7 ?

“Yes, but you have someone supporting you constantly … Me.”

I could not do life without you.  God?  Are you there?  What happened to “constantly”?  God….

“I’m here.  Now go check your yard.  See if you have left bad habits or sins scattered around that could trip other people up.  Remember, you are representing me.  Do it right.”

SMOKE SIGNALS

There are many areas that have advanced over the years.  Communication is one of them.            

The caveman, when face-to-face with a person, could communicate with grunts, facial expressions, and hand gestures. 

But what about when a farmer wanted to know how much rain they got on the other side of the valley?  I wonder who thought, “I will send a smoke signal.”  Not a bad idea unless it was raining or windy.

When the sun was shining, you could get out a piece of a mirror, aim it just right, and, voilà, a message in the sky would appear.  The trouble is, along with your mother, the whole community would see that you burnt supper — again.  Still, not a bad idea unless it was cloudy and no sun.  No sun … no message.

Communication improved with the invention of the telegraph, Pony Express, the postal service, and the telephone.  Today, we have text, email, FaceTime, and ever-expanding ways to communicate.

My favorite form of communication is bubbles.  Bubbles are stupendous.  If I sit on my patio and blow bubbles, my neighbor Linda appears.  Honest!  It is amazing!  I will sit down.  Get comfortable.  Take the wand out of the bubble stuff.  And blow.  The bubbles slowly rise higher and higher.  They will go past Linda’s window.  Or over their house to their front porch.  Then, having seen the bubbles, Linda comes over.  That is when those face-to-face actions take place.  Words.  Hand gestures.  Face movements.  And sometimes, just friendly silence.

This got me thinking.  How does God get my attention? I have never had a voice come out of a burning bush.  Believe me when I say, “No donkey has given me a message.”  No burning bush.  No donkey.  Then how?

God speaks through His Word.  His Word directs, comforts, and teaches.

God speaks when we pray.  There is no loud voice saying, “Thou shalt ……” BUT there is a stirring of our Holy Spirit and, if we sit in friendly silence, our Spirit will direct us toward right and away from wrong.  The Holy Spirit can open our mind to possibilities and can help us take a deep breath to calm our soul.

God speaks through others.  Pastors give sermons which convict us, stir our soul, and humble us before God.  People will pray for us.  Support groups can help us move out of the past and into our future.

Sudden words or a kind act, from a stranger, can open our eyes and we will see God sending us a message through them.  Maybe – maybe you will find God speaking through, oh, a blog.

God does speak to you today.  BUT you have to do the listening part.

Now back to those bubbles.  They are my way of allowing life to slow down.  There is something about watching a bubble grow, fly away, and then just … disappear.  Those bubbles are also an invitation to join me on the patio.  Follow the bubbles and be a part of the conversation.

Now go buy some bubbles.  Blow them and see what happens.  A neighbor might follow them.  A conversation might begin.  A child might chase and break them.  A mother might thank you for calming her child.  You might see the beauty of the colors swirling in the bubble, as it floats toward the sun.  Or you might feel some of life’s stress floating away.  Give it a try and leave a message about your bubble experience.

 THE COUGH

I coughed.  No big deal.  The weather had been crazy and the cough was the result of weather.  Now, don’t get ahead of the story.  I went to the doctor, took meds, and got a chest X-ray.  I do not have pneumonia.  That was great to hear.  BUT

I am still coughing.  This is not a polite, little cough that you can hide behind a 3-ply Kleenex.  It is loud.  And sometimes lasts for an eternity.  I do not know when I will cough.  At night it is worse and I am way short on sleep.  BUT sleep is not my biggest problem.

UNLESS I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR, I AM STAYING HOME.  I missed my Memoir Writing group.  I told them I was trying to cough my head off and if that happened during the meeting, it would be traumatic.   Imagine sitting there and a head flying across the table.  Of course, it could make for an interesting writing topic:  How Did You Feel When Mary Lost Her Head?

I attend a book club. There are only five of us, but that means we each get to discuss our thoughts.  Except, I read the book, I had comments I wanted to make and questions I wanted ask.  I stayed home.  I missed my book club.  They discussed without me.  

I teach Sunday School and we are finishing the last of the Book of Romans.  Someone else taught the class.  I stayed home.  I didn’t want them to run out of the room when I did my first coughing session.  I miss Sunday School.  They are one of my support systems.  I know they included me in their prayers.

AND I MISSED WORSHIP SERVICE!  I missed torturing those around me as I sang. (Let’s just say I cannot carry a tune even if I had a bucket.)  I missed bowing my head and holding Bill’s hand as prayers were said.  I missed hearing a message.  I missed talking with friends.  I stayed home.  If I had started coughing, think how that would have sounded on the video.  The minister would not stand a chance against my cough.  

I am writing this on Sunday morning, sitting on the porch, and wondering about this next week.  What do I have scheduled?  Will I be able to attend meetings and activities? 

 

UNLESS I AM GOING TO THE DOCTOR I STAY HOME —-

Yes, I have a point.  My question:  What keeps us from doing what we are supposed to do?  How would you answer these questions?

I do not go to church because __________.

I do not volunteer at the Thrift Store because __________.

I do not reach out to my neighbors because __________.

I do not read the Bible because __________.

I do not pray because ________.

The list could go on.  

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭

My point is what holds you back and what are you missing?  What keeps you from being “fishers of men?”

PS. I am on a second round of meds and my cough is under control.  I am going out.  I will go to church.  My head is still attached.