an 'unlikely' group of people

A gentleman asked us, the JD Salesman and I if we would lead a 'care group'.  That was 11 years ago.  We really had no idea what we were in for but having spent a year in such a group at Clark and Wanda's house we knew the value of such.

Things have changed, people have come and gone for various reasons but over the last 3 or 4 years the same group has come together every other week for a couple of hours.  There are 2 widows, one who still is raising children on her own. A number of years ago now we grieved as one of our seniors became sick in December and died in March.  Her husband still comes.  Then there is the brilliant retired teacher married to the gentle violinist.  They have been married for over 25 years after their first spouses died.  A single retired counsellor who came back to Alberta to be near family joined us four years ago.  An alcoholic  who has been clean for close to 30 years and his wife round out the group.  Ten. Ten vastly varied backgrounds, personalities, occupations, families, representing six different churches.  Ten people with histories of pain, of being misunderstood, of misunderstanding.

  We are actually an unlikely group who would probably have never 'chosen' each other as friends.  But 'somehow' we have come together, we care about each other, we care for each other.  We come together, read some verses from a book of the Bible and then we sit back, wait, listen, talk, think, share thoughts and after an hour or more we are awed by what God, through the Holy Spirit has shown us.  Sometimes it is a simple thought, sometimes it causes a stir, a change in thinking.  But we learn together, we grow together, we respect each other, we accept each other no matter how differently we might think.

Maybe this is what church is really all about.  Maybe this is 'church'.

I look out the window....

I look out the window and see the snow piled where the flowers were blooming, where the grandkids were running barefoot on a treasure hunt.  I look out the window and see ice on the sidewalk where the rain poured down the spout into a pail that would water the pots of pansies.  I look out the window and see snow covering the last row of potatoes that I did not dig before we went away.   I look out the window and I am thankful for:
-a bag of potatoes that are safe and dry in the garage, enough to last until Christmas
-natural gas that fuels the furnace
-electricity to light the dark evening
-enough $$$$ to pay the gas and electrical bills
-there has been no tornado, earthquake, flood or any other 'natural disaster'
-our house is more than we need, warm and cozy
-the JD Salesman will come home with heart-warming stories
-more than adequate food
-friends who call, Facebook, email and come to care group
-siblings and in-laws who love us
-three 'kids' with amazing spouses and kids of their own
-homes and food for these families
-reliable vehicles to drive on the icy roads
-good roads that are kept relatively clear for driving

Where does the list end?  Does it have an end?  I doubt it.... I don't enjoy cold or winter but today I choose to be thankful for the many, MANY 'gifts' that I have.
I choose to thank God.

more of the journey...

Prayer continues to be a puzzle to me....

It would seem as though prayer has always been a part of life.  I remember the list of names my Dad prayed for each morning, the Bauchs, Fawleys, Malsburys, Carlsons, Friesens all faceless names in unknown countries as far as I was concerned.  That was followed by all of us as a family reciting the "Lord's Prayer" together.  Then there were my own petitions as I knelt beside my bed in that icy upstairs bedroom.  Mostly I remember trying to recall all the bad things I needed to confess.  I had no concept of God's total forgiveness of sin because of Jesus' death.

In the last few years I recall a friend asking if there was power in prayer.  "Of course," I thought, that is what I had heard all my life.   "No," replied Murray.  "The God we pray to has power but our words don't have power."  That set me back to thinking!

I have been told there are certain words I should not use when I pray, that I should pray a 'certain' way. I have been left feeling fearful and guilty about prayer more than once by people who have formulas and patterns that 'work'.  These 'formulas' are encouraged to bring great miracles for all to see.  Truthfully, some of the greatest 'miracles' that I have seen personally are the ones that have happened inside when I pray "help" or "I can't do this. Please do it through me".

So what do I believe now, today....

I believe I have a lot to learn.

There is much talk these days of 'relationship' with God.  It would seem to me that 'relationship' does not follow a 'formula', that each 'relationship' we have with those around us is different.  So I learn to talk to God, learn to listen to God in a way that is unique for 'us'.  I am not saying we can't learn from each other but I am also different from everyone else so I can not relate to God like everyone else.

I have read in the Bible about having faith like a grain of mustard, about telling mulberry bush to be moved into the sea.  I have also been left feeling guilt, not even having faith as tiny as a mustard seed, I mean, come on Karin!!!  Recently when I read that I was honest enough to say (quietly :) ), "that is so ridiculous. Why would I tell a tree to be moved into a sea".  What I 'heard' in my mind was: "Exactly!"  And then a flood of thoughts.... it only takes a tiny bit of faith in a great God to believe in the things that others might think are ridiculous, to act on a belief that I am convinced that God has given me whether others agree or not. (note: I am not saying I should 'do' anything that is illegal or immoral!  Those are not the kinds of 'things' I am talking about and those are not the kinds of things God would ask of me).

And so, I continue to learn to believe that God wants me to tell Him what I want, to believe that He knows what is best and good, to trust Him to sort through what I say, to understand my thoughts.  I continue to pray, though sometimes it is just a jumble of thoughts.  I think that is what a 'relationship' is all about.

I am most happy to be challenged about this, to hear what others have to say.  I think we all learn as we talk and respect each others 'learning'.

Facebook

A number of years ago I was encouraged to be Facebook member.  Although my 'skills' were (and still are) very limited computer-wise, I was in!  For about a month!  I did not know what all the terminology meant.  I did not know what was 'etiquette'. (is there such?).  I started hearing horror stories regarding privacy invasion.  So, I just quit!

I resisted the encouragements, the scorn of those well-versed in all the ins and outs of Facebook.  I admit to developing a snobbery of my own. "No, I am not on Facebook"probably was said with some satisfaction and weird pride!

Then it dawned on me that I was actually missing out on some local happenings and sometimes events. Good friends recognized my archaic attitudes and would usually phone me but that is hardly fair of me to expect.  I 'lurked' on a family members account but that did not keep me in touch with my community.  I 'heard' of the great photos posted and sometimes would have them forward by friends.

But a couple of weeks ago I relented and tried to set up an account only to find my 'old' account sitting in 'inactive'.  So, there I was, here I am.  On FaceBook......

I am still cautious.  I don't do much posting.  I have become brave enough to add a few comments once in awhile.  But I have discovered some amazing photography, learned of new babies, the health problems of a friend.  I also discovered that I can waste, yes, waste a whole lot of time!  But hopefully I will get a grip, gain some balance, let go of fears and just enjoy the 'good' that is there.

It has taken me goodness knows how many years to become comfortable in the blogging world!  I suspect Facebook will be a way off life for me about the time it becomes obsolete!  

Treasure...

 Our grandchildren are basically 'city / small- town' kids so there are wonders of country life that are not experienced on a regular basis.

On the last morning of the recent family get-together we did one last Gator exploration of the pasture.  Lo and behold!  A treasure!  A picked-over-by-coyotes carcass of a yearling steer!  It could have been a gold-mine as far as these young'uns were concerned as they loaded the back of the Gators with stinking bones!

All well and good until it came time for the departure for their civilized homes! "You are not taking those with you!"  "But Grandma said I could!"  oops!

The parents relented as a very dry white one was chosen and enclosed in a large garbage bag......

The next young lady's choice was not nearly as dry and the odour was not quite as pleasant!  But the Papa agreed to allow the 'treasure' to travel to the city with the agreement that these would be 'outside toys'.  These were encased in more than one 'odour guard' garbage bag!              

of pixies, fairies, leprechauns...

At one time, long ago(!), my most favorist  thing to do was read.  In the midst of all the stories to be read there were some of great imagination.  I don't think I ever truly believed in fairies, pixies or leprechauns but oh, it was such fun to imagine!  I know I imagined and imagined!.  While cutting grass the other morning I came across this toadstool of all toadstools.  A perfect place for pixies, fairies and leprechauns to sing, dance and share the bit of sunshine together............

water,water everywhere....

It seems long ago since we lived on that farm in the middle of this picture.  I don't recall ever seeing water like this!  There was a down-pour ( I think that is putting it mildly) the other night.  The JD Salesman took a  flight over the countryside yesterday and with his phone, took a few pictures.     

 South of Youngstown is a reservoir, a recreational area, which is over flowing its banks.  I know of one family who was evacuated for fear the dam would not hold.