When Al was upstairs in the shower Sunday morning, a crash directly overhead interrupted my routine. Chest tightening while running, I feared my husband might have blacked out and fallen.
âAre you okay?â
âYes!â The water kept running.
By that time, I saw that the small antique mirror had
fallen, lying within a footstep of drawing blood.
As I hurried to pick up the pieces, the thought came, âThis
is life. One minute it looks good, secure and well placed, and the next, itâs a
mess.â
With Jesus as Lord of our lives, we donât need to pick up
sharp edges alone. Yes, this side of eternity, mirrors crash as rusty exhaust
fans rattle and disturb the nearby landscape. Yet the Savior of the world sees
the mess and understands our fear.
Jesus has lived among usâthe shattered. He knows how to pick
up the pieces.
There is one condition. We must trust Him.
âWe do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside Godâs throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you wonât become weary and give up.â
About two weeks ago, this plant started pushing through the soil in my front flowerbed. Dwarfed by the surrounding majestic Hoosier zinnias (Thank you again, Shirley Toney!), it looked like a long green skinny bullet jutting upward. For a few days, I wondered what weed the birds had planted for me.
The day it bloomed I was thrilled and a bit confused as to how it had gotten there since Surprise Lilies start from bulbs not seeds. Yet this mystery is one that Iâm enjoying and savoring. Hopefully next year it will somehow multiply so that it doesnât stand alone.
When reading my monthly World Challenge newsletter this
afternoon, Gary Wilkerson quoted a verse that contained the word âmystery:â
âGod chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the
glory of this mystery, which is Christ in
you, the hope of glory.â Colossians 1:27, English Standard Version
As Christians we may not know how Christ in us works, but we know His presence can counsel, comfort
and lead us. Our dependence upon God through prayer ignites the Holy Spirit
within us. While difficult to understand, we can depend upon His power.
The indwelling of the Spirit of God is indeed a mystery. But
like many mysteries, the Holy Spirit is beautiful, strong, often surprising,
and hopefully growing and multiplying.
âWhen the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, âThe Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.â
For us, summer officially began May 31 when our youngest granddaughter
flew from San Diego with her parents to meet our extended family and several
friends. The weather cooperated (Praise God!) and everyone seemed to enjoy our
backyard party.
But since then, weather-dependent Gâsâgardening and
golfâhave dominated our livesâa good thing depending upon the humidity and
scores.Al and I divide the outdoor work with him mowing and
watering the lawn and me planting, weeding, and fiddling with the flowers and
vegetables. It works!
New this year I planted miniature and Hoosier zinnias, which for me, is a huge act of faith. Germination when I sow seems to be betting against the odds. But they came up. The butterflies love them, and their bouquets arenât too shabby either.
Bravely I divided one of my front landscapingâs crown jewels,
fuchsia hibiscus, to give to my neighbor Mary. She reciprocated, sharing
Painters Pallet that is perfect for the small space near our garage. Another
gardening guru Jan Ritter gifted me bee balm plants that added to the
pollinatorâs paradise. I traded her hosta.
Summer indeed is fun! Especially when I can look out my front
window and see my transplants thriving in Maryâs yard.
Granddaughters, Gardening, Golf! And most importantly, GOD!
I love the Gâs in my life.
Last week I did something while golfing Iâve never done
before and probably will never do again. I shot a hole in one. But it wasnât
scored that way. Fetching my go-to club, a seven iron, I took a slow swing that
ended with my favorite Volvik ball bouncing into the pond in front of Otte Golf
Courseâs sixth hole. I hadnât done that for awhile. Tragically I lost a
distinctive, but used ball.
Against PGA rules and protocol, I quickly called a mulligan
and hit another ball, a light pink Lady Hagan with the breast cancer ribbon,
which is now encased on my desk. This season all of my pink golf balls are
salvaged, patiently waiting in tall grass for my husband and his golf buddies when
playing longer courses to retrieve for me.
Determined to be better the second time around, I hit it
solidly, saw it land near the flag, and then watched as it disappeared. âDid
what I think happen, Mary Lou?â She nodded. âIâve never ridden with anyone who
has done that!â
Waltzing over to the other cart with longtime friends and
golf buddies Janey and Mary, I began to jump up and down. âJoyce, its score is
3,â Janey said. Still it was worth a photo.
After my heart quit racing and a few hours passed, I began to think about this mountaintop moment. In the big scheme of life, hitting a small ball into a hole 70 yards out isnât that big a deal. What is a big deal is that we keep trying to become better.
Even though He may not be checking our golf score, God
expects us to be people who persevere.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:4, NIV
Thursday, July 4, 2019, just a few miles and minutes from
the former Nazi concentration camp near Krakow, Poland, Eva Mozes Kor passed
away at 85. She had just led a group tour through Auschwitzâan ironic yet
fitting last activity for Eva, an American advocate for forgiveness.
I met Eva 20 years ago at Greenwood Middle School where she,
along with my army veteran father, explained their World War II experiences to the
student body. When teaching the Holocaust in March 1999, I was finishing seven
consecutive years of teaching 8th grade language arts with my
favorite lesson plan, The Diary of Anne
Frank. Can you believe this is no longer offered in the curriculum? Neither
can I.
My father and my mother, also named Eva, had forged a close
relationship with the woman who had along with her sister Miriam, survived Dr.
Mengeleâs cruel medical procedures focusing on twins. They encouraged her when
she opened CANDLES, a Holocaust Museum and Education Center. I knew a lot about
Eva Kor before I ever met her.
When in Poland during spring break 2003, I felt firsthand
the evil aura of Auschwitz, where
Dr. Mengele conducted horrific experiments while attempting to develop the
perfect Ayran race. There Eva and her sister Miriam, separated from their
parents forever, became specimens to be pricked and probed. Only by Godâs
providence and the girlsâ sheer determination were they able to survive.
For years Eva carried the heaviness of her past. That
changed after Miriam Mozesâ death from kidney cancer in 1993. Eva knew she
needed to overcome her emotional scars and embrace forgiveness to honor her sisterâs
memory and release personal bitterness. Two years later, CANDLES was founded.
Through this and her extensive speaking circuit, Eva Mozes Kor left behind an amazing legacy, one that teaches all of us to overcome evil through forgiveness.
*************************************************************************************************************************************You have heard the law that says,
âLove your neighbor and hate your enemy. â But I say,
love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In
that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. â
Jesus, Matthew 5:43-45, NLT
When Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons first belted out
âOh, What a Night!â, they had no idea the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra would
be hosting the Doo Wop Project Encore May 18, 2019, that I would turn 65 the
next day, and that I would want to celebrate by enjoying their happy tunes.
Turning 65 has become a Medicare milestone which now forces
me to check the last box on any age range. Ouch! That hurts a bit! What doesnât
hurt (well, maybe a little) is how much God is teaching me at this age. So I
thought I would share what Iâm learning at 65.
#1: Savor the Moment
Most of my life has been structured and planned. But lately
Iâve been stopping to smell the roses,
watching our backyard squirrels do their acrobatics with Mr. & Mrs. Duck
waddling through, and listening to unidentified, unseen birds serenade us.
Surprisingly, those moments feel meaningful. Iâm finally seeing and
appreciating the simpler things in life.
#2: Stretch More
Twenty years ago when our church first introduced Christian
yoga, I went once and left unimpressed. But now that my joints seem to tighten
with the slightest twist, it not only makes sense, it feels good. To listen to
soft music and stretch after a dayâs activity not only provides time to praise
Jesus but also makes gardening, walking, and balancing much easier. Iâm now a
fan of intentional relaxation and trying something new even at 65.
#3: Revisit the Past
I tend to live toward the future, but lately itâs been
important for me to resume relationships with childhood friends. All of us now being
retired opened that door. Itâs been fun and enlightening to meet them for lunch
all over Central Indiana. They
remember things Iâve long since forgotten. Because of this, Iâm motivated to
write remembrances of my parentsâ childhoods so that our three granddaughters
will someday know their great
grandparents.
God has blessed my family and me beyond measure. Stepping
into this new phase of life is good for the soul, cultivating wisdom and peace
that can only prepare me for the days ahead.
âShe is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at
the days to come. . .Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman
who fears the LORD is to be praised.â
Lately Al and I have been driving on Fridays. Not sure why,
but maybe because three weeks ago, we bought a new car. So on April 5 we
decided to take a road trip to our old stomping grounds in southern Indiana.
There at Grandview Cemetery we decorated my parentsâ grave vases with red roses
from Dollar Tree.
Donât fret! They wouldâve approved the cost savings. Then we headed to Elnoraâs Fairview Cemetery and blessed Alâs parentsâ grave with bright orange and purple Dollar Tree specials. Again, his folks, who also grew up during the Great Depression, would have applauded our frugality.
This past Friday we headed west to Cox Plant Farm near
Clayton, this time to spend money on real plants. On the way there, we listened
to WGNR Moody Radio, specifically senior pastor Chris Brooksâ 1pm Equipped
Radio segment featuring an interview with Dr. Rick Richardson, Professor of
Evangelism and Leadership at Wheaton College.
Dr. Richardson said something hopefully I will never forget.
Its truth is both radical and simple. âIn all other religions, you need to
climb a ladder to God. In Christianity, God sent Jesus down the ladder to carry
us up.â
During this Holy Week, Christians all over the world will
celebrate Jesusâ death, burial, and resurrection that opened the door for
everyoneâregardless of nationality, social status, or skin colorâto have
eternal life with God. To confess that Jesus Christ is who he says he is, the Son of the living God, is to begin a
fresh life of freedom, faith, and obedience.
What a blessing it is to know that the grave, even though embellished with Dollar Tree flowers, does not contain us!
âFor God loved the world in this way: He gave His One
and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish
but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He
might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.â John 3:16-17, HCSB
True or False? I have never lived farther than 10 miles from
White River. At the risk of your thinking I donât get out much, my answer is True.
While growing up in Bloomfield, Indiana, our family crossed White
River frequently as it edged the townâs western perimeter. My sister and I
could bike to one of its creeks where we learned to skip stones and torment
frogs with stray branches.
Later I followed the river north. Although I didnât choose
Ball State University based upon its five-mile proximity to White River, I
enjoyed knowing it was nearby. The only Muncie river interaction I remember involved
an earth science class field trip to study how the city purified its water.
The farthest Iâve ever lived from White River came after Al
and I were married and rented our first apartment near Eagle Creek Reservoir. At
that location, I was approximately 10 miles from the river. Ironically that was
the closest Iâve ever lived to a body of water.
When we built our first home in Decatur Township two years
later, we lived five miles west of the river. In 1987, we moved to our current
location in Center Grove, five miles east of the river. When it flooded in 2008, White River and
our area erupted into a news flash as homes were damaged beyond repair.
This spring White River became relevant when Al and I were
introduced to its scenic four-mile round trip asphalt trail, the White River Greenway
Trail, which starts at Waverlyâs Old Town Park. Thereâs no better way to spend
a sunny afternoon.
Thank you, White River, for being a continuum this side of
Heaven!
âThen the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as
clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. . .â Revelation 22:1
Since âofficialâ retirement in 2013, what has
surprised me is how much I read again. Itâs a throwback to growing up in Greene
County in the 1960âs glued to the Bobbsey Twinsâ escapades, and later, Nancy
Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries.
While working fulltime, I only read books on
vacation, preferably on a beach with a cozy mystery. Now I love to read any
time, during winter months while lying on the sofa with hot tea in reach, or if
the weather is warm, in the patioâs wicker settee with lemon water close by.
According to the Daily Journalâs Free Time weekly listing, book clubs in Johnson
County seem to be thriving. Whether weâre reading to escape or to be informed,
weâre reading.
Even more surprising in this culture of electronic-everything,
our nation still enjoys the printed page. In 2018, 695 million printed books
were sold, the highest amount since 2010
(https://www.statista.com/statistics/422595/print-book-sales-usa/).
However, I confess to reading some library books on my Kindle app because theyâre
quick and easy to download.
My book club, Heartland Christian Readers,
started and hosted by Becky Horton, is beginning its fifth year. And I LOVE it!
I especially enjoy our lively monthly discussions. Even though the eight of us
live in this area, our perspectives often differ, making our time together
intellectually stimulating and insightful.
Weâve covered monthly nonfiction topics about
mental illness, human trafficking, and an array of famous peopleâs biographies.
Since the first of the year, weâve read USS
Indianapolis, Angelaâs Ashes, and
Upstairs at the White House. I love
how books are like time travel, putting us on a sinking naval cruiser during
war, or in famine-starved Ireland, or in the White House during the FDR years
through the Nixon administration.
Last week one of my favorite writers, who doubles as my
dentist, shared his experiences from El Salvador. Not your typical tourist, Doug Harty or Doctor Doug as
Haitians call him, travels the world to provide medical and dental expertise in
the name of Jesus for some of the poorest, most neglected people walking this
planet.
What I most enjoy about Dougâs writing is he puts me in the
moment. When I read his emails, Iâm there with him. When I visit his office, I
see those experiences portrayed in photographs.
A recent email paints the picture: âI write
from under a beautiful, red-blossomed tree in the clinic area. It is 87,
the sun is bright, but it feels amazing and I have had just a wonderful
day! Birds are singing, there is talk from the patients who are leaving
and the drone of the students helping us in the air. They laugh, and mess
around after a hard day of helping us and patients, and I am enjoying sitting
back and taking all of it in.â
Iâve never been to El Salvador but through Dougâs words, Iâm there. That is what Iâve always loved about reading. It takes me places Iâve never been and shares experiences I may never have. Good writers do that for their readers.
The power of the written word is just
thatâpowerful! Donât underestimate the impact a note, a remembrance, or even an
email can make.