Tag Archives: scripture

MY SAVIOR AT THE WELL

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For a very long time I have identified with the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus in John 4. I have pictured myself sitting there with Him and having Him put me at ease about my lifestyle. And then one day as I was reading her story (for the umpteenth time) the following words came to me, and a new  poem was born. Here, then, is My Savior at the Well.
Oh, that it was I who met our Savior at the well,

The joy of meeting face to face

would all my fears dispel.

To hear Him tell my story,

all the things I’d ever done,

would make me cry, “I’m sorry, Lord,

I know you are God’s Son.”

To see compassion in His eyes

as He looked into my own,

to hear Him say he took my sins

with Him to the tomb.

To feel His touch upon my brow,

His love upon my heart,

to hear my Savior say to me,

“You have a brand new start.”

“Go, my child, and sin no more,

your faith has made you whole.”

He who met her at the well now lives within my soul.

©2007

There is some amazing poetry being blogged here on WordPress. I love, among others, The Sanctuary of My Heart by Skye, and Wordsmith’s Desk by Butch Dean. I bless the day these bloggers came my way!

Wake Up! There is a Better Way

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Who of us is immune to the effects of vandalism, terrorism, random acts of violence, and the life-snuffing behavior of some people who seem to have a complete disrespect for their fellow person?

We see it around the world; Russia, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, America, Canada…each country has its own lack of human values to deal with: guns, knives, machetes, bricks, sticks, stones, whatever…to prove what?

I even noticed it in our own recent Provincial elections, to a lesser degree but noticeable, indeed. I call it a new kind of party animal (if you will pardon the pun) where,  instead of sticking to their own agendas, and offering voters some substantial food for thought, two of the three candidates went on a bashing spree against the third one; verbal yes, but still bashing. It reminded me of Genesis 50:20 when Joseph said to his brothers, who sold him into slavery, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…”

It is all an assault on my senses, and I go on a writing spree. The G-20 Toronto Summit riots in 2010, and the Vancouver Stanley Cup riots in 2011, prompted the following:

WAKE UP! THERE IS A BETTER WAY!

To all who are asleep in vandalism and violent acts,

unconscious to the fact

that destroying the lives of other people and their property

is not a joke, hear this!

What gives you the right to take a rock

and with your might

smash the life another person lives?

Hear what I say:

“Wake up! There is a better way.”

Look at you!

What do you see?

That thoughtless, senseless person

is not who you’re meant to be!

Wear the shoes of the destroyed

rather than the destroyer.

See how it feels

to be ground

under the heels

of people

who are not aware

of their good side.

Again I say,

“Wake up! There is a better way!”

Find it! Change your wicked ways!

Humanity awaits the new you.

©2011

Can you imagine a world where we work together instead of against each other? Do you remember John Lennon’s Imagine? Imagine if we try.

My Travels

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I have been fortunate enough to do my fair share of traveling while on this Planet Earth, where there’s so much to see and do. There are those who have travelled much more than I, but there are others who have travelled less. Although there are many places left for me to visit, I am content with where I’ve been.

Chapter Thirty-Seven  –  My Travels

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao-Tzu, Chinese Philosopher

Trinidad

I wish I was going somewhere was the thought that popped into my mind as I listened to the excited chatter of my work-mates planning their upcoming vacations. But I was going nowhere. I was saving money for my daughter, Cathy’s, wedding the following year. Monica and I normally had separate coffee breaks, but one morning they coincided. During that fifteen minutes of respite my friend invited me to go to Trinidad with her in August. She was going home to visit her parents in San Fernando. “It will only cost you your flight, and whatever spending money you might need,” she enticed. My silent wish had come true….. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me….(Psalm 139:9,10) Tomorrow  –  Chapter Thirty-Eight  –  It Happened in an Instant  –  A Lesson in Safety

You’re Too Pretty to Smoke

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I don’t know about any of you smokers out there, but if you have ever tried to quit, you know how hard it is–for most of us.  It was the worst habit I had entertained in my whole life, and when I realized how horrible I began to feel after years of inhaling all those toxins, I wanted to quit. Oh, the agony of it all!

Chapter Thirty-Six  –  You’re Too Pretty to Smoke

“God, I hate smoking! Please help me quit. I’ll suffer anything you want; just help me to quit. Amen.” It was a fervent prayer, and I meant it.

“Just take a drag in.”

I was twelve years old when Jeannie Braid stuck that first cigarette in my mouth and put a match to it. She was two years older than I, and a seasoned smoker. The world whirled. My throat felt as raw as a skinned knee on cement.

“Blow it out, you dumb ox!” Jeannie yelled.

I coughed and sputtered as a thin stream of smoke escaped my lips. It was not as much as I had I taken in. I had swallowed the rest. It was awful. I thought I was dying.

“Okay, now take another puff and blow it out right away!” was the next command.

Still dizzy, I stupidly did what she said—and I was hooked for the next forty-seven years of my life……

I have fought the good fight….(2 Timothy 4:7)

Tomorrow  –  My Travels  –  A Lesson in Adventure

Listen Up

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I go to church, not only to worship God, but to hear him speak to me through our Pastor or a guest speaker. What I have heard over the years has been food, not only for my soul, but for My Precious Life.  “Faith Comes Through Hearing” are not empty words. I really enjoyed writing this chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Five  –  Listen Up

Pastor Duncan told us in one of his sermons–and I quote— “What Jesus invites us to share is a lifetime of learning, a lifetime of growing, a lifetime of being changed by Him and through Him. With Him we know that nothing is impossible! God gives us opportunities to share the story of our faith, and we can’t neglect this responsibility.” End of quote.

This is my opportunity to share the many ways God has spoken to me over the years, and in the telling, maybe you’ll remember ways he has spoken to you, too.

One Sunday, a guest Pastor at our church mentioned going for a walk to ease a burdened mind. As he walked, he noticed an extremely white piece of wood on his path, and a scripture came to mind: “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah, 1:18)

I have no idea what that had to do with his spirits that day, but the fact that God spoke to him, through a piece of white wood on a sidewalk, reassured me of the things I am going to share with you…..

“He who has an ear, let him hear.” (Revelation 13:9). In other words–listen up!

Tomorrow  –  You’re Too Pretty to Smoke  –  A Lesson in Empathy

 

A Lesson in Perseverance

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We can’t get through life without problems. They come in many forms: illnesses, relationships, financial, to name just a few of the most common ones. My life ran pretty smoothly for the most  part, but when the problems loomed, I can see now how they served to give me inner strength.

Trials and Tribulations  –  A Lesson in Perseverance

Some of the traumatic events of my life stand out more than others, and I won’t write about them chronologically, or include them all.

One, in particular, happened after the birth of my fifth child, Kelly, in 1967. It was a relatively easy birth considering it had been seven years since I had last pushed a baby into this world. We were home from hospital an hour when I felt an uncontrollable itch on my back. Nothing would soothe it. Within a few days my entire body was covered in angry looking welts, which gradually turned into blisters. Doctors were baffled, and even biopsied a blister, to no avail. They treated me with a drug used for leprosy, and later, Cortisone shots left me with a moon face, and no relief…..

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance    (James 1:2,3)

Tomorrow  –  About Job and Me  –  A Lesson in Relating

The Final Breath

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Dying is our final act of life. It was my privilege to be at my Irishman’s side as he completed his life’s journey; to hold his hand, and simply be there for him and with him when he took his final breath.

Chapter Thirty-Two  –  The Final Breath

Holding Jerry’s hand, and quietly praying, I felt blessed to be in that time and space. As his breaths became fewer and farther between, a feeling of serenity came over me, and I silently urged him to let go, and let God carry him the rest of the way.

Moments before his final breath, a single tear rolled slowly down Jerry’s cheek. I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t imagine a finer farewell. And then he was gone. I took his tear on my finger tip, and mingled it with the tears on my own cheeks as I let go of my Irishman’s hand. It was 11:29 pm. Jerry’s life journey was over, and mine without him had just begun.

“….he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24)

Tomorrow  –  Trials and Tribulations  –  A Lesson in Perseverance

Minding God’s Own Business

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There are times we walk around looking at the ground, totally unaware of what’s going on around us. There are also times when what’s going on around us makes us think we should just mind our own business, and not get involved in whatever the occurrence might be. And then there are times when getting involved is just the right thing to do.

Chapter Thirty-One  –  Minding God’s Own Business

I visited Jerry daily in hospital when he was admitted on July 31, 2004, with Parkinson’s disease, and the onset of Alzheimer’s. As I wheeled him to the TV room one evening after dinner, I noticed an old gentleman in a geri-chair in the hallway. He was very agitated, and trying desperately to climb out of the chair. It had a high back, widening wing-like at the top. A wrap-around tray prevented him from getting out. His son tried to spoon-feed him but he refused to eat, shouting that he wanted to go home. Normally, I would have passed by, minding my own business, but I was drawn to these two. I stopped and told the younger man that Jerry had recently gone through that phase, and assured him it does get better. I then spoke to his father.

“Hi there. How are you tonight?”

“You look pretty good,” he said, forgetting his agitation for the moment.

“You look pretty good yourself,” I answered, “and I love your chair. It looks like it has wings.”

“Yes, and I’ll fly away.” he said…….

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 28:40)

Tomorrow  –  The Final Breath  –  A Lesson in Dying

Writing Through the Rage

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When stress is mismanaged it can be a catalyst for disease, disfunction and depression. There were times when I didn’t handle stress too well and it did take its toll on my health.

Chapter Thirty  –  Writing Through the Rage

I felt a wave of nausea in the pit of my stomach, and realized just how stressed I really was. I wished I could admit myself to a hospital, get a private room, and cry until there wasn’t a tear left in my body. I must write through this, I thought frantically, knowing how close I was to losing it altogether. I drove to a nearby mall, bought a notebook and pen, and sat down with the hot chocolate and tea biscuit.

As I began to write, I noticed the people strolling the mall. An elderly couple walked hand in hand, arms entwined, accentuating their togetherness. It touched my heart. Jerry hardly knew who I was anymore. A teenage boy and girl jostled each other affectionately. Their easy banter reminded me of the many times we had laughed and joked together in the comfort of our relationship. A little boy, about two years old, gave me a twinkling smile as he toddled past, his mother close behind. Jerry and I had raised separate families, but enjoyed the thrill of watching our many grandchildren meld into our lives over the years. Three times I smiled at what I saw, and that was good. I realized in that moment that I always managed to smile through my tears and heartache— that was God……

The Lord is my shepherd…he restores my soul. (Psalm 23:1,3)

Tomorrow  –  Minding God’s Own Business  –  A Lesson in Service

The Way I See It

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There are many times in life when it (your life as you know it) just comes to a halt…not death…just a halt. It happened to me in 2004.

Chapter Twenty-Nine  –  The Way I See It

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  (John 15:13)

The way I see it, this doesn’t mean that you trade places with the guy tied to a railway track with an oncoming locomotive barreling down on him¾ or with Jesus on the cross.

In 2004, I worked three days a week at the Canadian Bible Society book store. It was a part-time job that I loved, and had done for close to five years after my forced retirement from the Mustard Seed Gift Shop. It was a perfect match for my spiritual beliefs, retail background, and love of books.

Volunteering at Providence Health Care Centre every Tuesday morning was another activity I loved.

Lunch or coffee with friends or family was also a weekly occurrence. At church, I was a member of the Worship Committee, and sang in the choir.

That life gradually changed when Jerry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease…..

“….whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

Tomorrow  –  Writing Through the Rage  –  A Lesson in Stress