I Walked Alone Today

My child I walked alone today,
Where we once walked together.
The sorrow overwhelms me,
When I look to where you've gone.

You didn't mean to stray so far,
From "The Secret Place" we've had.
But the lust within your heart took root,
And it's gone from good to bad.

You've judged my other children,
Who've strayed far from my way.
Whether they've gone the path you have,
Or transgressed "Far worse," you say.

It isn't only lust for fleshly or worldly pleasures,
That separate you from me.
But at times fortune or fame,
Fill my place and take the lead.

You often look back broken-hearted,
And ask me to pull you free,
But I didn't walk away from you,
You walked away from me.

My hand remains outstretched,
As I wait for your return.
Don't put it off too long, my child,
As my love and peace you spurn.

Don't spend your time convincing yourself,
You're much better than they,
For whatever your sin,
My blood covers it all the same way.

(Lord help me to only judge myself,
And walk quickly back to You.
Wash me totally with Your blood,
And let me walk with You renewed.)

8/5/2015

Vacation's End

Deb and I had a week in Canada that was extremely  exciting with every day crammed full of memorable  activities, beautiful sights and fun happenings... Our days started early and ended late with little time for rest, as the daylight hours were long and there was much to see. (It was already daylight at 5 AM and at 10:30 PM it was still light enough we could take a picture from the hotel window with our cell phone.) But the week of fun and laughter was coming to an end much quicker than we liked.

Saturday morning Deb and I awoke early to have time to load the car, drive from Lake Louise to Canmore, wash the car, and fill it up with gas before unloading our luggage at the airport and returning the car to the rental service.

Unlike the U.S. side the United Airlines in Calgary didn't have Deb check the wheel chair with her  luggage. They pushed her to the plane before putting a claim number on her chair and loading  it, then they said an attendant would have it ready for her when we landed in Houston. 

After approximately a 4 hour flight we landed in Houston and the chair was no where to be found. The workers searched the baggage area of the plane, then searched a second time while discussing what should be done as Deb slowly walked up the long  tunnel after she exited the plane. 

When Deb and I got to the loading gate a worker on a cart hurriedly rushed us  through the airport to reach the gate for our connecting flight, all the while he was  yelling, "Beep! Beep!" "Beep! Beep!" as we swerved in and out among the people going in every direction. He then dropped us in a spot and instructed us to wait for a girl to meet us with an airport wheel chair. 

After a short wait a girl rushed us up an elevator and to the train, then after a short ride on the train she rushed us to another cart and the man started the "Beep! Beep!" , "Beep! Beep!" again as we rushed to our departure gate and arrived just in time to load with no time to eat or go to the restroom. 

Everything was great on the flight from Houston to Memphis and we expected to get there and have someone meet us with Deb's  wheelchair. But guess again, it had still not been found, and things had gotten worse. 

As we rushed toward baggage to pick up our luggage I saw a moving walkway running and thought it would move us along a little faster, which it did, until we reached the end, where there was a slight rise... (That was the laugh of the year.) 

As Deb and the airport wheel chair hit the hump at the end of the walkway they came to a dead stop, but the belt was still moving, and my feet were still on it. It was throwing my feet under her chair. and I was nearly thrown under it too. The only way to prevent it from happening was to run backwards speedily while holding on to the chair. 

It wasn't easy to stay on my feet while swiftly running backwards on the walkway and carrying a heavy backpack. (Deb was no help as she sat there giggling.) We were thankful that a security guard saw our  dilemma and rushed to our rescue.

We hurried on to the baggage area after escaping a near-tragic incident on the conveyor belt to pick up our luggage. When we couldn't find it, two women from the claims office tried to find it with no luck either, so they gave us a number to call to file the claim, and we left the airport with a United Airlines wheelchair for Deb to use until hers was found.

Deb and I filed a claim about  our lost luggage and wheelchair Saturday night and were informed that the luggage was still in Houston but the wheel chair was likely still in Calgary, as it had not been delivered. Then we called again to check the status Sunday morning and were told that we didn't file a claim and needed to do so, which we did. 

Thankfully around 3 or 3:30 on Sunday afternoon we went back to the airport to see whether our luggage had come in. We were thrilled that it and Deb's wheel chair had arrived.

Deb I Said, "Wade, Not Swim"

Deb and I had a little adventure this afternoon. She decided to sit on the beach with her feet in the water. We enjoyed watching the waves, the children playing in the sand and people walking or running on the beach. 

We had been on the beach for a while when Deb decided to go back inside but I asked her  to wade in the shallow water while I took her picture. Everything went well for a few steps and I snapped her picture. Then suddenly Deb disappeared from my sight, and I found her lying in the water. 

After helping Deb sit up in the water I snapped a couple pictures then lay my phone on dry sand so I could help her up. The task wasn't as easy as we expected.

Facing Deb, I put my hands under her arms and my knees against hers and pulled. She pushed with her legs as I pulled and Deb would get part of the way out of the water then start laughing. Of course she went limp when she laughed and I dropped her back into the water. 

Several times we would almost get Deb to her feet then I dropped her back into the water when we started laughing. 

Finally after several attempts it looked like we would make it. Deb was pushing with her legs as I pulled but we didn't expect it to work, so we over-compensated and we both tumbled into the water. 

After Deb and I sat and laughed a bit we started trying again. Finally a couple women on the beach came over and helped us get  Deb up and to her chair. 

We sat and rested a few minutes before coming back inside to get into dry clothes. It wasn't the wade in the ocean we expected, but it was enjoyable.... 

A Godly Woman

Janice Crist was a beautiful woman to the eye, but the most inspiring part of her beauty was within. And that ethereal beauty was reflected  in her face, her actions, her words, her attitude  and her spirit.

Last week during our church service an eleven-year-old girl, Morgan stood near the altar. With her elbows against her sides, her hands were extended outwardly, with palms turned down and fingers slightly splayed.  As Morgan swayed slightly to the music, she gently and slowly moved her hands up and down. 

Morgan was slightly out of sync with the rhythm, and as I watched, there was something that held my attention, something felt familiar. Suddenly she turned her head, to look toward another child with a gentle smile. As a feeling of nostalgia washed over me, it was like I was looking at Janice Huey at that age. 

From childhood and throughout her life, Jesus was always reflected through Janice Huey Crist. She always lived a life above reproach, but was never judgmental of any who didn't. She realized that her purpose was to lift the fallen and to restore them. Godliness was her standard, yet she didn't look down on one whose standard was measured by the worldly. 

Janice was a wonderful lady, a true and loyal friend, a confidante, and an encourager. I was blessed to have known her for many years.... She was like family to our family.... 

Hooked

We were patiently waiting for enough tables to be cleared to make room for the George Clan to be seated. There were clusters of conversation and laughter, each one trying to catch up with what had been happening in everyone else's life... We were all talking at the same time... Teasing... Telling a joke.... Interrupting each other... Stopping... Then hurriedly starting talking again so your story can be heard... 

Jason said that while we waited he looked down and noticed the loops on the back of Phillip's shoes and had a bright idea. A chain just happened to be handy that was normally used to close off a section, so stealthily Jason hooked it into the loop on one shoe. Of course when the hostess started to seat us, Phillip moved forward a partial step then fell forward onto the checkout desk. Amid much laughter the hostess told Jason how bad he was. Thankfully Phillip's good nature helped him enjoy a joke or prank, even if he got the brunt of the prank.  

Nina the Alcoholic

The nights at Rose Care Nursing Home could be long and often it was a struggle to stay awake. Every two hours we made the rounds and changed the patients, gave a drink of water or called the nurse when one needed meds or had other problems. 

I remember how Nina loved to munch on ice, and always kept a glass setting on the desk at the nurse's station. When we would go back to the desk after making the rounds part of her ice had melted and she would drink the water then munch the ice while we wrote in the patients charts.

One night I had a bright idea and sneaked the rubbing alcohol and poured some into her glass. Nina took a big swig and about choked to death on it. I thought she would always be cautious about leaving it after that, but time after time I pulled the same trick on her.

I told Nina that it would be my fault if she became an alcoholic.