My life the last three weeks has been like an IMAX movie – on a big screen encompassing me. Scenes so vivid they’re imprinted on my soul. Over the top displays in which the only word was, “Wow!” And new insights from God. All I could do was sit in my assigned seat and watch. Thus, my excuse for not writing in my blog. If you want, have a seat in the theatre, and I’ll not even charge you! 
First of all, I turned 50 years old on September 27. Which means what, I don’t know, except that I’ve moved to the next set of age group boxes to check: 50-59. I’m now the age that my parents are supposed to be. But God taught me a valuable lesson on perspective this year. On my birthday, a good friend of ours went home to be with the Lord. When your friend is in his 50′s and leaves behind his wife, family, and friends it’s hard to feel sorry for your age. It’s a good thing to have a birthday. Scott struggled with cancer for three years and two days from his diagnosis. He was told he only had 3-6 months to live, but God had other plans. Scott finished so well. As my husband shared at Scott’s service, the closer he got to the finish line, the harder he ran. Sharon, his wife, wrote in my blog last fall – September 26 as a matter of fact – and shared her faith walk along this journey. If you haven’t read it, please do. And if you have, perhaps you’d like to revisit it – Keep the Cancer Out of Your Soul Part 3. Sharon said she wouldn’t want to re-walk the last three years, but she wouldn’t want to go back and be the person she was before the walk either. Sharon, you are an inspiration to me. Glory to our God!
Our team heading to India on October 12 decided to postpone the trip until next spring. We were all in agreement, including Francis from Africa who was to join us there. We felt the timing wasn’t right with all the chaos in the world and didn’t feel prepared. My feelings were definitely of unpreparedness. I’m usually packed a couple of weeks before something this big, and I hadn’t even written a list of what to pack! People would come up and ask me if I was excited about our trip to India. I would hesitate and a quick thought would go through my mind, “Oh yeah, I’m going to India!” It just wasn’t on the forefront of my thoughts – which is really strange and rare! It’s like in the recesses of my soul, I knew we weren’t really going. So I get to put off the long plane trip for now – see previous blog post Hemmed In.
We have a live-in guest right now in our home. This person is a freshman at the local community college here in town, and we’re helping her out for the semester (so far) by not charging her rent (so far). I’ve found that sometimes when you try to smooth the path for someone else, your own path gets a little rocky. God has taught us some valuable lessons and it’s made me realize how gracious our God is and how I would not like to be Him – ever! He freely gave us His Son and we take advantage of this gift almost on a daily basis. The Gift is always there offering us forgiveness, but the consequence of our sin is a break in fellowship with Him. Until we come back to the cross, our conversation with Him is strained and His favor is withheld. Father I pray that through this experience I will be a better child of Yours!
My last day of work was October 5 and my plan was to finish well and smooth the path both for my employer and my replacement. Great plans are…..well, just plans. Sometimes they don’t fall in line like you had them neatly laid out. Thus, the last couple of weeks paralyzed me with no replacement in sight. Finally one was found, but I only had three partial days of training with her. I have a hunch October 5 will not be the last time I step foot into the office
Well, hopefully you’re not bored out of your mind – my life’s past three weeks are probably no comparison from your perspective to a real adventurous IMAX movie. I could have gone in explicit 3D detail and shared even more scenes, but they involved others and they probably wouldn’t appreciate their lives being splashed upon my big screen. One thing I’m certain of as I observe the theatre of my life: God is the Director and knows it all and sees it all right there with me. I take comfort in Psalm 139:1-4 and pray you do too.
O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.
We think we have hard times right now and have gotten pretty good at complaining, but try and top these:
