Is This Story Funny or Serious?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by jroesler728

Here I am in all my hiking gear.

Here I am in all my hiking gear.

Walking along the side of the road with my hiking boots, thick socks, roll up quick dry pants, weightless shirt, bright red back pack, sun hat (with a drape for my neck), and big sunglasses must have attracted attention. I didn’t recognize the sound. I thought it was a honking goose but had never heard one that loud. When it honked for the third time I turned around and noticed that a police car was following me.

The officer stepped out of his car and said he didn’t want to scare me.

(I think I was the one causing fear???)

He asked me if I was OK?

I cautiously told him I was, as I tried to get some hint of why this was happening.

He asked me what I was doing.

I told him I was getting ready to hike in Spain.

His expression evidenced a deepening concern. He asked me where I had started out from today. I think he was expecting me to say Brazil or Australia. It must have been a disappointment for him when I gave my home address from about 3 miles away.

Now it was my turn for a question. Why are you wondering if I am OK?

He said one of the neighbors had called the police and told them they saw a woman walking in their neighborhood and they were concerned that she was lost.

My mind searched for reasons that someone would notify the police that I was walking in their neighborhood. What would cause this concern? Was it the hiking boots on a hot day? Did the backpack stir questions? Is it possible that I appeared old and feeble? Is this the first of many times I will be stopped and questioned?

As I answered the officer’s questions coherently he began to relax and even take some interest in where in Spain I would be hiking, when and for how long. Seemingly satisfied, he asked for my name so he could acknowledge that he had made the requested inquiry.

I gave him my driver’s license. He instructed me to wait while he went into his squad car to submit his report. Or was he checking further to see if I had a record?

A second squad pulled up behind the first one. I wondered if the first officer was calling for backup? I found myself laughing and knew that this was not the time or place to think of this as funny. The second squad left quickly so assurance must have been given that I was not assessed as dangerous.

After what seemed like a long time the officer came back with my driver’s license and said he hoped I had fun in Spain. I thanked him for caring about my well being.

As I continued my walk I continued to wonder if this is what happens to old people. Hopefully one of the neighbors didn’t have enough to do that day.

I think I will let myself think of it as funny now. I will remind myself that as we age we take God more seriously and ourselves less seriously. I will walk again tomorrow with the recommended gear. I will choose to tell this story and let people laugh with me.

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I Missed You

Posted on May 27, 2013 by jroesler728

I have not written for over a week. This is the first time since this blog was started that we have taken a break.

I found that I missed writing. 1 John 1:4 says “We write this to make our joy complete. I find joy in writing Silverstrands, faith through aging eyes. And in some unexplained way I missed you reading it. I appreciate those of you who follow. I’d love to interact more with you. I invite you to comment. Even for you to say, I missed you, too, as we return to our regular rhythm.

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Suffering Transformed into Beauty

Posted on May 15, 2013 by jroesler728

A thing of beauty has emerged from its "suffering"

A thing of beauty has emerged from its “suffering”

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”. Romans 8:18

I love it when I see the transformation of something that has been shaped by natural exposure become a thing of beauty. It is even more precious when this picture opens a window to the working of God in my own life.

This weekend I heard the story of this stunningly beautiful wall. The wood has been salvaged from a grain storage facility. For hundreds of years, grain pounded against this wall as it was released from storage. The changes to the wall were subtle. No one was paying any attention to the effect of the tribulation suffered by the wood. Then, when the purpose for the wall had been met, the suffering ceased and the glory was revealed.

I don’t recognize the benefit of suffering in my life or in the lives of those who love. I would like it all to stop. But, is it possible that relentless tribulation is being used by the Artist to produce something of beauty?

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There Is Someone Waiting for Me

Posted on May 13, 2013 by jroesler728

I typed the destination into my GPS. I was headed to a retreat for a group of women who had been in a Bible Study together for 40 years. I felt honored to be asked to lead them.

The first half of the trip took me on very familiar roads. It was the same route that I had routinely and repetitively taken to my childhood home. The same place my parents had lived their entire life. This journey has become rare now since the death of my parents. For a while I drove up to visit some special friends, but there are fewer of them as aging brings with it the gradual diminishing of childhood relationships.

The impact of memory surprised me as I drove by familiar landmarks. I found myself picturing my Mom and Dad eagerly waiting for me to arrive. They were both intensely interested in anything I had to say and everything I was doing. I don’t think it would be a stretch to say they have been crazy about me since I was a baby and that extravagant affection never faded.

As I drove I became overwhelmed by grief. I was so wanting to drive all the way to my childhood home and have my Mom and Dad waiting for me. I remembered that I never had to call ahead or even give warning that I was bringing friends with me. But, my assigned route today had me turn off this familiar path at the halfway mark. I knew if I had continued on there would be no one waiting. Somehow this did not make the new road easier. It did, however, give me an introduction for the retreat.

I was able to let those in attendance borrow my experience of being loved by my dad. I reminded them that God was excited that they had come. That He was eager to talk to each of them personally, listen to them, and was deeply interested in what they had to say.

I am thankful that I had parents who make it easy for me to embrace the welcoming arms of Our Heavenly Father. I am glad that the hope of the gospel means I will never be orphaned. Whenever I turn my heart toward home I find my Father running toward me.

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It’s Clean Dirt, Besta

Posted on May 10, 2013 by jroesler728

I was excited to schedule the spring maintenance of my Koi pond at the same time as my grandchildren were coming to spend some time with me. I made sure the girls knew they would need boots, as the area would be wet and messy. The ground water was still high leaving a sucking sound as we walked over the grass. The water was coated with a thick skin of algae. Decayed leaves, debris from melting snow and even empty bottles of wolf urine (used as a deterrent for predators) made the scene look neglected.

As the cleaning process began, my girls, (ages 6 and 4) decided they were hungry. They ran up to the house and were back in a moment with the happy meals that they had ordered. They spread their food out on a glass end table that had not been wiped off since last fall.

All their food was finger food so chicken nuggets were dipped in ranch dressing and mud, apple slices were dropped on wet leaves and brushed off, French fries were sorted in an attempt to determine which ones were clean enough to eat.

All of this was pushing hard on my neurotic need for things to be clean before you eat them and for your hands to be clean, as well. But, running up to the house to wash your hands was only a temporary solution as everything you touched down by the pond was contaminated (if you use the standard of a surgical sterile field).

I decided to let the girls enjoy their food and watch the pond workers.

Later, when their mother picked them up, I told her that I had lost the battle of keeping our dinner germ free. This mother calmly responded, “It’s clean dirt, Besta (Norwegian for Grandma). It rained last week!

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Beauty in the Mess

Posted on May 6, 2013 by jroesler728
A beautiful plant

A beautiful plant

Tomorrow my little Koi pond will be cleaned and serviced for the season.

Today the surface is covered with algae and floating scraps from last year’s bloom. When the sun is bright I can see images of my fish. I rejoice that all six have lived through the winter in the frigid water. I am sure now that it has been worth it to jab a hole through the ice and keep a pump running to give them oxygen.

But it would be a stretch to say that the pond is beautiful today. It must clearly be described as a mess that needs work. Yet, the yellow plant pictured above speaks of courage and character. It has decided to be a contrasting beauty in the otherwise forsaken environment.

I am ever amazed that God, who sees my need for daily clean up, still invites me to bear His image and be His fragrance. I am thankful for the beauty I am able to see in those who suffer and those who live lives in barren places.

Lord, give me the courage to bloom with boldness and lead my environment to beauty. The Workman is coming tomorrow!

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Seeing Beauty with Your Heart

Posted on May 3, 2013 by jroesler728

On my first visit to Norway, decades ago now, I discovered a distant relative who lived in a remote mountain cottage. She was pointed out to me in the village where I was looking for ancestors. I took the risk of introducing myself and explaining that my grandmother had lived in these mountains.  When she realized I was family she invited me to her home.

She knew no English so we did the best we could with my broken Norwegian. Thankfully we were in Telemark so the dialect was that spoken by my grandmother.

Her home was quite far from any road. The only access was a steep, often treacherous, trail.  She pushed her bicycle with familiar confidence and I walked behind with unfamiliar caution.

I don’t remember much about her house other than it being furnished with only bare essentials. Her lifestyle was clearly simple and solitary. I felt honored to be trusted as a visitor.

The unfading memory is of the brilliant wild flowers that covered the hills. As I let the beauty soak in I said that it was sad that nobody could see these amazing flowers. She calmly said, “Oh, God planted those for Himself.”

Today I am visiting a friend who explodes with creativity. Her home is a stunning array of unusual things being used for unexpected purposes.  If I were to fill my home with these same things it would look cluttered, but when arranged by this artist the image is striking colors and shapes. She is always looking to produce the “wow” factor.

This friend was confused recently to be asked to explain her motive in investing so much energy into decorating her home. The person asking the question said, “Who will even see this?” My friend thought it strange that someone would think she needed a reason. She asked, “Isn’t it enough to make something beautiful just because you love to make things beautiful?  Isn’t creativity an end in itself?

This post describes two very precious people living in two very different environments but both women express God’s heart. He loves to make things beautiful. Sometimes he does this for a reason and sometimes because this is who He is.

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God’s Stunning Strategy

Posted on May 1, 2013 by jroesler728

I received a message today that there is danger coming our way. Scared, I jumped into conversation with God and asked my friends to fast. Together we asked Him for help.

My Prayer: “O, Lord, You have been the God of history and heaven. Your power is beyond compare. I remember that we are where we are today because of your hand on our lives. Because of our story with you we know what to do in the day of trouble. We have already decided that since we bear your name, you will be the first one we talk to when we are stressed. We know you will hear and respond. As the reality of how big this struggle is hits us, we know that we don’t have the power within us to stand. We don’t even know where to start, but our eyes are on you.”

As I stopped the talking part of my prayer and began to listen to God, He told us not to be afraid or discouraged because the battle is His and not ours. He told us to stand and watch as He protects us and walks with us.

We were so grateful to hear this that we stopped and worshipped. As we did, our faith grew. We broke into song, praising God for his holiness and thanking Him for His love.

We would never have thought that worship and praise would be an effective weapon against the kind of danger we were facing, but we are here to report that the battle is over, God has done more than we even dared or hoped and even those watching are talking about our God.

We can be at rest now.

The battle was won through worship. Yes, that is what I said, “The battle was won through worship.”

(The content for this post was borrowed from 2 Chronicles 20).

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When Dying Is the “Next Step”

Posted on April 29, 2013 by jroesler728

We live in a time where dying is complex. There are so many options and so many decisions. I remember, as a child, that when people’s bodies stopped working they died at home. It was an expectation for those who were old and sick. Today, we somehow feel we need to prevent it.

I wonder if we have forgotten that God has reserved for Himself the decision for life to begin and life to end. If we believe this, we are quick to say that we do not have the right to end the life of the unborn but we must also acknowledge that we do not have the right to deny death.

I was asked this week to help a family that was asked by their physician if they wanted to insert a feeding tube into a 96 year old lady who was no longer able to swallow. I responded to this question by saying that interfering with death is as wrong as interfering with life.

I say this with confidence because I know that if God is not ready to take this person home to heaven he will give her the ability to swallow. We do not have as much power in these stories as we fear.

This story is also a reminder that Jesus took care of our death but he left the dying to us. Dying is a grueling task that is only softened by the promise of eternal life.

Let us live by the power of the risen Christ and die with the peace of knowing that this is the next step of a preordained plan of amazing grace.

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You Will Never Lose Power Again

Posted on April 26, 2013 by jroesler728

These were the parting words of the electrician when he finished the complex work of installing a generator that will automatically kick in when there is a storm or some other interruption of power to our house.
He left us with a white box outside of our house, a new panel of circuit breakers and a huge bill.

This installation was initiated by my husband with these words, “When I am gone, I don’t want you to ever be without power.” These are words of love, protection and empowerment. They sound like words I have heard before. Jesus told his disciples that He would be going away but he had designed a way for them to never lose power.

He would be sending His Holy Spirit to indwell them. The love, protection and empowerment of this plan would become their new reality. No simple mechanical metaphor can communicate the stunning story that we have in our relationship with God. Yet, the cost to Him, the protection of us, and the power available to us is brought to my mind every time I see the new mechanical equipment.

May we bask today in the luxury of being loved.

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