This morning Chloe and I sit in Wayne’s hospital room in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, his home town, waiting to meet with his doctor. He has been in the hospital for eight days having great difficulty breathing. Wayne is Chloe’s father and had just spent a week with us in NJ. We were not sure if he was going to survive so Chloe and I decided on Tuesday that we needed to be with him. We left NJ early Wednesday morning on separate planes (due to cheap Internet tickets with me staying only a few days and Chloe staying two weeks) to be with him and to meet with his doctor to determine a quality of life plan for Wayne going forward.
Wayne was born in 1910 in a primitive home dug out of the river bank at Sugar Bottom on the banks of the Iowa River a few miles south of here, illustrating what starting out dirt poor really means. Wayne has lived during nearly all of the twentieth century as well as the start of the current century. The amazing thing is that Wayne has never got old. Throughout his life he has had an astonishing ability to go with the flow and change himself to always be relevant. His life is worthy of note and I believe follows the life Christ modeled for us. I have been reading the Gospels of Luke and now John recently and I thought I would attempt to write some thoughts on a life well lived, a life lived to the fullest, Wayne’s World.
So, why didn’t Wayne get old after almost 97 years? First of all, Wayne always takes care of himself. Physically, Wayne is fit. In the 1960s, Wayne walked two miles to and from work every day because the family had only one car. Chloe’s mother was a teacher and needed the family car. He is still a good eater even today as I watched him gobble down his hospital lunch tray. Wayne’s generation defines what it means to be a hard worker. At 96, he was out last winter in the freezing cold chipping ice around his driveway. Wayne was an avid outdoor sportsman and conservationist. He shot his last deer at age 89. He still likes to fish even though he is afraid of boats because he never learned to swim. Mentally, Wayne is sharp. He plays cards (pinochle) three days per week at the senior centers around town. This is like a nine to five job for him as well as 20 or so other seniors like Wayne. They have day long pinochle tournaments with the winners receiving postage stamps for prizes. Wayne is always up on current events and has an opinion on everything (from the Democratic point of view). Wayne is the consummate plugger. “Plugger” was a comic strip about a guy who could always make do with what he had. Wayne once had a fly swatter that broke in the line of duty. Rather than buy another one for a quarter, Wayne repaired the flyswatter by replacing the plastic flap with strips of denim to swat the flies.
Where Wayne shines though is emotionally and spiritually. Wayne is never down and doesn’t seem to worry much. I think this is because he always looks outward to others and puts them first. Wayne exemplifies John 13:34-45 which says, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Wayne never complains and never talks about his problems to others. Rather, he is always interested in their lives and how things are going for them. Most amazing is that Wayne still volunteers at a soup kitchen once a month. Spiritually Wayne acknowledges who God is and who he himself is He never forgets to return thanks to God for each meal realizing that all we have is provided by God for us. Wayne looks forward to each day like a good steward. By the end of every day Wayne has made something better than he had found it.
By the way, we did meet the doctor and here’s the scoop. Wayne has pulmonary fibrosis, the serious kind, with a bacterial infection. The treatments will hopefully kill the bacterial infection but will not make his lungs better. His base line has slipped to requiring oxygen for the rest of his life. We are developing a strategy for him to be able to return home with the help of a Godly neighbor assisted by Hospice. His quality of life will include him living out his days in his own home. I’ll close with a verse I read today in Wayne’s room, John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
This is Wayne’s World today. Praise God!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
A Psalm and a Prayer
I am an admirer of Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion radio show, heard on Public Radio. I have seen his show live in three locations, The World Theater in St Paul, MN, his home theater, in the Town Hall, NYC, and last summer at Ocean Grove, NJ. Garrison even was a nearby neighbor of mine when I lived in Troy Township, WI, as he lived in the next township just to the south of me. I relate to his sense of humor, outlook on life and to his music.
Last Christmas, when we were visiting Chloe’s brother and family in the Twin Cities, I was thrilled when I heard that Garrison was quietly opening his very first book store located in a trendy neighborhood in St Paul. The buzz was that his store was stocked with books that mainly were his personal recommendations. We made it a priority to fit a visit to his store during our time left there to see what books he offered.
One cold winter day, Chloe and I drove to St Paul with her brother (also a long time Keillor fan) for lunch in a deli in the same building as the book store. After lunch, we went down the stairs and entered the new store, still in the final stages of opening up. Chloe and I quickly started grabbing books of interest to us. Finally we met at the checkout and then decided how many books we really wanted to carry home on the plane and culled the herd, so to speak, to about seven books.
I was happy with my book choices that day but by far my favorite book is “Good Poems for Hard Times” by Keillor. In the introduction (which sold me the book), Keillor’s says “Forget everything you ever read about poetry, it doesn’t matter—poetry is the last preserve of honest speech and the outspoken heart. A person could perish of entertainment, especially comedy, so much of it casually nihilistic, hateful, glittering, cold, and in the end clueless. People in nursing homes die watching late-night television and if I were one of them, I’d be grateful when the darkness descends. Thank God if the pastor comes and offers a psalm and a prayer, and they can attain a glimmer of clarity at the end.”
“A psalm and a prayer”, clear, concise, pure, peaceful, gracious, powerful…that phrase really resonated with me when I read it. This is to a great extent what people want and really need in their hard times. Psalms are songs, God’s poetry for us. When we read psalms to others, God speaks spiritually to them and thereby ministers to their deepest needs. I have been reading Psalms to people in need for the last several months, people in their final days on earth, people with surgeries to repair or replace body components, people who just need a lift. Each time I have read a psalm slowly and prayerfully and then offered a prayer, I have witnessed grace flowing through these words that powerfully brings peace and heals the soul.
Recently, I called on someone who needed a lift. On the drive over, Psalm 27 came to my mind. It is a beautiful promise to us in the form of a poem from God. I share it with you now. May it bring you peace as you read it prayerfully.
Psalm 27 A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Last Christmas, when we were visiting Chloe’s brother and family in the Twin Cities, I was thrilled when I heard that Garrison was quietly opening his very first book store located in a trendy neighborhood in St Paul. The buzz was that his store was stocked with books that mainly were his personal recommendations. We made it a priority to fit a visit to his store during our time left there to see what books he offered.
One cold winter day, Chloe and I drove to St Paul with her brother (also a long time Keillor fan) for lunch in a deli in the same building as the book store. After lunch, we went down the stairs and entered the new store, still in the final stages of opening up. Chloe and I quickly started grabbing books of interest to us. Finally we met at the checkout and then decided how many books we really wanted to carry home on the plane and culled the herd, so to speak, to about seven books.
I was happy with my book choices that day but by far my favorite book is “Good Poems for Hard Times” by Keillor. In the introduction (which sold me the book), Keillor’s says “Forget everything you ever read about poetry, it doesn’t matter—poetry is the last preserve of honest speech and the outspoken heart. A person could perish of entertainment, especially comedy, so much of it casually nihilistic, hateful, glittering, cold, and in the end clueless. People in nursing homes die watching late-night television and if I were one of them, I’d be grateful when the darkness descends. Thank God if the pastor comes and offers a psalm and a prayer, and they can attain a glimmer of clarity at the end.”
“A psalm and a prayer”, clear, concise, pure, peaceful, gracious, powerful…that phrase really resonated with me when I read it. This is to a great extent what people want and really need in their hard times. Psalms are songs, God’s poetry for us. When we read psalms to others, God speaks spiritually to them and thereby ministers to their deepest needs. I have been reading Psalms to people in need for the last several months, people in their final days on earth, people with surgeries to repair or replace body components, people who just need a lift. Each time I have read a psalm slowly and prayerfully and then offered a prayer, I have witnessed grace flowing through these words that powerfully brings peace and heals the soul.
Recently, I called on someone who needed a lift. On the drive over, Psalm 27 came to my mind. It is a beautiful promise to us in the form of a poem from God. I share it with you now. May it bring you peace as you read it prayerfully.
Psalm 27 A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Good Soil
For over a week now, I have been enjoying spending time in the book of Luke, one chapter a day in my current favorite Bible, “The Way”. Yesterday in chapter 8, I read the parable of the farmer scattering seed and was moved to write some thoughts by this passage.
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed (Luke 8)
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.
12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.
13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.
14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.
15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Spring has sprung in New Jersey and my thoughts are wandering towards gardening which I like to do. Proper soil condition is needed for the seed to first geminate, then grow into a strong plant and finally yield a respectable harvest. It may be the most important factor in a successful harvest.
Jesus is saying here that when the Word of God sown, seeds will fall on four different types of people, i.e. human soil conditions. Three soil conditions will fall short of a harvest but one that soil condition will succeed in producing a harvest.
The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing.
The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn’t take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe it for awhile; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest.
The seeds among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.
But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They (1) listen to God’s words and (2) cling to them and then (3) steadily spread them to other people who will soon believe. This is the type of people that need to rise up and be movers and shakers in developing community at PAC so people can discover how to live life to the fullest.
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed (Luke 8)
4 One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant.
11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.
12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.
13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.
14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.
15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Spring has sprung in New Jersey and my thoughts are wandering towards gardening which I like to do. Proper soil condition is needed for the seed to first geminate, then grow into a strong plant and finally yield a respectable harvest. It may be the most important factor in a successful harvest.
Jesus is saying here that when the Word of God sown, seeds will fall on four different types of people, i.e. human soil conditions. Three soil conditions will fall short of a harvest but one that soil condition will succeed in producing a harvest.
The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing.
The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn’t take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe it for awhile; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest.
The seeds among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.
But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They (1) listen to God’s words and (2) cling to them and then (3) steadily spread them to other people who will soon believe. This is the type of people that need to rise up and be movers and shakers in developing community at PAC so people can discover how to live life to the fullest.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
