Hurray! It's summer

     

     "Joy springs all radiant in my breast.  'Tis wealth enough of joy for me in summer time, to simply be."

— Dunbar

     Hurrah! It's summer! At least my calendar tells me it is, and  the beauty surrounding my patio attests to it. 

     I am glad I live in this hemisphere where I can enjoy four distinct seasons which never fail to showcase their each unique beauty. 

     We've let the Easterners have the sweltering temperatures of July, quite aware our own hot days, forthcoming. 

     To some folk, summer means shining up the RV and hitting the road. 

    
     

     Dave and Carolyn Eagles have been doing just that most weekends, as they have been getting used to their new, 32- ft., travel trailer, exploring the back roads of beautiful B.C. 

     Some folk apply the SPF40 sunscreen and head to the park, the beach or the lake. Others, find it the perfect time to entertain out-of-town visitors — perhaps even having a wedding celebration. 

     Then there are those who prefer what they call a staycation. 
  
     Quite content to hang up a hammock in the backyard, they pull up a lawn chair, go for walks with the dog, enjoy a glass of "something" with ice that clinks against its sides, sprawl in the shade of the patio and crack open a new book — they're satisfied to let the distractions of the world happen to other folk. 

     We know there's lots happening in our world we could feel anxious about, from problems in our own backyard, to Brexit and our counterparts across the pond, to Donald Trump's Triumphs (?). 

     Most of the news leaves us feeling helpless anyway. So, maybe we need to turn off the outside world, if even for a day or so. 

     The term marking time usually means, motion without progress, not getting anywhere, or not doing anything important while you wait. 

     Sometimes we need to embrace these pauses in our lives— often not by choice — such as a job interview result, a medical diagnosis, or longing for the return of a loved one. 

     Having set aside most of my activities for the summer months, I now at times feel I am in that marking time mode. 

     Believing that a busy person never has time to be unhappy or bored, I am usually a person of action. But, "how
  we wait," I believe, is important too. 

     The military command, "mark time, march," means to march in place without moving forward, yet being mentally prepared, expectantly waiting the next command. 

      In the Bible, the word wait often means to look eagerly for, to hope, or, to expect.
  
     So, as I march in place, enjoying peace and solitude — finding pleasure in simple things — I await His next marching orders. 

     I find quiet moments on my patio: reading, listening to the chatter of my bird friends, admiring the dance of the bees and butterflies surrounding my flowers. 

     Creation, with all its facets of beauty, often overwhelms us with an encounter with God, like none other. In God's great outdoors, our eyes, our ears, and our spirits open up to God in ways that cannot happen indoors. 

   

     My Kamloops kids — I'm allowed to still call them that — coming to Kelowna recently, brought smiles to this Grandma's face. It made for a great weekend of family fun. 

     Watching Sarah Letourneau (nee Eagles) and her soccer team beat their opponents at the University of British Columbia Okanagan playing field was a delight! 

     A sunny, Sunday morning saw eight family members enjoying brunch at the quaint Okanagan Centre patio cafe, and later at  nearby Pebble Beach, several family  members demonstrated their  paddle-boarding skills. 

     

Jamie and Karen Osborne enjoy the sunshine.

     Later, we shared a delicious meal later on my outdoor patio. It was a great ending to a perfect day. 

Dave Eagles tries the paddle board.

     As we take time to pause this summer — tuning out distractions and releasing our tensions, —we should then reflect with gratitude and awareness, as we see our blessings right before our eyes.  

     

     When Jesus was on our earth, He recognized the need of withdrawing from the crowds and the busyness of life to a solitary place of rest and quiet to spend time talking to his Father. 

     He encouraged his disciples to do likewise.  

      "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest," he told them.  Mark 6:31  

     What an example for us!  We would do well to heed it.  

— beulah


           

Acceptance begins with 1 and grows

     

     "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

— 1 Corinthians 13:13     

     The news coming across the airwaves this past week could easily cause one to be locked in a state of fear. 

     Perhaps, feeling another shockwave of insecurity, we watched the tragic unfolding of the carnage that took place along the Promenade of the French Riviera in the city of Nice, France. 

     Then, once again, seeing racial hatred raise its ugly head, threats and retaliation brought another community in mourning, with the unnecessary loss of lives.

     

     Remigio Pereira, a member of Canadian singing group, The Tenors — desiring to get his message across — got himself kicked out of the singing quartet after he unilaterally altered the lyrics to "O Canada" at the 2016 Major League Baseball All-star Game to include the phrase, "all lives matter to the Great."

     It was touching to watch the ER surgeon Dr. Brian Williams feeling such empathy and sorrow for not being able to save the lives of the five gunned down policemen. Williams said, "We all look the same on the inside." Being close to tears, Williams implored his fellow Americans, "to find a way to end the senseless killings. "Violence fixes nothing, racial hatred being the deepest fault line of our democracy." 

     Acceptance of each other, with our differences — I believe — begins at home and in each of our communities, putting a greater investment into our schools. 

     I was pleased recently, to see a sign on a fence surrounding my nearby elementary school. Amid colourful imitations of children of various races, was this simple statement,"Acceptance begins with one and grows." 

     I praise the school's administrators for seeking to instill the right message to our next generation — to learn to live with diversity and pluralism. While those countries mourned — at war with terrorists and racial hatred — our own country was in mourning over the loss of sweet, little, five-year-old Taliyah and her mom. 

     All week our hearts and minds were captured, as we offered prayers for those many families that lost that Someone who was so very dear and important to them. 

     Though we all want to feel that we live in a safe society, and our world in general is a pretty safe place, we must acknowledge there's a need for improvement— perhaps if only in our own attitudes towards our fellow men. "Love for God and our neighbour," is the fulfillment of all the laws of the Old Testament which we all need to take seriously.  

     

     Next month, in August, the Olympics will be held in Rio de Janerio. For many, the highlight of the games will be the opening ceremonies, as they watch teams from all corners of the world enter Maracana Stadium. More than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries will walk triumphantly into the spotlight. What a marvel of diversity of the nations, gathered peacefully together in one place — truly a display of unity on parade! 

     It's been said, "No other event on this globe brings people together like the Olympics." Yet, this will not be the greatest worldwide togetherness the world will ever see. At a future time, an event will occur when "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, will join together before the throne and in front of the Lamb, Jesus."  — Revelation 7:9 

     The thousands of colourfully-clad Olympians entering the magnificent Rio stadium will pale in comparison to the upcoming parade of nations we will see on that day. 

     

     I have already secured my paid in full entrance to this marvellous future event — compliments of Jesus, my awesome Saviour!  

     Have you made your arrangements yet? If not, don't delay!  See John 3:16.

— beulah

True path of friendship, a two-way street

     

     Are there people in our lives that we are missing the chance to love?  
     Is there someone who may need our time, friendship, encouragement, a listening ear, or a helping hand? 

     Recently, Val, my neighbour and friend, passed from this life to her heavenly home. She certainly was one who qualified for all the above. Her short stay in hospital and shorter stay at the lovely Hospice house, was more or less expected. 

     Yet, facing the finality of death is never easy for family or friends. But, death is an excellent reminder of life — that life truly is a gift!  

     Val and I had been neighbours for several years, living close by on the same street, yet our friendship only began the first Christmas season after Nel's passing. 

  
     I heard that Val had taken a nasty fall on the ice, fracturing her hip. With Christmas just around the corner, I knew special baking would not be on her to do list that year. Soon a mixture of Christmas goodies, my Atlantic Chowder and Mile High Biscuits found their way to her door. 

     At that time, during my intense grief, I needed to focus on helping others, in order to find the purpose of each lonely day before me. I had already offered my help to serve dinner at the Salvation Army on Christmas Day. Val's husband was dealing with dementia at that time, adding to her concerns. 

     Val and I soon found we shared a strong bond of faith. We also shared February birthdays with the same age number. 

     Now beginning to feel comfortable with me, Val realized she could call me late at night if an urgent need arose, to ask for prayer, or to have me run a simple an errand. 

     Yet, at no time did I feel she took advantage of my kindness and availability, often reciprocating in loving and generous ways. I was grateful to accompany her the day she was transitioning her husband to a new care facility. 

     Later, after his death, I visited the local cemetery with Val as she needed to choose the final resting place for her beloved. Members of her family, being conspicuous by their absence seemed to have left the difficult task to Mother, alone. 

     As time passed, Val's failing strength with multiple health issues, saw her having to forfeit her driver's licence and soon, much of her mobility. 

     Her perseverance, courage and steadfastness, as she mastered each day, was admirable! 

     Often in our darkest and most difficult moments of life, the assurance of His loving Presence gives us confidence that we are not alone. 

     Val, so aware of this would often say, "My help comes from the Lord. I could never make it through a day without Him!" 

     Sometimes during a phone call, as she told through tears of her extra-hard day, ending with a prayer would often give her renewed hope. Once, I took by a pretty, blossoming house plant, attaching the following scripture verse printed on an index card. Those words became very precious and strengthening to her. 

     At one of my hospital visits, she asked me to bring her the card she had left at home on her dining table. It read: "So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41: 10). 

     Have you ever felt, regarding your relationship with someone, that you only got the "crumbs of their time?" 

     Today, in our action-oriented world, it's tough to find someone, who can and will, respond to our invitation to "sit a spell" with us. Consequently, we can neglect the needs of others, even those who are closest to us. I can still hear Val say, from time to time, "I would like them to come and just sit with me for awhile." 

     Maybe our quiet presence is all that's needed to help that someone through a difficult situation. I believe, when we give away what the Lord has given us, He is honoured, others are helped, and we are blessed. 

     It may only be a small portion of "our time." When I took that chowder to my neighbour's door, nearly nine long years ago, I had no idea the agenda God already had in place for me. 

     

     As I mourn the loss of my good neighbour and friend, I relate this story to remind myself that as one of God's children, helping others, giving in different ways as I serve in Jesus' name, are not options but are to be my way of life. 

     A reminder in Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  

     My prayer is —Teach us Lord, to see people as You do —bearing Your image, worthy of Your love and needing Your care. Use us!  Amen.

— beulah