The Tale of Snowman

Snowman came to visit us last Sunday. He came by way of one of our inlaws, who in looking for something to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon decided to turn the Saturday evening snowfall into something creative. So snowman was created. In our front yard of all places. Hey, this is a retirement community. A snowman here looks, well, sort of strange, or odd. You don't see too many around here.

But snowman is gone now. The nice warm sunshine pretty much took care of him the next day. What the sun didn't do I finished, cause snowman wasn't too pretty anymore - his head fell off, his arms came out, as well as his carroty nose. Oh well, it was sure fun for about a day.

Snowman's story pretty much sums up the weekend around our place. They came, they were here, now they're gone - our family that is. What a great time we had! Nothing spectacular, but just being here, enjoying being family. No quarrels or spats - we don't do that - only a lot of good conversation, laughing, and a bit of teasing too. We ate, both in and out, and watched some family videos, DVD's, and pics on a cd. Wow, our family members are getting older - children & spouses, grandchildren, greats. We like our family!

But now they're gone, for who knows how long. We have to plan ahead for these kind of times as most growing families do these days. Perhaps it won't be too long. Hopefully we will be able to attend a granddaughter's college graduation in May. That will be good if we can make it happen.

Yes, they're gone, just like snowman. But memories will remain. Memories of these times don't disappear like snowman. They will continue indefinitely. That's very good. And life goes on.

Pilgrim on the way

They're coming!

Yes, they're coming! Three of our four children, that is. And two inlaws as well. They're coming from Ohio, Missouri, and Arizona. We're sorry that one son can't make it this time, as well as one daughter inlaw.

They're coming providing the weather allows them to come. We're having what I call a severe winter, at least that's what it seems like. Not as bad as some places in the country, I know, but bad enough for someone who's skin, and blood?, seem to be getting thinner as the years pass by.

Anyway, we're hoping everyone has safe travels both coming and going back again. We're planning for a great time together, as our family times are. Lots of talking, remembering, and just plain relating. We don't argue, much, or fight. There were always rules about that. We'll sing, if Dad gets his way, eat, go to church, etc. We're not planning anything one might call "special," except just being here together.

We'll sure miss the ones not coming, but now a-days its very hard to find a time when everyone can make it. To find a time when children, grandchildren, and greats too, can all be present for a family get-together is becoming more difficult. Oh, I know some families are able to do that. I guess we just haven't hit the right buttons or something. Maybe sometime it will happen again.

So I may not come back on this space until after the last goodbye is said. Hopefully it will be to report a very wonderful time. Until then I remain -

Pilgrim on the way

The Sunday Times

Text: "Who do people say the Son of Man is? . . . Who do you say I am?" Matthew 16:13, 15.

The questions posed by Jesus to the disciples remain questions that are still of importance in today's world. The disciples' answers to the first question are still some of the answers people give today - someone great, a miracle worker, or a prophet. Out in our world that's about as good an answer as you can get.

The real question is the second one, "Who do you say I am?" For me the answer is simple - "You are who you said your are." Jesus gave himself many different names, like "the way, the truth, and the life," or "the good shepherd," or "the door," and many others. He acknowledged being the Messiah (Christ) and a King. He also called himself a servant. Other scriptures reveal many other identities for this most unusual person. I believe what the scriptures say about Him.

Some in today's world do not even believe there was an historical person named Jesus of Nazareth, that he was only a fictional character - their belief about all of the Bible. Others believe he existed but was only a prophet among many others. And so the questions remain, and can be answered only by each person. One's answer to the question, "Who do you say I am?" will ultimately determine his/her eternal destiny. How do you answer this question?

Pilgrim on the way

boxes

I like boxes. I make boxes. I have made many boxes it seems. I make boxes from different kinds of wood - cedar, walnut, cherry, Brazilian rosewood and osage orange (fancy name for hedge) to name a few.

Some boxes are big, some small. I make the smaller sizes. I call the boxes I make "keepsake boxes." I don't know if that's a good term or not. It depends on what one keeps in the boxes I guess. Some of the boxes I make are from logs that need to be "worked down" and made into boards first. Quite a job for an old man. But in the end I enjoy being able to do it.

What to do with these boxes? Some I have given away, to family. Hopefully all of our grandchildren will have a box sometime. We have kept some. We use them for handkerchiefs, sewing stuff, some little keepsakes, etc. Nothing we couldn't use something else for, but its just nice to have a little box to put this stuff in.

We also have big boxes. Only one smaller one that I have made and one made by one of my ancestors. I have made some big boxes in my lifetime. By big boxes I'm talking about what are mostly called "chests." But chests are boxes, simply stated. They have four sides, a bottom and a top that opens. Isn't that a box? I think one of these boxes is in our family somewhere, and one is in Clara's family.

Do you have a box, or boxes? What do you keep in your box? Do your boxes have hasps and locks? Most of mine have hasps without locks, except one perhaps. I probably won't make too many more boxes, only perhaps if some sort of special wood becomes available and I don't know what else to do with it. I can always make a box.

Pilgrim on the way

The Sunday Times

My intent in writing on this Sunday is to write some sort of devotional thought each week, but getting that accomplished remains to be seen. For today I submit the following:

Text: Luke 6:1-11

"Three things here,

three simple uncomplicated straightforward

challenging

messages.


People first

Sabbath next

My agenda last


Respect the Sabbath

Rest

Exception being

The needs of people

It's never the wrong day

to help another human


Exception not being

The work

you didn't get done

last week."
-Carol Duerksen

Reprinted by permission from Now It Springs Up by Carol Duerksen, Michele Hershberger, and Laurie Oswald Robinson. Published by WillowSpring Downs, email willowspringdowns@juno.com


Pilgrim on the way

he said, he said

Major league baseball is in the news again and the season is yet to start. It all has to do with the steroid issue - "he said, he said," - "he did it," "I didn't do it." It all also has to do with telling the truth, or not telling the truth. One of these individuals is lying, one is telling the truth. Which is which is yet to be discovered.

Yes, I have been listening to, and watching some of this debate, basically because I'm a fan of baseball and I care. I care about the integrity of the game and of those who play it. Where does just playing baseball come in? Do I get bored, disgusted and fed up with all the hoolabaloo? You bet I do. For me its a little bit like I spoke of politics on here recently - its both interesting and quite boring at the same time, or just plain disgusting.

Actually what I know is that baseball players are only representatives of a society that has decided its all right to lie, as long of course that one doesn't get caught. Who is critiquing these guys for lying? Some are saying that someone's stupid, just because you don't lie to a senate investigating committee, under oath. I guess lying while not under oath is excusable.

When we lived in New York City we were told that you can't make it in New York if you don't lie. That's an interesting idea indeed. Perhaps someone needs to say that you can't make it in the USA if you don't lie. I'm not sure what "making it" means. Maybe it refers to being successful. Whatever it means, I'm sure that lying doesn't set too well with God. Liars are mentioned as among those who face God's wrath.

At any rate, wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone always told the truth? Or would it? It used to be that a person could trust almost everyone wherever you went, but now just the opposite is true. And the law of our land used to be that one was innocent until proven quilty, but it seems now that one is viewed as guilty until he/she can prove that they're innocent. Baseball is a case in point. As well as most legal cases that get out into the public's view.

Anyway, I sincerely hope that justice is done in the steroid situation in major league baseball, sooner than later. One player has been indicted but nothing has happened. I hope that doesn't happen with the current players under scrutiny.

Pilgrim on the way

ring the bells

We have a bell choir in our church. Not an unusual thing, I know, but on the other hand there are probably only a few such choirs comparatively. For bell choirs, I think ours is pretty good. They don't play real often, so when they do its something a bit special. It always adds something to the service I think.

Having said that, I'm not a huge bell choir fan. I wouldn't care to have them play every Sunday, or every other Sunday for that matter. There are very small bells and very large bells, and many in between sized bells. There are also some "bongers," (for lack of the knowledge of their real name), but something that adds a bit of a different sound mixed in at times. And there are women and men, younger and older and in-betweeners. And of course there is a director.

Our bell choir played this morning, and while I always knew how they needed to play together to make the tune that they planned to make, this morning it came to me in a new way just how much of a "team" they really are. Each person with their bell(s) must ring their bell at just exactly the right instant or a discord will sound, or some needed note will be missed. No gawking around mind you! No looking to see who's there this morning! Now in a vocal choir one can do that, perhaps, and get by with it, but not in a bell choir.

As this thought was impressed on me this morning, I was made to think just how wonderful it would be if the whole congregation could be like the bell choir when they're playing. No one looking around to see how everyone else is doing, no waiting on someone else to "ring our bell," but everyone just doing what they have committed to do, when and how they're supposed to do it to make the "music" God wants to see and hear. No time to gawk around and see who's not doing their part properly, or who may not be playing at all. All listening to the others and keeping their eyes on the "director" as needed to make the harmony.

Perhaps bell choirs are an example for all of us, huh? I don't have what it would take to play in a bell choir but I do have what it takes to "play in God's bell choir." Question is, am I looking around too much to see what others are doing and missing my "beat?" Lord help us stay in tune with You so that our lives will be as music in your ears.

Pilgrim on the way