Safe at Last

The aftermathIn the days following the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York’s twin towers and the Pentagon, everything that had been secure in our country suddenly became shaky. Peter Jennings came on TV at the end of his newscast the day after the buildings collapsed and said, “Talk to your children tonight, and assure them they’ll be safe.”

Nate and I had been watching together, and I said, “Children shouldn’t be told that, because it’s not true.”

We talked for a few minutes about the safety we do or don’t have in our country or on this earth and concluded it would be a lie to assure our children of something that isn’t a sure thing. The only guaranteed safety anywhere is in Christ, and that doesn’t include earthly safety. It’s only after death and leaving this world to live with the Lord that we can be sure no harm will come to us ever again.

Airport securityAfter 9/11, security measures in America were drastically heightened. Waiting in long airport lines became standard for flyers. Anyone who seemed suspect in any way was pulled aside (as Nate was here) and “wanded” or searched, but if it meant we’d be safer on airplanes, we were willing.

Times Square bombDespite added rules and more personnel watching over us, safety still wasn’t guaranteed. We witnessed the shoe bomb, the underwear bomb, the SUV bomb in Times Square, the Boston Marathon bombs, and others. What can keep the next angry bomb-maker from succeeding?

A widow friend told me recently of her battle with fear immediately after her husband died. She’d never spent a night alone and had difficulty sleeping for fear of a break-in. Every noise gave her a chill. Sadly, no one can assure her a break-in will never occur.

Our own daughters, while living in Chicago, walked home from work with pepper spray in hand. Two blocks north of their neighborhood a pair of friends had been clubbed with a baseball bat, both hospitalized after the attack with one critically injured.

So what are we to do about life as we know it, since we’re all forced to live in a world fraught with danger? The only answer is to trust God for our ultimate security, which may not come until after we die. Nate, having left this world, is now 100% secure. No more airport security searches, no more dangers of any kind. He’s untouchable.

In the mean time, we can try to keep our children safe while telling them about Jesus. We could also install alarm systems or even hire armed guards, but who are we fooling? Bad things will continue to happen to good people. Although our bodies and earthly lives will always be at risk in this shaky world, our souls can be secure in God’s unshakable care. Once we believe this, we can rest easy.

”In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”

Learning or Leaning?

This week I’ve been thinking a great deal about someone precious to me, someone I love dearly, my sister Mary. We’ve all heard the expression, “You can’t out-give God.” I can say the same about her.

Hard workerMary is a giver. She never “arrives” anyplace without something special to give, a flower, a small package, a framed photo, cupcakes, or any number of other things. She’s creatively thoughtful and not just with material gifts. Her greatest giving is of effort: a willingness to sit with someone who’s hurting or to serve others by chauffeuring, making a meal, or running errands. That gift of effort also demands time, and Mary cheerfully gives big chunks of that to others, even if it means quietly setting aside her own agenda.

Youthful sistersShe’s my older sister (not by much), and ever since childhood I’ve followed her around, counting on her to have the good idea or take the lead. For example, when I was three and still sucking my thumb, my parents tried to solve the problem by pinning my pajama sleeves over my hands. Mary had a better idea and took off the pins. No wonder I wanted to stick with her.

Now that we’ve grown up, had 14 children between us, and lived separately for more than 50 years, you’d think I could maneuver through life without leaning on her, but no. I’m still calling for advice, still loving time with her, and still appreciating when she comes up with an efficient plan to reach goals… even my goals.

She’s forever organized, the kind of person who doesn’t lose track of her phone, her keys or what’s written on her calendar, and while I’m often caught scrambling, she brings calm to every storm. After decades of watching her give to others, I’m still hoping some of it will eventually rub off on me.

Mary is an excellent example of doing what God wants us all to do. He set the original standard, then sent Jesus to model what earthly servant-leadership should look like. Mary takes time to study the life of Jesus and learn from him what she’s supposed to do. But beyond that, she’s willing to actually do it. The result is a demonstration of what faith in God looks like on an everyday basis.

???????????????????????????????When we gravitate toward people like Mary, in the process we’re actually leaning toward the Lord, because godly people have become godly only by living close to him first. Their counsel is a reflection of him, and their actions mirror the behavior of Jesus. I didn’t deserve such a fine sister, but I sure am glad to have her.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. So thankful for answered prayer about the nausea! Today I had none and ate normally!
  2. Pray I will feel real gratitude for each good day God gives.
  3. Praise for the many cards and letters I’ve received, some of which I re-read today. A great blessing!

Don’t fence me in.

On the way.Today was a sunshiney day, so 7 of us took advantage and went to the beach. Emerald loves it there, and we had a good time dodging small waves, pouring water, and burying tiny pink toes in the sand. Each time we go to the beach, though, she has a strange ritual. As we’re on the boardwalk headed toward the sand, she stops repeatedly to play with the fence, endlessly fascinated with squeezing the flexible cables.

I have a hard time coaxing her to head for the water and sand. After all, there’s the slow-flowing creek to dabble in, sand cakes to make (and smash), seagulls to chase, and pretty stones to collect. And yet, unable to see all this from the walkway, Emerald gets waylaid by the cables every time.

???????????????????????????????But don’t we all do that now and then? It’s especially true in the spiritual realm. We get excited about spending time on all kinds of temporal things and lose sight of eternal ones. We might devote hours to chatting with good friends but only minutes with the Friend of Scripture. We find chunks of time for pleasure reading but ignore Bible reading when that could be pleasurable, too.

Why is this? Maybe we have good intentions, recognizing the importance of prayer and Bible reading, but are waiting for circumstances to be just right before starting. I’ve done plenty of that in my day. Maybe we think prayer and Bible study need to be done in partnership with other people and no one else is available when we are. Or we may lead lives of continual interruptions, thinking that so many disturbances would be an insult to such lofty spiritual disciplines.

Or we might just feel plain old incompetent.

I don’t think God gets angry with us when we have trouble getting past the “cable fences” of life to get to the wonders of him and his Word, but it’s possible he feels bad for us. He knows we’re missing out and wishes we’d come closer to receive everything he wants to show us and give us.

If I let Emerald play with the cable fence to her heart’s content without insisting we continue on toward the beach, she might enjoy herself there for a while and then turn back toward home, thinking she’d had a great afternoon.

Digging inBut today, for example, as we emerged from the walkway to that great expanse of shoreline, she raised her arm, pointed, and said, “Wa-wa! Wa-wa!” That’s when she realized it had been worthwhile leaving the fence.

Jesus prayed, “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do. I have revealed you to [my followers], and I will continue to do so.” (John 17:25-26)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. Though I haven’t had the vomiting after this week’s chemo as I had before, a mild nausea seems to be hanging on, taking away my appetite. Please pray it will disappear.
  2. I’m thankful for a day in Michigan with several of our grandchildren.