Thursday, December 1, 2022
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Journeys to far off places
Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on the rock.
On our way to the 60 degree swimming pool we stopped in at the Evolve Apartments office. Jasper and I had on jackets. The sun was shining through a brisk 55 degree breeze. We had our fishing poles.
But first we wanted to say hello. Our friends in the office, Susan and Jeff and Vanessa, have made our apartment complex a peaceful and happy place to live. They work hard, all three of them, to help us feel at home here. For Thanksgiving, they gave away a turkey. They will award gift cards to three apartments with the most beautiful Christmas lights. And they fancy up the office not just for Christmas, but for everyday.
Yesterday brought a big log fire and four red stockings hanging off the mantle. Toys and candy filled several bowls. Susan walked in from her Christmas shopping spree and said, “Jasper! I’m so glad you’re here. I have something just for you!” She stamped our hands with Christmas angels and gave him a couple of plastic slinkies and a Christmas train whistle.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, and his mercy endures forever.
Jeff told us a part for the whirlpool heater should arrive today. He is closer to heating the whirlpool for the first time in years. And that’s where Jasper and I were headed. Not to swim, not yet. But at least to let our fishes swim. We carried our 36 inch Shakespeare rods and reels, one equipped with a red rubber fish and the other with an orange rubber fish. Jasper is slowly getting the hang of casting.
I did the long casting today, across the big pool to the far off shores. Jasper reeled it back in, and when the fish came back to him, he asked, “How was your journey, fish?” In the back of my mind the stories ranged from the beaches of Normandy to Gulf Shores to Catalina Island to Cuba. Those journeys were splendiferous.
We walked back, Jasper balancing on the red curbs. I promised to read him a story but kept getting sidetracked putting together Mom’s Christmas tree. I figured out what I did wrong when I stuffed it in the box without taking it apart. But thanks to John’s insistence that I take pictures of all the inside boxes, with color and number visible, the disaster inside the box was fixable. Still, it took a couple of hours to find the plugs on each set of branches. At last the lights were lit and I read the story.
A few hours later I watched as they lit the lights on Rockefeller Center’s big tree in New York City. I think they saw ours and realized they better get on the ball.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me and have been my savior. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
When Miles and Andi came from school, Jasper and Miles began a chess game on the beautiful Bill Fineran-made board I brought from Urbana. Jasper set up the pieces and moved them the way we showed him. When Miles showed him he could capture a piece, his eyes got wide, he shouted, “I can capture a piece!” and he swept it off the board.
Jasper lost interest after a few moves, though, so I took over. Miles won the game. “I resign,” I said when I only had my king left, and tipped it over dead. I shook hands with Miles.  I hope Jasper wants to play some more. He can join the chess club in 2 ½ years, when he’s in kindergarten.
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call him while he is near.
Margaret just came off the plane and we’re home. “One thing after another” happened, but she left Urbana at 3:30 and was outside Austin’s airport waiting for me at 9:30. And she had some great stories about flight attendants she joked with and befriended on the way.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. The Lord is God, and he has given us light.
(Isaiah 26, Psalm 118, Isaiah 55, Matthew 7)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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