The Small Things in Life

As I was enjoying the last few bites of my made-to-order omelet, my mind rolled back about ten years, when we were visiting friends that lived in a tribal situation…. with the Chimane people.

To get to the Chimane people was not an easy task. Well, there were two ways – and one way was easier than the other. One way was to go by land – over one of the most dangerous roads in, well, probably the world. Here’s a pic.. just for fun:

It's a tight squeeze!!!

Anyway, we chose not to take the roads. We went by airplane instead. We flew from Cochabamba, a city in the mountains, to the jungles!! When we started over the jungles, it was fun to see below us – a huge carpet of GREEN!!!! I did wonder, “how on earth, in this vastness, does the pilot find one little airstrip?” Of course, he has instruments and could easily find the way.

So, soon we were landing on a small strip in the middle of nowhere. We had, at the time, six children. So we all squeezed out of the small Cessna.   Of course, we were in the jungle now – a change, just like that, from dry, cooler weather, to hot humid weather. But that’s ok… Well, the houses of the people were not at the airstrip – we had a trip first. I don’t remember which came first, the ride in a four-wheeler (or was it a small truck, I don’t remember) or the dug-out canoe. Well, we enjoyed them both, hanging on for dear life!

In this particular place, two missionary families were working. We had come to visit one family mostly – a family with kids the ages of ours. We actually met this family  while in training with our mission, while the oldest were still in diapers!! But now they were older and good friends. We he come to help them with odd jobs around the place, and just to visit.   Here’s the gang of kids.

Our first meal was some kind of jungle rodent, roasted.  It wasn’t too bad!  And papaya. I didn’t care for papaya, until it came straight off the tree!! Then I ate a lot!! Each morning we were woken up by some interesting birds… I don’t know what they were, but they made me think of clowns. I know, clowns are usually quiet, but they just made a funny noise…. There was no electricity there, dirt floors, no plumbing – regular camping out!!

Anyway, what does all this have to do with eating omelets here in New England? Dan and Judy’s missionary partners, Wayne and Ruth, had been there for awhile – I think a good part of their life. While we were there, Ruth invited us to come over for waffles! She said to come in small groups (as altogether we numbered 14 people!) – and she would feed us waffles. So, remember, there’s no electricity, no was there a nearby cow for the milk, nor a store to pick up the basics. So Ruth whipped up quite a few waffles for us…. with yummy toppings, too.   (She had a generator going to run the waffle iron’)  The kids made their way over in small groups, eventually Dave and I made our way over, too.

Making waffles seems like such a small thing, though in the jungle it is a little more involved. But still…. Yet, more than once since then, and even recently, my oldest daughter has commented on how much that meant to her. Going to Ruth’s house, enjoying her company while she cooked the waffles, having such a treat out in the middle of nowhere – that just blessed Anna sooooo much.

So, eating my omelet – made special order by a special host – one for each of us (numbering 11 people) made me think of how those small things sometimes make a big difference. I appreciated very much his enthusiasm to cook us each an omelet. I pondered – how many times have I glanced over those special little things someone has done for me, missing the love expressed by them? How many chances have I missed to pour blessings on someone by doing a ‘small little thing’.

How about you… do you have a time when a “small” blessing blessed you in a great way?

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Holy, Holy, Holy

In Isaiah 6,  Isaiah saw heaven!  He saw the Lord seated upon His throne, with seraphim above the throne.   They flew around the throne, with face and feet covered with wings, crying to one another, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts:  the whole earth is filled with his glory.”

Of course, the whole incident had a great impact on Isaiah.  He first realized his own sinfulness; he realized that he was undone because he, a sinner, had seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Not long ago, I was listening to a pastor as he spoke on this passage.  He first mentioned the superlative in English.  We say, “he was the fastest runner”  or “She is the most beautiful”….   the superlative usually has the ‘st’ at the end.  However, in Hebrew, the superlative is expressed by saying something three times.   So, in essence, the serphim were saying, “God is the most holiest of all.”   But, moreso, He is the absoluteness of holiness – in other words, he is totally, completely holy.

We (my kids and I) were thinking about this.  Our thoughts were prompted by the teaching – the Bible doesn’t say God is “love, love, love” or that he is “peace, peace, peace.”   Yes, he is all of these things, too…. but in that Holy is mentioned three times – is that the most important attribute?    If he were not Holy, then what point would it be that He is righteous?  or love?  or everywhere?   or all-knowing?   What if he were everywhere – but not holy?  What if his love was tainted by unholiness?   What if His judgments were not always true?   Where would we be?

But just think:    in his love – he is holy.  In his judgments, he is holy.   In his being everywhere – he is holy.

It is a great comfort to me to think that God is absolutely pure.   He can never do anything wrong.  He can never lie to me, nor ‘goof up’ – because He is holy in everything that He does.

This should cause me to come before him always with reverence and awe.  May it be so!

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Mountains

I love mountains!!    They are awesome – beautiful – breathtaking.

I grew up in the mountains and have lived a lot of my life in mountains… the Rockies, the Andes, and now the Appalachians.  They were all different,  all with their own kind of beauty.   There is a specialness in each group.

Today I came across this verse…

“The righteousness of the Lord is like the great mountains; tey judgments are a great deep:  O Lord, you preserve man and beast.”  (Psalm 36:6)

There’s more that touched my heart in the verses that followed, but I did stop and think:

“HOW is God’s righteousness like the great mountains?”

I thought of several things about mountains

• beautiful
• some are rugged, some are more gentle
• exhilarating – especially to climb
• it takes a lot of effort to climb
• unmoveable
• solid – always there
• often used as protection for cities
• the higher you climb, the more awesome the view, the further you see
• close up – you can see small changes
• far away – they never change
• they have many crags, valleys, nooks, crannies
• many animals find a home there

Yet, I still don’t know – how is God’s righteousness like mountains? I noticed there’s a “the” – mountains… the ones around Jerusalem?  Does that changes the thought any?

What are your thoughts?

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Exceedingly

Have you ever had a situation that just seemed hopeless?    Humanly speaking, nothing could be done?    I have!  I’m sure you have, too.   This story touched my heart, and I have been thinking about it.  Can I, do I, trust Him to do the impossible?

Darlene was such a lady, too.   Her hopeless situation was more than I have ever faced.  Yet, God was ever so faithful to her – let me share her story with you.

Darlene stretched her hands out before her.  If the situation weren’t so grave, her claw like hands were almost comical looking.   She tucked her ragged  dress down over her skeleton-like legs; it had grown longer and longer has her body grew thinner.   She was weary – so very weary.     How long had she been there?

She had endured many interrogations, which included physical punishment if she didn’t cooperate.  She could not cooperate, but her Saviour gave her the ability to stand strong with him.  She had felt his loving arms around her every time she went back to her solitary-confinement cell and cried out to him for strength.  He had always been there, comforting her sore heart and body.

Darlene reflected back over the time God had healed her body from dysentry and malaria. And,  many times, they had shared sweet, sweet communion over his word, which she had hidden in her heart.  He gave her strength to endure each day.

Once in awhile, she’d climb up and take a look outside through the only window she had.  It was small, but it provided a breath of fresh air and a short view of life outside her four walls.     This partiacular day she climbed up and took a look outside, wondering if she’d catch a glimpse of one of her friends.  Sure enough – there was her friend Margaret.  She was with a group of women who were able to march about outside, getting some exercise.  One woman caught Darlene’s attention.  Whenever the guard wasn’t looking, she’d edge her way over to the fence.  When the guard looked, she would stop, but resume her creeping over as soon as he turned away again.  Darlen watched in surprise – when this woman got close enough to the vines, a hand shot through and handed the woman some bananas!!!

Darlene got down from the window.  Bananas!!!  She was thankful for the little bit of food she had – but oh, bananas sounded wonderful!  She could smell them, feel them, taste them – oh how she wanted one.   She looked up, “Lord, just one banana?”   She just wanted one.

But then, she started thinking.  How could God get a banana in to her?  Why, there were three men she normally had contact with.  They all causesd a great amount of fear in her – she could never ask them.  The night watchman might bring her one – but that would be risking his life.  Finally, she prayed, “I’m sorry – I shouldn’t have asked.”  (basically, that was the gist!)

The next day, she was sitting in her cell.  She heard a soldier coming.  She knew what that meant.  She had to stand up, then when they entered, she must bow a certain way.  If she did not, she would be hit across her back.  This was painful.  So she gathered her strength and stood up, ready to bow when the officer entered.  Much to her surprise, it wasn’t who she expected.  It was Mr. Yamaji, the leader of her POW camp.  (she had been in the POW camp, then taken to another camp that was more like a concentration camp).   She told Mr. Yamaji that it was like seeing an old friend.  This brought a smile to his face.   (briefly:  at first, she did not like Mr. Yamaji, but in time they grew to respect each other.  The day that Darlene found out of her husband’s death, she was able to share the gospel with Mr. Yamaji, who wept for a very long time after hearing of God’s love for him.)

The two talked briefly, Mr. Yamaji talked with another officer, asked Darlene a few more questions, and then left.

After they left, Darlene realized that she had now bowed.  So fear gripped her heart when she heard footsteps coming again toward her cell, sure that they were going to beat her for not bowing.     She slowly gathered her strength and pulled herself to a stand, ready to bow.

But much to her surprise, they opened the door and laid before her a whole bunch of bananas!   They were from Mr. Yamaji.

She sat down in stunned silence and counted – ninety-two bananas!!  God had supplied over and abundantly what she could even think or ask!  She asked for forgiveness and heard her sweet Savior answer, “That’s what I delight to do, the exceeding abundant above anything you ask or think.”

She marveled at her wonderful God.

(retold  from Evidence Not Seen, by Darlene Deibler Rose, Harpur and Row Publishers)

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