2020 A Year To Remember

2020 will soon be drawing to a close and it has become a year to remember, but one many would maybe rather forget! Everyone seems eager to put it behind us, hoping that 2021 will be much better. Who would have thought in January that we would be under pandemic orders to #stayhome in order to #staysafe!!  Apparently, some health officials have been preparing for a pandemic, and were expecting this at some point, but it truly never crossed my mind, and I don’t think many people expected that ten months later we would still be under restrictions, some places under lockdown. 

Along with this worldwide crisis, it has been a record year for other disasters as well. The Atlantic Hurricane Season saw a record number of storms this year, at 29.  There were so many that they ran out of letters in the alphabet for naming them, and started using the Greek alphabet. But that’s not all, there were record bush fires in Australia. “More than 20% of Australia's forests burned during the summer bushfire catastrophe, a proportion scientists believe is unprecedented globally.” More than 1 billion animals died. California and other western states had some of the worst wildfires ever. There were floods, typhoons and earthquakes, as well as political, racial and social unrest. Too much going on to even talk about. It’s been quite a year on many fronts! 

As of December 3rd, Canada has had 12,381 deaths attributed to Covid 19, worldwide, 1.5 million people have died. Many people have been elderly, but not all. Nick Cordero, a Hamilton native, a Broadway star, was a healthy male who died at age 41, after battling the disease for 90 days. Covid 19 has caused deaths, as well as deaths because of cancelled surgeries and tests. Behind every death is a heartrending story, and lives changed. Most of us are tiring of remembering to bring a mask, to wear a mask, to have our hands sanitized everywhere we go, and remembering to do everything to keep ourselves and others safe. 

This year I have also witnessed a number of sudden, unexpected deaths, affecting family, friends or friends of friends. A 30 year old father of three died in an accident at his home, a 47 year old mother of one, engaged to be married, died as a result of complications during gallbladder surgery, a 20 year old college student, with no known health issues, died suddenly while playing sports, an 11 year old boy was struck by a pick-up truck as he crossed at a crosswalk, coming home from school.  There were other deaths as well, and everyone was forced to alter their funerals or celebrations of life, or put them off altogether. Lives interrupted by grief, and lives altered and shaken. 

 

Looking at a parable in Luke 12, Jesus talks about being “ready”. The parable talks about a master and servants. The master gives tasks to the servants and says that he will be returning. Some servants do as they are instructed but some do not, thinking that the master will not be returning for some time. Some were wise and faithful and some were not. When the master returned, the unfaithful servants were punished. Jesus urged his followers  “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” James 4 tells us, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead of saying, “Tomorrow we will go to this city or that, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”.” 

Years ago “The Byrds” had a song called “Turn, Turn, Turn”. It quotes from the book of Ecclesiastes. “To everything, turn, turn, turn, There is a season, turn, turn, turn, And a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die….” This is so very true. Before we were even born, our appointed time for birth and for death was established by God. An angel spoke to both Mary and Joseph about their coming child. To Joseph he said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” A strange pronouncement for a baby, but this was God’s appointed time and appointed way to bring humanity back to Himself. John 4 says, “the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.” Reconciliation is God’s plan for a world that has gone its own way, and ignored the Master’s instructions. Are you ready for 2021? Will you trust God with your life? Who knows what the next day, the next year, or the next minute holds? Is there light at the end of the tunnel? In the book of John it says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

Light and life to you this Christmas and in 2021!!!

Life Interrupted

Having a lot of "home" time these days? Has life been interrupted by this pandemic known as Covid-19? Many people are still working, but some are working from home, with children underfoot, trying to do their school work. Others are working in healthcare, or are considered essential workers, and are still working. Others are not working, and some don't know if they have a job to go back to. Whatever your situation is, it is not the same as it was back in January.

January 1st was my last blog entry, before I had even heard of Covid-19. At that time I mused, "What's happening in 2020? Maybe some exciting events. Maybe some life changing unexpected interruptions." I was not trying to be prophetic, but a life changing interruption is upon us. Yes, our lives have been changed in ways I could never have envisioned. Exciting events have been interrupted....cancelled. A trip to the Azores in May, in celebration of our 50 years of marriage is cancelled. A trip to Newfoundland to celebrate a friend's 80th birthday in August is pretty certain to be cancelled. Getting together with kids and grandkids for Mother's Day......cancelled. 

This is an historic event for almost everyone alive today. 99.9% of us were not alive in 1918 when the last pandemic killed millions of people. I never envisioned a world where the government would close down stores, parks and all but essential health services. A new term called "social distancing" has become law. Anyone who gets more than two metres from someone not living in their own home can be fined. Lingering in a park can cost you $850. We are not supposed to travel out our our immediate area, and only go out if you have to. In other words "stayhome! Kids are doing school at home, apart from their classmates and their schools and their teachers. Life interrupted! 

There are some people who still seem to think that Covid-19 is not a big deal. It's not much different than the flu, but if you watch the news and see the refrigerated trucks lined up in New York City holding dead bodies because the morgues are full, the body bags coming out of nursing homes, right here in Canada, you can't help but realize that this can truly be a deadly disease, more deadly than influenza. In Canada we have not been hit as hard as many countries, but that may be because most people are taking this seriously. One Hamilton native, Nick Cordero, a graduate of Westdale Highschool, now a Broadway performer, was stricken hard with Covid-19. He was moving from NYC to LA. He has been in ICU for 38 days and counting. He was perfectly healthy man, who has had to have his right leg amputated, has heart damage, lung damage, and  two mini strokes. His wife urges,"Take the coronavirus seriously. This disease does not just effect old people. This is real. A perfectly healthy 41 year old man!" Their lives have been drastically and heartbreakingly 
interrupted!!

What do we do with life's interruptions? How are we affected by events that are out of our control and change life so drastically. In our Western world we are unaccustomed to many events that are life changing, especially where we live in Southern Ontario. We don't get a lot of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, or famines, droughts or epidemics. Yes, we can see these events on the news, but they are usually somewhere else.  

It makes me think of many people in the Bible whose lives were interrupted. I think of 16 year old Mary, who was told by an angel that she would give birth to the Savior of the world. She was not even married, and was not planning a baby right then. Life interrupted! Abraham was told by God to leave his own country and God would lead him to another place, that God would show him...where? who knows? only God knows! ..... and God will make him into a great nation. Moses was a soft spoken man who was slow of speech (he stuttered?) and God told him to go before the powerful Pharaoh of Egypt and ask for the release of his people, who were slaves there, and then God would lead them to the promised land....who me? Life interrupted! 

In this time, all of our lives have been interrupted. How are you handling this interruption that has gone on longer than most of us would like? What are you learning from all of this? What is God saying to you in all of this? I have always loved my family, but during this time of separation the simple pleasure of gathering together, and hugging people, is one thing I miss the most. Something I took for granted before this Covid-19 interruption. It's the simple ordinary things that I hope we can return to, like walking on a beach, sitting on a park bench or camping in a park. A trip to the Azores would have been nice, but that's not what I long for. 

What is God teaching me in all of this? What is he teaching you? In many ways, we have been given time and cause to reflect on our lives. What matters most? I find myself drawn to the Psalms, always a favourite, but even more so in these days. "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:1, 4
Will I be totally shielded from this sickness? That, I don't know, but what I do know is that God is my refuge, God is my strength. When I trust in him, asking for his forgiveness for my sins, trusting in Jesus' sacrifice for me, I am eternally secure and at rest. No matter what happens, my treasure is in Heaven, not on earth. I will eternally be with Jesus my Savior and God my Father. In some ways my life here on earth is like an interruption. It's a sojourn in a foreign land that I am passing through on my way to the promised land, which is for me, my Heavenly Home. Will you join me there someday? Talk to God about it. He can be your refuge too. He can lead you there. Is this an interruption or a divine appointment? 


  

What's Happening in 2020?!!

I have to start off by confessing that I'm not a serious blogger. My last entry was in 2014! But I won't go on about that.

Every year, when it ends, seems to have gone by so quickly and 2019 was no exception. It was a pretty significant year for us as we celebrated 50 years of marriage. In preparation I walked down memory lane as I browsed through 50 years of pictures to put together some digital photo albums. In doing this I felt so totally blessed by the journey we have had together and the family and friends God has put into our lives! 

Thinking back to 1969 reminded me of the rough start we had. There was an unplanned pregnancy, a hastily arranged marriage and, having had just just one year of college, neither of us had jobs. I am so thankful that we chose to give life to our first born son. This reminds me a bit of Mary and Joseph, the unplanned pregnancy, and the difficulty of their journey. I can identify in a small and thankful way. We went on to have a daughter and the rest of the journey is, well, history, as the saying goes. There have been many difficulties along the way, but also many blessings. Your story is different, but also a mixture of difficulties and blessings. Some have more blessings and others have more difficulties, but no one escapes life without some scars. 

As we watched the news last night they did a very short year in review. It was filled with natural disasters, mostly floods and wildfires, shootings, as well as famous people who died, most of whom I had never heard of. But I did recognize Jean Vanier, Ron Joyce and Doris Day. It's always a reminder of the fragility of life, and the certainty of death. Most who died were older, but not all. 

So, what's happening in 2020?! We have some plans, some places we plan to visit. We plan to go to Mexico, the Azores and Newfoundland, God willing. Whenever I think of plans, I always think "God willing", that is, if God allows us to live another year, and if things go as planned, if no serious health issues arise, or other serious interruptions, then these are the things we are planning to do. One friend is getting married this year, one friend is celebrating 80 years this year. There are babies due this year, someone is buying a house,  graduating from school. You have plans. What are your plans? 

What's happening in 2020? Maybe some exciting events. Maybe some life changing unexpected interruptions. My friend did not expect to become homeless with two children. Another friend in Africa, with 16 orphans to care for, did not expect to have to find new accommodations this year. How many landlords will allow 16 children in a small affordable home? Wild fires and floods can be life altering unexpected events the news was full of this year. I saw hundreds of homes totally burnt to the ground. A friend had the river come right through the basement of their home. The same friend also had a cancer diagnosis. Isn't one unexpected event a year enough?! 

So, what's happening in 2020? One thing is certain. The unexpected can certainly be expected. But God.....God is the constant in our ever changing world, in our ever changing lives. He is the anchor in my ever changing life. Hebrews 6:19 says, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..." This speaks of Jesus, a shelter in the time of storms. He is with us by the Holy Spirit. God the Father is always listening for our calls to Him. Jesus intercedes for us. He is our High Priest. This is the promise to those who believe in the One born that Christmas Day so long ago, fortold by prophets. Isaiah prophecied 700 years before Jesus was born, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." One small child, unplanned, unexpected, entered history according to God's exact time and plan. Will you trust Jesus in 2020, with all of your heart, with your unexpected events, be they blessings or trials? 1 John 4:14 says, "the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." Savior from sin. God's plan to redeem you and me. One of my prayers is that all of my family and friends would spend eternity together in Heaven. God provided the way. Will you believe it? "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Will you receive the greatest gift ever in 2020? 

Moving again?

Sojourner
definition-a person who resides temporarily in a place


You may have heard that we are moving. Yes, after 4 years in this house we did not envision we'd be moving but we are. I know of some people who've lived in the same house their whole life, or for their whole married life. I really don't know what that would be like. Before I married at 19 I lived in 8 different places with my parents (not including college), and when we move it will be the 10th place we've lived in our 44 years of marriage. But moving is "in my blood"! Really, it is! According to "Eat Right 4 Your Type", a book about blood types and what best suits your type, Type B blood people are characterized as "Nomads". Their ancestors from antiquity were nomadic. So perhaps that's why I tend to move a lot! Not just houses but jobs too. My dear husband worked for the same company for 37 years. I changed jobs every 4-6 years.


In the early years we were renting and expecting to move around a bit, but once you buy a house you feel like you're putting down roots. The house we are moving to will be our 6th house to own. We visited someone a few years ago from our original neighbourhood, where we owned our first house. He still lives three doors down from where we lived 39 years ago. I can't imagine what that would be like.


In the bible, believers were often referred to as strangers or aliens in this world, and because this world was not their home, they were encouraged to live differently than the world does, with its focus on pleasures and storing up earthly treasure. Jesus said, in Matthew 6: ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." As Christians we are told to consider our lives as a mist that appears for awhile and then vanishes. To listen to the nightly news disrupts our sense of security as we see those displaced by wars and terrorism, and disasters like floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. It drives home the reality that life is fragile, and everything can change in a moment.


Most every time we move there is some positive anticipation about the new place to live, but there also some sorrow about what is being left behind. The same is true for me when changing jobs or churches. We make memories everywhere we go and ours are often identified with a certain place we lived at the time. We miss people, places we liked to walk, shops we liked to shop in. People who have always lived in the same place don't know what this is like.  But I do remind myself that home is more than the house we live in, it is the people there with us, the children, grandchildren, family and friends who visit.


Jesus was the only person on earth who knew the timetable for his life. He knew he would soon be leaving his disciples and dying a cruel death on a cross, returning to Heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Mission accomplished. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. None of us knows the number days we'll walk this earth, but Jesus did. Knowing that his disciples would need comforting with all that would take place, he told them in John chapter 14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms (mansions); if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am."


I don't know how many more times I will move before I leave this earth. I don't know how many years I'll be here. But I do know where my final home will be, and I will never move from there. I'll be in my heavenly home with Jesus. Not because of anything good that I've done but all because of what Jesus did.

What a trip!
.......and what I noticed....
Just returned from a wonderful trip to Alberta and British Columbia. First time visiting the west coast of Canada and it was so beautiful! So different from what I see every day in Southern Ontario. We were totally amazed by the mountains! They are just everywhere and so majestic. We found ourselves frequently saying, "Wow, look at that!". We were also blessed so much by the love and generosity shown to us by friends and family we stayed with along the way. As we were driving to the airport I found myself feeling quite emotional as I was thinking that I don't know if or when I may ever see some of those precious people again. I have often seen their pictures on Facebook, but it is not the same as being with them and sharing time and conversations, seeing the little ones and hearing their voices. Got me thinking about how being "with" someone is so much better than glancing at their pictures on Facebook. We really "notice" them. We see them as the people they are. Yes, it is wonderful to have technology like Facebook where we can share our thoughts and pictures, but it does not measure up to being there.
I was also struck by the things that you "notice" when you are really looking. When you see something for the first time you really see the beauty in it. I wonder if people who have lived near the mountains their whole lives still "notice" their beauty? Got me thinking about what I miss seeing in the familiar things around me. What do I "see". Do I see the beauty? Do I see what is not so beautiful? God SEES everything! Not just like a glance at a picture, but in an up close and personal way. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees our heart. He knows every painful thing that has ever happened to us and every thought we have kept as a secret to ourselves. He knows, He sees, He loves, He cares. He wants us to be people who "notice" what is going on around us. To notice what He is doing and to notice others. He tells us to "see" those in need and to help them. To love one another, and encourage one another, and notice those who could use a touch from Him, because we as His followers are to be His hands that give, His arms that reach out. I can become so wrapped up in my own little world, my own concerns, my own plans, that I don't always notice those around me. It's often not intentional, sometimes it is. I want to keep my eyes open to what He wants me to see. Then I want to respond, not just glance and then look away, but really see.

What were you doing at 8:46 am on September 11, 2001?

I will never forget that day. It was Tuesday, 8:46 am.  I was working at Mission Services in Hamilton.  I was at my desk, at my computer, when my co-worker said that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Centre. We assumed that it some kind of fluke accident, but then 15 minutes later a plane crashed into the other tower. This was no accident!  I recall watching the attacks on TV and the buildings collapsing and the people running up the street, over and over on TV. There were so many stories. So many people looking for their loved ones, hoping they had somehow escaped.  It was like watching a horror movie on TV, but it was TRUE. This was not a movie and it was the saddest, most horrifying event I have ever seen. It seemed like the peace and freedom that we, as North Americans, had always enjoyed was suddenly violated in the most savage and extreme way.  There had been other tragedies like the shootings at Columbine, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Montreal Masacre. But these were not of the magnitude of the events on 9/11.  The events of 9/11 felt very different. We were under terrorist attack, and it could happen to us, anywhere.  There has always been suicide bombers, but this happened in Isreal or Syria. Far away places. Not the United States! Surely the goverment would be able to prevent such a thing, with all their intelligence and security.  It felt like something changed that day. Our North American world suddenly became unsafe. We became vulnerable to attack.  But really, the world was just as unsafe the day before this happened. The difference was that we didn't FEEL ELIGIBLE. We had a false sense of security until the unimaginable happened. ELIGIBLE. Usually we think of eligibility as a good thing. We are finally eligible for the senior's pension, or eligible for a govt. grant, or eligible to vote.  Ever think of being ELIGIBLE for tragedy. ELIGIBLE to join a club that you never wanted to join. You aren't eligible to join the bereavement group unless you are bereaved. I've seen a number of people interviewed who lost loved ones in 9/11 and they talked about being thrust into the spotlight because they had lost a husband, lost a wife, lost a father. This was a club they did not choose to join, they did want to be a part of. They didn't have a chance to say goodbye. They didn't envision a childhood without a Dad. Many lives were changed that day. There are also stories of people who should have been in that building but weren't, who should have been on one of the planes but weren't. Why were they spared, while others died?  Divine providence is a puzzling but sacred appointment, that none of us will miss, nor will we be late. Not something we can explain or figure out. In Ecclesiastes it says that "there is a time to be born and a time to die."  You may not lie in bed worrying about a terrorist attack, but do you know that your appointed time will surely come? Could it be tomorrow? No God, No peace, Know God, Know peace.

Watcha doing on May 21st?

May 21st?  It's a long weekend isn't it?  Maybe you have plans to get away. Maybe just get some things done at home when you have three whole days off.  Or.....if you read the newspaper or watch the news you may have heard that Harold Camper has predicted that the world as we know it will end on May 21, 2011.  He has spent lots of money to convey this message. He has posted billboards in the U. S. and Canada, and apparently even in Hamilton.  He has studied the bible and believes that he has figured out mathematically when Jesus will return to rapture (take from the earth)the church......those people who are followers of Jesus Christ.  I looked at his website. It is very elaborate and lengthy if you start reading what he has written.  But there is one very big problem with what he is saying, and that is found in Matthew 24, "Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows." (Matthew 24:35-37). 
So, do we write this prediction off as a crazy idea by a religious zealot?  Well.....yes, and no.  Is the world going to end on May 21st?  ONLY GOD KNOWS.  Because a man has taken it upon himself to proclaim this, something that is in God's hands, I would say that it will probably not happen on that day.  But.....do you know that Christ IS RETURNING and IT MAY BE SOON! 
Recently, we visited Myrtle Beach for a week, and stayed at a nice hotel where each morning we were given the newspaper USA Today. One day there was a very large article paid for by an unnamed individual entitled "8 Compelling Reasons Why: Christ is Returning Soon."  I was amazed that a private individual would spend the money to post this in a national newspaper.  This article does not predict when Jesus is returning, just that it may be VERY SOON.
I do believe that there are many signs that point to the soon return of Jesus, and many reasons were backed up with scripture in this article.  To check out this go to www.jesussoonreturn.com
So the big question is......when WILL Jesus return?  Could be tomorrow, could be next week, could be ten years from now.  The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Am I ready to meet God?" no matter when that may be. We don't know when Jesus will return, but we do know that each one of us WILL DIE.  It happens every day. Some people die after a long illness, and that is expected. But many people die unexpectedly.....a massive heart attack or stroke, a car accident, a plane crash. Death arrives unwelcomed, at inconvenient times or in tragic ways.  YOU CANNOT AVOID DEATH!  Hebrews 9:27 says "...each person is destined to die once, and after that comes judgement."
Yes, death is sure and we will all meet God to account for the life we lived on earth.  You may be thinking, "Well, my life has been pretty good. I'm a pretty decent person, compared to most."  That may be true, but guess what God's standard is?  PERFECTION!  Never a thought or action that was less than perfect. No little white lies, no selfish attitudes.....nothing. That may seem unrealistic, and yes, that's true, it is to us humans.  The good news is.....that's why God sent Jesus. He came to provide a way for us to be reconciled to our Holy God.  Jesus paid the price for all our wrongdoings (the bible calls it sin).  He took our punishment when he died on the cross.  You may be thinking "Great, then I guess I'm covered!" Well, kind of.  Jesus paved the way to eternal life in Heaven with God.  It is all his plan, and all his doing.  Your part? Admit that you ARE a sinner, in need of someone to pay for your sins.....Christ's death on the cross in your place.  Place your trust in Jesus, and make a decision to follow him. That means you will need to find out what it means to "follow Jesus".  Look in the bible. It is God's letter to us. Why not start in the book of John?   
So, what am I doing on May 21st. To be honest, I have no idea. But one thing I am sure of. If God calls me home on that day, I AM READY TO MEET HIM!  ARE YOU?