The Shuffle

  My phone was running out of data. It's my lifeline to the internet having no other options because of where I live. It's the second time it's been necessary to see about getting more. I am glad I did because I discovered something...
  The last time an increase was needed, I went into the Alliston Rogers store to talk to the sales people. With the increase in data, I was entitled to a "free" tablet. Yesterday's chat with the online Rogers people revealed I've actually been paying $10 a month to have it. No mention of this fee was made at the time. Had I been told this, I never would have gotten the tablet. Because it's been more than 15 days, I cannot return it so I'm locked in for two more years to pay the sucker off.
  Their online bill doesn't contain a breakdown of services. That needs to change. It's why it came as a surprise.
  On the other hand, it has been useful. Especially when my laptop died. I just can't help feeling ripped off. I guess I was.

  The online chat with Rogers yesterday has rectified the data issue. Of course, it means spending more. In order to balance the books, thankfully I could cut back on my TV package. The last time my land line got cancelled to offset the expense which is a good thing. No more telemarketers. Losing some TV stations is okay, too. I watch too much TV anyways.

  Sigh. It just goes to show if you don't know what questions to ask, answers are rarely forthcoming.

  That's my rant for the day but a rant without action is useless. I will get hold of Rogers to see if they will change their billing format so every customer has a clear understanding of what they are paying for.

  "Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea!' and it will happen." Mark 11:22-23

 

 
 
 
 

Relief

  Rain swept through the area last night with welcomed relief from the sticky heat. Driving home from a dinner party with the windows down, the deliciously cool air swirling around the car was as refreshing as a dip in a pool!
  There's relief as well that my mom, having undergone major surgery yesterday, is recuperating well. She should be discharged on Friday so I will be heading down to her place on Saturday to stay for a few days. A strong pair of arms might come in handy.
  I confess I was worried. Very worried. Oh, she had passed all the pre-op examinations or the surgery wouldn't have happened, but still...any surgery has risk even for the young. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers. Thank You that her recovery will be quick, that there will be no complications. Thank You that her pain will be minimal.
 
  I had a conversation with someone earlier this week about our emotions, about feelings like worry and jealousy among others. Jesus tells us we don't need to feel these things if we trust in Him and His Father's path for our lives and the lives of others.
  I have to confess I am not very good at it. The darker side of emotions regularly rear their heads in the course of a day. I believe it is more important how we handle these feelings rather than trying to squash them. Our feelings are a gift, a reflection of the One in whose image we are made.
  God is a jealous God. Jesus displayed anger as He overturned the money changers' tables in the temple. His fear was great as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
  Yesterday's worry is a prime example because I needed Jesus' strength to help me overcome my anxiety. And it was complicated. Worry is an all encompassing label for a stew of emotions. Within the worry was the terrible imaginings of loss. I was preparing myself for the worst. (Thank You again, Lord, the worst did not happen!)
  Here's the thing. By following Christ's example in the Garden, throughout the day I lifted these feelings and dark imaginings to the Lord by praying for my Mom. I grew to recognize that no matter what happened, I would not be going through it alone.
 
  "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." Mathew 5:3
 

 

Grab Bag

  It is extremely hot today, in keeping with the rest of the summer. Last night some vicious thunderstorms rolled through the area with tornado watches all across central Ontario. A news crew filmed one forming just as the sun was going down. It touched down but only briefly. That's a good thing because they can be terribly devastating.
  None of the worst weather hit here but when I went outside after dark, the north-eastern sky was flickering and flashing as lightning did its sky dance. It was odd not hearing anything. Odd, but relieving. Thunderstorms aren't my favorite.
  I don't know why I've always been scared of them but I have. It's silly, really because there's four walls and a roof to protect me. The basement is always a safe go-to if needed.

  The furnace guys are here to finish up a few things: a missing elbow joint on the air intake, a new thermostat and the fun job of hauling the old furnace out. They've ended up having to take it out the front door so I moved a bunch of furniture around to make it easy. Most of the work was done yesterday. It's good to know I'm set for the winter.
  They have fired it up to make sure everything is as it should be. So much for closing the windows this morning to keep out the heat. Hopefully it won't need to run long.
  It's rather amusing, thinking about heating the house when the weather outside is over-heating the house but I know it will get cold soon enough.
  Ah, autumn, my favorite season. The crisp mornings with an icing sugar coating of frost. The blue sky that has a certain shade not found in any other season. The geese gathering on the lake. The sight of other northern breeding species passing through on their way south...but mostly, it's the colours.
  Fiery reds, golds, oranges, cinnamon browns...a feast for the eyes.

  It's all rather mundane but this is a wonderful opportunity to give thanks for being able to live in a country where the weather is anything but boring.

  "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge." Psalm 19:1-2

Locusts

  I've been listening to people's stories a lot lately. The conversations have delved deeply into secret matters of the heart. While I am honoured and humbled because of the trust that has been extended, sometimes it makes for hard listening. Pain, hurt, rejection, abandonment, and far worse has wrapped many of these stories in great sorrow.
  It's not all sad. Gratitude for the gifts that came out of the sad times is freely shared, too.
  There is an unwanted side effect. The sad parts stir the depths of my own wounds, bringing them to the surface. Even though the Lord has done tremendous healing on that front it surprises me every time how much hurt still exists within my soul. Perhaps it is a gift because it has given me the ability to sympathize, to weep with those who weep and to offer the hope of future joy.
  But it also serves as a reminder where I haven't quite forgiven others; that maybe I need to think and pray about where the dark seeds of bitterness are happily entrenched and waiting to grow.
  There are more of them than I care to admit. I pray, Lord, that You will remove them from my being.

  It gets me angry, the hurt people do to each other. But, mostly, it makes me very, very sad.
  Because I know, somewhere, some when, I have caused others pain, too. I have left my own swath of destruction behind me.
  It's never maliciously. It's never done with intent. God forbid! What's worse is it is because of carelessness. Care..less... A thoughtless word, a rebuff, being in a hurry, impatience, fatigue, a poor night's sleep...judgement. There's a plethora of reasons why.
  I am not trying to excuse my actions. I am apologizing for them and laying them at the foot of the Cross so Jesus can heal who I have harmed.

  And I am standing on God's promise with a glint of hope in my eye for all who are hurt, for all who bear the scars of experience:
  "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust." Joel 2:25

Stewardship

  It would seem that each summer I find some sort of natural delight to focus on. One year it was the wildflowers growing in the Conservation Area across the road. The next, trying to photograph dragonflies. This year, it's the frogs. This one in particular. Smaller ones have come and gone but he has remained in my back yard for several weeks now.

  He made quite the leap to sit on this throne that is in prime location to survey his domain. I was amazed the jump was even possible!

  The best part is he (could be a she) has grown comfortable with my presence and goes about froggy business without a care in the world. This morning I watched him hop across the patio to feast on a couple of tent caterpillars who were unwisely travelling at ground level. 

  I also found out that frogs can live anywhere from four to fourteen years. I suppose that's only if they escape predators.

  Boy, Google can be a wonderful thing. 

  A loud singing tree frog has been in the trees next to my driveway. It just might be the one I photographed on the kitchen window. Curious, I found out they mate all through the summer. The males will sing their inviting song; inviting if you happen to be a frog. Not so melodic if you are a human. The males will only broadcast when they have found a suitable site for the lady to lay her eggs. 

  I am honoured if this is my little pond.

  It is causing me to rethink how I open the pond in the spring. Normally it gets drained, scrubbed and refilled with fresh water because it gets rather disgusting over the course of fall and winter. Perhaps if I figured out some way to prevent leaves from falling into the water, it wouldn't get so bad.

  Here's the thing. I don't know if eggs have been laid in the pond. I don't know if they survive freezing to hatch in the spring. 

  I know reptiles and amphibians are in trouble. Pollution, habitat destruction and invasive plant species have taken their toll. If I can help in some small way by changing how I do something or by doing a little extra like figuring out how to stop leaves from falling into the water, it's well worth the effort. 

  More research is needed.

  In the meantime, I will keep an eye on the pond. Just because a gentleman was singing doesn't mean there was a lady nearby.

  But wouldn't it be the coolest thing if tree frog babies were able to hatch and grow in the safest environment ever!

  "The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it." Genesis 2:15

So It Begins

  The furnace installer arrived this morning. Day one of two. He is doing a lot of the up and downing stairs to haul all the furnace accessories needed into the basement. He will putter away dismantling the old one until I have to leave for work. They will come back Monday to do the final install. He will have help to take the furnace itself into the basement. Which is good. It will give me the weekend to clear away some of the stored wood that is in the way.
  It feels odd to be sitting here, not helping, not doing anything. The fellow isn't exactly young. His weathered face doesn't reveal much about how old he might be. Ha! I forget that I am getting older, too. He may only be five or so years older than me!
  Perspective. It's all about perspective.

  It squashes the tentative plans I'd made to go to Sarnia for a couple of days. My daughter will be visiting her brother with the new baby and I'd hoped to be able to include myself in that. I have seen her twice since she arrived from Down East aka. Nova Scotia. Maybe we will be able to squeeze one more visit in before she leaves when she comes back  into the area.
 
  An old friend from high school came for a visit yesterday. She was also the maid of honour at my wedding. It was nice having her, a nurse, as my birthing coach when my son was born. It's been about five years since I'd seen her last so we had lots to catch up on: news of our now independent children, our folks, trips down memory lane and of course, the weather.
  We also talked about the desires both of us have to reconnect with old friends. Maybe it's because the frantic business of parenthood has vanished and we have the time.

  I just finished reading Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet in Heaven. It's a story that has a place of honour among the few books I have on the keeper shelf. I've read it many times and every time, it tugs at my heart.
  It's about the people who pass through our lives on this beautiful blue ball. Sometimes we know they are part of the path life takes. Most often we aren't even aware how our lives intersect with others.
 
  "We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love." 2 Corinthians 6:6

Books

  An avid reader, every night sees me winding down with a book. Usually it's a work of fiction but every once in a while, a non-fiction book comes my way that touches the inner fabric of my being. One such book landed in my hands as I perused the local second-hand bookshop a while back.
  The Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus. I'd never heard of him which isn't surprising. After devouring the newest tales of imaginary people, the last book in the stack-to-read was this one.
  I don't necessarily enjoy reading non-fiction. I struggle getting through encouraging, enlightening, instructive works penned by Christian authors. In fact, I wasn't even aware this book is based on Christian beliefs and scriptures when it was selected from a sagging shelf but the title grabbed me. The price was decent. The book in excellent shape, looking like it had never been opened.
  What I have come to realize is often a book contains a single treasure that the Lord meant for me to read and it isn't necessarily found only in non-fiction either. The Artisan Soul contained such a treasure that left me thinking long and hard. I even folded down the top corner of the page so this gem of an idea would be easy to find again; something I never, ever do.

  "We cannot create without risk."

   Boom!!!

  When I think of architects utilizing new technologies or materials...risk.
  An author submitting their works to a publishing company...risk.
  An inventor approaching the bank for funding...risk.
  A musician broadcasting their latest composition on the internet...risk.
  A painter revealing their art to the public...risk.
  A businesswoman streamlining office procedures...(yes, this is creativity paired with imagination!)...risk.

  Then there is a far greater element to face down. Taking the risk to fly against our own reluctance to share something we've made, or an idea, or a dream.
  And that...takes...Courage.
  Because it is baring our hearts, our passions, our artisan soul to the world of judgement.

  There is One, the Great Creator, who took the greatest risk of all. He unlocked His wonders with a full knowledge of the path humanity would choose to take.

  "Then God said,  "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us."  Genesis 1:26