Tuesday, March 22, 2016

KEEP ON TALKIN'


By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4 NIV

Think what it would be like to write all these words—books, blog posts, songs, poems, devotionals, journal notes—then get called to Heaven and leave them here on Earth. Spend my seven years up there while all h*** breaks loose on planet Earth.

Then, come back on that 1000 year mission trip—and find that people are singing my songs, reciting my poems, reading my books and devotionals and journal notes.

Think how it would feel to learn that what I had left as my legacy was still making a difference, paving the way for seekers, encouraging the faltering, showing my Jesus to a lost world.

What if I hadn’t written them?  

Avi, writing is an amazing gift, one that I’m really glad You’ve given me. When it’s going well, there’s no feeling like it, and I’m amazed at what comes through me and lands on that plain sheet of paper.                                                        
But writing is hard and lonely. Sometimes it’s frustrating, whether because the words just won’t come, or because the burdens of life deny me the freedom of time and place to work in peace. When the pressure of those words churning inside me reaches critical mass, something will give. Either the words will find a way out onto paper, or my frustration will wind up in somebody's face.
Don't let me give up, Avi. Bless my offering of words.
In Your holy name, Amen.

P.S. And don't let me take my frustrations out on people we both love.


                                           

Thursday, March 10, 2016

METHUSELAH



                                                             by
                                                Grace S. Potts
     


I shared this story with a woman whose godly old father had just died after a long, debilitating, dignity-robbing illness. It’s a lot for a blog post, but I’m convinced someone out there needs the same hope.

In a time of wickedness no worse than our own, there remained one righteous man. "Build an ark," God said to Noah, "and take your family to safety." As the ark was being built, another old man lived the last of his days. He, too, found his Maker faithful.

            
Palpable darkness crushed him. Then, as its weight swirled up from him, Methuselah tried to stretch away the pain. His old bones creaked in protest, but the pain in his soul screamed, for he was still caught in a dream of the wickedness that surrounded him.
  
He woke, and could not open his burning eyes. He listened for the sounds of his family, longing to speak with his grandson Noah. The house echoed with emptiness, but an unfamiliar hammering rang from somewhere outside. He stirred to rise and look, but his body would not obey him. He lifted a wizened hand and forced open an eye.      

There, before him, a figure waited quietly.

Methuselah tried to greet his friend, but his mouth was dry and made no sound. The friend lifted the old man’s head and gave him a few drops of water, then a few more, until his tongue worked again. 

“Elohe,” he croaked. “I’ve been asleep. Have you been here long?”

“As long as the days of your life.”

Methuselah closed his eye and rubbed it. “What’s that noise?” he asked.

"That’s Noah. I told him to build an ark.”

“A what?”

Elohe laughed. “An ark,” he said. “For I’ve heard your cries, and Noah’s, and will give you peace. I will open the storehouse of heaven and send rain upon the earth, and I will open the gates of the deep. I will send waters to drown every creature, for I regret having made these wicked men. Only those I keep safe within the ark, Noah and his family, will live.”

Elohe wet a cloth and washed Methuselah’s eyes, then gave him more water to drink. Methuselah looked long at his friend, then closed his eyes and drifted into sleep. Elohe sat by him and waited.



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“I was thinking of my father. Do you remember when you walked with him in the evenings?”

Elohe smiled. “Yes.”

“I watched him go out alone every evening,” said Methuselah. “He’d come back and tell me of his visit with you. More than anything I wanted to go with him and be with you, but he only said, ‘A man must walk alone with God. You will learn.'”

Methuselah sighed. “Then I called out to you, and you came to me, and walked with me, too.”

“It took you long enough. I was waiting for you.”

“I know."

A woman came in and, seeing Methuselah’s lips move, smiled as one smiles at a child. “He’s talking in his sleep again,” she said to someone who waited behind her. “Maybe he’s lonely.”

“But that’s how it is with the old ones,” said another soft voice. “It does no good to try to talk with him. Before you can speak, he’s asleep again. Besides, his memories are all the company he needs.”



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“What’s rain, Elohe?”

Elohe started to explain, but Methuselah had fallen asleep.



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“When you took my father away with you, I worried about my grandfather, for they were close. He longed for the comfort of his son in his old age.”

“He had you.”

“Yes, and I was a son to him. But now I’m old, and I understand. The pain I saw in him was my own. He was old enough to see the joy beyond the pain. I think he felt so much joy that it overcame his sorrow. Noah is so much like him.”

Elohe smiled, and the friends waited together, listening as the music of Noah’s obedience filled the room.
 


“Grandfather. Wake up, Grandfather. We have to bathe you. You’ve soiled yourself.”

Methuselah bore these indignities with patience, but when his granddaughters had finished and left him, he said, “How dreadful this must be for you, Elohe, to sit with an old man who cannot keep himself clean. I don’t know I have to relieve myself, and I don’t know that I have. When you come to me, how will I know if I’m clean enough to receive you.”

“Is your heart clean, Methuselah?”
 


“Grandfather?”

Methuselah heard the voice of his grandson Noah, and roused himself. “You’ve come! I’ve waited for you.”

"I have something to tell you. I’ve worked all day. Did you hear the sounds?”

“I heard.”

“We’ll be making a journey! God came to me and said to build an ark! We’ll go to sea in a floating house, while He makes the earth clean again! I’m making a room for you near the cattle, where you’ll be warm…”

“I know all about it.”

“What? How could you know?”

But Methuselah had fallen asleep again.



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“Once I climbed to the top of the eastern mountain, to see if my eyes could see the ends of your creation.”

“What did you see?”

“I saw the day and the night. I saw an eagle… Elohe, when I’m here, I watch the eagles and wonder what it would be to fly. But there, in his land… Even there, he flew so far above me that I… My heart followed him, Elohe, and when I lost him, I lost my heart.”

“And what did you hear on the mountaintop?”

Methuselah was quiet, remembering. Finally he said, “I heard the wind whistling through the stars.”



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“I’ve been under this roof for a very long time. I’d like to see the stars again before I die.”

Elohe lifted the frail old man, and felt the lightness of his burden. He carried Methuselah from the house and stood with him beneath the night sky.

“Ah, Elohe! The stars have faded. I can see them better with my eyes closed.”

Elohe smiled. “Close your eyes, then,” he said. “Be still and listen. The stars are singing as they sang at the creation.”

“I hear them, Elohe! They sing of peace to me.”

When the stars had sung Methuselah to sleep, Elohe turned and carried him to his bed.



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“Noah comes to me every evening and tells me what he’s done. He tells me how all the people come to mock him. One man shouted today that the ark is a house of fools who follow a god of fools. They don’t know what they don’t know, so who is the fool?”

“To a small man, both great and small are foolish.”



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“My father didn’t get to say goodbye to me when he left. Tonight he came to me in a dream and said ‘Hello.’”

“Soon you’ll see him again.”

“My father pleased you.”

“Yes. Enoch is my friend.”

“But you gave him few years.”

“His years have ended, but his life hasn’t.”

“Why did you give me so many years? Was it to reward my father?”

“I’ve blessed you because you please me.”

Methuselah closed his eyes and rested, but his thoughts were too heavy for sleep. Elohe waited, knowing his friend hadn’t finished.

“Noah’s building me a room on the ark.”

“I know.”

“Can I bear it?” Methuselah asked. Then, wearied by the long journey before it had even begun, Methuselah slept.


“Grandfather? Are you awake?”

“I am now, Noah.”

“I’ve finished, Grandfather! The ark is ready, and filled with food. My sons are settling the animals. There are so many of them that it will take a long time. We’ll move you last, after everything is ready. Or, would you rather go now and watch?”

Methuselah closed his eyes.

“Grandfather?”

“In the night I heard the stars sing, Noah. I’m still listening.”

“Good night, Grandfather.”



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“Is it morning?”

“Soon.”

“Noah came yesterday and told me my room is ready.”

“You’re sad today.”

“Yes.”



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“I’m weary of this world, Elohe. I’m weary of this old body. Of what use to me is the ark? My children have all they can do with caring for the animals. I’ll only be more work for them. And if I die, where will they lay my bones? Even if I don’t die, the smell of an old man’s weakness… I’ll be too much for them."

“Soon,” said Elohe.



“Elohe?”

“I’m here.”

“What will it be like to leave this world?” asked Methuselah.

“Remember the eagle who took your heart?”



“Methuselah?”

Methuselah stirred, and wondered if the whisper he heard was part of his dream.

“Methuselah, wake up.”

“I’m here, Elohe.”

“Methuselah. Why sleep in this old body anymore? Come home with me now.  We’ll look down on the eagle, and he’ll yearn to follow.“

                                             FINI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday, March 6, 2016

JUST DO IT


But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 NIV

Hi, I’m Grace, and I’m a charter member of Procrastinators Anonymous.

Sometimes, though, it isn’t my fault. Like this past week. Three unproductive days on pain pills (long story; old ladies need to be more careful), then all day Saturday was mine. But that was the day the guys could finally string wires and antennas to put WiFi in my cottage.

You think I’m gonna turn that down!

Sometimes somebody throws the wrong switch just when you’re on a roll across a mountain railroad trestle. Whatever, whether you jump or you’re helped over the edge, you’re still in freefall. Where’s my parachute?

Could it be that all of us encouragers are each other’s parachutes? Who will I turn to this time? To fallible human hands, sometimes absent, sometimes absent-minded?

Maybe, if He chooses them—but Jesus is always there. As I was trying to decide how to end this post, a gentle reminder came: “Remember the bookshelves.”

Disorganized stacks of underutilized books lining my walls. But, hey, I had a hammer and a saw and a tape measure, and I could use them. I scheduled all my vacation time, put all the lumber for built-in bookshelves on my credit card—and got scared. That was a lot of money stacked in my floor.

Two days of painful prayer, then a decision. I’d do this with His help, and I’d make the labor an act of worship.

For 21 years, the sight of those bookshelves, straight and solid and true, has been a witness of His faithfulness, a daily reminder that worship doesn’t have to be perfect, just heart-felt.  

Avi, sometimes You say, “You can do this. I’ve given you what it takes.” Sometimes You say, “No, this way. It doesn’t matter how deep the water is; I’m Master of this sea, too.” You are, Avi, but often I let my small self be overwhelmed by the size of the task You’ve given me, by the knowledge of how very much people need what I have to share. Forgive me for staring at the storm while You’re waiting for me to trust You. Help me to worship You in truth and in deed. In Your holy name, Amen.