Where Have You Been?

Somewhere in September I dropped out of the blogosphere, didn't I? I stopped taking pictures, finding spiritual principles in the everyday, and generally disappeared. But here I am again ---writing to you while talking to myself.
My Dad used to love quoting Emerson and Thoreau who would greet one another with, "What has become clearer since we last met?" What would you say if I asked that question?
And what answer would I give you?
1) Living at Holly Lake has brought new friends, new experiences, and a missing of old friends.
2) Life is very precious. I have 10 friends who are struggling physically. I put each one of them on a finger and when I wiggle it heavenward, then I pray for them. I drive so many miles and type so many words, they get lots and lots of prayer time.
3) It is possible to get mentally and physically lazy without structure.
4) God doesn't quit working in and on us just because we age... His purpose and plan seem to be even more alive.
Enough ---- oh, and I have learned the deer will eat anything and everything with absolutely NO REGARD for the amount of money I spent on landscaping. Next year they will have to go elsewhere for their fresh salad bar!

Adopted for Life

On December 8, 2009 Bree Anna became a forever member of the Richardson family...and my one and only granddaughter. I will later post my thoughts from that day. Just know that it brought joy, tears, and laughter to us all.

Bucks Rule

The door bell's ring surprised me. I don't get many drop-ins, but my garage door's up position indicated my presence. One of my neighbors suggested I have a flag I fly, much like the Queen who notes her "in residence" status by unfurling the banner.
The neighbor who stood in my door was new to me. He simply said, "I took a picture of four bucks standing in your yard....would you like me to email it to you?
You KNOW how big a fan I am of the overgrown rabbits who rule my home, don't you? "Sure, I would LOVE to have it."
So, here are three of the four....I cropped the original to give you a closer view of these maurauding masculine menaces. Sorry, if I am a bit testy, but they have managed to eat over $3000 of flora.

What is the spiritual principle? Where do I see God in this picture and in this situation? After all, that is the purpose of this blog ---- to chronicle God sightings and my puny understandings of His activity.

The easy one is recognition that they are His creatures. They deserve respect because they are a product of His creative Hand. Okay, I will go with that one.

Harder is His sovereignty who allows these beautiful, but scavenging men to eat up everything I have planted. A good friend has told me to ask "what is bringing honor to God in your struggles," not "why am I going through this?" So, I will acknowledge God knows best----God is teaching me----I am a slow learner-----and my plans are not always His plans. And thankfully, my thoughts are not His thoughts.

On Tuesday I am teaching a Bible Study on reconciliation. Do you think this is an object lesson?

Of course, it should be flattering to have men gather at the bottom of my stairs.....

Rare Blessing

"Jill, I brought my camera and could I please have a picture with you?" Even though she was tired from travel, and weary after a long day, she graciously agreed.

This meant the world to me! Jill Briscoe is one of my heroes. Here she was at the CASA Leadership Conference ---- and there I was on the front row with notepaper in hand and a happy heart.
I actually met her for the first time in 1971. She and her husband were speaking in Kentucky. During the intervening years, my Dad and my brother have served with her on Christianity Today's board. Even though my contact has been marginal, her impact on me has been great.

Friends of mine seek autographs of sports legends, movie stars, and well-known politicians. I am thrilled to have a remembrance of a woman whose life reflects joyful discipline. As I said after the meeting, "She's who I want to be when I grow up."
Admiration doesn't slide into adoration ---- that place is held only for the God Jill loves so deeply. She reminds me what a loving heart looks like when it has flesh on. She makes me want to know God....a pretty good goal.

Preach The Word

The Billy Graham Center Museum stands at the back of the Wheaton College campus, nestled up to the train track. An earlier visit in the mid-90s convinced me a return would be worthwhile. So, I left early for my dinner with friends and made a stop.

The Museum was essentially empty except for the warm, welcoming hostess. She graciously told me of the special exhibits and eagerly answered my questions.

The room that drew me back is the rotunda with giant, elegantly embroidered banners hanging ceiling to floor. On each one is a statement of faith from men (and a woman) upon whose lives our traditions are built. I stood quietly before each one thinking about their lives, their words, and their legacy. How thankful I am for their commitment to the Lord Jesus.

The majority of the Museum is dedicated to the history of the evangelical movement in America and the work of Billy Graham. It is impossible to move through without stopping for quiet moments of reflection.

By faith ---- by faith----by faith. This was a living Hebrews "Hall of Faith" experience.

At the end, a stone wall stood in a darkened space. Upon it are carved the powerful words of John 3:16. I paused to consider the words and the magnificent presentation. God became flesh and dwelt among us.....Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to provide a way of reconciliation with God the Father for us.

The trip to dinner at the lovely home of Harold and Jeanette was peaceful and pondering.

What a blessing to honor Billy Graham, but much more bring glory to God the Father.

Table for 3

Nothing spectacular about this building, and especially not about this picture. But, then again, the memories it evokes are indescribable.

In 1994 I moved to Des Moines, Iowa, from Dallas, Texas, leaving my family and friends as I "ran away from home" to take a corporate promotion.,

By early 1995, my sister and Mom decided to fly to Kansas City, rent a car, count cows from KC to DSM, and visit me.

One of our great adventures was traveling to the Amana Colonies in Eastern Iowa. What fun we had that day! The three of us laughed, ate, shopped, laughed some more, and then headed back to the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

As I traveled from Des Moines to Chicago on my recent trip, I journeyed the 15 miles off the highway to once again enter the world of the Amanas. No, it isn't one large refrigerator manufacturing plant --- it is the center of an early pioneer settlement which still exists as a peek into early midwest history. It was a community of towns known as the Amana Colonies. They worked, lived, ate communally. They had eating houses located in each of the 7 little towns. Each one was a one day horse buggy ride from the other.

There are vestiges of the smaller ones, but the largest one thrives by welcoming tourists.

The eating house serves delectable food which way more than satisfied my driving hungries. As I slowly savored each bite, I thought about the time with Mary Helen and Mom.

I ambled down the thoroughfare walking in and out of small stores, appreciating the workmanship of potters, painters, and weavers. I made my way to the Bakery. Suddenly, the picture of Mom, Mary Helen and me popped into my wandering mind.

I pictured us sitting at that same little table 14 years ago, munching on German pastries, and thoroughly thankful for each other.

Memory is quite remarkable, isn't it? The strangest, smallest things trigger extravagant, elegant remembrances.

Mom is in heaven, Mary Helen is completing her dream house in Plano, Texas, and I am on the road with the Cruiser ----- there's still much for which to be thankful.

Memories

For five winters, room 1103 of the Hotel Fort Des Moines was my home.
As a child I LOVED the story of Eloise at the Plaza. I dreamed of living a glamorous life in the heart of the city and ordering room service.
Many years later, a modified version of my dream came true. I lived in a downtown hotel, not in New York, but in Des Moines, and I never once ordered room service.
Some of our life's chapters have an indescribable cache.....Des Moines is that for me. Who could imagine spending 5 winters (that is how I count my time in Iowa) as a resident of this old hotel in the heart of the midwest?
As I drove by the hotel on my cruise through DSM the other day, I just had to park and capture a long ago moment. Sometime I will share the luscious stories of hotel living, including the short time Tiny Tim and I both occupied the hotel, or knowing "Gopher" from the loveboat stayed in my room while he was running for Congress from Iowa, or sitting in a chair during an Iowa caucus and seeing national candidates huddled in conference surrounded by network news people........fun stuff.
Too often our memories pain us. Too often we look back and suffer. I certainly have my share of those experiences, but the Hotel Fort Des Moines always makes me smile. It was a grand gift from God and one I will always treasure.