10/10/2019
Our Northern relatives have arrived safely! Our second son Brian and his lovely wife Dana got here last night about 9:15. It is wonderful to have them visit us. They drove a long day—13 hours or so, and though tired, we had a great visit with them till our eyes drooped. It’s good to have all 3 kids and some of the grandkids around us for several days. We were reminded of some funny events during our first couple of hours of visiting and, inevitably, more will follow. More mentions of these remembrances will appear in this column soon.
But for now, “Desperado—why don’t you come to your senses? You been out riding fences, for so long, now….” was the SIMH today. Basically, this great song about getting one’s life together properly, is a compilation and collaboration of all the Eagles. They said when they heard it as it was being put together that it sounded like Ray Charles to them, but I couldn’t find where he ever recorded it. Several people have recorded it (the Eagles on two albums, but never as a single) and it is very good by most of them. Besides the Eagles, the one’s I like the best are Linda Ronstadt and Clint Black. Bringing the lyrics back to mind makes me sad. The inspiration to write such lyrics just screams of the many, many lives which are on the trash-heap of life in general, not having a clue about how to get things straightened out before it’s too late.
Emotional roller coasters often are an extension of things which have befallen us in our quest to live orderly and peacefully. An unexpected illness of a young man who is dear to us has all of us conscious of the work it takes to keep things on an even keel. We must be aware of the top priority in life, the health of those close to us, and at the same time be able to continue to do what has to be done. But, in our present case, having been confronted with changes which have to be made concerning store location (forced, not elective) and that coming about almost concurrently with a literal changing of where we live, has heightened the possibility of the roller coaster effect showing up. So, we step back inside ourselves, depend upon the “author and finisher” of our faith and apply the peace from God to our very own peace with God to be able to receive from Him the benefit (notable is our “partaking of the benefit”) as we walk in peace, no matter what. When this precarious situation concludes is not yet known. The young man is very ill.
What we do know is “God is able to make all grace abound toward (us), that (we); always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” The verse is 2 Cor. 9:8, and is about not letting obstacles or perceived lack of something get in the way of seeing it through to the finish: He is able to provide whatever it takes.
For prayer, and praying with us, may we suggest the formula for prayer found in Phi.4:6 & 7: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In today’s vernacular, “worry about nothing, pray for what comes to mind to desire, and thank God for anything that happens.” That will be peaceful to you.
And let me add, thank you for remembering us in prayer through this (hopefully) short, but troublous time.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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