The Future: A Fearful or Faithful Response?

The future will be an adventurous time, 

But I’ve never imagined such a scary thing!

More is at stake, there’s no turning back;

Tensions rising, uncertainties overwhelming.

Hyper-technological governments now able

To accomplish tyranny and destruction easily;

Greater evils are possible, everything is magnified:

Terrible personal and national calamity.

The future is a challenge to greater courage,

Sacrifice, thoughtful, well-planned preparation;

Time must be spent in search and analysis,

And for each of us, definite determination.

We must stand strong now, and encourage each other,

We must turn to our Creator God in honest prayer;

He calls us to obedience: see His power, love, and grace: 

Will it be fear or faith? I write this because I deeply care. 

  By Elaine Hardt ©2012

Standing at the Sink, Doing Dishes

         The dishwasher machine isn’t clear full, but there are some delicate cups and saucers that need a gentle touch.  A  big skillet and glass lid will be next in the sudsy water . . . 

Standing here at the sink, doing dishes tonight brings an unexpected memory to mind.  I visualize my mother standing at the sink, doing dishes at Bethel Church. This was over 30 years ago. 

The church’s kitchen is large, well organized, and the serving window opens to the main room, now being set up with tables and chairs for the women’s luncheon at noon. Six ladies were carrying in table decorations, spreading pastel tablecloths, and arranging low bouquets on mirrored squares in the center of each table.

There were nearly 100 dusty cups and saucers taken down from high shelves, and it was quicker to do them by hand, mother said.

When Denise came over and asked if she would like to arrange the flowers and put around the place tags, mother said no. She’d just do the dishes. Instead of taking a more visible spot she’d do the quiet, behind-the-scenes necessities; that was my mother. 

Then I recalled a TV preacher I’d heard earlier this evening.  He urged  the listeners to make a home altar for worship, a daily time of unhurried prayer and praise. He suggested denoting a special chair in the bedroom or front room.  

Here, I put two and two together.  For mother the quiet place was standing at the sink, doing dishes in the kitchen. Us older kids would be at the dining room table doing homework; younger siblings would be playing in their bedroom.  

Good idea, I thought.  When I am here at the sink, doing dishes this will be a place for prayer. Now it’s just me and my husband at home, and he’s catching up on some news on the computer in his office.  I spoke aloud, “Dear Father,  this can be my quiet place!”

Bible Olympics

Picture this:  people of the Bible competing in a Special Olympics.  Match the name of the “distinguished expert” with the amazing event of physical strength, agility, and expertise.  

       The People: 

1. Elijah
2. Jacob
3. Jonathan
4. The Benjamanites
5. Peter and Jesus
6. Samson
7. Jehu
8. Naomi and Ruth

         The Events 

               Wrestling

               Water Walking

               Left-handed slingshot event

               Running

               Long-distance Walking

              Chariot Racing

              Honorable mention in Archery

              Weightlifting

Some Questions to Consider, Personally

Is there an adventure not attempted? 

Tender feelings not expressed?

A challenge side-stepped, which might have made you stronger?

Light-hearted humor too long repressed?

An interest, a talent not developed?

Some desired exploration up to now unknown?

The heart’ s desired relationship with God unfulfilled?

A flower garden neglected, seeds not sown?

A goal that seemed daunting, but might have proven worthwhile?

A friendship left to languish for lack of a little time?

A sin not confessed, a fear not faced?

Some story not related? A mountain never climbed?

Compliments stubbornly stuck in the craw?

Self-forgiveness still denied?

Generosity never released?

Blessings of obedience to God not realized?

Are there words left unwritten or unsaid

which would be someone’s treasured memory?

Check yourself . . . Opportunities await;   

Consider these questions, personally.

                                                                                         

         by Elaine Hardt ©1998

* * * DEFEAT DISCOURAGEMENT * * *

One decision at a time . . . 

One day at a time . . . 

It may not look like a big deal to others,

But it offers you a great possibility. 

Look at Loneliness

             Loneliness called out to Roger as he trekked along the back trail to Woodland.  He turned and noted with some alarm darkening clouds approaching behind him.  A practical man, he decided to catch a quick break under the thick branches of a spreading oak tree before he’d double his efforts to keep ahead of the storm.

First, he glanced around for his own safety, then sat down on a log. The voice from somewhere called again, “Loneliness!  Loneliness!” 

He took a long drink from his canteen; no sense being so thirsty, surely there’d be water ahead somewhere soon.  

Logic tried to bring Roger some peacefulness in his mind, but Loneliness wouldn’t leave.  Roger tightened his grip on his walking stick, as if muscles could do what his mind refused to do.  

The rain came as gentle sprinkles at first, which soon were outdone by piercing hard slashes of rain.  Roger pulled his hat more firmly on his head, hunching over to spare his face. The tree deflected a lot of the downpour, and that led to an unexpected blessing.

Time seemed to stand still, and everything was quiet all around him.  Then, it came again as if on cue, the word “Loneliness!”, but this time it was definitely coming from right beside him as he was sitting on the log.

“What? What is going on!” Roger’s man-sized sensibilities had to inquire.  “Oh, God, what’s going on!”  It wasn’t a question; it was more of an aggravated exclamation of a person nearly losing his cool. 

A Vacation for Wonder Dog

House for sale; real estate people walking strangers through your house; a job promotion to a dinky town 3 hours north so Paul now commutes back on weekends.  It’s enough to give a person a headache.  What about the dog?

Samson, the wonder dog must be suffering, too.  Watching the packing, seeing boxes of stuff carried out to the garage, furniture rearranged to make the rooms look less cluttered.  Seeing her master only briefly.  What was going through her doggie-brain? 

All month, the dog, an 8 year-old Belgian Malinois, had begun showing symptoms, loss of appetite, lack of energy.  In the last few days it had gotten worse.

Now, it was time for Patti’s week-long trip to see her folks in Ohio.  With tickets bought last October she looked forward to a break, but also was reluctant to put Samson under more stress by leaving him with Paul’s folks in Hidden Valley. An anxious phone call Thursday expressed their concerns.  

“Samson will be fine with us,” Dale assured them.  

Late Friday afternoon their pickup pulled into the Hidden Valley driveway.  With her doggie bed and toys unloaded and arranged in the front room Samson no doubt remembered staying here before.  With Paul and Patti’s schedule of travel and business he’d been over to “grandma’s” house for a long weekend every few months. 

The first thing after hugs and kisses goodbye  Dale and Lois laid hands on the dog and asked the Lord to heal him and keep him safe while he was in their care.  Then they tentatively offered him a tiny bone-shaped “goodie.”  He ate it and looked up with big, brown eyes.  

Strange, isn’t it, how two otherwise normal adults turn into doting parents when there’s a dog to care for.  They crawled across the floor to retrieve his plush ball, they patted his head, they told him how handsome he was.  And they waited.  Would he eat or get sicker?

By Monday morning he was the picture of health.  He had been eating for two days, was drinking water, had his normal elimination. He was peppy and wagged his tail. Lois and Dale were elated.

Then, in a stroke of silliness Lois put a tape of Hawaiian music on the player to set the proper exotic atmosphere. A blue sheet draped along a couple of end tables became an ocean background. She arranged a multicolored beach towel, a tall glass filled with blue water, a tiny drink umbrella taped to its rim, and some seashells scattered on the floor. With an orchid-colored silk flower lei around his neck Samson was ready for a photo of his “vacation in Hawaii.”  Samson loved to pose for photos, so it was no trouble getting him to sit still.  

A half dozen Polaroid photos in hand Lois lettered a piece of paper, “Aloha from Hawaii.  Having a great time.  Wish you were here, Samson.”  

Dale played along with the idea and took the envelope to the post office for overnight, priority mail to send to Patti, in care of her folks’ address in Ohio.  

The house has not been sold yet, and things are still unsettled for Paul and Patti— Dale and Lois are still praying about that — but they enjoyed being part of the Lord’s blessing for them and the wonder dog, Samson.     ###

by Elaine Hardt ©2001