Where are we headed?

You hear on the news of horrific accidents and needless wars and slave trading of children.

All of them disturb me, but I guess I can say "fortunately", I am not one involved in these things.

Today though has me baffled and sick of heart and wondering just exactly where society is heading.

Reading the news about the poor young fellow on the bus who was so brutually murdered has my heart sick. It has me aching for this poor boys family, whom he was on his way to see.

How do people get over things like that.

I kept thinking of the many people I know whose children travel by bus....alone sometimes too. Son has gone by bus too, at various times and I guess the fact that he will be traveling back to his home in Winnipeg also this week, it was all just a little too close to home for my liking.

And like most horrific crimes, the accused will be made public, with long trials and such and everyone will know his name and every detail about his messed up life.

Not many will remember the poor boy he murdered and the family left behind to deal with it all......not to mention all the many innocent people who witnessed the crime who will be traumatized for life because of this man's actions.

I know in my heart about forgiveness. I know in my heart there is a God who loves murderers. That same God tells me to forgive and to love the unloved, and the messed up, and the murderer, and the criminal.

What kind of love is it that allows me to do that? Notice I said "allows". He allows us to make love a choice and in that act of love we allow ourselves to love those who don't deserve it.....just like he loves me, me who doesn't deserve it either. We don't always allow ourselves to love those kinds of folks. We spit judgment at them. We hiss their names with contempt. We allow our hearts to harden into concrete blocks.

Enter Jesus.

Mankind did that to Jesus too. We crucified him...... and yet he loved us anyway.

Tonight I shall remember the family of that poor young boy and ask God to give them hearts of compassion. In miraculous ways these acts of love can and do happen. It's a God thing.....and only that.

Change my heart, oh God, and head us all in the right direction.

Perspective.

It's all how we see things as individuals according to our circumstances, isn't it.

Today I spoke at some length to the fellow at work who lost his wife to cancer last month. Hurt. Grieving. Overwhelmed. Three kids at home.

Tonight we saw Aunt Connie in the hospital. She appears to be at her peak of accomplishment as far as her stroke recovery goes and in a week or so will be heading off to Mont St. Joseph's nursing home. I think she'll be well taken care of there. Not what she had desired for herself, for sure, but probably better than being in hospital indefinitely.

Tonight I also spoke with son and his girlfriend, both of whom are tree planting in B.C. Two days left before they leave for home to Winnipeg before leaving again to Montreal and Toronto to find out first hand how to deal with inner-city living. While tree planting on rough terrain, he had fallen and injured a tendon in his hand but appears to be on the mend. Both he and girlfriend are extremely tired.

As my father always used to say when he was so very sick, there's always someone worse off than yourself.

How true that is. It's all in our perspective on life, isn't it. We see folks who are grieving, and very ill and exhausted and hurt all around us.....so why should I be complaining about trivialities.

So, tonight I pray for those who are by far, worse off than me, as they struggle to see some light at the end of their tunnels.

May God have mercy on all of them.

Will I. Makett

That's the question.

Saturday seems like a long way off.

After more than 5 weeks of vacation I feel like I'm right back where I started. Exhausted.

Is there any justice for senior citizens who want to retire but can't, because their pension is a pittance?

Ya. That's another question.

It's not that I'm not thankful for all I have....job and all.....but when you begin to want to wind down in life a bit, and take it easy for a longer spell than your yearly allotment of earned vacation days, it seems one should just be able to do that.

But, I suppose you can't have everything you want. I know I have everything I NEED, probably more than I need, actually.

Guess I need to learn how to be more thankful for all I have......I have friends like you, after all. What more can a person want.

As Rosemary Clooney and Bing Crosby sang in "White Christmas"....."If you're worried and you can't sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep, and you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings."

baaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....'nite.

Well, hot crinkles!

I made it through the first day at work. My head's still in the spin cycle but it should get to the rinse by Friday....same as the laundry in the basement!

There is just a lot happening around me right now. People need help with things. At this particular point in time, I'm not sure if I'm up to pitching in. But there are others that can and that's good. If I can get my body into a quick routine once more, I should be able to help out this week and if I can't, well, there is always the next time.

Aunt Connie seemd much better when we went to see her today. A few weeks ago, she was struggling with a terrible cough but she has mustered enough energy and will power to fight that off well. She's been assessed too, so when a bed becomes available, she will be off to a new facility. That will be better for her, I think, than the hospital.

I'm being summoned. The musty lake clothes are calling me from the depths......."wash me.....wash me.....wash me..."...and I must comply......

Well, that was fast!

"How can 5 weeks go by so quickly?", I ask myself.

I suppose that is how vacations go. Not wearing a watch for that time period, my minutes run into hours and my hours into days and those days into weeks. Like a time slot out of the ordinary. A place where the norm is different from the usual norm. Ya.

So, tomorrow the inevitable arrives.

Work.

I love my job, but boy oh boy, I really love those vacation days a whole lot more.

Seems like the older one gets, the more time is needed to catch up on rest. I think that's fair.

I need to get back into a routine again. I like holidays but it's good to get back to where I left off 5 weeks ago.

I need to catch up with people again. I like being away for a time but I need to see where my friends are at - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

It was good to be with granddaughter too, during that time, as well as having daughter and son-in-law visit. We actually got them in the boat....fishing!!!!

But I miss my son. "Where are you Matt? I'm needing a hug in the very near future!!"

I think it will be a busy week ahead......inumerable emails, catching up with the comings and goings at work and getting tired in the middle of it all.....ho hum..........

It was a great rest, God. Thanks a whole lot for that.

Update...

For those interested in my well-being:
1. Heart Lakes fishing "I" caught a 4 something pound pickerel while fishing for jack
2. Slammed thumb in trailer door.....hard!!!
3. Took granddaughter and friend tubing....the pics tell the story...
4. Rescued husband from falling on keister...the pants had to make a church appearance so rescue was vital...
5. Have read almost 3 novels....so far...
6. Prayed for my co-worker whose wife died of cancer this week...
7. Went swimming...lots...
8. Sun burned back is now pealing...:-(
9. Nearly divorced while attempting boat retreival from water:-(
10. Today, July 6th, we've been mostly happily married for 40 years! (Quite an accomplishment seeing we nearly divorced yesterday;-)

Oh, and granddaughter got her first job scooping ice cream at "The Scoop"...

Hope we're alive to be able to report to you on our next semester of vacation...(as the mosquitos may just carry us into the swamp never to be heard from again.)

Adieu...

Thank you, God, for "OFF"!