The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. – John 1:4 (NLT)
Archive for September, 2011
Waving on the River
Recently my family and I had the opportunity to spend a day on the Ocklawaha River. We loaded up the pontoon boat with fishing rods and tackle, lunch fixin to graze through and the family.
We launched the boat at the ramp and started to cruise down the river. I’m sitting in my usual seat, the front chair of the pontoon boat. The wind is blowing through my hair, the sun is shinning on my face, and the water is gurgling along side, it’s a happy day.
I love water. I was born under the sign of pisces, if you believe in that sort of thing. And although I don’t put much stock in the horoscope business, I must admit that I am at my happiest when I’m around water. You can ask my husband, I can get down right cranky if I don’t get to a lake or ocean ever so often. When that happens, he knows to go dunk me in somewhere in the closest watering hole to keep peace in the family.
Cruising down the Ocklawaha River
As we’re cruising along, we met another boat travel towards us. It’s a young couple with a small child cinched up tight in a life jacket. The couple waves as we pass each other. We raise our hands in mutual greeting, as is the custom, and it strikes me that I cant think of another place where you get such friendliness with total strangers anymore. I wonder where this unspoken tradition comes from. Sadly, it probably used to be that way everywhere. Walking along your neighborhood or perhaps on a busy sidewalk, you’d pass an unfamiliar face and say hello. But today it seems, we don’t have time for a smile and wave. We’re all too busy getting where we’re going to be bothered with friendliness. We’ve got a schedule, places to be, people to see. When did we get so busy that we forgot to be a neighbor to our neighbor?
It’s nice to see we haven’t lost that bond on the water. Maybe because it’s such a relaxing place. If you’re spending the day out on the water, you just feel better. Things are slower. Perhaps we can slip into a “nicer” version of ourselves.
By the end of the day, we had caught a few fish, laughed often and enjoyed the company of family. Part of me regretted having to head back in. It was so tranquil, so peaceful out among the cypress trees and lilly-pads, that it was easy to let go of the stress of every day life. I feared that once among the concrete, calendars and chores, I would loose my peace. I guess that’s up to me. I can choose to keep my peace and cherish the memories of a great day. I can also choose to take the river’s peacefulness and traditions with me… smile at a stranger, even take a chance and say, “Have a great day!” Who knows, fishing just might make the world a better place.
Finding Hope at Walmart
It always amazes me when I see the creative ways that God works. He can use the simplest things to make such a huge impact. At my job at Interfaith Emergency Services, every day I see His handiwork. Whether its a box of diapers for an unemployed single mom that cannot afford them, or a box of food for a family trying to make ends meet, He finds ways to answer prayers.
Recently, while setting up a display at our local Walmart for our High $5 Campaign, I was approached by a young girl. Though I was busy trying to unload my car so we could set up, she caught my eye immediately. Ashley was a thin, young girl, beaten and bruised by her boyfriend the night before. The second I smiled at her she burst into tears, and began begging for help. I pulled Ashley out of the bustle of people and got her to calm down. Her story, like so many others, starts with a boyfriend that her parents didn’t approve of. She had stayed with him for over a year, even with family begging her not to. He had convinced her to move away from family. He lied to her as he promised a good time, while Ashley lied to herself that he would stop drinking, drugging and beating. Somewhere between her busted lip and bruised ribs, Ashley realized she couldn’t take it anymore and called the police. With the boyfriend in jail, she had the courage to try for a clean start. Ashley had no money, no clothes, just a small purse with an empty wallet and ID card.
I watched Ashley rubbing her ankle, and I noticed her boyfriend’s name branded there. I’m sure she wished at that point to rub it away, along with all the pain and hurt.
“Family. I need my family,” she kept said. “I just need to get to my family, and everything will be okay.” Ashley remembered her grandmother’s phone number in Tampa. She told me that she was afraid to call because her grandmother would think her boyfriend was still around, and the grandmother was done with the abusive boyfriend. “I don’t want that boy around here anymore,” she had told her, and closed the door on her a year before. Now, Ashley wanted the love only her grandmother could give her. I picked up the phone and called Grandma Sarah. I explained who I was and that I worked at a local help agency and was with her granddaughter. Sarah asked about the boyfriend, and I assured her he was long gone. I put the two on the phone together, and through her tears Ashley spilled her sorrows and laid her soul bare. She admitted her mistakes, and just wanted to come home and start over. Sarah talked with me again and told me that she’d pay for a Greyhound bus ticket for Ashley. I told her that I would get her safely to the bus station, and that afternoon at 3:05pm, a smiling Ashley said a grateful goodbye.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
My husband asked me later, how she knew to come up to me. It’s not like I had a sign over my head that said “Have experience helping people.” I believe that God knew to send her to me, and had confidence in me that I would help. That day I was blessed to be used by God to reunite a young troubled girl with her family.
To find out more about Interfaith Emergency Services, visit: www.iesmarion.org
I'm SO glad that […]
3 years ago
