This 'n that

Soon the last Iowa barn will disappear and the farms of the '50s, '60s and '70s will be dust; in the shadows of poverty, AIDS and hunger, this Kenyan woman sat on a stoop in Kibera Slum and radiated the peace of the Lord, despite herself living with the dreaded virus; a pitiful old woman shuffled toward me through the red dust of Kibera with her hand out and I only had a silver cross, given to me by a friend, to remove and attach around her neck. She needed shoes. I was out of money. Her eyesight was poor. She touched the cross with a gnarled hand. I had hoped she felt some comfort. She said nothing but only lifted her head in bewilderment. What is this all about, she seemed to ask. I didn't quite comprehend it myself. I had just acted out of an inner voice. Why is it that some of us wear a cross for strength and comfort when it was a tool of torment and death? When I grabbed these photos to put on facebook, I just grabbed. I wasn't thinking of anything significant. Just some shots I liked. But I noticed some similarities. Somehow my mind linked the sumac from a park in Columbia, Mo., where my daughter graduated from college, with the woman. Her skin was leathery and weathered like the sumac, which has been used as a dye and tanning extract. Sumac turns deep red -- the color of blood -- in the fall. And I thought of Jesus' blood covering the woman and me. The shedding of His blood was the ultimate act of love and the atonement for a fallen world. Later, I remembered her looking up as if she were trying to hear or see something in the wind. I thought of Psalm 91 and the verse that says "He will raise us up on eagles' wings." The eagles in Kenya seemed to raise my spirit while carrying a sign or waarning.  I saw many of them soaring over the slum, gliding over soccer files, even perching outside my hotel window. I stopped each time I saw one, looked and listened. Each time, I could hear God calling. In my heart, I heard him say share your faith with courage and boldness and rise like these eagles. Likewise, I also found God's glory in water, especially cascades. The rushing power of a waterfall reminds me of the Holy Ghost. I can not stand under the power of a mighty falls. Once the Holy Ghost brought me to my knees -- actually knocked me off my feet onto my back and flooded over me like a waterfall. I could not move. I was overwhelmed with a heavenly feeling and a sense of well being. I could not move a muscle except for my eyes. My vision was incredibly beautiful. People I knew stood over me that day in church and looked down, seemingly understanding what was happening. Their faces seemed to glow in a beautiful radiant light and I felt a peace I'd never felt in my life. My heart was  overwhelmed with joy. Tears streamed down my face and I could hear a voice saying "I love you my son and I am with you always." The amount of joy I felt seemed to leap with every word that entered my heart. I wanted to sing, shout, laugh and cry all at the same time -- all of this directed to God who had given the most precious gift I had ever received. I have never doubted God since that day. My only desire is to seek and serve Him. I marvel at His majesty and thank Him for my life everyday. He has blessed me eternally. The praying mantis, the last subject, reminds me to pray, be still and wait. A mantis waits patiently for a meal, which generally lands in his or her lap without much effort. And even though the females have the nasty habit of biting off their partners' heads after they mate, the mantis has power and strength when it needs to eat or defend itself. God always responds to my obedience and faithfullness with His power and strength. He reveals His love in my faithful response to His glory.

The Look of Determination.

The very many sides of a one year old. Here we are in a local restaurant and she insists on having her way. Her parents out of love decide to get the stuff away from her and she gives them this look. Would you mess with her? She ended up getting her way and the parents realised that she has a fighting spirit within her. We love her nevertheless and the joy of seeing her realise her dream was enough for us.