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Well, we decided to demolish a house.  Raze it to the ground.  Flatten it!

Backstory.

We bought an abandoned house that was right across the street from us.  The house was boarded up, had been for a number of years.  The occupant had died a few years ago – in the house, and been found there after a few days.  The family had basically left the place as is, and public health had it boarded up.  Through a few twists and turns, we were able to purchase the property recently.  The community will be glad to see the house go!

We were going to move fairly slowly, but we found elm trees in the yard.  Now, you have only a small window of time in our part of the world to cut and trim elm trees – between October and March. 

The date was drawing near, so we decided to get moving.  Or at least move the elm trees out of the way of those who will be demolishing the house.  Today we are awaiting people to fell the trees (which may take a few days – there were more trees and bushes than we had anticipated). 

Then, on with the whole permitting, and waiting, and arranging, and finding waste sites, and contractors, and waiting. 

We should be getting good at this building thing fairly soon.  I wonder if God needs some help building our mansion up in heaven?

As I prepare for this Sunday, the schedule is full. 

I’ve become a one, or possibly two, item person in my retirement.  That means that putting one thing on the schedule per day is a sign that I am still alive and well.  The other serendipities of the day are a blessing sent from God.  And I have many more serendipities than I have scheduled items.

Today is an exception – my scheduled items are crammed full.  I begin with a Sunday School class I attend, a worship service I participate in.  Then I will take a quick lunch.  The next item is an Easter choir concert in which I will sing.  Then to a quick supper with the choir.  Then an hour drive down the road for another Easter choir concert in which I will sing.  Then a quick meet and greet and off for an hour’s ride home.

I am not impressed with full schedules.

I am impressed with opportunities to see God.  And opportunities to speak about God and to God.  And to serve God.  That is a “rest” that puts my trust in the right place and my activity in perspective.

Today should be one of those days.  A true Sabbath to God’s credit and my humble opportunity to serve God.

Now that’s what I call a Sunday!

My friend reads books.  His daughter does as well.

My friend uses quitter strips.  His daughter doesn’t!

They both try to finish their books.  The father finishes over time.  The daughter likes to finish right away. 

Is a book worth reading if you can’t read it all in one setting?

There is the question of the hour. 

You see, most of us put a quitter strip in our books.  We most often call them bookmarks. 

But for many of us they are as far as we get.  We become distracted.  We decide the content wasn’t that interesting.  We set the book aside and forget where we put it.

If you read the book all in one sitting, you wouldn’t quit!  You wouldn’t end up paying for a product that wasn’t used fully.  You might even get past that first few pages of  information overload and find the heart of the book is on the last page.

Or, you might read War and Peace and find out that, no matter how much coffee, you fall asleep.

Over the years I have dealt with seniors whose memory and reaction times are in question.  This is particularly noticeable when they are driving.  Their children often become alarmed at close misses and small fender benders.

A visit to a doctor often ensues.  The senior is asked a few questions and the testing begins.

This time the driver’s test is in reverse.

With a driver’s license in hand, the senior is entitled to drive.  They must be proven unfit in order to rescind the license.  A doctor is often the one given the jurisdiction to start the testing.  They are often the first to notice a deterioration in a person’s health – physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual.  Any one of these areas can seriously affect response time.

And so, testing begins and sometimes licenses are revoked.

The seniors I have worked with find the loss of independence further accelerates their health issues.  Most often, if you have been able to outlive others and you are still alive (redundancy still lives!), independence has become a byword for you. 

Until one of the greatest transitions in life begins to happen.  You can’t do it all any more!  You have to ask for help to shovel the walk.  Vacuuming becomes too much of a chore.  One calendar item is enough in a day.

When your license is renewed, denial loses its hold on your life.  The choice is to accept others help – and realize how many friends you have.  Or you can chose to shrivel up and die – not the best option!

As friends, be open to help others.  As one whose independence is now restricted, be open to others help.