daily life as life goes on . . .

I was pushed to read a passage of Scripture today.  The reference to it came from a devotional book.

Here is the King James Version version:

Oh Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces. – Daniel 9:7a

Confusion of faces?  Other versions talk about shame.  Others combine the two.

So I checked the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Old Testament).  That has faces as well!  And the Hebrew also uses “face” in the phrase. 

And so I began to think (and bounce this off our associate pastor).  If God is the one that is righteous, when we look in that direction there is no sense of being two faced or confused about what is right.  The problem is with us as people.  We have a confusion on our faces.  And as we look at one another, there is also a confusion on our faces.  We are shamed because we do not know right from wrong – our faces show it! 

Early signs that the Bible understood “body language?”

Yesterday morning I awoke to branches sprayed all over the yard.

The last few days before I arrived back, the sky had been ominous yellow and the clouds and weather unpredictable.  Wind storms churned up the sky last night.  So much so, that truckloads of debris have been taken to our local dump today!

In the early hours of the morning, I raked up what branches I could.  In the evening, a neighbour hauled them away.

My first thoughts as I was raking were – “I wonder what Jill would say.”

You see, in the past few years she was unable to do a lot of manual labour.  Her love of gardening was restricted.  She would watch me in the morning, out our back window.  Then, when I arrived inside, she would remark on the little things that made up the work I had been doing.

Nothing big.  Just something she noticed.  The comment was not earth shattering.  But the comment was recognition that she was watching and cared about what I was doing.

Some of the greatest things I miss are the small chatterings of companionship.

Quite literally the wind was strong and huffed and puffed and blew at me on the way home last night.

I arrived in at midnight and awoke  to the morning with branches all over the ground.  I cleaned some up, but as I look out my window, I see more coming down.  One lady was out checking her shingles!

So, I return to much to do and much ado! 

God always has His ways of keeping us on our toes – or at least braced for a bit more wind!

Well, I’m on my way to Saskatoon for a memorial for my wife, Jill.

You are invited to attend!  The service will be at 2:00 in Belleville at “The Core” church.  My two children and two grandchildren will be there.  Jill’s brothers and sisters will also attend, along with my mother-in-law and other relatives.  As well, I expect some community people may come.

This is the final memorial service we have planned.  I have been so encouraged by each one that has come to the other two services (Kindersley, Prince Albert).  This will also be a great encouragement and I look forward to it!