daily life as life goes on . . .

In our basement we have a bathroom.

Not an ordinary bathroom

No — this one has no toilet, no cabinets and no door. 

Why, you ask?  Or maybe you don’t ask, but I will tell you.

We are renovating.  Today we put on the last coat of paint — yellow that shines in the light and invites company.  Tomorrow we will put down flooring — linoleum that has beautiful squares imitating tile.  And the cabinets will be returned to their proper place.

So, if you are coming to visit, wait!!  At least until the bathroom is back in working order.

In 2001 I lived through life . . . and near death.

My wife, Jill, had heart surgery.  The months leading up to this necessitated the sale of our two storey house.  We gained a bungalow which required little stair climbing.  Jill’s activities were restricted. 

The surgery gave us 6 years of good health. 

These past few weeks there are hints.  Hints of shortness of breath, of pressure on the chest, and tiredness. 

Deja vu!  So tonight we sat on our porch.  We talked, some of the same discussions of years past.  With prayers and hopes for increased health.  With reminiscences of past history.  Reaching for the unknown and living in the reality.

I’m more than ever in love with my wife!  I cherish her for every breath she takes, for every hour she brightens and for each day she fills with her presence.  May those days continue for years to come!

We visited Gordon today before his surgery.  Then at around 3:00 we met his caregivers, Elsie and Marla.  They called us to their coffee table in the mall of the hospital.  Gordon’s surgery had been postponed because of an emergency case.  Gordon was now sleeping.

I began to remember back.  To times when medical interventions had been postponed or rescheduled.  The sense of anticipation, and then not being able to fulfil the anticipation.  As a caregiver, I felt helpless and yet anticipated the next opportunity — which seemed just around the corner.  I am convinced more than ever that the emotions can tire us as easily, and often more effectively, than physical exertion.

Imagine a young boy setting up a ramp for a bicycle jump in the driveway.  Just as he is riding towards the jump his mother halts him.  The ramp is moved so Dad can get in the driveway.  Next day he can set up once again.  That night he lays awake, tired and disappointed.  But also anticipating tomorrow.  The question is which emotion is strongest?  Which orientation will rule his life?

I guess this is a life question.  We all have dashed expectations.  That’s why we pay therapists and seek spiritual healing. 

What is to come in the day after? 

One hint is contained in the understanding that the day after is only a part of this life, and that there is also a continuing life thereafter.  A second hint is that there is a loving, eternal, forgiving, all knowing, all powerful God who is for us!  Grab God’s hand and although the winds of dashed expectations may lift you off your feet, God’s got you for the long run!

Tomorrow I will drop off the "prototype" for the graphics for Wayne Gibson’s CD.  We previewed the possibilities today (Wayne and I).  Now the actual thing is about to happen!  In a few weeks we will drop off the completed Master copy of the audio files to be made into CD’s. 

September 28th is the CD release — come one, come all!!