We returned to our lake house on Sand Lake, Rideau Waterway, Ontario on May 6.
Have you ever heard a 'loon song'? It is a song unlike any other, a song that pulls at the depths of your soul, a song you will never forget. It is the song of a unique waterfowl called the Common Loon who spends its springs, summers and autumns living on the northern lakes of the US and the southern lakes of Canada.
An unusual bird, the loon has large bones which make it difficult to walk on shore. They literally waddle or sliver only a few feet onto their nests. We retired to Sand Lake back in 1991 after yearly vacationing there since 1969 and fell in love with the loons. Here we are, back again on Sand Lake this year and listening to loons. They are nesting now (end of May) so they are quieter. We took a ride in our pontoon boat this morning and saw two loons swimming near the eastern point of our land which gives a hint they are nesting in our back bay. Sure hope so, as it will be such fun to see the little loon chicks, soon after hatching, riding on their parents' backs.
Last week we had a treat. A pair of Canada geese waddled up our hill from the beach with five newborn goslings in tow...adorable, light cream colored baby geese. They are doing well because we saw them again this week swimming in the lake. Driving out our lane on Wednesday a young doe stood staring at us for a few moments before darting back into the woods.
All these encounters remind us of the beauty of God's creation! That's why we enjoy our opportunity to spend time here at a northern lake and savor the quiet majesty of the gift of nature God has given us. We sit on our screen porch and view the lake, clear blue in the bright sunlight with soft ripples from the light southern breeze. Of course it is early in the season so we rarely see boats traveling the waterway....only maybe a local fishing boat hoping for a fresh catch of pike. Bass season opens the end of June to protect the nesting time. The pine trees that grow in abundance on our acreage are pushing forth buds, an insidious messy yellow pollen which covers the porch furniture now, resulting in cries for a washing.
The utter quiet of the natural surroundings is a joy. In this age of technology we rarely experience total quiet in our lives so it is with breathless wonder that we can sit on the porch or in the house, with the windows and doors wide open, and hear the light breeze rustling in the birch, oak and maple trees. Or hear the kingfisher gently flap his wings as he darts from the nest under our porch.
The screens on the doors and windows are a necessity this time of year. On a warm day with little breeze, the mosquitoes are in abundance buzzing around in hopes of a tiny rich bloody snack. However, there is a balance. The dragonflies, recently hatched from their winter domain as a water nymph, dart silently in the sunshine, devouring every bug they encounter. This time of year the clouds of dragonflies are swarming all over the open lawn and we cheer their presence.
At night there is a special treat. We see millions of stars in the sky twinkling in wonder all the way down to the horizon. In fact, on quiet nights, with no wind, the stars are reflected in the clear water! And of course, we have seen the wonder of northern lights, that awesome sight of colored shafts of purple, red and yellow beams waving upward in the northern night sky.
And the display of flowering bushes, trees and plants! As you know, I am a flower lover, so one of my first priorities upon our arrival was to visit the local plant nursery and purchase the latest blooms. Thanks to my helper, Deborah, the containers and planters are filled with geraniums, lobelia, pansies, alyssum, petunias, begonias (in place of impatiens which is currently suffering from a blight), etc....all colorful additions to the backdrop of lilacs, rhododendron, roses, clematis, daisies, iris, lily of the valley, and other perennials. We even hung two flowering baskets on the gazebo, first in five years, to prove my health has improved!
This year as I reflect on the troublesome and horrifying news in the Middle East and in our government, I am stunningly reminded of the absolute peace and beauty of the creation surrounding me. It is a message loud and clear! God is in control! Man may continue to make wars and commit senseless atrocities but God has chosen to give us a gift...a reminder of what He originally planned for us...a place of utter beauty that continues even to this day. When my day looks rough, when the daily news is about horror and bloodshed, I choose to listen to the loon...that wondrous bird with the unique song...and I remember my God who created me. I live in a fallen world caused by sin but the Creation has not disappeared. God gives us His daily reminder of His glory, His omnipotence, His love in His Creation! To God be all the Praise!
"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters." Psalm 24: 1-2
"Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." Psalm 33: 8-9
Friday, May 29, 2015
Saturday, May 2, 2015
Thorn in the flesh
Have you ever had a 'thorn in the flesh'? A weird question, weird terminology but, of course, I'm quoting Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 12:7. This phrase was brought to my attention recently and, yes, it spoke to me!
We have no concrete idea what Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' actually was, though there are many opinions. But what is absolutely relevant is that we all have, to some degree, 'a thorn in the flesh'.... some physical ailment or condition that prevents us from functioning 100% every minute, every day. We pray to the Lord to take it away, we pray for absolute total healing, but in most cases we have to deal with this annoyance, this imperfection in our lives for a very long time.
So it is with me. The CNS lymphoma did cause right-sided weakness in my body. Even though the cancer is gone, even though I feel healthy, I retain this reminder of the whole cancer experience. I've pleaded with the Lord continually over the past five years to please make me 100% whole again so I can walk 3 miles a day like I did 5 years ago with the Holland Striders and on our hilly lane in Canada. True, I have experienced gradual strengthening in my right leg, but I still need the cane or Dick's arm. And I do have some limited use of my right hand and arm but I can't play the piano (yet!) or write (yet!).
Then last week when I studied Paul's words I began to receive an answer. First of all the problem is pride! As Paul shares in the following verses, we all have a problem of pride!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In all my years, prior to 2010, did I ever dream of being physically handicapped. I prided myself in being physically active, able to accomplish heavy gardening, helping Dick with outside chores including logging, snow-blowing and enjoying winter sports including x- country skiing, ice skating and sledding. When I looked on seniors struggling with canes and walkers, I remember thinking, "Thank goodness, that's not me!".
Yet here I am, facilitating my walking with a common black cane and struggling to open public doors with my left hand. Yes, my pride is effected! Here I am, a woman who always prides herself on 'looking right'....with hair just so, makeup applied, clothes updated...and yet I struggle to hang my right arm down in a 'normal' position. Talk about pride!
Now Paul's words speak to me. Essentially I realize that the Lord is made perfect in my weakness. In fact, my physical condition opens up conversations! When I fully began to comprehend my miraculous healing from cancer I cried out to the Lord, "Praise Your Name, you have healed me for a great purpose. What do You want me to do, Lord?" His answer continues to be "Tell them how much I love them!"
Therefore, whenever I get the chance I tell people my story. Not that I am boasting about my healing but I tell people how real Jesus is and how much He loves every human being who has ever lived, is living and will live on this planet. Sometimes it's just a few words, sometimes it's a long public presentation. But when I speak, people see my right-sided weakness which proves I had a lethal, aggressive cancer. When I tell people I was given only 7 weeks to live back in July, 2010, they now see proof that Jesus miraculously cured me. And they listen!
Yes, I still pray the Lord will continue my healing process, yes, I still pray my right arm and leg will continue to strengthen...but....now I rest and delight in my weaknesses because I know that the Lord is working in me to accomplish His purposes. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
We have no concrete idea what Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' actually was, though there are many opinions. But what is absolutely relevant is that we all have, to some degree, 'a thorn in the flesh'.... some physical ailment or condition that prevents us from functioning 100% every minute, every day. We pray to the Lord to take it away, we pray for absolute total healing, but in most cases we have to deal with this annoyance, this imperfection in our lives for a very long time.
So it is with me. The CNS lymphoma did cause right-sided weakness in my body. Even though the cancer is gone, even though I feel healthy, I retain this reminder of the whole cancer experience. I've pleaded with the Lord continually over the past five years to please make me 100% whole again so I can walk 3 miles a day like I did 5 years ago with the Holland Striders and on our hilly lane in Canada. True, I have experienced gradual strengthening in my right leg, but I still need the cane or Dick's arm. And I do have some limited use of my right hand and arm but I can't play the piano (yet!) or write (yet!).
Then last week when I studied Paul's words I began to receive an answer. First of all the problem is pride! As Paul shares in the following verses, we all have a problem of pride!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In all my years, prior to 2010, did I ever dream of being physically handicapped. I prided myself in being physically active, able to accomplish heavy gardening, helping Dick with outside chores including logging, snow-blowing and enjoying winter sports including x- country skiing, ice skating and sledding. When I looked on seniors struggling with canes and walkers, I remember thinking, "Thank goodness, that's not me!".
Yet here I am, facilitating my walking with a common black cane and struggling to open public doors with my left hand. Yes, my pride is effected! Here I am, a woman who always prides herself on 'looking right'....with hair just so, makeup applied, clothes updated...and yet I struggle to hang my right arm down in a 'normal' position. Talk about pride!
Now Paul's words speak to me. Essentially I realize that the Lord is made perfect in my weakness. In fact, my physical condition opens up conversations! When I fully began to comprehend my miraculous healing from cancer I cried out to the Lord, "Praise Your Name, you have healed me for a great purpose. What do You want me to do, Lord?" His answer continues to be "Tell them how much I love them!"
Therefore, whenever I get the chance I tell people my story. Not that I am boasting about my healing but I tell people how real Jesus is and how much He loves every human being who has ever lived, is living and will live on this planet. Sometimes it's just a few words, sometimes it's a long public presentation. But when I speak, people see my right-sided weakness which proves I had a lethal, aggressive cancer. When I tell people I was given only 7 weeks to live back in July, 2010, they now see proof that Jesus miraculously cured me. And they listen!
Yes, I still pray the Lord will continue my healing process, yes, I still pray my right arm and leg will continue to strengthen...but....now I rest and delight in my weaknesses because I know that the Lord is working in me to accomplish His purposes. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
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