I normally don’t write about the everyday things I do, but
this week has to be special, and an exception to the rule. Let me tell you about my week.
Starting Sunday, we had a special guest at church. Trinna is someone I’ve known since her
childhood. She visited us Sunday and
gave her testimony in front of the combined adult class. She has a powerful story to tell of sin and redemption. Breathtakingly honest, Trinna captivated the
class as she told of her former life and of her transformation in Jesus Christ.
Sunday afternoon, my brother, sister-in-law and I went to
Nebraska for the upcoming eclipse. We
stopped in Lincoln so I could see a childhood friend who now has incurable
liver cancer. He was home waiting for
us, and we had a great visit of about 1 ½ hours, reminiscing, talking about the
present, and looking ahead to the future.
His attitude seems great even in the face of the constant pain and bleak
outlook for a long life. It is cliché, but
I’ll say he is truly an inspiration.
To York we went to spend the night before the Great
Eclipse. Next day we went down to the
Strang, Nebraska area to actually watch it.
We went there because of a sentimental attachment to the area, as our
dad was born somewhere in that area and his family lived there for a time.
The eclipse was all we thought it would be…a magnificent
celestial display that takes one’s breath away.
It didn’t get pitch-black, but was dark enough we had trouble making out
the colors of the flora around us, and it got noticeably cooler as well. Additionally, we could see the circle of the
shadow as it approached, came overhead, and left us in the sky and clouds. An awesome, awesome sight to behold it was.
While in Strang, we met a woman who, it turns out, lives in
the very same house that our grandparents and my dad lived in in the early 1900’s. The story of how we found this out is too
long to print here; suffice it to say that we were taken aback by the
coincidences that came together to put this woman and us together. We were able to see the house, confirm it was
indeed the house by comparing it to an old photo we had, and plan to come back
for more research.
On Tuesday, I had a pleasant and informative visit with
Stephanie, who is starting her own business consulting with non-profit
organizations on best practices, and helping them with things such as grants
and funding. She would like to expand
into churches and health care, and has asked me if I would be willing to help
her do that. I am flattered that she
asked and will
do what I can to help, because her services, if done
properly, are sorely needed.
Wednesday, I received a fanciful book about Unicorns in the
mail, written by the daughter of a friend of mine. Dayna has written a wonderful children’s book
called “The Majesstic Unicorn,” which just has to become a best-seller. I enjoyed both reading it as well as the
illustrations that are part of it. You
can get it on Amazon, by the way.
Today I visited, along with Curtis, the mother of one of our
Elders who is in her last hours on earth.
She has lived a rich and full life in the Lord, and is ready to go
home. We had a pleasant visit with her
family, and trust we were some blessing to them and to her.
The week isn’t over yet.
But so far, it’s been good and productive. I like weeks like that, especially ones that
start out as this one did…with tangible, real-life evidence of what the Gospel
of Jesus Christ can do in the life of someone who by faith puts all of her
trust in the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
