Thursday, April 27, 2017

The Chilbury Ladies' Choir. A Book Review.

The setting is England in the early days of World War II. All the men have gone off to war, and the women of the village of Chilbury have defied the Vigar's edict to close the church choir. "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir"  by Jennifer Ryan is the tale of five choir members and their struggles on the home-front.

The tale begins as the choir's closing is announced, and includes one of my favorite lines in the entire book. As the women are discussing the situation and their frustration, one of the women complains, "I don't see why we have to be closed down. It's not as if we're a threat to national security."

That made me laugh and left me looking forward to what was to come. Unfortunately, that was one of the high points of the book for me and I didn't find nearly enough such moments in the rest of the book.

There are five characters central characters through whom the tale is told: a widow whose son has gone off to war; two sisters, the younger of whom has a serious crush on her older sister's fiancĂ©; a refugee from Czechoslovakia; and a conniving midwife.

This book has obvious similarities to "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society", with this tale being a combination of letters and diary entries. It all seemed a bit disjointed to me, perhaps because of the epistolary style. In any event, it did not hold my attention and I lost interest long before I made it to the end.

The book's title and description had me looking forward to reading it. Unfortunately for me, it didn't live up to its promise.

I received a free copy of "The Chilbury Ladies' Choir" from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest opinion.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

On the Road Again. The First Week.

We left home last Monday. This morning I've been thinking back over that first week of life on the road. There have been some definite high spots, and there have been some challenges as well.

We began this road trip in Louisville, KY. We had a pleasant stay there, except for my allergy to Kentucky Bluegrass! That nearly did me in, since the allergy medicine was one of the list of things we had forgotten to pack!

Our original plan was to leave Louisville and go to Atlanta, but the Atlanta training was rescheduled. That gave us the opportunity to retrace our steps back to Spartanburg and pick up the things we had forgotten before going on to Columbia. Al's mom was moved from Rehab to her nursing home on Wednesday, so we were able to spend some time with her on Thursday morning before heading on to Florida. We stopped for the weekend in Tampa for some time with family before making our way on to Miami yesterday.

This has been a week of highs and lows. High points of the week include time with family. And because the Atlanta training was rescheduled, we had a couple of extra days we hadn't expected. That was a special blessing!

 


Having those days in the Tampa area also included some of the low points of the trip so far. The Spring Hill Suites could definitely use an update! So far they win the award for "worst mattress"!

This first week has been a week of adjustments. Adjusting to living out of a suitcase.  Adjusting to different schedules. Adjusting our travel arrangements. Checking schedules and hotel arrangements, and adjusting where necessary.

Adjustments are part of life, whether you're part of a traveling Road Show or not.  Things don't always go according to plan. People don't always do what you think they will or what you might think they should or what you might wish they would. The weather doesn't always cooperate. There are many variables built into the fabric of daily living. And sometimes we have to make adjustments. It's all part of life.

The attitude with which we make those adjustments is the key. Keeping a positive attitude. A smile on your face. Apologizing when necessary. Not being too quick to place blame. Just dealing with things that happen and moving on. It's the key to success in life.  Especially life on the road.

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."
(Colossians 3:23 NASB)


Tuesday, April 18, 2017

On The Road Again

A couple of years ago we took a long trip around the country, travelling more than 12,000 miles, going all the way to Southern California and Seattle, then making our way back across the country. And as of yesterday, we're on the road again!

We loaded up the Suburban (a rental), and have begun our road trip, this time around the eastern part of the country. Al will be working, doing training in various cities, and once again I'm along for the ride.



We've packed our clothes and some snacks for the trip. We have the chargers for all our electronic devices. We've tried to anticipate what we will need while we're away and what will need to be taken care of here while we're gone. All that planning and anticipating is much more challenging in my "post-stroke" world, but as much as we are able, we are prepared for this next adventure. 

Of course, it is impossible to fully anticipate everything that we might need. In fact, we already have a list of things we forgot! But that makes me very thankful for our loving Heavenly Father who sees all and knows all, and who will be with us all the way. Even when we are forgetful!

I'm excited about the places we will go and the things we will see as we travel. I'm looking forward to the adventures we will have. I'm praying for safety as we travel, and I'm praying that, wherever we go and whoever we come in contact with, we will shine the light of Jesus.

So, we're on the road again, as the old song goes. Let the adventures begin!


"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."  (Psalm 19:14 NASB)

Saturday, April 15, 2017

What If? Something to Think About this Easter Season

This Saturday between Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday is a good time for some deep thinking. Some pondering.

What does it mean to ponder anyway? It means, according to dictionary.com, "to consider something deeply and thoroughly; to meditate; to weigh carefully in the mind; to consider thoughtfully."  

Exactly what is it we need to be pondering?

A well-known hymn calls us to "ponder anew what the Almighty can do."  Certainly that's worthy of some pondering.

But here on this Saturday between Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday, there's something else to be pondered. We ponder not just "what the Almighty can do," but what He has already done. This is a good time to ponder what has been done for us. To ponder the price paid for our salvation.

How many times have you gone to the grocery store with shopping list in hand, only to leave the store without purchasing some of the items on that list? You didn't make the purchase because it cost too much.

You went to the mall and found a dress or a pair of shoes you loved. But you didn't make the purchase. It cost too much.

Have you ever stopped to think about - to ponder - how different things would be if that's what Jesus had said? What if, when confronted with the price He would have to pay for our salvation, He had said "no, that costs too much.  I won't pay that." 

Have you ever stopped to think about - to ponder - exactly what it cost Him to purchase your salvation?

As we are celebrating the resurrection, it's a good time for some pondering. Think about - really think about - ponder - the price that Jesus paid. For you. For me.

As you're making your preparations, and shopping for new clothes, and doing your grocery shopping and cooking and baking, and planning your table setting, don't miss the most important part of Easter. Don't forget the price He paid. And why He was willing to pay it.

Where would we be? What if He had said no? What if He had said it cost too much? What if?

"He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5 ESV)

"Then Jesus said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death.......' and going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.'"  (Matthew 26:38-39 ESV)

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God."  (1 Peter 3:18 NASB)

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Diary of a Knee Replacement - One Year Later

I decided, on the day before my knee replacement surgery last spring, that I would keep a diary of the experience. I made a few entries that Sunday night before surgery, and then caught it up after I got home from the hospital. Each morning I made notes on the previous day. As I was reading over those entries this week, I made an interesting discovery. Diary of a Knee Replacement could just as easily be titled Diary of Stroke Replacement!

There are strong similarities between what I experienced last spring and what I have been experiencing since November. A different set of aches and pains, to be sure, but many very similar life lessons! As I was looking back over what I wrote last spring about my experiences with knee replacement, I realized that the high points of that experience are very similar to the high points of my current journey. In each case, the still, small voice of God spoke to my spirit exactly what I needed at exactly the time I needed it!

My knee replacement journey began on a Sunday, the day before surgery. Although I was actually looking forward to the surgery, or at least to the end result, there was at the same time that natural apprehension about "going under the knife." It was during those moments that the Spirit of God whispered these words into my spirit:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee."  (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)

I don't remember when my stroke recovery began. I have no memory of the stroke itself, and only snippets of memory for about two weeks after. But, interestingly, my very first "real memory" after the stroke was early one morning as I was waiting to be taken to breakfast. At that point in time I was not thinking clearly or understanding very much. Even so, these words came very clearly to my mind:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee."  (Isaiah 26:3 KJV)

On the morning of surgery, our good friends Max and Becky arrived at the hospital to pray with us before surgery.  In his prayer, Max included this verse, one of my favorites:

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life."  (Psalm 143:8 NIV)

Those verses went in to surgery with me, giving me a sense of peace and calm to replace the apprehension. While I was in rehab, Max and Becky visited again, and once again prayed over me. I have no idea what words were prayed that day, since I was not yet understanding or remembering very much. Even so, their presence and their prayers had the same calming effect.

On Tuesday after knee replacement, I awoke feeling a little queasy and experiencing some pain, as might be expected. Even so, the physical therapist arrived to get me up and walking, which I confess I dreaded. I had a horror that the leg wouldn't hold me up and I would fall over in a heap, or that I would pass out, or that some other terrible thing was going to happen. And I just knew it would really, really hurt to stand up.  (It didn't!)  In the middle of all that came these words:

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:9 NASB)

In my days in Rehab, that verse often came to mind. At that point I wasn't dealing with pain, but with a right side that was very wobbly. I was working to get my strength back. One of my worst moments was the day the therapist wanted me to ride what I refer to as a "table bike". (I have no idea if that's what it's really called!) I was asked to sit at the table, put my hands on the pedals and ride the bike. But my right hand kept falling off the pedal and I couldn't pick it up. It was a really frustrating day, one of the days I think I may have cried. But later these words gave me strength:

"Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NASB)

There were other challenging days. Days that were frustrating. Days I couldn't remember or understand or speak. But that verse helped me through those days. Just as it helped me through that first day after knee replacement, and all the days after.

On that day after knee replacement, even though I threw up in the process, I managed to be strong and courageous, and to get out of bed, walk across the room and back to the chair. Later that day, I was once again strong and courageous as I walked down the hall to the nurse's station and as I learned how to deal with steps.

Throughout stroke recovery, on good days and bad, I have managed to be strong and courageous. Remembering that verse got me through those early weeks, and it gets me through even now.

I recovered wonderfully from knee replacement. And I am recovering wonderfully well from my stroke. There were challenging moments following knee replacement surgery, and there are challenging and frustrating moments in my current journey. Moments when I'm aware of just how much right now I, a very independent person, have to be dependent on others. Moments when I realize that this current journey will take time, perhaps a long time. When I realize that I may never fully regain the life I had "before".

In those moments, this verse comes to mind:

"Be still and know that I am God."  (Psalm 46:10)

I didn't recover from knee replacement in just a few days. It took time. And that will also be true of my journey to stroke recovery. Because this is a process. A process that can't be rushed.

Through the process, God is at work in my physical body. But also in my spirit, bringing the peace and comfort that only He can give.

And so I am reminded over and over of this verse: "In every thing give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB)

On the good days and on the challenging days. When things are going well, and on days I just wish I could turn back the clock. On those days, and all the in between days, God is good and I have so many reasons to be thankful!



"When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety."  (A. W. Tozer)