Meandering Moments by Elsi

Tired. Oh, so very tired. I drove about 550 miles today, from Buffalo, WY, to Missoula, MT. I stopped only for meals, bathroom breaks (both me and Lady), and a few power naps to stretch out the back and shoulders.

When I dragged myself into the Missoula KOA office, the woman at the desk asked, “Did you have a long day?” “I drove from Buffalo, Wyoming,” I told her—and watched her face register shock.

But it was a relatively eventless day, and I’m settled in now. At my feet is Dolphin, flat on his back, hind legs spread wide, front paws tucked under his chin. Do you suppose he knows how utterly adorable he is?

Lady’s asleep on the bed. I need to top off my water tank and buy a Montana hatpin at the office before crawling in next to her.

Yawn.

My back is killing me. I’ve been picking things up in the house (bend, twist, lift), carrying them to the RV (don’t let the cat out!), lugging them into the RV (five steps up, with handholds … except my hands are full), putting them away (bend, twist, lift), and going back for more (five steps back down, too). About six trips this morning, as we got everything else taken care of yesterday.

“There’s something wrong with this picture,” I muttered to myself as I poured ibuprofen into my hand. “Aren’t vacations supposed to rest you?”

And then I realized, no, vacations are supposed to be fun! And fun generally takes work. Skiing … mountain climbing … hiking … even building sand castles, if you do a good job. I choose this labor, and this pain, because it opens the gates to an activity I love: traveling, sightseeing, visiting friends, writing.

So I stopped complaining, swallowed my ibu, and decided it’s time to catch the cat and get this show on the road! Thank You, Lord, for this privilege!

with apologies to John Denver and Peter, Paul and Mary …

Well, the RV’s packed; I’m ready to go!
I’m parked right here outside the door.
I will not wake you up to say goodbye!
But the dawn is breakin’ … it’s early morn.
I’ll drive out now, not soundin’ the horn!
And part of me’s so lonesome I could die …

So kiss me and smile for me;
Tell me that you’ll wait for me;
Hold me like you’ll never let me go,
‘Cause I’m leavin’ in an RV!
Next month is when you’ll see me …
Can’t say I really hate to go!

Over the past half week, I’ve participated in three divergent worship services. And I’m fascinated (and pleased) to see God’s love presented strongly through all of them, so that their one-ness is more powerful than their differences.

Thursday was Ray’s funeral. Most of the attendees were Vicki’s friends, or relatives from out of town. We sang some gospel songs, had a sermon about the Christ Ray had come to know, and ate sandwiches, fruit, veggies, and brownies from trays prepared by Chick-fil-A and the grocery store.

This morning I was at Boulder Valley Christian, my own home church, surrounded by friends and acquaintances. We sang some fast worship songs and “No Orphans of God,” which always makes me cry. My friend Paul Williams preached on the story of Zacchaeus, emphasizing Jesus’ personal interaction with the man. And, of course, we celebrated Communion, as we do every Sunday.

From there I drove to the Boulder Chinese Baptist Church (BCBC), where my youth group was doing a brief presentation about the recent retreat. BCBC provides an English interpreter for the first Sunday of each month, which is also when they share in Communion. Other than the translated sermon, which discussed what being a church member means, the rest of the service was in Mandarin. But the “words on the wall” for the old-fashioined Baptist hymns were in both languages, so I sang along in English while they sang in Chinese. (The kids did an excellent job, by the way!)

Three churches … three approaches … three fellowship meals … one holy and uniting God!

My family was big on patriotism. We had a flag on the house for national holidays, knew all the words to the patriotic songs, and fired a little “Bang-Shot” cannon on the front steps for the 4th of July. I learned flag etiquette in Scouts, including that you never write or attach anything to a flag—no name, no fringe, nothing.

We went to band concerts and sing-alongs on Memorial Day and 4th of July whenever we could, and loyally taped all the TV firework shows on the 4th, watching them on into the night—the Boston Pops, the rockets’ red glare over the St. Louis Arch … we loved them all.

So it was nothing new that I turned on the TV last night (first time in a year it was on) to watch “Capitol 4th,” public television’s presentation of the concert and fireworks show on the mall in Washington, D.C. I noticed I watch it like my father did: critiquing the MC (not very good), going to the bathroom during the “stupid” rock-and-roll numbers, singing enthusiastically, and vocalizing the cannon shots during the “1812 Overture.” Fun!

But TV fireworks are no substitute for the real thing, so I stayed up, accomplishing nothing, till 10 p.m. Boulder has a traditional fireworks show at Folsom Field, up at the university. Through a gap in the trees, I can see the aerial display from my front yard. So there I was, happily crooning, “Ooooh!” and “Aaaah!” for each colorful burst.

I’m proud to be an American for all sorts of reasons. And each summer that pride comes blasting out in vibrant color and excitement!

So much to celebrate … and in so many different ways!

Sundays at church I celebrate the living Lord and what He has done—and is doing, and will continue to do—in my life! I sing to Him, talk to Him, and am lifted out of my depression during the group worship time.

During the week, as I listen to Christian radio (KPOF) and CDs, I continue to celebrate His day-to-day work in my life. No way I could do this without Him!

Yesterday we celebrated the life and salvation of Vicki’s brother Ray. Family came in from Wyoming, and we gathered to talk about memories of Ray and our joy that he is with Christ now. Many of Vicki’s friends came to the service, to honor her: a celebration of hearts united.

This weekend I work to load the RV, so I can leave Friday. I’m heading for the northwest: friends in British Columbia, Oregon Christian Writers summer conference outside Portland. It’s hard for me physically to carry everything out and put it away, but I celebrate my continued ability to do this, and to be able to enjoy traveling. And, this summer, I celebrate my Lady’s sticking with me; she’s such an old beagle, and I had my doubts as to her ability to make the trip with me. So far, so good!

And today, of course, the nation celebrates its 232nd birthday. I will watch the patriotic concerts on public television—”Pops Goes the Fourth” and “Capitol Fourth”—as I did with my parents every 4th of July. And I’ll stand in my yard and see the end of the public fireworks display, visible through a gap in the trees above Folsom Field at the university.

Singing patriotic songs … singing songs of Christ … working and resting … truly, I have much to celebrate!

I settled into “my” seat at church Sunday, looked around with a smile, and reflected, “Oh, it’s good to be here with my support group again!”

After all, I just got back from an RV trip. Cathy Howe is back, my pastor and friend—the Lord does know how much I need her. Paul and Ruth Williams are back from their trip to Europe—Paul taught Sunday school this week; Ruth’s back in Bible study; we had a summer house church meeting. Tim Schoeneweiss, our worship leader, was on the same European tour; it’s so good to have his encouraging spirit in our service.

So I was feeling pretty comfortable, secure … and suddenly realized, NO! My comfort, security, support—these should come from Jesus, not the people He’s given me!

God says quite clearly (Deuteronomy31:6 and 8, and quoted in Hebrews 13:5) that He will never leave us nor forsake us. In the words of Matt Redman’s song, “Oh, no! He’ll never let go!”

Psalm 68:6 says, “God sets the lonely in families.” And that means more than Paul and Ruth, who make me part of their family for Thanksgiving and Easter. It’s more than my Bible study family, or house church, or even “big church.” It’s the family of God, wherever I am across the nation.

And that’s a piece of the power of Communion, I think: believers all over the world are celebrating our Lord and Savior’s vile death and glorious Resurrection right along with us. We need to remember … I need to remember … to give thanks for His Spirit, His love and His family. I need to remember what He did … what I’ve done that made His sacrifice necessary … how He conquered death and sin and fear by rising agian … what I can do in gratitude in all this!

Oh, yes, thank You, Lord! Never let go of me! Thank You!

Here are pictures of the pedicure (Little moose feet, June 18) and the hairstyle (Doppelganger, June 21).

Finished Product

Moose Feet

My friend Vicki’s brother Ray died this afternoon. Vicki and I were there, as was our pastor friend Paul Fischer. Paul read to Ray about Jesus’s preparing a mansion for him, John’s vision of heaven as recorded in Revelation, and the Father’s reaction to the return of the prodigal son.

I told Ray, “I’m almost jealous of you! You’re about to see Jesus, face to face! How wonderful!”

Now I have two friends recently gone to heaven: Flora, and Ray. I can almost see them, in my imagination, dancing with joy before the Lord, resting in His loving arms, singing and talking with Him face to face.

Yes, I think I’m a bit jealous …

Lady: I have my yard back! Now I can go out whenever I want, and stay as long as I want! And lie in the sun (which makes my sore joints feel better) and roll in the grass … oh, I’m glad to be back in my yard!

Dolphin: The windows are open all the time. For some reason Mama doesn’t keep the windows open in our little house (the one she calls an “RV”). My pterodactyl stalking is of higher quality when the windows are open.

Elsi: My church! What a joy to be back with my friends, surrounded by familiar faces, and not needing to feel on the alert for bad or misleading teaching!

Lady: It’s nice not to have to go up and down all those steps to our little house. That was hard!

Dolphin: There’s much more room to roar about here, with more things to knock over and rearrange, and many more leaping spots, too!

Elsi: It’s just good to be home: able to drive my car to the store, and have lunch with friends. And there’s more room for spreading out all my maps and calendars, so I can plan my next trip!