Somebody tell Cinderella...

My husband and I used to go to one of the municipal parks every Saturday afternoon to walk through the forests, getting some exercise and having a chance to just be together and relax.  (We had to stop when my synovitis became too much to walk very far.)  At the entrance to where we would drive in, there is a lovely playground, full of marvelous things to climb, to fall off of, to run around on, to whirl on, to exercise on...all spread over a large hilly expanse. (This picture shows only a small part of it.) I would look at that every time we passed...and dream. "Our grandkids would love this! How I wish we could bring them here!"  It looked so empty to me, even when there were other children there.

So when Dan and KC and their kids, came down a little over a week ago, I was so happy when, the very next day, it was possible to bring them out to the park.

Noe (9), Micah (7) and Eli (4) loved it!  And so did I, because my dream had come true!  I sat and watched them expend tremendous amounts of energy, in spite of the high elevation of Quito, just in having so much fun.  On one thing (don't know what it's called), Micah had his mom climb up to the top with him, and told her that the idea was to "get to the top, then try not to fall off!"  A good plan, said KC!

We still have another week-and-a-half or so with them here, (I didn't have time to write a post last week), and are looking forward to enjoying more time together as we prepare to continue our travels around the country to one more special Ecuadorian town (Mindo).  Then we'll have some time here in Quito, before they return to the States, and Micah has already stated that he hopes they can go back to the park!  (Some friends of theirs have come for part of the trip, and he wants to take their kids there, to share the experience.)

But even after they return to the States, the park won't seem empty anymore. It will just be waiting for them, for the next time they come down...hopefully with their cousins (Debbie's children, Liliana and Miriam) to help them have fun!
                               **********************************

With a God like ours, we don't have to "fly over the rainbow", Cinderella!  We don't have to wonder about the "land that I heard of" where dreams can come true.  The psalmist, knowing the loving heart of God, wrote:
                           "All my longings lie open before You, O Lord..." (38:9)
                            "May He give you the desire of your heart..." (20:4)
                       
Our dreams can come true here on Earth, because God is awesome!  Aware of what we need, aware of what we want...aware of what's best for us.  Jesus said, "If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"  (Matthew 7:11)
                                  *************************************

THANK YOU, FATHER, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, FOR THOSE GOOD GIFTS!

So weary...but in His Light, "I Walk On" (a poem)

You may have read this poem before.  I posted it about two years ago,  but it keeps coming back to my mind these days, as we've faced a lot of stress and need to be buoyed up. You, too?  Then, whether for the first time, or the second or third...please read it with me again, and be encouraged!

                 I WALK ON

You know where my path's uneven,
where it's strewn with debris and stone.
You know where it turns most ruthless,
for You walked it Yourself...alone.

You know where the seas are deepest,
even there they obey your Voice.
                                                      You know where the road is steepest,
                                                      for You climbed Calvary's Hill...by choice.

You know where I'll cross a desert
like the one where You faced your Foe.
You know where my griefs weigh heavy;
when You bore them, they bent You low.

                         You know where I run for safety
                         when my courage in tatters lies.
                         You know where I find my refuge
                          when the harmony 'round me dies.

                                          You remind me that where I'm weakest
                                          your Power can make me strong.
                                          I can live each day touched by Music,
                                          for You are the eternal Song.

                                                            You know where my heart is headed.
                                                            You set all that I need in place.
                                                            I walk on, for my soul is embedded
                                                            in the depths of your Love and Grace. 

                            **********************************************(Becky Rhon)****

" 'I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his Name they will walk,' declares the Lord."  (Zechariah 10:12)

He understands what we're going through!  Absolutely! Jesus experienced the same kinds of things we do.  "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses..."  (Hebrews 4:15)

These well-known and well-loved verses even tell us that we'll not only walk, but also run...and soar:

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."  (Isaiah 40:29,31)

"Come...let us walk in the light of the Lord."  (Isaiah 2:5)

Yes!!  Let us walk on!

Debbie's Great-Grandma Grace (and her mouse)...and our Great Giver of Grace

We were still living on the edge of the Ecuadorian jungle in 1986, but my father arranged things so that we could travel up to Indiana to give my grandmother, Grace (Robinson) Moore, the chance to meet the two great-grandchildren she had never seen before.

Here Debbie, 4 years old (almost 5), looks on as Grandma Grace shapes her "mouse", using a clean white handkerchief.  Once it was ready, she and Dan watched their great-grandmother as she made the mouse scamper around, up and down her arm...a trick with which she had entertained her grand- and great-grandchildren over the years.  (I'm sure they all remember!)
          ************************
"Grace"...an amazing lady whose name evokes an even greater Grace and the One who offers it to us.  "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of his grace,  expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7)

And what do we do with this Grace, once it's been so mercifully bestowed on us?  How about...

--"...set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."  (I Peter 1:13)

--"Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  (Hebrews 7:16)

--"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."  (II Corinthians 9:8)

"ALL THAT WE NEED."  I read a little story about a man who came home one day and told his family that all he had was gone; he had lost everything, and had nothing at all left.  Then his little boy said, "Daddy, you have me."  And his wife said, "And you have me."  And his mother said, "And you have all the promises of God left!" The man burst into tears and said, "What an ingrate I am! I find I have a great many things left!  God forgive me."
                            ***********************************

Let's set our hope fully on God's Grace, "expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus"!  Thank You, Father, for your love, mercy and grace...and forgive us when we forget.

"accidents on purpose"? God was doing it long before Turner!

I recently read that the famous painter Turner often got his ideas in unusual ways.  For one picture, he created an "accident" on purpose, and then...

I'll start at the beginning of this story (whether anecdotal or not, I don't know).  Turner took a blank canvas, drew just a sketchy outline and then asked three children to participate.  He gave them dishes with red, blue and yellow paint and told them to splash and daub the paint any way they wanted over the canvas.  Naturally, the kids were thrilled!  What fun!!

Then they suddenly heard Turner's voice call, "Stop!".  They put down their paints...and then he took over.  There was a big mess of paint on the canvas; a disaster.  Turner took up his brush and transformed the "mess" into a beautiful landscape! 
                          *******************************************

What an awesome picture of what God does; what He's been doing for years, centuries, millennia - long before Turner! He can take the splotched, mixed-up messes in our lives and turn them into wonderful works of art...works that highlight the incomparable creativity of the Supreme Artist.

"The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her deserts like Eden, her wasteland like the garden of the Lord.  Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing."  (Isaiah 51:3)  The psalmist said, "You turned my wailing into dancing, you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy." (Ps. 50:11)

It's true that often God rescues us from trials and problems.  But sometimes God permits these "accidents", allowing things to happen to us...(or allowing us, ourselves, to really mess things up!)...and then He says, "Stop!", takes up His brush, and begins to transform the image on the canvas.  The people of Israel often got themselves into hot (boiling!) water when they turned away from their God.  Then He would allow disasters to occur, not only as punishment, but also so that later He could use the situations as canvases on which to display the works of His mighty Hand. "You will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem, every disaster I have brought on it...for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord."  (Ezekiel 14: 22-23)
                        ***********************************************

Even when the splotches on the canvas aren't "our fault", we have to remember that "I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord."  So right now we're wondering, "What are you doing, Lord?"  The contractors for the extension on our house haven't shown up for ages, the church needs a new place to meet (which we have been hoping to help out with...precisely with said extension), we had to have our puppy Kimal euthanized because he contracted canine distemper, we've both had more problems with our health lately...etc., etc.  We have to remember what He's told us in his Word, and wait to see what marvelous artistic creation comes from His Hand, using all this!
                          *************************************************

In Heaven, we'll be privileged to look eternally on the Supreme Artist's masterpiece and appreciate its finishing touch: "Your eyes will see the King in his beauty..."  (Isaiah 33:17)  I can't wait!

"She ain't heavy...(oof!! well, maybe a little)...she's my sister."

This is one of my favorite pictures of granddaughters Liliana and Miriam.  Liliana, smiling, seems to be proud of being able to hold her little sister...and at the same time making an effort to keep her upright! 

And Miriam seems to be oblivious to her big sister's heroic achievement!

Wouldn't it be awesome if we, as believers, made the same effort to "hold" our brothers and sisters in Christ? They may need someone to help keep them upright while walking a rough road. They may be struggling with a heavy load. They may need a shoulder to cry on.  And God may ask us to do this for Him. "Carry each others' burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  (Galatians 6:2)

If you happen to be the stronger one, put your arms and heart around your fellow believer and lift him up. Don't worry, you won't have to do it alone...because the strength you'll need comes from the One who said, "Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke * upon you and learn from Me...and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew  11: 28-30)

Asa, an Israelite king, faced with a vast enemy army, would plead, "Help us, O Lord, for we rely on You..."  (II Chronicles 14:11)  Rely on Him to help you stand firm...and rely on Him for the strength and wisdom to help others stand firm.

When Jesus said, "learn from Me", He had every reason to use Himself as an example.  Isaiah wrote, "Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows...and He will bear their iniquities...For He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." (53: 4, 11,12)

It's true that sometimes the person we want to help will appear oblivious to our "heroic efforts" on his behalf!  But that happened to Jesus, too...and it sure didn't stop Him!
                             *******************************************

*This is my favorite way of imagining the yoke Jesus urges us to accept.  There are places for two...one beside the other...pulling together!  When I put myself into the one side, Jesus takes up His place on the other side.  And this is what makes His yoke easy and His burden light...the fact that He pulls with me, willing to take on Himself the brunt of the effort.  I don't have to pull alone. (And if I did, I'd never make it!)
                           *********************************************

May God help us all to be attentive to the needs of those around us.  He may point us in the direction of  someone who needs to be "held", encouraged and lifted up.

(Ashes and Indians, Epilogue) Eagles soar...but they also rest their wings.

After the many days of activity surrounding the "Ashes and Indians" events, after numerous family adventures here, reminiscing about our childhood, seeing old places through nostalgic eyes...not recognizing some of them because so much time has passed...after all this, with spirit both dreamy and drained, both growing and groaning...

...I love hearing Jesus say to His disciples, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31)   It will take a while for body and spirit to recuperate.  Instead of considering it an inconvenience, since much less will be accomplished of daily tasks and planned projects, it should be looked forward to as an invitation by a loving Lord who Himself designed us with the need for rest.

   
                   Little Eagle

Come, rise up and gaze towards the heavens, amazed,
as God's workings and wonders are birthed.
Be awed as you must, little eagle, but just
don't forget to look back down to Earth.


             Go, aim for the sky, for the Son-light so high.
             Spread your wings out and up from the nest.
             Yes, soar as you must, little eagle, but just
             don't forget to come back down to rest.

                   You've dreams to fulfill.  Touch the stars if you will!

                    Keep your energies ready to spend.
                    Reach out as you must, little eagle, but just
                    don't forget to "be still" now and then.
               
          **************************-Becky Rhon******

Our time-driven society can make us feel pushed to "DO" things, to not waste time, to be "productive"...(until we burn out?).  I was impressed with the Tsáchila's evaluation of time.  During the ceremonies, time stood still.  Everyone who wanted to was allowed to talk...even encouraged to...with no looking at watches, no discreet coughs to speed things along...no pressure to hurry .  And it felt so free, so relaxing and so right. They knew that some things are more important than Time.

The Psalmist said, "Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."  (Ps. 116:7)  A fitting verse for the culmination of the Final Journey, with our parents' ashes and the Tsáchila believers.  He has indeed been good to us!  We can be at rest once more.
 

Ashes and Indians; a Final Journey, Part 3

Two things happened during the time we were in Cóngoma for the memorial for our parents that I want to tell you about. One was great.  One would have been if I had been able to finish it.

I thought of a young Tsachi woman who had married when we still lived there (so I was 10 or younger).  She was probably about 13 or 14 at the time.  All I could picture was her cute, sweet face as I had last seen it and her nickname (Pelá, which means "spider"). I wondered if she might be present, though knowing that I probably wouldn't recognize her. Then my sister called me over to talk to Carán (not sure of the spelling). This Tsachi sister remembered so much about us years ago, and we spent some time talking and reminiscing together.  I asked Germán to take a picture of us.

Here we're posing with my sister Carol (to my left), sister-in-law Princene and niece NaevEnya.

The building in the background is the church, where we held the service before going to the cemetery. There the first thing happened.

In the sharing-time of the service, I accompanied Germán up to the front and told a short story of something that had happened over 50 years ago, wondering if any of the Tsáchila there remembered.  But though the story was complete in itself, it didn't "gel" in my mind right then that I hadn't really finished it, and -maybe even more importantly - hadn't told them the beautiful allegory it made.

Here's what I told them:  when we lived there years ago, I was down by the river alone one day and saw, off in the underbrush, what I thought was a turtle. I stepped carefully towards it and started reaching my hand out to touch it.  Suddenly several little Tsachi boys arrived, then ran over and started yelling "piní! piní" which means "snake"! Coiled up. A venomous "equis" (fer-de-lance).  The boys had saved my life.

The audience in the church reacted audibly as I acted out the story!  But the rest of it wouldn't shape itself in my mind, so I sat down and Germán spoke what was on his heart.  Later everything fell into place in my mind...but by then there wasn't an opportunity to continue the story.  How I regretted that!  I am praying that I can find the contact information for someone there to whom I can send the rest of my story so that they can share it with my Tsachi brothers and sisters.  (Will you pray, too?)

Here's what I will add:  Once I had backed out of range of the snake, we called my dad down, and  he killed it, killed the thing that could have killed his daughter.  God works like this often. We see something we think is wonderful and are attracted to it, and reach to check it out.  But as beautiful as it may seem, if it's harmful, God will send someone to warn us: what you admire is deadly!  He did that for me...literally!  But He does it in all areas of life.  Then,  just as my father came down and put himself between me and my danger, so our Father comes down and puts Himself between us and our danger, to shield and protect us.

This is exactly what God did for the Tsáchila, too. He loved them so much that, knowing that they didn't have His Word, and followed after things that were not good for them and would lead them to great harm, He sent someone to warn them...to give them the Word so that they could learn to listen to Him and distinguish between what is harmful and what is good.  He sent my parents...who also loved them so much that they persevered in translating His message to them.  Now the heavenly Father also shields and protects them.
                             **********************************************


The other thing that happened?  This was a real treat. I had mentioned to my sister that Carán looked sort of like the friend I was looking for, so maybe she was a relative and could tell me about her. After the ceremony at the cemetery, I asked the Tsachi leader about the friend I remembered, telling him that I only knew her nickname, but that she had married...(I gave the name of her husband).  "Sure", said Primitivo, "I just saw her over here."  He looked around and called out, "Carán!"  Oh my goodness!  The lovely woman I had talked to and posed with!  No wonder she had looked familiar! She had been there with us the whole time, showing how pleased she was that we were there.
                             *************************************************

God, You are more than awesome!  Thank You for caring so much for us that You warn us, shield us, protect us through life.  And for giving us little surprises like Carán to cheer us as we go!