A Window on the World

How about a quick detour?  Really not, as what happened today, is part and parcel of the life I live now that my beloved is no longer present.  I really do miss her, but I am amazed at the way God seems to have re-directed my course in life.  Today was merely more evidence.

I joined a new church a few months ago, a loving congregation that I like to claim has "loved me back to life".  With Derlene gone, I was lost, not just because of her absence, but because there were issues with the others who would have an immediate say in my future.  I listened for awhile and decided that I had a future and chose to walk into that future.

Today was an example of how my life has been blessed and I write because I believe that if you can hear my heart, you will be blessed as well.

Cookeville, Tennessee, is the home to a University that appeared to me along my way, some 65 years ago.   I was home on leave from Japan and my mother decided it would be good if she and I and my grand parents would drive down from Michigan and visit my sister who was attending Baxter Seminary in nearby Baxter, Tennessee.  As we drove into Cookeville, I noticed a football stadium along the way and learned that it belonged to Tennessee Tech and I would learn that they had a game scheduled while we would be in the area.  It would be the first time I had ever witnessed a "big time" football game.

I have no idea as to who won or lost, but the sight of that stadium has remained etched into my mind. And it remained dormant even after I was employed by a company that brought me to this area, three times every week.  Nor did I recognize its significance when I met and married my beloved Derlene who lived nearby.  We spent the seven years of our marriage in the shadow of that stadium.

And today, I drove by it as I headed to Tech's student body center to take part in a gathering known as a Window on the World.  I was about to be amazed.  Walking up from the parking lot, I was met by a gathering of students representing various aspects of life in our world.  There were an abundance of signs, but as I approached each one, I was met by an eager student who was well prepared to advise me on the conditions of our world with regard to how we are experiencing our daily lives.  I was very impressed.  And then, I walked on into the facility where the administration of the University seemed to be housed.  Today however, it was crowded with signs and students and tables on which their "causes" were appropriately displayed.  I had to believe they really were representing the worlds in which we live out our lives.  Listening to them, I was more than convinced they were dedicated. That was just the first floor.  My reason for being there was up on the second floor.

Our church has been representing an organization known as Heifer International for a number of years.
I was interested in helping as I had a personal experience with them, of providing funds for the purchase of farm animals to families and other groups throughout the world and the contributions were used to fund areas where poverty had been and currently is, exacting its toll on the youngsters of such communities.  What is fascinating about the concept is the fact, our children - from the more affluent nations of the world, are encouraged to relate to such gifts.  Its existence dates back the years when such conditions were being made known to nations such as ours.  Today, we were encouraging the children passing by to present their "passports" so that they could be authenticated by a "stamp" that left an impression of many of the animals involved   We then, discussed and distributed literature regarding the purposes and practices of Heifer International.  It was heart warming to hear from many that they were well aware of the program and were or, had been involved in the past.

With my "shift" was over I had the opportunity of further examining the others.  It was difficult to believe there might be other nations the organizers had missed.  I came across a distinctive display from Iran and I stood by listening to the conversation.  Here was a bright young man talking about his home in terms that had nothing to do with the headlines we read in the reports of our media, far too often.  I was moved to take the young man's hand and vowed to him that my prayers were with him and would continue so that there would be peace between our two great nations.  I turned around and there was a display from Japan.  I approached one of those talking about their nation and told him of the four years I had been stationed near Fukuoka and his eyes lit up.  I explained the fact that it was his people who taught me how to love one another and to care for the respect we have held for one another, even though at one time we were the bitterest of enemies.  I walked on, chatting with a few as I passed by and headed for home.

Not before I re-visited two of the booths I had noticed on the way in.  The first was one devoted to re-cycling our waste products and explained how I had discovered and was using a private company, operated by students on a part-time basis, who took the "work" out of my efforts.  He knew of them and he seemed almost excited to discover and advocate to his cause.  I encouraged him to keep doing what he had been doing and he will be rewarded for his efforts.  The next booth was entitled "Grow Cookeville" and promoted the expansion of "home grown" vegetation in the lands adjacent to our city. What a great idea.  Having been raised on a farm, I am very disappointed at the hundreds of acres of land that lies dormant in what we call the Upper Cumberland area - most of which could be devoted to the growth and distribution of products that would not only serve, but contribute to the well being of our own.

As I headed to my car, I spotted a place to sit down and as I did, the tears came pouring out of my eyes.

I had seen the future as envisioned by our young and obviously endorsed by the University.

Oh, that others could see the possibilities that were every where, people, from everywhere on the globe we call home, visionaries perhaps, but why are do we seem to be reluctant to encourage them on a 24/7 basis rather than just once every so often?

There they were, gathered together, in a place I never thought I would ever see again.

If it is only a dream, please don't waste your time trying to waken me.

February 15, 2014

It was May 10, 1975, Saturday, tomorrow would be Mother's Day, only there would not be any cards, any telephone calls, we were not on the same page, regarding either of our lives.  Today, I was on a bus headed for Tulsa, OK, hoping to find answers for my life so that I could get on with it.

Night was falling and we were crossing the desert, in route to Phoenix, AZ.  I had always loved seeing the desert as the sun came up; now, I was enjoying it as the sun was setting.  Beautiful.. peaceful...

I went to sleep, awoke as we were pulling into the bus station.  Time for breakfast.  Afterwards, we were headed towards Flagstaff, such a beautiful day.  I began to realize that I was going to meet with a "man of God" who probably would have forgotten more about the Bible than I had ever learned.  I had an opportunity to review what I did know.  I knew about the "red" letters, the words that Jesus used as He moved about.  I looked for the "red" letters where he started His ministry - Matthew 4:17.

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."  I had learned a lot about His origin, I knew that He was God incarnate, so I could understand most of what He was saying, but - repent?  What did that mean?  I had been attending church for most of my life, but I could not recall ever hearing anyone talk about the need to - repent.   I looked out of the window in the direction the bus was travelling and in the distance I could see a mountain.  I looked at it for a few minutes and decided to ask of the mountain, "God, if you are there, tell me about this word, repent."

I cannot recall how long it took, but soon after I asked that question, I began to think of life on the farm, of the days when I felt like I had been abandoned by my Mother, and the arguments I had overheard between my Mother and my Grandfather concerning the costs of my care and the times I had seen my Mother come to the farm dressed in such fancy clothes, often in the company of men dressed in fancy clothes and the tears I had shed, wondering why my pals all had Fathers except me.  And now I was thinking about my feelings toward my Mother.  She never seemed like a Mother.   I compared her to her younger Sister who always seemed to care for me; often it seemed, out of pity for me.  I began to realize, I had very little love for her as a Mother.  And now in this moment on the bus, I began to realize how wrong I had been as I knew nothing of the life she had to live after the death of my Father. Now, I realized, I had reason to repent and I burst into tears, pleading with God to forgive me.

To my amazement, the day had passed, the sun had set and now it was raining.  As the lightning flashed in the distance, I looked more closely at the window and it seemed, the wind had rolled the water up and it was passing across the window, washing the dirt away   I was fascinated by this experience.

And then I recalled an old song from my distant past that went something like this, ..." your sins have been washed away and you have been made whiter than snow.'  I burst out crying and sobbing, I asked "Can this be true?"  And it was like all of heaven applauded..

Before I noticed that phenomenon of the wind and the water and the window, I had tried to turn on the overhead light so I might read more of my Bible.  It did not work.  Now, an hour or two later, I tried again and now, it worked.  Again the tears flowed.  Something had happened, but what?

I knew the answers would be found in my Bible so I started reading and the more I read, the more eager I was to read even more. It was so exciting.  I would discover familiar passages that now made real sense to me and then discover questions, I had often asked of others, now followed by answers I had longed to hear.

It wasn't long before we pulled into a rest stop in Elk City, OK.  I hurried to the restaurant, not stopping to realize, I had very little money in my pocket.  As I came through the door, the waitress looked at me and said, "My, you look bright and chipper this morning" and I replied, "I think I have been 'born again.'
and she replied, "Well, praise the Lord, sit right down and I'll fix you a breakfast worthy of your new calling."  I didn't order.  She brought me steak and eggs and biscuits and I began to wonder if I had enough to pay her.  "No way," she exclaimed, "the Father has already paid me enough."  Well, I left her a tip and moved on.

All the way into Tulsa, I kept reading and marveling at the experience.  As soon as I got off the bus, I went to a pay phone and called ORU where I hoped to meet my new mentor.  "I'm sorry, but this is Commencement Day and afterwards, he and his wife are leaving on vacation."  "That's OK," I replied, "I think I have been talking with his boss."