It’s three years this summer that my Dad passed and that time was one of those windows of opportunity where people got their vaccinations and also by natural spring/summer people got more outside and covid dropped off enough to be the first time the people in my hometown went back to big events. (their lockdown was really severe and they benefited by having so few deaths in comparison to communities closer).  So, those days was a blessed break in the suffering of timing for covid.  Lest we forget the freedoms we have – we should not complain now!!

Yet in those days my dad was suffering in decline and it was his time when the Lord called him. I made it up there visiting many times, even for just a half hour on the porch. We were blessed post vaccinations to stay IN the house for a good stretch of time both my kids and me – blessed to get up there to see him in decent shape still – a hug for my daughter and handshake for my son. My Dad never lost his ability to walk until the last 2 days and never lost his ability to communicate until that last day. 

I am always imagining my Dad in heaven regathering with his buddies – this I can picture the card games and fun – and I can’t even imagine the reunion with his Mom and Dad. His Dad passed away when he was 20. I had my Dad until I was 50, how can I complain! I still feel blessed to have my Dad in Heaven away from the body but close to the heart and mind,  and yes Dad I’ll get my brakes and tires checked soon… I will get them into compliance and better than that…

I could complain about not having my Dad now, but how could I complain? I can’t. I had him and have him mentally. I had and have the best Dad. 

Now, my Dad had knee problems all the time and back problems at times, once they moved a bed into the living room for him to recoup. I have been bad enough to have a whole week flat on my back on the floor of my apartment living room when in my 20s. I’ve known those times in gotcha pain and known recovery too. My own back is about 95% now from that recent incident, I consider, I don’t fear the gotcha grab of pain and move more freely. It still has a left lower side bulge type pain but as a pinch occasionally. It’s not cured but collected back. Now will be times to start strengthening and really bring it back. I can not equate back pain to suffering for the Lord, but it’s both times you have to work through the pain. Or re-work in resting and healing before redirecting your energies. One aspect is TIME, giving up precious time from YOUR PLANS. 

I RESTED after that back thing and I was blessed that first weekend with lots of help as I got myself back into compliance – both my back and my work for God’s work. And I scrolled through my head of what I was supposed to be redirected for in the Lord’s Work – oh yeah – my writings were 4 months behind in curating and printing- ummm – oh yeah the Lord WANTS you to keep promises and I DID promise (oops) to keep these up to date. So click click click I worked and now have printed 4 chapters.

I also redirected in fixing this and whatnot for the benefit of my health. And I read for the benefit of my soul. Read the Bible chapters I’m supposed to be getting back to. One BIG move now is into the book of Lamentations – and if you need a reminder of old testament God of compliance – Jeremiah and Lamentations is it.

I can not and will not compare present day suffering to these unbelievable old testament times of Babylon exile and the terrible scenes in Jerusalem and Judah – not for me – but I do remember there are many suffering these days in pockets of places known and unknown… I will read this next bible section of Lamentations – not as a God “I told you so” – but as a lament that bad times are bad – and isn’t that a reminder to look to God for His guidance and those good times WILL come – even if not in present….  And if we suffer but a fraction, we can never suffer that pain of Jesus who took it all upon Himself…  That is my Holy Week devotion – to listen to God Father as well as my Dad’s advice – get yourself back into compliance no matter how painful…  And yes – our biggest compliance rescue is from Jesus Himself.

Our worst non-compliance is turning our backs to God. Let us keep praising Him in us and us in Him and be back to listening to His Love.

AMEN

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Lamentations 1
How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer. In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.

Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away. Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. “Look, Lord, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.” The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations  enter her sanctuary — those you had forbidden to enter your assembly.  All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive.“ Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.”

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger? From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long. “My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand. 

“The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah. “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.”  Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has decreed for Jacob that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them. 

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile. “I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive. “See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death. “People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me. “Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint.”

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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29