Devastation

In the previous post I said that none of the days were wasted.  I truly want to believe that about each event that comes into my life-----I think I am safe in speaking for Bob too, so, what comesinto our lives.  Each day and each event that we have is not wasted in God's purpose for our lives.  I suppose if we are able to surrender to the Lord completely, and know that, not only the nice warm fuzzy things are going to be coming into our lives, but also the hard, earth shattering, dirty things may also enter into our experiences, we could hope and believe and know that none of these things are wasted but are ultimately for our spiritual good and growth.

 This idea of "wasted" is part of a song I had heard on galaxy radio.  I was busy sewing and not really listening---so I missed most of it and have no idea the name of the song.  However the phrase "nothing is wasted with our Redeemer" caught my attention.  Over the past many weeks I have pondered that phrase over and over.  I suppose the floods out here in Alberta brought the song's words to the fore front again.  How would God use these events for the ultimate good of the folks devastated by the loss of their homes, possessions, financial ruin, businesses in ruin-----it truly is horrible.  I was wondering if one of those homes had been mine could I still grab hold of Jesus' hand and walk with Him through all that needs doing?  I want to believe that we could do exactly that.  We have watched people on TV say exactly that,--- that God will see them through, "it is only stuff, thankful no one was killed."  Should people honestly and humbly begin to look to the Lord for strength, the days will not be wasted.  Samaritan's Purse has been out in High River, in Calgary, on the First Nation reservations helping not only physically but also being there to listen to and speak with hurting people.  We call it Samaritan's Purse but the people are volunteers from so very many churches across this area.  Truly they are Samaritans --giving up their own lives for 1 day, 2 days or??? days to help people they don't know and may never see again.  It was great that our church had many fellas go out to do this back breaking, smelly work.  To shovel out a basement of that heavy wet mud (which was not only soil mud) after the water had been sucked out was tough and then all of the stuff!!!!! so that there was nothing left in the basement just the concrete walls was not only hard but emotionally draining.  I was proud of our grandsons--Colton and Ashton--they helped in Calgary for one home.  They helped their Uncle Devon and Shane shovel and empty out the basement of  friends of theirs, who are elderly.  The boys came home totally pooped and very filthy.  In order to officially help, a person needs to be 18 years old, so they only did that one house.  All these experiences help the boys too.

I am thinking that much of the horror that  I sense about this flood comes from the one day that I spent out in High River.  We were away for the most part of the flood aftermath and returned after the 2 week mark (however that is for the next blog).  I made sandwiches and muffins  and took a turn to go out with the group from our church that had set up food tents and had been out there pretty much from the get go.  I had this sense of...oh I don't know---I am doing something so noble, so good.  I suppose I was in a way, doing something good, but with the wrong attitude.  From where this tent was, the devastation was---dry and "under control" but I could see and imagine how horrible it had been during the short time previous.  It was heartbreaking to see the elderly couples come for food and coffee  and return to the homes that they enjoyed into their retirements.  These same homes that were being torn apart and all their "stuff" was being dumped outside, strangers were in and out of their homes.  Each of these home owners was so thankful for the help and for the bit of comfort the fresh food brought.  The whole situation made me feel so sad and from what I was told I had no idea how it had been, how muddy, smelly, destroyed-- but I could imagine.  I believe that we were there to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus--to comfort, encourage and listen.  I realize that doing those things is not noble, maybe good, but it truly is all about serving and obeying what one believes God desires of them.  The couple that I went out with took a ride around the town after our shift.  There were areas that no one was allowed into.  Yet we could see the horribleness of the situation.  The scene that stays in my mind ---behind a road block was a long street with the trees on either side that grey color, the road, sidewalks?, boulevards--everything covered in this brown color and walking down the center was one person, all alone, dressed in a white hazard suit, hood up,big boots, big gloves, and a face mask--big, like it could have been more than just a mask.  That picture made me think of those end of the world science fiction movies.  Truly made me feel...........sad, like the town had been thwarted.  In some ways it has been..  There are many more scenes that totally unnerved me that showed the unleashed power of nature.  As much as we desire and aspire to control our environment we cannot.  People really do need to know the Lord.  How could we survive this kind of event if we didn't believe that not one day or event is a waste with the Lord.  How could Tim and Barbie survive?  How could Trent and Janelle survive, Dave and Dianne?  How could Bob and I survive if we didn't believe that there is a larger, eternal purpose for us.  Our horrible--cancer-- is only for a short season.  May we be faithful not to waste what God is walking with us through. 


Bob's journey brings a PET scan on July 29, news of the appointment in today's mail.