Five Days Maketh Fat

Once a year comes a week of dreadful days; especially to those old, cranky, and generally out of sorts with those, and things, younger, happier, and noisy.
Noise is what it's all about; firecracker kinds of noise. I'm as patriotic as the next old man...but only for one day. Here, the 4th of July goes on and on like a middle-eastern wedding;days and nights of reveling in an explosive Iwo Jima-like assault on the senses...nights mostly...noise and debris is everywhere.
We have neighbors (nice young people) who find it not at all unusual to buy $1,000.00 of pyrotechnics. Do you know how long it takes to shoot of that much stuff?
For the next six months I'll be picking up pieces of plastic and cardboard that are the "smithereens" of the show. Sadly, we were not here, but at Potlatch State park among tall, ancient fir trees.
If campfire smoke were carcinogenic I would be worried. What is camping without a campfire? Five days eating and napping is a recipe for weight gain. Two days; I will wait two days before I even look at the scales, and then...maybe.
Anyway, we're back and this blather will pick up pretty much where it left off...somewhere in the middle of nothing. e.c.

Digging my "Rut"

I promised not to complain about the weather, so I will merely "report" that this computer tells me it is 38 degrees in Shelton, 58 in Victorville, CA, and 80 in Mesa, AZ; but we have fog...so there!
My great-grandmother (Leticia Virginia) used to say "I feel better when I'm in a rut." Only, she had that nasal, "old South," Luray, Virginia twang in her voice. In my head I can hear her but I can't put it on the page. O, that's right! Luray is in Page County, VA. (sorry).
But we were talking about a rut. I'm back...in a foggy sort of way.
Here, for the fascination of all is "My Rut."
Awaken somewhere between 5:15 and 5:45 by a little dog sitting on my chest, licking my forehead. When I peek out under the covers she's still there, usually about 3-5 inches away...two black eyes staring at me saying, "I gotta pee."
So we...me and the two dogs...get up and go for our walk. For me it's a prayer walk...a conversation of sorts. Back home the little one goes into her Tasmanian Devil routine, running the length of the cabin, jump on the couch, spin around a few times, growl ferociously, and do it all over again.
Do the blogging thing about important issues of the day.
Read from the Bible...today is 2nd Peter, 2nd chapter.
Fix my breakfast...something ugly like lentils, a tomato, and toast.
Decide whether or not to shower...I guess not. I did that last evening. Besides, how dirty can you get sleeping?
Go to work somewhere on the property. The present pressing project is moving dirt onto the drain field where the rains have eroded it away. Fine grading, putting down a mesh material over the dirt, cover that with playground cover (that's thin pieces of cedar strips and shavings, yada...yada. (Is everyone asleep yet; maybe I can just stop right here....."
So, that's my rut, but I don't feel any better by talking about it, and now I have to do it.
Thank you Lord that I'm still able and don't need a cane. (Sorry). e.c.
p.s. I said to my wife, "Would you publish my post?" And she said, "You do that! That'd be a crime!"...the lonely, sorry, life of a writer...and no respect.

Poetry of Praise

Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
Your testimonies, which you have commanded
Are righteous and very faithful.
My zeal has consumed me,
Because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
Your word is very pure;
Therefore Your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have overtaken me,
Yet Your commandments are my delights
The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting;
Give me understanding, and I shall live.
[Psalm 119:137-177] [TSADDE]

Blessings. e.c.

I Promise...perhaps just for today

I hereby promise to cease and desist complaining about the (lousy) rainy weather here in western Washington. The reason being...for this (sort of) repentance, is this: Thinking of Minot, Joplin, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, the folks along the recently flooding Mississippi River, frigid New England, water shortages in the Southwest, hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, and half-mile-wide tornadoes that tear up whole towns like an airborne rotary mower... There is really little or nothing to complain about, though complain I do. My neighbor was right when he said, "I love the weather here, when you compare it to what's go'n on in the the rest of the country." He's right.
So, no more complaining.
Unless of course it rains on the 4th of July...which it almost always does.
Note: this will be the last weather-related post for 2011. e.c. 

What to Wear...What to Wear?

On any given day I don't spend a lot of time wondering what to wear. If it's not raining the choice is easy; work clothes. There's always work to be done on the property.
Today's answer to the question comes from the Apostle Paul; this clothing never needs changing, cleaning, or laundering, and never goes out of style. In fact, the longer you wear it the better it looks; and it wears well. 
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."[Colossians 3:12-14] [NKJV]
Enough said. e.c.

A Real Coin, Really Lost

This is a true story. A man I know inherited a coin collection; gold coins. Generous soul that he is, he decided to give each family member one coin. Somehow, one happy recipient "lost" his coin before leaving the house.
Everyone in the family looked and looked but alas, no coin. He that received the coin felt terribly badly about losing it; he that gave, gave again after a week or so with consoling "Don't worry about it" words of kindness.
It was...I think...two months later, while looking for a particular DVD that the real coin that had been really lost, was found.
We serve a loving and generous God who loved His children so much that He gave the most valuable gift in His treasury; His only Son. And if we choose to accept the gift we will inherit not just one gold coin...or a bucket full...but eternal life. We will walk where gold is used for paving the streets.
Each of God's children is more valuable than a gold coin; more valuable than all the gold in the world. Think of the price that Jesus paid for our salvation...God (in Christ) died so that we can live for eternity. He comes looking for us; searching in all the "lost" places for even one soul who will believe and accept the gift.
What is our answer to Him who came seeking to save those who were lost? Do we want to be "found?" e.c. 

A Kind of Unkind Kindness

Yesterday we traveled to the city. I guess Olympia is "the city;" if you live by a lake in the woods (as we do) any more than two people is too many.
Anyway...there we were in Lowe's waiting to check out when I noticed the man behind me had no cart and I couldn't see what he wanted to purchase. "Do you need to pay for something?" I asked. Without saying anything he opened his hand and showed me what he was buying. I don't remember what it was, but it doesn't matter; it was one small item.
Feeling large-of-heart and wanting to showcase my pious, Christian self I said "Why don't  you go ahead of me." Without saying a word  he went ahead..and it was then I got irked. Thinking "he should have been grateful and said something...like 'Thank you'...or 'Thanks'...anything but silence. It was then I opened my mouth and said "You're welcome." No, not in a snide or rude tone...I had already been rude. It was more of a teacherish, parenting kind of way. Looking at me, he spoke very softly, thanked me and expressed his (extracted) appreciation.
Well, my wife witnessed the entire episode and quietly pointed out that if one does a kind deed and then is upset and rude about it, the kindness is undone.
She was right.
My poor wife; the index finger on her right hand is arthritic from pointing out my misdeeds and rude words over the last 54 years. (Sigh)...there have been many, and I am slowly bleeding out from their small bites as they come to mind. Satan 1, Ed, 0; Jesus Christ gets a 10...a perfect score. Thank you Lord. e.c.