Good afternoon after a break from sharing on facebook and my blog. I had a terrible hacking job, including the taking of all of my address, so have been off line for about a week. The good part, however, is that when the genius at MicroPower got addresses restored, I had to reconstruct my group lists.  Recognizing that the group lists had disappeared like mist on a sunny morning initially caused me to groan. Then it happened. My mind reorganized. The reconstructing of the group lists made me connect with  people and confirm their email addresses. Blessings appeared as many needed restoration and tweaking.  Conversations transpired with folk with whom I had not chatted with for weeks or even years. So, sometimes, good things come during moments of frustration.

A wonderful new connection resulted from my search for correct list updating. I met “on line” a missionary from Cambodia who unfortunately is stranded here in the US. We had a beautiful discussion about how Christ, throughout our lives, has placed opportunities in front of us, that later led to new ways of reaching out to others. As I reflect on my life, job opportunities and doors appeared to just open “magically” but then as you review eight decades, you realize, God had a part in that. I have been so fortunate as door after door opened to new challenges in learning, consulting, reaching out to people you did not know, and speaking to a variety of groups from 1 on 1 to several thousand. The Lord is good.

So, you say, what good results from this virus experience? Wow!  The use of technology/on line streaming for reaching people with a worship service has exploded. One church in our area had over 11,000 hits (or what ever you call it) as they made a live streaming of a worship service. When attendance normally was around 3000, just think of how many additional folk are hearing the gospel presented. God can take advantage of innovation, whether teaching the disciples to fish on the other side of the boat, or for church staff to create live streaming of the gospel. Even very small churches and staff jumped aboard the ‘boat’ with the Lord and started fishing for men.  A Praise.

What about innovations with programs?  Our local camp director and chef thought out of the box. Unable to hold conferences or other meetings at the camp, they started a “Carry Out Dinner” program.  Three nights a week, folk in our area can call ahead and order the meal for the day for five people. We pay $30 and in turn get much food, PLUS a family in need ALSO gets a meal for five eaters. God took the loaves and sloppy joe mix for five and turned it into food for ten. Now if that is not a blessing, I don’t know what.  Pictures included here show the food, how it looked on our plates at home, and the “updating” I did of the delicious brownies included for dessert.  (I zapped the brownie for thirty seconds and then topped with some peach yogurt and chopped fresh strawberries. – Oh! So delicious.)

When stranded at home, alternative and increased creative ways to share joys, tears, and information with family and friends have resulted. I just finished a fifteen minute call with my great nephew in Alabama. He and Noah, his young son were in the park and Noah was playing with the acorns. This little one has just learned a couple of weeks ago to walk. David and I chatted, shared information about how our church staffs were working so hard to make worship accessible to us, worried about each other, and in general made connections. When do 23 -25 year olds call “old Aunties” on the phone and visit?

Have you been part of the “drop off food” to shut ins or seniors, or just lonely folk? My trips to the grocery and deli find me making two different collections of food.  One bag for home, and one bag for someone else. Yes, yes, I know I should just cook up a pot of soup or bake a brownie and share it, but why?  HyVee does a much better job of cooking than she with limited cooking skills. (If describing a gardener, I would say I have very non-green thumbs. I am not certain what the equivalent term for the challenged cook, but I would certainly quality for that designation.)

So, my dear readers, let’s look on the half-full glass rather than the half-empty glass of life. Count you blessings. Share joy of Christ and life with the depressed, happy, cheerful, ugly, young, old, and/or  wrinkled white haired folk. Let’s keep the sun shining.  I prefer happy folk rather than Grumpy Old Men, the title of a delightful movie. God bless as you vicariously enjoy our meal last night from the camp cook.