Pathway Scribe

Who Am I?

2011-10-20T14:19:00.002-04:00

I’ve been job hunting with no success. Then a brilliant idea arose. School bus lines are always in need of drivers. I drove a bus for ten years but four years ago I down-graded my licence to a D thinking I’ll never drive a bus again.

In order to up-grade back to a bus licence, I’d have to get a medical. Although I don’t have a family doctor, any walk-in clinic will gladly give me a physical and complete the medical form for a fee of about $100.00 or more. I’d also have to write an exam for a cost of $10.00. Then there’s the road test for a cost of $75.00. Of course, before doing those tests I’d have to purchase a bus driver’s manual to re-fresh my memory about road laws concerning buses and what to look for when doing the daily check of the vehicle. Cost of the manual $20.00. And of course, a police check on my background would have to be done since I’d be working with children; a cost of $22.00. The bus company also wanted a driver’s abstract; a cost of $12.00. Total cost $239.00; and no doubt there’d be taxes heaped on the total.

Unfortunately, my brilliant idea fell through when I couldn’t prove my identity.

After showing my driver’s licence to the MTO clerk, she asked for a second piece of ID, such as a birth certificate.

I whipped out my little plastic birth certificate card. The clerk wasn’t satisfied because the name didn’t match the one on my driver’s licence. The birth certificate is in my maiden name; the driver’s license is in my married name. Well of course, the birth certificate is in my maiden name. That’s the name my parents gave me when I was born. Silly me I changed my name when I got married. What was I thinking?

The clerk asked for a marriage certificate. Proudly I showed it to her.

“That won’t do. It’s handwritten on paper.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what people use to do years ago. Hand write on paper.”

She slid a piece of paper to me with the web address of Service Ontario where I could apply for a plastic marriage certificate for a cost of $15.00. Her other suggestion was a passport. Mine was expired; cost for a new one $87.00 – 92.00.

Now the cost of my brilliant idea had reached $254.00 - $346.00. It would take several weeks to get everything, probably several more weeks waiting to be assigned a suitable bus route, and then more weeks to squeeze enough from the peanut pay cheque to cover all the accumulated costs. I left discouraged. The part-time driver’s job wasn’t worth the time, the money and the hassle.

But a thought cheered me up. Even though I couldn’t prove my identity to the MTO, God knows who I am. I’m a royal child of God’s, redeemed by Jesus’ blood and therefore an heir with Christ. And Jesus paid it all! Hallelujah!

At the Ready

2011-09-30T13:56:00.001-04:00

As I sat enjoying a hot cup of coffee in the coffee shop, I observed a mother with her young son; a boy of about ten years of age. She watched as the boy played with a hand-held technical gizmo. Then suddenly a vision popped into my head like a mini film. Here’s what I saw;

An elderly mother is having lunch with her young adult son. They don’t speak; in fact, the young man fidgets with his tie and glances around the restaurant perhaps hoping to see a friend or perhaps hoping no one notices him sitting with his mother. Every now and then, the mother’s lips part as if she is about to say something but instead looks anxiously at her son. They seem uncomfortable in each other’s presence. After a few awkward moments, the young man casually slips a technical device from his jacket pocket and turns it on. As he ponders over it, his soup cools.

Suddenly his mother sits up straight, her eyes twinkling. A slight smile appears as she sees an opportunity to begin a conversation. A couple of weeks ago, her son mentioned the purchase of a new technical communication device. She is about to demonstrate her knowledge of the popular technical gadgets of the day.

“Is that your new strawberry?” she asks her son.

The young man sighs deeply and throws her a look of disgust as he replies angrily, almost in a growl; “Blackberry, Mom! Blackberry!”

When we sit in God’s presence, we need not feel uncomfortable or search awkwardly for the right words or topic. When words fail us, as they do sometimes, the Holy Spirit will ‘intercede for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26) If we keep regular company with God; through prayer, Bible reading, obeying His commandments, worship; He will hear us. He has promised. Ask, seek, and knock; it will be given, found, and opened unto you. (Matthew 7: 7) He wants to commune with us; daily. God is at the ready.

The Way In

2011-09-23T16:52:00.004-04:00

One of the little century churches which I visited while gathering information to write a book was originally a Methodist Church. It later became a United Church named Miller Memorial, formerly known as Pleasant Point United Church.

A neighbour lady who had keys to the church unlocked the large wooden front doors, opened them wide and we entered. I studied the interior and took photographs and jotted notes. Then we went outside to take pictures. As I studied the church from the outside, I didn't see a steeple or a cross. That seemed strange to me since all the century churches I'd seen had steeples and crosses. I asked the lady about it. She assured me there was a cross and led me back to the front of the church. She shut the wooden double doors and there was the cross - carved into the front of the doors - half of the cross on each door making a complete full cross when the doors were closed.

What a glorious message! We search high and low for joy and hope and there it is in plain view just as that cross on the doors of that little church. The way to God's heavenly sanctuary, to life eternal, is through Jesus. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Salvation is free and within easy reach for all. Ask for forgiveness for your sins, knock on the door and it will be opened to you. Unlike the doors on that century church which are kept locked, God's door is never locked.

John 14:6

I Am WIth You

2011-04-27T15:13:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, during an unusually long period of choking, my prayer was; "God, help me! Make the spasms stop." As I searched for an open clinic, suddenly the situation worsened. I began vomiting. A stranger called for an ambulance and I was swiftly taken to the hospital. Two hours later, the vomiting stopped and the throat relaxed. The doctor on duty referred me to a gastroenterologist (we don't have a family doctor in town).

As I rested on the gurney, finally out of the distressful situation, I thought about all the people in worse circumstances; burn victims, mothers giving birth, people suffering heart attacks, et cetera. I wondered what I was doing there and felt guilty about taking up medical staff's valuable time. Perhaps I should have stayed home and just rode through the troublesome wave by myself.

But then I realized...God was with me. I asked for help - not healing. God answered. He stopped the spasms and put me in contact with a specialist who can determine the cause of the choking episodes that plague me and put my mind to rest. He knows just what we need and when we need it.

Being alone during a crisis is frightening. Yes, I was frightened but I wasn't alone.

Matthew 28:20 "...I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Lost Opportunity

2011-03-14T16:08:00.002-04:00

There is an image etched in my memory from the early 1970's that when I recall it, it stabs my heart. In 1971, I had just begun working for a large bank. Each morning as I walked to work down the main street, I passed a lady (perhaps then in her thirties) sitting in a wheelchair. Every workday and year round, she sat in front of a department store next to the bank. It is the wintertime scene that is imprinted in my mind.

She was dressed in shabby clothes with a blanket across her lap. Her long thin fingers, rough and red from the winter cold, clutched a small can filled with pencils. I remember watching as many business people rushed into the store to buy their morning coffee and pastry at the lunch counter and then hurry past her without even glancing her way. Occasionally someone would toss a coin into her tin can and she'd smile and give a hearty thank you.

I thought to myself, 'What a sad way to earn a living?' In my youthful ignorance I contemplated many times of buying a pencil from her but I didn't need one and I really didn't have much money myself - maybe tomorrow. Then one day she was gone.

It was then I realized the point and the opportunity I had missed. I suffered with the all-too-common "I Syndrome". I didn't have much money because I had just started working. I didn't need a pencil. I thought she'd be there tomorrow. I simply pitted her.

Today, I understand it would have been good for both of us, if I had bought a pencil from her now and then, smiled at her, spoken to her, perhaps even bought a cup of hot coffee for her. God had presented an opportunity for me. I thoughtlessly tossed it aside. A small good deed would have meant a lot to one in need yet I foolishly thought tomorrow - someday - when I have some money - I will help.

Someday is now.

Matthew 25:45

Just Around The Bend

2011-03-03T19:51:00.002-05:00

The highway wound through the dense forest. Deep ditches hugged the road. For miles I drove without seeing anyone; pedestrians, cyclists, cars or trucks.

The car was gobbling gas. When the gas gauge died a few years ago, I began relying on the trip meter for estimated gas consumption readings. Although I could guess the distance the car would travel before running out of fuel, I had no idea how much further it was to my destination or if there was a gas station along the way.

A young black bear sat on the side of the road, playing contently like a child.

Apprehensively I continued driving, wondering how much further to my destination. I wanted to see the lighthouse at the end of the road. As I approached each curve I thought 'It must be right after this curve.' But after each curve there was disappointment. On the approach of the next curve again my hopes heightened. And after the curve, disappointment.

I had to abandon my lighthouse search. Fuel was getting low. I turned the car around and headed back to the main highway, hoping I had enough fuel to drive to the first gas station on the main route.

On the return trip, I passed the same young black bear. He was still contently playing beside the highway. He didn't appear to have any concerns; he was satisfied where he was at the moment. I, on-the-other-hand, had been rushing to see something only to retreat in dismay. I hadn't enjoyed the trip but instead anxiously eyed the trip meter.

Life is much like that highway through the forest. We hope for something good just around the bend. If that something doesn't materialize, we are disappointed and often give up hope and abandon our dreams. But when we walk in God's will, we are assured of hope, peace and dreams fulfilled because He said, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Stubbornness or Determination

2009-03-06T19:26:00.002-05:00

There's a fine line it seems between stubbornness and determination. The one quality that separates the two, according to dictionary definitions, is thought process. Stubbornness arises from unreasonable and unyielding decisions. Determination arises from a careful thought process. Stubbornness is viewed as a weakness in one's character that often leads to problems or loss. Determination is strength of character that leads to victory.

Consider this true story; I grew up with two older brothers. I loved and adored them and did my best to keep up with them despite the age differences of five and seven years. Anything they could do, I believed I could do.

One summer day, when I was about eight years old, I set out to prove this - to myself mostly. We lived on a high bank of the Vermillion River. On the bend of the river, my brothers had set up a diving board where they skillfully dived into the deep water and with powerful strokes swam easily to shore. I, on-the-other-hand, was skilled at floating and dog-paddling.

As my brothers stood on the sandy shore, talking and laughing, I walked boldly unto the diving board on the oppostie shore and dived. I surfaced quickly but the current was surprisingly strong. The deep dark waters swirled pulling me under and quickly down stream. I didn't have strength to swim across to the sandy shore where my brothers stood; therefore I headed for the high bank which was a little closer. Although I feared drowning, I did not cry for help. As I dog-paddled against the angry current trying desperately to reach shore, my brothers were unaware of my dilemma.

Today, as I look back on that incident, it's clear to see that it was stubbornness that got me into the swift current; into trouble and almost cost my life. Determination got me to shore; to safety although not totally on my own power - God strengthened me.

We go through life stubbornly (or stiff-necked as the Bible puts it) doing what we believe is right, unwilling to look around and see that God is there for us. He has great plans for us; plans to prosper us; plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) But it takes determination to hang unto our faith.

What a foolish little girl I was; I amost threw away my life because of stubbornness. I would have lost the great plans God had in store for me. I'm glad He saved me because today I live the victorious life He had planned just for me.

Away We Go No Matter What

2009-02-13T11:02:00.003-05:00

One day as I sat in a coffee shop observing people and writing, I jotted this into my journal;

An older well-rounded man rolls into the cafe in his wheelchair. He's wearing a green spring zippered jacket and a ball cap. He grins as he says, "And away we go no matter what." to no-one in particular. Then he wheels over to an elderly man with grey hair dressed in blue and also wearing a ball cap. He is seated at a small table near the counter. They appear to know each other. They poke each other and laugh like little mischievous boys. The one in the wheelchair attempts to crumble the newspaper his friend is reading.

"Go away," the man reading the paper says softly. "You're bothering me." He doesn't sound angry.

His friend in the wheelchair ignores him and continues pestering. They both laugh. Then the wheelchair man quotes words from a 60's song; "Hit the road, Jack and don't ya come back no more, no more, no more, no more." After he finishes "singing", he wheels out. I hear him say, "And away we go no matter what."

I watch him leave. Yes, there he goes, no matter what.
*********************************************
Sometimes we're rooted to the ground by fear, unable to move forward and do what we ought to do. The fear might be one of failure or of certain people and the power they hold.

As the young man David ran from the crazed King Saul who hunted him relentlessly, he feared for his life. Each time that he feared, he encouraged himself with these words; "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" David also penned the famous words of Psalm 23 that often is referred to as the Lord's Prayer; "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me..."

When we have a true relationship with Jesus we need not be afraid for He is a faithful friend who sticks close by always. Can you bravely say; "And away we go no matter what."?

Psalm 27:1
Psalm 23:4

Birthdays

2008-12-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

As a joke, I emailed this message to a friend when she asked me to remind her again of my birth date. I hope you'll laugh as much as she did over this silly message. It went like this...

"Okay, here it is folks. Mark it with a big fat purple pen. My birthday which should have been declared a national holiday but unfortunately it was overlooked - apparently the government had other little things to attend to like the national budget, health, immigration - like those things couldn't wait. Now listen up. This is a very important date - in fact, I'll be having a conference with the calendar people next week to discuss having it marked on all calendars, at least, all North American calendars. My birthday is December 15. And for those interested, the year of jubilee was 1952.

I'll be expecting truck loads of birthday cards to arrive on time - late cards will be returned to sender. Before rushing to the stores to Christmas shop my birthday card is to be purchased before all your big bucks are blown on gifts for family and friends. If you wish to tuck some colourful Canadian paper money inside the card, please feel free to do so - several bills will not increase the postage. Of course, only the large denominational bills will be acknowledged with a thank you card - purchased from a dollar store. Please do remember what you send each year, as I do not wish to receive the same old tired card year after year - do try to be original. Create your own card and verse to show how much you really care about me. Good ones will be stuck to the refrigerator door and exceptional ones will be framed. Dust off your thesaurus to find many wonderful words to describe me and what I truly mean to you and to society on the whole. Now I'll just sit back and put my feet up as I patiently wait for the postal trucks to roll in."

Remember that message was meant as a joke. May God keep me from ever becoming that arrogant.

My birthday is important to me. It's a special day because that's the day God made for me - in fact, He made me. And years later, March 1990, my spirit was awakened. After I realized and acknowledged (confessed) that I had inherited Adam and Eve's original sin (violated God's law) and harboured many of my own self-made sins, I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Immediately my spirit was connected to my Creator and I felt a joy deep within me that has never diminished - even through difficult times. It was like a homecoming. That's when I was truly born - born again. No longer was I a hollow being with a void that nothing, no matter what I tried - and I tried many things - could satisfy. Jesus filled that void. I'm more than satisfied.

Now I'll go celebrate another birthday because I am live - truly alive - alive in Christ Jesus!

Two Ribs and a Nose

2008-11-21T11:51:00.005-05:00

The coffee shop was busy but I was able to find a vacant little table. As I sat enjoying my cappuccino, I overheard one of the three men at the next table.

The man's voice was loud and deep as he proclaimed to the two fellows sitting with him, "You don't have to be intimated by anyone!" He set his coffee cup down, leaned back in his chair and proudly told the men how he had broken two ribs and the nose of a man he thought needed to "learn a lesson". There was no way he'd "back off".

The man appeared to be in his early fifties. He was not a young boy describing a scrap in the school yard. The fight he described sounded like a western barroom brawl. Perhaps he had not been in his right mind at the time. Perhaps he had been on medication or was drunk - although, his ability to recall the details had not been impaired. He arrogantly declared that no one could intimidate him.

Although he conducted himself in an impetuous and dangerous manner, he had a point. We needn't feel intimated by anyone. It is possible to state our point in a calm voice with rational thoughts, showing respect and listening patiently to others. Forcing our thoughts and beliefs on others results in a stand-off also known as 'the cold shoulder' or an argument or a physical fight. Just look at all the past wars and ones that are in existence today. No one wins; no one learns. But there are times when our anger burns and, boy, oh boy, it sure would feel great to smack someone. Enemies are easier and quicker to make than friends.

World peace is most people's desire. But how can it be achieved when there are many different and strong points of view concerning politics, business and religion? Here's something that makes sense to me; if we "cease from anger and abandon wrath; don't fret, it leads only to evildoing." That's from Psalm 37:8. And here's something else; "the meek (the mild mannered people, gentle in nature, those in control of their tempers) shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Psalm 37:11

For some of us it is a difficult task to control our tempers. But that ugly monster can be controlled when we stop fighting God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. Or we can choose our own stubborn painful way of simply biting our tongue.

Well, here's to you and world peace - I raise my cappuccino in a toast.

Lend Me an Ear

2008-11-12T21:15:00.003-05:00

In the coffee shop, one table over from me, a young pretty lady sat with a boy of about 10 years of age and a teenage girl - about 15. The young lady - I'm guessing she was the mother of the two children - was talking with the teenage girl, or so she said. I didn't hear her speaking. The boy was holding something that appeared to be an electronic game. He seemed very excited about it, perhaps how it worked or the great score he had obtained on the last game. With animated eagerness he told his mother something.

Quickly she turned to face him and snapped, "I don't want to hear about your xxxx all day long! I'm trying to talk!" Then she turned back to face the teenage girl.

The young boy glanced downwards then slowly raised his head and looked my way. The hurt in his blue eyes was obvious. I suppose he was also bewildered why his mother was angry and uninterested in what he thought was exciting or important.

Sometimes when we're tired or engrossed in something that interests us, we become angry with interruptions. We may even use foul language as this lady did when she snapped at her son. Some might even laughingly say, "The devil made me do it." And that may be true - it all depends on who we've decided to follow - the devil or Jesus.

If we're following the devil, then we'll live as we please, placing ourselves and our interests before others. But if we've chosen to follow Jesus, we'll want to please God by imitating His Son. Jesus didn't display anger when interrupted. Instead he took time to listen to people. Remember the woman with the bleeding disorder (Mark 5: 25-34)? Jesus listened to her and healed her. When children were brought to Jesus, His disciples rebuked them. But Jesus welcomed the little ones. (Matthew 19: 13-15)

With a little patience, we can lend an ear when someone needs or wants it.

Got What I Needed

2008-09-26T21:18:00.003-04:00

When John and I married, we waited a few years before sending our request to the stork. And waited. But alas, there was no sign of the phantom bird. After a few more years we couldn't wait any longer. We decided to adopt the first available baby.

January 7, 1996 we adopted a tiny helpless 7 week-old baby. But, I was baffled at what God was trying to tell us by sending this baby. She was a dog! Oh, I don't mean that she was ugly - she really was a dog - a Miniature Poodle! Not a Great Dane, a German shepherd, a Golden Retriever, a Boxer - no- a Poodle! Just what was God thinking!

Slowly our focus shifted from us to someone else - okay, something else. We learned many new things such as; how to read body language - the dog's as well as each others'; we learned when a hug is needed; a growl means space is needed, especially when "mommy" growls; sharing is a good thing - the couch, the arm-chair, sharing food but not from the same dish; we show great excitement when someone comes to the door and whimper when they leave; when "daddy" returns home from work he is smothered with kisses - well...mostly by the dog; playing tag and hid n' seek are fun ways of exercising; and it's nice to spend some quite time together watching a movie.

There are many things we will never experience as real parents, such as ; parent-teacher interviews; art work on the fridge door, sleepovers; school graduations; weddings and grandchildren. But none-the-less, it has been a joy and a learning experience to look after one of God's precious creatures.

God doesn't answer prayer like a genie in a lamp. He doesn't pop up and answer when we rub the Bible and say a quick prayer. He may not answer the way we expect Him or within our time schedule but He always does answer. God gives us exactly what we need, in the amount that we can handle, with usually a lesson to learn because He cares enough to see us grow.

Psalm 25:4

Me! Me! Me!

2008-09-11T17:59:00.006-04:00

At a spa in Switzerland, Jean and I watched people playing on the water tubing ride. Water flowed down levels like a fast flowing river and swirled in small pools where tubers bobbed about before being whisked down to another level and on and on it zigzagged to the bottom which wasn't visible from where we were standing. It appeared to be a fun easy activity; one I'd never tried but was curious about.

I handed my eye glasses to Jean, picked up a yellow tube, hopped onto it and away I went. Down the first level I floated and came almost to a halt in the first tiny pool. Yup! It was fun and easy!

Suddenly the current picked up the tube and carried me swiftly down to the next level. In desperation I grabbed the slippery tube's sides. A wave rose up, overturned the tube and I went under.

The thoughts that race through one's mind while in the mist of a crisis are startling. First I thought about my looks, particularly my hair. I had washed it that morning and didn't want to get it wet. Then I fretted about breaking my glasses. But I was comforted by the remembrance of leaving them in Jean's care.

The strong current pushed me to the bottom where I walloped my head. That's when I felt panicky as I feared the bump would knock me unconscious, water would fill my lungs, and I'd drown. My next thought was; 'I don't want to die on a tube ride! I don't want to go home in a box in cargo! I paid for a window seat!' I floundered in the current for some time before stumbling to the edge where a teenage boy helped me off the slide, over the railing and back onto the walkway.

Although I was relieved to be alive and well despite the bump on my head, I was dismayed to discover my true colours. Throughout the whole but short ordeal, my only thoughts were of me; not one thought about others. If I had met my end; would Jean be left with guilt about bringing me to the spa; how would my husband feel about receiving his wife in a casket; how would my family deal with the shock of my sudden demise? Shameful isn't it? I thought about my hair, my glasses, and my airplane seat.

It is human nature to focus on ourselves especially during a crisis. In fact, some news stories have reported how stronger passengers on a sinking ship literally run over the fallen weaker ones to reach the life boats.

As Jesus hung on the cross, He looked upon his accusers, some of whom were laughing and casting lots while dividing His garments among themselves, He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." In His anguish, Jesus thought about us and remembered the sole purpose of His visit. He was and is the gentle Lamb who died in our stead for our inherited and self-made sins so that we won't languish in the eternal pit of hopelessness but be reconciled into God's loving presence. He thought of us. Jesus is the way home, if we accept this truth.

Luke 23:34 KJV

No Big Scene

2008-09-04T14:41:00.002-04:00

There was a long lineup, as usual, at the coffee shop yet many tables were vacant. Most customers were taking their coffee on the run.

After I received my coffee and tea biscuit, I scanned the room for a quiet spot. Aha! My eye caught the “bird’s eye view” table in the corner – perfect spot to write. I made a bee-line to it and got there safely without spilling my coffee. Carefully I set my coffee cup and tea biscuit down.

Just as I was about to lower my behind into the chair, a young boy about twelve years of age rushed over with his cold drink and straw and said, “I was sitting here!”

Apparently he had gotten up to get something when I honed into his territory. I mumbled, “Oh, you were sitting here?” I departed feeling a little embarrassed and put out. I wanted that table.

Can you image the scene if I had refused to leave? What if I had just plunked myself down and said, “Too bad, kid! You snooze, you lose!”

Then what would he have done? Perhaps thrown his drink at me? Aha! A food fight! I would have tossed my hot coffee into his face. He’d scream, then punch me, I’d kick him…the police would be summoned...we’d be charged for disturbing the peace and possible destruction of restaurant property.

But nothing like that happened. I quietly left and found another table to write at. I’ll take revenge with the pen! Not!

I wonder what others thought as I got up and left. Did they think, ‘Poor lady, ousted by a kid.’ or ‘What a nice lady to quietly leave and find another table.’ or ‘What a wimp! She should have stood up to that kid! Shame on that boy for treating his elders like that!’

You see how easy it is to avoid a big scene? Just walk away. Here is what I learned from that little incident; it doesn’t matter what others think as long as I’m doing what is right; arguing over a trivial matter is a waste of precious time; everyone deserves respect even children; holding a grudge, wallowing in feelings of offense, or allowing our minds to plot revenge only keeps us from maturing in our character and stifles grace from blossoming. A big scene can be avoided by turning the other cheek.

Matt 5:39