August 8, 2020 ^
Today is Saturday and it is morning. Wind is blowing and waves are crashing the shore. It is nature’s music and the performance is continuing without sunshine. Clouds are heavy and deep gray. The weather map does not show signs of any let up. Rain so far is intermittent. Our plans had been to go to the Lutheran Church and tend to some landscape maintenance. My landscape work of the last seven years has been neglected. I resigned because of health concerns and no one has stepped up, nor was anyone been hired to do the work. I will plug away at it for about an hour each day for the next few weeks. This should suffice and bring things up to speed. The congregation is dwindling. People quit attending for various reasons; health is a factor and death has taken some of our dear ones. One man who led the singing and his wife who played the piano at a weekend service just quit saying the church was not conservative enough. They had been involved for years and then suddenly they leave a note on the piano bench with their explanation. I thought why not say you are getting up in years and need to call it a day and give thanks for the opportunity to have served. Jesus taught us to love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves — so LOVE is the word. It was never qualified which implies that we may not be selective in whom we love, but should love all without question. Each of us has a purpose, usually unknown to us and we should not set ourselves up to pontificate. Why bring misery and doubt when you can bring joy. In the Catholic Church, I cringe when at a wedding or funeral mass the priest has to tell the non-Catholics that they cannot receive Communion but can come up and be blessed. In the bible we read that Jesus said at the last supper, come, all of you and eat this bread for it is my body and drink this wine for it is my blood. He made no exceptions, but invited everyone. At a time when all churches are reaching out for members it seems contrary and offensive to go against the intentions of Jesus. Do man rules supersede the wishes of our Redeemer? This denial of the Eucharistic meal seems so counterproductive. Rain is pouring and trees are swaying. It is most likely that plans across the region have changed. The birdbath is filling and plants are being watered and other things are being done. Before I left my bed, I thought about writing these things down and sharing them with people I love and respect. I think and pray for friends, living and deceased, as well as for all my relatives, those past and the present, each day. Everyone has their own life and some paths that once crossed frequently do not cross at all any more. We have little control physically so we make our connections in a spiritual way which is probably more meaningful. Life events take us from one thing to the next and many times exciting things are never shared. We send Christmas letters and greetings and that is that, but in the meantime have social intercourse with those around us who have a present influence in our lives. Everyone, with some exceptions, pretty much believes this and the same phenomena exists in their being. It is with these thoughts that I close for now, sending my love and best wishes. Be at peace.
Steve
Steve Haarman 