SUNBEAMS PIERCE THE CLOUDS

The windstorm blasting out of the Columbia George lasted five days or more and was accompanied by cold rain and dark grey skies. It thrashed the trees throughout our place and as far as we can see onto the neighbor’s lots as well. The lawns and driveways are cluttered with the litter of tree debris and broken limbs. The unraked leaves of last fall that swirled about, racing first this way and then that now lie piled up against the house and fences. During the nights an occasional crash or thump left us wondering what had fallen or torn loose from its normal location. We had to wait until later to assess the damage. While the storm raged, there was little to do but hunker down and let the gusty beast blow itself out. However, during the whole tumult, at times sunlight did pierce the gloom and briefly reminded us that days of light and warmth and renewal are not far away.

My little weather report of recent days could be a metaphor of how we fared physically and spiritually during the past week. Of course, you will realize that the perspectives the observations are mine and may be a bit dark, but I hope to relate to you moments of light and hope too as I compose my thoughts for this post.

Our world became much smaller for a time this week, as there were several days in which we seldom left the familiar comfort of our bedroom. In fact several friends have graciously joined Betty at her bedside to be in company and to visit with her about other loved ones and about bygone memories. Parallel to the sounds of nighttime damage outside, I was awakened before dawn by Betty crashing to the floor as she tried to make her way to the bedside commode. I can’t relate all the thoughts and fears of awful consequence which came to mind as I tried to grasp reality after being jerked so abruptly from sound sleep. Suffice to say that although some bodily damage was done, Betty can still stand with assistance and can (painfully) walk a short distance – i.e. to the family room. There is cancer in the all the thick portion of her bones, including her lower pelvis, and this primary focal spot for her pain is considerably more tender now since the fall. So we are waiting, in the dark as-it-were, until light comes to let us assess the injury more accurately.

The falling, combined with other ongoing changes this week, has changed the routine and left the other details of our lives and surroundings a bit cluttered. This is like the residue of tree-trash covering the lawns. In like manner, this week there seem to be uncounted bits of this and parts of that which are still in the unfinished or undone columns. At some point I’ll get all these little projects tidied up and be ready to move on to the larger jobs. Similar to the piles of leaves in the yard, some of the already postponed routine of changing seasons is just delayed until there is time to devote to those tasks. Some of this is my own doing; for example, I have over twenty-five years of file cabinet content to sort and reduce to a manageable few drawers. My tasks can wait; Betty’s have higher priority. Her “ideas” and “intentions” swirl this way and that, like windblown leaves, and we are slowly sorting out the urgent from the important so these unfinished details do not bother her any more.

Let me conclude this entry by recalling some of the sunshine moments of the past week. Sunday morning Betty was dressed in a fashionable pink jacket; and she looked lovely. Several at church commented about her attractiveness and cards which came early in the week also mentioned how pretty she looked in pink. On Monday the “Canasta Ladies” came and after a couple of rounds, served their lunch; Afterwards, they sat at Betty’s bedside and read with her from the Bible, discussed heaven and “end-of-life-lessons”, and prayed together. On Tuesday, Betty’s first grade girlfriend Helen Marie called and they enjoyed a lengthy visit on the phone. Hospice Nurse Cathey came for her regular visit and during that check-up she strongly counseled Betty about eating [It’s OK to eat when you want to; it’s OK to not eat when your body says, “No.”] Since that talk, Betty has been a little more willing to eat a bit now and then. A favorite cousin (and her hubby) called and we enjoyed that long and precious conference call for much of an hour. Our Wednesday night Bible group, somewhat diminished by the absence of travelers, spent the study time reading together from the Psalms. A very special local friend came to visit, to bring our evening meal, and to sit with Betty while Patty and I made a quick run to Costco. Barb’s love gift of food, time, concern and hugs was far more timely and needed than she could have imagined. So in spite of the storm clouds this week, the sun breaks [Son-Breaks!] delivered by family, friends and loved ones reminded us to look for our daily blessing not in the pain and disability and loss occurring in our physically declining bodies but in the lives and hearts and spirits of believers and thoughtful friends who hold us dear and who take the time to express their feelings in tangible ways.

Winter won't last much longer; Springtime and a season of renewal will be coming soon. I know this more from God's steadfast Word and faithful promises than from the waverings of Punxsutawney Phil, the pessimistic groundhog. Instead of worrying about how much winter remains, we are looking forward to the warm, refreshing, heavenly days ahead.