SCRIP-BITS

 Romans 12:12.       Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

Oh Friends, I’m here today to testify! To testify that our Lord God Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is indeed an exceedingly great God! Not only in terms of His might and power, but also in the beautiful, LOVING manner in which He raises His children. Oh my people, the Lord’s trying to tell or teach me something, but obviously I’m not listening or learning. The long and short of the story is this: You all know I was in Vegas over the weekend, having a good time, being truly blessed. Friends, when I stop and think about the way complete strangers have been treating me, I can only conclude that it’s been the hand of God, and say: ‘Thank you Lord!’ I’ve said that countless times since my vacation began. And now, as I write this Bit from a comfortable home office, somewhere in sunny California, with a nice view of trees, houses and mountains, I have to give even more thanks. Yes Friends, I am in California, don’t ask me where, not too far from L.A though. Anyway, I left Vegas yesterday around lunch time in a rented car…I even got an upgrade for the same price as the smaller car – the Lord’s hand of blessing again – so I was able to travel in the comfort I’m accustomed to. (smile) The Duchess, Cousin Sharon and I headed down through the Mojave Desert, cruising in comfort with the tunes playing and good camaraderie happening. We arrived at our host’s, the couple whose wedding we attended in Vegas, at around 5.30. It’s a nice, comfortable place with a pool that the host invited me to sample, but no, my mind was set on salt water. The family came over and the atmosphere was enriched. But Mr. Hot Stuff was intent on going to the beach. I so badly wanted to see, taste and feel the salty air and the saltiness of the ocean, tomorrow would be no good. I hadn’t waited for four years for a dip in the sea, then come so close, and yet wait another day. So my host gave me some directions and away I went, by myself. I didn’t have any real problems finding Zuma Beach, but asked for directions a couple times just to be sure I was going the right way. I got there about half an hour after setting out, exhaled a long sigh of thanks as I gazed out at the wide expanse of almost empty beach and the mighty Pacific Ocean extending as far as the eye could see. Unfortunately the water seemed a bit rough, but like a stout trooper I headed across the beach to the water’s edge, passing a man and a woman, the only two people close by, using metal detectors, searching for whatever in the sand. Uncharitably, I wondered what they expected to find. To tell the truth, I was disappointed when I saw the waves angrily frothing up the shore, and when I put my feet in the water…Brrr! was it ever cold! In fact, the whole beach area was much cooler than the interior. A young couple passed by and I asked if people actually swam in that cold water. They said yes, and often it was cooler than that, so I should just go for it. Well there was never any doubt that I would check it out, having come from so far and waited so long for it. So I got up my gumption and waded into the frothing shore breakers up to my waist. Now I don’t remember if I sat down voluntarily or if the waves threw me down, but I was suddenly enveloped by the roiling water. I tried to stand up, felt one knee pain and buckle under me, so I simply sank back down into the water. After a few more waves washed over me, I finally managed to stand up, chuckling at my sorry self. But that chuckle was short lived, for the Lord in His contrariness immediately drew my attention to my left hand and my missing wedding ring. And the hurtful part is that I considered leaving my watches and rings at home, but only left the watch, reasoning that the rings would not fall off. Obviously I was wrong. Oh Friends, that sudden realization that my wedding ring of almost forty years was gone, most likely forever, was painful and I cried out to the Lord, more in sadness and disappointment than anger. I knew there was a reason for it, though I couldn’t fathom it. I also knew the Duchess would be angry because I’d lost the first one about two months after our marriage and she’d dutifully replaced it with this one. My argument was to be; well this one lasted almost forty years. (smile) Another thing, remember those two people I saw with metal detectors on the beach and my uncharitable thought? Well I had to laugh, because now when I needed them, I looked around and they were nowhere to be found. Hn! The Lord at work again! I eventually went back into the cold, frothing water, spent about fifteen minutes splashing and being thrown around by the waves, couldn’t swim though because there was never a calm enough moment to do so. By the time I left Zuma, it was growing dark, and my soul was sad, bemoaning the loss of the ring, not the monetary value – though with the soaring price of gold it was probably worth much more then when we bought it – but for the sentimental and emotional value. But if I thought that was the end of my problems…Chuh! The fun had just begun. I navigated my way back through the canyons to the highway and got off at the right exit, then got lost. Hn, Hn! I drove around for about fifteen minutes trying to find my bearings, causing all sorts of traffic problems. Thought I had the number for my hosts, but couldn’t find it. Then while driving through a plaza, my host called me on my cell phone, but I couldn’t tell him where I was, so I went into a pizza joint in the plaza to see if they could help, but in the middle of our conversation my phone died. One of the drivers finally gave me directions, with which I found an area I recognized and headed home. But then I realized that I knew the main turn off but not the secondary one. I knew I had to go up a hill, but couldn’t find anything like that. Eventually, while driving around lost and aimless, I saw this older white woman out walking, so I stopped and asked for her help. This time it’s dark, I’m in a pair of tight short pants, barefooted, hair unkempt, possibly looking real weird and scary, but surprisingly, with no hesitation, she asked for my address so she could go and look it up on the map. Just then I also found my host’s phone number tucked away in my pants pocket, so I went into the house and suggested we call instead. She agreed and dialled the number for me. The directions proved that I wasn’t far from home, but instead of making a right turn, I should have made a left. So I thanked the lady and her husband, who’d been poring over a map, guardian angels sent to guide me safely, then continued on my way. But though I followed the directions, I still couldn’t find the place. My bladder was bursting and I was beginning to get irritable, so I just decided to drive back to a nearby plaza, find a phone somehow and ask someone to come and get me. But as usual Friends, when the Lord’s in control of your life, good things happen when needed. Just as I drove into the plaza and parked, my host pulled up beside me. The problem stemmed from poor communication; he told me to take the first left, when it should have been the second left. But as they say, all’s well that ends well. The family was happy to see me back safely, and the Duchess was so overjoyed by my safe return that she claimed the loss of the ring was an anti-climax. Thank you Lord! Ah my people, I was so hot to trot, had to go to the beach immediately, that I never considered the Lord might have wanted me to stay home and enjoy the family fellowship instead. There’s a lesson in waiting patiently on him, and I paid a price for not doing so. A price, though not disastrous, but steep enough to bring me to my senses. But also Friends, please note that at every step of my misadventure, the Lord provided someone or something to guide me safely. And that’s the beauty of our God: though we walk contrary to His Word, and He decides to instil some discipline, it’s never too much to bear, and there are always guardian angels hovering around us for protection. So why are we so afraid to embrace Him and wholeheartedly surrender our lives to His divine guidance eh? Much LOVE!…wait patiently on the Lord…and in His time…He will give you the desires of your heart…  P.S. It’s very late and long, but life and some computer problems tripped me up. And better late than never. (smile) Much LOVE!