... Plus Micah.
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
This thing that I do
Because of the work that I do, Sunday night ended up being a night of very little sleep. I tried to rest but mostly just hovered near the top of my sleepability, never going deep, never falling into it with deep pleasure. Then Monday, my normal day off, ended up being more of the same, work stuff. I ended up at the office because I might as well be there if I was going to work.
By late afternoon the work was lifting and things were starting to return to a semi sort of normal. Lauralea and I in an effort to temporarily leave the world behind, got in the car and headed to town to find a bit of supper. We returned in the early evening and I retreated to the shack to see what was on in the radio world. That's when I heard that my friend had passed away.
What a day.
Add to that a late evening painful bout with an occasional health issue I live with, and I was ready for bed early.
For other reasons than the previous night, it was another night of sleeping near the surface, and when my alarm went off at 5:30 am, I was already semi conscious. Even at that dizzy hour, the heaviness still lingered. I opened my prayer page and saw the verse that had been assigned for today.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28
Hmmm.
I lay back on my pillow and thought of all the heaviness of the past few days. The pain, the loss, not just for me but for others as well. Thought of the work that I do and how sometimes it's just too hard to do. I thought about the cost of practicing what I preach and what vulnerability had cost me this time.
I burrowed deeper into my pillow and in the darkness again looked to God with his perfect timing and good words, and I received them for myself. I txted Marc and asked him to lead early prayer with the guys, and I drifted off to sleep for a couple of more hours.
My plan this day has been simply to stay near Jesus. Yes meetings have come and I've been working, but just staying intentionally near Jesus and resting in him, is my goal.
Shortly after I got to the office, a call came that a friends wife had died in the night. Sigh.
God knows these things. The beginnings, the endings.
I choose this day to receive from him the kind of rest he offers. I choose to come to him.
Again.
By late afternoon the work was lifting and things were starting to return to a semi sort of normal. Lauralea and I in an effort to temporarily leave the world behind, got in the car and headed to town to find a bit of supper. We returned in the early evening and I retreated to the shack to see what was on in the radio world. That's when I heard that my friend had passed away.
What a day.
Add to that a late evening painful bout with an occasional health issue I live with, and I was ready for bed early.
For other reasons than the previous night, it was another night of sleeping near the surface, and when my alarm went off at 5:30 am, I was already semi conscious. Even at that dizzy hour, the heaviness still lingered. I opened my prayer page and saw the verse that had been assigned for today.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." -Matthew 11:28
Hmmm.
I lay back on my pillow and thought of all the heaviness of the past few days. The pain, the loss, not just for me but for others as well. Thought of the work that I do and how sometimes it's just too hard to do. I thought about the cost of practicing what I preach and what vulnerability had cost me this time.
I burrowed deeper into my pillow and in the darkness again looked to God with his perfect timing and good words, and I received them for myself. I txted Marc and asked him to lead early prayer with the guys, and I drifted off to sleep for a couple of more hours.
My plan this day has been simply to stay near Jesus. Yes meetings have come and I've been working, but just staying intentionally near Jesus and resting in him, is my goal.
Shortly after I got to the office, a call came that a friends wife had died in the night. Sigh.
God knows these things. The beginnings, the endings.
I choose this day to receive from him the kind of rest he offers. I choose to come to him.
Again.
Monday, March 04, 2013
VE6LO ...SK
Word comes tonight that a friend has completed his journey on this side of glory.
Lyndy was the guy who invited me to the local Ham Radio Club and when I got there for the monthly breakfast, he made room for me. He made room for me in the group and on the air and in his life, and for that I'll always be thankful.
VE6LO was his callsign, and when I would check in to the net, his friendly voice would recognize me and welcome me to the net by identifying me as the Voice Of Randall. (My callsign is VE6VOR)
Lyndy was warm and welcoming and helpful. He got me set up with a permanent mobile 2 meter unit because, he said, he had so many of them laying around. I treasure that radio now and think of him when I use it.
Word came last week that he had been given a short time to live, and so I contacted him on the phone and we had a good chat. Then he was admitted to the hospital and I was able to spend some precious time with him last Wednesday morning. We talked about life and he shared some things with me that were personal, about his life and faith. He was trying to encourage me even as I was trying to encourage him. We prayed before I parted and he wanted to pray a blessing on me too, which I gladly received. He prayed like a man who knew what he was doing, and his prayer washed over me in deep gracious ways.
I told him last visit that I'd come and see him again and he smiled and looked forward to that. My seeing him will change now from tomorrow morning, to a bit further down the road. But I do look forward to another good conversation with VE6LO.
For now I have a few fun reminders of a visit we had last September at his place. His antenna farm is a thing of beauty, and he wanted to climb it again, just to show me he could do it. It's probably the last picture around of him in his tower.
Here are a few pictures from our afternoon at VE6LO land.
And so that's that then. VE6LO is a silent key and I only knew him a year.
At least I had the chance to know him a bit. I am pleased for that.
Peace to his memory.
UPDATE: Lyndy's story click here.
Lyndy was the guy who invited me to the local Ham Radio Club and when I got there for the monthly breakfast, he made room for me. He made room for me in the group and on the air and in his life, and for that I'll always be thankful.
VE6LO was his callsign, and when I would check in to the net, his friendly voice would recognize me and welcome me to the net by identifying me as the Voice Of Randall. (My callsign is VE6VOR)
Lyndy was warm and welcoming and helpful. He got me set up with a permanent mobile 2 meter unit because, he said, he had so many of them laying around. I treasure that radio now and think of him when I use it.
Word came last week that he had been given a short time to live, and so I contacted him on the phone and we had a good chat. Then he was admitted to the hospital and I was able to spend some precious time with him last Wednesday morning. We talked about life and he shared some things with me that were personal, about his life and faith. He was trying to encourage me even as I was trying to encourage him. We prayed before I parted and he wanted to pray a blessing on me too, which I gladly received. He prayed like a man who knew what he was doing, and his prayer washed over me in deep gracious ways.
I told him last visit that I'd come and see him again and he smiled and looked forward to that. My seeing him will change now from tomorrow morning, to a bit further down the road. But I do look forward to another good conversation with VE6LO.
For now I have a few fun reminders of a visit we had last September at his place. His antenna farm is a thing of beauty, and he wanted to climb it again, just to show me he could do it. It's probably the last picture around of him in his tower.
Here are a few pictures from our afternoon at VE6LO land.
And so that's that then. VE6LO is a silent key and I only knew him a year.
At least I had the chance to know him a bit. I am pleased for that.
Peace to his memory.
UPDATE: Lyndy's story click here.
Friday, March 01, 2013
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