August 19 – “Paralleling Isaac”

But they had a task before them.  Their quest had not ended.  Their journey had only reached a slight detour.  This was, after all, the castle.  The Yarrow And Ramtil Domain in the Land of the Sycamores on Greater Island.  The realm of the Queen.  This was home.   Messages from surrounding realms on Greater Island began to trickle in.  Many, many neighbors returned to find their castles in much the same disarray.  Others saw obvious results of the vicious flood waters, but soon realized that they would survive.  Their lands would recover. Their homes still stood.  Too many others were stunned to return to no possibility of recovering property or even a roof over their head.  A huge raft, constructed to transport large and many goods across the sea to the Main Land, broke free of its ties and was tossed randomly through the churning waters.  Its random, deadly path soon took it to the castles, the homes, of friends of the Queen on the other side of the Island.  And the huge craft, created for a certainly benign and helpful purpose, became a hurtling carrier of destruction.  Homes were ripped apart, throwing wood and stone and bedding and plates and lives into the raging waters.  And when those waters finally receded, the craft settled nearby, once again but a simple craft of transport built for good, yet now a misplaced mess amid the devastation.   Mom and I went to the youth worship time last night.  The baptism was postponed.  The family wanted more of them to have the opportunity to witness the event.  The young man was clearly disappointed, but I encouraged him an dlet him know that was a good thing.  There  was kind of a sad note within the group.  Several have graduated and are heading away to college.  Last night was their last night with the group for awhile.  One of the Mom's brought a cake with lots of whipped cream and strawberries dipped in chocolate on top.  That helped take the edge off.   The Bible study was on the life of Isaac.  As the youth pastor was explaining how Isaac dug wells, then ended up giving them away aand calmly digging some more, Mom leaned over and "whispered" to me, "That sounds like he's talking about you."  So my Mom thinks my life parallels that of Isaac.   OK.  But I'm not sure if she was saying I was a wimp or I was effectively turning the other cheek.   I mowed our lawn.  At least I tried to.  The mower has developed an interesting rhythm of its own.  It starts easily enough.  Just like it's supposed to.  But then it runs like it has to take deep breaths every few seconds.  Rev … ease off … Rev … ease off.  Problem is, on the ease off cycle, the blades obviously don't turn as fast or maybe not at all.  So there were several strips where you could see the visual evidence of the rest cycle.  At least it didn't die out completely.  I got the yard as mowed as it's gonna get for awhile, and I did manage to bet the rain, which, by the way, never came at all yesterday.  Did get some today, though.  That's a good thing.    The latest word from the alternate universe traveler:  Chris' Mom is seeing mice and butterflies run across her bed.  I told Chris, "As long as they are fluffy white Cinderella mice and big beautiful moody gardens Jurassic butterflies, how bad can it be?"  Her Mom also occasionally talks to someone at the foot of her bed and tells him to let go of her foot, that she's not ready yet.    I finally texted Chris, "There is joy in you – his name is Holy Spirit.  When it gets too tough or too weird, go where he is and grin just a little.  Then remember your goofy husband and laugh out loud."   Philippians 2:5-11 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature b of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   Father, this whole paralleling Isaac thing was a bit disconcerting.  I don't mean to be a wimp, all I try to do is be like Jesus, and he turned the other cheek.  Maybe that's what Isaac was doing: living the character of Jesus.  That's sure what I want to do.  Amen.