August 28 – “Moving up”

And then came … the smiles.   Brief, tired grins at first.  So worn from day after day of wading through possessions and memories.  But "He is here!" and "Look!  They made it back!" and "Have you heard from …" and "It is so good to see you!"  began to ring out.  A genuine camaraderie that went so much deeper than simply "Fellow Great Islanders" quickly evidenced itself.  Live on common ground they did.  Suffer this common tragedy they did.  Face a similar future they did.    But this small band, huddling together in the sand, within sight of the powerful ocean that has so recently wrought such destruction, amidst debris from their own homes and those of their neighbors – this small band – began to sing.  Softly at first, tentative.  The hard to explain emotions so common when one connects with the Great One were amplified some ten-fold that day.  And when the gathering was ended, they did not want to leave.  For now it was different here.  Now they had been assured.  Now they had been encouraged.  They knew they must begin to forge a new Island.  They knew it would never be the same.  But they knew as well that they were not alone.  The Great One had not deserted them.  In fact He had walked with them through the crisis.  He had brought them together once again.  They had each other.  They had Him.  Greater things were yet to come.    Boy, am I ever beat.  We had a big workday at church today.  We moved from our old building upstairs to the new one.  Not just the school.  We moved pews and desks and chairs and boxes.  We set up the room for worship tomorrow.  It's going to be an interesting day.  We'll still have our projector for song words, but it hasn't been hung in the ceiling yet, so we have to watch out for cables on the floor.  We'll have to direct traffic, too.  All the signs are not yet up, and our entrance is in an unexpected place.  We also worked outside.  I brought our weedeater and attacked the parking lot and the weeds around our sign.  I was relieved of duty on two different occasions, so I switched to sweeping to end the day.  It looks good.  Everyone who was there seemed very excited.  I can't wait to see what happens.  Feels like it did back when we first got started 15 years ago.  What will God do next?  I like the anticipation.   Chris' Mom has been sleeping a lot more lately.  They had to wake her to administer medications and to see if she would eat something.  She doesn't seem to be in much pain, though.   I'm getting ready to take Mom to her favorite eating spot, Gloden Corral.  Sure hope I can stay awake.  I took one of my pain pills when I got home awhile ago.  It has helped.  And I am sleepy.  But it's a short drive.    3 John 2 says, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well."   Father, I pray this prayer for Chris.  Keep her healthy physically, and give her peace and joy spiritually.  Amen.