The peh Factor
“Seeking balance in a polarized world”
The Month of February and a bit beyond have been months filled with lots of travel for Terri and me. We had planned a long February trip to get out of the doldrums of winter, get a bit of sunshine and warmth and see family and friends. We succeeded!! Yes, it took 4545 miles in a road trip that included Wrigley. Yes, it meant spending far too much on pet-friendly hotels/motels. Yes, we encountered some pretty severe weather…and yes, we saw family and friends and it was worth it.
There were several important moments on our journey. We were and have always been mesmerized by the Pacific Coast. It did not disappoint. Cannon Beach, Oregon, California’s redwoods, sea glass search in Fort Bragg, watching Wrigley become a puppy again as he can and carried sticks at the dog-friendly beaches filled our heart with new memories while bringing back old ones.
Remember.
Even more important was the time spent with family and friends. My visit with my sister Ruth and her family was great. Ruth has Lewy Body dementia, but, in our time together we saw a woman with a mind that could recall many episodes of her genealogy research on behalf of our family. Wonderful times.
Remember
Visiting with Terri’s son, Cameron as well as my brother and sister-in-law in San Diego was great. We love to remember old stories as well as get caught up on the new ones that are being created every day as we were also able to do with our friends Ed and Shirley and Jeff and Kim. Old friendships are quickly reborn when we are able to spend time together.
Remember
One of the outstanding events on this trip was the three hours we spent with my sister Linda’s children, their spouses and the grandchildren. My sister died of ovarian cancer in early February. It was a relatively quick death with the cancer being discovered in late November. As with many deaths, the quickness was good for her and tough for her family and friends. During our three hours we remembered a lot of ‘Linda stories’ as well as how God had filled and directed her life over the years. Her life had not always been easy. A difficult time in her marriage with Dave had almost led to divorce. But God, in his mercy, had healed that marriage over a period of a few years and gave them a story of God’s healing power they were able to share around the world…literally. The time to remember allowed us to laugh, shed tears and celebrate the faithfulness of God.
Times of remembering can be wonderful. Times of remembering are important.
In Moses’ memoirs, the Book of Deuteronomy, there is a passage that reinforces the importance of remembering. Written as the Children of Israel are preparing to enter the Promised Land, leaving 40 years of struggle and preparing to enter into a land of blessing, it is one of my favorite passages about the importance of remembering and so pertinent today as we hear promise after promise of “Make America Great Again,” and even, “Make America Rich Again.” It says:
8:11 Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today. 12 When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock, 16 and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good. 17 Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
And then, there is this warning given:
If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. (New Revised Standard Version)
The importance of remembering was essential for God’s people as they entered the Promised Land. The importance of remembering was wonderful and a blessing as I sat with my family and remembered my sister’s life. The importance of remembering will become increasingly important for us, for America, for the Church as we move forward day by day in a nation that is increasingly and rapidly turning away from the God who has blessed and guided us for more than 300 years.
Remember.
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