Not Taking Life for Granted

It has been good to get caught up on some rest after a busy weekend. Debbie and I attended the late service at Timberline Church and began our new ministry as part of the prayer team after the weekend worship services. We went through the training and gained appreciation for the thoughtful preparation that is needed to facilitate this important ministry in a large church.

On Friday I traveled to Denver and met up with two of my aunts (my father’s sisters). It was special being with my Aunt Margaret the oldest of my father’s siblings and my Aunt Paula the youngest. My father was the oldest of ten children of Guy and Ione Summers.

Margaret is now in her early 90’s and beginning to slow down. She said she is “still a good driver” but doesn’t trust those “other people” on the road. So her children have talked her into giving up driving. She has been the leader of King’s Daughters a missionary support group at Calvary Temple in Denver for 41 years. She has just turned over leadership to someone else, but still attends the monthly  meetings. I still recall Margaret being helpful in getting signatures for Jane Norton’s petition drive to be on the primary ballot of U.S. Senate in 2010. In appreciation, Jane’s staff made sure Margaret was present for the trip to the Secretary of State’s office to turn in the boxes of ballots from around the state. (picture of Margaret and me)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand,my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches,my glory fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.’”      Job 29:18-20

“I am sure you are beginning to identify with Job.”  That is a statement that I heard as I was dealing with my month on end hospitalization, including setbacks, new discoveries and complications that seemed to be routine. At one point I told Debbie, “the theme as we head to surgery is no more crisis.”

I have known others who have suffered the hand of grief and physical and financial challenges greater than what we have experienced. Many of those like me felt their life was on track for abundant “test free” living. In spite of my experience and those that I have known, I still don’t think anyone can compete or compare themselves to Job. He lost children, servants, livestock, homes and health. But he also lost something that is difficult to measure. He lost his respect and dignity among the community.

If you read through the stanzas of Job 29 you will gain an appreciation for Job’s life before and after all of his losses. That chapter opens with this lament from Job… “Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me,when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent,when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me…”  Job 29:1-5

Job talks about young men clearing the way before him and the elders rising in his presence. He was one who shared wisdom and helped the downtrodden. He summarized his life of comfort as follows… “I lived like a king among his troops…” (Job 29:25)

In Job 29:18-20, we see Job’s confidence in life. The sea of life was smooth sailing and any destination was available. Now that is something that I can relate to. I am not comparing myself to Job as far as wealth, wisdom, and status. But I was as Job said in another chapter “at ease.” We had just moved to Fort Collins and were beginning a new chapter. It was a fresh start in many ways after the last fifteen years back in Lakewood. We had made many friends and I had just finished my legislative service. Outside of not being as “fleet of foot” on the base paths of the softball field I had few complaints. I was looking forward to directing my undivided attention to the work of Teen Challenge, but open to opportunities that may arise.

Within three weeks of our move to Fort Collins this new venture changed venues from a new home to a hospital room. As a result I spent most of 2013 away from our new home instead of in our new home.

At times I have a hard time articulating some of the “lessons learned” over the last year, but one that has come to the forefront is “don’t take life for granted.” I am confident that is what Job would advise as well. The other important aspect of dealing with the setbacks in life is, you can lose your ability to earn a living, you can lose your dignity, your can lose your independence, but nothing and no one can take your faith and your true friendships away. That is what has sustained me and for that I will be ever grateful.