First Day of June

I awoke to the June rain. Time is moving rather quickly. The last year has gone buy much faster than most. But its good.

Yesterday was one of those rainy days. Most of the day I had to myself and I really enjoyed it. I think there are times in life where we need those days. Life has slowed down quite a bit since I have been up here. The Richardson's live differently than most people. They live as if time doesn't have a hold on them. Their relationships are of the utmost importance and they are placed far above all tasks. I think life is meant to be lived that way.

Yesterday morning Seths dad Dennis told us to get in the car. He didn't tell us where we were going. So as we were driving, i was wondering where we would end up. When we pulled up to Chester Park Senior Living in east Anchorage, I was struck with nostalgia. When I was 17, I got a job at a assisted living home where my grandmother had been living for about 2 years. That was a wonderful time in my life. There are times when I get lost in those memories, and wish that life could be that simple again. I was a waiter, and we always had the oldies playing... Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington. It was almost as if my grandmothers home was remnant of the 1940's.

Chester Park reminded me so much of Brighten Gardens. It was about 9 o'clock when we got there. The residents had just finished breakfast. We took the elevator to the third floor. Door number 321 had the name Bob Black embroidered on it. I smiled, because I realized that visitation was probably apart Pastor Dennis's job.

Bob Black was sitting on his recliner, smiling when we walked in. We took a seat across from him on the couch. Bob struck me as a quiet man, but Dennis has a way of brining out the inner child of almost everyone he meets. Bob was no different.

Bob told us of his life. How he met his wife later in his years. How she passed not to long ago, but how the Lord was good to give them twenty years together when they only expected ten.

I mostly watched Bob. Bob spoke they way Alaskan pine's sway in the wind, slow and steady. His used words only that were necessary. There was a quiet joy about Bob. His bible was lying next to him with a high lighter. I was amazed to see a man in his late 80's still spending time with the Lord in the mornings. I hope my eyes are good and I love Him that much when I am in my final years.

Dennis asked Bob why he hadn't got a wheel chair yet. Bob said because he didn't need one. Then Dennis told Bob that if he had one, he would probably get a motorized wheelchair and chase all the women at Chester Park. Bob grinned and said "I probably would."

While Bob was talking, I was struck with a thought, Bob is seventy years older than me. He has 4 periods of twenty years to remember. I have one.

As we drove home I drifted off as the rainy mountains peered back at me through my window. I dreamt of the times with my grandmother before she went home to be with The Lord. They were quiet and full of life, just like those few moments with Bob.

God has a way of speaking to us in the stillness. Sometimes we need to walk to the rhythm of a summer rain to hear Him. Bob walks to that rhythm.


Today is another day in Alaska. I don't know what I will do.

"But I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living."



JN