LineaLanoie's Weblog

This morning early we gathered at the church to pray – our regular Wednesday a.m. Gatecrashers.  I look forward to this time with anticipation most weeks and I did today as well but this morning it was hard to get moving.  Everything about me seemed stiff and slow moving. 

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.”  (Psalm 27:8)

The events of this week have accumulated, in a way.  They weigh me down and the week is just half over:  problems with a woman who, claiming to be a friend, is actually taking advantage of my elderly aunt, being one of my fathers health care providers was, this time around, stressful, a daughter phoning to hear a cheerful word in the middle of the night when I was tired.  All these people looking to me for help; for some kind of solution when I am feeling right out of answers and right out of energy.

Teach me how to live, O Lord. (Psalm 27:11)

David expresses so well what I am feeling some days.  This macho, warrior, king with multiple responsibilities expresses his need for God’s presence in ways that I connect with.  I thank God for the Psalms that so many years later express feelings I feel now and convey God’s love to me still.

The one thing I ask of the Lord –
The thing I seek most –
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
Then I will hold my head high,
above my enemies who surround me.
At his tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
Singing and praising the Lord with music.
(Psalm 27:4 to 6)

I think I forgot to mention some important news – Yesterday Grace found out something she has for some reason been dying to know for months.  It is always hard to wait I guess. 

“It” as in the baby coming soon, appears to be a boy. 

You can probably tell what era I’m from – we waited till the bitter end to discover these facts.  In fact if I remember right the job had to be pretty much finished before that part of the anatomy was visible.

Now we are seriously into the naming game.

Yesterday, well I guess the whole weekend, was spent connecting with people and with working on the basement renovations.  It was hard work physically so I was really wiped out from all of the physical work by last night.  And this week promises to have a lot of work to come – cleaning, finishing up on painting and sealing tile, etc.  Then the moving.  Just from the loft to the basement but that means lots of stairs.  It will be good to finish things up, and we have to.  The baby is due in a bit over one month and there is lots to do.  Time always goes faster than we think.

The time spent this weekend connecting with friends was good.  I value this time spent sharing where I am at on my spiritual journey and encouraging others in theirs.  So I guess maybe the hard physical work and the restful spiritual work should have balanced each other off.  Probably means more about my poor physical condition but by last night I was so tired that I think my brain kind of shut down.  I went to bed early and had a much needed sleep.

Yesterday afternoon some of us spent some time praying for a friend who is in the process of chemotherapy.  We prayed for her months ago before she started these treatments.  She is looking so much better both physically and her face reflected the hope and even happiness that she has now.  It was good to pray with her again. 

Praying for healing is a relatively new experience for me.  Up until a few years ago, I think I would simply have prayed something to the effect of “God heal her if this is your will.”  This was different.  I guess I have learned a few things about prayer – things I am glad for.  Yesterday I mostly felt inadequate to know how to pray.  I could imagine where the tumor was, sort of, knowing the anatomy at least well enough to do that.  So that was kind of in my mind as I prayed for her.  And then I could picture her just sort of running up and sitting on God’s lap, being secure in his care.  Afterwards we went for tea.  One of the things that struck me as we talked afterwards was that she said that she felt so relaxed after being prayed for.  There is so much more I need to learn about this kind of prayer.

Then afterwards I went up to the hospital to take impressions for a new baby with a cleft lip and palate.  Such a tiny little thing – a girl – clefts are less common than in boys.  So today that is added to my list of things to do in the evening.  I’ll go up after work and put it in and show the mother how to use it.

I dutifully stayed away from home most of the day.  Spent the day having coffee talking with a couple friends and doing my grocery shopping.  I was allowed back home at about 4:30.

The kids had been working all day on the bathroom.  And of course it has taken them a  lot longer than planned.  But we are going to have a beautiful bathroom down there.  I hope little sister realizes what a gift she is getting from her big brother and sister-in-law.  What they have done is place slate tile around the tub instead of a plastic tub surround.  A big job but we have had this slate around for about a year thinking that we would use it on the entry way.  So they were able to use something we already had on hand and make a bathroom that is nothing short of elegant. 

I have such handy kids.  They must get it from my side of the family 🙂