A Song at Walmart
by reg daniel

I hum and sing out loud. At home and in public. I know parts of hundreds and hundreds of songs. Ok, not all the songs are gospel, but most are. I do this to bless me and God.

Humming and singing out loud is not only a communication between God and me, I use it as a subtle way to witness. Amazing sometimes how folks listen to part of "Amazing Grace", "Oh, Happy Day", "Jesus Loves Me" etc. What choice do they have if their ears are fairly close to my dispersing mouth and vocal chords?

A few nights ago I was standing in line at the Walmart pharmacy to get 90 tablets of lisinopril to help tame my high blood pressure. As I stood 4 1/2" behind the third person in line, I quietly launched into Dottie Rambo's "He Looked Beyond My Fault". It was very low volume but rather distinct and in the perfect key for me. I watched for signs of life in the woman in front of me. She did not flinch, squirm, tap her foot, sing with me, stare me down, nor ask me to be quiet. She simply stood there like a bored manikin, staring straight ahead, waiting to hear "# 47". I wondered if she were taking a nap or just tuning me out. We were both in line long enough for me to sing the whole song.

Just as I was thanking God that I could worship Him and enjoy the song, regardless of anyone else's response, the woman responded. I was on the verge of checking her pulse or trying to give her CPR when the stranger turned around, flashed a sweet smile and with tears in her eyes, said,"That is my favorite song."

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!

(Or is it huuummmmmmmmm?)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkWg3L_K1F8&feature=player_embedded

Remembering The Refuge Barn

by reg daniel

My mother told about the exciting times of the Mississippi River floods of yesteryear. No warnings. A few levees here and there. Neighbors helping neighbors. Getting around by boat. Crops ruined for a year. No food stamps---and not much food.

Mother and her family, like gobs of Arkansas folks, were poor as church mice in those days. Mother's family had one of those in-disguise-blessings. It was the blessing of high ground. As a matter of fact, they had the highest ground in the area. At the pinnacle of high ground was an old barn.

So when those long-ago floods hit their stride, all the neighbors and their animals made their way to the high ground barn. And there they all lived for several days. Since mother's house was on a lower elevation than the barn, they, too, had to join the barn camp out.

Well, it was not exactly a camp out. At least not a planned camp out. Not much space, no video games, no electricity, and no deodorant. Smelly animals and smelly people.

Like the rest of the kids, mother enjoyed chasing chickens, trying to milk the cows, and sleeping on hay. It seems to have never crossed their minds that if the rain kept up, they would wind up on top of the barn, instead of in it.

Mother was not real big on plain ole vanilla adventure, but she loved those almost arky experiences of her childhood. And I loved hearing about those episodes.

A few lessons from the high ground barn have wafted their way into my plain vanilla mind. 1. Difficult times often cause people to pull together. 2. Even the poor have something to offer. 3. You can endure tuff times when you must. 4. We all need a refuge sometime. 5. The Refuge you need is not a barn with a sheep in it, but is rather the Shepherd Himself.

I wrote this with hopes that you get something from it. And to remember mother. She died one day before Edith's birthday, 2009.

Blessings, wreg

P.S. May you receive some blessings that are not in disguise.

Sometimes When It Rains

Yesterday. June 16.

Yesterday she would have been 63. Shackled. Limited. Struggling. Working. Worrying. Wondering. Waiting.

Instead, she is waltzing and soaking in the awe.

luv wreg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4dfghJNTDI

Our Christmas

by wreggy daniel

Hay. We now have access to a new busline, called Megabus. They are nicer & better priced than Greyhound. I caught one in Iowa City & it took me right down to the heart of Chicago. It dropped me one block from where Derek works (formerly called the Sears Tower). Derek met me at the bus stop & we then boarded a nearby train & zipped up to Evanston where Derek lives.

Omar---the dog---goes wild when he sees me. He actually goes ga ga over anyone who pets him, but I really think he goes ga-ga-er over me. (Just think, if Lady Ga Ga goes ga ga over someone, it would be a Gagapoloosky. Or something.)

Nicole joined us on Christmas Eve & we ate out---at a place called Oscar Wilde's. Great atmosphere & food. Sat by the fireplace. Uncrowded. We later watched a few DVD's of Seinfeld & played cards. On Christmas Day Nicole joined us again later in the day. Played music, games, & ordered Chinese food.

Sun. a.m. I went to a church where I went last last Dec. It is a small Baptist church. Multi ethnic. The pastor & family are Filipinos. Cool music (not too loud). Good service last yr & this.

Sunday afternoon we tried to go ice skating. Derek succeeded. But I immediately got a severe cramp in my leg & could not skate. I think the car accident left fear in me---fear of falling/crashing & getting hurt again. Couldn't shake it.

We contemplated going downhill skiing on Monday. Decided to go. 1 1/2 hrs from Chicago---over in eastern Wis. I knew I would face the fear & cramp issue again. Prayed & asked the Lord to help me. I was tense at first & fell a few times but I worked thru it. We really enjoyed ourselves. Skiing was always the funnest thing we did as a family. Our last downhill ski time together was about 3 yrs ago. Edith, Derek, Nicole, & I went skiing in Galena, Illinois on a super sunny day. Watched fireworks outside the restaurant window where we were having an after-ski meal.

While in Chicago, we got 3-4" of new, fluffy snow. Since Omar the Lover Dog loves new snow, I took him out for a romp. When I took Omar out, he went beserk in it. He totally loves new snow. It was a grand opportunity to run, jump, zig, zag, bite the snow, bury one’s face in it, & just squeal with delight. Omar seems to have enjoyed it, too.

New year's eve I was home alone. New year's day I ate chili at the Rock's house . We visited & then we guys watched some football. I watched one game & came home. They could watch the other 5 games without me. I needed to ease my mind & ease into a sermon.

We had a heat wave recently. 50F for 2 dayz. Then it plunged fast. Zipped down to zero in a few hrs. It is nerdcurling.

That's the newz from the frozen tundra---where all the women are strong, all the kids are good looking, & all the preachers are above average.

luv, wreggy

P.S. Since my dear neighbors shoveled/blew the foot of snow away while I was away, I plan to go away each time we get a big snow.

P.S.S. I enjoyed zipping & slipping around Chicago & Evanston in a snazzy BMW. Boosted my appreciation for the skilled driver I taught to drive & it boosted my prayer life.