This, That and the Other Thing

Hmm...this poor, neglected blog. I feel sorry for it.

I couldn't get the page to scroll down at the speed of the scroll-down click, so I started deleting sidebar buttons and applied gadgets and such. This led to a complete reworking of the template and I'm still not sure I can replace the header with a picture, without the lag in scroll down, but hey- it's orange and that's fall-like, there's green and I like green and there are books. I need books.

My current read is: The Hole in Our Gospel written by Richard Sterns, a CEO of Lenox (the fine china company) turned president of World Vision. I'm only on page 23, but I can relate to Mr. Sterns' description of the gospel we've designed that fits our lifestyle better and more comfortably than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible. I'm as much in need as anyone of being hauled out of the quicksand of my selfish, comfortable, safe, Heidi tailored environment, so I can get out there and focus on someone else's needs.

Today I begin what may be my new volunteer work through a ministry one town over where my son works. I will be helping kids with their homework. Oh please, please let noone ask me to do a Geometry proof....please no, please no, please no....! I can explain supplementary and complementary angles. I can tell a kid that the three angles of any triangle equal 180 degrees and I know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But please don't ask me to do a proof. So. We'll find out soon enough if this is my current calling.

Last week at my job, at the bookstore where I work, a lady asked me what to give to a 12 year old boy she doesn't know, who was making profession of faith at church the following Sunday. After looking at key chains and cross necklaces and plaques that any 12 year old would put in a drawer where they'd stay until well past the boy's 30th birthday, I suggested a cd might be a good choice. This tripped the lady's memory that this boy liked a certain song called "What Faith Can Do". Oh! Perfect because that cd by Kutless was on sale that day only for $7.97! She bought two.

At the checkout counter she said: "I'm going to tell you my story now." And here it is.

"My son died suddenly of a heart attack last month. He was 47 years old. He was not married, but he had some close friends and they have a 12 year old son. My son loved him and had such an impact on his life that this young boy has decided to follow Jesus and is making profession of faith this Sunday. So. You see. God really does bring beauty from ashes."

As it turns out, her son and the young boy shared a special song that they thought of as their own. The song: "What Faith Can Do", by Kutless.

Before the lady left the counter, I took her hands in mine, we closed our eyes and thanked the Lord for what he's done, for what he does every day- for bringing beauty from ashes.

This is how it is that my job is so, so, so much more than making lots of sales and getting to read books for free.

(click on the x in the upper right-hand corner of the ad that appears at the bottom of the video to get rid of the ad, so you can see the video and song text)