Made for Eternity

Someone asked me this weekend what that word meant. I learned the term from my roommate and it has become part of my own vocabulary.

I think the meaning is self-explanatory, and pretty close to being onomatopoeic.

Still, here’s an example of it’s use in context:

“I woke up this morning, instantly realized that I’d overslept, and now had only 3 minutes before I had to be at work. Unfortunately, I also realized at about the same time that I had left my bathroom faucet on all night (with the sink plugged), and had a major flood in my apartment. I reached for my phone to call my building manager and my boss, but my cell battery was dead and my charger was ruined in the flood. This was turning into a major kafaffle.”

Note 1: The above narrative is not based on actual events. 

Note 2: I spell it “ka FA ffle” because that’s how I say it. This is a spelling variant I have decided that I am ok with. The dictionary spells it ka FU ffle.

Pleese rememmber tu allways youse speling veryasions responsiply. Thangx.

Onward.

As I’ve stated before on this blog, according to the Bible, salvation is not a reward for good people but a gift for sinners: Romans 5:8 “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now add to that another truth: Christianity is not a crutch for the weak – it’s a stretcher. No, actually, it’s an entire life support system. Earlier in Romans 5, it says, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

That pretty much goes against everything this “be-independent-pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps” world will  tell you. But in truth, we are all weak. We are all helpless. We are all need the Savior.

Will you trust in him today?

I’ve recently discovered that reading one’s work schedule in an astute way can be very helpful in avoiding unexpectedly stressful situations.

Take yesterday as Exhibit A of this new-found truth.

While at work yesterday morning, I heard that the person scheduled to work the 2-6 PM desk shift had called in sick. “Oh,” I said, thinking the remainder of the day was free, “I’ll take the shift.”

And take it I did. Armed with a mind fresh off vacation and some reading material, I settled in at the desk ready to help any patrons who came my way. It was a slow afternoon as far as questions were concerned, but I was pleasantly surprised when I looked up from my book to see the computer clock reading 5:50PM.

“Good,” I said to myself. My eyes were feeling a little dry and irritated, and I was tired from my late plane trip the night before. I was thinking of going home, doing some unpacking, and getting to bed early. I reached over and flipped open the schedule to see who was relieving me and working the 6-10 shift.

“Katie: 6-10pm”.

Oh.

So, I was my own relief. And relieved I was. Felt like a whole new person when the clock struck 6.

Yes indeed, it helps to read the schedule right. 

The last time I blogged was two and a half weeks ago – which feels like a very very long time. 

Highlights from the time at home:

1. The kids. The tall, big, grown-up kids who somehowly replaced the little ankle-biters I once called my siblings. I enjoyed Emily’s maturity, Noah’s honesty, and Daniel’s puns. I enjoyed their rediscovery of America – cars that actually follow traffic laws (“Hey, they stopped at the stop sign even though no one else was there!”), Wal-mart, complicated cell phones, smooth roads, dishwashers, Toasted Oats. I enjoyed throwing a sprinkling of Swahili into our conversations. I enjoyed the instance when we saw 11 Corvettes in a row on a Lancaster County road (they’d been hoping to see a Corvette in America). I enjoyed running with them at the nearby park. I enjoyed the fact that the boys ran a “warm-up mile” extra slow for me.

2. Family and friends. Besides my younger siblings and parents, I also got to see my older brother, Luka, both sets of grandparents, and a plethora of aunts, uncles, cousins.  One cousin got married on Saturday, so right there were 14 relatives. I also got to catch up with a few friends, including one from Moody who has been transplanted from CA to PA. Poor girl (weather-wise, of course).

3. Rhode Island. We spent three glorious vacation days with some of my parents’ friends at their house overlooking the Rhode Island Sound. We traipsed all over the place, got tan (me) or tanner (the rest of my African family), picked 30 pounds of the biggest blueberries I’ve ever seen, learned how to eat lobster, ate fish that was purchased straight off the boat, found pretty rocks and sea glass, went sailing on actual sailboats, had picnics on the rocky beach, visited the house our friend grew up in which was built by a Pilgrim (as in the came-over-on-the-Mayflower kind, which for history buffs like me & Emily was extremely exciting), watched sunrises (not me so much) and sunsets (yeah, that was more me). Plus, the kids spent hours jumping off high dives into the ocean. And I didn’t check email the whole time. 

Seriously, the best vacation ever.

Driving back through New York City in Friday afternoon traffic? Not quite as much fun, especially for poor Dad. Glimpsing the Empire State Building through the smog was a small consolation after we went 10 miles or so in an hour.

4. Just hanging out. Walking into the kitchen in the morning and getting hugs from Dad and Mom. Playing soccer with Noah. Enjoying Em’s 4th grade writing assignments as she sorted her things. Cheering on the Phillies with Daniel. Laughing around the dinner table. Trying to teach the boys how to load the dishwasher and use the garbage disposal. Watching We’re No Angels, an old favorite. And so on. You know, ordinary-except-for-the-fact-that-everyone’s-in-the-middle-of-a-major-transition family life.  

And that “just being there” with them was all I really wanted.

So, now I’m “home” again in my little place in Milwaukee. I’m back at work, but not quite back all the way. That’ll take a little readjustment.

After all, dear reader, I’ve been gone a short forever.

 At the airport with my no-longer-little sister

 The fam (missing Pete in Sudan)

I’m glad I didn’t know it would be that long when I said goodbye the last time.

But now the wait’s just about over, and you’ll have to pardon me if I take a break from blogging (though I may have some happy pictures to post pretty soon).

Until then . . .

Thanks for reading.

Countdown? What countdown? 

Outwardly, I’m going about my business – running errands, clipping coupons, calling Luka to make sure we’re on the same page concerning airport pick-up logistics, tidying my apartment, paying bills, finishing up clinic business, watching the clock to gauge how close Dad & the boys are to landing (about an hour at this point) in the States, printing off my boarding pass for my flight to Philly tomorrow.

Printing off my boarding pass for my trip to Philly tomorrow.

Yeah . . . inwardly, I’m pretty much bouncing off the walls.

Day 1

That number looks so very lonely – happily lonely, of course.

As I type, five members of my family should be on a British Airways plane at Jomo Kenyatta Airport getting reading to take off. Their scheduled departure is in 5 minutes. Dad & the boys will arrive in the States tomorrow (!!), while Mom & Em will spend an extra day in London to see Les Miserables and take in some of the sights (or maybe get some sleep). And in 48 hours, I’ll be flying, meeting Mom & Em at the Philly airport where Luke will pick us three up.

It feels unreal, writing those words. Like my mom told me in an email last week – they’re “just words” now, but reality will hit soon enough.

Pretty amazing.

Psalm 144:15b “How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!”

He is my God, and I am so blessed.

Day 2

10,000 losses. That’s right. They’re losingest team in professional sports history, and the first to reach 5 digits in the loss column.

And, of course, they’re my team.

Last night the Philadelphia Phillies reached that ignominious number in phine phashion, phalling 10-2 to the Cardinals. The game phinished in phitting phutility: last year’s NL MVP Ryan Howard struck out.

Yeah, you gotta love ’em. And we still do.

Onward.

And now for something completely different:

My pastor just started a series on the basics of the Christian life. The first couple messages are on the chief goal of this life we believers live, and that is to live it all to God’s glory. So . . .

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Refrain

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Day 3

Yesterday, we saw this sign on the trail when we were hiking at Devil’s Lake (which despite it’s name, is actually a beautiful demonstration of God’s creativity).

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a moldy buttress before. . . but maybe you have?

On top of the world – my dear friend Julie & I 

As I learned in Photography class, this is what they mean by leading lines – I got photo-ed at the end of the hike. And no, it’s not a death wish.

Can’t forget the requisite band shot:

Bill, Mike, Jeff, Caroline, me (Julie was the photographer)

Such a fun fun time.

Onward.

This pretty much sums up my thoughts from yesterday:

Psalm 8 “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?  Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

Day 4

Today my most favorite (and, of course, only) sister Emily joined the ranks of high school graduates as as she received her diploma from Rift Valley Academy!

Congratulations, Em – I am so proud of you.

Psalms 126:3 “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

Indeed!

Pete, Mom, Em, Dad, Daniel, Noah

Day 5

I remember my mom saying that the best part of a vacation is always the first day – ’cause you’re there and you still have it all in front of you. I’d add that another best part of any big event is the part that’s just a little bit before, too.

Seeing those Brewers tickets on the bookshelf a little bit before game day. Waiting on your supervisor to approve your final diagnostic report so you can sign it and put it in the file for good. Counting down the last few days until you see your family for the first time in years. Enjoying the confident assurance, the Blessed Hope, that at any moment you may be swept up to Heaven by Jesus himself.

I long for the fulfillment and the realization of my hopes and dreams. But something in me delights in the sweet anticipation, that lively feeling of “not-yet-but-it’s-a-comin’!”

Day 6

Funny how my sister sent me a quote that fit nicely with the Scripture passage I was thinking on today:

“There is as we are aware, a philosophy that denies the infinite.There is also a philosophy, classified as pathologic, that denies the sun. This philosophy is called blindness.” – Victor Hugo

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

I struggle very much with that. When something is so clear and so beautiful to me, I struggle with the fact that it is so repulsive and foolish to those I share it with. Lately, I’ve seen no “fruit” when witnessing. It’s been all stone walls and static.  Not that I’m surprised – as my pastor told me once, “Blind people don’t see very well, Katie.”

And not that the lack of encouraging responses from those who hear the Good News should in any way discourage me. My job is not to save people, to change their minds. My job is not to witness solely so that I can see the fruit. My job is to be a faithful ambassador, proclaiming the gospel of grace, leaving the convicting, the drawing, and the saving to the One who has opened the once-blind eyes of this particular sinner. 

Day 7

Further cementing my status in this world as a nerd (to go along with the Biblical truth that I’m also an alien!), I recently enthusiastically printed off the 28 page vocabulary list (9 font, usually 2-3 columns of words per page) that I need to study for the Speech-Language Pathology Praxis Exam I’ll be taking several months from mow.

I began the painstaking process of finding the correct definitions of these words. And it’s (dare I say it) . . . fun. Not always. It can get tedious after several hours. But I get a kick out of quizzing myself as I shuffle through my SLP dictionary or utilize one of my favorite websites, dictionary.com. I relish the jargon’s solid feel in my mind and throat and mouth, and the fact each term is a reminder of some class I’ve taken in the past 5 years. I like the variety and scope of the words, which mirrors the variety and scope of my field.

So, now I’m off to tackle some more vocab. Yeehaw!

. . . but not too much:

Ecclesiastes 12:10 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.

Day 8

Just got back from spending a day at the Attorney General’s office in Madison.

OK, so it was only our yearly trek with the Funding Information Center to get foundations’ tax forms submitted to the AG that we had not found online. We worked well as a team, got to listen to lawyers discussing a case in the next cubicle, finished our task in good time, and had a lovely lunch of something I can’t pronounce properly at an Italian restaurant I can’t pronounce either. And we got back in plenty of time for the All-Star game tonight. Good Times.

Onward.

Philippians 1:27-28 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;  in no way alarmed by your opponents– which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.

Day 9 – single digits!

Abby, age 4, discussing the thrill of seeing the N.L. leader in home runs at a recent game:

“And Prince Fielder, he almost hit the ball all the way out of the garden!”

I hereby recommend we rename all places where baseball is played “gardens”. No more “ballpark”, “stadium”, “field”, “dome”, or any of those other terms which are often ridiculously preceded by corporate sponsorship. Baseball is a very idyllic game. “Garden” is a rather idyllic word. It’s a match made in Cooperstown. Hey, I know it might take a while to catch on.

Until it does, though, I personally will be meeting you down at The Garden by I-94 where we’ll catch the Brewers playing nine.

Onward.

My favorite verse of this hymn is the last one: “Freely bestowed” – Amen to that!

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Whiter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Day 10

This morning I woke up dry. Dry physically because the muggy heat had seemingly removed all moisture from me, and dry spiritually, longing for the living water from God’s Word. I’m glad it’s Sunday.

This morning’s message was from Phillipians 3 on knowing Christ. What really struck me was the part about “the fellowship of sharing in his suffering”, i.e. what is described in Isaiah 53. Here are four things Pastor noted:

1. Despised

2. Rejected

3. Man of Sorrows

4. Aquainted with grief

Quite the list . . . and this is what sharing in Christ’s sufferings may entail. I am grateful to live in a country where I probably need not fear death for sharing the gospel. Realizing what Jesus went through and relying on his strength can help me to face the minor persecutions of being mocked, whispered about behind my back, left out.

If my Lord was despised and rejected, should I expect anything less when sharing him? Man has not changed since Jesus lived on earth. Ridicule will happen. He will be with me.

Strangely, I don’t feel so dry anymore.

Day 11

In case you missed it (ha!), today is 07/07/07, aka this year’s Very Symmetrical Date (VSD) – seems like we’ve had a lot of these lately . . . because we have. In the middle and end of the century, it’s symmetry once a decade (2/2/22, 3/3/33, etc.), but at the start, we get them every year (01/01/01, 02/02/02, etc.).  2011, we’ll get four VSDs: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11,  and of course, the Most Symmetrical Date (MSD) of all – 11/11/11. It is the MSD because it has the maximum 6 numbers, and all are exactly the same number. Our last “yearly” VSD will occur on 12/12/12, after which we will once again be relegated to our decade-ly celebration of VSDs.

Ooohkay, that came out a little more nerdy than I meant it to.

Onward.

Ecclesiastes 9:10a “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.”

I always find things to do, but so often, I do them haphazardly and half-heartedly. I do them to do them, to get them done. I find this especially true when I am completeing a task that I really don’t want to do. This verse doesn’t differentiate between things I want to do and things I have to do.

It says, “Whatever.”

Day 12

One of the librarians brought this unusual snack in to work today. Never in my life had I thought, “Hmm, baked snap peas – now those would be a nice treat.” But this morning I learned that they are quite tasty (and addictive). If you ever come across any, try them. You won’t be disappointed.

I’ve always enjoyed it when people are innovative with food. The other day I read an article in the paper about  companies around here that are making strawberry and blueberry and apple bratwurst.

I mean, I know this is Wisconsin, but blueberry brats? What’ll they think of next?!

Onward.

These words speak for themselves. Enjoy and rest.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

Refrain

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Refrain

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Refrain

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.

Refrain

Day 13

Matter-of-fact quote courtesy of my brother Daniel.

Currently my multi-tasking consists of typing this blog entry, watching the turnstiles for impending patrons, casting a worrying eye out the window toward the increasingly stormy sky, trying to answer the phone before the librarian can grab it at the other desk, answering questions about young adult fiction, and enviously (no, not really) peering over at the tech guy next to me playing with his brand-spanking new iPhone. Quite the impressive little ($500) gadget. He let me hold it. And he let me look up the weather on it. Oooh.

It’s 85 degrees. Guess I could’ve just stepped outside to find that out, huh?

Anyways, I suppose girls can multi-task. Thanks for the bit of insight, D-man.

Onward.

I’m reading through Ecclesiastes these days, which is a continual reminder of the fact that “nothing under the sun can satisfy a man made for eternity,” as Mr. Ironside wrote. Solomon went down all the world’s avenues trying to find fulfillment, but only ended up with “vanity”, with emptiness. 

I find that when my focus is on the eternal, I am so filled with peace and joy in the Lord that I enjoy the things of this earth more. However, when my focus is on the things of this earth, two things happen – I end up with that sinking empty feeling and I lose the joy of the eternal.

Day 14

It’s a beautiful Independence Day today. P’raps a little on the humid side, but sunny and warm. Tonight there’s to be a barbecue and fireworks (if we can find ’em).

It’s a nice relaxing way to celebrate freedom.

“Relaxing” is hardly the word one would use to describe that July day in Philadelphia back 231 years ago. Benjamin Franklin stated upon signing the Declaration, “We must all hang together or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” Here in the 21st century, we must realize that they had no clue how the War was going to turn out. What the Signers did in affixing their signatures to the document was certainly bold, risky, and perhaps a little crazy.  After all, treason was a hanging offense.

But the War was won, and we are free, thanks to those many many “heroes proved in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!” as Katharine L. Bates put it so poetically.

Onward.

2 Corinthians 2:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Have you experienced that freedom yet? You can live in the most free country on earth, yet still be chained up in the darkness of sin, on your way to hell, without God, without hope.

You can be free. You can have hope. You can know for certain that heaven waits on the other side of death. And it’s all because of Jesus Christ: He is God who became perfect Man, then offered up his life in your place. By dying, he  paid the penalty for sins, so that we could go free. He rose again and offers salvation from hell as a gift (no strings attached, no payment on our part!) to those who simply believe – trust that he took care of all our sins with his death.

If you “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”, you will be saved. And today can truly be an Independence Day!