Disregarding the post below regarding me being banned from Facebook. Others have expressed grave concern over what I wrote as well.
My reply.
Disregarding the post below regarding me being banned from Facebook. Others have expressed grave concern over what I wrote as well.
My reply.
In Mackinaw, in what was once a very upscale Outdoor Store, now a $10 per item outlet for tourist stuff, there was an expensive pair of pants 50% off that were one last piece of important gear that James had not replaced since the fire in Mississippi. He gladly grab the item, but Nature Called very insistantly and none of the stores in Mackinaw seem to have restrooms, relying on a few public ones. James needed to go, and approached a clerk and asked if she would hold the item while he went to the restroom. She took the item and looked at him blankly. Very pleasantly James said, is it okay if you hold it? I'm holding it! Gratuitous rudeness.
No one's favorite response, including James. But he was so glad with his inclination. How sad that she's been treated so badly in her life, was his reflexive internal reply. He was so glad, very glad, Upon returning, to try and show a little bit of the kindness that the individual so badly needed. Maybe it didn't make any difference to anyone, except James.
After dealing with another Bridge customer after a phone call, he met me at his place and within 20 minutes we had the vehicle up on the back of his flatbed, and I was pleased to find that with Khanh's wonderful cyclone motor system we could easily climb up without even needing to be pulled.
We were together in the cab for probably 20 minutes crossing the bridge. The toll folks knew him and they saw saw on the back of his rig and remembered that, gave a big smiling thumbs up.
I shared with him as much about the mission as he seem to want to hear. He mentioned how lots of folks are moving from the cities up to this area after I said what a beautiful area I thought it was. People have had it. The world is really imploding he said, because we've taken God out of our culture. I told him I desperately wished I could agree but I cannot. The problem is we've taken God out of our churches and replaced it with them being Social Clubs, clubs to beat up on other cultures, clubs to beat up on people, economic clubs. He immediately agreed though I'm not sure he had thought about it before. And I shared with him other similar things and he did not respond much but again my reading was he didn't mind hearing it and I thought I owed it to him to share.
Upon arriving at our destination I offered my the credit card, let's get it off the truck first he said. We did, uneventfully. Then I offered him the card asking him, please remind me what did we agree on? It'll be $50 he said, no no no no no no no I said. It'll be 65 or 70 okay? Someone's got to take care of you James, it might as well be me he smiled. I don't know why he said that. But it was definitely said out of respect, warmth, support, maybe even appreciation for what he had heard this mission was about.
Populations massively treated with vaccine remain healthy. What if our lives were massive treatments of kindness to the neediest rich and poor? Now we will never know. But the joy is in trying it even for the one.
It has been said that I and my sites are too cryptic. Surely the same can be said of Jesus words. The essential truths are inaccessible to all but those dying to know them.
She was not chastising me. She was concerned, we did not discuss the situation further. But I'm not called to make that my business. I'm called to serve as long as I'm able, and then whatever happens, happens. How do I divert resources to the time when I become disabled, when there are so many able people that have no resources no fault of their own but a consequence of our selfishness?
While sleeping I messed my bed. And of course that's the good news. Fish about 45 minutes after receiving the pint of fluid down my NG Tube which was to be dye for contrast x-ray to pinpoint the blockage, and also act like a laxative. Not yet if I had any medical discussion about this was just happened but it must mean that surgery will not be necessary which is a great blessing.
UP Health System - Marquette (906) 449-3000 https://maps.app.goo.gl/DNkmxCnpHXr3Z3o39
These folks are just as sharp as they can be and as kind as they can be. The tube is back in but not the same one the large-diameter this is the smallest they have because the needs are different now, so thoughtful and expert. Much less uncomfortable.