Darkness and Light
This year, for our family holiday, we went out to the island for two nights with Priscilla’s Dad and Mom. We had classic weather and for three days, really didn’t do much. For Elle, the holiday will never be forgotten as it was on this holiday that she learned to wake-board. First, she rode on Jesse’s back, then on the board, then she did it by herself. She felt like a champ.
We got to see the perseids this year. That was special. We lay out for about an hour Monday night and saw several brilliant streaks and about 40 smaller ones. The sudden flashes normally lasted less than a second and sometimes we waited for a few minutes before catching the next one. But it was well-worth it. It is hard for me to look up at the night sky and NOT think about the power of God. His awesomeness kinda smacks you in the face if you give it a minute. Our calendar for August aptly decided to use the Psalm that reads, “The heavens declare the glory of the Lord…”
The last evening on the island was a bit of a scramble. We were expecting to spend three nights out there, but the gathering black clouds off to the north changed our plans. An hour before dusk, we decided to pack up real quick and send five people back home to escape the storm. By the time we arrived back in Rzhyshchiv, it was dark and windy and the small waves in the main part of the river were in the process of shooting up with steroids. We unloaded the people and stuff as quick as we could and I then took off back to the Island. The experience of piloting an old, light-weight boat through blackness was one I’ll actually cherish for a number of years. I could see only dimly the outlines of the surrounding countryside… that’s how dark it was. I managed to avoid the worst of the growth of water lilies, but still managed to foul the propeller in the “waviest” part of the river!
In spite of the unfamiliar situation, danger and darkness, I felt close to God and very much… alive. I must say though that while the darkness is fine, I like being able to see. Strange sentiment?
God has put blind people in our world. In Ukraine, I’ve only seen one blind person in 20 years. Generally, Ukraine “likes” to hide the handicapped amongst society away. That’s a real shame. I once talked with a good friend here who has a handicapped son who said that people who are “normally different” but weaker in body or mind… soften society. They are a blessing from God.
Darkness is the burden of the blind. But as I was reminded this week, Crosby, (the Darlene Zschech of a bygone era), made blind at a young age by a man pretending to be a doctor, had the attitude that she “willingly carried the burden”. If she could go back in time, she said, she wouldn’t have it any other way… she had been so blessed by her blindness. And her physically dark world resulted in spiritual light for millions of people… not just through her songs, but also through her radiant character and love for the Lord.
I like the light, but the darkness on Wednesday night gave me a gift of joy at being alive and closeness to God. It is good to be reminded that not everything that seems bad is going to be bad for us.
Pris is continuing her “lecheniya”. She goes to Kiev every other day to spend an hour or so with the machines and the assistants working on building up her muscles. She does exercises at home three times a day for about 20-30 minutes. We are going to enter her into a body building competition in six months. (For those who don’t always catch facetiousness… just kidding.)
I’ll send this off tonight after church and get a couple of photos to include. The photo of Pris and Angel… they are exercising.
The kids are standing behind Bronnie and I as we work out wrinkles with music before people arrive for church.
Elle is standing on the wharf while Jesse rows the boat into “our space”.
All is well.
