Update:
While the snow is
pretty, it makes it difficult for me to travel around since I am wheelchair
bound until Thursday. Have you ever
struggled trying to push a shopping cart through the snow in a grocery store parking
lot? That is a lot like what it is like propelling
a wheelchair through the snow. It isn’t
easy, so I am selective about what I attempt when the weather is not
cooperating with me. I certainly don’t want
to get stuck if I am out on my own. That
would be a mess! I guess I could drop
down and crawl in the snow, but… I also
have to worry about my ramp being too slippery for me to wheel myself back up
it to get into the house. I could always
call my wife and she could leave work for a few minutes to get me up and in;
but I don’t want to abuse that service.
I’ve got to keep that in reserve for real emergencies. So when the weather is like this, I really
have to slow down and evaluate the wisdom of trying to get out or do I just
stay at home and work from there. I’ve
got to admit that the limits on my mobility weigh heavy upon me. I’ve gotten used to being able to go when and
where I want. Now I am limited again.
This will be the
first winter that I can walk on a prosthetic leg. Since I don’t get the same immediate feedback
as a regular foot would give me as I walk; I’ll have to be extra careful about
slipping and falling. I don’t think it
will be too bad; but I don’t have any practical experience yet, so who
knows. I have noticed that things that used
to be tough for me to do are now simpler for me to accomplish. Walking down an incline used to be pretty
difficult; but now I can do it without too much thought or effort. I assume that walking outdoors in winter
weather will be the same for me. This
year might be a bit trickier for me; but by next year I figure that I’ll have it
down pat.
Since I currently don’t
have a leg that fits and I am stuck in the wheelchair, I’ve had to ask a friend
to shovel my snow. This year I am
planning to do that for myself; but this week I couldn’t do it. That is a bit of an emotional letdown. My goal is to be as self-sufficient as I am
able to be. It was hard on me watching
other do all my shoveling for me last winter.
That is what bummed me out about the early snow this time; knowing I’d
have to have someone else do it for me again.
The five inches or so
of snow that we got is pretty; but it means an increase in the amount of effort
it takes for me to be mobile. I was
talking to a young lady who just got her driver’s license this summer and this
will be the first time she’s driven on snow.
Remember that learning curve?
Even those of us who are more seasoned drivers take a few trips in the
car to remember to slow down and try to stop well before a stop sign. By mid-December we’re old pro’s again; but
the first few snows are training time for us again. Well I’ve got a whole new dynamic to learn
this year. I’m looking forward to
getting out in it and learning to safely navigate on my prosthesis.
This winter, think
about the mobility-challenged people that you know. They don’t necessarily have to be wheelchair
bound to be mobility-challenged. Some older
people struggle with their balance and walking, fearing a fall and breaking a
bone. Checking in on our neighbors and
lending a hand now and then to them can mean so much.
Right now I am
watching the men who are cleaning my driveway and the older neighbor’s across the
street. I am very thankful for their kindness
in taking care of me. For years I’ve
shoveled two of my older neighbor’s driveways for them. I guess now it is my turn to be on the receiving
end of that kind of kindness. I hope
that everyone in need has someone to help them out and to check up on
them. Maybe you’ve got a neighbor that needs
a helping hand for whatever reason; if you are able to lend a hand, please do
it.
Thought for the Day:
Here’s a great
thought from Os Hillman with some thoughts of my own at the end:
Playing to One Conductor November 9, 2014
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' And the
head cannot say to the feet, 'I don't need you!' On the contrary, those parts
of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we
think are less honorable we treat with special honor" (1 Corinthians 12:21-23).
“I watched as the conductor looked over to the violin section,
then the percussion, then there was a seemingly insignificant lady standing way
back in the corner waiting to play her one or two notes on a chime-looking
instrument. ‘Who would even notice if she didn't play her instrument?’ I
wondered to myself. "The conductor would," said the still voice in my
spirit.”
“An orchestra is a great picture of the way the Body of Christ
should operate. It is made up of different people with different gifts, all
being led by the one Great Conductor, telling us when to use our gift in the
right time. I am sure the lady in the back of the room who only plays a few
notes must think she doesn't measure up to the great violinist who sits right
up close to the conductor.”
“However, imagine if you slowly removed each member of the
orchestra, one at a time. At first you may not notice any difference without a
trained ear. But as you remove each member of the orchestra, you will begin to
miss the powerful and melodic sound of many instruments playing together.
Finally, when all but a few of the instruments are removed, you notice a big
difference in the sound and the void left from key instruments.”
“Imagine if these instruments tried to go out and play songs all
by themselves. Imagine if the tuba tried to play a solo. Or the oboe did the
same. You get the idea.”
“Every member of the Body of Christ matters. Every job matters to
God and contributes to our great Conductor's grand plan to fulfill His purposes
on the earth. Your contribution matters to God and has no hierarchy of
importance.”
“Play your instrument to the glory of God in unison with the other
instruments God has raised up for His purposes.” [Os Hillman, Today God is First (TGIF),
on-line daily devotional, November 8, 2014].
My three oldest children were all involved in the music program at
the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire.
In the years that they were there, I attended many concerts and music
recitals. One of the things that always
caught my attention was the warm-up before the concert began. Each instrument would play a few notes all on
their own at the same time as everyone else.
It was chaos and jangled on my nerves.
It wasn’t done softly or in any sense of order. Everyone all at once!
And then quiet prevailed and the conductor walked in and picked up
his baton. The next notes I heard were
those of the entire orchestra playing together under the leadership and
direction of the conductor. What a
difference his presence made! Now the
music was beautiful and flowed together.
Each instrument contributed its part at just the right time. Working together produced a beautiful sound
worth listening to.
Some instruments sound beautiful if played alone. In my opinion, other instruments sound better
when played in a group. I attended a
tuba concert with my daughter once. I
like the sound of the brass section, but not as solo instrument for over an
hour. Another time, a percussion concert
gave me a headache. Alone, it was too
much for me; but put them with other instruments and I think they add so much!
I also found that some music I liked and some music, while
performed flawlessly, wasn’t to my liking.
My taste in classical music is rather shallow, I guess. Some people really enjoy it and could listen
to it for hours. I was more selective in
my tastes and preferred some pieces over others. One thing I noticed is that the conductor
never turned to me and asked for approval or permission. He made his choices and then had the
orchestra perform the pieces without consideration of my personal tastes.
I add these thoughts to Os’ conclusion. I may not appreciate other people’s
contribution to the work of ministry for the church and the Kingdom of God; but
that doesn’t mean they aren’t pleasing to God.
I personally may not be gifted or involved in that aspect of ministry;
but it doesn’t invalidate it or make it less of a contribution. I’ve noticed that no one person plays all the
instruments; each person has their own specific specialty that they focus upon. But that is okay because as each one plays
his/her instrument, the others in the orchestra add their voices to the
music. We need all sorts of different
people involved in the work of ministry to create a richness and beautiful harmony
as we work together under the direction of Jesus Christ.
It has been said that our Sunday morning services should be
performed for an audience of one. Some
churches sing songs that I don’t really care for. Some churches’ use a different music style or
instrument mix that I don’t appreciate.
But I have to remember that it is not about pleasing me; it is about
pleasing God.
All the various parts and pieces work together to accomplish a
beautiful whole when everyone is under the direction of the leadership of Jesus
Christ. So whatever part that God has
called you to play, do it for His glory.
Don’t become overly concerned with the part others are playing; focus on
your own piece and play it to the best of your ability.
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