ABOUT GOD

What is man that Thou dost magnify him, 
And that Thou art concerned about him,
That Thou dost examine him every morning,
And try him every moment?
                                              Job 7:17,18

What am I that God magnifies me,

And that God is concerned about me,

That God examines me every morning,

And tries me every moment?

     If God was sitting in the chair next to me, what would he find; what would He say about me?  What would He observe or perceive?  Nothing is hidden from God; no secret is left unexposed, and it is useless to try to hide.

     So we sit, God and I.  He is big, wears white, and somehow, strangely, resembles my own Dad.

     I have heard, over the years, how the relationship we have with our own father is closely related to the one we develop with our heavenly father.  Maybe.

     Let's say God resembles my Dad.  Then I would get him a cup of coffee, and a generous slice of apple pie.

     But this is God.  And He is going to examine me, something I don't remember my Dad doing.  Mine said very little; he was an observer, speaking only when necessary.  

     God would say I seem a little on the sad side.  He wouldn't ask why.  He knows why.

     It's good that I don't have to explain myself to God.  We can sit together quietly and enjoy the moment, not busy nor frantic with hurry.  I like that.

     God would tell me He has the problems of the world covered.  He senses how the world seems to be too much for me

at times.  He tells me to rest.  He tells me to be myself.  He tells me again - "He's got it.."

THAT WHICH WAS LOST

Turquoise encased in ornate silver - earrings like no other, given to me by my sister, Kim, along with a few other pair over four decades ago when she was sorting through her jewelry box.   More than happy to get them, I wore them regularly.

     A few short years ago, we were on a trip to Captain Cook, Hawaii to visit our son, Forrest, who lived and worked at a retreat center located high on a mountain overlooking the bay which sported the same color as the earrings I had been wearing since we left the mainland.

     Captain Cook is remote and jungle-like, dotted with working farms, small businesses, local restaurants, art shops, and coffee growers.  A much slower pace than Kona, it is surrounded by an untamed tangle of jungle vines, coconut palms, enormous fern, along with trees and plants bearing exotic fruits and flowers not found in cooler regions, sweet and colorful.

     It was in Captain Cook that I lost one of my treasured turquoise earrings, on a hot day, a swimming day, so off I walked down a recently cleared trail leading to the cooling bay.  Scrubby branches hung low, and as I moved one out of my path, an enormous brown spider flew into my hair, sending me into a panic of madly waving hands flinging through my long hair until I was sure the creature was gone.  Never a spider fan, a swim sounded even better: spiders don't swim.

     On my return from the bay, I reached up to brush hair from my face, and as my hand moved past my ear, I felt no earring.  It was gone! I knew immediately what had happened so traced my steps back through the spidery path to search for the missing earring.  I knew how minute was  the chance of finding it, and sure enough, with great disappointment, it remained lost.

     Soon after, I began an online search for a replacement for my earring; so many similar but never a true match.  A year passed, then another, and four with no luck.  My one vintage earring would remain a single. 

     Coming across my earring alone in my jewelry box one day, I decided to do another search.  It had been awhile and what could it hurt?  As I scrolled down through earring after earring for one matching my single, and ready to sign out, suddenly there they were - a matching pair!  Incredulous!  Clicking on Buy It Now, I quickly made the purchase before someone else did, and waited impatiently for the mail each day.  
     The little treasure finally arrived and now I have three nearly identical earrings.  As can be seen in the picture, the original is in the center and has a darker blue shade.  Also, the back is signed.  I will always keep it but how wonderful to have my turquoise earring set back.  These I won't wear to Hawaii.