No Relationship, No Joy. . .

I have been re-reading A.W. Tozer's, "The Pursuit of God".

In the chapter entitled, "Removing the Veil", he describes how the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies of the Jewish temple once a year to make a sacrifice for the people's sins. When passing through the veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, the priest entered into the very presence of the Living God, who dwelt on the Mercy Seat of the ark of the covenant.

I began to think of what a pronounced effect this must have on the life of that man. To have entered the physical presence of God and lived. How must that have changed that priest forever? Or did it?

I remember the first baby I ever delivered, but for reasons much different than you might expect. I remember it was extremely disappointing. At the hospital where I first learned obstetrics, the residents would have each new nurse gown and glove and sit at the end of the delivery table to do our first delivery. They would stand behind us and tell us exactly what to do, where to put our hands, exactly step by step how to deliver a baby. They would show us how to hold that slippery, wiggling baby so that it couldn’t be dropped, too!

One night, it was my turn. I sat there looking at a woman I had never met. I went through the motions just as the resident directed me and before I knew it, I was holding a slippery, little baby…something. I don’t even remember now if it was a boy or girl. As I did all the rest of the things that had to be done during a delivery, I realized I didn’t feel as I thought I would feel.

I was expecting to feel excited, elated, thrilled. After all, I had just delivered a baby! That was something really big! I felt about as much emotion as if I had picked up a watermelon at the grocery store and put it in my basket. In fact, I know I have felt more emotion over a really good watermelon!

I finished my shift and at home, told my family about my new accomplishment. They were thrilled and elated, but I still felt empty and disappointed. It took a long time, and a lot of deliveries later, for me to realize what was missing.

During that very first delivery, I was a robot going through the motions for someone I had never even met. Almost every other delivery I have done, I have had some involvement or relationship with the mother and her family, some connection, so the event wasn’t just delivering a baby, it was delivering joy.

The difference, of course, is relationship. That priest entering into the Holy of Holies may have done all the proper preparation for the sacrifice, might have gone through all the correct motions, but still might have had no relationship with the God in whose presence he found himself. If that was the case, he probably left with few differences than when he went in.

We, too, can go through the motions of "sacrifices". We can do the things that seem holy -- to ourselves and to the world -- and yet not have entered one bit into a deeper relationship or a greater knowledge of our Lord.

Thankfully, we no longer have to go to a Holy Place to find that Presence of God, indeed, if we have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, He comes to make our hearts His dwelling place and we become that Holy of Holies. How sad then if we do not enter in to as much of a relationship as we can, thereby "birthing" greater knowledge and understanding and communication with our God in an every growing, ever deepening union. Every prayer, every hymn, every moment, every breath should cause us to be different because we have touched the Living God.

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

2 Peter 3:18

The People Along the Way. . .The Man at the Top of the Rock

I have shared with you many of the places we visited on our recent vacation, and even many of the things we ate along the way -- I would love some of that "Lobster Tail" from Rocco's pastry shop right this moment!



I thought I'd like to share with you some of the people we met.

Our first day in New York City, we went to the top of the Rockefeller Center for the view of the city. Even though a layer of fog enshrouded the city, we still marveled at the beauty of what was before us.

The breeze on our face and the cool temperatures were refreshing, and everywhere we turned, we saw different vistas of New York City. The Top of the Rockefeller Center offers a compelling 360° view.


When we were finished viewing the city, we went to the elevator which takes you down the 70 floors in just over one minute. While we waited for the elevator we spoke with the young man who helps tourist find their way at the elevator.

I understand that employees of tourist sites are paid to be polite and friendly, but this young man was exhibiting more than just customer service. He was exhibiting true friendliness and kindness. We chatted about his city and ours, about the difference in the weather in our regions, and other things that I no longer remember.

What I do remember is that he was so gracious and personable, that when the elevator came, I didn't want to get into it, because I preferred to stay and continue our chat with him. It was a real conversation with a real person. I came away as impressed with him as with the building which employed him.


"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly. . ." Proverbs 18:24

Beyond the bow. . .

May 29th

This day we kayaked in a place that was totally new to us, but in once sense very familiar.

We kayaked on Big Creek Lake, a 3,600-acre reservoir in west Mobile County which serves as the public water supply for the Mobile metropolitan area. Although we have never kayaked on the lake before, or actually ever even seen it except from the highway, we have consumed water from it for decades. It's about time we became better acquainted.

Our close friend Steve picked us up and we loaded the three kayaks into the back of his SUV. How nice to not have to squeeze the boats into the trunk of our little car! Not a single bungee cord was needed. We headed to his mother's house on the Lake.

I didn't say anything to the guys, but I felt odd at first about kayaking on this lake. My grandmother had been killed there while I was a younger teenager. She however, would be delighted to know we had associated joy and pleasure with this beautiful piece of the Lord's creation, and after the first fleeting thought about it, it never entered my mind again.

I was amazed at both the vastness of the lake and the clearness of the water. Both surpassed my imagination. We loosely followed the shore line and every direction offered a gorgeous view. It was no less beautiful, though somewhat larger it seemed, than Walden Pond we had visited in Massachusetts on vacation.

The wind was just enough to keep us cool and the water temperature warm enough to not chill us.

We took easy strokes, letting the gentle rhythm of the lake be our guide and after an hour or so decided to head back. It was Steve's first time to kayak and we didn't want to tire him.

As usual, I didn't want to come out of the water. I loved the feel of the water slipping through my fingers, the lake droplets falling onto my arms and legs, and the sound of all the birds calling and crying in the surrounding trees.

I can't remember a more beautiful place we have kayaked. The scenery was absolutely perfect as was the company. It was a wonderful trip.

The People Along the Way. . .The Woman in New York City

I have shared with you many of the places we visited on our recent vacation, and even many of the things we ate along the way -- I'm still dreaming of the red velvet cheesecake!

Image via Wikipedia

I thought I'd like to share with you some of the people we met.

Coming from the very deep South, the stereotype here of people who are from the Northeast can be that they tend to be, well, not very outgoing or friendly.

I have to say from our week in Boston and New York, we met so many people who reached out to us to offer help, directions or guidance. I never felt unsafe or threatened in anyway and I felt that if I needed assistance, all I had to do was to ask a "local".

Having said that, I will add that we had one humorous event while in the subway. We were standing waiting for our train to arrive, which it seemed we did a alot, and a woman approached our oldest daughter. She asked if she knew which train she needed to get to a certain part of the city. Now Marie had taken it upon herself to master the NYC subways system, the map of which she first described as being "the whole box of Crayola crayons". Marie was able to show the lady on the map exactly which line to take and at which station she should get off. I chuckled to myself that if that lady had known her directions where coming from someone from ALABAMA, she probably wouldn't have felt so confident!

On our first morning to NYC, we navigated to the Rockefeller Center (thanks to Marie's helpful direction.) We actually arrived there early for our scheduled time at the observation deck on top, so we were standing on the corner trying to decide what to do to fill the time. A very nice New Yorker with the sweetest grin turn to us and asked if we needed help finding our way somewhere. We were so impressed that someone would have gone out of their busy way (because everyone in New York seems to travel - by subway, car or foot - at warp speed) to help us. We told her we had actually found our destination for that morning, but we jokingly asked if she would be willing to go with us for the rest of the day. She laughed and told us that she would, but that she had to go to work. I had the feeling that if it had not been for her job, she may have just joined us and shown us a New York that one can only see when shown by a local.

What a blessing to have met this kind-hearted woman on our very first morning. She alone in that one sentence shattered our perception of the "typical" New Yorker and perhaps changed our attitude toward all the citizens of that city for our entire stay.

May we find that we shatter some attitudes of New Yorkers traveling to our little city one day as well.