Hill
by Barbara Chadwick


We were driving on Douglas Island and turned on the road to Eagle Crest, the ski slope. Shortly after we turned there was a sign that read, "Hill". I thought, "Well Duh!" because we clearly were going uphill and we had already passed a sign stating that chains were required. I guess that sign was for those who didn't "get it."

Then my thoughts turned to the road of life. What would it be like to have a sign alerting us about a mountain looming ahead? That our road would be difficult and we'd need extra help?

Think of all the signs that might apply: Caution Falling Rocks; Road Construction Ahead; Next Services 150 miles; Detour, etc.

Would we start to whine and cry? Would we complain and wring our hands and say, "Oh, me! Oh, me! What shall I ever do?"

Or would we fortify ourselves with extra prayer and commit to memory extra scripture to encourage ourselves through dark days? Would we do extra exercise to strengthen our muscles and build up our immune systems to withstand the testing time?

I believe God's love and mercy to us are evident in that He doesn't provide "Road Signs" for us. We'd be constantly on the defensive. We are temporary travelers on this earth after all. This is not our home. He has cautioned us to trust in Him for the journey.

We are hard pressed on every side (Caution Falling Rocks) but not crushed; Perplexed (Road Construction Ahead) but not in despair; Persecuted (Next Services 150 Miles) but not abandoned; Struck down (Detour) but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

But look at verse 16 - 17 of that chapter: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

We don't really have to worry and fret about whether we will encounter "Hills" in our lives because Jesus said in John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

And we do know where to turn for help: Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

It makes me think of that old gospel song:
This world is not my home. I'm just a passin' through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore. Oh, Lord, You know I have no friend like you. If heaven's not my home then Lord, what will I do. The angels beckon me from heaven's open door and I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Since this is a temporary home for us let us trust Him for the journey.

Ironing

by Barbara Chadwick



I hate ironing. It makes my back hurt. It is boring. It is tiring. It is repetitive.

I let it accumulate for weeks then, finally, out of some sense of duty/obligation or some other word that I can't think of right now I drag out the ironing board and the iron.

I ironed a shirt one day and Kenneth wore it the very next day! My brain said, "for goodness sakes, let it hang in the closet for a couple of days at least!" But I just smiled at him and said, "You look nice."

A friend told me she loved ironing. She loved seeing those wrinkles straightened and shirts brought to life. I prefer to see shirts brought to life straight out of the dryer!

But this part made me feel bad (guilty, you know) She said this was also her time to pray. She prayed for the one who would be wearing whatever she was ironing. She prayed that as that one went about their day they would glorify God in their activities. She prayed for friends, for God's blessings on their home and for her church.

So I've been trying to look at this hateful task in a new light. The bathroom light. That's the room that has the most light in this house. No, really, last week when I gathered all the clothes that had to be ironed and got out all the stuff - the board, the iron, the spray starch, the water (for the steam) - I stood there a moment thinking about my friend. Then I began to ask God to change my attitude. As I ironed I prayed that as we wore those clothes God would use us to touch the lives of others, to be encouragers, to be a blessing and to be a help in times of trouble.

Guess what?! In no time at all I was done and my heart was light.

Prayer does change things - mostly me!

Listen to how Peterson translates Romans 12:1-2:

So, here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit unto it withour even thinking. Instead, fix your attenton on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I wonder if God gets as tired ironing out the wrinkles of me as I do in ironing the shirts? I'm so glad He's not through with me yet!