The Crow's Nest

I live in the small city of Portland, Or. I like traveling from one end to the other . In a large city there are sections one never sees. Since I am tetired, I go to Loaves and fishes to eat and visit with the other people who are all older than 65. Each center has its own group of persons. The majority of seniors like to stay with one center, but I am a gypsy at heart. I like to roam around to the different centers. Some centers have very friendly seniors, some centers are very reserved and stay to themselves, while other centers put on class as if they were at a country club.

I was waiting on sixth avenue for buss 14 when a friend from the Burnside Center stopped to chat. He told me Jack had died. He did have a respiratory problem. I thanked him for the news. And that reminded me of the day before when Joe from the NW Center had stopped me on the street and told me that Les had passed away. That was quite a surprise because no one knew he was sick. He was always trying to direct the traffic at the center; that alone , can wear one out trying to move a herd that does not want to move.

The next day I went to the Belmont Center and David the director told us that Authur was in the hospital with a perforated stomach. He would give us an update as soon as he visited him. It suddenly occurred to me that I now am at 'The other end of the stick' where death is. There is nothing bad about that. It was just a sudden realization. I don't think we gradually grow old. We just go along acting the same way, then life bumps us and we say,
"Oh my! We are here." Now it seems normal, since I got over the bump, to talk about friends who have died.

Yes, I do live in a different world where white hair is the fashion and the death of a friend is common. It does not disturb me at all now that I have arrived. It is like the changing of the seasons. I am now in the winter of my life.

Dreams are important to me. They speak to me from my soul and my spirit. One's soul needs to go over the days happenings and delete that which isn't needed. As a rule your mind doesn't interfere with this workout. The day's happenings are like a jig-saw puzzle and during dream time the soul rearranges these pieces in their proper places.

Now a vision is different in that it comes from the spirit. God is wanting to tell you something you wouldn't listen to while you were awake. I had an important message for my life from God so I wrote it down in the form of a poem.

The Dream Train

If only we would listen to signals,
Placed in our wandering pathway
That guide us to our destiny,
We wouldn't have so many set-backs.

This dream I had the other night
Was for this same purpose; a signal.
I was on a traveling passenger train.
I believe, a train with a purpose.

The train stopped at a fascinating station.
I was possessed by an acute restlessness.
I got off the train that had a purpose,
To do my own exploring and wondering.

I boarded the next train
But true to my nature,
I exited the Train of Destiny
To explore my own destiney.

Later, I arrived at another station.
A train of Great Value pulled in.
The conductor gave me a warning.
"This is the last train to leave."

The thought crossed my mind,
If I do not cach this train,
My destiny will not be fulfilled.
I vowed I would not get off, again.

I was standing on the bridge over Crystal Lake in the rody garden thinking my thoughts when a duck rudely interrupted me with his "Quack .. quack .. quack". They have such an assertive sound. (There are some people I'd like to just say "Quask .. quack .. quack" and leave it at that.) The duck seemed to demand that I listen to him whether I wanted to or not. He has such an authoritative voice. I'ts a shame to waste all that prominence on a duck.

Let's see, a duck quacks in staccato notes. Maybe that is what I should try when I want to be heard. I have a low voice for a woman so maybe I could spit out my words with emphases and get the same attention the ducks do. Did you know a duck's tonal quality does not have an echo. Maybe that is why his voice is so clear. The duck has one over on me with that point.

This Sunday I would like to ask the pastor why he does'nt use a portable mike. We who are hard of hearing are at a disadvantage. Does that mean I have to sit in the front rows or shall I just sit there and pretend I hear. I think I will go to him like a duck and ask him, "Why .. no .. mike". I'll let you know if this duck gets defeathered.

Which comes first, "The chicken or the egg"? The scripture states that God made all living things. Well, to my knowledge an egg is not a living thing untill it is fertilized and starts to grow. I know this question is not all that important, but one must start somewhere. I'll get to the point.
There is a debate among denominations,as to, "What comes first in order to become a beleiver". Should one be baptized first? Should one first beleive that the Father sent the Son, or should one first repent. We are back to which comes first? As for myself I will rely on the verse in the scripture. Matthew 6:33.
But strive first for the Kingdom of God and all these things will be given to all as well. I decided I needed to meditate on this question. I sat quietly in my recliner listening to soft music. I then saw my soul walking down a hallway. I turned ahd saw an elevator and said to myself, "Ah, an elevator". Since I was there I stepped in. I immediately pressed the button that said, 'The Kingdom of Heaven'.
I then became aware of sitting in my recliner. I began to reflect on the short dream. Something deep within me was erging me to seek the Kingdom of God.
The scriptures do not say exatly "What is the Kingdom of God". I realized that I must 'seek' not just read. Where? Through the Holy Spirit.

Farmer’s Market

The Farmer’s Market is sure a good place to go to meet many ethnic groups. I sat at a table to listen to the violinist and a gentleman came and sat at the same table. That’s allowed at the park. We started talking about the violinist. I thought she was Irish with her red hair and looks. Later I asked her and she was Polish. So much for my know how.

I don’t know how we got started on the subject of our young school days. But he said that he was a D+ student and he couldn’t understand why people got so bent out of shape when he mentioned it. He said that he earned everything he ever got and he worked very hard for it. That should have been a plus in his favor. I told him that maybe they were sitting on a different bench and could not understand for they had never been there so had no sympathy for him. I let him know that I tell people that I got "flying color" that is F’s. But people think I am bragging. But what they don’t know is that laughter and making light about a situation helps one to cope.

We swapped our childhood experience about being at the bottom of the class. He said that his grandmother gave him a bad time at home. She was prim and proper and didn’t think he had what it took. She let him know that. We both were teased by students. Him back east and me out west. I guess children learn to downgrade others from watching their peers. We both decided we had grown out of the criticizing from others. We had both learned to be ourselves. It didn’t matter what others said for we knew who we were. Even if we were D+ students, we were each an individual.

Rob noticed a young lady sitting at the next table who had no arms. You could tell she felt inferior to others. We both sympathize with her. We hoped and I prayed she could learn to become an individual. Rob said he had to go so I thanked him and told him it was a pleasure meeting another D+ person.

Hi. I've been busy chasing my tail. I found a piece that I like so am passing it along to you.

Honk! If you like Jesus.

The other day I went into a local religious book store, where I saw a 'Honk if you love Jesus' Bumper Sticker. I bought it and put it on the back bumper of my car. And I'm really glad I did. What an uplifting experience followed.

I was stopped at a light at a busy intersection, just lost in the thought of the Lord and I didn't know the light had changed to green. That bumper sticker really worked. I found a lot of people that love Jesus. The guy behind started to honk like crazy. He must really love the Lord because he soon leaned out the window and yelled "Go! Jesus Christ. Go!"

Every one else started to honk also. So I leaned out my window and waved and smiled to all those loving people. Then a man one car back waved in a strange manner. He only had one finger up - the middle one. I asked the boys in the back seat if that was something new? They said that it meant 'I'm, with you.' So I stuck my hand out and waved 'I'm with you.'

I was busy waving and listening to people hollering 'Jesus Christ'. Suddenly I noticed a man was coming my direction. I bet he is coming to pray. Just then I noticed that the light had changed to yellow. I bolted ahead. I barely made it through the light. All my comrades who didn't make it through the light were waving like mad and yelling.
I do love to hear the Lord's Name in praise.