What Are You Made Of?

I heard a speaker say once, "you will never get to know yourself while you're eating ice cream."  I have pondered that statement for a few years. I think he's right. His point was that you don't find out what you are made of when you are enjoying easy times. You have to experience the crucible of hardships to truly discover the strength of your character.

Recently I was back in Middle Tennessee and made a point of visiting my maternal grandparents house and farm near Unionville, TN. It had been years since I had been there. The home place was sold at auction after my grandmother died at age 87 in 1976.  The place seemed smaller than I remembered and closer to the Nashville highway. But it still had that familiar dormer window and that front porch - although I did notice the porch swing and rocking chairs were gone. Since no one lives in the house I took my time and walked around and remembered. I remembered the peddler - a man with an old school bus converted into a rolling grocery store that came by and stopped twice a week. In the summer when we visited my grandmother - we called her Grandmama - we would sit on the porch and watch for that white bus and usually we would climb on and spend the nickel she'd given us on some bubble gum or Tootsie Rolls. My grandmother would usually call in an order and the peddler would have her box of goods ready - except for the cold milk and butter. After we had rushed on the bus and chosen our treats my grandmother would climb on the bus and check off the items in her box and - after the cold items were added from the refrigerated case - she would pay the bill. We'd hop off with our treats in our pockets carrying the box of groceries back to the house.


I remember sitting on the porch as the cars whizzed by on the Nashville highway. We played a game we called  "cars".  We would each pick a color and then count the cars that matched our chosen color. My older brother would usually pick black as his color and would usually win. But it was still fun.
As I walked around the old home place most of my memories were of my grandmother - Evie Wheelhouse Eley. She was short - probably not five feet tall - and thin and quite stooped by Osteoporosis. She was tanned and wrinkled by the sun from years of gardening and from decades of braving every kind of weather to manage 20 to 30 white-faced Hereford cattle. She got up very early - around 4 am - and would wait just as long as she could to start cooking breakfast for us. But, with daylight being wasted, around 6 or 6:30 she'd start cooking country ham and biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs and by 6:45 she would be yelling up the stairs to wake us. As I walked to the side of the house and looked up at the upstairs windows I could still hear her yelling in her high pitched voice, "Heeeyyy - are y'all gonna sleep all day?"

My grandmother had a tough life. She was born in 1889. She raised eight children. When she was thirty years old she lost a baby - little Don Bright Eley - who died on September 30, 1919 after living just over two months . After my grandfather died at the age of 76 in 1961, Grandmama took on the work of the 100-acre cattle farm. She was already 71. In the winter she would go out and break the ice on the water troughs for the cows. She would climb the ladder to the barn loft and throw down hay to feed the cattle. In her early eighties, when it became difficult for her to climb the ladder up to the barn loft, Grandmama took her hand saw and some lumber and nails out to the barn and built herself some stairs to the loft.
She planted and tilled and harvested a large garden. Then she put up frozen corn and canned beans and tomatoes and okra and jams and jellies.

Grandmama was tough - a toughness proven in the hardships of life. Everyone who knew her would tell you that she was strong and tough and resourceful and one of the hardest workers you could ever meet. But she was not only tough and strong - she was also a godly woman with a faith that was demonstrated and lived out through all the hardships of life. And it was her undying devotion to God that was perhaps her most prominent quality. She read her Bible daily. She helped build the church building in her community. She hosted visiting preachers and cooked - I guess - thousands of meals for people during her lifetime. She saw God in everything - whether in the birds she fed in her handmade feeder or in the beautiful roses she grew, or in the changing of the seasons or in the smile of a grandchild.
As I get older I think more and more about trying to be more like Grandmama. I hope that if I have to face tough times in my future that I can do it with the same strength and grace which she demonstrated. I pray that I will always see God in the small beauties of life and that I will somehow live up to her legacy of devotion to God.

Yes - I know you can never know what you are made of until you face tough times. But it seems important to me to go ahead and work on these character traits before the test comes. I surely hope I will have the discipline and determination to be NOW who I hope to become when I face the trials of the future.

An Exceptional, Unbroken and Fruitful Vine

Jesus, speaking to his followers, (John 15:5) - "I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing."

I have always been interested in true stories of people who survived, against all odds, in the face of impossible physical circumstances.  I recently read "Unbroken," by Laura Hillenbrand, ---http://laurahillenbrandbooks.com/ --- the true story of Louie Zamperini, an Olympic athlete who went on to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII.  Louie and his buddy, Russell, survived a plane crash into the ocean. They drifted in a life boat for 2000 miles over 47 days, and existed by eating raw birds they were able to catch when the birds landed on their heads. They were convinced they were finally going to be saved when they were spotted by a plane. But, their fortunes went from impossible to torturous when it turned out to be a Japanese military plane and, after being strafed with machine gun fire, they were eventually plucked from the ocean by a Japanese vessel and sent off to a Japanese interment camp.
The book chronicles Louie's two years of imprisonment, his numerous merciless beatings, and the countless humiliations he suffered at the hands of his captors. Somehow, (and you need to read the book to find out how) he emerged from this absolutely horrendous experience and remained "Unbroken."

During our trip to Italy, we saw many magnificent sights. We saw the breathtaking beauty of the mountains touching the sea in Cinque Terre. We stared in awe at centuries old art, painted by the masters of the Renaissance.  We were mesmerized by views of incredible painted domes and gilded altars. And, in the midst of all this natural and man-made wonder I stopped to notice a simple vine growing up the side of a three-story house. It was an old and sturdy vine and it climbed up the wall of the home, delivering shade and flowers and fruit to the roof-top terrace. I was impressed. I had to stop and stare. For, as remarkable as it was that this vine had somehow survived and reached the top of the wall, what was even more remarkable to me was its origin. This old vine had grown from inside the house! It had its roots deep in some unseen soil in the footings of the wall. It grew inside in darkness for about eight feet, and then grew into the cement wall itself. It emerged from a small window and then continued its climb all the way, 30 feet up to the top, an unbroken vine.

And, since as I have already confessed, I like to find deep theological meaning in simple, unexpected things, I had to study this sight. As I did, I could not help but think about the words of Jesus, "I am the vine.....if any remain in me and I in them, they produce much fruit. If they do not remain in me, they are like a branch that is thrown away and dies."
This remarkable vine survived by remaining. It sunk its roots down, grew out of darkness, made its way out from under the weight of heavy obstacles, and just kept growing toward the light. It provided me with a living example of what it means to remain...to stay long enough to bear fruit.
The opposite of remaining is leaving, giving up, abandoning. Jesus told his followers to stay. He knew they would want to leave. He knew it would require sacrifice. He knew it would seem impossible. But he promised that if they would remain, he would continue to nourish their souls and that they would produce fruit.
No matter what obstacles we face in life, Jesus' promise still holds. If you happen to read Louie Zamperini's story, you will see Jesus' promise displayed in a powerful way and, perhaps, you may find the courage to hold on through your present darkness and the weight of your circumstances. But, if you're not a reader, then just study the picture of this remarkable vine and take heart. Persevere. Remain in Jesus. And one day you, too, will reach the top. And, in the process, you will share the fruit of your life as Jesus' follower with someone who lives there.

God is Pourful!!

​

Nico's First Christmas

It has been a busy two and a half weeks since I last wrote.  We were in the hospital with Lauren and Derek waiting for Nico Lisette Kamal to arrive. And she arrived - Wednesday, December 7, at 6:25 p.m. weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces!  Her mommy did a great job with labor and delivery, and her daddy was an absolutely wonderful supportive partner throughout the process. Needless to say, I am very proud of all three of them!

And so, of course, I have also acquired a new role since I wrote last - I am now a grandparent! I haven't quite decided on my "grand" name but I can tell already that I am  going to love the role. It seems to have a lot of the fun of parenting with a lot less responsibility.

Yes, it's Nico's first Christmas! She won't open a single present or give a single gift and she won't even have the vaguest idea what it's all about. Yet - I can assure you that she will steal the show in a few hours at present-opening time. And the rest of us gathered as a family will agree that Nico is our best gift this Christmas! Merry Christmas!!!

A Mighty Fortress is Our God!

It is 10 AM on December, 7, 2011 and we are at the hospital with Lauren and Derek awaiting the arrival of our first grand child - Baby Girl Kamal. I am reminded of a Wednesday, 29 years ago when Susan and I were in this process - waiting on our first child to arrive. I remember that the process was beautiful but also nerve-racking. I guess anxiousness comes anytime you approach a significant life transition you've never experienced before. I remember when they took Susan into the delivery room (hasn't that become a much better experience with the labor rooms that also double as delivery rooms). The nurse sent me to get into my gown and mask and hairnet. I got all this garb on and made my way into a delivery room full of people all dressed in similar disguises only to hear, "Who are you and what are you doing here"? Before I could answer someone said loudly, "Get out!! You're in the wrong delivery room!" Un-com-fort-a-ble!! I was backing up, backing up...and after a bit more careful navigation I got to Susan's side for Lauren to be born.
Sitting here by Lauren's side I feel some anxiety and excitement but not quite like that!
But as I sit here the words to this song keep coming to my mind - A Mighty Fortress is Our God. This is an old hymn title that has been translated into English and sung by Christians since the 16th century. (You can read about it at:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mighty_Fortress_Is_Our_God.)
And while I love this old hymn, the words I keep re-playing are from a more recent song by this title written by Christy and Nathan Nockels - http://www.christynockels.com/. (You can hear it and see a beautiful slide show with this amazing song at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRQp1bUJkBE.)

I love the second verse and the refrain - -

Our God is, jealous for His own
None could comprehend, His love and His mercy
Our God is exalted on His throne
High above the heavens
Forever He's worthy...

We will keep our eyes on You
We will keep our eyes on You

A mighty fortress is our God
A sacred refuge is Your Name
Your Kingdom is unshakable
With You forever we will reign

Watching your baby have a baby is an amazing experience. And it is all made more beautiful with the knowledge that God's love and mercy for us are incomprehensible!!!

So...we will keep our eyes on You!!!

Anticipation

Okay - I've been home almost two weeks from the most fabulous trip of my life to bella Italia.  It's not easy to come home and get back to work. There's jet lag to contend with and once you get past that, there's still the issue of getting motivated to jump back into the daily demands and conflicts and responsibilities.
So, how do you get past a wonderful experience and get back to normal? How do you find the inertia to get going again?

Well - I don't know what you do in these circumstances, but let me tell you what has helped me. Anticipation. That's it. To get over the mountain-top experience of a wonderful trip to Italy and re-engage in normal life, I needed to something to anticipate.  And today I found it!

Today I spent the day with my daughter, Lauren Lee Kamal. We've spent quite a few other days together during her 29 years. Early in her life we spent entire days just reading and playing and singing together. As she reached her early teens we spent a few days together playing golf. In her later teens and early 20's we found other ways to spend days together. We made great memories many days (and nights) on Two Week Notice road trips. We loaded the Ford Explorer with guitars and drums and headed to Cleveland, Tennessee or Bushnell, Illinois, or to the Masquerade in downtown Atlanta, or to Under the Couch at Georgia Tech so she and the band could play shows.

But today was special. We spent the day hanging pictures...getting ready for a really big show. You see, my little girl is about to have her own little girl in just a couple of weeks. So, today we spent the day finishing the nursery.  We set up the bassinet. We went to Target  to get picture frames and then went to Home Depot to buy child-proof outlet covers. We worked in Baby Girl's beautiful nursery, hanging the quilt over the changing table - the same quilt Lauren had in her nursery as a baby. Then we hung pictures over the crib and after a few other finishing touches we just paused and looked around and drank in the anticipation.

Yes - it can be hard to come home, but when you have something to anticipate...like grand parenting - well, what can I say? I'm glad to be home.  

Pray for Monterosso

One of the beautiful towns on the western coast of northern Italy is Monterosso. It is one of five small cities that make up the Cinque Terra. It is a popular tourist destination located in what has become known as the Italian Riviera. We were there just three weeks ago and had a lovely time. The view of the Ligurian Sea from high up on the ridge overlooking Monterosso and the bay was breathtaking.

When we arrived in Monterosso by train from Milan we manhandled our luggage from the train, through the station, and through the tunnel into the old town, about a half-mile to the old church. We had instructions - well, more like guidelines - for how to navigate the cobblestone streets to find Manuel's Guesthouse - the place where we would stay for two nights. Our luggage wheels bounced along the streets until we came to steps. As we paused to get our bearings and to confirm that these were the steps we were to climb, an Italian man - about 5'5" and 60 ish - rounded the corner and spoke to us. He asked, "Are you looking for Manuel's Guesthouse?" We answered affirmatively. Without pausing he enthusiastically said, "I am Manuel!" A few moments later we were headed up the steps - all 159 of them - leading to Manuel's Guesthouse. We did appreciate Lorenzo, Manuel's nephew, who came to our aid and helped us haul our luggage up the steep, winding steps. When we arrived at the top we were greeted by Giovanni, Manuel's brother, who had us sit down on the terrace and rest and have a drink of cool water while Lorenzo went to finish preparing our rooms for the night.

Monterosso was magnificently beautiful and Manuel and his family were superb hosts. When we left there we felt like we had been welcomed by family.

As we arrived in Rome about 9 days later we began to hear that severe rains had caused flooding in Cinque Terra. We investigated more and were shocked to learn that Monterosso had received 22 inches of rain and had been all but destroyed by a mudslide. Nine people in this region lost their lives. Train tracks and roads were washed out causing Monterosso and Vernazza (the nearest Cinque Terra town) to be cut off. Vernazza had to be evacuated by sea. The news reports quoted the mayor of Monterosso as saying, "Monterosso no longer exists!" (Below I have included a link to a news report with video.)

Since we fell in love with this place and these people, our hearts have continually turned back to Monterosso. We have been in touch with Manuel and know that he and his family and his guesthouse are all safe and intact. However, we also know that it will take months and possibly years before things are back to normal. So - if you are a prayerful person and you don't mind, would you say a prayer for Monterosso? That would mean a lot to me - and to Manuel.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8850032/Villages-all-but-wiped-out-as-storms-batter-Italys-Cinque-Terre.html