Reconnecting..."When Happiness Shows Up..."

"When happiness shows up, always give it a comfortable seat." Mr. Fezziwig told Ebeneezer Scrooge from the book, A Christmas Carol.  Scrooge was a preoccupied man, but Mr. Fezziwig and his family weren't.  In fact, they looked forward to gatherings and celebrations, namely, in this story, the Christmas season.  It does not have to be Christmas to call for a gathering.  It can be circumstances of years past that usher in gatherings today. 
   
This past weekend we offered comfortable seating to history, and it was fun. 

From Dallas to AZ - still churching

We met Neil and Ellen Ninneman in the 80's in our Sunday School class in a large church in Dallas, Texas. We sat beside each other in class, introduced ourselves and a warm friendship soon developed.  We had just moved from Abilene, Texas and they from Florida.   Along with their four children and our Matt, we all seemed to mesh.   We kept in touch through the years with notes and vacationing together.  When they arrived in Arizona this past week, it had been 28 years since we had gathered for table talk...and we never stopped talking.  With their powerful testimonies for Christ, they have soldiered forward making a difference everywhere they have lived.  That happiness found comfortable seating Saturday evening as we gathered for a meal in our home.

"Gringo Group" with our AZ friend

Fast-forward to 2012 in Riobamba, Ecuador. On a warm sunny afternoon, we went out for a walk and met fellow Americans, Alan and Marian, who were teaching English at a language institute in Riobamba.   Wasting no time, we made our way to a coffee cafe and visited for several hours. Several weeks later, we met for dinner and they introduced us to Jillian who was also teaching English but at a different language institute in Riobamba.  We continued to meet and lunch and dinner together many times during our assignment there.  We called ourselves "The Gringo Group."  When they arrived in Arizona this past week, it had been 16 months since we had gathered for table talk...and we never stopped talking.  That happiness found comfortable seating Sunday evening as we gathered for a meal in our home.

It is not necessary to relocate or travel overseas to discover new friendships.  For us, like many of you, relationships are only an introduction away.  Through circumstances and divine providence, we believe Jesus has hand delivered friendships into our lives.  Some slip away through busyness or new distances or just plain neglect, but others seem to have sustainability as a result of good old-fashioned friendship management.  The value placed on friendship is evident through biblical history. Jesus had friends.  He calls us His friend.  We must never be like Scrooge - too preoccupied with ourselves or matters of the world - and miss the introduction, which can lead to happiness showing up.  When that occurs, pull up a comfortable chair.   And, tell someone about it!

Keep Looking Up,
J:m and L:nda

Power-Washing

Recently, we met a young man at our church who is a "power-washer."  Yes. He power-washes recreational buildings in the Phoenix area.  One potent swipe, one powerful swish and buildings, sidewalks, and decks look different.  A dingy landscape becomes as it was originally intended: clean. We could relate to his profession...somewhat.

If you have been following our Blog, you know we experienced powerwashing, not in Phoenix in 113 degree summers, but in Germany last summer where the weather was actually kinder and more agreeable.

 Here is what we thought about this assignment:
Linda's testimony:  Power washing was a new experience for me.  In my first lesson, I learned how necessary it was to brace my back against the railing of the scaffolding and how important it was to plant my feet determinedly on the damp wooden plank 20 feet above the ground because when I pressed the nozzle, the water shot out like a Chicago street hydrant!  The water wanted to control the hose and the nozzle wanted to control me.  Steadily, I aimed at a space on the side of the three-story building and managed the nozzle for a comfortable water release.  Then two things happened:  a cool mist reflected back onto me and a significant difference appeared within that space on the building. After I had witnessed the stucco becoming what it had originally intended to be, I never got tired.  The "change" had my attention.  The most astonishing effect was that I had not realized just how dirty the building had become through its decades of living.  The sight of the before and after was mesmerizing and contagious.  Finally, I handed the nozzle to Jim.

 Jim's testimony:  I knew about the power of the water and bracing for its surge because I had experienced power-washing earlier in my life.  The wooden planks get very slippery, so planting the feet to avoid a slip is always and intentionally important.  For this project, we had to have a system of sweeps, either horizontally or diagonally, to assure that when the natural light fell on the walls of the church later in the day, every inch reflected pristine change. The voltage in Germany is 240, but that power washer required 360 voltage, which is potent and herculean.  Clearly, the force and the source of the water was so powerful that an outcome was inevitable.

It was interesting and fun to discuss our power-washing experience with someone who actually does it daily and observes real change regularly, and our conversation with him motivated this Blog post.
We all agreed we had met the Source and had experienced Power-Washing.

Keep Looking Up,                                                           Have you experienced Power-Washing?
J:m and L:nda