Rain

I was thinking of that product you can put on your car windshield that coats it so when you are in a heavy rain, it doesn't streak and remains clear. 

Rain-X, I believe it's called. It's similar to turtle wax, in that it provides an invisible barrier on the surface as a protectant, allowing water and other irritants to slide right off, making sure not to harm the body of the vehicle. 

I think I've been walking around coated in Rain-X for quite some time, looking the same, though protecting myself from "the elements". 

I think we all wear a little wax or Rain-X from time to time. Otherwise, our bodies could be subject to all that fresh salt being dumped out there. All that dirty slush carelessly spewed around. I'm making sure the droplets form, roll, and stream away, without gathering to pool and cause any bodily harm. 

Someone asked me if I felt differently about my relationship with God in light of all the chaos in my family lately. In fact, this was a very important someone who asked me, and I was careful to answer. I was honest, because it's never any good to lie about such things. 

"I do feel differently. I still believe, but I'm feeling not as close as I was before. Not that I won't be again, but like a parent who just made a decision I don't like, this child needs some space to think. I've never quite felt this distance before. It's like we are on opposite sides of the campground and I don't want to camp with you right now. Very strange."

She listened, and echoed, "me too."

I've heard all the verses, know all the stuff, but pain has it's own path. And right now, Rain-X. Because protecting the heart seems to be working better than trying to fix it these days. 

Mike

Feeling heavy-hearted today. A young man whose family we helped move from a small apartment to a first home over the summer is losing his job. 

Their young son was born with a leg deformity and has undergone several correction surgeries, all very painful recoveries. 

He has 6 months to find another position within the same company. Please be believing with us that the right position is waiting for him and this family will be blessed abundantly as they wait. 

Thank you. 

Quiet Winter

It's a typical winter here in the big woods. Cold, snowy, not much happening. I see why bears hibernate. I kind of hibernate too! It's easy to do anyway, having been struggling with my health for so long. My social life is non-existent! 

With a busy hubby and teens going every which way and one dating, our weekends are very tied up with family anyway.  I'm not quite sure how others have so much time for socializing. Even when we "had friends", it was always a family-oriented thing we planned together. Couples going out? Never. Not since before we had kids! I don't know, I don't really feel we're missing anything. 

Steve's best buddy lives in Texas, mine is 3 hours away, and other close friends of ours are just as busy and dedicated to their families as we are. There's never enough time to do all the things with all the people, is there? 

One day we will have all the time in the world for our friends again. Not on the phone or on the dreaded Facebook chat, but in person again. 

But it's quiet out here and it sure would be nice to be scrapbooking with Patty and laughing as we always do, or having a nice long talk with Pam or Angela about things that matter in life. 

Because friends can be just as important as family, if not more than, in some cases. And I don't want to sleep through that.