I'm enjoying the gentle lull of this Monday afternoon, long-since established as my substitutionary Sabbath day of rest. As far back as I can recall, my life has been enveloped by weekend ministry. I've always cherished the opportunities for service, but such a schedule can sometimes leave the servant in need of the rest and renewal they seek to bring to the hearts entrusted to their care. Therefore, I've always tried to set aside my Monday, at least, as a time to simply "be still, and know that He is God." I think our Father's pleased when we can just quietly enjoy His presence in our daily lives.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. :) The morning worship services went beautifully. Despite earthly complications and distractions, when is a precious time in God's presence not beautiful? :) My heart was given a great joy, when I stood--ever so quietly--and made my way to the front of the sanctuary to play the invitation song. A dear friend stole quickly and silently from the rear entrance of the room and gave me a hug. I haven't seen her in months, and she had just returned home, just that moment, from her travels. When I started singing the invitation, I had the memory of a sweet friend's embrace still warm upon my shoulders, and the gesture of kindness just reminded me how very much our Father must long to see us. Can you imagine how thrilled He will be to take us in His arms, when we, at last, come home from our sojourning of this vast earth? I love the tenderness of long-awaited reunion...

After a thoroughly enjoyable meal and fellowship with my sister-in-Christ and a few other dear friends, I met my mother, and we headed deep into our city's downtown area. Halfway through the drive, I stopped for a few moments at an HEB store and purchased some cheery blossoms. You see, I was a woman with a mission. :) The bright bouquet was filled with blooms of gold, vermilion, saffron, coral, and even celadon, and its sunny warmth was meant for the bedside of an old friend.

Two days ago, I was just putting a meal on the table for some dinner guests, when my phone starting ringing insistently in my pocket. Answering it, I found that the voice on the other end was my piano tuner's. For the last seventeen years, he's been the reason anyone is capable of being blessed by the worship my family has led in so many churches. :) Without him, the music would have seemed very dismally discordant, indeed. :)

Throughout the many years of the friendship that grew between him and my family, we've tried with all gentleness and sincerity to show Him the way to Jesus. He's been a member of a Unitarian Universalist congregation for as long as I can remember...You can't know how desperately I long for those I love to know the heart of my precious Savior. God has given many opportunities to simply share His ways, His Word, His love, and so much more. For that I am very grateful, and I still pray that God will bring my friend's heart to love Him--in spirit and truth.

Well, the piano tuner couldn't talk long--only long enough to let me know he'd had a heart attack and was somewhere in one of the downtown Baptist hospitals. The news certainly caught me off guard, and my heart was left in a very tender state, through the duration of the meal that night. Oh, but such gratitude was given to God, for my friend had been given the miracle of continued life.

The following day, Mother and Daddy were able to go visit him in the ICU, and yesterday was the first opportunity I'd been given to see him. As Mother and I drove deep into the heart of San Antonio, great, mountainous clouds could be seen forming, all across the horizon of my beloved city. I could tell a great storm was soon to find us, and the blackness of the clouds only deepened, as I neared the hospital.

Mother let me out at the emergency entrance (because it was partially covered), and I didn't reach the safety of the interior doors a moment too soon. The squall descended in fury over the city, and I felt as though I was going to be swept off my feet completely. Even though I survived the sudden coming of the storm, I figured my little bouquet certainly couldn't have. :) As I wove my way through seemingly endless hospital hallways, however, I checked on the flowers, and they were just fine--just a bit more "lively" than usual. :)

Within a few moments, I reached the doorway of my friend's room and was welcomed inside with a weak wave of his hand. I set the little arrangement on his table and stood there, talking a few moments with him. He couldn't believe someone had actually cared enough to bring him some "get-well-soon" flowers. You must understand, he's a quiet--almost eremitical--sort of fellow, and his true friends could be counted on one hand. Such a warmth flooded through my spirit, as I saw how deeply he had been touched...by the love in what I would have considered a very simple gesture of kindness and goodwill.

I was just turning to go, when he reached out his hand to try and grasp mine, and suddenly I found I was nearly crying, reflecting the rain drops now streaming down his window. In a fleeting moment, I thought how rarely we stop and realize how much people long to be touched. This world is a lonely place, even for those who have the Lord indwelling their heart--for we are to be strangers in this earth we roam--but can you imagine the loneliness that must engulf a heart, void of the comfort our Savior's presence brings?

Oh, yes, I took his hand...and prayed silently that he would learn to reach out to another hand--the hand of the One Whose love was my heart's source.

We have such a great responsibility, as children of God, to be His hands that touch a waiting world. Does that always mean grasping a frail hand in a dimly lit hospital room? I think not... There are flowers to be given, notes to be written, phone calls to be made, loving greetings to be spoken, shoulders to be offered in strength, embraces to uplift in times of sorrow, and smiles to daily remind humanity that there is something--Someone--higher, greater, and far lovelier that anything this world yet has known.

Be Christ's hands today, my dear friends, and ask Him how he would have you touch this world with His heart. It's a mystery to me...to think that the holy God would allow us to have some part in His dealings with the sons of men, but He does. He somehow grants us the joy of being His body here on earth, and I never want to make Him wish He had entrusted such care to someone else. I offer my humble "tryings"--sometimes failings--and He continues to glorify Himself through the lowly hands of a girl whose heart is with Him. Be willing to invest yourself in loving the many people He has placed around you--such an existence leaves immense joy in my spirit and newfound hope in others'.