A View from Last Summer

August 6, 2012

I am writing this with very little hope of sending it right away. All this time I have been here on my beloved island in Canada just glorying in the hot weather and sunshine, but without the internet. In a way it has been good. I have no e-mail, no snail mail (we don’t have mail delivery here either and I am not inclined to go to the mainland for anything unless I have to), and not very good phone reception. Therefore I have been doing a lot of sitting, reflecting and nothing. However, I have missed so much the contact and fellowship of my Christian friends. God’s plan, I am sure, is to let me sit and mend.

Most of June I was alone but with neighbors who are as close as family and with my youngest son and family who are but down the path and in and out often. My sister came for a week to help me do nothing and we just enjoyed that so much. Also Jim came for a week the first of July with his family and that was very special. My granddaughter Joanna came and surprised me with having grown up into a lovely young lady who was very solicitous of Gramma. Isn’t it wonderful? Best of all—- Jesus has been here every day for coffee and whatever else was going on!!!

My precious morning time has been even more special to realize that Jesus is not a person to sit in a chair and be with me; but to live with me in my very being, all the time. i am so thankful for His Word and for His creation. I can be alone and let both of those just fill me with praise and wonder.
I started reading the whole Bible over again from the beginning since I’ve been here alone and God’s wisdom is overwhelming. We all need so much to have uninterrupted time to think of Him, to ponder His Word, and to reorganize ourselves in relation to His directives. I can see how He saw the need to designate a time of rest every week.

We don’t really do what He says. I don’t anyway. Sunday is a day to go to church and fellowship, but really rest? Contemplate my Lord? I don’t do that on Sunday. I just excuse myself by saying, “Everyday is a day of rest for me. I am retired and so do very little real work.” I think we do need to rest from labor, if we actually do labor, but also I think God knew we needed a time to rest from the world, to contemplate Him and all He has in mind for us – our future’s importance in the whole scheme of things. We are too much able to be busy, but not with those things which will really matter in God’s world. Where do I fit in here? Do I just try to be an example where I am? Now I am in Leviticus and although I know all of Scripture is true and worthy of learning, just what am I learning?

As you can see, I am still confused about a lot of things and may be until I get to see Jesus face-to-face. My days are spent without much organization and I wonder if Jesus is telling me something I am not hearing. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). So, I am waiting on Him. Not even sure that is the right thing. Does anyone else have these problems? In any case, I end this missive with TRUST.

I’ve missed you all so much. I do get some e-mail on my phone if I sit outside on the end of the dock. It is so good to hear your comments and SO encouraging.

Love from Irma Jane Fritz-Zager