July 2, 2013

Hi to all my good friends in Medina and everywhere else! I have been overwhelmed at how far Coffee with Jesus has gone. It is so exciting, but kind of scary too. I put myself out there in written word that I’m hoping people will read and relate to, and now my son has my picture on a web page where they can see me as well. If you don’t like what I write or criticize it, there I am, big as life and twice as ugly!! What can I say? I love you all and I really believe you love me too, so that makes it all just dandy.

It’s a gloomy day today, as have been most of the recent days. We have had plenty of rain up here. It gets to me somewhat. I’m surrounded by water on the island. Every time it rains, a miniature lake forms out in back of my cottage. It drains away only to rain again and become another Lake Irma. With more rain up above me I am most grateful that the ground below my feet is muddy but still solid. A sneaky little thought comes into my mind. Do you suppose, even though the island has been here for 300 years that we know of, it might wash away into the great lake system? I really love storms here though. I can sit and actually watch one move in. It comes from the north in the form of a humongous black cloud. It moves slowly toward me as I sit on my glassed in porch. With its slow approach comes the ominous roll of distant thunder. As it approaches over the water, it gets darker and the thunder becomes louder and closer. The darkness rolls in over the water and the rain begins. Pounding on the roof and the deck increases the noise. With this storm there is no wind, the rain comes straight down in a sheet, hitting the water with such force that the waves flatten out completely. There is not one ripple on the water. The surface is rough with thousands of teeny tiny drops that splash up where the big drops hit. I wish I could describe it better. It is an experience to see. Meantime, the darkness has increased, the lightning has begun and behind each flash is a thunderclap strong and close enough now to shake the whole cottage. One flash lights up the whole sky and it is daylight for a split second and then the darkness closes in again. So does the rain. Eventually, I can see the darkness move on over the water and the storm goes its way to the southeast to harass all of you in Medina, Ohio. The sun hasn’t come out yet, but eventually it will and my porch will be a cozy spot to toast my toes.

The whole thing is a panorama of majesty. How can we think we are so smart about science and the laws of nature? We are helpless in the face of even one storm. Where were all those learned men who think they know how the earth was formed millions of years ago? If they are so smart, why don’t they get out and stop the tornadoes that hit the Midwest and tore whole towns apart; making hundreds of people homeless?  God’s power is so manifest in just one little storm here in my corner of Canada.

I love God’s words to Job: “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds so an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send forth lightning? Who has put wisdom in your innermost being and who has given understanding to your mind?” (Job 38:34-36)
We know next to nothing and what we do know we get from our great God.

I’m still sitting here watching the gloom. The storm has gone by and the gloom hangs over me. I know what will cheer me up. A cookie! Maybe more than one. Fortunately, God has been good enough to send my granddaughter down here yesterday with a bag of chocolate chips and the desire to do some baking at Grandma’s. How good is my God?!!! Love you all. Wish I could share my cookie. Irma Jane