We are in the south while the north has an ice form. Part of me wishes I were back home helping Baihley with the horses and dogs and life on the farm. The other part of me says, it’s warm here! Enjoy! Walking through Asheville yesterday we came upon the wall. The wall is close to the double decker bus, which reminds me of England, and close to one of my favorite stores. The wall is about twenty five feet long and looks just like the above photo. People write with chalk, erase others writings, share their thoughts, amuse the world but mostly I think it makes people think. Some of the things people want to do, before they die, are simple. Some are world changing, some are heart rending and some just make you giggle. We came south and I went to two funerals. One, Fred, had done much before he died. Changed many people’s worlds, lived in many different cultures and lived many people. He knew his time was close. The second funeral was of someone who didn’t have a clue he was at his end. Before I die, should perhaps be revised to, while I am still living I will… I have been so disappointed in people who quit living before they quit breathing. No more bucket lists, no goals, no marathons to run, no places to visit but more importantly, no people’s lives to change. For is we live simply to make our own lives better, we have failed in the biggest commandment God gave us. Galatians 6:10 reminds us that, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. So before I die, I need to love people, care for people, listen to people, send notes to people, call people, pay for someone’s lunch, pay for the schooling for a child in Africa, send a missionary to Haiti, go see aunt pearl, play the piano for the nursing home, pack a blessing basket; get the point. Not just before I die, but while I am yet living. While I have determined in my heart it’s not about me, I need to reach out to others. That’s not necessarily doing things that make me happy, but things that show others what God is doing in my heart while I am still living. And mostly, I need to determine in my heart when I live, Christ lives in me. So not before I die, but while I am still living, Lord let me really live. And a living plant produces fruit. Lord, let me just be putting out fruit: apples, oranges, pineapple and bananas…. and may it be that there are so many bananas that we have to make banana bread.
Special Touch Ministry 