my Father turned the page

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and comforting words. It's been a long couple of days, with such a varied assortment of events--
--speedy flights,
--touching songs on my mp3 player,
--hugs at the airport,
--more details about my dad's passing--it appears to have been quick. My mom found him in his computer chair, with no observable disturbance. We're assuming it was a heart attack but didn't feel the need for an autopsy and we're not sure if the medical examiner's results in a few weeks will be detailed or not.
--the blessing of close family--I'm so glad my mom, brothers, sisters (in-laws and all!) and I all share in the belief of Jesus Christ as our Savior. It's so wonderful to share in the same comfort.
--confirming funeral arrangements, picking out the casket, discussing flowers and shirt colors...my dad's favorite colors were blue and maroon/burgundy, so those will be prevalent.
--sharing stories, as memories come up
--missing his footsteps coming up the basement stairs
--counting out the usual number of dinner plates and having to put one back
--contacting everyone we can to let them know of his passing, and being reminded that he knew SO many people and reached out to so many every day. Even just trying to wrack our brains of who else to contact, his circle of ministry, service and friendship was so vast that we keep marveling and rejoicing in how many lives he's touched (although that doesn't help us with obscure last names, phone numbers or email addresses!)
--letting people know about reviewal and service times, and reading his obituary
--going through so many photo albums in order to put a slide show collage together (yes, this is my part of the preparations!). I'll see what I can do about maybe making it available online later. Here are two of my favorite with my daddy




And last (for now)... I kind of knew my dad wrote poetry. He would always write a poem for the Christmas cards that he and mom gave us kids, especially the last few years, and he'd write little poems for Valentine's Day or birthday cards for my mom. What I didn't know is that he was actually quite prolific, and he started out as an English major in college before he changed focus to the ministry. I hope to pull many of his poems together into a little booklet sometime down the road, but in the meantime some of us kids will be reading some at the service on Saturday. The one that touched my heart and I asked to read is as follows:

My Father Turned the Page
by Robert Lee Riley Sr.

"May I read to you," my father said
When I was but a child
And he held me close and read aloud
Of adventures bold and wild.

As the plot went on and I saw the page
And the pictures filled my gaze,
With widened eyes and interest peaked
He read as to amaze.

While I was pondering the tale
And wondering what would be,
My father kept the pace alive
And turned the page for me.

And from that tale and from those books
My young life's interests sown,
Until I reached the stage of life
That I read them on my own.

As the years went by and interests changed
Over every stage of life,
I still remember lessons learned
From blessings or from strife.

And now in later life I live
From day to passing day
My Father God is now in charge
And now He leads my way.

So 'mid the trials of life it seems
The lessons are the same
I find my Father cares for me,
And each tempest He can tame.

But when in comfort I recline
And think that I'm so large,
My Father turns the page for me
So I know that He's in charge.

I've learned a greater lesson still
No matter what life's stage.
He always knows what's best for me,
When my Father turns the page.

Now tests or joys may come my way
In each and every age,
But He still cares and does what's best,
When my Father turns the page.

Even so...

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Therefore comfort one another with these words."

--1 Thessalonians 4:13-18




My father passed away last night and I'm heading to Minneapolis to be with my family for a few weeks. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn for losing him but rejoice in the comfort that he is with the Lord and we will one day be reunited.

catog

Sometimes I think my cat has a dog somewhere in her family tree. One of her favorite things to do is flop over at my feet and meow for me to scritch her stomach with my foot. And she's not the typical, aloof cat that would just as soon sneer at you as deign to allow you in her presence without tuna. No, my cat greets me eagerly when I walk in the door and wants attention right away. She'll follow me from room to room and if I close the bathroom or bedroom door, she'll park outside it and swipe her paws underneath as if she might find a way to fit underneath it. And while she doesn't eat my homework (thank goodness I don't have any of that anymore!), she eats my magazines. I have to keep the ad ones like Pottery Barn on top of the stack so the ones I haven't read yet don't get played with and chewed on. But I love my little munchkin, and when she's walking all over the mail I'm trying to open so she can find a spot on my lap, it's nice to know she's got the love and loyalty thing down, regardless of where she got it.

voices in my head

I don't often talk to myself, and almost never is it audible. But every once in a while I'll have a phrase that I have to keep repeating to myself to try to make it penetrate the depths of my brain. Sometimes it's about self-confidence in situations where I'm meeting new people. Sometimes it's berating myself for a poor driving choice or lack of timeliness many mornings. Sometimes it's a mental banging of my head against a brick wall for something ill-advised that I just said or did. Tonight it was a constant refrain of "God gives grace to the humble." (James 4 is just chock full of goodies!)

See, I started helping out this not-for-profit foundation that takes old computers, refurbishes them and replaces basic parts as needed, then adds free programs including educational kids' games, basic office systems and Bible software. They then distribute them to local ministries, community centers, needy schools and overseas missions free of charge. This is the second week I've been helping out.

I started this long explanation of how tonight went, but even my eyes were glazing over with my explanation, so I'll sum up with this--troubleshooting doesn't work the same way on nice, new computers such as what I'm familiar with at work. It's more of a creative art form with trying to make old computers work well enough to be basic workhorses that can still be a blessing to those in need. So even though I have to keep asking for help and feeling like such a newbie, hopefully the humility will get easier to chew with time, and with the grace God promises, I'm confident it will be a blessing not only to others but also to me.

On a side note, I was telling one of my brothers just tonight that I no longer feel like the youngest person around anymore. I was always the youngest in my family, one of the youngest in my grade in high school and college, and frequently the youngest amongst my peers at my jobs. I've never felt old before, but that's starting to change. We now have a good-sized group of "young people" at church that are post high school and drifting in various educational and economic pursuits. I'm within 2 years of the oldest people (you know who you are!!) in "our group." Always before, I've been the young spring chicken with all the verve, vigor and best eyesight of the group (or at least the smallest monitor resolution, but that's because I can't stand not seeing as much as possible fit on my screen). Not so much anymore. However, at my little computer group Monday nights, I'm pretty sure I'm one of 3 under 40 (maybe even under 50!), which adds to my feelings of ineptitude, but if I look at it positively, there is a lot of experience around of which I can avail myself.

Godgivesgracetothehumble.
Godgivesgracetothehumble.
Godgivesgracetothehumble.
Godgivesgracetothehumble...