Mack Ames Books and Maine Moose Patrol

February 15 ·

The following is a letter that I sent to our church early this morning. It repeats much of what many of you already know, but perhaps ties many pieces of the picture together. Laurel and I are members of Pilgrim Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Bangor, Maine.

Dear Pilgrim Friends,

For a man known to have something to say most of the time, I’m at a loss to adequately express my gratitude for your prayers, your tangible expressions of love, and for your support for Laurel, the boys, and me over the last ten days! God has been so gracious to us. He has reached out to us through you, and through countless other family, friends, and members of the body of Christ to demonstrate His love to us. We thank God for you.

Laurel remains in intensive care. She is still critically ill. She is on complete life support, and will remain so for another week or so. The complications of flu pneumonia that her doctors have described for me are more than I’m going to list here (both because I cannot remember them all and for privacy’s sake), but I will frankly tell you until this past Monday, they did not hold hope, humanly speaking, that she would survive this. “But God, who is rich in mercy…” But you were praying! As of Monday night, the attending physician called to say that he was hopeful that she would eventually recover, though she may be hospitalized for a month or more.

The boys and I have recovered from influenza. Christian has a touch of pneumonia, but he’s on antibiotics and has been cleared by his pediatrician to be in school and to be out in public. Michael and I both have slight flare-ups of asthma, so we’re taking measures to deal with that.

Laurel’s sister was up to see her last Sunday. Thanks to her, we’ve made plans for the boys to spend February vacation in Massachusetts with their cousins. We’re expecting to see Laurel’s brother tomorrow; he’s coming from Massachusetts to see her, spend the night, and then take the boys back with him for vacation week. This will give them a fun week with cousins, while relieving me of finding care for them while I return to work on Tuesday. Furthermore, I’ll be able to go from work to the hospital without worrying about the boys needing me.

As you continue to pray, here are some specifics:

1. For the acidosis in Laurel’s lungs to be reduced.
2. For Laurel’s kidneys to begin functioning again.
3. For Laurel’s father’s health to return to him so that he can come and visit her. He suddenly became ill last weekend just when he was making plans to drive up from Massachusetts.
4. For Christian and Michael to be sustained in heart and body as they are separated from their Momma, and for them to enjoy their week with cousins next week.
5. For me to take care of myself while I manage everything else.
6. For God to be glorified in us, through us, and by us.

Thank you, dear friends. As most of you know, most of my updates are posted on Facebook, but I realized this morning that some of you don’t do Facebook, so I wanted you to know what’s going on.

I’m hoping to be in church on Sunday, but I won’t be able to have the same conversation over and over; I’m sure you understand. I love you all dearly!

In Christ,
Bill, for Laurel & the boys

Bill MacDonald

February 15 ·

C made it clear to me this evening that he wants to go see his mother before he goes to Massachusetts. I’m planning to take him in on Saturday morning. M made it equally clear that he doesn’t want to go. That works out well, as C is old enough, but M isn’t, even though they appear opposite in age.

February 15 ·

Doctor said today that good case scenario is several months hospital and rehabilitation center, before she goes home. Very long, very tough road ahead. Not out of the woods yet.. keep praying. Keep believing! I’m trusting God.
Bill M.

February 16 ·

Dear Friends, this morning I am overwhelmed by the reality of our situation. Laurel faces an extremely long and difficult road to recovery from this devastating hospitalization. My heart aches for her. It aches for the boys. And yes, it aches for me. I miss her. But the God of all creation is her God and ours, and He Loves Us.

Bill MacDonald

February 16 ·

Two nights ago, I was in my room and I heard C humming this one. I went to his room and sang along with him. At the end of it he said, “I like to sing this. It helps me go to sleep.” ❤ this boy. ❤ this hymn. I sing this to Laurel when I visit her.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul;
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And has shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin—O the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

O Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
“Even so”—it is well with my soul.93Mary Macdonald-Murray, Laurel Dorman Trundy and 91 others

February 16 ·

C’s visit with Laurel was good. He told Momma he loved her, and he stayed while I sang hymns to her and prayed with her. and he was glad that he went. He remembered going to see a friend of mine in ICU a few months ago, and that prepared him for what he’d see today; it helped.

Furthermore, he’s eager to visit her again when he’s back from Massachusetts at the end of next week. “I want to see her more and more,” he said at supper tonight. ❤ this kid.

February 17 ·

It was so refreshing to be in the Lord’s house among his people for church today. To sing his praises, to pray, and to hear his Word preached were so enriching, healing, challenging, and fulfilling. The fellowship of the saints and the love of God were so evident. My heart is full.

Laurel is having a good day. She’s breathing a little bit over the respirator–one or two breaths every now and then. That’s progress (the kind we’ve been praying for). I got to see her face today for the first time in more than a week; how precious my sweet wife is. ❤️ Tiny increments of progress; praise and prayers for more. Thanksgiving to God for YOU. Our love to you, dear friends.

Bill MacDonald

February 18 ·

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise him, all creatures here below. Praise him above, ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Good night, friends. I return to work tomorrow, Lord willing. Your prayers for that are appreciated. I’ve been out since the end of January and while I look forward to getting back into the routine, it’s going to take a little getting used to. I’m also, by necessity of my workplace, going to be separated from my cell phone during the day, and I’ve become very accustomed to having it with me everywhere and all the time since Laurel entered the hospital. But God doesn’t need me to have my phone in order for Him to take care of her. ❤ To Him be the glory for that!

Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty:

Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all,
Wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call,
Wonderful words of life.
All so freely given,
Wooing us to heaven:

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
Wonderful words of life,
Offer pardon and peace to all,
Wonderful words of life.
Jesus, only Saviour,
Sanctify for ever.

The boys face-timed with me a little while ago. C announced he’d taken his medicine. M announced he ate vegetables! (green beans). Then he warned me, “Don’t make them, Dad.”

Way to go, Auntie Kelly and Uncle Karl Boettger for getting Michael to eat veggies!! Woot! Woot!

Bill MacDonald

February 18 ·

The Lord’s our Rock, in him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land,
Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm;
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat,
A shelter in the time of storm;
We’ll never leave our safe retreat,
A shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock Divine, O Refuge dear,
A shelter in the time of storm;
Be thou our helper ever near,
A shelter in the time of storm.

Bill MacDonald

February 18 ·

I enjoyed lunch with Mary & Logan and their three sons today. The boys are all getting over colds, so they weren’t feeling great, but they put on a good face and did their best to be good company. When I thanked them for it, they told me,”You’re welcome,” and I was glad to hug each nephew before they left to return to Freeport.

Ann Hyatt was our server–on a day she doesn’t normally work at that particular restaurant, so it was a blessing to see a friend from church. As it turns out, Mary’s oldest son and Ann’s youngest son have spent time at Deerwander Bible Conference together, so that was a cool connection to make.

A couple of hours over a meal with loved ones was very refreshing, just as I’d hoped. Now, I’m at home relaxing. I was going to go back to the hospital after lunch, but there are some things I need to do around the house to make myself ready for the remainder of the week as I resume work tomorrow. Laurel is in the hands of the only One in the universe that can do anything about her situation, and He is using the compassion and skills of her nurses and doctors to meet her needs, so I trust her to God and those men and women at Northern Light EMMC.

Dear Lord, grant Laurel a good night. Help her lungs to continue to improve their functioning, and help her kidneys to begin to function as they are supposed to. Help Laurel to know that you are with her; encourage her by your Holy Spirit. Bring the power of God into her room in such a way that the medical personnel cannot help but give glory to you for how she is healing and recovering from this devastating hospitalization. Thank you for the many Christians working with her and interacting with her. Thank you for the friends from church and the community that are taking the time to visit with her, especially given that I cannot be there as much as I’d like. Thank you for the testimony to your love that you are producing in this situation. Give us all hope in you–not hope as the world gives that disappears when adversity comes, but hope that is certain because Jesus is our Rock, our Fortress, our Strong Tower, who loves us and gave himself up for us that we might be reconciled to you by his own blood. We give all honor and glory to you for what you are doing, Lord Jesus. We love you! We pray this in your name. Amen.

Bill MacDonald

February 18 ·

Laurel is making a little more progress today. The prayer need is for her kidneys to start producing. Please pray for that. Otherwise, she is making incremental but steady improvement, including that the dialysis is getting ahead of the fluids, which is good. She’s able to be on her back all the time now, too, which is good. 😁

The dialysis technician spoke highly of the number of visitors that have come to see Laurel. He’s impressed by the support system in place. I told him that I’m not happy that Laurel is sick, but I’m thankful for the lessons that God is teaching me about trusting Him and being more aware of the needs of others. He was interested in knowing more about our church, so I gave him a church business card with our names on the back. To God be the glory.

Bill MacDonald

February 18 ·

Dear Friends, I’m heading out to see Laurel in a few minutes. Lord willing, I’ll be having lunch with my sister Mary and her husband, which will be a much-needed time of emotional refreshment for me. While Mary is closest in age of all my siblings and we fought like cats and dogs when we were young, we’ve grown close as we’ve matured, and I treasure the time I get to spend with her and her husband (as I do with all my siblings and their spouses).

I’ll post an update about my dear wife later today. I love you all and thank God for you. Your prayers and support sustain me, by the grace and mercy of God. To Him be the glory!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient grace for even me,
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
Praise his name!

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching a mighty host,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

This was shared by one of Laurel’s friends after I posted it. Sharing of my posts was common: Countless friends and loved ones passed the word along for prayer, and the gates of heaven were stormed daily on my dear wife’s behalf, and on behalf of my sons and me. Our gracious, loving Father took mercy on us and healed Laurel. I still weep for joy to know that God was willing to do that.

Dorothy Jean

February 19 ·

Another good update from Laurel’s husband Bill
Please continue to pray as prayers are being answered
Such an amazing little family 💕

After work I went to the hospital to visit Laurel. She was receiving her dialysis treatment; I often seem to be there for that, regardless of whether I see her in the morning or afternoon. I opened a couple of cards that had been delivered to her room and read them to her, told her about the adventures the boys were having with their relatives in Cape Cod, and passed along greetings from so many of you that have asked me to do so.

Forty-five minutes or so into my visit, Chaplain Paul Dunfee from Mountain View Correctional Facility, where I teach, arrived for a brief visit. After talking with me for a few minutes in the hallway and offering me some encouraging words, he and I went into Laurel’s room, where we took turns praying over her. Then, because it was time for her dialysis nurse to complete the treatment, and because it was late and I needed to come home and have supper, we left.

On our way out, the doctor met us in the hallway. Laurel continues to see some progress in her lung function, and as they remove her more and more from the sedation, she will come closer and closer to consciousness. We continue to intercede at the throne of God for her kidneys to begin functioning.

I had so many opportunities at work today to testify to the goodness, grace, mercy, and love of God–of how He is sustaining us and providing so wonderfully for us in this trial and hour of need. For those of like faith, the comprehension and shared awe of His lovingkindness is palpable. For those unfamiliar with such faith, such words seem like nice platitudes, I think, but little more than that. I can’t help that. All I know is that Jesus, our Savior, loves Laurel and Christian and Michael and me, and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us before the Father’s throne with groanings that cannot be uttered. Nothing is better than that. No place is safer than that. Children of the heavenly Father safely in his bosom gather, as the hymn says. To God be the glory, great things he has done!

Bill MacDonald

February 19 ·

I just spoke with the night nurse. Laurel has had a pretty good night. She’s been trying to open her eyes, but hasn’t quite gotten them fully open yet–just flutters so far. No movement in her outer extremities yet. But small improvements, nonetheless. Thank you for your ongoing prayers on her behalf and mine. We’d be lost without them.

May God bless you and yours for the love you are showing to us! And to God be the glory!

Bill MacDonald

February 19 ·

As is true for the suffering saints in communist China, so also is true for my wife in ICU: There is no safer place than in God’s will–in God’s hands. Romans 8:35-39 says:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Christopher GregoryFebruary 18

Ruth and I return to China Friday morning, arriving late Saturday night. Unfortunately though nothing has changed as the Chinese authorities have removed the symbol of the cross from the local church where our friends attend. Just another example of the real threat to Christians living in China.

Some have asked why would we return to such an environment where ones faith in Christ is subject to persecution? Because that’s where we are called. Something the Lord spoke into my spirit the other day when he said, “the safest place to be is in my perfect will.”

Communists, Socialists and every other spirit of death can never remove the security one will find when they walk in God’s perfect calling.

Pray for China. Pray for democracy. Pray for revival.)

Bill MacDonald

February 20 ·

When Laurel was first hospitalized, many of you reached out with Bible verses and with songs that spoke to your hearts. I didn’t say so at the time, but now I do: Thank you for that. I didn’t have time then to read them all or listen to the songs, but the Lord has granted me periods of reflection and quiet to follow through and do it since those first few difficult days. Some of the songs were new to me, and others were familiar. Some have stuck with me and run around in my head all day long. 🙂 I wake up with lyrics and tunes, or fall asleep to them, as God ministers to me through music. Thank you. To God be the glory!

February 20 ·

M & C contacted me last evening on Messenger Kids to let me know they had another wicked fun day with cousins and with Grandpa Robert Boettger. They had tacos for supper, they happily reported.

February 20 ·

You’ve gotten so used to hearing from me so often that the sudden drop-off may seem strange, but there are two reasons for the lack of information. First, I’m back at work, so I have less time to spend on Facebook. Second, Laurel had a quiet night and there isn’t much to tell you.

We continue to thank you for your prayers and encouragements. Keep praying! “Who is like the Lord our God?”

Psalm 113 says:

Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, you his servants;
praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.

Bill MacDonald

February 20 ·

Dear Friends,

Today was Laurel‘s best day yet since she was hospitalized on Feb. 6.
Today, she was taken off sedation and breathed on her own for more than 4 hours. !
The doctor told me this evening that “her lungs are a million times better than they were last week” when he and I had last talked (the attending physician changes every few days). There was amazement in his face and eyes; the excitement was real for him (imagine what it was for me!). “Her oxygen is good, her blood pressure is good, and her lungs are doing very well. She hasn’t completely woken up yet; I hope she will do that tomorrow,” he added.

My friends, we have been praying that God would act above and beyond what the professionals expect for Laurel, and she has come much further in the past week than they had anticipated for her. I am very pleased by this, and I thank God for his healing mercies toward her. I pray that he will continue by touching her kidneys and helping her to wake up fully soon.

Finally, in a conversation I had with a friend today in which I was describing how I am coping with this situation, my friend affirmed how my faith is keeping me strong. I thanked my friend for that, but redirected the sentiment to this: It is not by my strength or effort that I’m clinging to God and holding on. It is, rather, that God is clinging to me, and Romans 8 promises me that NOTHING can pluck me from God’s hands nor from his love.

Lord Jesus, help me to keep trusting in you, and to keep pointing all of our friends to you as the only One worth trusting in this world. Forgive me of my sin, Father, and by your Holy Spirit, make me more like my Savior Jesus, in whose name I pray. Heal my wife, Lord. Restore her to our family, if it be your will. Amen.

February 22 ·

Laurel has opened one or both of her eyes a few times in the last two days, but she hasn’t woken up and been truly alert yet. Her breathing continues to improve. They have gentle music playing in the background in her room, and when I go to visit her tomorrow, I’ll use her tablet to play some of her favorite music.

That’s the update for today on her. The boys just arrived home! My thanks to my sisters-in-law, Kelly and Nancy, for transporting them in stages to Maine, and to my sisters, Mary and Priscilla, for getting them the final two stages through Maine to our house!. ❤ Parenting resumes now.

February 23 ·

One of the needs we have faced was that our washing machine had broken down a few months ago and we had been going to the laundromat to get our laundry done.
This week, generous and loving friends arranged to have that taken care of. Thanks to them, we have a completely refurbished machine that was installed on Thursday. I’m so grateful for it! I’ve done three loads already today! God is blessing us through the kindness of his people. All I can say is, “Thank you,” and to God be the glory!

February 23 ·

Christian and I went to see Laurel this morning. As he took her hand and began talking to her, she moved her head back and forth. It was the first time I’d seen her do that, and I encouraged her to do it again. Nothing. Christian began talking again, and she moved her head again. I talked, and she stopped. I realize there wasn’t any rhyme or reason to it, but we still got excited and for my nervous son’s sake, made light of the fact that when he talked she moved and when I talked she didn’t.

She is breathing on her own most of the time now, praise God, and as we sat with her, moved her head and arms a number of times. We still wait and pray for kidney function and full wakefulness in God’s timing.

In response to my request for prayer regarding logistical things, several people have already offered to help with specific things, and I’m thankful for that. God is good because he loves us, and I’m humbled by that love. The glory is his alone!

February 24 ·

Dear friends,

Laurel continues to improve. There are no earth-shattering strides to tell you about today, but it is the Lord’s day, so with so many gathering and praying for her on this day, we hope for further healing of her body. It was refreshing to worship God with his people this morning and to have my boys with me.

The outpouring of love of God’s people continues unabated. Christians from our town are praying in their churches, too, even though some of them do not know us personally. To God be the glory!!

Members of our church are helping to meet logistical and practical needs for the boys and me. IF there’s a snow day for the boys, I have a place for them to go that won’t be a burden for another school family and won’t be an allergy issue for M. Meals, cleaning, and other issues are finding solutions that just three days ago were puzzling my mind. The Lord is kind to me!

As the days and weeks move along, there will be needs and opportunities to help for those that want to and haven’t had the chance to yet. For now, we seem to be all right. To God be the glory, honor, and praise! Amen. We love him, because he first loved us. He is faithful. Hallelujah!

February 25 ·

The nurse I spoke with this evening said the Laurel had a good day. There continue to be many encouraging signs of recovery and improvement, which are clear answers to prayer. At the same time, she said that Laurel still has a very long path ahead before she will be well. She said that it will take some months for Laurel to regain the strength that she has lost, but she spoke encouragingly to me on the phone. She emphasized that the prayer is making the difference in Laurel’s recovery. It was refreshing to hear that acknowledgment!

Laurel had at least two visitors today; our niece, Leah Dorman, and Mark Fowler. Thank you, dear ones, for going to see my dear wife. I could not get in to see her today. The nurse, a fellow believer, promised to give Laurel my love and tell her I’d be in tomorrow.

May God continue to hear our prayers on Laurel’s behalf, to restore her kidneys and other functions, and to encourage her spirit. May God comfort our children, and give me the strength that I need for each day. May He grant me wisdom and guidance for being a good father, husband, and employee.

Friends, I still covet your prayers and support. I am nothing without God, and you are his instruments of love to us. I rest in Him. To him be the glory, honor, and praise!

Love,
Bill, for Laurel, Christian & Michael

Bill MacDonald

February 25 ·

Okay, Folks. If you’re visiting Laurel, please look for this guestbook and sign it. My heartfelt thanks to my niece, Leah, for providing this. ❤

Bill MacDonald

February 27 ·

Laurel’s eyes are open more and more. She can communicate with a deliberate blink, but not repeatedly; she hasn’t the strength for that yet. When I took her hand in mine yesterday and spoke to her, she gripped my fingers noticeably, but it drained her strength and she couldn’t do it again. She raised her eyebrows a lot while I talked with her.

She can clearly hear, and she has a million questions–i could see those in her eyes and face. I answered the important ones: the boys are doing well. Her Dad is fine. The Lord is providing for us. Our families are fine. The church, our relatives, the town, the school, her online group friends, my colleagues, and everyone else we know are lovingly taking care of us and praying for her and us. God loves us and will not let us go.

I read a Psalm to her and prayed with her. I lost track of how many times I told her that I’m so happy to see her looking at me again! ❤️ I told her that I miss her. I miss her laugh, her wit, her wisdom, and her spirit. I discovered the conflicting emotions of joy that she’s improving, but sadness of leaving when she’s awake.

We will benefit from your prayerful support for a long time. At the same time, I am aware that many of you also have prayer needs. The boys and I are praying that God will bless you.

Though we miss Momma, we trust God. He has her, and he has us. We are weak, but he is not. He is faithful and true.

To God be the glory!159Mary Macdonald-Murray, Julia Eiten and 157 others

Bill MacDonald

February 28 ·

Laurel is scheduled to have a tracheostomy tomorrow morning around 10:30 or so. If successful, this will allow her to breathe more efficiently and eventually, allow her to begin eating again while she continues with her recovery. It is a delicate procedure. Please pray that it will take place and that it will go as it should. Please pray for me, as I have to be at work and need to keep my mind off waiting to hear from the doctor performing the procedure. Thank you.

Bill MacDonald

February 28 ·

Linda M Shockley and her husband Keith Shockley are friends that live in North Carolina. Linda grew up in the same church as I did, and she and Keith used to belong to a Bible study group with Laurel and me, among others. This morning, I saw that she was praying for me to know more of God’s peace in the midst of Laurel’s illness, and I commented in return that I need that; I’ve been very impatient (there’s a pun to be had there somewhere) and restless this week.

Then I saw a post from a college friend who was marking the second anniversary of the loss of her mom. Having lost my Mum when I was in high school, I paused to read Carrie Baker‘s very moving, tender, and sweet post. In it, she referenced a hymn that IMMEDIATELY spoke peace to me in two ways.

First, when I was a little boy and was getting annoying (hard to imagine, huh?) or fussy, Dad would tell me to “Be still”. That was the end of it. If not, things go more serious, and sitting down would be less pleasant for a little while. Believe me, I caught on pretty quickly to what “Be still” meant when Dad spoke!

Second, although Dad’s “Be still!” was a warning that firmer discipline was on its way if I didn’t settle down, it did actually teach me that “Be still and know that I am God,” means that if I settle down in my thinking and in my heart, I’ll realize that God IS sovereign. He IS in control. And this week, I’ve been impatient in my thinking, in my heart, and I’ve been trying to take the reins from God, forgetting that I’m NOT in control, but trying to be in control, anyway.

The following hymn is Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side — Unde et Memores. Long introduction, but I’m not known (typically) for short posts.

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know his love, his heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From his own fullness all he takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be for ever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Comments

• Cal Edie Cummings That is always been one of my favorite hymns and favorite song from Psalm 46. Praying you can be still are you wait on the Lord’s timing and healing for an Laurel. Love you guys
• Laurel Dorman Trundy I understand your impatience. It is hard to be apart from Laurel. I am praying. This song is a big comfort to me.
• Carrie Johnson Bill, thank you for this story. My Dad also said, “Be still.” I too, wondered later in life if he also was encouraging us to “Be still and know that I am God.” Warmed my heart to read your thoughts.

One day this summer on my drive to work, I was stuck in construction. I glanced around for anything interesting to photograph, and this mailbox was just outside my passenger window. I drive past this house five days a week, about 48 weeks a year, but I had never noticed it before. I’d seen the bottle recycling business they’d tried to set up six years ago, and noticed that it had burned down shortly thereafter, but I’d never observed this clever little mailbox.

Do you see any clever mailboxes on your commute? Photograph them and share them. Enrich my day doing that.

My field of dreams. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Relax, and revel in the lazy clouds that drift through the blue sky. It’s a hot summer day, but there’s no reason for pressure or discomfort. It’s a field of dreams and respite from chaos. #Maine. #MEMoosePatrol

What’s your field of dreams?

For many years, I counted autumn as my most favored season of the year. I believe that 1992 was the reason for that.

Having grown up in eastern Maine, I had always enjoyed vivid color changes in the fall, to the point that sugar maples, in particular, often projected sunshine, that was not there, by the brilliance of the orange, yellow, and red hues of their leaves in mid-October. My heart was frequently stirred by the gorgeous views that presented themselves as I drove to and fro.

When I moved to Georgia for college in 1988, I was disappointed by the utter lack of color in autumn there. It’s not that the leaves didn’t change; it’s that there was no brilliance to the colors. The hues were heavy and dull. Had I been one of those leaves, I would’ve been in a hurry to fall off the branch, too. And so it was, in October 1992, when I happened to be home for my sister’s wedding, that I got to see Maine’s autumnal brilliance once again for the first time in five years, and my preference for fall was cemented in my heart for many years afterward.

However, with age comes wisdom, as ‘they’ say. For I live in Maine once again, and while the beauty of autumn returns year after year, it is most assuredly followed by winter, which I do not enjoy nearly as much as I do fall. In fact, the shortening days experienced in fall and winter have led me to a new preference for spring as my favored season. Most specifically, May and June, until the summer solstice.

The days are lengthening and warming. Trees are finally greening, flowers innumerable are blooming. Sunsets are glowing with brilliant colors later into the evenings. Hope is revived. Strength is regained. Love is refreshed. Life is renewed.

He sits in his room. One of his students is taking a test, so the others are reading quietly, respecting the need of the one to concentrate. The air handlers hum in the ceiling above him. Seconds tick off the clock to his right, and the building trades engraving machine grinds on and off across the hall. He sniffles to clear his nose for better breathing, and then scratch it; allergy season has arrived. Others in the room are experiencing similar symptoms, but the noises are few.

The most common noise in the room is the sound of his typing. Why not stop and enjoy the silence? It’s something he learned from his father; silence, that is, not typing. The ability not to fill every gap with talk. Go ahead and exist. Be.

A door slams shut in the hall, breaking his reverie. Being was pleasant there for a few minutes. Some people don’t like just being, and sometimes it’s not enough for him, either. He needs to be something. Be what? Be thankful. Be content. Be considerate. Be forgiving. Be slow to anger. Be repentant. Be loving. Be aware. Be thoughtful. Be helpful. Be careful. Be kind. Be wise. This could go on forever. His father taught him all of these things, too. When he was a child he thought like a child, he reasoned like a child, he acted like a child, but when he grew up, he put aside childish things, isn’t that what his father taught him? And then he thinks, “Adulting is hard, but it is also rewarding. Time to be at peace.”