Marked

Have you ever been identified in a crowd? With hundreds of people around, maybe at a mall or large public event, and someone starts screaming your name as loud as they possibly can. The natural reaction is to look around and ask "who is calling my name?" The next thing, at least for me, is to start rattling off all of the possibilities of who it could be. The list goes on and on, until the voice catches up with the face. And bang. . . there they are staring you in the face. There you are standing there in exhilaration, with the realization that you have re-united with a deal old friend. There are hugs or warm embraces in the crowd of hundreds.

The question that comes to mind is, "how did they find me in that crowd?" I, as a child, would become separated from my parents and wander off to explore the zoo or fair on my own. I would quickly become separated and blend in with the hundreds of people. Oblivious to the fact that my parents were calling my name and worried sick that I was hurt or in danger. What is a parent to do? I, in the mean time was enjoying my day, and was not concerned that my parents were gone. They would find me. They always did. I learned, albeit not quickly, that if I was lost I needed to be found. I learned to go to Lost and Found, because that where they gave out the free treats. And there I would be when my parents found me, sitting with a sucker and smile.

The title for this blog, Phocid, which means ear less seal. As Christians, when we choose to accept Christ as or Lord and Savior in our hearts, we become marked or 'sealed.' This means that we have found our father and that we are no longer lost from knowing his love for us. Through this connection we can truly understand the love that Our Lord has for us. Our father will always be with us and calling our name. If we happen to wander from that connection, God will be calling our name and finding ways of getting our attention. God always finds interesting ways of getting our attention.

During this Christmas season, rejoice in the memories of family and friends, laugh with the kids as they open their toys, and continually remind yourself of the reason for the season. Also, it is OK to get lost in the spirit of the season. Watch the old Christmas movies: Holiday Hotel, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story and Its A Wonderful Life. Try to avoid the "new" Christmas movies that are brightly wrapping a big hunk of coal.

Have you ever got lost and needed to be found?

The Long Road

This past weekend is hard to describe. At one point it was a sorrowful journey of remembrance of a life that had been suddenly lost, while at the same time it was a joyful experience of sharing a life that was joyfully lived. The family had come together from across the country to celebrate the life of a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a child of God. We came to honor the life of Irene Martha Palmer. Irene was my wife's grandmother and a dear family friend.

I had first met Irene approximately ten years ago for a family get-together at Easter at her home in Sutter, California. I was immediately accepted into the family as if I had known them for years. You could feel the love in everything that they did. I quickly realized that it was one of the many gifts of love that she had instilled in her kids and grand kids. Irene's love flowed out in everything that she did and she always opened her home up to family, friends, and anyone that happened to enter her home.

When traveling through the area on the way to school in Northern California, she always prayed for our safe travels and opened her home up to us to stay the night. We could always count on grandma to be there for us and we loved to feel her warm hugs on a chilly winter night. We loved to hear the stories about her neighbors, the family, Rex, Tom and Ladybug. We will always those Hallmark-esque memories that were distinctly grandma.

When it was time for our wedding, we had asked her if she could make the trip, but at the time it was getting harder and harder for her to travel. We knew that she was there in spirit as we celebrated our wedding day and we felt her love blessing our marriage. She truly had the love of Christ in her heart.

We got the news that she had passed away last weekend and we knew that it was for the best. There would be no more aches and pains, no more medications, no more walkers, only freedom in heaven. I cry not for the woman that was lost, but for the journey that was won. She has left a legacy of strong, independent, Christian women in her wake. My wife is a testament to her strength and perservence.