FAT TUESDAY

I have been thinking today..that the Lenten Season begins tomorrow with Ash Wednesday...
I have been thinking about the Lenten Booklets that my parents, and I had written and were used as devotionals...written by people in the Fellowship...
I have been thinking of that Lenten Season 16 years ago...when Phyllis was with us at its outset,
and she was with the Lord at the dawn of Easter day...
I thought of going to the Good Friday service in Chilmark that year...by myself...
In the silence of the opening moments of the Service, from the depths of my being came this
incredible sob...
I was tempted to leave...
but I thought "isn't this what Lent and the CROSS was about???
If you can't bear the Cross, then you can't wear the crown...Heather, Jennifer and I knew that year of the meaning of Lent...it always causes us pain...but it brings to us the PROMISE OF TOMORROW>

QUESTIONS>>>>

I have been spending time this week with questions!!!!!!
such as: what would happen if Drs. actually helped people feel better???
and Will they ever find a cure for cancer??? this latter question from a conversation on the Boardwalk. A young man from out of state was visiting his mother who was near death with cancer! and he worked for the National Cancer Society...

He asked me if I EVER thought they would find a cure? I told him that they probably have already, but no, I don't think they will ever admit to finding the answer...I asked him "What would all the cancer Drs do??? he reluctantly agreed with me, and we sat in silence...

The Dr on MONDAY said, "drs. don't treat people, they treat diseases." Most people, unlike you, she added listen to the Dr. tell them what is wrong with them...You she said want to be treated as a person, and to have the Dr. listen to you? They don't, and they won't. SHE went on to say that the leading cause of death is DOCTORS ...

SILENCE

This picture is of VICK MEMORIAL CHAPEL at Pathfinder Lodge, in Cooperstown, NY.
It is the Camp where Phyllis and I met: where Jennifer and Matt were married.
In the altar, are the names of those from Pathfinder's family, who have entered the Ministry, or became Missionaries! As you walk along the shores of Lake Otsego, you walk under the GATE OF SILENCE...an unspoken call to silence... Did you know that silence often speaks louder than words??

How are you?

I try and be outside, for at least an hour each day. I keep hearing my dad saying "keep moving" and I do. Today I went to Melbourne Beach, as the Congregation was having their annual Yard Sale, and I felt I wanted to go over and say hello... I haven't been able to attend services of late... I was hoping that none of my friends there would say "How are you?" because I would fall apart emotionally.

The first person I came upon asked "How are you?" and when I started to tell them, they had to go. only one lady who came up to me and gave me a hug was genuinely interested...I recalled a visit with the cashier in Grand Union in Bainbridge, NY when I was checking out asked her"How are you doing?"
And she asked of me "DO YOU REALLY CARE." and right at that moment, I didn't. and told her so.
In life, so many there are who ASK this question, and it's as though they want to say "tell me you are fine." My father used to tell us all when we asked him "I'm fine" and I understand more clearly, why he said that...I DID listen to my father, and I am grateful both he and my mother felt comfortable in sharing with me, but I want to tell him "thank you" for always understanding even when I didn't...."

The next time that you ask a person "how are you?" before you ask the question, ask yourself whether you are willing to listen, really listen to them as they tell you>