Isolation

          Oh how fast life can change!  Who would have thought a few months ago that a virus that many of us didn't even know existed would soon force us into isolation and drastically change our lives.

          Now this virus is serious and very dangerous, especially for those of us who are seniors.  Both my wife and I are now 79 and I think that qualifies us as being seniors.  I have COPD and diabetes and other serious issues.  My wife has UC, a pacemaker, recent heart surgery and a weakened immune system.  If we catch this virus we probably will enter heaven much sooner than expected.

          Because of this possibility we are taking every precaution that has been recommended.  We wash our hands regularly.  We stay away from people.  We use the computer for online ordering and communication.  And as of Saturday our county is now in a "lock down".  We must stay at home except for necessary grocery shopping and medical needs. The virus has "imprisoned" us.

          Of course we have abandoned all church activities.  And the longer we are out, the more we miss the people.  Like many churches, ours has begun to stream sermons and Sunday School lessons.  They are using a program called Zoom to allow us to participate in discussions.  Lessons and programs are being prepared for children and youth.  Online giving is now available, but unfortunately few have yet to use this.  All of this is good but does not replace needed fellowship, especially when living in isolation.

          Shopping has been a challenge.  For the past year we used Stauffers for purchasing online. They would shop for us and then place the groceries in our SUV at an assigned time.  That was a great service and eliminated the need for us to walk to shop and then stand in line to pay.   But when the virus hit, the demand for this service forced them to stop it.  We then tried Wagamans but we could never get a reservation time from them, so we had to try elsewhere.  We have switched to Giant, but we've never received more than 50% of the items that we ordered with them.  Once they gave our reserved time away and once items were dropped from our order.  This has been very disappointing and difficult.  Our daughter-in-law went shopping for us and purchased some water and ground beef which we needed.  But we really don't want to ask for help and ask folks to risk exposure to the virus just to help us.

          And I really need a haircut.  The day before my appointment, barbershops were forced to close.  I'm not a hippie yet, but I am getting close.  I guess in a few weeks we'll know everyone's real hair color.

          We've had medical visits and tests called off.  Instead we have had some telephone chats with doctors.  But they haven't been much help.  My pulmonary lab has been called off and I miss the exercise.  I also miss three friends and fellow participants who I've met there.  They are older than I am and all must use oxygen.  They are not well and I pray that they will survive this virus.  I miss our conversations.  I guess over the months they have become my "small group".

          So what do you do when you are isolated?  Well you can watch television, but that often makes one feel more anxious.  It is filled with dumb shows or news reports which are always negative - not good when you are already stressed.

         You can read.  I have many books to read but my eyes can't take too much and they now tire too quickly.

          You can put puzzles together.  That we have done.  So far we've taken on the challenge of two 1,000 piece puzzles.  We've completed one and now are half way through a second.
          I can write more blogs.  I really enjoy doing that but at times it is difficult to find new topics.  My hymn blog is doing very well, but this one, my personal blog, has few readers.

          And you can pray.  The older I become the more I realize how important this is.  And the Lord continues to give me more time to do this.  My prayer list grows longer and longer.  There are so many needs.  We've also tried to encourage folks we pray for by calling them and sending notes or e-mails to them.  So many need to be encouraged.  Maybe we all do.

          Now I don't know what is ahead for us but I don't think a solution is in sight.  This could grow worse and more days of isolation and suffering could be in our future.  And that could give us more time to pray, encourage others, and spend time walking with the Lord.  After all, He is the only one who knows our future.

1     I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

2     He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing. [Refrain]

3     I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho' the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling. [Refrain]

Washing Your Hands

          We are all going through a very difficult time in history.  We don't know where it will end or even if and when it will end. .

          For those of us who are elderly it is even a more troubling time since apparently the elderly get hit by this virus the hardest.  My wife and I both qualify as being elderly.  On my birthday, on April 6, we will both be 79 and I guess that is old.

          Now neither of us want to face treatments for pneumonia and possible death, but trusting in God's promises we do know that we do have a better future - in heaven.  And we can trust in His promises.  That helps us face the many challenges of this terrible virus.

         We have been trying to follow all the suggestions on how to deal with the virus.  We have called off an elective surgery and a major medical test.  My pulmonary rehab has been closed and that has been hard to deal with.  We've tried to stay away from people and used gloves when going necessary shopping. Unfortunately we have not been able to get masks or sanitizer.  This week my back surgeon did a telephone visit with me rather than make me come into his office.  But only the Lord knows.

          Now one of the most important suggestions is to constantly wash your hands.  When you do this with soap and water you are to do it for at least 20 seconds.  It has been suggested that you should sing "Happy Birthday" twice to make sure that you are doing it for the full 20 seconds.

          A few days ago one of my cousins sent an e-mail to a few of us saying that singing this song doesn't do anything for her.  She suggests singing some Bible choruses or hymns instead.  One reply that she received suggested that for those who don't like to sing you could say The Lord's Prayer which she said would take at least 20 seconds .

          I thought this was an interesting topic and I decided to try and make my own list of suggestions for the hand writing.  Of course, much depends upon how fast or slow you sing.  So this week I am suggesting some alternatives for you.  You will need to determine your own timing. Hopefully the words will speak to you as you perform this new duty.

          

1.     God Is So Good 

You will probably need to repeat this or sing a second verse to meet the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrM7_SXxvRM

2.     Jesus Is The Rock  

One of my favorites, but I could not find a video which used the words Jesus is the Rock of My Salvation.  But there are enough other verses.  You could invent some of your own and then you would have enough verses to take a bath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT7g4OpcgtM

3.   Joy Joy Down In My Heart  

I used to enjoy singing this with our Awana children and there are more than enough verses to use - maybe use a different verse each day of the week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LylgwOEI7AY

4.    Be Still and know

I love this one because it speaks to a need that I have, especially right now during these challenging days.  I think I may need to use this chorus a few times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtflAXHh-jk

5.    Praise The Name of Jesus

A favorite song which we used so often when teaching children.  This is a good one because we need to remember to praise the Lord, despite our fears and anxiety.  As the chorus says He is our Rock and our Defender and in Him do we trust.  This has become my favorite one to use - at least this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdja-1cBopM

6.    Jesus Loves Me

What an important reminder that is so simple but yet so profound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owx3ao42kwI

7.     Oh How I Love Jesus

Another great testimony for us in times like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DZR2Ky_hlc

8.     Yes My Sins Are Gone

This may be one that you've forgotten or never heard.  But it is a great truth - our sins are gone and are buried in the deepest sea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tInDevxC0ao

9.     I Have The Joy Joy Down in My Heart

A fun song with several verses.  A great testimony if it is true in your life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LylgwOEI7AY

10.   It Will Be Worth It All

This is one of my favorite hymns and would be a great reminder as we fight this terrible virus.  It is interesting to me that it was written by Esther Kerr Rusthoithe the very same year I was born.  So we are both old - 79 years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUSgPdX7W78

Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,

We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;

But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,

All tears forever over in God's eternal day.

Refrain:

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,

Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;

One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,

So bravely run the race till we see Christ.

Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,

We're tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;

But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,

Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray'r.

Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,

We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;

We'll share the joys of heav'n – a harp, a home, a crown,

The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down

Let me know what you've found to help with your hand washing.  Take care!  I don't want to lose any of my followers - I have so few as it is.

The Spanish Influenza

          For several years I have been intending to read the book "The Great Influenza" that has been on my book shelf for quite awhile. it is the story of the deadliest plaque in history which killed over 100 million people worldwide.   It is the story of the flu, sometimes called the Spanish Flu that devastated the world beginning in the winter of 1918.

        But until very recently the book just collected dust. There were two reasons I decided to finally read it.  The first reason is the situation our world is presently facing.  Hopefully this flu will not provide the devastation that the world faced in  those years.

         I was astonished to read about deaths that piled up so fast that bodies had to be stacked outside buildings. There were not enough morticians to handle them.  There were not enough grave diggers to bury them.  There were not enough nurses and doctors to try to provide care.  Entire families that were together in the morning were often dead by the evening.  Many thousands of children became orphans and had nobody to care for them.

          Quarantines were everywhere.  Streets in major cities were empty.  All public gatherings were called off.  Stores were closed and folks had to hoard food and supplies.  Newspapers and public officials hid the truth from the population in hope of stopping panic.  Doctors all over the world tried to find a solution without any success.  Some blamed it on the enemy as a tactic in World War 1 which was raging during that time. 

          I pray that we don't reach that point.  But should that happen again, Christians do have the assurance that heaven awaits and the Lord will provide His presence and peace. That is the only sure cure.

          The second reason that I wanted to read the book is because my grandparents actually lived through that time and their lives were definitely affected.

          My real grandfather was a pastor and during the flu he continued to minister to people around him.  As a result he caught the flu and died.  He left my grandmother with my father and she was pregnant with my aunt.  Because of the flu they had to place his body near a front window so that friends could pass by to view him.  I often wish that I could have met my grandfather - my father finally met his father when he got to heaven.

          After reading this book I now have a major regret.  Why didn't I ever ask my grandparents about this time in their lives.   I now have so many questions that will never be answered.   What was it like? How did you get food?  How many of your friends died?  Did you get ill?  Did you see many of the bodies of those who died?  How did you pass the time?  Did you have any help or contacts with friends?

          But I do know that out of that tragedy the Lord provided a special blessing for our family.  The church leaders felt that a pregnant widow needed a husband.  So they chose three possible men as possible husbands.  Two of them said "no".  But the third, Pastor N.H. Wolf, my grandfather's best friend, said he'd be honored to marry my grandmother and raise Horace's children.  And he did.

          I could not have had a better step grandfather than Pop Pop Wolf.  He was as godly a man as I have ever known and he had a profound influence on my life.  I thank the Lord for him.  He was God's special provision for many of us.

          As a Christian we need to remember that God is in control of our lives.  He cares and is always there to guide us and provide for us.  He doesn't forget us no matter how needy we may be. God is good - all the time.

          Here is a song that my grandparents used to sing.  I think it was their testimony 

(1)    "Good wife, what are you singing for?  
You know we've lost the hay,

And what we'll do with horse and hay 
is more than I can say;

While like as not, with rain and storm,

we'll lose both corn and wheat!"

She looked up with her pleasant face, 
and answered low and sweet:

"There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(2)    He turned around with sudden gloom; 
she said, " Love, be at rest;

You cut the grass, worked soon and late, 
you did your very best.

That was your work ; you've naught at all t
o do with wind or rain,

And do not doubt but you will reap rich 
fields of golden grain;

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(3)    "That's like a woman's reasoning - we must because we must."

She softly said: "Reason not, I only work and trust.

The harvest may redeem the day - keep heart what'er betide,

When one door shuts I've seen another open wide.

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(4)    He kissed the calm and trustful face; 
gone was his restless pain,

She heard him with a cheerful step go 
whistling down the lane;

And went about her household tasks full of a glad content,

Singing to time her busy hands as to and fro she went:

"There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be."

(5)    Days come and go - 'twas Christmas tide, 
and the great fire burned clear.

The farmer said "Dear wife, it's been a good and happy year;

The fruit was gain, the surplus corn has 
bought the hay, you know."

She lifted then a smiling face and said : " I told you so!

There is a heart, there is a hand, we feel but cannot see;

We've always been provided for, and we shall always be! "

I Need A Nurse

             So what do you do when you need a regular nurse for very brief duty for several days?  It's very hard to find such a person, but I did.

          Now the person I "hired" had no formal nursing training but she has had loads of experiences with doctors and hospitals.

          Her resume includes an aortic heart valve replacement and a pacemaker implant.  She has had her gall bladder removed and two hernia surgeries.  She has had 17 colonoscopies because of a serious problem that she lives with.  She has suffered with sepsis, kidney stones and shingles. Over the years she has had numerous biopsies, several mri's, various x-rays, CT scans, echocardiograms, ultrasounds, mammograms and a variety of other tests. She has survived all of these.

          But if that doesn't qualify her then I  shouldn't forget that she gave birth to three boys - big boys.  And then she cared for them through a variety of accidents and illnesses for many years.

          Now does she have any problem areas?   Yes, she dislikes shots and really hates iv's.

          Now why would I be looking for a part-time nurse?

          Well recently my neurologist ordered a set of blood tests which are not routinely ordered by most doctors.  One of those showed that I have a seriously low level of Vitamin B12.  That can be dangerous and can cause numerous serious problems.

          One of my family doctors said the usual treatment is not B12 vitamins but a series of shots.  He ordered a shot a day for seven consecutive days, followed by one a day for seven weeks and then one a month.

          He asked if I wanted to self-administer these shots or come to the office to have these given.  Now daily I  do give myself insulin by injection so I assumed that I could do it.  But what I didn't realize at that time was how different giving B12 shots was than giving insulin shots.

          I went to my pharmacist to pick up the material needed for the shots and for some instruction.  I was shocked when I found that the needles were not the half inch ones used for insulin but instead they were an inch and a half long.  I was told that they were that long because the shots had to reach into the muscle.  I also then realized that because of the angle that the shot must enter the arm, that with my shoulder problems I wouldn't be able to do it properly myself.  But the pharmacist give me my first shot.

          So that is why I needed a nurse.  And that is why I drafted my wife who very reluctantly agreed to do it.

          The second day we tried to do it and we had problems.  First we had trouble properly loading the syringe.  Then we had trouble finding the correct location.  And finally, after much effort, the shot was given - but not without some pain.

          So for the third shot we decided to go to our family providers to see if they could just answer a few questions for us.  They then told us that we would need a full appointment with a doctor and that nurses in their lab weren't trained to teach us.  I was upset and asked if a nurse in their lab could just administer a shot and we would just observe and hopefully get our concerns answered.  Reluctantly they agreed and the nurse who came to help us was not the least bit happy doing this.  First she told us that our needles were too long, despite they were the size our doctor ordered as well as the size shown on all the internet sites.  She quickly filled the syringe differently than we were told and then gave the shot in a different location in my arm.  And that was the end of her help.  But at least the third shot was completed.

          We decided to just go ahead with my wife administering the shots.  She did very well and didn't even feint while doing it.  By the end of the first week it was going smoothly.  Now we just need to wait for another blood test to see if it is working.

         The Lord did give me a good nurse, even although she isn't trained and dislikes shots and iv's.  But she is compassionate and caring - traits many nurses don't have.

(1) Be not dismayed whate'er betide,

God will take care of you;

beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,

through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

(2) Through days of toil when heart doth fail,

God will take care of you;

when dangers fierce your path assail,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,

through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

(3) All you may need He will provide,

God will take care of you;

nothing you ask will be denied,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,

through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

(4) No matter what may be the test,

God will take care of you;

lean, weary one, upon his breast,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you,

through every day, o'er all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.