They Are Back

          It is so very hard to realize that the summer is ending already.  But after the past 17 months I find it is often hard to keep track of time and dates.  But there are several things that are back again.

          (1)  School is back - I used to enjoy the return to a new school year - new students, new classes and a fresh start.   But now I am really glad that I am retired.  While I miss the students and my classes, I would not want to be part of the new challenges that students and teachers are facing because of covid.  I would be fearful of catching it even though I have both shots.  

          And I can't understand why masks aren't required for students and staff.  However, that has become very controversial and has caused hours of conflict in school board meetings.  I understand there have even been threats of legal suits over this issue.  I just don't know why you wouldn't want your children fully protected.

          And as a teacher I don't know how you could do a good job not knowing if tomorrow might be in-person or virtual teaching.  How would you prepare?  That has to be a real stress point.

           (2)  Football is back - Football is my favorite sport and it appears that at all levels they are attempting to have full seasons once again.  But covid still presents a real threat.  Already a few high school games have been rescheduled or canceled because of this virus.  It could end up being a very strange season of football if covid continues to spread.

          And again, I don't understand why many teams - especially college and pro - don't require all of their players to have the shots.  Why would you risk spreading it to your teammates and maybe having to forfeit your games?  But that is happening and might get worse.

          (3)  Cicada Killers are back - Every year these scary killers return to our yard and wreck our lawn.  Now we have not seen or heard many cicadas or cicada killers.  But a tour of our back yard shows dozens of holes and piles of dirt that have been dug to deposit the paralyzed cicadas. They are destructive. It is an amazing part of God's creation but it sure makes a mess of our lawn.  We don't know why they've chosen our yard and there doesn't appear to be a way to fight them or prevent them.  But it is a sign that Fall is on the way.

          (4)  Traffic is back - Millersville can be a very nice town - when the college is closed.  During the past year it has been nice.  There has been little noise and especially no traffic.  But we were spoiled - the students are back.  The biggest change for us is the amount of traffic.  You learn to leave home a little earlier if you have an appointment and you expect to wait longer if you must access or cross the main street.    And, of course, the students drive much faster than the 25 mph speed limit.  Hopefully the midterm and semester breaks will also arrive faster.

          (5)   Sadly the pages of obituaries are back.  Now I don't read the obituaries to see if I am there.  But I do read them to see how many of the deceased I know.  During the height of the pandemic the papers were loaded with obituaries - sometimes 100 a day.  And, unfortunately, they included many friends, former students, former coworkers, members of our church, and parents of former students.  Almost every day there was somebody listed that I knew.

          At times this was very discouraging since most of the time I didn't know their spiritual condition so I didn't know where they had gone. Had they accepted the Gospel?  Did I miss an opportunity to share the Lord with them?  That thought often challenged me.

          Then the covid spread declined and the number of obituaries did as well.  That was a relief.  But it was temporary.  Now the long lists are back as covid continues to spread.  And that is discouraging.

           But soon the Fall will be back with the cooler weather, the changing leaves and everything that makes it my favorite season.  But I dare not think of what follows - collecting our leaves and then ice and snow.   So we just try to enjoy what the Lord allows.

Finally Settled

My problem with Coldwater Creek was finally settled after almost eight weeks of trying, thanks to VISA.  My credit card company was able to do what I could not do dealing directly with Coldwater Creek.

Psalm 73:26 (NLT)

          The scripture reminds us that God' s mercies are new every morning.  Hopefully this too has been your experience and your testimony.  Each day can hold its own unique challenges, often unexpected challenges.  But God is there to comfort and guide.  Great is His faithfulness.

          As I've gotten older the challenges have changed and at times I've struggled with them.  Usually there are few to share them with except for the Lord.  Most humans either don't care or are too involved with their own challenges to help.

          Recently as I struggled with some of these challenges the Lord provided a verse which I needed - Psalm 73:26  (New Living Translation).  My interpretation and application might be slightly different than yours, but here is what it has said to me.

          My flesh may fail.   Throughout most of our lives we don't think of what growing old may mean.  We may see family members and friends begin to fail physically but we don't think it will ever happen to us.  But then slowly and sometimes suddenly it does.  Arthritis makes living difficult.  Joints wear out.  Our sight and hearing begin to fade. Accidents happen.  Our medicine list grows. We become afflicted with conditions we never heard of before. Getting around becomes more difficult and we begin to depend upon canes and walkers for support.  Slowly we become dependent on others.   Yes, the verse is right - my flesh may fail.  Mine has.

          The past year has been a real challenge for us physically - faster than we ever expected.  We spend a considerable amount of our time visiting doctors and having tests done - fourteen visits so far in August.  We feel confined to home and not just because of covid.

          My spirit may grow weak.   Now my interpretation probably differs from that of Bible scholars.  But my thought about spirit is the energy and ability to take care of the normal routines of living.  And for me that is growing weak,  I am finding it more trying to carry out the normal routines of life - shopping, paying bills, ordering repairs, taking care of our property, arranging our schedules, communicating with others, cleaning, etc.  I have the time to do these things, but my energy to do them is growing weak.

          As I write this I am aware that the four young men who live across the street from us are moving.  They were sent here by God because they took care of all of our snow clearing the last two years.  My spirit is growing even weaker as I wonder how we will now get this done since neither of us can do this anymore.  We will just need to trust the Lord to provide help once again.

          But God remains the strength of my heart.   Now the message becomes brighter.  God is still in control.  He hasn't moved or changed.  He is my rock, my fortress and on Him I depend.  He will find a way to clear our snow.  He will continue to provide the guidance I need.  He will provide the friendship and fellowship which I long for when the challenges come and others disappear.  He will provide the wisdom I need.  He is the strength that keeps me going from day to day.

          Now how do I know this?  First, He has promised never to leave me or forsake me.  He never has and He never will.

          Second, I have 80 years of experience with Him.  I have seen His constant provision in so many ways over all these years.   God is good - all the time.  Jesus is the Rock of my Salvation.

         He is mine forever.  What a great conclusion to this verse.  It's thrilling to be able to make this testimony, with assurance.  Forever - both now and through eternity.  He will always be there.

          My flesh may continue to fail, my spirit may continue to grow weak. but He will continue to be my strength.  He is mine forever.

Update - Still No Response

 A quick update on my problem dealing with Coldwater Creek which I discussed here on August 7 ...  As they requested, I returned the incorrect order which they had sent to me.  But they have not yet acknowledged it or returned my money.  I have now asked Visa to collect my refund for me.  Unlike Coldwater Creek, they are reliable.  They have given CC two weeks to correct this issue.  Why would anyone deal with Coldwater Creek anymore?

A Puzzling Subject (LB)

       

LOOKING BACK - Repeating and editing a blog that I first published on February 12, 2011

         The hot days of summer put a temporary halt to one of my favorite hobbies, putting jigsaw puzzles together. It is just too hot many days and the cost of running our air conditioning sometimes is just too expensive. But especially during moderate cold winter nights we enjoy sitting in front of a warm blazing fire putting puzzles together. 

         We may complete about two a month throughout the year depending upon how challenging they may be. Some are very challenging. But we usually persevere and complete them. 

         One interesting one that we did was a map of the United States with each state showing the state flower. It was especially tough because the border wasn't a rectangle with straight edges, it was the outline of the United States. And the 1,000 pieces were small and most had odd shapes. I started it and quit. But we came back to it and conquered!

          My wife is great at matching shades.  I prefer working on images that have a definite shape.  So we are a good team and complement each other with our styles. 

         We'll probably tackle a few more during the fall months. During the long isolation apparently many folks turned to puzzles because many dealers had limited supplies or were sold out. 

         My father worked on puzzles by himself until the last year or two of his life.  He did very challenging ones. My sister also does them and sometimes we exchange them.  So maybe it is in the genes. 

         I used to buy them on ebay but I admit that presently I am a little concerned about getting used ones.         

         But maybe there will be a time to give it up, especially when I get like the lady in the following story that my cousin sent to me. 

         A little silver-haired lady called her neighbor and said, "Please come over here and help me. I have a killer jigsaw puzzle, and I can't figure out how to get started." 

         Her neighbor asks, "What is it supposed to be when it's finished?" The little silver haired lady says, "According to the picture on the box, it's a rooster." 

         Her neighbor decides to go over and help with the puzzle. She lets him in and shows him where she has the puzzle spread all over the table. 

         He studies the pieces for a moment, then looks at the box, then turns to her and says, "First of all, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to assemble these pieces into anything resembling a rooster." 

         He takes her hand and says, "Secondly, I want you to relax. Let's have a nice cup of tea, and then," he said with a deep sigh ............ "Let's put all the Corn Flakes back in the box."

         I don't think I'm at that stage yet, but it might not be too far off!

Lessons Learned

          We're all aware of the challenges faced by business establishments during the pandemic.  Most wrestled with closures.  Some closed permanently.  Much income was lost by employers and employees.  

          And now when things are opening again many still face challenges.  Many have trouble hiring employees since many can make out better claiming unemployment.  Many companies have trouble getting products or replacement parts.  Have you noticed the empty new car lots?  Have you tried to purchase a new appliance?

          Recovery is placing new challenges on businesses of all types and some of this is resulting in poor customer service.

          My wife was shopping online for a new cardigan sweater.  After searching numerous sites she finally found what she wanted at Coldwater Creek, a company that used to be very credible.

          On July 3 she placed an order with them for a Shaker Button Cardigan, light heather gray, Petite XL.  According to their website it was in stock and would be shipped soon.  We then received an e-mail confirmation from them and were told that we would be notified as soon as it was shipped.

          Well several weeks went by and we heard nothing.  I then sent an e-mail to their customer service asking about the order.  In return I was told that there was a delay but that it would soon be shipped.

         But again nothing happened so I called customer service to inquire.  Again I was told that it was about to be shipped.  Finally, on July 29, we were relieved when we received a notice that it was finally being shipped.

          Then, on August 4, a month after the order was placed, the package arrived.  When we opened it we found that instead of a sweater it was a drawstring dress.  Instead of being light heather gray it was midnight navy.  And instead of being petite XL, it was small.  Nothing was correct except for the invoice which listed exactly what we had ordered.

          When I checked our credit card account I found that Coldwater Creek had already charged our account. for the incorrect product.

          I quickly called their customer service.  They agreed that it was the wrong product - they said that somebody must have just pulled the wrong product off the shelf - where was their quality control?  I was told that my money would be refunded but not until we returned the dress.  Why did I have to go to all this work to correct their mistake?  But I was told, no return, no money.

          But the worst was still to come.  I asked if we could just get the correct product.  The answer?  We no longer handle that product!  Why wasn't I told that in any of my previous correspondence?  Where has honesty gone?  Incidentally the product is still listed on their website.

          So I took the time to send the useless product back.  But I also sent a letter describing my experience with them.  I included an itemized bill for my time and expenses, $74.80 (no tax added).  Don't hold your breath waiting to see if they honor this.  I'm not!

          Will we promptly get our money refunded?  Time will tell.  I might just ask our credit card company to cancel the order.  They will do that.

          Oh yes, Coldwater Creek did send me a form inviting me to write a recommendation about my experience with them.  I filled it out with a step by step explanation of all that had happened.   Would they publish it?  The answer came quickly - a rejection of my evaluation with no explanation.

          So I learned another lesson.  Probably many of those product recommendations you find on the internet have been sorted with negative ones eliminated.  So much for the truth.

          Another lesson - don't expect companies to apologize for their mistakes.  Common courtesy is also a thing of the past for many.

          A final lesson - we will no longer do business with Coldwater Creek.  They don't need our business.