Summer: A Season for Everything

Two summers ago, I witnessed a wide array of life experiences in my neighborhood. Within about a week, there was destruction and expansion, loss and celebration, among the two dozen or so homes on our street.

It began with an eviction of catastrophic proportions at the first home on the block. The entire contents of the house were thrown out onto the driveway and street.  Furniture and personal belongings were broken and irretrievable on the pile.  Eventually, a bulldozer loaded the ruins into a county garbage truck.  I never knew if it was a rental gone bad or a disputed foreclosure.

But then a neighbor around the corner held an open house for their remodeled home. They did a beautiful job of updating the home’s exterior and adding new living areas that probably better suit the needs of their young family.  Many cars lined the street throughout the afternoon and it was obvious that it was a happy housewarming.

About this same time we got word that a retired couple at the end of our road lost their three year old granddaughter; a case of sudden infant death syndrome. Although we usually chatted with them in passing, we made an intentional visit to their home.  As we sat on their deck, they softly shared memories of a little girl they loved but who had lived far away from them on the west coast.  They showed us her picture and thanked us for the card we sent, designed by a special artist.

Life goes on and two houses down from us, a family threw a barbeque and jamboree for a 50th birthday!  We were forewarned that it would be loud but I won’t complain about kids, friends and family gathered outside to run, laugh, eat and sing in commemoration of five decades!  I was delighted to watch the lawn lanterns glow and listen to the country music on a warm summer’s night.

Life is happening all around us all of the time. Sometimes we have the opportunity or obligation to join in and other times we just observe. I have written previously about “rejoicing with those who rejoice; mourning with those who mourn” Romans 12:15 (March 31, 2017). The Bible also reminds us that people, our neighbors, experience many life seasons: “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven.  A time to be born, a time to die . . . a time to tear down and a time to build” (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 2 and 3).  Wise King Solomon wrote more on God’s perspective on work, priorities, life and eternity in that passage.  Take a look because it is always worth reading the words of the Author of Life.

The puppy next door loves learning her “sit” command!

And who can resist the cuteness and energy of a new puppy? That summer two years ago, the next door neighbors got a new puppy.  He has grown up into strong, good-hearted woofer.  This summer, he has a new ‘sister’: another adorable black lab puppy, so full of life!

 

Knowing Egyptians

Knowing Egyptians

For most of my adult life, I had little familiarity with Egyptian culture and people. In recent years, however, my ESL teaching has introduced some wonderful Egyptian children into my life.  The first student who comes to mind was a 6th grader named Monique*.  It was her first year in the US but she already had a passable understanding of English.  In spite of culture shock and the challenges of her preteen class, she pushed through every day, excelling in all her subjects, including the 6th grade American history curriculum!  She maintained a sweet and innocent spirit.  At the end of the year, her teachers selected her for the academic achievement award in her grade, out of nearly 100 students!

Solomon with his homemade kite. I had to cover his face for confidentiality reasons.

Another Egyptian family had several children in the school. One of them had significant disabilities yet he was the delight of the staff.  He was usually grinning, and drooling, from ear to ear, in spite of his physical handicaps and his inability to speak.  I wondered how his family managed his care with limited resources and their language barrier.

Pictured above is Solomon*. He was a very energetic primary student.  He was so excited about life and learning and people that he could never stay in his place or remain quiet.  Although that effervescent spirit was a challenge in the classroom, his enthusiasm endeared him to me.  He made great progress as a language learner and accomplished near grade-level reading by the end of the year.  Once, his reading group had a book about making a kite.  For a follow-up, I copied the directions and gave the students the kite materials.  To my joy and amazement, a few days later Solomon showed me his completed kite, so I took his picture!  Kids actually doing something like this on their own is quite rare.

Solomon belonged to a special group of Egyptians called Copts. This term is short for Coptic Christian and they are among the oldest Christian sects in the world.  Egyptian Orthodox believers, including Solomon, can often be identified by a small cross tattoo near the wrist.

Today’s Coptic Christians in Egypt are being violently singled out. Since the Arab Spring in 2011, there have been numerous assaults on them.  Twenty-one Egyptian Christian young men were executed on a Libyan beach by ISIS in 2015.  This April, suicide bombers attacked two Egyptian church services on Palm Sunday, killing 40 attendees.  In May, buses headed to a monastery were ambushed by terrorists resulting in 28 more deaths.

Terrorism is not isolated anymore. This spring, England was horrified by a bombing at a concert that took the lives of nearly two dozen, mostly young teens.  Since 2001, the US has experienced terrorism at the Boston Marathon, and many shooting sprees including San Bernadino, Fort Hood, and Orlando.  All of these are horrific but the Egyptian attacks are particularly appalling in that the Coptic Christians are targeted.

The Bible warns of persecution. The Apostle Paul was beaten and jailed repeatedly throughout his ministry, and eventually he was martyred near Rome.  But of his travail he said, “I believe that the present suffering is nothing compared to the coming glory that is going to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18) The persecution of Christ-followers has continued through the centuries.  God loves His own but in His sovereignty, mistreatment and murder happen. Speaking to the disciples, Jesus warned, “In this world you will have trouble.”  Then he added this encouragement, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) My Christian sisters and brothers in Egypt need our prayers.

*Names of the students have been changed.