Blurry, gothic lettering on a dark t-shirt in front of me stole my attention. I couldn’t avoid the sight as the young man wearing it sat in the church row directly ahead of me. Eventually, I deciphered “Suicide Boys” and beneath that, “Your soul is about to be rec …” on his back. The rest faded too dark to read. Not such a great prelude to worship! Ironically, the congregation sang, “Death was once my great opponent, fear once had a hold on me,” as the service progressed.
Suicide is a grim reality in our fallen world. I question that musicians take such a name, possibly promoting that which is sick and sinful. God alone commands life … and death. The upside of the young man in the swag shirt is that he was in church! Suicide Boys may falsely depict life and death issues, but good Bible teaching rightly informs. And he sat with a wonderful family who will disciple him well.
After the service, I searched online for the t-shirt’s missing word. The full word is ‘recycled’: “ Your soul is about to be recycled.” How odd that Suicide Boys misses the mark again. Not only is suicide not God’s plan, but there is no recycling of the soul, no reincarnation.
Reincarnation is still a belief of some. On a recent trip through central Ontario, I noticed many miles (they’d say kilometers) of new fencing. I asked our host about it and the purpose is to keep the deer and moose off the highway. But the local resident added that the bottom portion of the fence is a different material and gauge. A smaller screening is used to keep turtles and snakes off the road. The Indigenous peoples of the area hold to a belief in reincarnation; this reptile protection honors their ancestors or descendants. Reincarnation cost the Ontario highway department a lot!
The beautiful Muskoka lake region makes a great vacation spot and is home to deer, moose, turtles and snakes.
As I mentioned, one of the songs in our worship service addressed death. A lilting tune carries a story of transformation from fear of finality to victory and joyful confidence in the end. Why? The lyrics continue:
“Death was once my great opponent
Fear once had a hold on me
But the Son who died to save us
Rose that we would be free indeed.” *
Our freedom flows from the work on the cross. Jesus finally and forever finished that work of salvation for us! “Tetelestai – It is finished,” Jesus declared with his last breath (John 19 v 30).
*“It Is Finished Upon That Cross” Words and Music by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson, and Nigel Hendroff. 2021 CityAlight Music
It’s an odd thing to be grateful for, waiting rooms. Specifically, waiting rooms in a doctor’s office or clinic. Though some doctors offer plush lobbies with a stack of great magazines, that’s not the ones I have in mind. I am referring to ones with sterile styling and plasticized upholstered chairs. Though there may be light chatter, more often there is a serious quietude. In these anterooms, one observes unfiltered humanity. It’s like people watching at an airport but with far more pathos. So why would I be grateful for waiting rooms? It’s not the patience factor.
Experiencing waiting rooms evokes gratitude in me first because I usually see folks who are going through so much more than me. Whatever I may be dealing with that brought me to this place, it is clear that others are suffering and facing more serious, even life-threatening illnesses. It is hard and humbling to see sick people or those going through extreme treatment.
During one wait, my husband noticed a frail, elderly woman come in alone. She checked in and was handed a clipboard of forms that appeared to overwhelm and confuse her. He asked if she wanted help, and he was able to read and write for her until she was called back for her appointment. Another time we ran into a friend of mine and her husband. We greeted each other but didn’t ask any questions; later I found out her husband had advanced cancer. I thank God for the reminder, the wakeup call, about my many blessings, including my health.
I also welcome the opportunity to witness the goodness of mankind in medical lobbies. In the waiting and watching I observe care and concern between families, between friends. I have noticed elderly sisters; husbands and wives, young and old; adult children with a parent; paid caregivers; and other companions accompanying patients. There’s so much to admire and appreciate in the compassion and sacrifice of one to another. One young woman, clearly experiencing difficult illness and treatment, came in with her uncle who lived several states away because her husband had to be out of town on business – heartwarming and heart wrenching all at once. But it is good to see goodness.
Theologians call this goodness “common grace.” It’s the capacity God gives His human creation to do good, as He Himself is good. Doing good is not to be equated with salvation however: salvation comes through faith in Jesus, God’s grace-filled gift to us. The Scriptures say, “ … He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy …” Titus 3 v 5 But our disposition for goodness, despite our sinful selves, uplifts us and ultimately lifts us to acknowledge God, the provider of goodness, compassion, and salvation.
We are grateful for God’s encouraging presence during a recent medical journey.
References on gratitude: Psalm 136, 1 Thessalonians 5 v15 & v18. If you receive my blog via email, thank you. The posts are best viewed at “A Writer’s Daughter”
Today’s Sunday morning view behind our home is crispy and clear.
On a local errand this fall, I noticed several large birds perched on the roof of a house. I can often identify birds, but I wasn’t sure about these. They weren’t black enough to be vultures. They weren’t shore birds either. My guess was turkeys, but the rooftop landing seemed odd. Shortly thereafter, I came across an article on turkeys in the December issue of my favorite local publication, Wrightsville Beach magazine.
The article confirmed that turkeys live in the wild in this area. It described their social construct of small flocks and their roosting habits, as well as showing photographs that matched the color and shape of the birds I saw. And just last Sunday we saw two more flocks of turkeys grazing alongside a highway. Yes, as the piece noted, turkeys are “frequently observed” in our wooded, coastal area!
The article, “And Then There Were Some,” mostly focused on the resurgence of the turkey population in North Carolina. Apparently, wild turkeys were becoming scarce in the state in the early 20th century. Conservation efforts were made to protect and promote turkey life. These were successful and a flourishing turkey population has been restored. I enjoy hearing that native species thrive in their natural habitat and I will look forward to recognizing wild turkeys roadside and on rooftops.
Today is designated as Sanctity of Life Sunday and sadly, America’s human population is not protected and fully valued. Not every little person is promised the opportunity to thrive in our country. Instead, parents may opt to extinguish the life of their unborn baby. It’s a glaring contradiction to think that our society values the whales and the wolves and the wild turkeys yet wavers when it comes to human beings. Yes, there are rights but there are also undeniable responsibilities: to manage sexual behavior, to commit to family relationships, to honor human life. Regardless of what our laws permit or do not permit, our hearts must yearn for the dignity of all life, celebrating the creation of new life, and grieving the destruction of the same.
We are celebrating new life in our family!
Following a calamity that took all his possessions and children, the Biblical ancient, Job, rightly acknowledged the sole sovereignty of God over life and death, saying, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.” (See full context of Job 1 v 21 and also Job 12 v 10 and Job 31 v 15)
If you subscribe to my blog via email, thank you. My posts are best viewed at www.brendaproulx.com
Two years ago, one of my several Susan friends texted me this photo of her garden bouquet. She and I regularly sent texts, and shared visits and calls over decades of friendship. This past Saturday, I attended her funeral. To quote her published obituary: “Many will know Susan for her love of Jesus, people and conversation … She loved the Lord Jesus Christ… She never hesitated to genuinely ask… how she could be praying for (you).” She and I often exchanged personal prayer needs and that is probably what I will miss the most. Deeply loved by many, we gathered to remember her life, celebrate in Christian faith, and lay her to rest. Her healed lungs now inhale the glorious airs of heaven!
Because of her saving faith in Jesus, Susan lived and died as Ephesians 6 v 13 commends: “that you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” The Scripture words prove relevant for our nation too.
We were invited to wear an accessory of yellow, her favorite color. I found the pictured earrings for the occasion and carried this ‘wrap’ given to me by another Susan friend.
The Christian community lost a giant yesterday. Tim Keller, preacher and author, died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 72 – we would have wished for another decade or two of his unparalleled contributions to The Church. He pastored a church in New York City for 28 years and wrote over thirty books.
Dr. Keller significantly impacted me and three generations of my family. My parents, who lived in the suburbs of NYC, began attending evening church services to hear Keller preach in the 90’s. As different family members visited my parents, they joined in the late afternoon trip to the city and to Keller’s church. Once, while with my parents on that very outing, my husband and I ran into Dr. Keller, who was leaving the coffee shop we were entering, catching a meal between church services. The five of us had a brief chat and he was gracious in speaking to us though he had to continue on to preach again. We expressed our appreciation for his ministry. Dr. Keller’s intellectual giftedness and logic, his unbelievably wide scope of reading, and his keen understanding of culture and thought, brought an unmatched depth and applicability to his Biblical teaching. My father, an intelligent and widely read man who was selective with words and not prone to exaggeration, described Keller’s influence on his own life-long faith as profound.
Tim Keller’s congregation consisted of young NYC professionals, and he was able to connect with that age group. His preaching and writing resonated deeply with the third generation of my family. Our family rarely took a road trip that Tim Keller didn’t join us on, as we listened to his sermons either on CD or online while we drove. My kids have read more Keller books than I have! So yesterday was a day of shared sorrow in our family at the news of his death.
We grieve because we feel a loss and an end, but we also know well that this is a beginning and a victory for Tim Keller. Followers of Christ look forward to seeing and spending eternity with Jesus, the Savior they served. Dr. Keller said recently of his expected death, “There is no downside for me leaving, not in the slightest.” We shed tears but all is not lost. Thankfully, he left a legacy of sermons and writings that will continue to challenge and inform us. I trust that God will raise up others who will rightly continue to inspire His kingdom on earth … bearing the torch until Jesus returns! AMEN
Here is a link to one of Tim Keller’s sermons “Christ the Final Word.” It is classic Keller: his depth of Biblical insight, his humor, his connection to culture and the modern mindset, and landing on the Gospel! I hope you will listen to it through to the end (and it begins with a Scripture reading by someone else). If you get lost a little, hang on. You’ll catch up; he goes deep, but it is real! His website is http://gospelinlife.com
This year my birthday fell on Sanctity of Life Sunday. The irony was not lost on me: the day my birth is remembered, we remembered how important all life is and lamented the loss of millions whose lives were extinguished before the chance for a birth day. The Pro-Life stance has been maligned and labeled as oppressive, but God’s Truth completely ordains the infinite value of all life and qualifies God as sovereign over the beginning and end of all life.
The issue of life, or of abortion, has hit unparalleled rending in America. The elections of 2022 especially seemed to escalate the “right to life” divide, disregarding all other candidate credentials and capabilities. Likewise, it precipitated an unprecedented lawless leak in the highest court of our land. A sad moment for the integrity of the Supreme Court.
If I haven’t already lost you on this divisive topic, stay with me while I share something about the abortion argument that I only recently learned. A common talking point for those favoring abortion rights is the case of the life of the mother. To save a mother, the life of her baby should be taken, it is argued. In very rare instances, pregnancy might threaten a mother’s life. If a pregnant woman’s life is at risk, her doctor will attempt to save her life, not destroy the life of her baby. In other words, the necessary procedure is not at all an abortion but is a premature delivery. Her doctor will end the pregnancy by inducing labor or by performing a Caesarean section. The baby, depending on its gestational stage, will be treated and saved, or if it is too early, will not be viable and will die of natural causes. In both cases, parents of the baby can experience their baby’s birth or passing, demonstrating love for the precious little life. This is not a talking point that I had ever heard expressed in any secular discussion of the life issue.
Upon hearing this, it dawned on me that I had been familiar with a couple in this scenario. Their unborn baby was diagnosed with a serious prenatal condition. Even with advanced technology and specialist doctors, the condition rapidly worsened putting the mother and baby in danger. A C-section was performed but tragically, the baby was stillborn at birth. The consolation in the loss was the parents’ time of bonding and grieving, holding their tiny infant in their arms. The procedure did not result in a dismembered human body to be disposed of. It is important for all to know that the right to save a mother by medical procedures to deliver her baby is not outlawed in this country.
Just this week I again came across the familiar first five words of the Bible. Genesis 1 v 1 goes, “In the beginning God created.” Yes, He did. He created life. He determines the beginning and end of life. We cannot understand all the hard things some people experience; I have no easy answers for the myriad of difficult life stories out there. What I lean on is God’s sovereignty; He knows and I must leave it at that. I value life because God gives life, all life. And let us be warned that not valuing the life of a pre-born baby quickly spirals beyond: beyond to questioning the value of the aging, the diseased, the cognitively impaired, even a race or group that another race or group deems unwanted or disposable. In Jeremiah 17 v 9, God warns us of the endlessness of evil; so we “stand firm,” as God’s words through the Apostle Paul encourage us (2 Corinthians 15 v 58).
This past December, my husband and I were in an office supply store to buy a wall calendar. We like something big with large squares to write in appointments and events, and it hangs in the kitchen where we can see it daily. While checking out, a man (wearing a realtor nametag) commented to my husband that he hadn’t seen anyone use a paper calendar in years! The remark felt disrespectful and condescending to me. Of course, we are aware of digital calendars and on-line scheduling. We use technology options too but a calendar’s day-to-day visual reminder serves us well. Frankly, thanks to his comment, I won’t be calling the guy in the store for my real estate needs, but I suppose he’s right that wall calendars belong to the parent generation, the brunt of a series of recent insurance commercials.
I will be honest: I like calendars. Back in my classroom days, I kept several calendars up. The photos or art for each month aided conversation and content in my ESOL classroom. They added cheer and color to institutional walls and I find them cheerful now inside of closets, on the back of a door, and in a workspace. Some calendars remind me of a ministry with needs; others take me to a beautiful scene or share an artist’s work each month. My all-time favorite FREE calendar was the gorgeous photography and gardening news in the Merrifield Garden Center annual calendar but sadly I am not in Fairfax anymore to pick one up.
Calendars measure time, something precious and finite in the human experience. Belonging to the Author of Life, I thoughtfully consider time. I want to enjoy it, I don’t want to waste it and I know I am held accountable for it. I realize my earthly time will end one day. Already, I have attended two funerals in the new year. One life remembered was long, full and clearly dedicated to the Lord. The other memorial service also honored someone with a faithful legacy of serving the Savior, but the years were much short of the “span of seventy, maybe eighty years” described in Psalm 90 v 10.
We have quickly flipped over the first calendar page to February, torn off January, or digitally have swished or scrolled forward. We might still be in the mode of planning, goal setting, prioritizing or establishing better habits for the new year. That’s where I am too but I hope you are also considering how you will make your relationship to God a priority this year. How will you spend time with our very Author of Life, learn of Him in the Scriptures, and be encouraged by others who share faith in Jesus? David the Psalmist wrote that he “set the Lord always before” him (Psalm 16 v 8). The entirety of Psalm 16 describes the safety, value, goodness, joy, and LIFE in choosing Him as our priority. Blessings as you pursue Him fully in this unfolding new year.
Sweet generations remind us of the passage of time.
I originally posted this blog piece on November 27, 2022 through social media. At that time, my blog was down. I continue to work on my blog to restore it to full functionality. I believe there are still software and hacking issues. Sadly, this post is timely again after another rampage in California:
Poor Virginia! My heart aches for the Commonwealth I called home for most of my life, after two multiple murder rampages, and a senseless shooting in a Lynchburg restaurant between the two. But it’s not just Virginia. There was killing in a nightclub in Colorado and slaughter in a college town in Idaho. In an underreported update, fifty-five police officers have been shot and killed in 2022, as of October 31, according to the Fraternal Order of Police. Thanksgiving was upon us but impacted families and communities faced shock and grief.
Questions race through our minds. Who does this? Why is this happening? Answers don’t come easily but one factor stands out to me: our familiarity, even glamorization, of gunfire and violence in this culture. How can something to be played, a game, be called “Death Race” or “Bulletstorm?” Why is there a music group named “The Killers?” Songs and music videos, especially Rap and Heavy Metal, glorify all types of violent behavior. Movies, videos, and apps like Tic Toc stream disturbing, vulgar, and bully-inducing material that young children can access. I’ve noticed that even if you go to a cleaner movie in the theater, you will be subjected to violent and sexual content in the previews: the stuff you and your families wanted to avoid!
On the flip side, how many families regularly gather for togetherness and screen-free dinner hours or game night (the safe kind, for fun!)? Do young adults enjoy outdoor adventure and healthy indoor interaction over late hours at a bar or beer bash? Most importantly, who is in church on Sunday morning enjoying worship, community and sound preaching rather than sleeping off a Saturday night of binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through social media with morning coffee? According to statistics about American church attendance, the vast majority are the latter.
Services at my church this morning beautifully combined the gratitude of the season with clear teaching from Scripture, and ended on a note of doxology and praise ushering in the Advent season with “Behold Your God … Come let us adore Him.” (Jonathan Baird, Meghan Baird, Ryan Baird, Stephen Altrogge; Sovereign Grace Worship, see YouTube link for the song below) I pray for peace in our land, but know that ultimately it only comes as we commit to peace with God through Jesus’ work on the Cross.
I have a love of all things English, so my husband bought me a Queen’s commemorative teacup and saucer in London.
Many will be writing their two pence about the royal events of these last few days, but this is not my first royal post. On December 24, 2016, I posted a piece entitled “Royal Watching” on my blog. In that post, I shared that my mother’s Canadian heritage had fostered in me a curiosity and appreciation for the Royal family. So, with the rest of the world, I have followed the pathos and pageantry of the Queen’s death over the past eleven days. This came only weeks after a summer of festivities celebrating 70 years of the Queen’s reign.
Today’s events were impressive, full of the gilded rituals of regal traditions, in the places and with the people who are intricately part of royal life. In addition to the majestic formalities, especially those associated with Charles becoming king, an overtone of spiritual themes emerged. Death often leads to thinking about deeper things, things eternal, and this has been the case in the last eleven days.
Taken from my TV, the cross stands out above the coffin.
Going back to the coronation of young Queen Elizabeth II, her outspoken commitment was to serve as Great Britain’s sovereign with God’s help, for as long as God kept her in that position. She continued that course with that mindset until her very last days. It is what we admired in the Queen and what drew us to her: her deep, unwavering dignity and commitment to duty, a life of service to her people because of her understanding that it was God’s call on her life.
It was solemn when the crown, scepter and orb were removed from the top of the coffin and placed on the altar, but hymns sung at the committal service expressed hope: “All My Hope on God is Founded” and “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation.”
There is so much to say and much has already been said, so I need to be brief and maybe we can chat about it more over tea one day. I will close by sharing some of a PBS interview today with Rachel Treweek, a bishop in the House of Lords. Bishop Treweek reiterated that the Queen’s profession of faith was in Jesus Christ and because of Queen Elizabeth’s personal trust in the redeeming work of Christ on the cross, she now enjoys life eternal in the presence of her Maker. That verity is what was so beautifully and profoundly on stage in the glory and pageantry of today’s services and ceremonies.
“Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25
As I farewell this series inspired by a recent beach vacation, I end with the topic of beach goodbyes. Although our beach crowd enjoys time together oceanside, a big deal is not made of the parting. Occasionally someone snaps a group photo or contact info is exchanged but mostly all linger late to soak in the last of the waves, the sun, the view that we really came for.
I’ve given thought to farewell phrases. “Goodbye” seems inadequate for a longer separation. I stay away from “good luck,” believing as a Christian that nothing is luck; all is known by the Lord. “Blessings” works and offers to pray for someone is great if you really commit to praying for them! Some say fun multilingual parting words like “Adios” or “Au revoir.” During COVID, I ended a few work emails with “Salud,” a Spanish greeting wishing good health – seemed cute for an ESOL teacher!
A goodbye that I like and use occasionally is “Godspeed.” Godspeed is an older English expression of farewell, used mostly when referring to a journey. It can be a wish of prosperity and safety but since it calls on God, to me, it appeals for God’s favor and guidance. And if God’s presence is invoked, surely, He desires to lead us spiritually, not just directionally or for gain. As I parted with one beach acquaintance, I wished her “Godspeed,” knowing with the miles ahead, our mature years, and Covid’s nasty presence, it best expressed our need for Jesus’ presence in our lives. I also gave her one of my blog cards, aiming to be salt and light in her life (see Part 2).
Godspeed brings to my mind a classic Scripture that most of us know as written in the old King James Bible version: “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3) God always desires to journey us to right living because that’s what brings Him the most glory; He wants us to stay on His path.
On the Atlantic coast, we see only sunrises, so our sunset photos are out the back door, looking west. #Duneset #signpost?!
Vacation Trilogy: Part 2, Beach Salt and Light
Salt and light. That’s what vacationers hope for at the beach: plenty of salty ocean air, the therapeutic salinity of the sea, and lots and lots of sunLIGHT! All of these were delightfully plentiful on our recent vacation.
In Part 1, I shared that we have taken this same vacation for over 30 years. Many other guests at our moderate motel, and even others who rent nearby beach homes, have also vacationed the same July week. We have become beach friends for one week per year. With only a couple of exceptions, I don’t have contact with these folks outside of beach week. However, with years of sitting together oceanside, relationships have formed. We know much about each other, seeing the families grow with children and grandchildren, marking the milestones such as graduations and weddings, witnessing sad losses in families, and being spectator to the occasional drama!
I notice how life’s going for our beachmates. After a while, lifestyles and values surface. Family dynamics emerge in the week of togetherness. Priorities are evident. Though my best beach week is to get lost in reading, reading, reading under my big beach umbrella, I try to step into conversations and time with friends who also have noticed quite a bit about me and my family over the decades. It is never far from my mind that I am called to be salt and light to those around me, to the circle of acquaintances at our annual week at the beach.
Jesus said to his followers, “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world. “ (Matthew 5:13-14) He expounded on the metaphors saying that salt should be salty, potent; that light should shine, be bright and visible. Jesus warns that flavorless salt is useless and discarded; hidden light is ineffective.
Around East Coast beach towns, I often see a bumper sticker that just says, “SaltLife.” It’s a statement about a coastal state of mind. In the same stylized font, I’ve seen another bumper sticker that mixes it up a bit saying, “Be Salty.” Under “Be Salty” are the words of Mark 9:50: “Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.” Again, this is Jesus’ charge to His followers, and to us who follow Jesus still.
Vacation Trilogy: Part 1, Beach Worship
For over three decades, we’ve vacationed at the same spot on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We visit with many of the same people and repeat favorite annual activities, yet each year is unique. For only the second time, my husband and I went alone on this year’s vacation: no kids, other relatives or friends joined us this time.
For quite a few years, my husband has attended Beach Worship early on our first morning, Sunday. I haven’t tagged along, preferring to visit with those who were staying with us. But solo this year, I decided to attend church on the beach with him! He managed a couple of chairs, and we biked the easy mile down the road.
About two dozen folks were gathered on the open public beach. The church team was in place, greeting us, handing out song sheets, testing the sound system. The service began with a brass quintet playing a hymn anthem. What a joyful sound drifting over the ocean, almost better than the praise bands of contemporary services! My husband commented that this was new and a big improvement from canned music of previous years. The beach-going congregation then sang two songs, led haltingly by an amateur volunteer. Finally, the pastor delivered his brief message which seemed prepared and Scripturally sound. The service ended with a brass postlude, and we were on our way before the sun became scorching.
My husband and I have attended many flourishing churches and heard many great preachers. Comparatively, Beach Worship in Kitty Hawk, NC is tiny and simple. One wonders, what is its impact and purpose? The explanation is that God has called a man and others to do His Work, and they have faithfully responded to God’s challenge.
God is like that, challenging us with opportunities that may defy reason. Is God calling you to fully believe Jesus Christ, or to obey His designs for your life, or to serve and minister as you’re gifted? Listen for His call; take the chance on answering. Luke 16:10
This blog, “The Writer’s Daughter,” is now five years old and I will say more about that soon. Starting the blog and putting my writing out there was a response to God’s prodding in my life. It is simple and small, and one wonders at its purpose and impact, but I took the chance on answering the call.
Two years ago, one of my several Susan friends texted me this photo of her garden bouquet. She and I regularly sent texts, and shared visits and calls over decades of friendship. This past Saturday, I attended her funeral. To quote her published obituary: “Many will know Susan for her love of Jesus, people and conversation … She loved the Lord Jesus Christ… She never hesitated to genuinely ask… how she could be praying for (you).” She and I often exchanged personal prayer needs and that is probably what I will miss the most. Deeply loved by many, we gathered to remember her life, celebrate in Christian faith, and lay her to rest. Her healed lungs now inhale the glorious airs of heaven!
