One thing I would like to ask is prayer for my friend Jonah in Kenya. He is currently in hospital in Nakuru after contracting some kind of bug while in Nairobi. He was admitted to a Nairobi but checked himself out to get to Nakuru. He was trying to recuperate at a pastor friend's home and was seeking outpatient treatment while there.
After several days with no improvement, his pastor friend and a doctor who is a neighbour to the pastor, escorted Jonah to hospital and he was admitted. He is now there recuperating having undergone numerous tests and different medicine prescriptions over the past several days. At the moment he is very tired and sleeping which is crucial for recovery. He would appreciate your good thoughts and prayers.
...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication....
Ephesians 6:18
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Remembrance Day is now passed and Christmas is close behind. I know American friends still have Thanksgiving later this month but in Canada we celebrated Thanksgiving just over a month ago.
I haven't had time to make too many granny squares for my latest quilt but I did make a few more. I will take up making more again later this week and may even start on the new black, white and gray afghan.
Instead I've been finishing up my latest read by Kazuo Isiguro. It is very slow, sad and somewhat dark story. Basically the book is about young people who are cloned for their body parts. The novel slowly takes you through the education and indoctrination or preparation for of the students for their future lives as donors and carers of donors. The ending wasn't very satisfying but perhaps that is how it should be. Given the subject matter how can there be a satisfying ending? In any case, I am glad I finished it. I wanted to read this book because it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2005 and won several awards in addition to being turned into a movie. Have any of you seen the movie or read the book? I'd be interested in your thoughts.
Right now I'm reading the short stories of Sherman Alexie, Native American writer. I am not really a short story fan but I do like Sherman Alexie's work. I was first introduced to him when I watched the major motion picture called "Smoke Signals" in the late 1990s. I found it very funny and of course one of the very few motion pictures based on a work by a Native American. Alexie's work is raw and he uses a lot of cuss words. Again I am not a fan of this kind of stuff but there is still plenty of material in his stories that I find interesting. Sadly I just found out that allegations of sexual impropriety have been levelled against Alexie. He has admitted to the truthfulness of several of the allegations. Sometimes I wonder just when the cesspool of such behavior will come to an end.
On a brighter note, I'm reading a book by Christian author and medical doctor, Don Colbert called "Let Food Be Your Medicine". It is based on the doctor's own medical health crises which caused his immune system to break down on more than one occasion. The doctor then spent a decade and several hundreds of thousands of dollars learning learning about how certain foods cause of inflammation in the body and how to address it. His interest and experience predated the proliferation of authorship on this subject. Today you can find this information quite readily on line and in bookstores; even on PBS shows. I used to watch the doctor and his wife, Mary on television years ago. I always found him very informative but I don't think he actually wrote this particular book until a few years ago though he has written at least 40 books.
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I'm getting a few gifts ready early for friends who are leaving in a few weeks for Tanzania. We are trying to work out time to visit once before they depart. Another friend has invited me to a Christmas lunch and dinner, an annual all day event for women. Someone she knows organizes these dinners as a ministry to women. It sounds intriguing. I have to decide whether I'm going. The timing might not be suitable for me. I'm also working on some other plans which I will unveil in future posts. I'm looking forward to sharing with you later.
Christmas cards are very much on my mind too. If I want them to get to far flung places I must send them out now. I don't send out so many any more. It is primarily a way to touch base in a personal way with some of my far flung friends. I looked in stores for a few weeks for a card I liked but ended up ordering them on line instead. They arrived on Friday and I'll prepare them and get them out this week. The problem is that Canada Post has been in contract talks with it's employees and we are currently experiencing rotating strikes across the country. I'm going to mail them out anyway and hope they will eventually reach the intended recipients.
Now that the children in the family are all grown and many of my loved ones have departed, my focus for Christmas has shifted. Rather than celebrate to excess and extravagance I choose a peaceful, quieter time of inward reflection and calm. I want to remain in an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving and spend the time doing things that bring me peace and joy. Hopefully I also bring joy to others I know and spend time with over the Christmas season. It's not likely that Jesus' birthday was on December 25th. This date was chosen by the early Roman Church to correspond to Winter Solstice. Since the season is now set aside as a Christian celebration I use the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and what he has done for men and women everywhere, including me.
I didn't start this post with the intention of preaching but perhaps this post is meant for someone who has been thinking about this issue. It seems to be the case that when I have a question on my heart, the answer somehow appears. It may be that you are going through some questioning of your own and looking for how someone else looks at this issue.
Well I must sign out and get on with things. I hope you all have a terrific week ahead
Take care everyone.
I won't be linking to any meme today.
16 comments:
Prayers for Jonah. Thank you for sharing your heart. May all go well with your projects and Kenya mission and God's love and goodness pour out in abundance on the people there. Good that you got your mailing to friends out early, they will surely be glad to receive your cards! Hopefully the postal strike will settle and the mails can move smoothly. Many blessings and love! Thank you for your kind comments, and for your listening and kind heart♡
Oh dear I am sad to hear about Jonah as I know how much good work he does and he needs his strength to carry on. I hope he will be well very soon and out of hospital. Thoughts are very much with him.
Christmas is a very quiet occasion for us. I have no family at all and Nigel's sister and her family is in Australia. As I mentioned to you before, we will be caring for FIL over a 6 week period so It will be quieter then normal this year.
Have a good week and take care Diane
I was thinking about Christmas cards earlier today, and I'd better get on the stick for the same reason... I don't want them to arrive in February! (Though those for Japan might make it in time for New Years!).
Sending my prayers for Jonah as well.
Well , you're not preaching. You're just saying exactly how things are. I'm not a fan of short stories either. I like historical fiction.
Jonah in Kenya is in my heart and thoughts. I hope the cause of his illness is found and eradicated, quickly.
I don't send out many cards any more either and I don't get very many either. I think a lot of people have stopped altogether.
Have said a prayer for Jonah.
I hope Jonah recovers soon.
I read Never Let Me Go. The story was poignant, but it made me think what are the most important things in the limited life or how to face mortality. It was a science fiction ahead of time, but now there are iPs cells for transplant. Wish Janah sooner recovery.
Yoko
Thank you for your comment about the book Yoko. I appreciate it and agree that the it does make one think about the things that are most important when we realize they could be taken away from us. Thank you for your kind wishes for Jonah. He is getting better but will be in hospital for several more days
Thank you Diane.
Thank you Happy One. I've decided to send no more than 20 cards this year. I limit myself each year but often go over the limit. This year I think it will be easier to stick to a limit since I no longer send to those that don't send cards, unless they are my relatives.
Thank you Joanne. Jonah is improving after the last set of doctors finally properly evaluated him medically. He is now on proper medicine and resting in hospital.
I like historical fiction too. Nothing better than a well written long, historical fiction novel.
Best wishes with the card sending Jeanie. I've now managed to prepare most of the cards...just a few more. I don't do so many anymore.
Thank you Diane. Yes Jonah has been going non-stop for so long and in very difficult situations. Just when I think he might have a rest something else comes up like getting sick! He is currently resting in hospital now that they finally have him on proper medication. It has been a difficult and scary time but all is improving now. I hope you and Nigel will find some nice moments to enjoy over the Christmas season while in England and that the weather will be better.
Thank you so much for all the prayers Shayndel. We appreciate them. I'm doing well on getting the cards ready. Another batch will go out today and my international ones have been sent.
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