Easter weekend 2010

The thief dying on the cross next to Jesus' cross wasn't concerned that 10,000 angels had not come to save Jesus; that He had not saved Himself; that all the scoffers, scorners, torturers hadn't been struck down. He looked upon Jesus and saw the King. In simple faith he requested, "Remember me when you come into Your Kingdom." His answer: "Today thou shalt be with Me in Paradise."... And the Roman centurian, unlike Pilate who asked "What is Truth?" but cared more for political expediency than the answer, witnessed the Crucifiction and seeing the dying Christ saw the Living Truth. In awe and wonder, he confessed, "Truly this was the Son of God."... This weekend as many honor Good Friday and celebrate Easter, may there be those whose eyes and ears and hearts are open to recognize Jesus for Who He truly is -- King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Saviour, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

car conversations

Topic: Eden's first loose tooth. Don't worry,sometimes it takes days or even weeks to fall out. Addie(7), "The tooth fairy is REALLY smart. She knows just when it comes out." Topic: moon. Did you see the full moon last night? Eden(5), "How does it say up theya?" Addie, "Some people think it's made of milk." I heard cheese. But then neither can be true since there are no cows up there. Only the ones that jump over. Addie after thinking for a while, "I know. It's made of moon rocks." Good answer. Topic: Eden's best friend. "I'm weally sad. Hope Candle left and she fuhgot huh pilla AND huh favwit pilla case." We've heard about Hope Candle since the first day of Kindergarten. I thought what a sweet little name. Eventually I discovered "Candle" is Eden's version of "Campbell". "She went to California on an airplane and Mrs. Petahs (Peters) said she goes to a new school. I miss huh. I thought we would be friends forevah." Her first sad loss of a forever friend who was only there the first half of kindergarten. Addie, "She must be late to school all the time if she has to fly all the way to California every morning." No comments from lucky Caleb who was playing hookey that day to go fishing with mama!

Another November

As autumn days drift into another November, we remember that it's been five years since Eric left us. And yet, as time passes, it seems more and more evident that so much of him is still very much with all of us. Visible things like the very same lines of Keith's profile, something so familiar about Scott's eyes, their dark curly hair and strong muscular arms. His paintings that hang on the walls in all our houses. Wood carvings: animals, Boxing Day humming birds, burls turned into bowls and vases. The huge, majestic lion guarding everyone in Amy's house. My two carved carousel horses that children still love to climb on. Two cricket bats made from our old willow tree, a fishing pole, a golf club, tools of his life's livelihood, now in the boys' hands or in their own tool boxes. On someone's shelf a book of the poetry of William Barnes, or of Dylan Thomas. Some very old paints and paint brushes. An old cassette that includes "Mr. Woo's a Window Cleaner Now." Much more of great value -- things that now are a part of us, things he taught us and lived before us, like eyes that fill up hearing the words and music of glorious, old hymns. Joy at the happy result of growing flowers that attract humming birds and butterflies. His wonderful, gentle love and thankfulness for simple things. Like colorful birds and their songs. Growing anything from flowers to vegetables to a fruit tree. Refusing to cut the grass where buttercups sprang up. Enjoying all the roadside wild flowers. The movement of a little, golden fish just under the surface of a pond. And there are memories that make us laugh. "Beth, where did these funny, little trousers come from?" "It's Tuesday afternoon and golf is on. Beth, is this a new TV?" His charade endeavors, especially, "Hen Whizz". On the phone, "...this is Heathah's mothah...oh, my wife told me to say that." And each year now, Christmas isn't Christmas without "A Child's Christmas in Wales" even though we really miss his voice reciting it all. So many other things. Gifts he's left behind in his children (and seen now in the little grandchildren too). Interests, artisitic talents, quiet appreciation for so many things, gentle strength, so much of himself is here now with us and in us. And so, as we miss him, our smiles are bittersweet and yet also honest and knowing and expectant.
.....From the hymn "O Sacred Head, now wounded" by Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153-- "Be near when I am dying, o show Thy cross to me; and for my succor flying, come, Lord, to set me free. These eyes, new faith receiving, from Jesus shall not move; for he who dies believing, dies safely, through Thy love."

Byington 3

What is it about some friends that is just so comfortable, so easy? And right through the passage of years, and separate journeys, that comfortable, easy way of just being together always stays the same? Pretty special when we can claim that. So, last month for a few days, 3 "girls" who became roomies and lived in Byington 3 in 1963 shared a small space and did a few things. Talked a lot, laughed probably even more, maybe cried (if only inside) a little. And here in 2008, the year we all turn 63, we know again that whoever it was at Gordon College 45 years ago who decided who would room with whom was right on! Mal and Sara and Sidy. The same and different. Sara with very short, very white hair. And that same wonderful laugh and total honesty. Mal with her little bags of metemucil and glasses; still a little confused. Sidy many pounds heavier but still up to tricks. (Am I the one who had to ask "What did you say?" the most often?) Yes, our journeys have been so different from each other. But we're still so very much the same "girls" we were so long ago. And we know that the eternal bond that ties us together is the best part of it all. For we each have had the same Rock, the same Guide, the same Light every mile of the way. Different joys, different sorrows, different stories. Always, through the years, able to see and hear each other, to know, to appreciate, to enjoy, to love. We're very blessed and thankful. Right, guys??? Love ya!

May 18th

May 18. A very special day 73 years ago in a home in East London. The Riley family welcomed its fifth child, a baby boy. In an old photo, baby Eric, dressed in a white gown, sits on his mother's lap surrounded by his brother and sisters. He's scowling and serious and not very happy looking. But the stories he told of his childhood were very happy. The little grandmother who lived with the family and nurtured in him his life-long love of birds and poetry. The mischief he would get into with his brother Freddy. The years when he was evacuated to Wales, and we heard nothing of the horrors of war, but only of the charm and beauty of the countryside in Ross-on-Wye. How, in his first year of schooling, the symbol on his school box was (prophetically) a little hammer. His love of wood and carpentry. Hours spent on a riverside fishing. Paintings of England (and later America's barns, Atlantic Ocean, Delaware Canal). He was an Englishman through and through. But he came to see America and stayed for half his life. In his later years he was drawn more and more to his beloved England. And now, wherever in Heaven it most resembles an English countryside, is where I think he is. But, I also think, most of his earthly thoughts are about his family. Does he think of the little grandchildren he loved: Oak, Caleb, Meadow, Adelane, Juden, Eden. And the little ones he left too soon to meet: Dove, Ella, Lily, Naya, Sophia, and of course his little namesake Eric Ian Riley Sulik, who when he furrows his little brow and looks quite serious, resembles his Pop-pop.

He is very much missed, but, yes, he is truly Home.

"Unnecessary" blog

The photos in the next two postings don't really need any words. Of course, I didn't take any of them. And thanks to Linda for posting them for me. Allison DeMoss, a friend of Amy's, took the Gast family pictures beside a creek down the Lane from their home. They were taken a few days before Christmas. Linda took most of hers just before Christmas and a few a little while back. The first is Naya with Scott and Aimee's little Sophia. Dove, of course, is the little Scandinavian-looking imp next to Ella in another. I spent Christmas in Chattanooga and loved being with them all. Now back home and will try to get some photos of Heather's brood.

Green Family and two little cousins