Perfecting the Call

I found the perfect gift for my Dad's birthday! This is not easy since anything he wants, he buys himself. So I have to precede his knowledge of what he wants. Every lunch, he takes my mom to some cute eatery, and then they drive circuitous routes home, enjoying the scenery. Often they stop at a park to feed the geese. Sometimes the geese are far from the picnic table where my folks sit, so they watch the geese in the distance, their unused packets of crackers in their pockets. It is hard for them to walk very far, so they have to be content in observing the geese, but not interacting with them. It is of course a little disappointing. Feeding the geese is a highlight for them.

This gave me a brainstorm. I went online and found the world's best beginner goose call. It is a short reed caller, that the manufacturer claimed, "Anyone can master." Sold! I told Dad he could open the package as soon as it arrived, though his birthday is not till Nov. 7. 

Dad called a couple of days ago. He was delighted with the gift, though frankly, he wasn't sure what it was. There had been no identifying packaging or instructions. Just the goose call wrapped in newspaper. I explained it was a Canada goose call. No longer would he and Mom have to be helpless bystanders to the distant flocks of geese. Now they could lure them near!  Dad blew into his call, and did sound like a loud goose...sort of...

Nonetheless, I went online and found many YouTube instructional videos on how to use a short reed goose call. I sent the links to him. Invariably in the videos, the instructor was a young man, not very sure of himself, who seemed to be making this video despite painful shyness out of a deep desire to spread the arcane knowledge of goose calling. And each one of them apologized to the viewer, saying, "I'm not very good at goose calling...but you'll get the idea."

I found that so touching. These shy young men seemed to be making the videos despite limited self confidence and less than expert skills out of a deep desire to help others. I personally thought they sounded just like a goose with their goose call, and I was impressed at their selfless goodwill towards goose call wannabees. Besides that, they may not have been competition-worthy goose callers, but they were a lot better than me or my dad, and thus helpful in instructing someone with no knowledge.

Yesterday morning, we were at the final day of our new membership class for the church we attend. The last portion of our training was about spiritual gifts. Everyone has gifts that God has given them, and they are to be used for the glory of God and in His service.  The pastor pointed out that sometimes people don't know their gifts, and that was ok. Serve anyway. Find a need and meet it. On the way, eventually, you will find your gift.

As I watched the YouTube video of the shy, faltering young goose callers, instructing those just a little less knowledgable than they, I thought they were a wonderful example of people using whatever they have to serve others. Find a need, and meet it. On the way, you may find your calling.

*******************

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve, but we serve the same Lord. And there are different ways that God works in people, but it is the same God who works in all of us to do everything. Something from the Spirit can be seen in each person. The Spirit gives this to each one to help others. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ERV)

The Cookie Lady

The steepest mountain in Virginia is Mount Afton. Unless it is not. I am relying on my memory, an unfaithful friend at best. the reason I know this (Or at least think I know this) is there was an old lady named June who lived at the top of Mount Afton, and when each tired cross country bicyclist reached her summit, she sat on her porch, handing out cookies.

I don't think hordes are cycling across the country now, but in 1976 and the few years after, many people including us biked the "Bikecentennial trail" and it went right through Afton, Va. where the cookie lady lived.

We started on the West coast, and already were hearing stories about the cookie lady and the delicious treat that awaited us 3,000 miles away. During some of the hard times, of which there were many, sometimes we would shore each other up with thoughts of the delicious cookie that awaited us at the top of Mt. Afton.

I just discovered 5 minutes ago while trying to find out if Mt. Afton is the tallest mountain in Virginia that it is not, but I guarantee that when you bike it, you feel like it is. I also found out there is an online book about the cookie lady. I will give that link at the end because if I give it now, you will all rush to read about the cookie lady and leave my blog dangling without even hanging up.

Anyway, we hit Mt. Afton on a blistering hot day, as the summer in Virginia tends to be and the mountain was every bit as steep as I had feared. But at the summit, I met June, with her plate of fresh cookies and water, and tales of the many many bicyclists that she had greeted over the years. The West to East riders were elated and exhausted, as they were nearing a long journey's end. The East- West riders were elated and enthused as they were embarking on the journey of a lifetime. June met them all, coming and going, with a cookie to bless them for the trials awaiting them, or reward them for the trail successfully traversed.

What a legacy! To greet strangers with this small offering reminding them of the sweetness of the journey. I often don't remember my own family's name, but I still remember June's name, 30 years later. It is such an inconsequential thing, offering a cookie to a weary traveler. It is something even I could do if I took the time. It reminds me of another faithful Presence, that encourages and equips me for the exhilarating new beginnings in life, those downhills that are effortless and glorious..... and comforts and nourishes me as the journey staggers uphill after endless uphill. The cookie He hands me is the bread of life.

As I was remembering the Cookie Lady, I was thinking about how sometimes it takes a very small thing to add up to make a very big thing. It might be carving out time for a family drive every Sunday, or making orange jello in the orange juice glass every April Fool's day, or kissing a child and telling them each day you love them, or holding the hand of a friend who has just learned devastating news. Those small offerings of sweetness may be all that is needed to have the courage to start a journey, or the grace to end it well.

http://majka.us/cookielady/default.htm

Proverbs 5:21
For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.