The Master Refiner

   I have been doing very well for the better part of the summer and fall. I believe that it is a result of all of your prayers for us and the Masses that are offered for us, as well as some good medical care. I am truly blessed. I looked out the living room window this morning after reading the meditation that follows, and I saw a male and a female red cardinal sitting on the garden fence! The first red cardinals I have seen for several months. God is good!

    I thought I would share the meditation with all of you, since it struck me as very fitting for all of us, and especially for me. I start off with a bit of scripture:

Malachi Chapter 3:1-3

1)   Behold I send my angel, and he shall prepare the way before my face. And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to his temple. Behold he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. [2] And who shall be able to think of the day of his coming? and who shall stand to see him? for he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller's herb: [3] And he shall sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and shall refine them as gold, and as silver, and they shall offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.

Meditation For October 29^th Taken From “Streams In The Desert”

     Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of the refiner’s fire. It is with the most precious metal that a metallurgist will take the greatest care. He subjects the metal to a hot fire, for only the refiner’s fire will melt the metal, release the dross, and allow the remaining, pure metal to take a new and perfect shape in the mold.

     A good refiner never leaves the crucible but, as the above verse indicates, “will sit” down by it so the fire will not become even one degree too hot and possibly harm the metal. And as soon as he skims the last bit of dross from the surface and sees his face reflected in the pure metal, he extinguishes the fire.

 

Author Tappan Pierson

He sat by the fire of sevenfold heat,

As He looked at the precious ore,

And closer He bent with a searching gaze,

As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,

And He wanted the finest gold

To mold as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Though we would have asked for delay,

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,

But our eyes were so dim with tears,

We saw but the fire – not the Master’s hand,

And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above,

That bent o’er the fire, though unseen by us,

With a look of unspeakable love.

Should we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause us a moment’s pain?

Not so! For He saw through the present cross

The joy of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,

Than was needed to make it pure.

 

Doesn’t that just about smack you between the eyes? We always wonder why people have to suffer, but God, the Master Refiner, has a plan for each of us. He did not say He came to take away our suffering, but to share in it with us.

Take care, have a great day, and God Bless all of you who are praying for our family as we journey down this road.

The Road Not Taken

    I have been feeling well, and things are going fairly well. We have been pretty busy with things, and that makes time race along, which is kind of sad, but time marches on for all of us. Margaret and I took a few days and spent some time in the Black Hills. It was beautiful out there, and we went on some walks together. One hike took us from Spearfish Canyon Lodge up to Roughlock Falls. On that path, we stopped to take a few photos. This little trail led off up the hill by itself, and reminded me of “The road not taken” by Robert Frost. I had always liked that poem, and have pasted it below for those of you who may not have committed it to memory from your elementary school days. I had this poem written on a piece of paper in the shape of a footprint and kept it near my desk at Sioux Falls Fire Rescue. It reminds me that we are all on our own journeys, and that there are times when we need to go off onto “the road not taken” - that we do not have to follow everyone else to follow God’s plans for us. 

 Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

I seem to be going down a road less traveled once again at this point in my life’s journey. I do not know that I would have chosen this fork in the trail, but I have always been one for a new trail when out hunting or hiking, so it seems fitting. I have met a lot of great people and seen many beautiful things on my journey, and have few major regrets. God has steered me more toward Himself these past few months, though I always knew He was there. I was just too busy many times to take the time to visit with Him as I should have. Now I seem to have that time, and it is amazing what He is still teaching me.

Take care, have a great day, and God Bless all of you who are praying for our family as we journey down this road.      

Kolbe's Dance Moves

October 10, 2012

            It has been a good fall for us so far. I have felt pretty good, and have been able to do some traveling with Margaret. The time we have been able to spend together has been great, and we both cherish those times we have had together.

                        John’s O’Gorman High School Soccer Team got second at the state tournament in Aberdeen. That was a cold experience for all of us, but we had a chance to see some great soccer games, and we had a good time. We were home for about 20 hours, and we got back into the car to drive down to Omaha for the long weekend. We saw our favorite two grandchildren, and John visited Creighton University’s campus on Monday. We had a great weekend, and enjoyed the time with Mark, Sara, and their family. Kolbe’s dance video is back to Mark now, so I need to have them post it on this blog so you guys can see the little guy dance. After you watch him for a few moments, you will see where his natural dance talents come from.

                        Next week on Monday I have an MRI of the old pumpkin once again (every three months now). On Tuesday we go into the Prairie Center to start with a blood draw, then a visit with Dr. Tolentino to see how the blood work looks and, to see how the MRI looks – see if I am growing any new tumors or expanding any old ones. If the blood work looks good, I am supposed to get an infusion of Avastin. On Thursday I visit with the nurse practitioner from Dr. Viola’s office to get my driver license renewal letter from them. Then to cap the week, we have a family meeting with Palliative Care on Friday afternoon. Busy medical week.

                        Next Friday afternoon, our family is gathering in Humboldt to help move Jarding Construction from the old shop into a newer and smaller building. It will be a busy weekend, but fun with everybody helping out.

                        I have been having some headaches this last week, which always leaves one with brain cancer anxious as to the cause of those headaches. That continues to be the hard part of this journey – the not being in control and not knowing. That is what Faith is all about, and I guess it is a test of my Faith. I do not think I am ready for the downward spiral in my health yet, but I should probably strap on the seat belt and hang on for the ride. I have too many things to do to get sick, but we will see what God has planned for me and my schedule.

                        Some of the Gifts I have seen these past weeks that stand out are listed below:

1)    Beautiful Black Hills Fall Scenery like you can’t believe - sharing it with the love of my life.

2)    Watching John play soccer – he is the last of the four boys I get to watch in ball games – we have seen a lot of games over the years.

3)    Holding my oldest granddaughter,Jameson, and having her look deep into my eyes – her beautiful eyes darting back and forth looking into my soul - me wondering if she will remember me – I think she will remember deep within her soul. I love that little girl………………

4)    Praying bedside prayers with Kolbe as he goes to bed – he is a pretty sincere little boy- and he says an extra prayer for grandpa, grandma, and great grandpa and grandma each night.

5)    Waking up at 2:30 AM with a headache – Margaret caressing my head to try to make the pain ease up a bit, which it usually does with her touch. Whispering to her that we are kind of getting taken on our time left together, but knowing that the moments we have shared to this point are more precious than many people get to share in a lifetime together.

6)    Sitting quietly in our backyard listening to God’s creation – we don’t get to do that enough in this busy life. God could have made everything gray and black, but he colored the world for you and I to enjoy.

7)    Trying to get a one hour nap in each day, resting in the arms of the Lord.

8)    Reminiscing on a great and gifted life I have been able to live – a great marriage – four wonderful gifts from God in our sons – now three of those sons have found women to make their lives complete – watching John on his first college tour and wondering what God will call him to do in his life’s vocation

9)    I have been blessed in having three separate careers that ran together at the same time. How many people wonder yet what they want to do in their life – I got to be a Carpenter who builds people’s dreams – a Fire Fighter who saves people’s lives, and a Father who passes on life and Faith in God to the next generation of our family. Who could ask for more than that?

Tonight before you go to sleep, thank God for the gifts in your life, and ask Him to help you in each step of your life’s journey.  He is there for each of us, and He has a plan for each of us. It is our job to trust in Him and to follow that plan wherever it takes us. God Bless.