Tag: The unexpected

Memory Lane

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Returning to our home state is a walk down memory lane. So many places to go and people to see. More so this trip than the others. What took us back to Michigan was a fifty-five-year class reunion. It was determined that Dave and I were married the longest. Or should I say we married the youngest?

We saw people all right, ones that we mostly didn’t recognize. It was a bittersweet evening. Ribbons with photos of classmates no longer with us. One in particular I was anxious to reconnect with, not to be, she entered her eternal home. Joining us at our dinner was a classmate that knew and remembered me more than I did him. That can be a little disconcerting.

While there we made the routine trip visiting our past homes. Where Dave grew up, where I grew up, where our children grew up. I don’t miss the homes as much as I miss the trees. They are everywhere, shielding us from bright sunny days. This time, the skies were mostly overcast. Another thing I miss, cloudy skies.

©jb katke

As we gawked at the home of my grandparents, we got to speak with the new owner. The home has never looked so good. New homes have taken the place of Grandpa’s fruit trees.

The unexpected perk in visiting my brother was receiving drawings our mother did that I had never seen before. Mom was a gifted artist. She could have made a living from them had she pursued that avenue. Instead, her time was invested in my father and us kids. One time she confided that she should not have married. Housekeeping was not her forte.

She had too many interests to be concerned what our home looked like. Knitting, I am certain I have a tablecloth she crocheted, piano and her artwork. Those things fed her soul, just as seeing the trees fed mine. What feeds your soul?

There is beauty in the world if we look for it. Either in the nature Jesus created for our pleasure or the activities that bring joy.

There were more pleasures in our travel that I will share at a later time. Stay tuned.

The Unexpected

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© jb katke

An unwelcome and unexpected visitor came by this week. If the possum could talk, he/she may have been in agreement.

We have a couple window wells that come flush with mother earth. Animals can easily be nosing along the ground when suddenly they are pedaling air until reaching a stone-filled landing. Three concrete walls surround them with a row of windows on the other side.

Our home is in a well populated, heavily trafficked neighborhood, meaning the critters do not have much woods to call home. But this wasn’t the first time. One would think word would pass in the animal kingdom.

There is no alternative but to get the homeowners attention. Get me outta here!

This, in the dead of night. My dearly beloved is about to crawl into bed when the scratching began. If left unattended our window would be destroyed. On go the clothes, out comes the truck, down comes a long board to put into the window well so the poor thing can crawl out. Which he/she takes their lazy good-for-nothing time to do.

C’mon, it’s cold out here and I wanna go to bed.

I slept through the whole escapade. When morning came, I found him/her eating breakfast.

Have you ever found yourself in a hopeless situation? You need help but unsure of where to turn. What can a person do in the dead of night with no one around to help? Pray? It can’t hurt.

The Good Book tells us that not a sparrow falls that Jesus does not know about it. Surely, he looks after possums—and people too. Pray. What do you have to lose?

The Mystery Within

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© jb katke

What you see is not what you think.                      

Coming from an apple; this seed was trying to sprout internally. Never have I seen the likes of this before. It would have been interesting to see how it developed, if it developed. But how could I have known what was going on inside; to wait and see what the outcome would be?

To my way of thinking, this should not happen in an apple world. But what do I know?

Nature is full of little surprises. Some more apparent than others. I suppose that would be dependent on where you live. Each part of our country has its own perk attractions; which makes for interesting travel. It broadens our horizon on its uniqueness.

The same goes for people. Differing locales have their own accent. For example, I come from the great state of Michigan, but currently reside in the great state of Kansas. People here can pinpoint I’m from the north.  However, when visiting our home state, I get remarks the likes of, “You sound so Kansan.” 

My Michigan isn’t the same as when I grew up there. Kansas weather is not all it’s cracked up to be. It has all the makings of feeling like I don’t belong anywhere. My normal does not always include what is reality.

Kind of like this apple seed. It was trying to develop in an abnormal place. The seed belonged in the apple, but the sprout did not.

Can you relate? Trying to fit into a place where you don’t belong? It could be anything. Your state—your place of employment—college choice—or the friends you hang with? You name it.

Frustration arrives at your door when others don’t understand where you come from. People cannot understand the things you have seen or what you have endured. Words or actions don’t suit their vision of you.

It’s a mystery because possibly no one has taken the time to see your uniqueness. No one can know what is going on inside of you. Time marches on day in and day out, week after week, months, maybe years pass before the outcome can be discerned. Until sometime in the future, even you may be surprised at the outcome.

Whether you can grasp it or not, the fact remains you have perks that were especially created for you. Jesus has a plan for your life that may not be fully developed yet. Only someone who loves you intensely is able to see the potential that resides inside of you.

Hang in there, we all are a work in progress.