Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Boilerplate

I’m Harold Dykstra.  I’m retired, but I go to food bank distributions all over Tracy and talk to people that need someone who will listen to their story.  My time is well spent.  A police lieutenant suggested that I write down the conversations that I had with an angel.  I did not know she was an angel at the time.  The angel, for a little over a year, indwelled a life-sized posable action figure my children bought me, so that I would not be perceived as travelling alone.  And in a way, she was training me for what I do while talking to the needy.  She probed my heart to find out what I believed and how I express love for others.  She changed my life.

In her leaving, she said someone would come.  I had thought that was Jesus, in His second coming, but a new Babs, a little older, the model for the posable action figure arrived.  While I had no desire to start over with romance, Morrie helped her move in, thinking she was the other Babs who had returned.

This Week’s Question

Last week, Babs and I attended the Vitamin Flintheart High School graduation.  We were then invited to Lily the Pink, and we were asked to have a “conversation” about what we thought new graduates should consider.  It was a fun challenge.

This week Babs was searching for vacation destinations.

I asked, “Where are you going, Babs?”

Babs gasped, “I never thought of going anywhere without you.  We are going.”

I shrugged, “It has to be close by.  We have food bank distributions every weekend of the year.”

Babs sighed, “Harold, Rev. Joseph and Mary filled in for us when we left on our honeymoon.”

I frowned, “That won’t work.  I heard Mary had her baby just two days ago.  Ethan, a little boy.”

Babs scrunched her nose, “Is Ethan a family name?”

I smiled, “No, Ethan the Ezrahite, a very wise man.  ‘The musicians Heman, Asaph and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;’ (1 Chronicles 15:19).  Asaph wrote a lot of psalms, but only about a dozen are attributed to him.  Ethan and Heman each wrote one that has survived as part of the book of Psalms, Psalms 89 and 88 to be exact.  And then when they talk of Solomon’s wisdom: ‘He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations.’ (1 Kings 4:31).  So, I think Ethan is a very good name.”

Babs giggled, “Too bad it isn’t He-man, ‘I have the power!’  Oh, I see that look on your face.  I am sure Morrie watched those cartoons.  When I was of the right age to play with the boys in the street, I was introduced to the sword, and the right words to say.  I started watching the cartoons.  I thought the neighborhood boy was kind of cute, but that was about the time that my step Mom said no to such things, and think of the future.  I wonder where I would be if I married He-man.”

I just shook my head.

Babs suggested, “What about Pink and Amy?”

I sighed, “To replace Rev. Joseph?  They might be seen as not relating to the people who are needy.  They might be tempted to give them money when money may be more of a symptom than the problem.  I don’t know.  I think Captain Al Hart and Gisele might help.  Gisele is a lot more approachable than her grumpy husband.”

Babs purred, “I have gotten Al to smile on rare occasions.  He has a heart.  I would suggest TomCat.  Thomas is so busy though.  Catherine might get someone to help her.  Then again, she’s young.”

I slapped my forehead.  “I have it!  Easter and Jemima!  They just graduated with double degrees.  They are parents.  They could bring Stormie.  We just have to plan the vacation for when they aren’t out storm chasing.”

Babs nodded, “Okay, they are our first choice.  But we might need backups.”

I smiled, “I don’t know.  The churches that host or sponsor these food banks are starting to get volunteers to help when I am not there.  We go to our church monthly, a few churches twice a year, but the rest are once each year.  So, they have people that help when we are not there.  If we say that we cannot be there, the food bank itself may call for a backup.  But do we have to get away from everything to have a vacation?  I only have a set amount of cash on hand, not a lot in investments.  Once my money is gone, it’s gone.”

Babs smiled, “You keep telling me not to worry.  Look in the mirror, big fella.  ‘The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.’ (Mark 6:30-32).  That gets the point of finding some place where we can legitimately rest.  But just resting we can look at the Sabbath day and Sabbath year commandments.  But what does Psalm 23 sound like? ‘He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.’ (Psalm 23:2-3).”

I snickered, “There are farms along the county line with Stout County.  We don’t have to go far for that.”

Babs snarled, “That’s why I did not start with that one. But you are an introspective man, what about Ecclesiastes.  ‘Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.’ (Ecclesiastes 9:7).  So, big fella, maybe God approves what you do.  So, you can rest a little bit.”

I sighed, “With Mary busy with a baby, I don’t think we are going to do much in the way of FHAT advertisement development.  But you have not said where.”

Babs smiled, “I am thinking Yellowstone.  If we leave next Thursday, we can get part of the way there.  Then, we can rent a cabin in the Grand Tetons National Park.  Then we can go into Yellowstone the next day.”

I sighed, “But we have to think of Sugar.  Could Tony and Joe take care of her?”

Babs said, “I want to ask them to come along.  I daresay that Tony has never had a vacation and Joe has never been outside Tracy.”

I groaned. “Okay, there goes the quiet nights in the hot tub.  But then who can take care of Sugar?”

Babs said, “She has an automatic feeder and water dish.  Umm.  But you are right.  We can leave her alone for a day, but Sugar is my babydoll.  She likes to cuddle.  Okay, we can have Willie and Gil check up on her.  But then, we would need to bring Jayke and Janella.”

I sighed, “Babs, I guess the trip is off.  We only have a five-seater SUV.”

Babs scrunched her nose, “What are you talking about?  I already called Pink Lady.  She has a party wagon.  It will be busy all summer, but for next Thursday for a week, it will be fine.  We leave our SUV and take the party wagon.  They call it the Pink 6.  So, it holds six.”

I asked, “You made all these arrangements before mentioning it to me?”

Babs giggled, “Someone told me that it is easier to beg for forgiveness than it is to ask permission.  And yes, you are the last to know.  And before you ask, it is called the party wagon because it has a built-in refrigerator.”

I said, “We need to pray about this.”

Babs said, “I already have, but all the prayers we can get are even better. ‘The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.’ (Psalm 121:7-8).  But what do you think of this? ‘In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.’ (Proverbs 16:9).”

I said, “That means that no matter how much planning we humans make, God determines our steps.  So, if this trip is not in God’s will, it won’t happen or we will not get the rest that we need.”

Babs made a face, “Okay, so we can forget that verse.”

I laughed, “Babs, that is the problem with a lot of Christians.  They don’t like a verse, and they simply ignore it.  What that verse tells me is that we need to pray every day until we get back from our trip.  We need to pray that in this trip we have glorified God.  God will protect us because we are His people.  But God will bless this trip if we are doing God’s will.  God wants us to glorify Him, and God wants us to trust Him.  And God wants us to love one another.  So, it is not a guarantee, but when we see a verse that is hard to understand, we need to trust God and ask for understanding.  So, here is a better verse to use for God’s mercies to be upon our travels.  ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”’ (Joshua 1:9).”

Babs scrunched her nose, “I feel a little discouraged because I didn’t understand that proverb.”

I said, “Babs, that is what wise counsel is all about.”

Babs snickered, “Are you calling yourself ‘wise counsel’, big fella?”

I smiled, “No, Babs, but you might have talked to Rev. Gil, our son-in-law, since I am the last to know about your plans.”

Babs laughed, “I just talked to Willie and she talked to her husband.”

I smiled, “Do you have any more Bible verses?”

Babs sighed, “I’m afraid to say now, but here is one last verse.  ‘For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;’ (Psalm 91:11).  Is that me taking something out of context?”

I laughed, “Now, Satan misquoted that verse in his temptation of Jesus, but you got to the point.  When we take our refuge in Jesus, He will protect us.  That is a great verse for this trip.”

Babs asked, “Do you think the young Babs is looking over us?”

I smiled, “I think the young Babs is what that verse is all about.  But let’s give God the glory.”

There was a knock at the door.  Babs said, “Come on in, Tony.”

Tony said, “Does Harold know?”

Babs said, “Yes, but if he didn’t know, I would have a lot of explaining to do.”

I asked, “How can you take time off, Tony?  You are starting your new business.”

Tony was let go at the lawn service company because he had some late season snow to clear from his primary winter customers.  So, he started a lawn care business of his own.  Then he hired the grease monkeys.  That gave them all summer to date their girlfriends, take a couple of courses in summer school, and make some money.  They would also be available to service the Turtle.  Tony also hired Todd Kingsley, Blaise’s friend.  Todd and Tony could do the work by themselves if the grease monkeys had to do a quick service job on the Turtle.  The summer was prime storm chasing time.

Tony said, “My employees are taking care of all the customers until I get back.  They know what to do.  And Trey has a commercial driver’s license.  So, he will drive my truck and pull the trailer full of mowing and trimming equipment.  And I am not in debt over any of the lawn care stuff.  I made enough profit to buy it all.  Now, the snowplow and the truck payments are still going to Mommie Pinkie regularly.  This trip is something that Joe and I need.  I’m getting married in another month.”

Mary Jo said, “I wish I could go, but since we are not married yet, the room arrangements would get weird.  Besides, I have more hours to work now.  I assist Madelaine and I still work in the nursery.  Madelaine thinks that I should take some college classes, but I think I am not up to that.”

Babs said, “With Tony and Joe supporting you, Mary Jo, you can accomplish a lot of things.  Don’t doubt.  God will give you the strength.  I know He is in your heart.”

Credits

All these conversations remind me of my conversations with my wife.  We would talk about anything and everything.  And most of the time, it sounded like a discussion in a Sunday school class.

My wife often made plans and then told me about them later, but those plans were usually day trips.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.