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

One day last week, Babs and I talked about what freedom really means.

This week Babs was musing about something.

I asked, “What is on your mind, Babs?”

Babs smiled, “I was just thinking about Matthew and Maddie.  They sent pictures from Capulin Mountain.  They actually walked into the vent of a volcano.”

I smiled, “Babs, have you noticed that in all the photos Matthew and Mercy are always together?  They say they are each other’s arm candy when it is necessary, but I think there is something more to it.”

Babs nodded, “Yes, and Maddie and Mike are not in every photo together, but when they are, they seem to be quite comfortable with each other.  But they have three more years of high school.  I think this storm chasing thing is drawing them closer together, and it is helping them focus on their school work.  They have to write a report when they get back, and they are interviewed by the one everyone calls Stinker.  I have no idea why.  She is such a nice young woman and a mother, too.”

I laughed, “I hear it was something about sharing the Gospel with people who thought their lifestyle was fine the way it was.  And then, God had a different plan for them.  We take to much credit when someone accepts Jesus while we are praying, and it seems she accepted too much of the credit in a wrong way, but I think it’s all playful fun.  But the last time the children were on a storm chase, you were worried, Babs.”

Babs smiled, “That old Dutch cheapskate of a husband of mine finally shelled out a few dollars for us to get the Storm Chasing streaming service.  I have watched a lot of the old episodes, and they take great care to protect the team.  They talk about Jesus a lot.  And I have seen why they call it the Turtle.  If they calculated something wrong, they go into their shell and ride out the storm.  I have memorized some of the verses that they recite on the show. ‘When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.’ (Psalm 56:3).  And then…  ‘He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.’ (Psalm 91:4).  Then, in Isaiah ‘For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13).  And then two chapters later…  ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’ (Isaiah 43:2).  Thank you so much for adding the streaming service.  I laugh a little.  I cry.  But most of all, I get a glimpse of our grandchildren in action when we aren’t hovering over their shoulder.  And I get to know they are safe, probably more safe on a storm chase than walking in the wrong neighborhoods in Tracy.”

I smiled, “I agree with you there.  Are you getting settled in, being a Grabbabs?”

Babs laughed, “Some of these days, Janella is going to realize she gave me a title that seems to encourage people to grab my abs.  She will be so embarrassed, but the name has stuck.  And yes, I love it.  I would still like a child of my own, adopted.  I know I cannot give birth to a child, but you promised that we would start researching it after we have been married for a year.  I am not messing with that timetable.  ‘Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.’ (Psalm 127:3-5a).”

I laughed, “But, Babs, we are not in our youth.  But Willie is expecting again, and if we add another child through adoption in another year, that will be three children and five grandchildren.  Throw in the spouses of the children and you have ten.  Then, Tony and Mary Jo Painter are like another pair of children, and they have Little Joe and Franklyn.  If they all showed up at once, we would have a quiver full of them. ‘Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.’ (Ecclesiastes 6:9).  I see the confused look.  That means that we see before us what God has provided.  It would be silly to not enjoy what we have and go after more.  Desiring more means that there will never be enough.  The millionaire focuses on making the next million.  And I have seen some large families that want one more child.”

Babs moaned, “But, Harold, you don’t understand.  I am a woman.  I am to produce children.  I wasted all those years.  God has forgiven me, but why do I still have this emptiness?”

I sighed, “Let’s look at King David, but we will start with Saul.  ‘But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”’ (1 Samuel 13:14).  Saul had messed up, one time too many.  God had found someone after His own heart, David.  But for David to become king, Saul and his sons would have to die.  Mephibosheth was a crippled man, and he posed no threat, but the others died to solidify David’s kingdom.  So, one man’s sin in this case affected others.”

I continued, “But David was a man after God’s heart.  So, how could he make such a mess of the Bathsheba affair?  Nathan prophesied to David, saying that his son from Bathsheba would die and there would be strife among David’s sons.  ‘Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for the Lord, the son born to you will die.”’ (2 Samuel 12:13-14). Nathan said that David’s sin was forgiven, but the punishment would still happen.  ‘Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.’ (2 Samuel 13:2). Amnon rapes his half-sister Tamar.  Absalom has Amnon killed.  Then after David refuses to meet Absalom face to face, he demands Joab to make it happen. ‘Then he said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire.” So Absalom’s servants set the field on fire.’ (2 Samuel 14:30).  And now with Absalom restored to the royal family, Absolom makes himself king.  ‘Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”’ (2 Samuel 15:10).  If you are keeping track, David’s affair with Bathsheba is in chapter 11, then Nathan’s prophecy about having trouble with his children is in chapter 12, then the trouble starts in chapter 13.  And the trouble gets worse as the chapters go on.  David’s troubles with his sons are only interrupted with a remembrance of David’s mighty warriors, David’s farewell psalm, and the bad mistake with the census.  But after Absalom’s death, it seemed things were going okay, until Adonijah decided to become king. ‘Adonijah conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they gave him their support. But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei and Rei and David’s special guard did not join Adonijah.’ (1 Kings 1:7-8).”

Babs laughed, “Harold, that helps a little.  David was a man after God’s own heart.  He sinned, and God forgave that sin, but the consequences of that sin lingered on until David died. I must be content with what I have, and if God wants me to have a child, it will happen.”

I smiled, “Yes, dear.  And let’s remember that God sends his shepherds who have the heart of God, even today.  ‘Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.’ (Jeremiah 3:15).  Of course, the Good Shepherd is Jesus.  ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11).”

Babs sighed, “Yes, Jesus laid down his life for me.  I gave Him no reason to do that.  He simply loved me that much.  And all I can do is love Him in return.  And of course, I love you too, Harold.”

I nodded, “I am so glad you threw that in there.  ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’ (John 1:12-13).  You are a very special child of God, Babs.”

Babs scrunched her nose, “But I still have problems with John 1:13.  Natural descent is talking about being born as a Jew, as an example, but that could be like Jayke and Janella, since their father is a pastor.  That seems clearcut.  I understand that me marrying you does not make me born-again.  I might adopt your lifestyle, but being a Christian is a matter of the heart.  But doesn’t everyone that you meet in church talk about making a decision to follow Christ?  It’s all about how we invite God into our hearts, but with that ‘not of human decision’ says is that we are not saved by that either.”

I laughed, “Babs. God does the saving.  ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ (Ephesians 2:8-10).  Sure, we have to lay down our arms of rebellion, but who gives us the idea that laying down our arms is necessary?  God within us.  Pink Lady talks about it all the time that the salvation prayer is an affirmation of what God has already done.”

Babs asked, “And what of these good works?  Do we just keep on going to food banks and helping people?”

I smiled, “A year from now, you might just be cradling a baby in your arms, Babs.  Being a child of God is often an adventure where we have no idea what is around the next bend in the road.  ‘Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come?’ (Ecclesiastes 8:7).”

Babs giggled, “You are on a roll, Harold.  You have quoted two different chapters from Ecclesiastes.  I have a hard time spelling Ecclesiastes.”

I smiled, “You are doing just fine, Babs.  Just type it, and the computer will correct your spelling.  They don’t even teach spelling like they used to.”

Babs laughed, “When we adopt, should we home school?”

I went over and gave her a hug.  “Babs, let’s take that child to Lily the Pink. And if their little school hasn’t grown to be Pre-K through 12^th grade by then, we will have plenty of time to decide what happens next.  ‘For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.’ (Psalm 71:5).”

Babs sighed, “In my youth, I never heard about God.  That’s what makes all this so wonderful.  God sought me out!”

I shrugged, “Maybe God has a thing for a pretty face.”

Babs smiled, “Hush your mouth, Harold.  ‘Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.’ (Proverbs 31:30).  And Jacob had two wives.  ’Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful.’ (Genesis 29:17). I have often wondered about how Rachel was loved, but Leah produced Judah, and Jesus descended from Judah’s line.  God chose Jacob over Esau. ’“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “But you ask, ‘How have you loved us?’ “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated, and I have turned his hill country into a wasteland and left his inheritance to the desert jackals.”’ (Malachi 1:2-3).  And then when Israel blessed the sons of Joseph, he crossed his hands. ‘But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.’ (Genesis 48:14).”

I smiled, “So, Babs, you are saying that God does not favor beauty.  He does not favor firstborn.  He chooses whom He chooses.”

Babs sighed, “And being a child of God has its responsibilities, but it is unfathomable thinking that God would choose me.”

I said, “And I am so glad God chose me to share this path with you, Babs.  You have renewed my youthful vigor to some extent.”

Babs sighed, “And all this conversation started with Matthew and Maddie having fun on a storm chase.”

I said, “I just got a chime.  Look!  It’s from Stinker.  She attached a video.  It is Matthew and Mercy’s time lapse of a storm over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.  Stinker says that they picked the perfect spot.  They might even get the time lapse purchased by a media outlet.”

Babs smiled.  “Well, they are having fun, and they are learning.  I can’t wait for them to get back and talk about their adventures.”

And we sat there for a while in each other’s arms.  It felt warm and comfortable.  How much more will it be when we are hugging our Lord Jesus?

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.

I went to Capulin Mountain as a teenager.  I again went to the mountain with my wife.  Unless you take in the hikes, there is not a lot there, but it is definitely an experience.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.