W. G. E. C. by Deena McDaniel Positively
Beautiful Weekly Blog
Camping out by a barn in
Missouri was my first encounter with our buddy Jim. I’d never been camping and
thought how tough could it be? It was more than tough. We’d pitched a tent on
our new friend Jim’s farm. This city girl was covered in bug bites. Over 142 on
my ankles alone to be exact. And yet the charm of the farm captured my heart.
Adventure begins when you say I do. I did. “There are three things
that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand: the way of an
eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high
seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.”-Proverbs 30:18-19 Now
with 33 years of marriage the stories of our lives in Missouri are the most
colorful.
Jim’s been our buddy for over 30
years. As life gets away from you the moments with old friends become few and
far between. “A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17b
Suddenly, you are struck with a chance to see one of those ole friends. In our
hay day, Jim, Mickey and I along with several other horse-riding crazies loved
to ride through the farms of Missouri’s central Ozarks. And the nearest
town, Montreal, had a population of 81 people. There was a lot of land
to cover. The first year we moved to Missouri we had to have a horse and we had
3. Mine was Guinevere, who was ready to foal in the spring. Mickey had a
gelding named Albert (because the horse was brilliant like Albert Einstein) and
Jim rode Buddy,(his true buddy.)
Many riding adventures began in 1990, so we
formed a club. I was in charge of making the flag, because riding in the
Christmas parade folks needed to know who we wuz. Our crew lived near the Wet
Glaze River, so that was it…Wet Glaze Riding Club. That is until I had to make
the flag. In my meager flag making skills (not a Betsy Ross) I couldn’t make
the letter R effectively. Therefore, we became the Wet Glaze Equestrian Club
and the WGEC was founded. (E is easier than an R to make.) “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be
established.”-Proverbs 16:3
Babies were born. Houses were
built. Barns were raised. Memories forged friendships. “And
though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a
threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 The years
get away with you and suddenly it was time. “Let’s fly Jim to Florida!”
my husband beamed. Jim had been through some really rough health issues but was
on the mend and fit to fly. Friendship has no boundaries.
Our hearts soared as we hugged and were able to
“git back” to the good ole days. Age and adventures change a person. There we
sat the three of us as born-again believers. Who would have guessed God could
save the wretch like me/us?
Each morning the boys would be
off to Hollywood Beach for theology and a sunrise. Mickey’s been studying
theology for years and Jim was drinking up the knowledge. Times had changed.
Friendship had not. Somehow just with Jim here at our house, the crazy antics
occurred. Our beach day had gale-force winds that broke our brand-new tent. Our
trip to Margaritaville had his eyes wide open with “Ya don’t see that kinda
thing in Montreal Missouri!” His friendly “Howdy” greeted each
person he’d meet. Often it was received with not such a nice response. Folks
here in Florida are a bit quirky. And let’s not forget Jim’s scooter time
around town! He flew around on “Wilber” my little hog several times exploring
Hollywood.
Then there was our bike time. I’d taught two fitness
classes that morning, but he spruced up two bikes to ride, so off we went on my
guided tour of Downtown Hollywood. One mural after the next to then trekking up
to the beach. Each time I’d look behind me there was his smiling face basking
in the Florida sun. I didn’t want to show weakness, so on I peddled through the
intense wind. On the broadwalk biking with my buddy? Could this really be
happening? Yes. God’s glory burst forth as oversized waves crashed the sand.
Little did I know he was tired too, but only told me later. It was a 2-hour
ride.
Jim experienced our church family on Sunday and
even was invited to be prayed for by the men of the congregation. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”-Proverbs
27:17 He’d also sat for hours several times with
Mickey, our Cuban Hillbilly friend Marcos and Pastor Pino. Cheers!
Our days are numbered. “So
teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” -Psalm 90:12
As Jim left to fly out and in our final hugs and prayers I tried not to cry. We
waved goodbye. “That might be the very last time I ever see him again.” My
heart was breaking. Suddenly a knock on the door and in bursts Jim. “I
pulled a Deena and forgot my phone.” Just like God to make things
light-hearted. It was in an instant I saw him and in the blink of an eye, our
lives will cross again.
Who have you not seen in a while? Have you met
with your Savior lately? No condemnation here, just a simple question. Sit a
spell and speak with God. The time is now. No panic. Fear doesn’t own me. “I
know if I die today, I’ll be with my Savior,” Jim smiled, with no fear to
fly home. We will all meet God someday. What will you say? The pandemic doesn’t
define you. What if we talked about Jesus as much as we talked about the virus?
Why not turn the virus conversation to Bible illustration, Christ declaration
or Salvation explanation?
Hope is within us. We’re called
to share. I’d made the flag. Jim’s the keeper of the flag. WE GRATEFULLY
EXALT CHRIST. Our new WGEC.
Comments
Post a Comment