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Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Applause of Heaven



by Rick Blumenberg / @rickblumenberg

It was a beautiful summer day in central Indiana, the sun was shining brightly, but it wasn't too hot. It was a perfect day for the beach. Carol and I took Kathy and Twyla our two daughters—then in elementa­ry school—and went to Missisinewa Reser­voir for a picnic and a day of fun.

The beach was crowded that afternoon when the head lifeguard made an announcement over the speaker system that a little boy was lost. He was five years old, with blonde hair and was wearing blue shorts with white sailboats on them. She said if anyone should found him to bring him to the lifeguard tower.

I noticed a small boy who somewhat fit that description playing in the sand nearby— but he was sitting beside his parents, so I thought no more about it.

A few minutes later the announcement was made again. The boy's name was Jimmy. I still wondered about the little boy sitting there, but again I dismissed the possibility it was Jimmy. Another few minutes and the lifeguard blew her whistle and ordered everyone out of the water. She asked some of the swimmers nearby to join hands and wade through the water—they were looking for Jimmy's body. Almost everyone on the beach was watching the scene play out. It was as if we were all collectively holding our breath. The beach was totally quiet.

Again I noticed the little boy and just at that instant, the couple sitting beside him, who seemed to be the only ones on the beach who were not paying attention, got up, took their blanket, and walked away.

The little boy continued to play in the sand. He didn't even glance up when they left.

I walked over to him and as I got closer I noticed his trunks were blue with small white sailboats.

"Is your name Jimmy?" I asked.

"What?" He asked as he looked up at me.

I repeated the question and he answered yes.

"Your parents are worried about you", I said. "Let's go find them."

One of the life guards was standing nearby watching the frightening scene with her hands over her mouth, as if trying to muffle a scream. I took Jimmy to her and she, too, ques­tioned him. When she realized he was the missing child, she took his hand and they raced across the beach toward the lifeguard's tower. They ran so fast Jimmy's feet just barely touched the sand.

I watched as Jimmy's parents welcomed him back with open arms and hugs. I heard the lifeguard announce joyfully over the loud speaker that everything was ok. Jimmy had been found. And I smiled and joined in as spontaneous applause broke out up and down the beach.
 I remembered then what Jesus said, "In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."  Now I can imagine what that is like when one of God’s lost children comes home to God’s love.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.
 

Saturday, July 14, 2012

A Prayer on the Highway


by Rick Blumenberg / @rickblumenberg

It was late on a Sunday evening in the early seventies and we were traveling home after a week at Anderson (Indiana) Campmeeting.  Carol was driving, with Kathy and Twyla, our two young daughters sound asleep in the back seat as we drove through the darkness toward home. It was a dark and stormy night, (sorry about that Snoopy) with wind whipping the car and rain pelting down. The highway had recently been resurfaced and was not yet painted with warning stripes so it was difficult for Carol to see.

I offered to drive but she said no, it was alright, so I leaned back against the seat and the window on the passenger side of the car and as we drove through the darkness I felt more than a little apprehension, so I began to pray. I asked God to be with us as we traveled, to watch over us and keep us safe from harm. Next I prayed for the other motorists on the highway, those we met, with bright lights that almost blinded us and those who followed behind. I prayed he would keep them alert and careful in their driving and bring all of us safely to our homes.

As I prayed, I sensed God's Presence there in the car with us and with it came a genuine sense of assurance. I allowed my mind to expand from the highway on which we were traveling to other highways and other places and ask God to watch over them all. Then I pictured God in my mind as a loving Heavenly Father who was looking down on our world from heaven. As I prayed I asked him to encircle our entire globe with Divine love and blessing. I prayed for the troubled areas where people were fighting and asked for peace. I prayed for famine stricken regions, that food would be provided until the rains would come and the crops could grow again and that there be bountiful harvests.

I prayed that God's love might be experienced by every earthly creature and that God's kingdom might indeed come and that God's will might be fully and joyfully done throughout our earth just as it is done in heaven.

Somehow I knew that my prayer was, at least partially, being answered. I felt a sense of awe that the Creator of the heavens and the earth was not only willing, but eager, to work through my prayers and the prayers of a multitude of others, to accomplish his good will throughout all the earth. What a privilege to pray and thus work together with God.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.
 

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

The Power of a Smile


By Rick Blumenberg / @rickblumenberg 

Have you ever noticed the power of a smile? A stranger who smiles at you or one you greet with a smile becomes, at least for a moment, a friend and neighbor. If the situation is tense, a smile relieves the tension and replaces it with companionship.

As far as I can tell, smiling is a universal language understood in every culture. I read once about a tribe of people who never smiled because showing your teeth was a sign of anger and ferocity, but I’ve never met anyone who felt that way and I’m not sure such a people really exist.

Here is a poem I wrote that tells how I feel about the power of a smile.

The Power of a Smile
  By Rick Blumenberg

What is a smile but a magic carpet?
Lifting a broken heart from crevices of loneliness
To a high place in the sun!

What is a smile but a mountain of strength?
Supporting the weak
And making them strong

But where shall I see a smile?
Where, but in your eyes
And on your face and with your lips!

And for whom do I beg the smile?
For whom, but the weary, and forsaken
And the stranger who is in your midst.

I'm Rick Blumenberg . . . and that's My View from Tanner Creek.