Teach us to number our days
by Elouise
One year ago I celebrated a birthday. Today I’m celebrating birthday #73, yet it feels as though decades have passed since 20 November 2015.
I’m writing this on Saturday evening. A cold front is moving in, and a strong, cold gusty wind is already whirling around in the dark. Tomorrow promises to be a blustery day.
Did you ever read The Winds of War? That’s what I thought about when the first gust hit our house. We’d just come back from a late walk. The dark clouds were already rolling in, after another beautiful sunset that highlighted brilliant red-leaf maples.
It made me think about the sudden change in the mood of our country. I like having truth out in the open, though not as naked as it sometimes has been. I don’t, however, like living with the contentious lack of clarity we’ve had during the presidential campaign.
As a Democrat (who has very occasionally voted Republican), I’ve enjoyed eight years of having a Democrat in the White House. Not just any Democrat, but the first African-American President we’ve ever had. A man of character, pragmatic and measured, approachable, calm and straightforward in moments of national pain.
Even though the Congress didn’t get much accomplished, I still felt our President had my back. Not that it made me nonchalant. It didn’t. Instead, it gave me added courage to speak my mind.
Then last fall and early spring my heart began acting up, I got a pacemaker, and I broke my jaw. Suddenly everything was out of sync, including my sense of who I am and why I’m here. To top that off, the presidential campaign created an upheaval we still don’t understand.
I’m grateful for the outcome of my health issues. Though I don’t like them, I do love pacemaker Queen Lucy! However, my health issues challenge me to switch gears daily, putting my health first and everything else down the line or out the door. Something I never had the guts to do in the past.
Given this forced focus on my health, and the shock of not being ‘covered’ by a President for whom I voted, I have a renewed sense of mission. It hasn’t changed in its essence. It has, however, changed the way I live out my mission each day: to tell the truth about God, about myself, and about this world God loves so much.
We have a hard road ahead of us as a nation. I don’t like the outcome of the election. I do, however, welcome the reality that we are visibly vulnerable to stresses and ambiguities that affect countries all over this world. We’re in the boat, so to speak, with most of this world God loves so much. What better place to begin telling the truth?
So…What does it mean for me to be a faithful, 73-year old follower of Jesus and a faithful 73-year old citizen of the USA? I look forward to finding out.
Thanks so much for your faithful reading and encouragement. And thanks to God for giving me 73 years of life. Not a sheltered life, but a real life that connects me with real people just like you.
Take heart, tell the truth (especially about yourself), love God with all your heart and your neighbor as you love yourself! Our days are numbered.
Your friend,
Elouise ♥
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 19 November 2016
Photo found at saija.blogspot.com
OH goody, I get to be the first here to wish you a Happy Amazing Spectacular Insightful Birthday filled with cake and laughter and all things good, and cheers to many many more, (hear that Queen Lucy) long live Queen Elouise and may you reign your days with a blessed peace and wonder👑🎂🍾💟💕💜🎂☀️☮🐾 And stay cozy and warm, sleep in, it’s your day! WooHoo! Love ya my friend💕💜
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Typical Kim comment. How joyful and happy.
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Thanks John, she’s an amazing lady, when’s your birthday? I’ll wish you a fun one too, promise😊💟
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Missed it by that much.
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gosh darn it all! Happy belated birthday young man! Here’s to many many many many more….with the stories to tell the tale too of course 🙂
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Loving you back, and loving your HB greeting that floats up there in the gorgeous sunny Florida air! ⛱🌞😍😎💤
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Dear Elouise, Happy birthday!! What a beautiful way to start this new year. I celebrate you, your writings, your telling the truth, your encouragement, and your wisdom. You have influenced me throughout my career. Ray and I do cherish the time we spent in Seminary and the wonderful professors, like you, who had shaped so much of who we are today.
Francesca was kind enough to send me your blog, so I have been following you for the last month. What a joy to reconnect with your insightful Theology.
Thank you for allowing me to continue being influenced by you.
By the way, Ray and I live now in the Norristown area and we would love to see you some time. I am sending you a virtual hug, with the hope that we will able to hug each other in person very soon.
Much love, Adalia
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Wow! Thank you, Adalia! Greetings to Ray, as well. I’m so happy to hear from you, and to know how close you are. Thanks for the HB greetings and for your kind comments. You were definitely part of the good old days! 😊
Love and hugs,
Elouise
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Happy birthday, Eloise! I have been kind of comfortable with President Obama. I have cried over two elections, Mr. Obama’s and Mr. Trump’s. My tears were for different reasons and I’m a little leary of our new president-elect. I’m also a little concerned that our country is a little off balance and I hope we can find our way.
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I’m with you, April–hoping we can find our way. Together, not alone. Thanks for the BDay cheer! 😊
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Happy birthday Elouise ❤
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Thanks, Kathy!
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