Now that my wife is at home and I am doing the cooking etc, the simple stuff of life that I took for granted is coming to the fore.  The simple ability to get up and walk out the door and get into my car and drive somewhere has changed.  I can still do it, but arrangements must be made and contingency plans planned etc.  Running out and getting a pizza is probably not going to happen anymore.  Sitting in my back yard and enjoying a fine cigar needs to be planned ahead of time and the  weather doesn’t cooperate.

One of the crossing points that we share between North Dakota and Minnesota is the weather.  What we get eventually comes over to the folks in Minnesota.  The weather hasn’t helped with the simple routines, for me or for folks along the Ottertail or in some areas of the lake country. Western Dakota and the area around where I grew up is really getting hit.  Last night it poured.  This was the picture that awaited me when I checked the rain gauge.

2 inches and climbing

Some new friends that I have met over the internet in trying to get some mercy work done on the Native American reserves in North and South Dakota –  Johnathan and Maryann Anderson, wrote commenting on the “Living in the Waiting room, or Waiting in the Living Room” blog.  Kind of ties it all together.

Regarding my wife Faye they write, “She is building a new tomorrow and we will help pray the planks in place on that bridge. I have to be reminded so many times to stop and smell the roses, or be thankful for those mundane, routine things we take so for granted. Sometimes that is “the new normal” and I need to be thankful not frustrated with them. I lived with horrible neck pain after an accident in 1969 in Fargo. For five years even the easiest of life skills was almost impossible, like getting my head off the pillow without screaming. Sweeping the floor was a challenge, even doing it with my left hand. I begged God to take that pain since nothing would ease it and one morning five+ years later it was gone never to return. All the nerves and tendons in my right shoulder and neck area had been messed up pretty badly. I had physical therapy all those years and perhaps that finally helped. The pain subsided so quickly that I know it truly was a gift from God. It wasn’t an on again off again pain event. When it was gone it was gone. The physicians said I would develop arthritis there at an early age and so far God has prevented that too.

Please remember our youngest son Dave’s wife Kari’s parents in Minot. They removed everything from their home yesterday and today drove away in their RV as the water was up to the threshold. They were told the water level in the house would probably be to the ceiling since the house is built on a slab. My heart goes out to all the families in Minot displaced. They didn’t take a gamble with lake shore property and yet the waters found them. Where would we all be without faith in a God who loves us in spite of what we do or don’t do?
With thankful prayers,
Jonathan and Mary Ann
Three weeks ago I would have gotten in my truck and drove over to Bismarck and Minot and joined up with Carlos Hernandez from LCMS World Relief to see what could be done over there, just like we did in Wadena a year ago.  My wife would have called me sometime to see where I was and if I would be home that night or the next day.  That can’t happen now.
The new normal of “waiting in the living room” is to live each day to fullest and fulfill our vocation in Christ.  Trusting His promises and understanding that all of life is lived “under the Cross” the highs aren’t too high and the low’s aren’t too low.  It, as they say, is what it is. 
Let’s keep praying for the flood victims and rain depressed and the sick who have to travel to Dr’s appointments in pouring rain.  If you ahve any ideas about Native American ministry conrtact the Anderson.  Contact me and I’ll let you know how to get in touch.