Constance Ore is a retired Teacher, Choir Director, and Organist. And a formidable cook.

April 29, 2008

Filed under: — Constance at 4:21 pm on Tuesday, April 29, 2008

ranksOfAngels.jpg“Up through endless ranks of angels, cries of triumph in his ears, To his heavenly throne ascending, having vanquished all their fears, Christ looks down upon his faithful, leaving them in happy tears”. So states the first verse of an Ascension hymn written to pitches that move swiftly upward, and the imagery of “endless ranks of angels” surely appears like those wonderful cumulous clouds stacked into thunderheads that we see in our summer skies. The church celebrates Christ’s ascension from earth to heaven on May 1st this year, and Christendom joyfully lives on with the mystery of God’s presence still here, yet there in heaven and in all places in between.

deathPlaysChess.jpgI have just completed reading “Strong at the Broken Places”, a book by Richard Cohen, an acclaimed journalist who deals with multiple sclerosis and colon cancer. In this narrative he spends three years chronicling the lives of five people with chronic incurable illnesses. His subtitle, “voices of illness, a chorus of hope” points to the conclusion that he arrives upon, and he speaks of the power that comes with sharing the burden of living inside of lives that are outside of the “normal”. I related best to the person dealing with cancer and his comparing it to a chess game. One waits for the next move that cancer makes to be followed by the oncologist’s suggested countermove. The descriptions of always wondering if each new ache or pain means that this is the next round of activity by the illness are much as I experience them. I was reminded that while my journey seems very singular and personal, it is akin to a small drop in a very large stream as many others appear to think the same thoughts that I do.

duckCalendar.jpgNow the wild plums are just beginning to blossom with their gentle white flowers covering the fiercely thorny branches. On today’s walk Alphie and I saw a wood duck balancing on a branch just above the stream that flows toward the big cottonwood tree on the west side of Sanctuary – in the early morning sun, it seemed to be posing for a birder’s calendar. Spring is finally coming forth in every way, and its advent here is best described by hearing Charles’ delight filled announcement, “Today I will be mowing the grass!” It is that kind of day.

5 Comments

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Comment by Christelle

April 29, 2008 @ 10:52 pm

Connie,

I am always inspired by your messages. Perhaps you have no idea how your words go out beyond Seward, beyond Nebraska, and influence the days of friends and folks you probably have not even thought about in awhile. Thank you for your words. The reports of your daily walks and the wildlife you observe make me take myself outside and listen to the birds or coyotes or whatever is out in our backyard or neighborhood. Your words of joy and thankfulness for little things (which are really the important things, aren’t they?) help make the rest of us aware and thankful for all the moments of our days. I rejoice with you on the reprieve you’ve had these past months, and always include you and your family in my prayers as you deal with this puzzling and unpredictable illness. Your words are a testament to faith and family and God’s provision. I wish you many continued blessings!

Christelle

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Comment by Tom Ramsey

April 30, 2008 @ 6:42 am

Ascension Day is also National Day of Prayer day for our nation and First Lutheran is hosting a breakfast and then I also have a luncheon in connection with the day. Between those things, I have a doctor’s visit to draw blood to determine what move, if any, the cancer has now made in the “game.” At some point during that day, I hope to have our annual Ascension day conversation, a more or less staple of ours since I left St. John in 1992. How pleasant to contemplate. Thanks again for your marvelous writing and encouragement. God’s blessings…Jesus loves you…and so do I!…Tom

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Comment by Caroline

April 30, 2008 @ 7:49 am

Life itself is like a chessboard, isn’t it Connie. We make our moves, ‘life’ countermoves, while God shifts the board and pieces so they will be to His glory and our good. Many times I have thought He should/could have made this happen, or directed ‘fate’ in that direction. Luckily not! as,looking back over the past 70 plus years, I am thankful indeed that it was God directing and not me. And so it is with your days… we welcome the advent of God’s hand in nature as seen in the coming of Spring, beimg able to participate in the celebration of Ascension, and whatever will come next with thankfulness for His mercy.
We will see you soon and enjoy Spring at Sanctuary with you!

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Comment by Joel Bejot

May 1, 2008 @ 9:14 am

Connie,

Your words are always inspiring and a clear and solid testament to faith. I love the hymn you opened today’s words with. Ever since learning that tune, I’ve imagined children singing that hymn to heaven as an angelic tribute to our Heavenly King. And, in about an hour, as we (at St. John’s in Midland, MI) celebrate the feast of the Ascension, a small children’s choir I started this year will be singing that song.
Joel

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Comment by Jeff

May 7, 2008 @ 1:25 am

Connie,

Thanks for the cookies!!! Delicious! As I was going down the road and enjoying them I was thinking back to seventh grade music class. I have three memories. First, I was overwhelmed at the time (and still) by my ignorance of music. Second, the class was held in the typing room. And third, I received a B+. You probably don’t remember my grade at all nor how you gave me that grade, but it remains vivid to me. On the last day of class you told us write down what grade we thought we deserved for the semester. You said that it would not necessarily be what we received but that we should reflect on what we thought was fair. You dismissed someone’s question about an A++++++. I thought that for myself a B+ would be more than generous for my performance, and that’s what I scribbled down, and that’s what I received. There’s no way that I would have remembered this anecdote if it didn’t have some deeper significance for me, and here’s what I think it has been for me for the subsequent years. Receiving the B+, while fair, left me wanting a higher mark, and I learned then that the height at which I set the bar would determine the effort with which I would jump. This lesson had academic and personal ramifications for me, so thanks. By the way, that B+ is the only grade I can remember for all of my classes in junior high and high school.

Jeff

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