Behind Glass

BEHIND GLASS
Have you ever tried to touch a person behind glass? That sensory experience is lacking in warmth. The gentle touch of a person holding your hand can be so comforting. One of my favorites is the great big bear hug as long as it doesn’t suffocate you. That is a tremendous affectionate gift. We humans thrive on touch. Babies who lack it can die or grow up with challenging issues. So have you ever tried to touch a person behind glass?
She was to arrive soon. The weather was windy, stormy, and wet, very wet. I’d been praying for her safety. Then the phone call came. She couldn’t come and would I go in her stead. I said yes but my heart began pounding in my throat and I felt a cold sweat go over my being.
As I drove southwest, the desert tumbleweeds raced across my vision and the road. I began to worry. Could I do this by myself? My husband was unable to go with me and I was alone, but was I really? My little compact vehicle shivered in the wind.
The large imposing buildings came into my view. The intimidating towers and fences with circular wire intertwined above them, made me feel watched and entrapped. I began to make my way through the parking lot and into the first building. Then I began to have a silly thought about my underwire bra. Earlier there’d be a two-do about the wires. Wires are unacceptable. For a previous visit with others, a sports bra was necessary. This time I was prepared with the right equipment.
As I journeyed alone through the building and into the various sections, passing more buildings along with way, I noticed the starkness and severity of the place. The grounds were tidy, almost unnaturally so.The atmosphere was filled with silence and despair. There was no trash in evidence. The next building was my destination. I entered the waiting room and preceded passed the tables filled with visitors and residents.
In my vision, two glass windows came into view. In front of one, was a chair. I sat down and waited. Would he be disappointed to see me instead of her? Yet as he came through the door, a big grin filled his face. I apologized for my appearance instead of hers and began to jabber and asked questions. Even though we couldn’t hug, I began to feel that our minds and emotions were touching. My eyes welled up tears off & on. The hour passed and then another half. A signal was given. I was thankful for the extra half and hour.
I placed my hand against the glass as he did. Only a fraction of an inch separated our hands. Then it was time to go. I did not know how many years it would be until I touched him again.
After I left, I called her or did she call her me? Whatever, that doesn’t matter. What matters is as we spoke on the phone we both choked up but also laughed as she asked questions. Again spirits & minds touched.
All of us had been touched not physically but, mental, spiritually and emotionally. There was mysterious and yet wonderful satisfaction in that. I look forward to the actual physical touch with him. A great big bear hug that I don’t even care if I am unable to breathe for a time, as long as I get to have the physical touch next year. Then I will be satisfied all over and under.
At times my feelings of Jesus are the same as I try to touch Him through the glass; which is obscured at times, even shadowy and dark. Other times, I have a wonderful satisfaction in the spiritual sense that He has touched me and I touched Him. One day, I will finally be able to see Him face to face, body to body, & finally that long satisfying bear hug with my Friend, Savior, Brother, and Lord, Christ Jesus.

I Corinthians 12:13 “…for we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face;…” (1890 Darby Bible)

Ava's Great Great Grandma

I was just thinking about the generations of Stockman's.
As I was thinking about Ava's birth I thought of my Grandma
Stockman. She was a wonderful Grandmother, smart, talented
and had a very out going happy personality. She sure was a lot of fun.
I know she prayed for all of us all the time and she would be thrilled to know
of all the Christians that are in her family.

Finally, the finish was fast but the waiting slow

Grant and I traveled to north to await our 2nd granddaughter's arrival. As we waited we enjoyed seeing the other relatives: Suzanne, Kelly, Chrissy & Dave, Sasha (due in December), BJ & Kate. Finally, Ava Eden, our newest Stockman, arrived on Sat. Oct. 13 @3:13 PM. She had kept her mommie, daddie, grandparents, and other friends and relatives waiting for 4 days. God timing was prefect as Grant and I were getting ready to pack on Sat. when Jenn excused herself and 10 minutes later Justin said she was having contractions. Kylie Noel, her older sister, 19+ months, is not sure what to think. One day, Kylie will love her sister, just like I do my sisters by blood and law. :0)

Well, Dad, I could not resist this is one of my all time favorites. This is Papa, alias Boompa in
Mazatlan, Mexico. I looked out of the window of our room and saw him down visiting with all of the people by the pool. I had to run downstairs and get this picture because I thought he looked Pretty Cool, awesome, sweet, debonair or whatever word your generation uses.

Go Go & Suzanne

Well, here is a picture of the beautiful, Pauline
With, Suzanne, I really love this picture.

Off to The Pleasures of God Conference

My wife and I are headed to Sacramento, CA., to attend a regional Desiring God conference with John Piper. We are looking forward to spending some time with one another, with friends, and under the preaching of Pastor Piper.

Here is a radical quote from his acclaimed book (and the title of the conference): The Pleasures of God:

"We need to see first and foremost that God is God--that he is perfect and complete in himself, that he is overflowingly happy in the eternal fellowship of the Trinity, and that he does not need us to complete his fullness and is not deficient without us. Rather we are deficient without him; the all-sufficient glory of God, freely given in fellowship through his sacrificed Son, is the stream of living water that we have thirsted for all our lives.

Unless we begin with God in this way, when the gospel comes to us, we will inevitably put ourselves at the center of it. We will feel that our value rather than God's value is the driving force of the gospel. We will trace the gospel back to God's need for us instead of tracing it back to the sovereign grace that rescues sinners who need God." (p. 22, 2000 edition)

Four Generations

This is a picture of four generations of Suzanne's side of the Stockman Brood. I was really glad that it turned out well. I cannot believe it was taken a little over a year ago. I guess my Mom was right when she always told me the older you get time flies.

As you can tell it is at Elisha and Mac's wedding. There is Elisha, her Mom Kelly, Grandmother Mamoo, actually Suzanne but on this side of the family my name is Mamoo, Great Grandmother, Go Go who is actually, Pauline. As you can tell on this branch of the Stockman Brood we get a little whacky with names.