Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to me!!

I learned today that there is just a little curtain between my steering wheel and the dashboard in my car.  I was on my way to the airport. 6:00 AM and quite dark out still.  I was opening my crunchy peanut butter Cliff bar and WHAM! It fell right out of the wrap and slid into this secret abyss behind my steering wheel.  

I was on my way to Tim Horton's to get a coffee. Not that I had to have coffee, but I didn't have any ones for the tip that  I would want to give to the shuttle driver for helping with my oversized-overstuffed suitcase.  I was leaving town for eight days, but I think I could manage for eight months with all I was hauling along with me.

While waiting in line, I was able to wriggle my naked Cliff bar out of its hiding place, so grateful that it wouldn't be stuck there in the Park & Go lot for eight days -- melting in the Indian Summer sun.   Then when I went to pay, the drive through guy at Tim Horton's tells me the car in front had paid for my order.  I still needed change and asked him to break my 5 for me and needing to appear more grateful, say "it's my birthday!"

The Tim Horton's guy wishes me a happy birthday and I'm on my way.  When I arrive at the Park & Go, I find an easy parking space and wish my car a happy stay there for the next eight days.  I am the only rider in the shuttle to the airport.  The driver does not respond when I point out the most gorgeous sunrise.  I wonder what it would be like to shuttle folks to and from the airport all day long.

I arrive at the United Airlines ticketing area and there are about 40 people in line to check their baggage.  Good thing I had an early start.   I move to the kiosk to pay for my suitcase, praying it makes the connection to Colorado Springs with me in Denver.  Can't wait to see my kids and celebrate my birthday with them tonight.

I move back to the long line that isn't really moving.  After about 10 minutes, my name is called and I walk past all of these people and check in .  The United ticketing lady apologizes for my wait.  I wonder what all of those other people are thinking about their longer wait.

Next is TSA.  I am hoping the agent holding my driver’s license notices it's my birthday. He doesn't.  But he tells me I have priority clearing. No shoes off. No need to pull out my Baggie of essential oils or my iPad.  Not sure how I managed priority. But glad to be on my way.   Now I'm on the plane, willing my bladder to wait so I don't have to disturb the handsome young man with his laptop next to me.  I swear I chose an aisle seat, but somehow it's the window.  Looking at clouds and praying for bladder strength.  Happy Birthday!

Warrior Wonderings

I wonder about what it means to have God as my buckler.  I looked up the meaning of buckler, and it is not synonymous with shield because it is really too small to be protection from a sword.  Instead, the buckler is used as a way to deflect punches and sort of a distraction so that the other hand can have a stronger offense.  In other words, instead of the buckler being an instrument of defense, it is an aid to the offense.  Psalm 18:30 says, “As for God, His way is perfect:  the word of the Lord is tried:  He is a buckler to all that trust in Him.”  This says the word of the Lord and then the next sentence starts with “He”.  We know from John, Chapter 1 that Jesus is the Word.  So this means that Jesus is a buckler to all that trust Him.    And since the buckler was used to deflect punches and blows, I am ever grateful that Jesus is my buckler.  He knows when the blows are coming before. I do. 

So I looked up this word “buckler” and I found in 2 Samuel 22:31 almost the same verse!  How about that!  I love this passage starting in verse 30:

“For by thee I have run through a troop:  by my God have I leaped over a wall.  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried:  he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.  For who is God save the Lord?  And who is a rock save our God?  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.  He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet:  and setteth me upon my high places.”

Then back in Psalm 18:2 it says, “ The Lord is my Rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower.”

Seems like we need to remember that we need the whole armour.  In Ephesians 6:16, it says:  “Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”  Notice the words “Above All”.  This buckler is what gives strength to the opposition – when it is time to fight, our faith is our buckler.  Thank goodness that is the Faith of Jesus Christ, because if it had to be on my own source of faith, I would be knocked out in the first round.