=19 Testing the Waters

He planted a mighty seed. Ben planted one of those seeds that yields a harvest known only to God. All week long, Noah glanced at Ben's little poster as though it was something that was going to blossom in some unexpected wonderful way. If the poster was the seed, Mannie's report was somehow the soil. Silver-haired Noah began pondering the same vision Ben had, in seeing his little poster next to Mannie's fancy Nursing Home Report. It was like the poster was the path that Noah's thinking would take through a garden of opportunity at the nursing home.

Noah made an appointment with the Fireplace Hearth Nursing Home's activities director, April Castmon. In making the appointment, he explained to April some ideas he wanted to get her reaction to. The ideas were connected with an imaginary business a couple teen friends, Ben and Sam were putting together. April set an agreeable time and said she'd like to invite a young volunteer helper she had been grooming for a part time position, to the discussion.

Noah arrived to meet the warm-hearted April and both took seats in the vacant activities room where the TV was muted. A great deal of action was going on, in the glassed-in bird aviary in the far corner of the room. Smokey, an overweight cat, sat in his ready mode watching the birds with no friendly thoughts in mind. April took her cellphone pager and summoned her volunteer aid to come to the activity room as soon as she was able. April offered beverages and the discussion began.

A few moments later, a girl about 17 entered the group of two, wearing a badge that said, “Hi! I'm Mannie Toth”. Mannie took a seat next to April, as April said, “Noah, this is my helper that I can hardly keep up with. Her name is Samantha Toth, but she prefers Mannie.” Noah, replied with, “Mannie, I'm pleased to meet you. My name's Noah Pierson, but I prefer 'Gramps'.”

Gramps began describing the joy and opportunities of working with Ben and Sam. Oh sure, they had their own unique ways of being different. Sam had his badly scarred face and a pretty reserved way of connecting with others. Ben, was slowly moving away from his orange-hair and facial jewelry appearance. In warm tones, Gramps was explaining to April and Mannie how the imaginary business idea was building unity and spirit among them, beyond what he first thought possible.

Gramps was getting good eye contact so he continued, by describing simply their business product they'd been thinking about. Pointing at his fingers he began listing the ideas and the positives of the ideas. Gramps paused to take a sip of his ice water as April rose to her feet and briskly walked toward a large magazine rack next to the aviary. Smokey didn't seem distracted.

April pulled out a softbound book and returned with it in hand.

April began, “Noah, I mean Gramps, we have quite a few residents that will go through one of these wordsearch books in less than a month. They'll finish one and begin the next without hardly a breath. Mannie and I try very hard to keep the resident's minds active, but we want to do more than that. We'd like to engage them in doing things that are more than just busy work. We'd like to have them doing things they can say with pride, “I did that.” or “I made that. And here's what it's used for.”

“Gramps, we have two residents that were both ministers for many years. As each fellow picks up his large print Bible, you can almost see it in their eyes, they'd still love to find a way to get people excited about God's word. And another thing. A little voice in me keeps telling me there ought to be a way to make a contest using those wordsearch puzzles. But the problem is that many of the residents need a simpler version of the puzzles they can finish, and have pride about it. Mannie here, gave me the idea of having a bulletin board with some of the achievements of the residents and their picture connected to it. Gramps this young lady sitting here with me has lots of good ideas, but we just don't have the time to make many of them happen.”

Moments before the meeting broke up, Gramps handed April a couple wordsearch puzzles with blank letters in most of the key word list, and gave a duplicate to Mannie. He explained the right half of the page had about 15 Bible verses that contained the key words. The verses had to be searched through to find the missing letters in the key words. Only then could the key words be searched for in the wordsearch jumble. It was like a double puzzle, that required you to 'search the scriptures' before you did anything else.

With her shift over, Mannie (aka Samantha Toth) headed for home, trying to remember where she'd heard that phrase before... “Search the Scriptures”. Have you heard it before? Was it good advice? It certainly is, if your life is full of questions missing answers like the key word list, and if your life is a jumble like the wordsearch puzzle.

What do you do first? Se_rc_ the S_ri_tu_e_.

=20 Git-er-Done-For-Jesus!

The phone rang probably 6 times before Noah got his aching bones moving to answer it. April, the nursing home activities director happily said, “Noah – I mean Gramps. This is April Castmon, the nursing home's activities director. Well, I called to get permission from you, for something. We'd like to make a dozen copies of the word search puzzle sample you left with us. Yesterday I talked with 5 or 6 residents about the puzzles and showed them your sample. It was about all I could do to hold them off till I got permission from you.”

In an excited tone, April said, “Monte told me he wanted to share a puzzle with Barb Deets. What thrills me, is that Monte was a circuit riding preacher for forty-seven years, and wants real bad to be the hands for Barb in working your puzzle. Barb has Arthritis in her hands so bad they're both curled up into permanent fists. Well, Monte got that old determined preacher look in his eyes and told the others that he and Barb mean to be the first puzzle team to complete the thing. He had that real 'git-er-done-for-Jesus' sparkle in his eyes.

April continued. “What's almost comical is that Nancy Fanes doesn't get along with hardly anyone except the aid that feeds her her meals. Well, she told Monte and the others, she aimed to find someone to be her partner and they'd beat the socks off the Monte and Barb team.”

It must have been twenty times, at least, that Mannie had to explain to other residents, what the puzzle contest excitement was all about. Margaret was a little lady that had few happy memories, and was always moving her rings around on her fingers, like she was a jewelry model. Mannie described the puzzles and the searching it took to solve the puzzle. Margaret fingered her dime-store engagement ring with its glass diamond inset. She interrupted Mannie in saying, “Mannie, if you have to dig for these key words, and since they're really important, maybe you could call the puzzles 'Diamonds', or 'Heaven's Diamonds', or something.”

As Gramps listened to April explain these exciting discussions at the nursing home, it was like God had uncovered a diamond; a real gem of an idea. The little imaginary business was beginning it's own market research with more than positive results. April said, “Gramps. When do you and your teen team get together? I'm going to have Mannie Toth, my helper-in-training, here about 10 am this Saturday, to go over some new regulations we now have. She's just bustin' with some super puzzle ideas for you, I know you and your team will want to hear about, and give serious thought to.”

The phone call ended on an excited note. “Thank ya, Jesus. Thank ya, Jesus,” Gramps repeated countless times, as he tried to busy himself around his house, so empty since his precious Nenee passed away. But he knew what he had to do, and without further delay. Gramps stood the broom in the utility closet, closed the closet door and headed straight for the front porch.

Almost like it was made of fragile paper, Noah (that's Gramps), sat himself in the front porch rocker that had been Nenee's favorite. He couldn't count the number of times he'd hear her through the screen door, always with her open Bible on her lap. She'd be telling some teen girl, of God's peace, power, and promises that were there for the accepting, by faith.

Oh how Noah missed his sweetheart. But there was some kind of connection with those past memories, to be had, as he let himself relax in the rocker and watch the nearby tall forest trees sway in the afternoon breeze. In some odd way, he imagined the trees were all swaying in unison like robed choir singers, praising God through song. Noah imagined the message of the song must be something like, “God's up to something. He surely is. Trust Him today, in every way, 'cuz there are diamonds just waiting for you.”

=21 Go With Whatcha Got!

Words can't describe the spirit of enthusiasm that flooded the little business meeting that Saturday. It was surely what was needed to overcome Sam's shyness caused by his badly scarred face. Anyone would be quick to state there was no company for this business to be centered on, but everyone was certain God was up to something, that involved them.

April stayed for the opening prayer, while silver-haired Gramps, Sam, Ben, and Mannie began discussing their ideas and the ton of questions. April returned momentarily with some beverages and chips for the biz meeting, and then was summoned by her pager to ward 3-B.

Mannie moved an easel pad near the table for all to see. Her blue marker was put to work listing many of those questions that seemed to have no answer. Noah watched the teens really work together in listing hurdles that might discourage some folks trying to begin a business. After most of the large page was full, Gramps asked Mannie if she could find a roll of masking tape pretty easy. Mannie was gone and back in a flash with the tape, and a smile of accomplishment, even in this small task.

Gramps carefully tore the filled sheet off the easel pad and had Sam tape it to the nearby wall, for easy reference. Proving he was no artist, Gramps drew a small door at the top of the clean sheet. He tried to draw it as though it was partly open. He placed the cap on the marker firmly and then faced the teen team. With one hand outstretched toward the filled page he said, “It's certainly important we make a list of things we need to give attention to – even if we don't have the answers yet. But we need to start an God's Open Door List right away. There are some Bible stories – actually called PARABLES, that God teaches us we are to be careful to put into use the things He's already given us. I'm sure He wants us to be good stewards; good managers, of the skills, tools, materials and stuff, before He gives us any more. God doesn't waste His gifts on slackers and goofoffs.”

“Something I want you three to dig out for our next meeting. In Matthew chapter 25 we're told about the very stewardship thing I just referred to. OK? Find that principle and promise for our next meeting. Now. Let's begin a list here of things we CAN do with what God has already given us. The reason this is important, is that God show us His will; what He wants us to do, in about 3 different ways. If you've wondered what God wants of you, well... this might help.”

“Number 1 is that He tells a great deal of what He wants of us, by what we learn from scripture. You'll see some of that, as you dig into Matthew 25. Number 2 is that God speaks to our heart as we hear good preaching and teaching, and as we spend quiet time in prayer LISTENING for His leading. And number 3 is by opening and closing doors of opportunity in front of us. We are to go through doors He has opened in front of us, and stay out of the others.”

Gramps continued by listing the things the teens saw as open doors of opportunity God has set before them. Each teen took a hard look at what things they might be able to start making some puzzle books as prototypes, until God showed them how to get machinery for printing etc. You really get blessed knowing God is leading as you remain happy and content 'with such things as you have'. Hebrews 13:5 – 6.

Don't forget your Matthew 25 homework!