MORE Good News!

Romans 12 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. It's mostly about how to get along with others. Verse 15 says: "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep". I hope you will rejoice with me!

On March 29, I got an email stating that I was one of the people to get a "scholarship" to attend the national convention of the Hearing Loss Association of America! I've had hearing aids since Decem- ber, 2005, for a mild-to-moderate hearing loss. I've about quit wearing them because they no longer help much. (I went for a new audiology test recently and learned that my hearing has progressed to moderate-to-moderately severe.)

Having never attended a national convention of the HLAA, I was able to apply for a "scholarship" by writing less-than-one-page as to why I'd like to attend. The "scholarship" pays for my registration, plus I got a nice check from one of the chapters which will help with some hotel and transportation costs. I had already decided to go anyway, and had made Amtrak reservations on February 19! And I was blessed in another way - shortly after deciding to attend, I went to the HLAA site, found the forums, and found a lady my age to room with! Barbara lives in NYC and is retired from FAO Schwartz. We've emailed a lot, and are having a great time getting to know each other that way.

That's the first good news. The other good news is about new HAs.

Even though the local HLAA chapter is inactive, I've been in touch with some of the members here. One gentleman knows a lot of people in the HL community, including some with the UAB Medical School. He told me that there was a foundation set up by the will of a woman here, with the funds to help people buy HAs. He made a call, then a few days later, I got a call, and so on. To shorten this, with my low amount of Social Security, I qualify for new HAs, gratis!

One step remains ... with this the end of the school semester, including the UAB Hearing & Speech Clinic, the earliest opening they have is one of the days I'll be at the convention, so that's out. My appointment is now the 2nd day after I get back!

And by the way, for some time now, HAs are not merely analog sound amplifiers; they are digital computerized, personalized hearing technology! ... and the cost is about $2,000+ per aid!

I am BLESSED!

Good Things!

I just read about a new book that sounds "soul searching": "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. It's about having a journal even when times are darkest - lose a job, real sick, someone passes from this life, you think you can't go on, etc. - and writing 5 good things that happen to you each day. You DON'T write: "he's still in a coma", "I fell again", "she doesn't understand", "I'll never lose weight", "neighbor's dog pooped on my yard", etc.

You write only positive things. It might be as simple as "the sun came up today", "I can see", I have food to eat", "the cashier smiled at me", etc. If things are really dark, you still try to find something good, remembering that some people don't have enough food, others are blind or lame, etc.

Maybe I need to start such a journal. I can no longer drive, but I can walk; I no longer see well, but I still have usable sight; I have more than enough food ... and so on.

And as I Thessalonians 5:18 says: "In everything, give thanks ..." And if the apostle Paul can call being shipwrecked, stoned, left for dead, etc., as "light afflictions" (II Corinthians 4), who are we to complain?

Clothes

You see all kinds when you ride the bus. Here's 2 for you.

I get on the bus a couple of stops before a community college, which happens to be the end of the line. Recently a young man got off at the college. From the top down, he was wearing a baseball cap, had 1 or maybe 2 earrings, a white "athletic" undershirt (like Daddy used to wear - all cotton and with big armholes), a black backpack, black and white checked pants with the waist low, the cuffs to his knees or a little lower, black socks, brown sandals.

A few days ago, a girl got on the bus. She looked to be maybe late teens. She had a baby, maybe 5 months old, in a stroller. She was wearing big gold earrings, a tight top that came about as high as it could go in front without showing "anything", flip flops, tight jeans that went as low as they could go without showing anything, and looked to be about 7 or 8 months pregnant, with all of that part of her skin in plain view. I suspect that she was not married.

I don't dress up when I ride the bus, but I am going to be decent. These 2 "children", in my opinion, were not only tacky, but the girl especially was immodest.

Another woman, about 30-ish, real pretty hair-do, nice manicure, also on the bus, had on a top that looked like a bathing suit, one strap, skin tight shorts. It amazes me the way people dress out in public. Actually some of it makes me almost feel like I'm going to throw up!

SHADOWS

Shadows are ephemeral, fleeting, transitory,
Like some whisper in a dream, or half forgotten childhood story.

Life's sometimes like a low-flying cloud twixt the sun and the earth -
Its long shadow matted gray, muting music, words, and mirth.

Standing still, head lowered, puzzled, back against the sun,
Shadow, dark, stretched out before me, dancing zigzag when I run.
Like skies lowering, soon to rain, shadows hush the songbird's call.
Lurking ominous and frightening, as though urging me to fall.

Often deemed to be a burden - heavy, black, and fraught with rain.
Yet some shadows are protective, shielding me from want and pain.

God's sometimes pictured as an eagle - often raptor, never dove,
But His huge wings oft o'ershadow, guarding with undying love.
So when shadows hover 'round me, do I crouch in fear, and whine?
Or remember God's protection - all things done in His own time.

- by Netagene, Sunday, May 8, 2011 -