Jesus is the Bridge over Troubled Water.

   

Kuranda Scenic Railway...Kuranda Rainforest, Australia 2015

After our wonderful get-away to Australia, Al and I came home to some big events, including foot surgery for him, painting done in three rooms of the house and unsettling news from Al’s daughter, Shanda. We still had not fully recovered from “trip” fatigue when it seemed as though everything happened all at once.

     Al’s surgery was in the Bay Area, an outpatient operation which went smoothly, praise the Lord! A knee-high cast protected his foot, with instructions not to put any weight on it for six weeks. No scratching itchy skin inside the cast, either!  My passenger/patient sat in the back seat of the car with his foot elevated, listening to classical music on his iPod during the long journey home and began counting down the days until the cast came off!

     In the middle of this excitement, the painters came to spruce up the inside of the house. Bookshelves, closet shelves, closets and even the storage space under the beds had to be emptied. They helped moved all of the heavy furniture and really did a wonderful job, finishing in about four days. While Al was recuperating, I was occupied with first packing up everything and then a few days later, putting it all away, in addition to caregiving and trying to pinch hit with outside yard work.

     Just after Al’s operation, Shanda and her husband, Chris, called from Michigan to say that she had been diagnosed with cancer. She quickly found a good medical team in the Detroit area and began chemo treatments on drugs designed specifically to target her kind of cancer. It has been an adjustment for her family, with Chris stepping up to the plate to take care of their two young boys after work and keep up with all of their activities. Friends and family are helping by getting the kids to school, babysitting and providing meals. Many people have joined together in prayers for her, which are continuing even as this article is being written.

    During this stressful time, the Lord has been a wonderful source of strength and encouragement. In addition to His sense of presence and peace, there is a comforting song which keeps going round and round in my head, “Bridge over Troubled Water, written by Paul Simon in 1970. I began learning how to play the popular folk song on the keyboard before Christmas and have continued practicing it daily, concentrating on the words as well as the music.

    It seems like Jesus is speaking these words to me: “When you’re weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all. I’m on your side. Oh when times get rough and friends just can’t be found, like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.” 

    He laid down his life for us on the cross, enduring the shame and agony of it all so that we might have eternal life. Jesus is the bridge between sinful man and Holy God. Out of His death and resurrection springs hope—the hope of eternal life kindled within our hearts--and the knowledge that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. There is nothing to fear… troubled water, turbulent times, an unknown future…  He loves us! Now that is good news!

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:45-48 NIV