Musings at Altitude

It’s like clockwork.

Go to bed at 10:30 or 11:00.

Toss.  Turn.  Wheeze.  Cough.  Shake the bed.  Wake up Denise.

Leave the bedroom for the office about midnight.

I’m certainly consistent right now.

Dependently restless.

Restlessly dependent.

Now I’m starting to wonder what’s causing this.

Once or twice was unusual; the third time was frustrating; but four times is disturbing.

Even more disturbing…I’m not feeling the effects of highly interrupted sleep during the day…and I know it has to eventually catch up with me.

And today I had the day off.

Spent much of this special day with my family…our granddaughter’s first birthday…our grandson with us as well…captured a very special moment this morning:

This one made everyone smile!

Got many, many great pictures.

Had one of those days nutritionists love to hate:

• McDonalds for breakfast
• Carl’s Junior for lunch
• Pizza for supper

None of us minded!

Went to the base personnel office.

Went to the cleaners.

Went to the store – needed desert for this undeniably bad food day.

Visited the Denver Aquarium…amazing variety of fish…stunning beauty…stunning ugliness…all in the same tanks.

Sat on the driveway near the end of the day…on an old desk chair with wheels…making calls that had been put on hold all day as I enjoyed my family.

Enjoyed the absolute majesty of a beautiful day in a spectacular place.

Watched America’s Got Talent…saw some stay…saw some go.

And a bit later, went to bed.

And now I’m here.

Lost in my music again.

Knowing I should be sleeping.

But I can’t.

My scripture reading this morning took me to one of my favorite passages in the Bible -  Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12.

This passage foretells the disfiguring of Christ in route to His victory over death.

Not-so-coincidentally, as I read this now, I’m listening to Why by Nichole Nordeman.  When I read, “his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness” and then leap forward to “therefore I will give him a portion among the great and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death”, I cringe at the suffering and yet rejoice in the outcome.  I often wonder if I were a witness or a follower back then, would I have been like the Peter that drew the sword and cut off the ear of the soldier, or would I have been like the Peter that denied knowing Christ three times?  I’d hope the former, but I fear the latter. 

Actions versus words.

Obedience versus playing games.

Fulfilling our purpose and yielding to God’s plan versus charting our own course and doing our own thing.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,

   and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days,

   and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,

   he will see the light of life, and be satisfied;

by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,

   and he will bear their iniquities.

If He did that for me, what will I do for him?

Actions or words?