Life is Fragile

Today, I am reminded of the fragility of life. Jennifer (Buckler) Pekkala's usually healthy 15-year-old brother, Jordan, is in ICU in Children's Hospital in Columbus undergoing tests to find a cause for the relentless seizures which have plagued his fragile body since Wednesday evening. As he lies sedated in the hospital bed, a ventilator is helping him breathe, an EEG machine is monitoring his brain activity, a tube in his nose and down into his abdomen is keeping his upper digestive tract clear, and an IV drip allows a concoction of anti-viral and antibiotic drugs in his veins. A little over 2 weeks ago, he was running on the cross country team for Piketon's high school team. His times were getting a little better each meet. But no more. At least not this season.


We shouldn't have to be reminded how fragile we are. But God does....sometimes. It was just 2 years ago when a split-second mistake reminded Trent (and me!) of how life is fragile. It was September 14, 2005, and he and Jordan Purpero were "taking the short cut" as we often called it across Bricker Road. Bad choice.

Here's what I wrote the following day in an email:
THANK YOU so much for lifting up our boys in prayer to our Heavenly Father last night after the accident. I was so calm in the face of calamity...surely it was His peace flowing through me. God is so good to me ( I knew it already--He just reminded me again) and I will be FOREVER grateful for His great blessing of faithful friends, loving family, a truly wonderful life.
Trent and Jordan are relatively fine now. Jordan took the brunt of the physical injuries--cuts on his forehead and arm from the windshield and a sprained thumb. As a parent, this really hurts to know that my son's carelessness resulted in his injuries. (Jordan, however, thanked Trent for getting him out of P.E. for a week) Trent has some minor burns and scrapes on his arms from the airbag. The car is totally damaged, likely totalled.
I am so thankful for Shawn Brown (Betsy's husband, Lacy's Dad) who was on the scene in about one minute to comfort the boys. I am thankful that it was light outside, that Bill and I were home so we could get there quickly, that no other car was involved, that the car didn't go further down the hill, that Ed and Mindy Purpero were close by so they could get there quickly, that the boys' injuries were minor, that my precious friends could lead play practice in my place, that my beautiful RVCC kids understood and just wanted to hug me, and that the Purperos are loving and forgiving friends who were able to sympathize with the whole incident. As soon as I got on the scene, Trent, Jordan, Brad Frost, and I prayed that God would have His way and would turn this into something good. Just keep praying that ALL the boys (and ALL of their friends) would be more conscious of how quickly accidents happen and the importance of using good judgment. Remind your own kids every day.
Love you all,
Julie P.






Trent's and Jordan P.'s physical injuries were healed within a few weeks. I am hoping and praying for the same with Jordan Buckler. May God have mercy on his fragile life.

See You at the Pole 2004

Today is See You at the Pole. You can read a very cool story about its 1990 origin here. Apparently, one guy thinks that SYATP has become cliche' and is not necessarily a good representation of how mature Jesus-followers should spend their prayer time. You can decide on your own how you feel about that...it's one of the great benefits of living in America!

I will always remember SYATP 2004. Waverly had just opened their new school complex. The grass had recently been sown and was just beginning to grow around the shiny new flagpoles in front of the High School. The white concrete was fairly fresh and the "new school" smell was still in the air. At River Valley Community Church, we had just started a High School youth program because we had a core group of 9th graders who were more than ready to break from The Tide. Most of them were still immature in their faith, but were poised for a growth spurt. Call me crazy...but I still think of SYATP 2004 as a spark that led to an eventual fire for RVCC's high school youth program.

That morning, I dropped Trent off at 7:00 a.m. He wouldn't let me stay. He had taken up guitar a few months prior, and I think Laura had asked him to bring it along. With his guitar in hand, he made his way to the small group that was gathering around the flagpole. I drove away, tears streaming down my face. Honestly, I was so moved that Trent and his friends would step out in a display of their faith at a place where others (students AND teachers) could be so judgmental. Three years later, it might seem like an insignificant event. But THAT DAY, it was huge.












































"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..." Romans 1:16a

My Old Church

Yesterday, I visited my "old church"...Howard United Methodist on Camp Creek for their annual Homecoming service. (If you grew up in the old traditional Methodist scene, you know EXACTLY what I mean...) Anna and Trent and Jordan and I sang a few songs before Mr. Bernie Tilley from Salem United Methodist Church (in Scioto County?) brought his thoughts on Jesus' requirement for us to focus on and serve others. It was a good service.

I attended church at Howard for the first 40 years of my life. There is no doubt that the old folks who are left there love me and would do ANYTHING for me. I am thankful for the years I spent with them.

The old pastor at Howard United Methodist was Bill Cramer. Reverend Cramer, as we called him, was born in 1906. So when I started attending in 1966, he was already 60. Rev. Cramer baptized me when he was 68. When I went away to college, he was 71. When he married Bill and me, he was 76. When he baptized Trent by sprinkling, Rev. Cramer was 84. Bill Cramer just didn't show up for church one Sunday morning in 1997. He had decided to call it quits...but he didn't want to say good-bye. He preferred "see ya later." He passed away in 2001 at age 95...and I know that I will "see him later."

I learned to play piano with help from Howard Church. I took lessons from Mrs. Fyffe. I remember it was a dollar for an hour lesson. We didn't have a piano at home when I was in 4th grade, so I went there to practice. Then I started playing at church services when Zelma Weeter passed away...I was in junior high school.

I learned how to sing harmony with my Mom and my family at Howard Church. On Sunday mornings, the "kids choir" would sit in little folding chairs on the stage and sing the old hymns. God blessed me with a musical family. My sweet Mom was the kids choir leader, so she would sit up front with us. My Mom, my brothers (Mitch and Mike) and my sister (Jane) and I would all harmonize in 3 parts as we sang "He Hideth My Soul" and "God Will Take Care of You." That was always Mom's favorite.

I learned to love Christmas plays at Howard Church. When I was younger, I loved playing characters who, through the course of the script, figured out what Christmas was really about. (Isn't that the theme of all Christmas plays?) As I grew older, I loved leading the other kids as we prepared a Christmas program. I remember one year that I had several HS kids and Mrs. Julie Evans (the new teacher at Piketon at the time) actually came and watched.....I was thrilled!...I remember how I cried at the end when I was thanking everyone.

I experienced a great tragedy in my life while attending Howard Church. My 16-year-old brother, Mike, was killed in a single car accident on Saturday night, December 30, 1978. It was my 19th birthday. Somehow, Mitch and Jane and I were at church that Sunday morning. Mom wouldn't go back for about 6 years....she hurt so much...and she still hurts. My brother Mike is buried in the cemetery around Howard United Methodist church.

Looking back, (if I wanted to) I could name a few shortcomings in my spiritual training at Howard Church, but I don't focus on them. What I DID learn was to rely on God. I learned of His faithfulness. I experienced the joy of being with others who were in His family...Clyde and Frances, Dottie, Mike and Rita, my aunts Helen and Dorothy, Howard and Vicki, Walt, Alice, and Beverly. And some have gone on to meet Jesus...Roy and Louise, Bob, Zelma, Kemp, Arissa, and Rev. Cramer. Oh, and my brother, Mike. I can't wait to see him again.

Talent Show

Talent intrigues me....Some people on this earth have amazing talents. We saw this talented gentleman in SanDiego on the island of Coronado. With only a broom and some sand from the Pacific shore, he was able to create marvelous masterpieces. I felt guilty walking over them....but everyone did. After all, he was apparently paid by the famous Hotel del Coronado to spend the day creating for the enjoyment of passersby. Once he finished a masterpiece, he moved on to a design he had created earlier in the day, and willingly "wiped it clean" by sweeping all the sand to the center again. A fresh start. A clean slate. An empty canvas.




























Last night, I met with 30 or so precious talented souls that attend River Valley Community Church...except that these guys are 6 to 11 years old. The kids at church are performing a musical on October 21 called "Livin' Inside Out in an Upside Down World." THESE KIDS ARE SOOOOOOO TALENTED! Honestly, I didn't have enough solo singing parts to give away. Seriously...I could have filled 15 leading roles with talented kids who would have done a GREAT JOB! As it turned out, I gave the leading roles to the older kids, and tried to create singing solos for everyone who wanted one. I know that October 21 will be a great day.

Though we may not always recognize them, God has given every one of us in the body of Christ some talent or gift to be used to build up the body. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." (Romans 12:6a) I am imagining our great God "casting roles" for the Talent Show we call LIFE...matching our gifts to that perfect part which will honor Him with glory in Heaven and bring us fulfillment here on Earth.