Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

  • Home
  • About
  • DISCLOSURES
    • Amazon Affiliate
    • Book Reviews
  • Published
  • Contact
  • Blog
    • Commit Poetry
    • Dared

When We Lose Connection

January 9, 2012 By Sandra Heska King

 

The AT&T technician came yesterday morning–yes, a Sunday–to fix our DSL. We kept losing our connection.

By the time he left, it was too late to make it to church 20 miles away. I really wanted to go because I’d hardly been in the last few weeks–no, months, what with being gone so much.

But we had time, with time to spare, to make it into town just five miles away.

To the church my husband grew up in.

Where his mom elbowed his dad in the ribs many times during a sermon.

The one we used to go to when we first moved home from Georgia.

Where I learned to play bells and spoke at my first women’s retreat.

Where my daughter was Mary in the Christmas play.

Where we’ve since lost connections with so many.

Like Phil. My husband went to school with him. We didn’t know he’d had a stroke. This was his first day back to church in weeks.

Dennis remembers the evening Phil had just come home from a trip out east. Dennis mentioned on the phone that we had lost our power, and Phil was ready to jump back in his car and run to the store, after already driving 600 miles or so that day, to bring us flashlights or candles or whatever we needed.

We’d never even have thought of that.

But Phil is like that. Always thinks of others first.

Julia was there. We remember taking the kids out to pick corn at their farm. She remembered me singing a solo–and assured me it was a good memory. I think she was just being nice.

Another lady remembers a turnaround in her life that she attributes to my prayers. We didn’t know she’d lost her husband a couple of years ago. We didn’t know he’d taken his own life.

This is the church where Dennis remembers Mr. Saums giving the Sunday School kids a piece of gum and telling them, “This will give you something to do with your mouths while I run mine.”

Mr. Saums is gone now.

We’ve lost so many connections.

Today they started a new series called “Memories of Sunday School,” with plans to discuss a familiar Bible character each week–using flannel graphs, juice and cookies, Sunday School songs, and even Bible drills.

I wonder if the pastor will pass out gum.

Anyway, today he talked about Noah. And how he got the call to build a boat in the middle of the desert.

Noah, not the pastor.

Because Noah had connections.

He was righteous and blameless and walked with God.

Nobody else did. Their connections were corrupt.

And so Noah, almost 600 years old, picked up a saw and climbed ladders and pounded nails on a timetable. In preparation for a coming storm. Persisting in a sea of laughter and ridicule.

And then he and his family and all those animals went inside.

And God Himself shut them in..

I wonder if those on the outside reconsidered their own connections once it was too late, as the rain fell and the boat rose toward heaven.

God kept Noah and his family safe in the ark because He’d found Noah righteous.

Those who chose to break connections died.

The pastor suggested that discontent causes people to turn to evil.

But now I’m a little sidetracked.

Maybe discontent also causes us to break connections that matter.

I’m still thinking on this.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. ~Genesis 6:9 (NIV)

Share this:

  • Email
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. Brandee Shafer says

    January 10, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    “Discontent causes people to turn to evil.” I believe this and have actually been thinking so much along these lines these last few days. Only I would’ve substituted “grief” or “misery” for discontent.”

    I’ve been skipping along the straight and narrow for awhile, but I find myself longing–in my grief and misery for unhealthy things. I wish I just meant food, but I don’t. I mean cigarettes and beer and people who make me laugh but don’t nudge me closer to Jesus.

    I was thinking about you just this morning. Truly. Wondering how you’re doing, really, and if you ever want to put the smack down on people who say all the wrong things.

    • Sandra says

      January 10, 2012 at 4:14 pm

      Oh, sweet Brandee. My heart aches for you. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve wanted to smack down on anyone–this time. Most are way caring and understanding. Losing a baby in the womb (or tube)–well, that’s another story. Others don’t always understand that kind of grief. It’s a loss that isn’t as visible, and people don’t always grasp that kind of pain.

      Back then, though? Yep, there were a lot of people I wanted to smack down for saying the wrong things.

      Wrapping my arms around you, girl. Hang in and hang on.

  2. katdish says

    January 10, 2012 at 4:11 pm

    What a wonderful, meandering post. I truly mean that. I was with you all the way. And now I’ll go ponder for awhile.

    • Sandra says

      January 10, 2012 at 8:31 pm

      HI Kathy!

      Meandering. I like that description. 🙂

  3. karen r evans says

    January 10, 2012 at 5:14 pm

    Maybe it wasn’t an accident that your DSL had to be fixed on a Sunday. I don’t want to even think of all the people I’ve lost connection to. Maybe I should, huh?

    • Sandra says

      January 10, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      It hadn’t worked right for months, but I couldn’t set up a time until I knew I was home to stay. So I grabbed their first option. Crazy, right?

  4. S. Etole says

    January 10, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    Been thinking on this one and the circumstances that led you to re-connect.

    • Sandra says

      January 10, 2012 at 10:56 pm

      🙂

  5. Sharon says

    January 10, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    Brought tears to my eyes…only because I have connections that seems to be breaking and it’s breaking my heart… Fixing my eyes on Jesus.

  6. Sandra says

    January 10, 2012 at 10:59 pm

    I love your tender heart, my friend.

  7. Patricia says

    January 10, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    Love the way you wove this together… connecting the dots.

    • Sandra says

      January 11, 2012 at 9:42 am

      Kind of surprised myself at where this dot-connecting led. 🙂

  8. diana says

    January 11, 2012 at 1:51 am

    Amazing how those connections can become corrupted. Time/neglect/intention/laziness – even grief/disappointment/rejection. Thought provoking meander here, Sandy. Very much so…

    • Sandra says

      January 11, 2012 at 9:43 am

      Yes, all of that.

  9. Marilyn says

    January 11, 2012 at 8:05 am

    “Maybe discontent also causes us to break connections that matter.”

    Withdrawal is a normal reaction for me when I am overwhelmed by life and I have to be very careful about this. Setting boundaries and pulling back when rest and a break is needed is one thing, but ongoing disconnection, in the end, only adds to trouble. It isn’t rest. It’s now part of the problem. I know this about myself and need to be vigilant, to not follow my natural tendency to withdraw and keep on withdrawing. “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…” from Hebrews 10:25 is never far from my thoughts.

    I felt I visited that church along with you. Thanks!

    • Sandra says

      January 11, 2012 at 9:55 am

      I love the thoughts this post is bringing out! Especially when I felt a little disconnected about even posting it.

      I sang in a 100-voice choir in our Georgia church. The youth group was huge, and the youth choir traveled to Europe. When we moved, it was pretty much assumed that we would attend this church. But as our kids got old, we left for a “bigger and better” youth experience. Thing was–they never had an interest in getting super involved anyway. As much as we love where we are now, I’m not sure the connection breaking was worth it. It’s not as easy to minister to–or be ministered to–by a distant church family.

      And I so hear where you’re coming from about withdrawing when overwhelmed. I have that tendency, too. Thinking now about setting boundaries vs. disconnecting. Thank you.

  10. Nancy says

    January 11, 2012 at 8:56 am

    You had me back in my old church, sitting on those small wooden Sunday School chairs, listening to flannel graph stories told by many dear saints who have now gone on to glory. The connections in this body of Christ–something for me to think about today. You, and all the dear people I’ve met in this weird, wide internet world are connected to me and to all those dear saints who first taught me about Jesus. It all connects.

    • Sandra says

      January 11, 2012 at 9:58 am

      I never went to Sunday School growing up. 🙁

      But I love going vicariously through the stories of others–and love how it all connects.

  11. Lori says

    January 11, 2012 at 8:15 pm

    Just lovely. Truly a surprise blessing to be able to revisit with all those people and bring up those memories.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Meet Sandra

I’m Sandra, a camera-toting, recovering doer who’s learning to be. still. Read more…

Get updates from the stillness by email

Your personal information is safe and will never be shared.

Archives

Categories

Instagram Inspiration

sandraheskaking

For most of us, knowledge of our world comes large For most of us, knowledge of our world comes largely through sight, yet we look about with such unseeing eyes that we are partially blind. One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, "What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?" ~ Rachel Carson in The Sense of Wonder
#prayformsu #spartanstrong #spartannurse #michigan #prayformsu #spartanstrong #spartannurse #michiganstateuniversity
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faith Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. ~ Psalm 136:1
A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana A tale of two iguanas... I did not see the iguana in the background until I downloaded the photos. That, I believe, is the one that got caught in one of the openings in the neighbor's chain link fence. We tried in several (safe) ways to dislodge it without luck and could think of no other option but to leave it. Somehow it apparently dislodged itself. We also believe this is the pair that was getting into another neighbor's garden. We haven't seen either one since the last cold snap, so we are wondering if they survived. 
🌱
Thinking some may have tumbled from their perches last night. Pretty sure it will be raining iguanas tonight since we are under a frost advisory. It's cold. And windy.
Just sing... sing a song... Singing our way into Just sing... sing a song... 

Singing our way into the weekend.
"We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramse "We don't just see. We learn to see." ~ Russ Ramsey in Rembrandt is in the Wind
Now you see me... now you don't. Now you see me... now you don't.
"I started looking and listening. I realized that "I started looking and listening. I realized that work, like life, is shot through with poetry. It was everywhere. I was so taken with what I discovered that I wrote a book about it." @gyoung9751 
🌱
Whether you work in an office, a retail store, a restaurant, or at home... Whether you work on roads or on power lines, or on high buildings...Whether you collect trash or preach sermons, or care for your kiddos. Whether you do art, or weave words, or take photos of a common gallinule AKA moorhen AKA swamp chicken--it's all shot through with poetry.
🌱
So pay attention. Find a poem.
🌱
Read more at https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2023/01/10/its-poetry-at-work-day-2023/
Rising… Rising…
Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe Everyone needs a little balance in life. And maybe a beauty routine. And breakfast. Especially breakfast. I wonder if it consists of a few fire ants. I hope so. (Well, not mine. I'm having oatmeal with chia seeds. What are you having this morning?)
🌱
P.S. Happy Friday!
"Though your destination is not yet clear You can "Though your destination is not yet clear You can trust the promise of this opening; Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning That is at one with your life's desire." ~John O'Donohue 
🌿
A blessing for a new beginning in a new year. I'm sure he wrote it especially for me. At least I'm claiming it. Maybe it will speak to you, too.
🌿
Also, I'd really like this skirt --> 
🌿
Read the whole poem--> -->
🌿
Well, bummer... The whole page didn't print. Read it in the comments below.
"What precocity, a bird half the size Of an Anjou "What precocity, a bird half the size
Of an Anjou pear." ~ Stephen Kuusisto in "The Mockingbird on Central" (Find it in The Poets Guide to the Birds edited by Judith Kitchen and Ted Kooser)
🌱
"The morning pages are the primary tool of creative recovery." ~ Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. 
🌱
I've been in a long creative drought, so I started morning pages--again. This time I've got a bit of an accountability group through @refineretreat's Refinery--which I finally also joined this year. I'll turn 74 this month. I'm not ready to grow old while I age--though everything does seem to take longer while time goes by faster.
🌱
#aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still Tonight’s walk in the neighborhood. I’m still kinda amazed that out of all the places we could have ended up after moving from a place I said I’d never move from), here we are—planted right next to the northern Everglades. Six-plus years, and I still shake my head in wonder.
"So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This "So fancy is the world..." ~ Mary Oliver in "This World." #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsa Look, Mom! I can walk on water! #aweandwonder #tsaweandwonder
Gazing into 2023 like… Let’s take it step by Gazing into 2023 like… 
Let’s take it step by step with hope and courage. Also I hope to be posting again more often.
🎉
Happy New Year!
The morning before the last morning of 2022. 🌴 The morning before the last morning of 2022. 
🌴
71 degrees. Heading to 83. I can live with that.
From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point From the top of Brasstown Bald—the highest point in Georgia at 4784 feet.
Winding roads… Winding roads…
Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay. Tonight's moon. It's kinda okay.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Get the Mug

Embrace the life you have t s poetry mug

Privacy Policy

Full privacy policy is available HERE.

I Read Light

TSP-Red button

bibledude-net



Sponsor a Child

Join the Compassion Blogger Network

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2023 Sandra Heska King · Site by The Willingham Enterprise, LLC on the Genesis Framework by StudioPress · Log in