May 9, 2020

Kathie and I hope you are doing well.  Kathie is healthy and no Covid-19 cases have appeared at her care facility.

The question I receive most is "are you able to visit her?" No, I have been "locked out" of seeing Kathie since March 18th... 53 days. My head understands that this makes perfect sense, especially since this virus will kill her along with most of the at-risk patients. My heart struggles as I miss sitting at her bedside, rubbing her neck, reminding her of how much she is loved. In past blogs, I let you know that I installed a "Kath-Cam" in her room. While the nurses and staff balk at the camera (privacy of employees) they have been very helpful by positioning the camera where I have a better view of her. The microphone attached to the camera has ok sound quality, regardless, I talk to her daily telling her, "I love you." Obviously seeing her on a screen is woefully inadequate, but is causes me to pray for her peace as I sometimes just watch her and there is nothing I can do to ease any pain. The Administration did say that I can go to her window, that must remain closed, but my camera has the same affect and this offer doesn't offer much help. For now, we pray an end to this pandemic and a visiting process that allows me to see her face to face.

My reading today from Oswald Chambers today, once again reminds me my reach should exceed my grasp:

Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint. — Proverbs 29:18 

There is a difference between an ideal and a vision. An ideal has no moral inspiration; a vision has. The people who give themselves over to ideals rarely do anything. A man’s conception of Deity may be used to justify his deliberate neglect of his duty. Jonah argued that because God was a God of justice and of mercy, therefore everything would be all right. I may have a right conception of God, and that may be the very reason why I do not do my duty. But wherever there is vision, there is also a life of rectitude because the vision imparts moral incentive.

Ideals may lull to ruin. Take stock of yourself spiritually and see whether you have ideals only or if you have vision.

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?

“Where there is no vision….” When once we lose sight of God, we begin to be reckless, we cast off certain restraints, we cast off praying, we cast off the vision of God in little things, and begin to act on our own initiative. If we are eating what we have out of our own hand, doing things on our own initiative without expecting God to come in, we are on the downward path, we have lost the vision. Is our attitude to-day an attitude that springs from our vision of God? Are we expecting God to do greater things than He has ever done? Is there a freshness and vigour in our spiritual outlook?

Blessings on whatever exceeds your grasp,
Dave & Kathie