But Here And Now… It’s OK

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Early yesterday morning I walked along the beach. It was warm. There was a sea mist. The sea was calm. I passed a couple paddle-boarding… a number of swimmers, dog walkers, joggers…

This week’s news is dominated today by death at sea in the North Atlantic; last week it was death at sea from the migrant boat that sunk in the Mediterranean; closer to home the North Sea brings flooding and destructive coastal erosion…

But here and now… the sea’s gentle and beautiful, the mist has lifted, I’m relaxed… It’s OK.

I came home and looked out at the garden. There’s so much to do! The tomatoes need attention, the grass needs cutting, weeds are growing quicker than I can pull them out, shrubs that have flowered need pruning, plants in pots need planting out… Although I have more time, I have less energy, stamina and urgency…

But here and now… blackbirds are splashing in the pond, the roses are beautiful, the first waterlilies are out, the woodpecker family have been visiting… It’s OK.

I love the variety of songs we sing our ‘Singing for Health’ group. Yesterday included ‘Here Comes the Sun’, ‘Summertime’… and ‘The Lion sleeps tonight’… This writer of this old South African song knew the dangers of the fierce, powerful lion. But here and now… the lion’s asleep… It’s OK.

I looked round the room. Folk struggling with disabilities, those with dementia, those worn out from being permanent carers. I thought… Here and now … all are singing, playing their instruments, enjoying being together… It’s OK.

Last month was my birthday; today it’s our wedding anniversary. It’s a time to review and take stock. We look back on events, family, friends… we’re grateful for so much. We look forward with anticipation but uncertainty. Friends of our age are sick, sad and suffering. We wonder what the future holds…

But here and now… we trust our God one day at a time, grateful, humble, content… It’s OK.  

22 thoughts on “But Here And Now… It’s OK”

  3. Good morning Malcolm many thanks for your thoughts today! Is it a big number your anniversary?
    We have got to 40 this year. The men at the Bay say they have got less. But we give thanks that we have a lot more than many others.

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  5. It’s OK right now. I love the thought Malcolm. I had a flash-back to 20 years ago when I went with a pastor (I was speaking and playing music for a week of special meetings) to a nursing home complex. He asked me to play and sing a song after he spoke some encouragement. The old piano was against the wall so my back was to the 40 some residents brought in. I played “He Touched Me” by Bill Gaither.
    Something touched the residents as they began to cry and some were wailing. It built up in intensity and I didn’t know what was going on but was able to finish. Everyone was crying including the pastor and a bunch of nurses that came running to see what was happening. One lady said as she sobbed “I’m so happy right now” with heads nodding all over….A beautiful humbling moment I will never forget, knowing it wasn’t me or the out of tune piano. It had to be the Lord saying to each one “It’s OK”

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  6. Pingback: Sharing OK – Gods Ways are…Different

  8. I like your approach, Malcom: things aren’t perfect, but right now it’s ok. Your post reminds me of the hymn “Count Your Blessings.” We may sometimes have to search, but there is always more good than bad for a child of God. Excellent post. I am now following your blog via email. Gary Fultz sent me your way. God Bless!

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    1. Thanks David. Funny you should mention ‘Count your blessings’ – I mentioned it in a similar theme in Monday’s blog ‘billows and pillows’. I’m still learning… Life is tough for many of my friends… God’s peace and strength is beyond trite simplistic answers.

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  9. Thanks for sharing the story, Gary. I identify with the peace that music can bring. I identify particularly with the power of ‘He touched me’. I especially identify with the reassurance that our God can give when he tells us ‘It’s OK’. It reminds me of the attitude of the father to returning prodigal son.

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  12. Thanks, Wynne. Perhaps it’s my equivalent to the old hymn’s ‘it is well with my soul’… or perhaps it’s the equivalent to a laid-back elderly Englishman’s ‘confidence of a four-year-old wearing a batman t-shirt’.

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  13. Such a beautiful blog post! In the midst of everything, God is there with us at all times. I love the refrain, “It’s okay.” God has blessed us with so much…it is good to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.

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  14. If we’re not careful, we humans do have a tendency to look back on our yesterdays with regret and disappointment, and forward to our tomorrows with anxiety. We’re much better off following the directive of Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it.” With you, Malcolm, I want to trust God one day at a time, grateful, humble, content. Thank you for the worthwhile reminder!

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  15. Thanks, Nancy. Trusting one day at a time, being grateful for each day, certainly helps me to focus, and understand something of the confidence of Paul’s words to Timothy quoted above: ‘I know that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed to Him…’ – for each day.

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