Destination known or unknown
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way,
that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle,
and end. Life is not about knowing, having to change, taking the moment and
making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. - Gilda
Radner
Most of my generation knows the battle Gilda Rainer forged
through and her body surrendered to at death (see below).
Gene Wilder's battle with Gilda's suffering was his own as well. Neither knew the complete journey story, nor
did Gene know how long he would live beyond Gilda. He loved her only to his
last days.
Good Friday is swiftly approaching. I have contemplated most my life, how much did
Jesus knew, comprehended about the suffering
he would shoulder on humanity's behalf.
If He had to gain full knowledge and understanding of the human experience, was the actual physical, mental, and emotional process a surprise? For knowledge is only one aspect of existence,
experience is a completely different experience.
We live each day as is develops, everyone of us. We have hopes
for an end result, but technically the result is unknown.
So live each moment of every day, in faith, with hope, acting in love, knowing Our Savior and God
already see the result.
(For our younger readers...Gilda Radner was a talented actress and comedienne, and one of the original Saturday Night Live cast members. She was married to the great comedic actor Gene Wilder, and died of ovarian cancer in 1989, at the age of 43. She was not shy about her illness, and her legacy is increased awareness of the importance of the early detection of ovarian cancer.)
Music from Amy Grant, with Not Giving Up.
Thank you so much for these words, Barbara. Even in the midst of your and Andrew's incredible suffering you are pouring out blessing. This especially hits home:
ReplyDelete"For knowledge is only one aspect of existence, experience is a completely different experience."
Yes. It is. And what's stunning me is to see Jesus understanding that. Meeting me in experiential ways that my heart so needs so much more than platitudes and the reciting of Scripture. He's entering my memories and rewriting them in His love and truth. That is my prayer for you and Andrew today: "Lord, I thank You that You will keep entering the horror Andrew and Barbara are walking through. That You will wrap them in You. In Your warm, safe arms. In the experience of Your love as they carry their cross to Your glory. Amen."
Anna, thank you for your additional insight.
ReplyDeleteThis causes me to ponder: Meeting me in experiential ways that my heart so needs so much more than platitudes and the reciting of Scripture.
Your prayer is beautiful. Thank you.
Barbara, this is such a beautiful post. Like you, I've often wondered how much Jesus knew ahead of time about his sufferings. As I read your post, I kept thinking about how I "think" I know how things are going to go in a given day. But, God. He has other plans for me some days. I don't really know how things are going to turn out. It's important to remember that He holds me and He knows the number of my days. I want to live each day with this perspective.
ReplyDeleteWhat you said here: "So live each moment of every day, in faith, with hope, acting in love, knowing Our Savior and God already see the result."
Yes.
And, I thought Gilda Radner was hilarious. Your post makes me want to go back and find some of her old routines. :)
Praying for you and Andrew.
Jeanne, yes "It's important to remember that He holds me and He knows the number of my days. I want to live each day with this perspective."
ReplyDeleteWhen I let go and let God (another phrase that dates me) I soon recognize I was young too hard and not working in His perfect will.
Andrew actually helps with the posts. Finding things through the week that inspires the post. He suggests music and takes on the responsibility of posting at the blog. He loves monitoring the comments and activity.
Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated and hold us safely when days are tough.
ooh... interesting question this: "If He had to gain full knowledge and understanding of the human experience, was the actual physical, mental, and emotional process a surprise? For knowledge is only one aspect of existence, experience is a completely different experience." A good one for me to ponder on.
ReplyDeleteAnnette, may our Savior show you His prospective.
DeleteBarb - I remember Gilda and Gene with vivid and happy memories. Were they not hysterically funny? I will always remember Andrew and Barbara and their warrior journey through hell on earth. Were they not eternally hopeful? Gentle hugs for A and a great big bear hug for B. xoxo
ReplyDeleteSusan, they both had Vaudeville influence so their humor was fun, unharmful (if that's a correct grammar word), enjoyable, and rib straining hilarious.
DeleteThank you for the comparative compliment. The cocoa ate greatly appreciated.
Blessings back to you.
Thank you for the thoughts especially as we are ready to approach the passion week of Christ. We do not know what tomorrow or even today holds. So, in that let us always lean on the one who does. thanks again for your words...
ReplyDeleteDel, remembering to lean on Him is key
DeleteReminds me of another early Amy Grant song. 😀
Listening to Amy with you, Barbara ...
ReplyDeleteLinda, Amy & Michael W Smith are staples for my worship life.
DeleteAmy Grant makes me think of blaring her cassette tape in my car as a 17 year old (i.e., many years ago!) doing summer missions. Sending love and prayers.
ReplyDeletePaula, I totally cranked her hymns, with the windows down, and made a little too much rpm, singing at the top of my lungs.
DeleteThank you for the love and prayers. I am mostly back to normal health. Andrew is almost over the horrible virus I exposed him and the dog pack. Yes it crossed species. The last 3.5 months has been challenging but we all endured with everyones prayers as our protection. Not 1 dog suffer long, and our home is still being upgraded. God is good. His fresh squeezed lemonade is very good, just enough tart to remind us from where He delivered us, lest we boast.
When does theory become reality? Through experience. God is the Creator of experience. So,He demonstrated His goodness by becoming one of us. Heb. 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as {we are, yet} without sin." Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your heart with us. Praying for you and Andrew. God bless!
ReplyDeleteVicki, amen to the scripture.
DeleteJesus' home vision was a great asset to endure what we could not.
Thank you for your prayers. We remember our blog family daily. Our souls pray for each of you.
I can see why you two married each other. You're both profound, wise thinkers.
ReplyDeleteJanet, thank you for the compliment. I believe this is the first time in my life profound and me, profound and us, had been placed in a sentence. Very humbling to hear.
DeleteBarbara, thank you! Lent seems so very long this year. I'm ready for Easter to arise. Blessings. Prayers containing for you and Andrew.
ReplyDeleteTara, remember Easter is everyday. Lent is a moment of pause for recognition of only part of the saving grace action on our behalf.
DeleteBeautiful words. When knowledge becomes experience, then we reach true wisdom and hopefully, a deeper sense of grace. Thank you for sharing - blessings on you and Andrew.
ReplyDeleteJeannie, wisdom and grace is what I hope we achieve midst adversity, this out shining the adversity.
DeleteThank you for the blessed wishes, the keep our daily life protected.
Not knowing the events of our life but trusting the Savior whatever it be. Yours and Andrew's never ending provision of words and hope for others are such a testimony! Prayers keep coming your way! #53, a poem.
ReplyDeleteMary, thank you. We are Our Savior's instruments.
DeleteThank you for your prayers and encouragement.
And sometimes the "unknowing" of our lives can be the most painful part of life. I hope you and Andrew can know and rest assured that we are all lifting you both up in your painful reality of life and death. And thank you for inspiring us, Barbara with your words of wisdom as well as with this great example of two powerful lives and the love they shared, even after Gilda's death. Rosanna Rosanna Dana is still one of my all-time favorite SNL sketches! Hugs and prayers!
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DeletePainful, disappointing, lost hopes, are hard to swallow. It's when you look at the forest and see the beauty of the unknowing that purpose comes to light. Sometimes getting lost in the forest is the hardest part.
DeleteWhen I used to hike in Indiana, I found it very comforting to stop in the forest, breathe in the forest, close my eyes to hear the stillness , wind and wildlife, then open my eyes to see the vast beauty.
It has become the metaphor, for chaos. The same principle applies.
I agree Rosanna Rosanna Dana was her best character.
Oh, Barb and Andrew, I love all of this. Thank you for allowing us to see glimpses into your journey, and to witness your tireless faith. I know, it may not feel that way, but watching you inspires me to say again "Father, I choose to trust You with my life and my future!" What an incredible gift!
ReplyDeleteThank you again. Praying for you both!
Shauna Blaak (#10 in the lineup today)
Shauna, thank you for sharing the impact our testimony has. We are all called to let our light shine and for the very reason you shared.
DeletePraying for both of you! Continue to shine the light on how to live in the midst of the unknown!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the prayers the support our everyday needs.
DeleteDear Barb,
ReplyDeleteSo glad that you are part of our community. Thankful for the time that Andrew has spent with us (and not does through reading our comments and your posts).
Your comment "We live each day as is develops, everyone of us. We have hopes for an end result, but technically the result is unknown. So live each moment of every day, in faith, with hope, acting in love, knowing Our Savior and God already see the result." this is so good and so hard. easy to forget on the good days, and needed remembrance on the hard.
Thank you so much also for sharing about Gilda Radnor, I had heard of her but wasn't familiar with her story. I also appreciated your reflection on how we each experience something (how her and her husband faced this cancer together, but didn't really face it the same)differently but united in the fight
you sister Barb and brother Andrew remain in my prayers. May you each be held tightly by His peacegiving arms as you continue the fight.
janel
http://viepourcettetemp.wordpress.com
Thank you. Our Easter weekend was without epic event, which is considered a good day.
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