drgregorygordon

Feb. 3, 2022

ALL SHOOK UP

It is a cold winter morning. Yesterday the weatherman and the groundhog both predicted upcoming bad weather. The date was 2/2/22. That was too cool! Today a large ice storm has shut us down as it covers a large area of the Midwest. I made a call yesterday to cancel all our morning patients and later to cancel evening patients as well. It was an easy decision and because many had called and cancelled beforehand as to be on the safe side.

Years ago, was a day very much like this one when I was in professional school in Bloomington Indiana. I ventured out to meet a person who wanted to buy my IU basketball tickets. Truth is, my wife and I were cutting it close, and we needed the cash. I am a good driver on snow, and I felt confident in my abilities. I set out with intentions of taking it slow and easy.

The problem was because I made a misdiagnosis! It was not snow but ice everywhere. My giant clue that this was not a good idea was that there was no other traffic out and about at that hour. As I topped a large hill on the southside of town, I knew I was in trouble. If I knew my black Buick Skylark could slide that fast, I would have entered in in the Olympics myself! It is a scary feeling indeed when you are no longer in control. It is not a matter of will I hit something but what will it be? Why do we fear losing control and yet we all know we never really are ever in control anyway?

I did my best and rear ended probably the only other driver out that day. As i slid down the hill, my car was picking up speed, I hit the back end of an old red Ford pick-up sitting at a stop light. God used that old truck to stop me and keep me from sliding out into the intersection. It was not a hard crash. It didn't hurt either of us. The other driver could not have been any more kind. He didn't lecture me or ask for any money or exchange of insurance. I was all shook up and was almost sick when I saw the front of my car. I did not pick up much that day just several pieces of my grill and a little of my pride scattered here and there. . Sometimes it takes a while for the mess to age and thus become ....a message.

Why am sharing this? I think we all have things to share. My life has been richly blessed by friends, family, and others brave enough to share their mistakes. I learned something that day that has helped me in many such days since. I pass it on with the hope that you will pass on moving out and about in similar situations. agreed, I know you do not want to miss a day of work, but would that be better than losing the rest of them?

I feel that the truth I am trying to convey here has slid right past you. This is not so much about safe driving tip as it is a call to you to have the courage to tell others your stories. Yes, there are times to stay put. There are other times when you should put your pride aside and tell your stories for God's glory...to help his people. There will be those who will not understand you. They will tell you to cool it. They are afraid of not being seen as all together, calm, cool and collected. The fences they have put up, also keep people from getting closer to them. They will never know the joy when you share your weakness in such a time, way and place that you know it warms God's heart as well as yours as you do. It is exciting that God can use our crashes and burns to help others learn. I dare you to speak up. This will drive Satan crazy!

Enough experience will make you wise.

James R. Cook

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.

Senaca

We should not only use the brains we have, but all that we borrow.

Woodrow Wilson

Sometimes the medicine bottle says,' Shake well before using'. That is what God has to do

with some of his people. He has to shake them well before they are useable.

Vance Havner

Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.

George Bernard Shaw

                        As you come up our drive and after you cross the small creek,you pass between two field stone 

                         pillars that match the stones on our home. There is a light atop both of them . Right now, one is green and the                           the side is white. The green light is to show support for all the people who serve our military as well

                         as those who have done so in the past.

                         At Christmas i hang white lights along the 4 rail horse fence. We change the white one to red and

                         The entryway is good to go. The placement of the red and green has a reason behind it as well. 

                          It may seem to be be random but Iassure you is not the case.

                         On a plane the red light is always on the left side and the green is on the right side. green and right both

                          have 5 letters and this was how I was taught to remember as a boy.  This applies to boats as well.

                         Our oldest son, Josh, is a navel aviator. He and his wonderful wife , Christina, are a week or two from going

                          to Japan. They have lived in several places over the last few years. They lived in Fallon Nevada

                          most recently and we were blessed to have all of our boys and their girls under our roof and together 

                          the holidays. 

                         Since they aproached our farm from the west the right light was green and the left one was on the left 

                         came home. When they were out east in Va it was the reversed. Japan is on the other side of the world

                         so I am not sure what I will do. I have not stepped it off but am told it is about as far east to west as it is 

                         west to east.

                         God is a concerned loving Father who loves you so much! He has made a way for you to come 

                         home through his son Jesus. The porch light of heaven is on . You have a green light my friend.

                         Because of the red blood of Jesus ,your sins are forgiven . Your approach is cleared as well as all your sins.

                          As far as the east is from the west,so far has removed our transgressions from us.

                                                                                                                                                             Psalm 103:12

 ENTRY

                            Yesterday I went out to check on the horses. It has again been vey hot here of late and a daily chore

                             to top off the water troughs will cool clear water.As I make my rounds the horses ususlly get excited when                                    they hear the sound of our old red ATV.  Because this vehicle usally has horse feeds as well as carrots, we c                                  call  it  "Chuck" short for chuck wagon .

                             There is a mare and two young ones in the south pasture. I whistled and they did not come. I banged on the

                              red tubes on the gate with the scooper. It makes a sound that sounds like a hillbilly dinner bell. I had seen                                    them the evening before and knew they were ok. I surmised they had found a place with a breeze and had it                                made in the shade.

                            I set the bright orange bucket filled with feed and carrots in front of the gate. This bucket was a physical                                   reminder for me to "lets  do this later". I had some mowing to do and that filled several hours of the                                               afternoon. I  kept   looking down at the water tank seeing they had not yet drank from it and for the first                                     time  became a  little  concerned.

                           I went down to the gate and did the two tone whistle my dad taught me. I do this in honor of him and have                                  taught my sons to do the same. They all would turn and prick up their earsand know it was me  if I did this                                  even in a crowd.

                           I banged again on the gate and in no time flat heard the three of them flat out running as hard as they could 

                           go. They seemed happy to see me and even more to see Chuck .They were breathing heavy as they devoured                                their snacks.

                          My friend I believe God is calling all of us. As we read Scripture, we learn he calls us all differently .  Many                                    people tell me after I speak that I missed my calling. I would quite my practice and enroll in seminary school                                 tomorrow if I felt in my heart that is what God wanted for me. I answered  my "call to the see" many years                                  ago.  I love  the interaction I have with patients for the most part. I never would have believed God would and                            could could use me to write  these stories for his glory.

                          He has blended  and used the very things I love and hold dear such as horses, hunting , and rivers . I am often                            very  surprised at how stories and lessons come together in such a way that I know it is not me but him                                          working  through me. Here is the exciting part, he wants to do the same with you. You may not be called to                                  write or do  eyes but you are being called . What do you do that gives you joy and satisfaction? There is your                               best clue in  regard to what God is calling you to do.

                          I  pray  that at times this website feeds you. I write for all God's people and not just those who gather under                               the steeple. All I know is when I do this with the hope of pleasing my Savior, it just feels so "write"!

                                                 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things 

                                                 you do not know.                                                                                       Jeremiah 33:3

                                                   When you empty yourself, God rushes in.  

                                                                                                                                  A.W. Tozer

                                                    For the man who prays in his heart ,the whole world is a church.

                                                                                                                                   Sylvain of Athos