THEY KEEP ME ON THE BALL

When I went to the park, I habitually mouthed the words, "Lord, empower EVERY ENCOUNTER." But when I saw the people inside, I almost felt my bones shriveling. There were high schoolers clowning around with a ball. Senior citizens, children, foreigners, even people of other religions or cults don't bother me...but I don't know what to do with teenagers that just laugh at you!

"POOM!" A misdirected kick sent the ball sailing behind the youths' backs and to the left of where I was walking.

I found myself taking a few quick steps to stop the ball after it had taken several bounces, then I lightly kicked it back to them.

"Did you see that," one of them said, and kicked it back to me, wanting a replay. The unruly group I had been afraid of had my full attention. God showed me again He could make inroads for me if necessary.

So, did I see this as an opportunity to "share my faith"? Not hardly. I think God was just trying to coax this timid turtle-like blogger out of her shell. But if I keep meeting up with my new teen friends, I will talk more with them.

Like someone else who came later. We'd talked last week about my drawings and the Kawasemi. 

This time however, we not only talked about park things; she asked me questions that led to my telling her how my real desire was to communicate through art, God's Love for us.

We ended up talking a long time before she had to go home for dinner--"home"--an hour's walk away!

YOU SHOULD FLY, LIKE US

Friday, I had to go to the clinic again. Because my medicine requires me to stay out of summer heat, the decision was made to go by cab instead of walking for over 25 mins.

My dragonfly friends seemed to agree with me. They didn't think I should walk to the doctor's office either.

As soon as I got home, I lay down, grateful for air conditioning. Because today was not as hot as the rest of the week, I had only a low-grade fever.

And because I'd been able to ride a cab, not walked, after only a few hours' rest, my temperature came down, and I felt fine. Well enough, in fact, to draw these post illustrations.

Oh--this latter reference photo was NOT taken today. I did NOT go to the park today. You can be sure that was taken on an earlier date, when it was much cooler!

NATALIE

Yesterday, a friend--Natalie, the Black Wasp (Mar 26, '23 "Preposterous" post)--came to the Irrigation Ditch. I got excited and began sketching her right away. The park personnel has removed the dangerous wasp's nest, and I told her then she needed to make herself scarce; if they found her; they'd probably try to kill her too. Since they got rid of the nest, I've seen her only twice.

"You're friends with a wasp? for real?" Yeah. You don't have to be smart to do it--stay away from dark colors; don't use scents; avoid threatening actions; just be friendly and courteous..."Maybe, but I'm not interested."

Well, you're free to stay uninterested; but the longer you do, the longer you'll keep yourself open to wasps' and hornets' aggression.

MOSQUITOS TOO--REALLY?

"His Eye is on the Sparrow, and even the Fly...but a MOSQUITO?"...and You want me to sketch it?!

When I went to the park Sat., a crane fly--an insect that looks like a giant mosquito--came up to me and posed for a drawing. Those things don't bite and have very short life spans once they reach maturity, so I'd become a little sympathetic towards them--altho' I detest mosquitos. But when I tried to do the actual sketch, nothing worked. It was one of those days, I guessed.

The next day, I noticed a black speck above the bed...not a crane fly, but an actual Mosquito!

"I sketch you; you don't bite me tonight; deal?" It made no promises but stayed still while I took photos then displayed it on the laptop screen to use fineliner and brushtip pens to draw it. Some human races lean more towards art while others see it as impractical. It's the same with insects: most butterflies, dragonflies, and bees seem to want to be drawn, but in the past, mosquitos don't care much about it. I wondered how this one would be.

His eye is on the weakest ones...but the Oppressors too, and He wants us to pray for their blessing?!

The FROG made me post that picture!

I realized why I wanted to post the picture of the Besses' AkaShiso in yesterday's post. It was seeing that toad! It sparked memories of what happened last year.

I'd been sketching the flowers along the side of the pond for a background for the frog picture when I noticed a tiny enamel green bug with red wings and white pompoms. It lifted its leg as if to say, "draw me too!"

"Thanks sweetie, but you're much too small." When I saw it wouldn't be waved away, I carefully lowered its leg with my pen. I was sure the bug would fly away if I touched it.

But like a toddler who wouldn't take "no" for an answer, he lifted his leg again. Part of me wanted to laugh at the insect; part of me wanted to marvel at the ridiculousness of my situation; and a big part of me said, "Nobody would believe me if I told them this happened!" so I took a snapshot with my cell. It's times like this I wish I had a better-quality camera than my old flip-phone. I hear Smartphones nowadays do better than high-end compact cameras.

But Michael and DeeAnne Bess believed me right away. After all, they'd become friends with some bumblebees recently and eagerly told me about how gentle they were. Many people are afraid bees sting, but the other day, DeeAnne had lifted a leaf to find a sleeping bee; stroked its back; and it simply lifted one of its legs to reach back and touch her finger.

Some don't believe insects and humans can have that kind of contact. The most intelligent minds could stack up arguments about how it isn't logically or scientifically possible; and neither the Besses nor I would be able to refute their words.

But...that wouldn't change what we experienced.

HARVEY FLY

It's "Golden Week" when the park is full of families enjoying holiday vacation together for a few days.

I was looking at turtles today when a father came shouting to his kids a bee had come around and shuffled them off to a safer place. But when I really saw the black-and-yellow critter flying around the flowers, I had to sketch it!

"Aren't you scared of bees?" it seemed to say.

I laughed. It was a Hoverfly! Bee-like markings make much wildlife wary of it too, but the friendly little thing actually has no stinger. Without these markings, this insect would have a hard time going about eating and taking care of daily work, but God sees to it it's given necessary protection.

"His Eye is on the Sparrow," I've heard sung. What about, "His eye is on the FLY/and He cares for such as I"?

Would you pray for my missionary sister Joyce back in the U.S, about to start furlough? It seems she may have diverticulitis. She was hospitalized for abdominal pain in Okinawa just before time to go overseas but God took the pain away then. The discomfort has returned, and Joyce sees the doctor tomorrow.

At best, this can be treated with antibiotics while she runs around churches as planned. The more serious scenario may include bedrest, hospitalization, even surgery.

So...if my Heavenly Father would care for a hoverfly, of course He'd watch over my sister, right?