Check Your Marks

Calendar Notification is another expression of keeping up with chores, appointments and other pertinent details via computers and cell phones.

Google Research: You can use Calendar notifications to receive text message notifications when items in your calendar are updated or as reminders for appointments and meetings in your Outlook Web App calendar. You can also receive a daily text message that includes your agenda for that day.

Many older computer folks continue using paper calendars. I use my computer calendar primarily to check the current day or to look up the calendar for up-coming years. There are advantages in having your appointments in a cell phone, if you can find it.  It’s easier for me to keep up with a hand-held calendar than a five-inch cell phone. One drawback to primarily depending on a hard copy calendar, is the inability to ask Google to call it when buried under papers or hidden in a chair.

Recently, after a week’s absence, when post-surgery walking had reached 20 minutes, I decided to take half of my usual walk to the tire shop to see Bill, the manager, and Zach the front desk man.  But before I set out, a text from Bill arrived asking how recovery was going, that they’d been missing my daily waves. I responded that I was planning on walking up there later that morning.

On entering, I was greeted warmly by Zach and Bill waved me back to his office. “How have you been able to keep up with me?”  I asked. “Why, I put your surgery on my calendar”, he said nonchalantly. “Oh, how encouraging”, I replied.  After we chatted for a few minutes, I said “This is my first long walk so I had better head back.”

Normally, I walk and read from a small book, but this day, I walked maybe eight minutes, then rested on the cement ledge around a light pole--just right for sitting a couple minutes--to read two pages and take a few notes. I continued to walk for a few more minutes, then perched on another light pole ledge to read a couple more pages. As I was on the last lap toward home, Bill drove up in his station wagon, rolled down the window and asked,” Are you ok?  Can I give you a lift home?”

“I’m just fine”, I assured him. “But you’ve stopped two times!” he contended. “I walk a bit and rest while I read several pages”, I explained. Satisfied, he drove off. His stopping made me feel especially safe and protected. He’d told me that if ever I needed a ride to get home, to call him.  But I wondered how he knew that I had stopped twice. There are no windows in his office facing that road. I planned to ask him the next time.

When I walked again later in the week and entered the shop, Bill beckoned me back to his office as usual. “I have a question, Bill. “How did you know I stopped two times yesterday?” 

“I walked outside and watched you. After I saw that you stopped two times, I said to Zach, I’d better go check on Ruth.” So, he intentionally watched to make sure I had enough strength to make it home.  Indeed, I felt cared for. Not only was I on his calendar but his concern spread onto my safety and welfare.

I relayed this story to Mac, during our weekly phone chat, to which he said, “That would be a good blog, Ruthie.  People would be encouraged knowing that someone had written their name on their calendar.”  He suggested the title as well.

Also, as I was writing this, what Jim used to do flooded my mind: He put everyone who attended our church on his calendar, calling adults and kids alike on their birthday. This was before computers and making a call took a little more time. To this day, people tell me how much Jim’s personal birthday call meant to them.

Also, as I was concentrating on Bill’s intentional watching me, an event that David shared while he was caring for me popped into my head.  Here’s his story:

I was driving a delivery truck on a busy highway and noticed that a driver was flirting with danger as he wove in and out, passed him and zigzagged his way through heavy traffic, evidently in a big hurry, but putting people at risk.  I was concerned that this was not going to end well and unfortunately, I was right. That driver caused a huge crash involving cars and a truck. I pulled off and climbed through a ditch and over highway fencing to get to a truck driver’s door.  I asked if he was ok, and offered him a drink of water. The truck driver said he was fine, but that his truck was badly damaged and his door so badly bent that he couldn’t get out. I assured him that I’d find some helpers to pull him through the window, which I did.  Ambulances arrived and I hung around to give the police a report on how I observed the progress of the wreck. So, I knew that I did all that I could do and could continue my delivery.

That’s a good example of intentionally putting a reckless driver on your mental calendar and be ready in case what you fear might happen and be able to render some kind of help.

Parents automatically watch when sending their six-year-olds to the bus stop, or off to high-school.         I especially remember the day Jim and I delivered Kay and her boxes of belongings to college six hours away.  We toured her dormitory, met her roommate, then waved goodbye once more. As we watched as she walked away confidently and excitedly with her new friends, I remember wondering, “Have we prepared her well enough for this?” Our oldest child. Just writing this brings back these vivid memories along with fresh tears. Even with this experience, parting with the other three was just as emotional for Jim and me.                     

Entering someone’s name on whatever calendar is being used is a privilege as well as responsibility.    We are blessed as they are blessed.  Time and concern combined with prayer, are the finest gifts one   can give as well as receive. Watching out for another is a two-way-street: The receiver—rescued or taken care of—is forever grateful and the person who shares time and ability receives inner joy.

A sharer put it this way: I do a lot of community service and very much enjoy it, and I get an almost cathartic satisfaction from helping others.  It seems to be a combination of empathetic joy, pride and some sort of satisfaction from improving the general human or world condition.

In a parable Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matt. 25:40 (NIV)

Jesus keeps his eyes on us like a loving parent Every day he sees us struggle with shingles or challenges with people, a disability, loneliness, fear or any need of any kind.

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love.          Ps. 33:18 NIV.

But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14 (NIV).

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. Ps. 1:6. (NIV).                                                         

The Lord…will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Ps. 121 7-8 (NIV).

Comments and questions are welcome.  If there’s a subject that you’d like to have discussed, please let me know by using the Email address opposite the title.