Rebecca Carpenter

          My quiet devotional time while overlooking the lake was interrupted by noisy quacking.  A small cluster of brown ducks appeared while swimming in a straight line formation.  They glided to a stop on the still water and were immediately joined by another group which increased the number to ten.  To my surprise additional ducks reached them as they all scooped breakfast from the dark lake water.  The larger troop then continued their journey along the shore and around the bend.  I was amazed to see even more ducks advance to the long line and had trouble counting the zigzagging fowls, but finally, was able to determine there were twenty instead of the normal five or six who were in residence on the lake. 

            Just as I was marveling at the number, I detected a movement from the corner of my eye.  A group of bright, white ducks was following the wake of the preceding ducks and also began snatching breakfast from the lake.  This was a complete surprise since I had never seen white ducks on the lake.  Within a few minutes, all of the ducks had disappeared around the island with no evidence to show that they had even been there. 

For a short time, I had enjoyed their presence and antics.  They may appear again, but maybe it was a once time occurrence which left a special memory to enrich my life.

            I think of people that I have met over the years who occupy a special place in my heart.  Many were only in my life for a brief time, but they made a lasting impression.  There was a Middle Eastern refugee girl in Austria who spoke no English, but we enjoyed playing tic tac toe one evening at the ministry center.  Her enthusiasm and smile were remarkable considering what her family had endured.  A Lakota Indian lady in South Dakota trusted me enough to share the many trials that she was facing and together we explained her problems to the missionaries.  There was a beautiful, Native American child in Arizona whose limbs were deformed but who enjoyed playing with me on the playground and sat in my lap to hear a story while her parents attended a conference.  There was a Christian couple who shared time with my husband and I in China while we were exploring the country.  A couple in the Holden Heights area of Orlando was so thankful that our church group repaired their home and said that we were all a blessing to them, but they were a blessing to our group with their strong faith.  As we assisted those who had been affected by Hurricane Katrina, a lady in New Orleans was concerned about our mission group as we served lunch in the hot sun and wished she had a tarp to shield us from the sun.  There are so many people who have made an impact on me even though they were in my life only a short time, and I do not even know the names of many of them. I have wondered over the years what happened to them and probably will never know.  However, in our ever changing world, there will continue to be fleeting relationships that can be meaningful to us and enrich our lives.  I realize how important it is for me to make the most of every opportunity as I interact with people both long and short term.  Even in the brief encounters, I want to leave a lasting impression that will be special to someone else.    

     The hot July weather did not dim the excitement of those gathered for the small outdoor wedding in central Indiana in 1945.  Close friends and relatives assembled to witness the marriage of the happy young couple as they began their life together.  After the vows were recited and cake was eaten, they climbed into their car which had borrowed tires so that they would be assured of arriving safely at the cottage on Beaver Dam Lake in northern Indiana for their honeymoon.  World War II had caused rationing of many items such as tires, gasoline, and nylon hose, but the couple was able to secure what they needed by saving, borrowing, and pleading with the ration board with a special request for nylons for the bride. Even though material goods were scarce, the love that they shared with each other and their families brought joy and happiness in abundance.  Sixty-two years later my mom and dad have left a lineage of three children, four grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren who look at them as role models and who are thankful for the longevity of their marriage.  

     There have been many milestones in their lives during the 62 years.  Various jobs took them to many areas where they always joined a local church, became a part of the community, and made many friends.  Over the years their Christmas card list continued to grow and grow as new friends entered their lives and old ones remained.  However, in the last several years, the list has become shorter as cherished friends have passed away with their names deleted from the computer list.

     An important aspect of their lives was their family which encompassed parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and then later children with their spouses, grandchildren with their spouses, and more recently, great-grandchildren.  They saw the addition of numerous family members but also the loss of precious loved ones over the sixty-two years.

     Family dinners in Indiana were a highlight of the early years when everyone gathered to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and just to fellowship.  Sunday afternoon drives were a form of entertainment in their early days when families would just drop in to visit.  Unannounced visits were not only normal but welcomed in small town Indiana of the 1940’s, 1950’s, and early 1960’s. 

     Weekends at the cottage on Beaver Dam Lake produced opportunities to relax, have fun, and bond with family members who resided in their cottage and the one next door.  Everyone moved freely between the cottages and assembled in the yards and on the lake to play cards, swim, and eat delicious food.  What memories were made during those summers.

      Over the years living locations changed, homes became more luxurious, people disappeared while new ones appeared, jobs came and went, but some things stayed the same.  Their love for each other remained as it matured with the joys and trials of life, and their faith in God grew as He continued to be a strong influence in their lives.  The journey has been long and winding with ups and downs and continues as they travel its unexpected twists and turns to begin the sixty-third year.  Happy Anniversary mom and dad.

     We are trying to settle back into the routine at home after spending two and a half weeks in China. There is so much to process as we reflect on our experiences and try to grasp a culture that goes back thousands of years.  The history that I had been taught in school only gave me a glimpse of what China was like and what they had accomplished.  Marco Polo attempted to explain to the world what he experienced of the culture after living there centuries ago, but many dismissed him as being fanciful with greatly exaggerated stories.  Perhaps he was not too far off from the truth.  I had never realized how accomplished and advanced their ancient culture was until I visited there and actually saw it for myself.  Because China had been closed to the world for so long, western cultures viewed them as being extremely backward and uneducated which was not true. 

     In rural areas of the country, farmers still farm as their ancient ancestors did and poverty is prevalent.  However, in the modern cities, many residents live and work in circumstances similar to those in the United States, but there are rundown buildings next to the new high-rises.  Families struggle to survive while living in meager, rather depressing apartments above stalls with the odor of fish, pig snouts, and duck heads wafting into the streets.  Garbage is prevalent in the cities and in the rural areas as people dispose of it by throwing it into the streets or waterways. The ancient is competing with the modern.

     During our entire visit, I marveled at the extreme contrasts in so many areas of their culture. As they attempt to appreciate their past, they are exploding into the present with an eye to the future by adopting many aspects of the western culture.  They realize that there are many problems that need to be solved as they make the transition into the world of the west.  While our country changed gradually, China is experiencing a tremendous growth which comes with major growing pains.  It is as though they jumped from being a toddler to an adolescent overnight and do not quite know how to handle becoming adults.  Many perceptions that I had about China were changed as I met the people, explored their long history, read their newspapers, and experienced their growth.  

      In spite of the oppression and trials that the people have endured over the years, they have remained friendly and kind.  There are many things that I do not agree with-especially their ancient religions-but the family values and regard for others is refreshing.  I felt a burden for the millions of people who do not know Jesus and have not yet been exposed to Christianity.  We were told that Christianity was not banned but also, not promoted.  Accounts that I have heard say that there is still persecution for some Christians, but freedom is increasing.  I think that it is important for Christians around the world to pray for China and find ways to spread the gospel there. 

     The Chinese are eager to meet Americans and were so accepting of us as we visited.  I hope that they can gain the positives from our western culture, but unfortunately, already some of the negatives are appearing.  There are many things that we can learn from the Chinese, and we should attempt to work together since they are definitely becoming a major force in the world.  Citizens of both countries can learn to live together peacefully so hopefully our governments can also become allies as the world changes.