plans that don't materialize

It was a good weekend and there was much to be grateful for but it's one of those reports where I have to admit that the results were different than desired.  Saturday morning we went over to the Lyneham church and helped with the setup for collecting items to be distributed to those who were suffering from the bush fires.  It was a relatively easy time and several people were there to help.  At one point, I walked across the street and introduced myself to an older fellow who was trimming his bushes.  His name is Alan and he's a widower who has lived in that home since they built it over 60 years ago.  He practiced law and they raised three children in the home.  He spoke of his wife and children with great affection.  His wife planted every tree and shrub on the property.  Alan referred to his home as a "sort of Eden" and I agreed.

We attended church, at 9:00 in the Black Mountain Ward in the hopes that Sam, our friend from the lake, would attend.  It was an excellent meeting and Sister Smith, from Idaho Falls, was one of the speakers and she did an excellent job.  Anyone who was there would entrust her to teach their friend about the gospel.  At noon we attended the Stromlo Ward where we both spoke.  Evelyn did such a great job and really drew a powerful parallel with sight, vision and focus.  It was delightful to listen to her and watch the response from the members of the congregation.  I, like them, was totally involved with her talk and I found myself standing up to speak and forgetting where my talk was to begin.  My talk was centered on how Evelyn, following the prompting to approach a fisherman on the shore of the lake, had done exactly what Christ had done when he invited Peter to become a fisher of men. I have a permanent memory of her walking through the weeds to strike up a conversation with a total stranger. Evelyn is a fisher of men.

We came home and Evelyn spent the rest of the afternoon preparing a beautiful meal in anticipation of Sam, and his friend, coming to dinner.  As the six o'clock hour approached we were both looking forward to an evening of good food and discussion.  At nearly 6:30 it was apparent that they were not coming.  Evelyn had put so much thought and effort into the evening and she wasn't going to let it go to waste.  Before I could even put on my shoes, she was out the door and over to the neighbors home.  She knocked on June's door and Bob and Margaret's door to invite them over.  Within ten minutes the five of us were gathered around the table.  We spent the next three hours eating salad, homemade rolls topped with homemade raspberry jam, salmon, scalloped potatoes, broccolini and followed by homemade strawberry shortcake.  Yes, Evelyn made the shortcake the night before and if anyone reading this has ever sat down to one of Evelyn's meals knows it was spot on!

No, it wasn't what we expected but it was what was the heavens wanted.  We'll still be looking for Sam and we're not giving up on him but, like the parable of the wedding feast, when the invited guest didn't arrive, the cry went out to those in the street, to come and partake.