In Wild Wonderful West Virginia

Romans 8:18-25 : I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

I visited West Virgina this weekend and encountered my Uncle Max today for the first time in a couple of years. He's 82, and due to various health issues is in a nursing home. He is much changed. About 100 lbs lighter and very feeble. He reminds me very much of my grandma Maribelle when she was in her eighties. He seems to have a stream of consciousness that runs along the same lines as Grandma did. When conversing with her one was never quite sure that she was hearing or understanding the sense of what was being said. She heard the words all right (for the most part), but was frequently on a different wave length.

Uncle Max is very like her. He is understandably demoralized by his increasing decrepitude and dependence. We were talking about children. He asked me a couple of times about mine, as his short term memory isn't the sharpest. Then he spoke of his own son with tears. Uncle Max regrets that he didn't spend as much time with his son as he would have liked. My cousin is also mentally ill, a condition that tears Uncle Max up.

Thinking of Uncle Max, Grandma and others that have suffered through the aging process makes me think of these verses (above) from Romans. We all groan inwardly or outwardly along with all of creation until all things are put right. And they will be put right. Thanks be to God!