Today is Monday, January 12th, 2015; Karen's Korner #2981

Today is Danny Schnell's birthday, aka as 'Dan the Can Man'. He's a real 'special' guy in our community, retrieving recyclable bottles and cans in our Clarion area, day in and day out! In his school days, he attended 'special' classes. It's a birthday milestone, but he doesn't want people to know the number!

He faithfully attends our church worship services. Doesn't make any difference whether the songs we sing are on the screen at the front of the church or in the hymnal, Dan doesn't read them. But he sings, sometimes pretty loud. Obviously not the right words, but I'd bet God enjoys it! Because we are told:

"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs..."

~ Psalms 100:1 (in part)

Some of us with more ability, could take a cue from Danny, and sing with more gusto....even if we aren't gifted singers!

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Because of Dan's can collection, to celebrate yesterday, we were invited to bring some bottles and cans to church with us. Bagged and ready for Dan to receive 'cans and bottles' as gifts to add to his recycle 'business'.

When I visited a friend in Des Moines nearly two weeks ago, she gave me two big bags of cans to get to Dan. We tossed them in the back end of my pick up. They were stored in heavy-duty garbage bags.

Even though they were heavy and closed with loops at the top of both, the wind pressure on my commute home was too great. They blew up like sails on a sail boat, eventually a couple dozen cans peeked out the top of their secured container. I don't think any bounced out down the highway, but the lightweight cans were vulnerable.

When I got to our farm home and viewed the loose cans, I couldn't help but think about how much an empty pop resembled me and my life....pretty vulnerable to the winds of life. When I am 'bagged together' with a family or church community, I am protected. But there were/are still exposed 'holes'!

As I tied some packing cord around the top, I was reminded that it is Christ who "ties' us all together. I am still a bouncy, empty can. But I/we are protected, loved, cared for and can safely 'ride' down the road of life!

"For He will shield you with His wings!

They will shelter you."

~ Psalms 100:4

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