To Steven at CaringBridge

Steven...thank you for your willingness to serve and the sacrifice you made and have been called to carry out. I don't know your religious beliefs but I know that men of all times have read the Bible and found it to be great in terms of literature and wisdom for living life with faith and hope. And with that as a preface, I would share what I think is one of the great stories of the Bible - the story of Job. We are always told of the patience of Job, and he certainly had that characteristic; but, I think Job offers more than simply the patient endurance of unbelievable personal tragedy. His was a more complex story of knowing he had not done anything to deserve his great loss. It is a story of taking positive action to live with hope and faith and integrity in the face of great physical and emotional obstacles. And discouragement from accusers who did not understand his firm hold on his own integrity in knowing that he had done no great wrong, but was upright in his life. I encourage you to make this your story too and to live your life as a good example to us all. And, when you have overcome and have found the blessing that is hidden in this life you are destined to lead; that you will look back and say with Job: "...when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10.

Hey Dad, Give Me A Hand

I spent the last week of March in Mexico on business. The next week dad died. It was that abrupt and that rude. That's the way death always is I think. Unexpected even when it has served notice that it's near and in my experience it is like birth in that it requires effort. I was able to hold vigil at his bedside for two days and sort through the memories and carefully arrange those that were the best. I was able to tell him he had done well and that all was well and that he could let go of this life. But he still fought hard. I held his hand for several hours and found that when I would start to let go that he was holding onto my hand. Surprising in strength I thought at this point; and I was glad, thinking how I appreciate a strong handshake. And I remembered the times in my childhood when I held his hand while learning to ride the new Schwinn or walking the narrow bridge across the channel at Lake Pauline while fishing. I am glad I could hold his hand now when he needed it and I hope that it gave him the assurance that I felt when he would hold mine then.

Blog Work

I never imagined that blogging could be work. It's like one more thing to do in a jam-packed schedule and it's my fault! Why should I feel responsible to post a blog entry when I created the blog. No one asked me to blog. No one is paying me to blog. No one is making me blog or else. I could delete the blog; but I won't. And, I do feel a responsibility since I haven't posted since last month. It must be that I think I have something to say. True, I think I do have thoughts that are important enough to share; but, it seems a little arrogant. It's like my Sunday Morning Bible Class. I can't imagine why more people don't attend; the material is best-seller and I have a great presentation most times. That's arrogant enough I think; and sufficently wordy for this posting. So, I'll leave the rest to those who want to ponder...