MISSIONS AND MEMORIES (San Antonio, Texas) January 6 - 20, 2017

After spending several days in Indiana tending to Sherry's mom and visiting family we again packed it up, grabbed a couple of flights and ended up in San Antonio, Texas.  We had been there before so we knew that from the airport one could take the public bus (#3) and for about $1.50 a piece get to our resort downtown on the River Walk. While waiting in the airport in Atlanta I got a message from a High School classmate that I hadn't seen in 50 years.  We had connected recently on facebook and he now lived in San Antonio.  He was offering a ride from the airport and dinner with him and his wife.  After not a little discussion and with some fear of the unknown, we said: "yes"!

Eric had retired from the Air Force as a chaplain and was now an Episcopal Priest.  Dinner that night on the River Walk was awesome and led later to an entire day together exploring the Missions of San Antonio with his family before ending with, for Sherry and me, the new experience of a Korean dinner.

During our stay in San Antonio our two weeks were spent at the Wyndham Riverside Suites.  This was a beautifully remodeled hotel built in 1925 right above the River Walk.  It was a great blend of the old and new; a blend of character and convenience.  Our days were spent with lots of meandering down the river and lots of delicious Mexican food; made the two weeks memorable.

REFLECTIONS

Sometimes life changes on the spot and we are asked to go a direction that we had not originally intended.  Plans are set aside and, with some reservations, we head down a road unintended.  Many times it is those unscripted changes that bring us the biggest blessings.  Other times it is the fear of the unknown that robs us of the trips to beautiful Spanish Missions and tasty Korean food that we could have enjoyed.

One more thing: we, like the hotel where we stayed, are all a blend of the old and the new.  It is the "old", the past, the history that makes us who we are; that gives us character.  It is the remodeled us, the new us, the us we are now; that gives us freshness and verisimilitude. We are admired for who we are and are given value for whom we are becoming.

Be blessed each day and look forward for the best is yet to come.

HAMMOCKS AND HIBERNATION CAYMAN STYLE (November 27 - December 25, 2016)

After all the busyness of moving what few belongings we have from Florida to Indiana, of finishing out my Revival schedule, of the two weeks in Tennessee with friends and family, it was time to "crash".  It was time to hibernate Cayman style.

We, once again, managed to fly standby with no difficulty and fly from Nashville through Atlanta to Georgetown, Grand Cayman.  The tropical air when we exited the plane reminded us that we weren't in Tennessee any more where the temperatures had been in the 40s and 50s.  Frankly 80 degrees felt mighty good.  We were picked up at the airport by the pastor of the church we attend while on the island and deposited at the Morritt's Tortuga Club resort in East End.

One thing you need to know about the East End of Grand Cayman Island is that it is no 7 mile beach.  Where the resort sits is on a quiet cove with a wonderful white sand beach but there are no surrounding huge resorts/hotels or any of the touristy shops and pricey eateries.  It is a laid back, peaceful, out of the way place.  Perfect for hammocks and hibernation. 

And hibernate is exactly what we did for four full weeks.  

REFLECTIONS

Our lives are filled with a certain cadence, a certain format.  Our days are pretty much 16 on and 8 off.  Our weeks, as per God's instruction are pretty much 6 on and 1 off.  Why should not our hours, our months, our years be the same?

We live in a hectic world. We push through our hours and days trying to stay ahead of the things that demand our time and energy.  We need to find a way, a time, a place to "center down", a place to step away, a place to hibernate.

I have, for many years, tried to find a spot every day to just "be still and know that He is Lord", a place to ease my mind and enjoy His creation, a place prepare my body and soul for the day ahead.  Being a pastor for 40 years, I tried to carve out a "Lord's Day" each week, a day for just relaxing in His care and worshiping His goodness.

Now with retirement it is my hope to each year discover a place where we can just "chill" (bad term to use for Cayman). 

I believe, that for our own spiritual, mental, and physical health we need those "down" times and we need to guard them with a passion.  Without them we make bad choices, risk health problems, and ignore our spiritual person.

So, Cayman it was.  we did little but it helped us much.  Thank God for hammocks and hibernation. 

A TENNESSEE FAMILY THANKSGIVING (November 23-27, 2016)

Thanksgiving in Tennessee was a gathering of family as Aaron's crew blasted in from Missouri and Autumn's quartet drifted in from Indiana.  Only Andrew missed the event because he had to work.  During this "Nomad" time our life we will often be a long way away from these folks but then there will be times when we will be at their places, probably longer than they would like.  Family is a priority and we sure do love ours!

As you can see, Grandma Sherry provided a full traditional Thanksgiving dinner in our 4 bedroom condo at Fairfield Glade.  The food was great and it is always amazing when the 6 grands get together.  The only down side was the agonizing loss of Michigan to Ohio State (OSU did not get that first down)  It was a time spent playing games, hanging out, horseback riding, and, for six of us a long (5 mile) hike to the bottom of a gorge and back out.

                                   REFLECTIONS ON ROCK PILES                                

It is the hike from the lookout down to the winding creek below that I will long remember.  Four energetic grand kids, Scott (a marathon runner), and me ..... me; an over weight, worn out, 68 year old grand father.  The walk down meandered through the tall trees on the rocky pathway.  It was a great time of laughing and talking about how much longer it would be until we reached the bottom.  Reach the bottom we did as the kids scrambled from boulder to boulder and rock to rock that pretty much covered the trickling waterway.  For them it was great fun, for me it was a great photo op. 

 It was then that I noticed Abigail stacking rocks one on top of the other and saw that all across the area others had done the same.  Some were five or six rocks high balanced carefully to top of each other, a testament that someone had been there and, in a moment of creativity, had left them there as a reminder of their presence at that point in time.  Now, Abigail was doing the same in hopes that someone. sometime would see her creation and know that she had been there.

It made me think about God and how he has given us so many "rock piles" to remind us that he was creator. Rock piles of mountains, streams, forests, and oceans should cause us to see His hand in all things.  He is saying; "I have been here, just look around."

It made me think about the rock piles we leave for our children and grand children; the monuments of lives well lived, of faithful service to the Lord.  Hopefully, when we have passed from this life to the next, they will remember our love and even our willingness to share the long, straight up exodus from the creek bottoms.

  

FRIENDS, FAIRWAYS, AND SENIOR TEES (November 13-20, 2016)

The flights from Springfield, Missouri to Nashville, Tennessee went smoothly.  And as we fly "stand by" that is always an answer to prayer.  Arriving in Nashville, we were met at the airport by friends, Tim and Vicky Gates.  They are now pastoring in Goodlettsville, Tennessee and would spend a few days with us at Wyndham Fairfield Glade in Crossville, Tennessee.  They were cool days but not so cool that Tim and I couldn't play some golf.

After they left, we were joined by Mike and Lois Crawford from Ohio.  I was their pastor back in the 1980's.  We have stayed close and this was a great chance to renew that friendship.

Our hope is to include many of our friends on our journeys and to share the Lord's blessings as we visit, play, and relax together.  I think we are off to a good start!

Reflections

I have loved playing golf since I was a kid.  I played on the High School team (well at least I practiced with them) so that I could play for free at the Black River Country Club.  

Now that I am older, the days of 220 yard plus drives are over.  Even if I could afford the best in equipment I am sure I would fall short of that mark.  For whatever reason my long drives go about 175 yards.  Thus, when playing with younger guys, like Tim, I don't have a chance to be competitive (not that I am competitive or anything) unless......I use the SENIOR TEES.  Those tees come with a stigma....OLD MAN TEES.  But, you know what, that's what I do.  It makes the round more fun when you at least have a chance to reach the green in regulation!  I also found a ball that corrects my huge slice and I use it.  Why?  Because it's more fun to be in the fairway than the woods!  

Say what you will....I plan to enjoy golf and life as long as I can.  And this works for me.  I am looking forward to many rounds of golf with friends for years to come.  Don't be surprised if someday you hear that I am using the LADY'S TEES!

And It Has Begun

AND IT HAS BEGUN

As the cool autumn winds began to scatter the colorful leaves to the ground below, Sherry and I both brought to a close our "working" lives.  After all those years of serving others we said goodbye to that hectic life and started down the road to retirement.

Sherry had been a mom, a housewife, a professional counselor, a research specialist for Walt Disney World, and an Agent of Customer Service for Delta Airlines.  It was from the latter that she retired in mid September, 2016 after serving for 10 years.  Those ten years would provide us with "traveling rewards" for the remainder of her life.

I had pastored churches in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida for 40 years and then since 2010 had been traveling as an Evangelist across the country and speaking in different churches.  In early November, 2016 I held my final revival at the Church of the Nazarene in Spencer, Indiana.

Now the stage was set for the nomadic portion of our lives to begin.  Six years ago we had sold almost all our "stuff" and had been living in a "Time Share" condo in Kissimmee, Florida.  Now, with us both retired we are free to travel from place to place and enjoy each other and the world around us.

The plan is to travel for about 9 months out of the year and spend the other 3 months visiting family and friends.  It is to be a great adventure.  An adventure to which we do not know all the answers or workings.  2017 will find us feeling our way and testing our theories.

What we fully believe is that as good as we have had it, as blessed as we have become, that the best is yet to come.  Now come join us on the journey.