COLD WEATHER AND WARM HEARTS (February 24 - March 24, 2017)

By the time we leave for South Carolina next week, we will have spent four weeks in Missouri and Indiana with family.  We love these extended times of connecting with those we dearly love.  All of the travels are great but there is something special about just being able now to hang out with our grand children.

While with Aaron's family in Battlefield, Missouri we saw our oldest grandson, Austin, in his school play.  Austin is a senior and will be a freshman next year at Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois (3rd generation of Dicer to attend) and we were able to see the other three grandsons in Bible Quizzing.  Moving on to Indiana, we were able to watch both grand daughters play some volleyball and enjoy the warmth of their fireplace on what turned out to be cold nights.

It was also a time to head down to Bloomington, Indiana and open up the cabin.  The birds appreciated the refill to the feeder and the deer made their trek to the cabin for their midnight snacks. Much time was spent visiting Sherry's mom and we celebrated her 88th birthday.  Sometime in the middle of all that, we passed the written test at the BMV and now have Indiana drivers licenses.  We are Hoosiers once more.

I just figured out that for the first 130 days this traveling adventure we have spent 89 days in various places and 41 days with family.  We'll see how that mix changes as we continue down this road that the Lord has allowed us to travel.  Thanks for the continued prayers.

SEASCAPES AND SUNSETS (February 3 - February 24, 2017)

The stand by flights from Tucson, Arizona to Atlanta, Ga. to Panama City, Florida all were accomplished without any problems and we arrived at the Wyndham Vacation Club Resort on Panama City Beach late Friday night, February 3rd.  This 24 story beach front resort was to be our home for the next three weeks and our front yard was the Gulf of Mexico.  Lots of long walks down the white sand beach and, frankly, lots of time just looking out our 9th floor window at the ever changing scenery below.
The sunsets were magnificent, every one just a little different, and each one brought a sigh as the orange orb seemed to crash into the watery horizon.  What a way to end each day.

REFLECTIONS

Our first morning's view of the Gulf of Mexico was as a shimmering, quiet, peaceful body of water with waves that could hardly be heard as they gently kissed the shore.  Peaceful, tranquil, and inviting are words that come to mind to describe its demeanor. However, the next morning, upon pulling open the curtains, revealed a frothy. restless, surging body of water with waves that crashed loudly as they aggressively bit into the sandy shoreline.  Foreboding, intimidating, and harsh are words that come to mind to describe its demeanor that second day. We talked about how quickly it changed.

In our lives.....things change and sometimes they change quickly.  Situations and people change.  There are times when everything is going along smoothly with little disturbance and the next thing you know there's chaos.  That's life; ebbs and flows, kisses and bites.  People who you labeled as a friend become an antagonist, smooth sailing becomes a rough ride. Count on it.  And counting on it, be prepared for it.  Trust these sudden changes to the One who calmed the raging sea, the One who knows what it feels like to be betrayed.

As you pull back the curtain on each new day, remember to trust Him no matter what the day holds.  

And then there are the sunsets.  Each evening as we sat on our balcony or on the beach and watched the sun descend below the horizon, we remarked; "Wow, once it gets close to going down, it goes down in a hurry!"

That, too, seems to be true in life.  The closer we get to our "sunset" the faster everything seems to go.  I don't know about anyone else but, as for me, I want my sunset to be awesome!  I want people to say, as my earthly life passes from view, that was beautiful.  I want my "going down" to be a blessing to those viewing.

I have learned, as I've photographed so many sunsets, that their beauty is, many times, determined by their surroundings.  Therefore, I choose to surround myself with people and things that will bring beauty and meaning into my life.

It will happen quickly, this "sunset".  But please remember that for the Christ follower the BEST IS YET TO COME.

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PRICKLY PRAISE......CACTUS AND CANYONS (January 20 - February 2,2017)

The stand by flights from San Antonio, Texas through Salt Lake City, Utah to Tucson, Arizona went without problem and an Uber ride took us the rest of the way to Oro Valley and the Wyndham Rancho Vistoso Resort.

Nestled between two mountain ranges, the resort, on the desert floor, was lovely.  We had never stayed in the desert before and found it to be starkly beautiful and the ideal place for hiking.  We visited Honey Bee Canyon and the Sabino Canyon National Park.  Both were outstanding but Sabino was unreal. Our TWO WEEKS in the Sonoran desert were unique and most enjoyable.  Even the trail, in the wash, behind the resort provided surprises with rabbits, quail, deer, and Javelina sharing our hiking space.

REFLECTIONS

The Saguaro cactus is exclusive to the Sonoran desert.  These huge cacti can grow to be 70 feet tall and weigh many tons.  Their "arms" stretch toward the sky, as if in praise to their creator, and they make the desert landscape come alive with shapes and color.  They climb the canyon walls, sometimes, seemingly, rooted in the rocks and boulders that abound.

Sometimes we, also, are forced to grow in rough spots,in less than favorable situations. Might we, like the Saguaro, take root where we are and, with arms stretched high, provide a reminder to those who might pass by that we can make a difference to the landscape around us. Might we, in the canyons and stark places in our lives, always be people of praise. One thing, however, I didn't like about the Saguaro was that they always held you at "arms" length.  You can't put your arm around them without feeling pain.  As I heard a native hiker tell his hiking companion from "up north"; "You can look but don't touch!"

Therefore, might we, while trying to bring the beauty of Christ to those who pass by, never be so "prickly" that they feel kept at arms length. Let us reach both up to Him and out to others.

Be blessed, bloom where you are planted, and remember that the best is yet to come.

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!