Writing The Next Chapter

I attended a concert Friday, it was unlike any I've ever heard and without a doubt the best I've ever been to.   It was called "A Concert of Prayer," and I had no idea what to expect when I arrived.  We had driven to West Palm Beach on Wednesday to take our daughter Rebecca to college.  She is attending Palm Beach Atlantic University, and has been looking forward to it for more than a year.  This was welcome week, and after move in day the school had several days of activities planned for students and parents.  For mom and dad, events were to end Friday, while they kept the students busy through Sunday evening.

For the most part, the activities for the parents were informative in nature.  I think mainly they were meant to give us peace about leaving our daughter in their care.  If in fact that was the mission, they did a nice job.  To be honest, I knew when we attended an open house in the spring last year, that chances were good this would be Becca's choice for college.  This week turned out to be my third visit to the school, but it didn't take three visits for me to be at peace with her decision.   We like the school, and the people.   I have no doubt that she is where she is meant to be, and it's a great fit for her.

   Photo: Mine                                   H.S.  Graduation Day 2012

It was the last two activities scheduled for the parents that caught my eye.  The first was called "Writing the next chapter."  They had assembled a panel, mostly of parents of older students, all who had been through what we were about to go through.  Even though I had months to process the fact that my youngest was moving out of my home, it was much, much harder for me than I thought it would be.  So, writing the next chapter was not something I've been looking forward to, in fact I'm struggling to deal with it here.  The session was informative and clearly some parents had an easier time than others.  For me, it didn't help all that much.

Following that session, we transitioned into the concert I mentioned.  A leader stepped up and asked us all to circle our chairs into small groups of 6 or 8.  Then he gave us a topic and a few minutes to pray.  Different ones in our group took turns praying.  After several minutes, he would close out that section by praying himself, then give us another topic.  We prayed for our kids, their professors, the classes, campus security, for roommates, for those that might struggle with loneliness, and many other relevant things.  We prayed for about an hour.  It seemed like 10 minutes.

Normally I'm not one that struggles to pray in public, but I couldn't open my mouth.  I found the process to be so emotional, that I literally had to excuse myself and find some tissues before returning.   I'm thinking, you are 49 years old, you knew this day was coming, she's less than 7 hours away from home, besides you are practically going to see her monthly this first semester, now man up!  I didn't.  I just kept blowing my nose, wiping my tears, hoping that everyone else had their eyes closed.

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, I got it.  With over 100 people in small groups, all simultaniously praying, it was a concert.  A concert of prayer.  Since I couldn't seem to open my mouth,  I listened.  To those in my group, the groups around ours and others further out.  No instruments, no audience,  but a concert just the same.  Just voices, talking to our heavenly father.  Then without warning, I felt it.  I felt the peace God promises when we focus on Him.  In fact, Isaiah called it "perfect peace" (Isaiah 26:3).

Frankly, this next chapter will still be a struggle for me.  But one that will keep me on my face before my Father, and I don't think that's bad.  I think He's ok with that, and I'll be ok with Becca growing up.  I think.

Speaking of growing up, today is Becca's 18th birthday.  Happy Birthday my sweet girl.  I love you.

The Golden Anniversary

Today we celebrate a major milestone, my parents 50th wedding anniversary!  Absolutely amazing.  Being just over half way there myself, it really strikes me what a big deal it is.  After dinner we sat down and listened to stories about the way things were and such, and as my dad talked I was thinking don't take this for granted.  It was a real treat, reminiscing about how they met, their first date, getting through college, having a child (me) before graduation, the various jobs they held, all the stuff that makes up a life time together.

My parents have done it right.  It hasn't been easy, in fact we didn't reminisce the disagreements, arguments or frustrations.  I know there was plenty of that.  I also know that's not what stands out in their minds, or mine.  My parents have modeled an authentic Godly marriage.  Plenty of highs, plenty of lows, but never wavering in the commitment they made before God and man.  One man, one women, one lifetime.  Just as God intended.

Here's to my parents, Dave and Karen, and to many, many more years together.  I'm inspired by you.  I love my daughters and my wife more because of your example.  Thank you for never giving up.  Thank you for teaching me everything that matters.  Dad, thank you for loving mom.  Mom, thank you for loving dad.  Thank you both for living a life that honors our creator.

I love you!

What a beautiful day!

It's Saturday, and it's beautiful.  Not a cloud in the sky, temperatures in the upper 60's, I mean it's a perfect day for just about anything I can imagine doing.  Today I enjoyed a leisurely walk around Lake Ella with Bear, our four year old Yorkie.  I sipped a nice Americano from the Black Dog Cafe while I watched the ducks and turtles in the lake,  and enjoyed lunch with my family outside on the patio back at the house.  As I write, I'm alone on the patio with my Macbook, a hot cup of coffee and I can hear the water running in our small fish pond.  I mean, it's a nice day.

It's not just any Saturday though, it's the day between Jesus' death and resurrection.  Somehow in my mind I couple the two things and I wonder what that day was like all those years ago.  I think I could understand if it was one of those rainy, dark, stay inside all day depressing kind of days.  How fitting that might have been.  Jesus had just been killed, His small band of followers scattered.  What's to celebrate?  Who cares if it rains.

Instead, I choose to believe that it was a day just like today.  I don't know for sure, but I could see how the religious rulers of the day might have enjoyed a bbq and a cold one.  They had just put down this uprising, and were welcoming a return to the status quo.  I think some of the followers of Christ held out hope, while others were just glad it wasn't them in that cave.  I think the sun came out bright on that Saturday, as if God were saying it's ok, everything will be all right.  Yesterday was dark, but tomorrow is a new day.

Just thinking out loud.

      Montenegro                                                                              photo:mine   

"His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.  Rays of light flash from his hands,
  where his awesome power is hidden."   Habakkuk 3:4

Morning Majesty

Grand Cayman                                                                                    photo:mine

           

                                                                         

Leon Volleyball Wins the Regional Semifinal

Leon won in straight sets tonight, 25-17, 25-20, and 25-20, to advance to the Regional Championship Saturday.  Win Saturday, and we advance to the State Championship Tournament next week.  Rebecca has played year round since 7th grade, and has at most 3 matches left.   She has worked incredibly hard, and we couldn't be more proud of her.  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.

Go Lions!    

United

Pep Rally

Last weekend I attended the Alabama/LSU game in Tuscaloosa, one of the most amazing football games I have ever seen.  The atmosphere was unbelievable.  We arrived Thursday night, two nights before the game.  ESPN's College Gameday was on the scene with thousands (literally) of fans already in town.  I've never seen anything like it.  Everywhere we went were college football fans. Even our favorite breakfast spot, Rama Jama's, was  standing room only.  Which is interesting since it's not really the food that draws the crowds, but that's another blog.  Friday night we attended the Pep Rally outside Bryant-Denny Stadium on the Walk of Champions, and it too was amazing.  A huge crowd, The Million Dollar Band, cheerleaders, former players, even ESPN was cutting into it's regular programming and showing all of us getting pumped up for the game.  Again, it was unlike anything I have ever been a part of.  Sadly, my Blackberry photo above does not begin to really capture the atmosphere.

Recruits on the Bama Sideline
Pregame

Finally, Saturday night arrived and we headed into the Stadium two hours before kick-off.  One hour before kick-off the stadium was full and loud, very, very loud.  It was impressive to say the least.  I was looking at roughly 101,000 football fans, most of them decked out in Crimson and White, a few missed the memo and for some reason came dressed in Purple and Yellow, but since they had a ticket we let them in too.  There were marching bands, cheerleaders, coaches, players and recruits, more recruits than I have ever seen at a football game.  It was unbelievable, and I guess to be expected when the number one and number two rated teams in the nation play each other.  But it's hard for me to imagine how anyone could grasp the enormity of the event watching on television.  As the old expression goes, I guess you had to be there.  I'm really glad I was.

In the last couple of days I've been thinking about things that unite us.  College football is certainly one, at least among teams.  When I attend a college football game, there are many things I know.  I know how to dress, when to stand and cheer and when not to.  I know that in Tuscaloosa I would be lost without a shaker.  I know the words to the cheers, what food I could expect to find, and I really look forward to it by the way.  I know to bring my radio and what station to tune in to for the play by play.  I even know most of the rules of the game.  But what I don't know are many of the people.  I'm guessing in that large crowd, I knew less than forty people.  It doesn't stop me from attending, dressing in my teams color's or standing for hours yelling my head off.  In fact, since I get to do it less than a dozen times a year, it's something I really look forward to.

It's also convicting.  As a follower of Christ, I'm also united with more people than I can count.  I know many of them, but there are certainly millions I don't.   I often wonder what this place would be like if millions of Christ followers were as passionate about Christ, as myself and the other 100,999 college football fans in Tuscaloosa were about football last Saturday night.  If I haven't lost you already, please don't go now.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with loving the game of college football.  Also, I know there are many, many followers of Christ that are more passionate about being a follower of Christ than about being a follower of college football.  But for me, certainly my passion of football is often more obvious to a stranger than my passion for Christ.  I'm working on me.  Sometimes it helps me to think out loud.  Thanks for listening.

Mark 12:30-31

New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁰ And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’^{[a] 31} The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b] No other commandment is greater than these.”

I'll see you on down the path.

Just 'In Time'

Synopsis: When scientists unlock the secret to immortality, time becomes the new currency and one desperate man comes under attack from a mysterious group known only as the "Time Keepers." In the not-too-distant future, scientists have discovered a way to turn off the aging gene. As the threat of overpopulation looms over society, money becomes a thing of the past. Now, assets are measured in time; those with the most time also possess the most power.


I enjoy watching movies, and today I enjoyed this one.  Time becomes the ultimate possession, and in the world created by this movie, it's really all that matters.  Have time, have life.  Run out of time, run out of life.  Far fetched?  Maybe. Then again maybe not.  


I walked out of the theater reminded that everyday matters, and that if you try, you can accomplish a lot in a day.  I also remembered the words recorded in James 4,


¹³ Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” ¹⁴ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. ¹⁵ What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”


I shouldn't have needed a reminder, but I appreciated it just the same. I am not guaranteed another minute, much less another day.  I don't have a digital clock on my arm counting down to my death, but I shouldn't need one either.  


My prayer is that I make every moment count, that I love God and people as if today is my last.  


I'm going to head on down the path, as long as God allows.