My Thanksgiving

This year is different. Every year, it seems that we are focused on the topic of thanksgiving about this time of year. I've noticed on my Facebook wall, many of my friends are posting daily items of thanks. That is really great, and I wish I had gotten in on that at the beginning of November, but quite honestly, I didn't want to start something and have it fall by the wayside.

As time moves on, and as we grow older and our children morph into the adults we've taught them to be, traditions change. I wrote a little bit about that last year around Christmas. But this year, it has hit me with a new level of sensitivity. Two years ago when my eldest daughter left home for college, as much as I missed having her around, it didn't really register with me as much. That's likely because my youngest was still home so it was still a lot of the parental responsibility at home to deal with. This past August, though, when my youngest left for college and we are the empty nesters, things got eerily quiet at home. A tank of gasoline would last a lot longer in the car. Going out to eat was a third cheaper than before. We began to adjust to the life of two instead of the life with child(ren) as it had been the previous 20 years.

This year, it has been so incredible to say, "Yes, the girls are coming home for Thanksgiving!" When I got home from my quartet trip this past Sunday evening, Emily had arrived home. Tuesday, she went to West Palm to pick up Abby. Now, they are both home and I'm a happy dad! I've been anticipating this week for quite some time. I think since it's here, I'm going to just kick back and enjoy it!

As life moves on and as children grow up, its true things change. I'm thankful for the way my daughters are growing up and maturing into these incredible young ladies that have Christ at the center of who they are. Since its truth that life changes, I could be no more proud of the way God is at work changing these two young ladies into who He wants them to be. I am confident that what Paul wrote is true in their lives, "...He who began a good work in [them] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

I trust that you will be thankful for your children and your family this Thanksgiving season. I certainly have a renewed sense of just what they mean to me.

I'm Sorry, Daddy

As I was growing up, it was common for my dad and I to play catch in the yard. It depended on what time of year it was as to what kind of ball we tossed. In the summer, it was a baseball; in the fall it was a football. In fact, dad was one of my Little League baseball coaches and when I played some high school baseball, he came to as many games as he could. We played church softball together for several years, too. I remember as a teenager and young man, I laughed at him when he ran. "You run like an old man!" I'd say. Those words haunt me today. My dad died when he was only 55. He was still a young man when he died! How could I say such things when he was still in his 40s, for cryin' out loud?! Those words haunt me today because even when he was 50, he'd outrun me today. I'm not yet 50, and haven't been physically fit enough to play an honest game of softball in years. Since I can't physically play the game at a competitive level, I've resorted to umpiring. It gets me on a softball field in a competitive atmosphere, yet I'm not feeling pressured to perform athletic moves in order to stay on the field. The pressure to umpire is much, MUCH different! Yes, there are times when I wish I had a glove. I've been nicked and scraped by the ball and foul tips at home plate still make me nervous. Line drives in the field still cause my heart to pound a little harder when I have to move quickly to keep from getting hit. Remember, I have no glove, and I'm not playing the game because I'm not as athletic as I once was! The most recent night I worked on a softball field was certainly a test. I'm not sure if God was testing me, or allowing me to be tested; but it was a difficult night. In the first game of three that I umpired, I was calling balls and strikes. The night started out well enough; I actually had a couple of close calls at the plate and no one argued with me. But then ~~~ A play was about to happen at the plate. The ball came screaming in from the second baseman who was the cut-off man in shallow right center field. It was up the third base line a bit; right where I was standing. I saw the ball heading my way, so I moved to get out of the way. The ball changed direction ~ toward me. I moved again, and it seemed as though there was a laser beam connecting the ball to my head. It seemed to tail right towards me ~ again. By now, the only thing I could do was turn. I turned and the ball just grazed my left arm. That didn't hurt at all. As I turned, though, I lost all sense of balance, and I started going down. At this point, all time seemed to go in slow motion. I saw the chain link fence of the backstop creeping closer to me. I knew I was going down. My gaze shifted toward the dirt getting closer to me. Then, finally I landed. Thankfully, there was no seismic earthquake, but a man of my girth hitting the ground is no laughing matter. Players, to their credit, came over to check on me. They asked if I needed some time to shake the cobwebs loose. I told one of them, if I take that kind of time, we wouldn't get the game started back. Later, some of the players who were watching this game, waiting to start the next one, were kidding with me asking if I was alright. I told them, the reason I'm umpiring instead of playing today is because umpires are supposed to stay upright. I'm not sure if I'm fit to be an umpire anymore! Now, please understand, I've got some other physical ailments with some joints and junk. I've been the doctors this past week with some other pains. But the part of my body that hurts the most right now? Yep, the strawberry on my right knee! So, yes, it pains me to remember me making fun of my dad running so slowly. At this point, I just wish I could run!

Your Pastor, Your Lifeguard

I came to the beach this afternoon ~ just because. It wasn't in my to-do list for today at all. I haven't been in quite a while. In fact, this is the first time all summer that I've been to just sit and enjoy it.

I figured it wouldn't be crowded since local schools have started, many colleges have started, and it is a weekday afternoon. Quite frankly, there are more people here than I thought. Still not crowded by any stretch, but more nonetheless.

I shared a shady pavilion along the boardwalk with a couple of ladies. While not elderly, they were certainly of retirement age. One was wheelchair bound. There was no conversation to speak of. Only the obligatory, "May I sit here?", "Are you from here?", and "So long, have a nice day." But as I observed them, along with the dozens or so others walking past or sitting on the sun-splashed sand, I wondered lots of things.

What are you thinking? How do you know the person(s) you are with? Do you live here or are you vacationing? If you're vacationing, thanks for coming and where are you from?

There are people of varying ages, shapes, and sizes here today. Obviously more older than younger because of locals and school, but I have seen a few students here with adults ~ most likely the vacationing type.

I'm also sitting where I can see the lifeguard. He's keeping a close eye on the ones on the beach. He's likely keeping a closer eye on those in the water. I would imagine he's even got a general idea about those like me on the boardwalk behind him. He also knows the conditions of the waters. He has flags flying to communicate those conditions to us.

Just a few hundred miles out from where I'm facing is a storm. To look at the beach now, you can't tell it. There's no clouds. There's virtually no wind. The surf is not threatening in the least. But the storm is there. The weather radar tells us its there.

My hunch is the lifeguard is aware of Isaac the storm, too. Although it isn't threatening his beach today, he's already thinking and preparing for what direction it may go and how it will affect our beaches and shoreline.

The lifeguard is very much like your pastor. He's got a general feel for those in his care. He's responsible for their spiritual safety and well-being. He's got his ear to the ground on the general topics facing us in life today and is preparing himself constantly to protect his people.

There are all types of people in your church. There are different demographics, different lifestyles and personalities. There are different hobbies and habits. Have you prayed for your pastor today as he prepares to meet those (including YOUR) needs?

Think about that and breathe a prayer for him right now. After I pray, I'm going to strike up another conversation. A sweet-looking couple who appear to be in their 80s just joined me under the shaded pavilion. She, with her walker; he is her helper. I wonder what their story could be.