Yes, it's Tuesday morning, the day after Memorial Day and I have been searching my "IN" box for something interesting to talk about. I have two goals. One, to write. If I am going to be known as a writer, I need to write, every day. Two, I need to make this day memorable for another person.
Hang on, my target may be you - especially if you are - as they like to say, getting older.
I don't know who the "they" is, but in my case, they are missing the mark.
I am not getting older, I am progressively moving towards a new destination. The fact is, I have yet to arrive, anywhere. I often wonder about my past life. Born in Detroit, MI. Grew up near Yale, MI. I am a Yale graduate, high school, that is. Joined the Army Air Corps. Sent to Japan and was there for a few months more than four years. Came "home" to discover, home was not where my heart was. Decided to settle down and go to college. Left the Air Force. Enrolled at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. Got married. Switched to what would become Georgia State University and graduated. Left Georgia for California and was divorced. Wandered around and lost a couple of years. Got married again. We had four children and I left California. Didn't mean to. It just happened. Was divorced again. Was "born again" and made church, my primary interest. Moved to Dallas, Tx, big mistake. "Wandered" for over two and a half years and wound up in Orlando, FL Got married again,.church continued to be my primary interest. Wife passed away. I moved to Tennessee and discovered my sister and mother who I had not seen in over twenty-five years, had moved there also. Mother passed away. Moved in with my sister and then, she moved away. I got married again. Moved to Cookeville, TN. Wife passed away and here I am, today.
Came across this bit of "wisdom" earlier this morning; "Seek adventure, every day. Search for adventure every day. Look for opportunities you may have missed. Embrace your faith." Whoever wrote that knew more about me, better than anyone I have ever known
Another bit of "wisdom" discovered on this Tuesday morning. "Embrace your faith. It is more than merely attending church. On the street where you live, there are folks who need to know they are loved. Don't hesitate. Speak up, say "Hello.'" Note the emphasis, enjoy the process. This has become my primary goal in life.
And another... "Smile - a lot. Yes I know, about the aches and pains that come along with aging. You might be amazed to realize how quickly they pass away when we make an effort to offer encouragement to others."
I don't know who penned those words, but they have discovered thoughts about me that I never fully realized until today.
There is something else. Yes, I still attend church, but more importantly than any of the others, I am the church. Yes, I am. I like the feeling of being in church, sharing life with fellow believers, always learning something new about my faith and about others, but as importantly, about myself. I am not talking about ego, but the fact is, in spite of all of my learning over the years, I have a responsibility to know more about others as I am being led by my Leader. I trust you know Him. He loves me and I know above all, He loves you.
You see, I am too busy to think about "growing" old. Yes, I am aging and right now, being 85 years of age is a comforting fact. I expect to be 100 in a few years and I may be, but it is not up to me. Eat well, exercise, read a lot, love others, do all of those things that the experts advise, but I know that I know that on that day when this all ends, I will be going home, my goal for all of these years.
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