Father's Day 2020

 

FATHER'S DAY

II Samuel 18:33 -- "O my son, Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" ---- On this Father's Day I am reminded of King David's life and the tragedies surrounding the lives of his children. This photo shows Absalom's tomb (the pyramidal form in left center) in the Kidron Valley. These words bring tears to my eyes every time I read them. Photo taken in Israel @1982

IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE

My Rebuke

October 22, 2021

 Today, to my chagrin, I was rebuked by God. I can think of no other way to describe my morning. I left my house to get a haircut, depressed and complaining to my wife about the slow recovery from surgery on my right shoulder. When I walked in the door of the barber shop the first sight my eyes beheld was an elderly man with a military veteran's cap waiting in a chair. He had no right arm. Coincidence?

 

                                 Christmas

 

December 25, 2021

Christmas has always been a season of perspective. For a child, it is a time of excitement and anticipation--expectation. When will it ever get here? What will Santa bring? Christmas Eve orchestrates all those feelings into a crescendo and makes it a bit hard to find a restful sleep. Christmas morning brings a kind of relieved rush to the awakening and, if you remember, the kind of hope and happiness that can only exist in the heart of a child.

As we grow older, our role in the pageant of Christmas evolves to one more of an observer than a participant. At this stage of my life, I am a bit surprised to realize that it is now for me a time of nostalgia and reflection. I tend to recall happy Christmases spent with those who are absent from this day. And yes, thankfulness for the gifts that have been scattered along my life's path, not the least of which is the Namesake of this Holy Day.

May Christmas always remain in heart of every child--no matter how old we are.

To all my extended family I wish the gift of health, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year.