My new running shoes arrived the other day. Same make and model as I had, but these are new, with lots of fresh cushioning and the promise of much more comfortable runs. Yes, it’s exciting to get a new pair of running shoes, especially when I’ve put too many miles on the old ones. They say you should replace your shoes every 300-400 miles, but I know I went way beyond that. Anyway, the first run in them this morning was much better and even a little bouncy. Tomorrow’s run will be in 30 degree weather. I haven’t run in 30 degree weather for a while. In Des Moines, I ran in 20 below temperatures, with many layers and just my eyes showing. But that was a long, long time ago. Yes, I am crazy.
Baptism
Do you have any idea how cool it is to baptize an adult? That’s when I am most aware of God’s power and presence. Paul kind of came out of nowhere, started attending our church, and came to me to be baptized. We didn’t do anything different. In fact, I did nothing. God did it all. I started the baptism part of the service and I could feel the emotion welling up in me. Lisa can always hear that in my voice. I pulled it together and will remember this baptism for a long, long time. As I told him at the conclusion, it is a privilege to call him a brother in Christ. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him!
5K
Last Saturday, I ran my first race in about 4 or 5 years. Not my fastest time, but OK for an old guy. 25:49 was good enough for 12th overall (out of 66) and 2nd in my age group (50-59). We ran 5,000 meters out and back on the beach from the pier in Daytona Beach in a race to raise funds for Parkinson’s Awareness. Now I’ve got the running bug again and know I can recapture some of my previous speed. My best 5K ever happend about 30 years ago when I finally broke 18 minutes at a 1981 race around Lake Takanassee on a Monday night in NJ.
Funny, I don’t feel that much different than I did back then. I certainly don’t feel 51. But I ran across my birth certificate the other day and I can’t deny that the years have passed.
North Carolina
What a blessing to get away, just for four days, and be completely cut off from email, news, telephones, and the usual rhythms of life. We drove about 540 miles to a cabin just inside Pisgah National Forest at the base of Mt. Mitchell, which is the highest point east of the Mississippi. We didn’t hike up to the top, but did get to Crabtree Falls, which is a stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We arrived at the peak of the fall colors on Saturday. By Tuesday, when we had to leave, we could see the colors beginning to fade and the subdued hues of winter begin to take over the landscape.
We could have easily stayed there, had we owned or bought the cabin. What a beautiful location, location, location! We had to drive 14 miles of sepentine switchbacks to reach the cabin, but it was worth it. The other homes and cabins nearby were unoccupied that weekend, so we were essenti
ally alone. The cabin was for sale, but a little pricey for us at $250,000.
After a day of travel, we spent one day in Asheville, wandering around some very unique bookstores and coffee shops. Our second full day was our hike to the waterfall and some time in Burnsville. The town is advertised as a great historic place, but isn’t much in real life. We did eat at a pretty good Mexican restaurant there.
But the time away and spent relaxing was the best gift of all. The guest pastor at SOTC kept everyone one their toes, but they survived and so did we. The drive home was long, cloudy, gray, drizzly and dreary. In a word, yuk.
The weekend, though, was all grace. What a blessing to find, to arrive, and to enjoy such a retreat.
Thank you
I received an email today from the daughter-in-law of one of the home bound members, Minerva, I visit each month. it consisted of simple thank you, but more than made my day. Minerva shares the details of each visit with her family, from the baked goods she prepares for me to the flowers I sometimes bring from Sunday’s worship. The email concluded, “Thanks for bringing such joy into her life.”
I rarely stop to think about the impact a visit makes. When you live alone and rarely get out, any in-person conversation becomes a celebration. Every personal encounter becomes a memory that can be relived and enjoyed over and over.
I also realize what an impact a thank you can make. That one sentence blessed me more than cards, gifts, and other tokens of gratitude for ministry. It’s not that I don’t like those things. But I’d would much rather know that for just a moment, I brought joy to someone’s life. I made someone’s day a little shorter, a little more crowded, a little more memorable.
I can live off of a thank you for days.
Halloween
Boring. That’s all I have to say. No one has come to our door, and it’s 7:15. We might get a few, but I think the Trunk or Treats around town now rule the day. The picture is the pumpkin I carved for our front porch this year. You must pay for the best pumpkin patterns online, so this is an example of what you can get for free. The really good pumpkin carving patterns — presidential candidates or movie stars — take several days to finish. Maybe next year.
Just had three trick or treaters. A witch, some kind of ghoul, and a tiny batman. If I remember correctly, batman was popular when I was a kid, too. The classics never go out of style. The one thing we had going for us: big candy bars. Sizes you can’t hardly get now. Real candy bars, not the mini version. Yes, we knew how to do halloween.
Timber
Sable our Bassett howled, gazing out the window at a big black dog — mostly Rottweiler — cruising the neighborhood. It was Timber, from a few houses down who had gotten out of the garage on Monday morning, just looking for something to do. When I went out to corral him he snarled, but wagged pathetic stump of a tail to let me know his heart wasn’t in it. I had grabbed the retractable leash, rated at 10 lbs., to help take him home. I clipped it onto his collar, but he promptly bit through the cord like a piece of spaghetti. Note to self: take higher rated leash next time. After he slobbered on my pants, Timber let me escort him home, and I haven’t seen him since. But a man drove by the other day, asking if I had seen that enormous black dog who scared him “s***less” one morning. Chuckling inwardly, I acted concerned, but knew that Timber really hadn’t intended any harm. My neighbor Stan thinks I’m a hero for saving the neighborhood. I think I just smelled enough like my own dogs that Timber knew I was OK.
Legrand Malany
Legrand Malany died last Friday, and I did his memorial service today for a packed house at Lohman Palm Coast Funeral Home (read 70+ people). Quite a tribute to the man. I had only met him a few times, but knew his wife of 70 years, Marian, very well. What a privilege to meet his four children, along with lots of other relatives and friends. The best part is just knowing someone named Legrand. Awesome name.
I’ve noticed that writing funeral messages comes easier than I remember in the past. With some biographical information and scripture, they just flow. Practice and experience help, of course. Most important: keep it simple.
All of Legrand’s children spoke. A tough assignment, but they did a great job. Just enough to share their hearts and lift our spirits.
I haven’t minded doing funerals and memorials lately. I like to be the one who mentions Jesus.
Dolphins
Not the Miami football team. The full time residents of Marineland. I did a wedding there this past Saturday. WIth a stunning view of 5-6 foot waves in the background, I stood at the edge of the main dophin tank as Jake and Kali took their vows with about 60 people and 14 dolphins as witnesses. After the service, trainers were on hand to have pairs of dolphins leap out of the water as a backdrop for pictures of the newly married couple. Impressive.
I’m glad it had rained the night before. With the Washington Oaks rose garden too soggy for the wedding, they moved it to Marineland. Excellent call.
Before the ceremony began, I got to talk with some of the trainers there. Most had worked there two years or less, but loved the job and living in Florida. Long hours though: 6 am to 8 pm. After only a few months, they knew all the dophins by name. The staff was just as good with me and the other people gathered there as they were with the dolphins.
The bride and her bridesmaids were all varsity volleyball players from Coastal Carolina University. Yes, they were tall, at least taller than all the groomsmen. (But not taller than the groom.)
I rate this wedding very close to the Bahamas experience three years ago.
Waite for it... 