It's been a few weeks since the last post.... my apologies. After the Marshall Marathon, life seemed to accelerate, deadlines at work, Christmas musical at church, shopping, and.... oh yes... my birthday.
Happy birthday to me! Thanks for all the wonderful cards, emails and birthday wishes. Speaking of cards, there was one that stood out as perhaps the most thoughtful card I have ever received. It came from a friend at church, and it set me to thinking about how I have lived my life so far.
The card itself was quite simple, basically just a quote from author Max Lucado. It reads as follows: "Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing and listen as heaven whispers, 'Do you like it? I did it just for you.' In the coming year, may God's wonders in your life leave you speechless. Happy Birthday!"
My friend Sam sent me that card. His personal note on the inside said that when he saw it, the card made him think of me. He said, "It's so you!!" I was both flattered and humbled to realize that the way I have lived has affected (however slightly) someone not under my parental control.
That birthday card made me pause and think of the sights I have been blessed to observe. Countless sunrises on morning runs. Sunsets over Cape Cod Bay, an evening sail in Megansett Harbor, right whales feeding in the North Atlantic, a full moonrise over Nauset Light beach, an early spring Appalachian high country snow, brilliant fall foliage along the Ohio River, just to name a few.
Thank you, Sam, for thinking of me. Evidently the music is not only perpetual, but also contagious. "Take a good look at God's wonders - they'll take your breath away." (Psalm 66:5 The Message)
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I know we're blessed to have been and be affected/infected/contagious by watching how you live it out - I was listening to a Nichole Nordemann song today and thought about this post - the song's called "River God" - it says,
"Rolling River God
Little Stones are smooth
Only once the water passes through
So I am a stone
rough and grainy still
Trying to reconcile this river's chill
But when I close my eyes
and feel you rushing by
I know that time brings change
and change takes time
And when the sunset comes
my prayer would be just this one
that you might pick me up
and notice that I am
just a little smoother in your hand
Sometimes raging wild
sometimes swollen high
never have I known this river dry
The deepest part of you
is where I want to stay
and feel the sharpest edges wash away"
You live it, friend, you live it. It's just a "God is so cool" thing. I enjoy being His "wretch" as the song goes...I am the wretch the song refers to.
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