Summer Solstice

The longest day based solely on the amount of hours of expected sunshine. It's a good thing it's not cloudy, yet. But what does it all mean? We are already beginning the downward flight to the Winter Solstice, it's six months to Christmas.

Summer has yet to begin and I'm already thinking about the dark dreary days of winter. Pretty sad, but it's a reality. I can almost see time fly. Someone said that time flies when you're having fun, not true. Time flies no matter what, it just seems to move faster through the pleasureable times.

So what? Is there something I can do about it? I don't think so, I just have to grin and bear it and this too shall pass.

I think I have used all the useless adages in one post today.

I think I need a break. A weeks vacation is coming in a week and a half and it's time to refresh and recharge the batteries. I'm feeling worn out, can you tell? that quote from Bilbo in the Lord of the Rings seems to express it best: "I feel like butter spread over too uch bread"

He said he felt "thin" an interesting comment from a hobbit, a class of people who are never thin, unless of course you are Gollum, who wasn't a real hobbit.

Talk about spiderwebbing. I seem to have covered much ground in talking about the summer solstice. Enjoy the sun, apparently it's to rain fornthe next four days.

and suddenly there isn't much time left

"You walk around feeling like a teenager and immortal your whole life and suddenly there isn't much time left"

I just read that quote in "The girl who kicked the hornet's nest". Lately I've been thinking about being on the wrong side of the hill. I'm not sure I am over it yet, the hill that is, but my best before date is drawing closer. I'm not being morbid or even maudlin, but realistic. I'm getting older. My children are getting older, one has left the nest, the other is preparing to do so.

This begs the question: what next? What is in store for me for the remainder of my life? What do I have planned? Not much actually. I need to keep working at least for 5-6 more years and then what? What can I do to impact this world in a positive sense? What does God want from me in order to impact this world? There has to be more than retirement planning, vacations, personal enjoyment, sitting and wasting away, doesn't there?

It's time to start seriously thinking about what time I have left. Just yesterday I spent time with the parents of my beloved who are both starting to tire. After that we spent time with some old friends, one of whom is fighting cancer. They too are starting to tire.

What is there for me to do?

With my skills what can I do to expand the Kingdom of God before I am called away from here?

What can I do to improve the lives of others before my best before time expires?

Who would have thought that a book filled with amazing characters and horrible sin would challenge me to look at my life in a different way? Amazing eh?

"and suddenly there isn't much time left"

How true!

Pre-fathers day thoughts

I had a serendipitous event today.

I ran into the sister of one of my closest friends from high school. After chatting I went to visit the parents of my friend.

Sadly, I learned that one of these fine folk is suffering from cancer. Almost a year ago that damned disease took someone from me. More and more will succumb to this dreaded disease because we live in a fallen world. All the research and fundraising will do nothing to eliminate this disease.

What was serendipitous then? We have not seen these people in such a long time. We shared where our lives have taken us in the last few years and we shared how our children our planning their lives to serve others. We shared our faith through the stories of our life experiences and we opened some doors and discussions that might allow us to develop deeper bonds before the dreaded disease takes our friend.

Sometimes life stinks. Sometimes it provides the impetus to deal with what really matters. There is more to life than death. I noticed a sign the other "it doesn't take courage to face death it takes courage to face life".

When it stinks we just have to have courage to face it. In all the joy of memories I was reminded by my friend to face life with all the courage that I can muster.

Are you facing it today.

Tomorrow is "fathers day", a day set apart for dads everywhere to get a new tie and to be feted by his wife and children. As a dad I want to face life with courage and integrity. In that way I hope to leave a legacy for my children and for others too.

Happy Fathers day to all the dads.