Winter Born

I was listening to a song the other day and in the lyrics to the tune, they had this concept they were sharing that the author was "Winter Born". Now I can't say I'm sure exactly what the song writer had in mind for that particular song but it certainly struck a chord with me (pardon the awful pun). ;o)

I have long been a fan of winter time. Yes, most people prefer the nice warm sun and the hot days of summer but give me winter anytime! Part of the reason for this predilection with winter is the fact that I am so very warm-blooded. My wife sometimes jokingly says its my best feature. When I touch my wife's hands (or my daughters' for that matter), she comments (as they do) that "... you are SO warm!". Apparently it is my lot in life to be appreciated by the females of my family for my BTU generation capabilities. Alas - I guess you have to take the complements where you can get them.

Still, I was thinking about the idea of being "winter born" and what that means in terms of my appreciation for a season when most people would gladly be indoors. I love the cold weather. I can be out in it wearing a lot less than most other people at the time and be perfectly comfortable. The cold air makes me feel alive! It gives an extra "zing" to the world and it makes you really appreciate your nice warm house which God has graciously allowed you to possess. In addition there are the winter sports such as down-hill skiing - something I love to do but have not been able to do for some time since moving to "flat land". Still I would like to do it again sometime if I am able and the opportunity arises.

So, what does it mean to be "winter born" and to love winter? Well I decided it is an appreciation for the quiet stillness in which the world rests during the winter season. I suppose it could just be my laziness showing up but I really think it's more than that. Yes, it is true that winter (aside from some occassional shoveling of snow) is predominantly a season of rest from the outside yard-care duties but I think there is a tranquility and noble grace to winter that transcends just a simple delay in the weekly attacking of the 'green'. Rather, I think there is a quiet and peaceful beauty to winter that goes well beyond this.

One of my favorite times of the year is when I can sit inside the house with a warm cup of coffee, hot chocolate, or tea and watch the snow pile up outside. The soft delicate flakes - each one a unique individual - float gently to the ground and give the world outside a beautiful coating of white. There is great purity symbolized in that white coat. There is great peace to be found there as well. It is the stuff of which incredibly beautiful photographs have been made.

When I was in High School, we read a short story by Conrad Aiken called "Silent Snow, Secret Snow" that was incredibly well written. Yes, I know it can be viewed as a tale of isolationism and rejection of reality but it also has meaning in terms of our desire to find peace and tranquility. I think that is what winter brings us each year - peace and tranquility. It possesses great beauty and provides rest from our labors and it quiets the world for a short period of time during its visit. Surely human beings need such a rest to "recharge their batteries".

Well, I will most certainly be hoping for snow and the opportunity to post up some beautiful photos of nature at its finest. I hope you enjoy this winter; that you find time to rest and enjoy some contemplation of one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. Curl up with a good book, light the fire (turn off the TV) and watch the snow outside if you are so blessed. It can be a great time of relaxation and appreciation for nature. God has indeed blessed us in each season. Those of you who like me are "winter born" will be looking forward to appreciating His great blessing of winter beauty and rest.

Love to all,

Jerry

A Few More Trips Around The Sun

I've taken a bit to write this post because of recent events that hit me pretty hard and I needed time to think about them. Recently we lost an elderly man at our Church - a man whom we all highly respected. He was a good man, a brother in the Lord, and an elder for many MANY years for our congregation. Charlie had lived a large part of his life in service to God as an elder at our congregation and we all feel very positively about where he is now but his loss was very difficult.

It was the first time in my life I have experienced the passing of someone - in person. I am thankful to God that it was very peaceful for Charlie - I personally think he deserved that after all his years of service and the good man that he was. I did not have the opportunity to have known him as a young man but I knew him as an older man and he was to my knowledge a very good person and example of what a Christian should be.

Charlie would always greet everyone at the building on Sunday mornings with a big broad and happy smile. It was his way of saying "Good morning! I'm happy to see you". If you asked him how he was doing he would always say "just fine" until the last few months of his life when his health had failed him considerably and he was having some significant discomfort. Even so, he still greeted all of us with that smile.

Only about ten short years ago, when David first came to our congregation to be our full-time preacher, Bob our other elder expressed to David that he would be preaching a lot of funerals; presumably he felt that way because the congregation was by and large advanced in age. Still, I don't think any of us would have really thought about the prospect that both our elders, Charlie and Bob, would be gone from us a mere ten years later.

The night Charlie passed away, David and I went to collect some food for those who had gathered at Charlie's house to comfort his family. While we drove to the fast-food place, David and I talked about Charlie; how much he meant to our Church, what a good man he was and how much he would be missed. Along the way David mentioned that he has thought a lot about his own parents and how much he strongly desires to yet have more time with them. He expressed this so very eloquently when he said he just really wanted "a few more trips around the sun with them" so badly.

That got me to thinking about life and family and those we love. I guess that's what we all want most in life with our loved ones - just a few more trips around the sun together. His alusion to the way in which our planet orbits the sun in ticking out the slow passing of one year of our lives was a beautiful way to say that it is our relationships in life that richly bless us, encourage us, and transform us and it is all a very great blessing from God.

So, it is right that we are thankful to God for our family, our friends and each and every trip we make around the sun together. We have the potential to richly bless one another with our love.

None of us really knows how many trips around the sun have been allotted to us. There are many things in life that can affect that outcome. However, each of us has the opportunity to make the most of our current voyage; to impart our gift of love and concern for those around us on this trip while we are yet here. That's what Charlie did; he imparted love and value to all those who made the trip with him around the sun during the eighty three years of his life. The pictures of his life and loved ones that were on display at his funeral richly and greatly attested to this and no doubt those many happy memories of him will bless those of us lucky enough to have known him for the remainder of our lives.

So, let us all take advantage of our current trip around the sun. Let us love one another. Let us wax bold in expressing it each and every time we have the opportunity. Let us never end a conversation, a telephone call, a letter, or an email without saying "I Love You". Let us make the most of this great gift that God has given us in those about whom we care so very much. They are indeed a great blessing to our lives.

I close as the year draws toward an end, with only about two months left to this trip around the sun by saying I Love You All - my family and friends - and you are ever in my prayers of thanksgiving to God and my requests for His watchful care over you.

Love - Jerry

A Short But Nice Visit

Well, it was nice to have Leah home with us again for at least a short while the last 3 days. She flew home Wednesday night and back to school today. Sometimes it hardly seems she was here.

Sheila took a day off from work and enjoyed some shopping with Leah on Thursday and I took the day off Friday and enjoyed some shopping plus a movie with her. She is such a delight as are all my children but it is especially difficult when I've not seen her for so very long. The same should be said of Joy since we have now not seen her since the same period of time - some two months ago now.

One of the more difficult aspects of parenting is watching the little birds leave the nest and knowing that such is the nature of life. So, in order to be a good parent, you must assist your children in the very task that will break your heart. It's a very difficult thing both to comprehend and especially, to accept.

Leah was able to attend the morning session of our Fall gospel meeting today (topic focus is upon the family) and subsequently the pot-luck afterward and then I had to swish her off to the airport in order to catch her plane.

Lee-bee - if you are reading this, know that your father loves and misses you with all his heart. The same is true for you too Joy if you happen this way.

It is a joy to have our son home with us as he pursues his rather grand future goals but I miss my daughters too.

Goodnight you two! I would be there to tuck you in and kiss you on the forehead once more if I could somehow teleport myself about but since I have as yet to solve that thorny problem, I will have to simply say goodnight, and I love you from afar.

Love - Your Daddy.

Watching Our Children Grow

It is an amazing thing to watch one's children grow up. It seems like you and your spouse just met, fell in love and decided to start a family and you had those early days of changing diapers, wiping noses, trying to avoid the "NO" word, and watching those little tiny people take their first steps when all of a sudden, you turn around and look at them once more as you have done thousands of times in their short lives and suddenly you realize - they are grown!

It is indeed a bittersweet thing to become a parent. You will labor from their birth onward to help your children become self-sufficient people who are capable of charting their own direction in life. Through many prayers, praises, worries, lectures, hugs, kisses, scoldings, warm talks and shared tragedies, joys and happy moments, you attempt to pass a small amount of your wisdom obtained from your parents' and your own life's bumps and bruises and you pass a large part of your heart onto your child.

So, it is that I have come to another of those proud, happy and oddly bitter-sweet moments - the opportunity to watch my youngest child graduate from High School. It is amazing to see how much Leah has accomplished in her short time there. She has worked so hard and this is her moment of recognition - a time when she can kick up her heals and say I did it!

We just shared in this same happy moment with Joy just a few short weeks ago. We were so very proud of her to have graduated with such an excellent grade point average in a very challenging educational path at a demanding university. She too worked very hard to graduate from her college and certainly earned the right to celebrate this great accomplishment.

Mark too is amazing. He completed his education in engineering, obtained a first class job in the field and is already making sincere plans to return to school again to pursue a future career in medicine.

The Bible describes our children as a great blessing to us in the Lord and that is so very true. To have Christian children who bring such great joy to their parents is indeed a great blessing.

Life is short and things pass by quickly. As I contemplate my 54th birthday I am reminded how few short years ago my parents were probably thinking these same thoughts. In fact, I know they were because my Father just emailed me this week and indicated they were particularly thinking of me as a little boy those many years ago upon this 54th anniversary of my birthday.

So, it is that I close by wishing you the joy, love and happiness that comes from recognizing your family members and the great blessing they are to you. Hug one of them today - nah - hug em all! They need to know you love them.... and you need to tell them.

My love to you all, Have a great Summer,

Jerry

April Surprises

Well, living where we do, you just never know what the weather is going to bring your way. Two weeks ago temperatures soared into the 70s and people were driving around in sports cars with the top down (yes me too). The grass turned green and started to grow and people wore T-shirts and other light summer wear.

Last week temperatures plunged back into the 20s again and even though there was lots of green grass poking up in my backyard this weekend (that needed mowing but didn't get so addressed because I was sick), this is what we awoke to this morning (with more coming on 11APR07):



Yes, that is snow!







So, at least weather-wise, life is never dull around here.

Bet your weather was a bit warmer and less snowy than ours today!

My best to all of you,

Jerry

What's Up Doc?

Well, the latest happening with the Richmond clan is that Joy apparently is getting over kidney stones (I'll just go ahead and say OUCH! for all of you who have had them).

She's doing ok now but that probably explains why the weird cam isn't seeing much creativity of late - I just don't have time to deal with it.

On a funnier note we took her to the college health organization (clinic) to be diagnosed yesterday and although their "help" was certainly of dubious value, the scene in the waiting room was like something out of a tragic comedy or at least the staff of Saturday Night Live having some fun lampooning something that couldn't possibly be that bad in real life - so at least there was entertainment value to the three hours we spent there!

That is to say, there were kids who are now young adults and supposed to have a better understanding of such complex things as hygiene, acting like little third graders.... wiping noses on sleeves, coughing on each other. It was a veritable cornucopia of disease carrying young people who seemed to have no sense whatsoever of those around them. I saw this one guy walking into the clinic (as I was walking into the clinic) who had all the signs of the flu or a cold and all of a sudden I see him raising back to really let go with a good sneeze. I practically jumped sidewise to get out of his way! I was sure he had no sense of my presence nor would he have cared since he was fully involved with feeling miserable and trying to manage his coat, gloves, scarf, box of tissues and who knows what else that he was juggling on his way into the clinic. So, the act of sneezing was one additional micro-management task that he would need to handle and I figured it would not go well. It didn't. Fortunately I followed Mr. Miyagi's advice in the Karate Kid who said - "when the blow comes - don't be there!" - I wasn't.

But seriously ladies and germs, taken in aggragate, the scene in the clinic was a mixture of funny (it couldn't possibly be that bad could it? - yes... yes it is) and a parent's feeling of compassion for young people who obviously needed someone to care for them. Sheila and I personally wanted to escort each child home so they didn't have to walk home through the large quantities of snow that are piled up here from last week and the water that is everywhere. But sadly we could only care for our one child and quite frankly, we didn't really want to get too close to any of the "typhoid marys" so we did our best to keep our distance! Poor kids. I think they came to the wrong place. The well intentioned doctors at the clinic are just too over-burdened by the large quantity of sick kids wandering around in that place.

Joy said they came in looking like "death" and they left looking like "death"!

Fortunately, the hospital was a lot more helpful to us last night and Joy apppears to be on the mend and has pain killers for any residual pain so just keep her in your prayers and hopefully God's will is that she get over this and feel better.

Ah, the joys of parenting and college life!

Hope your day is healthier and happier! (Now... wonder what disease I'm going to come down with in about a week or two......... Honey! Honey! Where are the vitamins?)

Going Home

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to go home to see my parents, brother and sister and their families. It was an excellent visit and opportunity to be together (even if one of my teeth did flare up on me). We had lots of good food, enjoyed talking about old times and got acquainted with our new niece and nephews.

I hadn't been home in about five years and it seemed like longer. The last time I was home, my brother's little boy was just a baby. Now he's almost ready for pre-school. In that five year period, my brother's second son and daughter were born. It was surely fun to watch the little boys wrestle their cousin (my son) with near endless determination. My son's comment at one point was "Hey Dad, you know those little guys are tiny but they can sure tire you out!". That made me think back to not so many days ago when my son too was their size and accustomed to wrestling me at every opportunity and repeatedly.

It was nice to get to be with my parents again. I have missed them very much. Sure, we talk now and then by phone and we email of course but it isn't quite the same as being home again and being able to exchange a hug or two. That got me to thinking about "home" and what it really is.

There is a feeling of great contentment associated with being in my parents home. My mother has done an excellent job in decorating their abode. It is filled with many things some of which trigger memories from my earliest childhood. Of course, it isn't the particular physical house within which they currently reside that creates this feeling of "home". My parents have owned several houses over the years. Rather, it is that sense of being with your Mother and Father - that feeling of safety, calm, peace and contentment from being with them.

When I was a child, I had no responsibilities in life - at least no serious ones. My whole existence and sense of well being was predicated upon the protection and nurturing that my parents provided for me. We would take family vacations and I would fall peacefully asleep in the car secure in the knowledge that my father was so very capably and safely in charge of our vehicle's course of travel. I didn't have to worry about other drivers, road hazards, adverse weather or the overwhelming desire to fall asleep because my Dad was in control and I had absolute confidence in him and his abilities.

As I grew into an adult, I came to understand more of what it means to be a person with responsibilities. My own children came along and I hope they felt the same security in knowing that I was providing for their safety and well being. They could fall asleep in the car or enjoy a warm house in a cold winter because I was taking care of the things that required attention. Hopefully even today when my college kids come home, they feel like they are "home" - safe and protected.

Our parents do so many things for us - some of which we never really understand nor appreciate until we ourselves become parents and must do the same things for our own children.

So, as I visited with my parents, many of those old thoughts came back to me. Yes, I am now an adult and yes, I now realize many of the things with which they had to deal in order to provide that sense of safety and comfort for me and my siblings when we were younger, but I think no matter how old you grow or responsible for your own life you become, the sense of home and comfort that you have when you are a child, continues on into your adult years and is a blessing you can still enjoy when you visit with your parents. You know how much they have sacrificed in life for you. You know how hard they have labored to provide for you. You know how they have vigilantly guarded your safety in so far as it has been within their control.

Put it all together and it spells quite simply
- L-O-V-E.

That is the real essence of being "home" and spending time with our parents. You feel their love once again. A love that has been there since the first day you drew a breath. A love that was there as you accomplished each great step in your life such as saying one of their names for the first time, riding that first bike or graduating from high school or college. It is a love that nurtures you through good times and bad but most importantly is a a love that says - I love you and I am here for you so long as God is willing.

It is truly a great blessing to have our parents in our lives. The gift of being able to go "home" is one of God's greatest blessings.