Today brings an end to an era: the balding tires on the Explorer. About the time you read this there will be four new shoes on the go-kart. (Yeah, I’m hip…)
I put it off as long as I could, but there’s a road trip in my future, and winter isn’t taking this year off last I heard. So it is time to take care of the tires. Another giant expense in a week full of money matters.
But I have to admit it has been a good week. I’ve been blessed with good friends, good food, and a sheepdog who was sudzed and scrubbed before they trimmed her considerable coat. She’s as soft as baby hair and smells like a bag of Fritos. Funny, eh? Dog body odor smells like my favorite snack food. Intelligent design at its finest.
Today I’m giving thanks for all of the prayer you have layered on my requests last week. I need you to pour it on again, but this time for me. I have some tough decisions to make this week and God’s blessing will go a long way to making me comfortable with them. I know in my heart where I need to go, but the path is a bit fuzzy at the moment.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the sun has been amazingly kind to my bald head. I’ve been outside more in the last month than I had been in a long time. Why? I’ve resumed long-distance walking. I’m back up to four mile jaunts around the city. I came to the realization that I was physically able to do it again after spending ten hours on my feet at the church fun fest. Sore? Yeah. But I wasn’t dying.
Every time I head out on the path to some distant point it gets a little bit easier. I feel better, actually seeing some definition in the calf muscle, and less pain the next day. Wind is still marginal, but that will come with time. It’s wonderful to be doing my favorite thing once again. After two knee surgeries I’d just about given up on the sport, but the fun fest convinced me that I could do it if I wanted.
Once again, God used the church to guide me on the right path. Don’t dismiss the impact of that place in your life. Even silly stuff like fun fests plays a role. There are lots of things God wants to show you if you’ll just open your eyes.
Well, time for me to shut mine for a while. I hope your Thursday is beautiful. Please remember to pray for all those on the list, me, and … one more thing: wrack your brain for a friend in trouble. Depressed, sad, isolated, ill. Take time out of your day to reach out to them and love them. Bring them a brownie from the gas station, a cold Pepsi from your fridge, or just mow the lawn for them. It doesn’t have to be elaborate, but when it comes from your heart it will bless theirs. It might be what keeps them coming back for the new dawn. Not trying to be heavy, but to remind you that you have an influential role in your friends lives.
Be blessed.
