Dear Friends,
It’s is interesting how things come around. When I was a child, I sang this song:
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God has done
Over the last few years, I have started to consciously look for God’s blessings. I’ve written about it and prayed that my eyes would be open. I can’t count what I can’t see… A trip to Santa Cruz beaches and a porpoise sighting; Blessing! A student testimony at chapel; Blessing! A job interview; Blessing! A first grader greets me, “Hi Mr. President!” Blessing!
I’m seeing more and more blessings and have come to realize that they have been there all along. I just haven’t been looking. I think that I finally understand what it means to count my blessings and see what God has done.
It has changed my life.
Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings. I strongly recommend it; you will be blessed!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Another Yosemite Story
Dear Friends,
My blogs have been a bit too serious lately. I think it is time to tell another Yosemite story.
Pat and I made three trips to Yosemite over the summer. On the second trip, daughter Emily came along and the three of us hiked up the Yosemite Falls trail. The key word here is UP. Halfway up the trail is an overlook with breathtaking views of the valley and Half Dome. A half mile further and there is an overlook of the upper fall. Be careful because the drop is thousands of feet DOWN. This is not a hike for the squeamish. But this is not the story….
Pat and Emily continued UP the trail to the top of the falls and I - - wimped out. I decided that this was not the day for brutalizing my body and so I headed down the trail, found a seat in the shade near the newly renovated building by the shuttle station (okay, a bathroom), and opened up a good book. As I sat and tried to read, I began to see the strangest things …
An “item” near the bench that I occupied seemed to create an unusual amount of interest. Many people stopped, stared, and commented to others in the group. A tour bus full of people walked slowly past. One family of five took a picture of each individual with the “item.” I don’t speak Japanese, but volunteered to take the family picture. Then the father took my picture next to the curiosity. Wierd. Have you guessed?
Another family stopped and the teenage son picked up the handset, listened, and exploded in Italian mixed with laughter. Every family member took a turn. A wizened woman with gray hair watched intently, waited, and, when the opportunity presented itself, shuffled with dignity to the box. Her eyes met mine and she broke out in a gap-tooth smile. Finally a brave middle aged man picked up the handset, deposited a coin, swiped a credit card, and looked bewildered. He tried again, and again, before muttering something under his breath that sounded like “kaput.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket as he stomped away.
What was this strange thing that turned so many heads, rivaled the falls for picture opportunities, and baffled even a bright young man? You’ve guessed it. A PAY PHONE! Now you know the rest of the story…
My, how times have changed!
My blogs have been a bit too serious lately. I think it is time to tell another Yosemite story.
Pat and I made three trips to Yosemite over the summer. On the second trip, daughter Emily came along and the three of us hiked up the Yosemite Falls trail. The key word here is UP. Halfway up the trail is an overlook with breathtaking views of the valley and Half Dome. A half mile further and there is an overlook of the upper fall. Be careful because the drop is thousands of feet DOWN. This is not a hike for the squeamish. But this is not the story….
Pat and Emily continued UP the trail to the top of the falls and I - - wimped out. I decided that this was not the day for brutalizing my body and so I headed down the trail, found a seat in the shade near the newly renovated building by the shuttle station (okay, a bathroom), and opened up a good book. As I sat and tried to read, I began to see the strangest things …
An “item” near the bench that I occupied seemed to create an unusual amount of interest. Many people stopped, stared, and commented to others in the group. A tour bus full of people walked slowly past. One family of five took a picture of each individual with the “item.” I don’t speak Japanese, but volunteered to take the family picture. Then the father took my picture next to the curiosity. Wierd. Have you guessed?
Another family stopped and the teenage son picked up the handset, listened, and exploded in Italian mixed with laughter. Every family member took a turn. A wizened woman with gray hair watched intently, waited, and, when the opportunity presented itself, shuffled with dignity to the box. Her eyes met mine and she broke out in a gap-tooth smile. Finally a brave middle aged man picked up the handset, deposited a coin, swiped a credit card, and looked bewildered. He tried again, and again, before muttering something under his breath that sounded like “kaput.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket as he stomped away.
What was this strange thing that turned so many heads, rivaled the falls for picture opportunities, and baffled even a bright young man? You’ve guessed it. A PAY PHONE! Now you know the rest of the story…
My, how times have changed!
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