| You know the expression – “Time flies when you’re having fun!” As much as I agree with this statement, there are times and ways I would like to edit it. Like, “Time flies when the Tigers are winning (like this week!)”. And, my favorite, “Time flies when eyes are open to seeing the blessings of the Lord Jesus.” Of course, from my perspective, all three statements are talking about having fun. Forty-nine years ago today Monica and I were united in Holy Matrimony. My, how the time flies! My, oh my, how much fun we have had (and are having)! My, oh my oh my, how blessed we are! Many of you know the story, but it’s always fun to tell. Growing up in the same church, we met while Monica was in 4th grade and I was in 5th – when our one-room-Lutheran schools were consolidated into one multi-classroom building. We started dating while in the youth group (then called Walther League) when Monica was 15 and I was 16. She went to Frankenmuth High while I attended Saginaw Buena Vista. Eventually we would attend college together – at least some of the time! And my oh my, did we ever have a lot of fun in those days! In 1976 we graduated, were married, and called by God to serve churches in Sterling Heights and Detroit. Matthew was born in 1980. We spent 13 months in St. Louis while I attended the seminary, and then, in 1983, I was ordained and Joel was born. And we were still having fun. My hat at Charity Lutheran changed from Director of Christians Education … to Vicar … to Pastor over the years until I was installed as Senior Pastor at St. Thomas Lutheran, Eastpointe in 1995. I retired from that role in February 2023 … and was called back to serve as visitation pastor emeritus in the fall of 2025. My, how time flies! (and we just might be having more fun than ever!). Have there been heartaches, agonies, and failures long the way? Oh yes. Have I been the perfect husband or father or pastor? I think you know the answer. Our life has had (like yours) ups and downs, deaths and disappointments, tough times and difficult decisions. We’ve made mistakes and have been hurt … but one thing has held true through it all: “Time flies when eyes are open to seeing the blessings of the Lord Jesus.” I’d like to add it is fun remembering the promises of the timeless One: “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you (O Lord), and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145.14-19) I think the author’s eyes were open to see the blessings of the Lord Jesus. Now we are grandparents (talk about having fun!) and are in our 70’s (having fun in a little different way than we did 50 years ago). We know that more heartaches, challenges, and difficulties are just around the corner. Time at times will drag … even as it flies. My prayer is that my eyes – and yours – will always be open to seeing the blessings of the Lord Jesus … even during those times when life is not so fun … and that we will always rejoice in this “bottom line promise” of Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11.25-26) … because, you know, time flies … and life with Jesus is eternal! |
Time Flies!
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