Thursday’s Thirst

This year’s Florida drive was a little different than most years – primarily because it was in September, not March/April – though we did follow our usual path.  We take the eastern route down, driving around Columbus and through Virginia, West Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Jacksonville to get to my aunt’s home near the Atlantic coast.  Then, after our time in Orlando, we drive ‘straight up’ I-75 through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio to get home.

A friend and colleague of mine recently stepped away from social media for a time.  He is back now, I believe, with the ‘intentional interim’ time now completed.  Personally, I have not recognized the same issue for myself – though stepping away from ‘normal life’ (while not disconnecting from social media) is something that I am enjoying as I write this!

Inertia:  A tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.  Inertia:  A property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless that state is changed by an external force.  Inertia + friction must be overcome if change is to take place.

I know the expression is “two steps forward and one step back,” but there are times when this sounds a little too optimistic!  On those days we might instead be saying “two steps forward and 1.75 steps back.”  Or one may feel as though reversing the numbers is more appropriate – “One step forward and two steps back.”

One week ago last night Miguel Cabrera hit career home run number 499 and the waiting began.  As the Tigers came home to play the Indians and then the Angels, Comerica Park filled with fans who were wishing they could see number 500 in person.  However, as this morning arrived and he was still at 499, I sense the fans growing a little restless and fatigued.

I have often said that if I could simply spend all my days visiting with people and drop the rest of my responsibilities as pastor, I would be just as content as I am today.  Not being able to visit people was probably the most difficult part of the pandemic for me.  So it gives me great joy to be back “on the road again” visiting people in their homes.

That morning I wrote my Thursday’s Thirst.  In the afternoon I visited a beautiful, assisted living facility close to Lakeside Mall.  As I walked from my car to the entrance, I saw that they were all set to complete repairs on the sidewalks and driveway.  The forms were all in place.  All they had to do yet was pour the concrete.

Frank Sinatra has been dead for over 23 years, so many of you many may not even remember him, but way back in 1966 (I was just 13) he released a song entitled “That’s Life” (More recently, Michael Bublé recorded it in 2007).  The opening lyrics have been ringing in my head since Tuesday: “That’s life – that’s what all the people say.  You’re riding high in April, shot down in May.  But I know I’m gonna change my tune when I’m back on top, back on top in June.”

two games, but they ended up winning the 3-game series against the Twins in a most exciting way.  And even the game they lost was fun to watch!

I just finished reading Bill O’Reilly’s “Killing Crazy Horse:  the merciless Indian wars in America.”  It tells the story of the conflict between the settlers in the USA and the native Americans.  And the story is very sad – painful – on both sides of the ledger.