what was, what is....

What was, what is…

So I was in grade school. I was not liked. I was alone and lonely. I felt dumb and slow.  A rough start to life for sure.
That was then.

In Jr. High my brain started to work. I began to engage in adult conversations. But I was not popular. Still much a loner.

In high school I ran track and played football. I ditched the glasses for contact lenses. I played tennis. I worked at the Bicycle shop. I was president of the bicycle club. I had a girlfriend. I graduated.

In college I was an average nobody.

In seminary I worked to survive. I was 18th out of a class of 84. Nothing to write home about.

Then I served churches in Cache, Oklahoma, Indiahoma, Oklahoma. Lebanon, MO. Princeton, MO. Mercer, MO. Lee’s Summit, MO. And Cape Coral, FL. There was a time when I had the ear of the leadership of our Conference.

Now suddenly I am retired and serving a church part time in Ft. Pierce, FL.  [Great people at this church by the way...]

What was vs. what is….

I used to have energy. Now it appears to be optional. I used to run the 440 yard dash in 58 seconds. Now I don’t run. Some days I hobble. I used to think about the future, now I think about the past. I used to have new ideas. Now I manage old ones. I used to put up the Christmas lights every year. Now I put them up with a note that explains how to do it since I know that this year may be my last.

I used to have ideas about how to fix things at churches. Now I look at what is going on at a church and I think, “oh, my, how do you fix that?”

Life was simpler when I was younger. Life made more sense. Life came easy. The answers seemed readily available.  Now I work really hard to enjoy every day. There is nothing wrong with that. I think a lot of people struggle with meaning as they age.

I am still looking for the beautiful things. A sunrise. A smile. A hug. A friend flying in. There is a savoring of life that I have now, that I did not have when I was young. God makes all things beautiful in his time.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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I am leading some trips in 2018. If you are interested in reading about them, or joining in, the links are below.....

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours