Middelburg - on the river cruise

Middelburg, in the Netherlands, is in the province of Zeeland.  The Dutch "discovered" New Zealand and named it after this province.  We had a fantastic visit to the town of Middelburg.

And at 9pm on the third day of the trip, my luggage showed up!!!

Travelling is such a blessing.  

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Hoorn

On the third day of the river cruise we visited the ancient port town of Hoorn in the Netherlands.  In days gone by it was a very important port to the Dutch East India Company.

I love history and I love to see the old buildings.  

I saw a fantastic sunrise on the river!!!

This is still my Father's world.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

replaceable

So when I was on the river cruise my bags were lost for 3 days.  I wondered if they were lost for good.  Maybe there was something in them that someone wanted?  You hear stories of such things happening.

So I started making a list of what items I would miss if the bags were lost for good.

Here it is:

1. Some of my favorite shirts.
2. My manicure kit.
3. My 2007 World Series Jacket [sentimental feelings]
4. My medication.
5. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Everything else was completely replaceable.  And when you think about it, so were my jacket, my favorite shirts, the manicure kit and my medication.

And so we worry so much.  I was really chill with the folks on the boat about my luggage being lost.  It was not their fault.  I did not want to hurt them.  I did not want to deliver my first world angst to them.

In the end, it all showed up.  Next time I go on a trip, I am going to take much less stuff than this time.  We are way too attached to our stuff.  It either does not matter, or it can simply be replaced.

 It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

the movie "Old"

I watched the movie, "Old" by M. Night Shyamalan.  I thought it was fantastic.  Painful, but good.  

These folks get stuck on this beach and age very rapidly.  They go bald, they get cancer, they get wrinkles and they get dementia.  Their kids grow up, years in days.

At one point one fellow says to his wife, "there is this word, I forget the word, but it is about my feelings for you."

Well the word that he was looking for of course was love.  Imagine not remembering the word "love."  What a sad world that would be.

I love you!!!  Share the love in everyway that you can.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

River Cruise Cabin

So, the river cruise is delightful.  The food is great, the staff is great, and the cabin is great!  It has been great to catch up with my Woods Chapel friends.

I finally got my luggage on day 3, so I smell better now.  Here are some pictures from my cabin.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Wishful thinking

I run across things from time to time, that I really like, but I also recognize that they might be wishful thinking.

A few weeks ago, my Pastor read about the Methodist Church's stance for peace.  I love peace, I think everyone does, but there does come a time when what we wish for is no longer possible.

The other day I saw a shirt with this slogan, "The world is a sphere, there is no east or west."  I love that.  I love the idea that we are all in this together and that we can/should all get along.

I would like to think that 100 of my friends could go to Washington, be the Senate and actually treat each other with respect.

No East or West?  I wish it were true, but we have seen it playing out during my entire life that there is a competition, a separation between the two.

I can affect nothing on the world stage, but I will say this:  in my own life, in every way that I can, I am going to work to include everyone and to value everyone.  At least in my own little sphere, there does not have to be an East and a West.

Care to join me?

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

River Cruise Day 2

 And so I am taking stock for what I will miss if the luggage does not show up.  One thing for sure, besides clean clothes is the charger for my computer.  If this does not show up, soon my Acer will die and I will not be able to post blogs.  We shall see!

We arrived at the boat and it is beautiful!  We are on it's first voyage and everything is brand new.  From the ship, Amsterdam looks very commercial with a lot of square buildings.  When I got off the ship and went for a walk, I saw some beautiful sites.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

River Cruise Day 1

So on Saturday I drove to Orlando to start the process of flying to Amsterdam for the River Cruise.

The airport was packed!!! So packed that I almost missed my flight from Orlando to Atlanta.  I finally got to the gate and the flight was delayed.  All of that worry, all of that consuming concern about missing a flight was for nothing.

How many times does that happen in our lives?  I worried about something that it turns out there was no reason for me to worry about at all.

The flight was delayed an hour.  Then we sat on the tarmac for an hour because of bad weather.  When we finally took off, I knew that I would have to hurry to get on board the flight to Amsterdam.  Again, more worry.  I got to the plane 5 minutes before the boarding door was closed.

Off we went.  I had the pleasure of sitting next to two really good guys:  Marco, who forever now will be called Marco Polo and Adam Sandler.  Sandler is in high school, studying to be an auto mechanic/design engineer.  Marco does something with financial institutions that I do not understand.

We talked and listened and shared stories.  I told a few jokes.  Yes, if you can believe that, I told a few jokes.  I slept a little bit and then we arrived.

At the airport we found Shane who was driving a little people moving cart.  We hopped on and he drove us right up to customs and got us right through.  It was awesome.

Unfortunately, although I made the flight to Amsterdam, my luggage did not.  So I will be smelly if it does not show up in a couple of days.  I may have to start carrying around some limburger cheese.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

tell them

I got an email from an old friend about the St. Patrick's day post:  Patty O'Furniture.

She said nice things to me.

I wrote her back.  I told her that she is a good soul.

There are two things that I like to tell people and I should say these things more often:

1.  You are a good soul.

2.  You are one of my favorite humans.

Share the love, spread the love.  Tell people things that are kind and that make them feel good.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

A note to the lady

This is a note to the lady from yesterday's blog...  

Dear Lady,

Do you know how you made me feel?  First let's take the fact that you decided to intrude into our space with your comments.  We did not go to that restaurant to listen to your stuff.

But worst of all, is how your judgment made me feel.  The shame and finger pointing hurt.  It hurt for about an hour, until I got over your smallness.  If this is how your church teaches you to make friends and influence people, you need to take another look at your methods.

Think of 1 Corinthians 13... If I love my interpretation of the Bible, but have not love, I am a clanking cymbal.  If I care enough about people to try to fix them, but have not love, well, you have not love.

Honestly I am completely over your words.  You accomplished nothing but to remind me that love comes first.  Always and only, love comes first.  

End of note...

Now to my blog readers... may this episode be a reminder to all of us how much it stings when we are critical of another.  May it remind us that Jesus was against judgment for a reason.  If you feel yourself beginning to judge another, stop yourself.  Judging others hurts us as much as it hurts the person we deliver the judgment to.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Really???

So I met a friend from the Fort Pierce Church for lunch. We were having a discussion about the impending separation of the United Methodist church. When we were getting ready to leave, the lady behind me felt the need to sort of jump in and explain who was right and who was wrong. She was explaining that her concert of theology was much superior to mine.  Her view of the Bible the correct one.

I was surprised, "right here in the restaurant lady?"  "You’re a complete stranger to me and yet you feel the need to instruct me on applicable biblical views. You know I would love to take the time to sit down and talk through some of this with you but I don’t think it would help."

 It was clear that she wasn’t going to stop, so I just said to my friend "let’s go," and we did. As Christians our job is to love people not to straighten them out. The reason so many people are not interested in the church anymore is because of the judgment and the intrusion that so many well-meaning Christians deliver to people. 

Thank God that our God is a God of love. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

What do others need from you

What do others need from you, that you can give?    And there may be things that they want from you that are not appropriate.  But are you withholding something that you can easily give?

Is someone waiting for your approval?  Is someone waiting for your kindness?  Is it possible that we are withholding something very valuable from another person?  Is there a kindness, something that we could give to others with little or no hurt to ourselves?  Free them from prison.  Deliver to them some joy.  Help them to live a life of love and peace.  Don’t let the cobwebs of your childhood be transferred to the next generation.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

The Apology

I just finished the book, The Apology by Eve Ensler. It is a painful read, a guttural account of abuse that she endured as a child. There is a lot in the book to think about. It definitely held my interest.

Here are a couple of quotes from the book

"There is no hurt that we inflict on another that does not come back to haunt us ten fold."

"Anger is a poison that you mix for your friend but drink yourself."

When given the choice to inflict pain, may we instead choose the way of grace.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Water Slide

I have been on a number of cruises.  I have never done the water slides.  Last weekend, I climbed to the top of the 13th deck on Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas.  I took the plunge.  Round and round I went, sliding down at break neck speed, I was squealing like a baby.

The end came quickly, a bit surprisingly soon as I splashed down into the pool at the end.  I went completely under and got a nose full of water!

It was absolutely delightful.  Don't hold yourself back from things that you might enjoy. 

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

St. Patrick's Day

One of my favorite jokes...

On St. Patty's Day I am reminded of the famous Irishman who invented outdoor tables and chairs.  Do you remember his name???

Wait for it................................

Patty O-Furniture.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Crazy religious thinking

My friend Mike sent me an article about how some pastors are saying that the war in Ukraine is a sign of the end of time.

click here to read the article

I do want to comment on such speculative theology.  Just because bad things are happening, does not mean it is the end of time.  When the Vandals sacked Rome was it the end of time?  Did the Civil War, WW1 or WW2 usher in the end of time?  No.

Some humans are prone to think that the sky is falling anytime something happens that makes them uncomfortable.  As if it is an American  right to feel comfortable.

In this world there will be tribulation.  I hope the war ends soon.  Please don't spend your time worrying about the second coming.  Instead, spend your energy and your money looking for people to bless.  We are here to be good to others, not worry about everything.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

And the gloves come off...

Part of an article about the impending split of the UMC as reported by United Methodist Insite:

Any semblance of Christian forbearance over the anticipated split in The United Methodist Church tore away this week in response to the continued delay of General Conference and the announcement that a breakaway traditionalist denomination, the Global Methodist Church, will launch May 1.

WCA proponents openly acknowledged their anger at the third delay of General Conference that has effectively derailed the agreement that would have provided a financial foundation for a new traditionalist denomination. By the end of the week reports came of closed-door recruitment meetings around the United States – many held at United Methodist congregations that are WCA members.

The most public confrontation occurred in the Florida Annual Conference. There at Waukeenah UMC in Monticello, Fla., the Rev. Wayne Wiatt, superintendent of the Northwest District, and his wife Ramona were escorted out of a Global Methodist Church meeting organized by Jay Therrell, a former UMC clergyman and president of the WCA Florida Chapter. Mrs. Wiatt made a video of herself (at left) outside the church to describe the incident and posted it on Facebook. Mr. Therrell responded to Mrs. Wiatt’s minute-and-a-half video with a six-minute video of his own (at right), contending that the Wiatts had “intimidated” those at the meeting, and that the WCA had a right to close its meeting to those not interested in joining the Global Methodist Church. Cynthia B. Astle collected both videos along with expanded responses from Mr. Therrell and Florida Bishop Ken Carter.

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You can read the entire article by clicking this link.

click here to read the entire article

So in short, General Conference has been postponed again and the conservative group is no longer willing to wait.  They are launching their new denomination in six weeks on May 1.  Many churches will be taking a vote on whether they will stay United Methodist or leave with the new denomination.  

It seems all so sad to me.

Once they new Global Methodist Church is launched on May 1, they will be the denomination that believes that Homosexuality is a sin and that they should not be married in the church.  The United Methodist Church is expected to change the language of the Discipline to indicate that Pastors can perform Gay weddings and that relationships with the LGBTQ community will become normalized.  Personally, I am staying with the United Methodist Church.

The church should have never been in the business of shaming people.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

It is Good

In Genesis 1, God made everything and when he was finished, he said it was "good."

Good. Good. Good.

Did not sleep well? Lots on your mind? Life is still good.
Rainy day? Rained on you during your walk from the car to the store? Still Good.
Worried about things in your life? It's still good.
Sad about some things? Someone is sick? Life is still good.

It is good, not because every circumstance is to our liking, but because God is good, and he is with us. Life changes. He never does. He saw it all, from beginning to end and he said, It is Good.

My knees are shot, my hair is gone, and I have other problems that I probably cannot explain here, but life is still good.  We have so much to be thankful for.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Reaching for people

So I spent 9 days in Seneca Falls, New York. I was working 8 miles away in Geneva New York. I happened by chance the first night I was in Seneca Falls to find a local joint called Dewey‘s.  I was taken in.  I was there every night for for the entire trip. I got to know the servers. Nice people and we had nice talks.  The food was good and the food was very very affordable.

So I talked with the locals and I visited with the servers, we talked about life, we talked about family. The last night I was there I was saying goodbye because I was flying home the next morning. One of them gave me a hug. It didn’t mean anything strange. It just meant that on a journey of life one nice person met another nice person and they were kind to each other.  

Kindness isn’t always practiced as much as it should be. If you ever go to Seneca Falls, go to Dewey's on third Street. There are good people there. In fact they’re good people a lot of places if we’re looking for them. 

We should be doing everything that we can, every day, every moment to bring people out of their shells.  We need to help them see that they are valuable.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Science only goes so far

We all know people that have had Alzheimer's. Dementia is a terrible thing and it appears to be irreversible.

I was watching the movie, "The Notebook" a few weeks back and there is this quote...  "Science only goes so far, and then there is God."  In spite of what we see in this world, there is always God.  There is always the moment when something happens that does not fit the mold.

I hope to never have dementia, but if I do, I hope that God lets me sneak thru every now and then so that I can tell my family and friends that I am still here and that I love them.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

I had a feeling...

So I drive a 2017 Kia Sportage.  I have changed the oil every 5,000 miles.  It has been a great car.  I got a notification on the dash the other night that the right headlight was out.  So on the way home last week, I bought a new headlight bulb.  The next morning I planned to install it before I drove 92 miles to Orlando.

So in the morning, I had the hood up.  I replaced the bulb.  Then I had a very funny feeling.  It was like a voice was saying, "check the oil."

Well, I have never checked the oil on this car because it goes in for regular oil changes.  But I decided to listen to the voice.  I checked the oil.  To my astonishment, it was 4 quarts low.  That means that there was only one quart still in the motor.  If I kept driving it, at some point, the motor was going to blow.

I went and bought some oil.  I started to do some investigating as to why this may have happened.  Yesterday I replaced the PCV valve.  I am checking the oil level regularly.  Next week that car is going to the Kia dealer for a check up.

I am so thankful for that still small voice.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

I am, along with Sherri Swanson and Aaron Brown, leading a trip to the Holy Land January 23-February 2, 2023.

For more information, click the link below.  And if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at jsbrink57@gmail.com

Click here for the brochure

Announcing a Holy Land Trip 2023

Exciting news!  I will be co-leading a trip to the Holy Land with Rev. Sherri Swanson and Rev. Aaron Brown.

The dates are January 23-February 1, 2023.

This trip includes all of the traditional sites:  Bethlehem, Jerusalem, The Church of the Nativity, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher,  the Mount of Olives, and The Garden Tomb.  We will go for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  One of my favorite places is Caesarea by the Sea with the Roman aqueduct.  There is so much to see:  the Temple Mount, the Holocaust Museum, Masada and more.

click here for the brochure

If you choose to sign up, please send me a note and let me know.  The registration form will ask for my tour host number which is 17768.

Or you can sign up using Sherri's 57707

or Aaron's 60922

Roman Aqueduct

Ruins of Jeroboam's Temple

Sea of Galilee

Caesarea Philipi

The Dead Sea

Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives

A trip to the Holy Land is a lifetime memory.  I am excited just thinking about it.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

jokes

Sometimes in life we just need a little humor.
Sometimes when life gets heavy, we need a little laugh.

So a snake walks into the bar.
The bartender, looking bewildered says, "how did you do that???"

Does it bother you when people answer their own questions?  It sure bothers me.

Why does the number 6 want a rematch with 5 and 7?

To get even with the odds.

Why did the horse cross the road?
I don't know, it left before I could ask the equestrian!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Knock knock

Knock Knock
Who is there?
Amish.
Amish who?
Amish you.

I was thinking the other day about how many people that I miss.  Friends from Cape Coral, Friends from Ft. Pierce, Friends from Vermont.  Friends from Kansas City.  Roger at Kings Bay.  Jeff from Sebastian.  All of my Bobby's friends.  Softball team mates.  Former co-workers.  What a joy it has been to be connected to you all over the years.

You know, when you love someone, it hurts to be away from them.

Amish you all and I hope that we can get together soon.  You mean so much to me.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Hungry for?

Subway's ham egg and
cheese flatbread... Mmm

We all get hungry from time to time.  I know some people who get hangry if they don't eat in time.

I think it is interesting what we get the cravings for.  I love breakfast food.  24 hours a day I can eat breakfast food.

I love a good steak.  A hamburger.  A chicken sandwich.  I love my wife's lasagna and pasta dishes but they are not good for my weight.

The other morning I was hungry and landed at Subway.  They have a wonderful breakfast sandwich, actually it is a wrap.  Ham, egg and cheese on flatbread.  Add some onions and black pepper and it is to die for.  Lo cal too.

Next time you are eating something that you like, take a moment to appreciate it.  We are so blessed to have so many opportunities to eat in America.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

the dog

So I was watching the news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Oh, how I feel for those people.  It is just gut wrenching to think about it.  One moment, your life is your life and the next moment the Russians invade.

I have to take breaks from watching it as it makes me heartsick.

And so let me switch topics... My daughter Jenny has a poodle named George.  He is the best dog in the world.  Our entire family loves him and George loves all of us.  He is so excited to see us.  He loves to give big hugs.  We would never want anything to happen to George.

And so I was watching the news about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and there is this picture of an area that had been bombed and a guy is carrying his dog.  I thought about the dog.  [you can see him by the yellow vehicle.]

Yesterday, I had the life of a pet.  Coddled, back scratched, and loved.  I had owners that loved me and protected me.  Now there are all of these terrible loud noises.  If my owners are killed, or if they cannot care for me, I may be on the street.  A tame, loveable pet, turned loose in a world full of wild animals and wild people.

The whole thing is so sad.

Be good to your pets.  Be good to people. No invasions please.  No hatefulness please,  only kindness.

oblivious

I am oblivious and I am spoiled and I fear that I am not the only one.

Last week I was sitting in an Italian restaurant in Vero Beach. I was enjoying my family. I was eating bread dipped in oil. We had drinks. I ate spaghetti and meatballs. It was quite an enjoyable time.

And all the while, as I am just enjoying a beautiful evening, the capital of Ukraine is being attacked by Russian forces.

And so in the middle of this nice dinner, my brain stops. How can I be so heartless... there is so much suffering in this world. My life is so blessed, and others are suffering.  I didn't say anything at the table because I didn't want to ruin the moment, but my brain did stop and consider how easy it is to live on auto-pilot.

Ukrainian woman weeping

The only good that I can find in this story is that I must grow in compassion. I must grow in awareness. I must grow in appreciation. I must grow in generosity. I must grow in empathy. I must grow in thoughtfulness.

And I am shocked, dismayed and confused by how my life is this way and their life is that way. What do you think about that? How do you find the good in that? Do I deserve such a good life? Did I earn this?

Why was I born in America instead of Nicaragua or the Ukraine?

May we all work hard to make it a beautiful day in God's world, for all of His children, so all of His children, all over the world can see the good.

It's here again

I am going to be in Kansas City this year on March the 4th.  I was trying to make plans with a friend and he told me that he was not available on Friday because he was going to the parade.

My brain thought - what parade???  He got me with my own joke.

So here we go again...

Please take time to watch the parade today. Many people have gone to great lengths to prepare for this special event. Your boss will let you off work for it.

What parade you say?

Today is the day when all of the bands from the local high schools line up downtown and March fourth.

[this was my grandmother's joke, passed on to my mother, then to me and now to you.]

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.