Thankful

I have a friend who is 96 years young. He is in a care home and is almost blind. His hearing is good and his mind is sharp. He used to be an avid golfer and when I told him a week ago that our local golf course was open, he smiled and said, barely above a whisper, "A hole in one, a hole in one." So I played my first game of the season. Maybe I should say I was stepping off the distance from tee to t(r)ee. The next day the course was covered with a blanket of snow. It was a short season.

Getting back to Frank. In a way I envy Frank. I can't say that I would like to take his place in the care home where he needs help for every little task. But Frank has a healthy attitude. Since I have known him, his reply to: "How are you?" has always been, "Thankful" I believe that is an attitude which can get us through a lot of pot holes in life's journey.

Just for fun I wrote 3 lines of a simple rhyme and asked a group of seniors to make up words for a 4th line. Here it is - try it.
The seasons are winter, fall summer and spring.
There's beauty in each to behold,
We don't know the myst'ry that each season may bring.
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My friend Bill

It is three years ago this week that my friend Bill Friesen was tragically killed while clearing land on the site where he was planning to build their new home. Bill and I had not seen each other very often in recent years, but I alwlays called him my best friend. Bill was a man of integrity. He was honest, compassionate, faithful and wise. Bill was the kind of a man that is needed to make this world a good place. But he is gone. Why?

The mysteries of life cannot always be explained by doctrine, but they must always be accepted by faith. The will be understood in eternity.

Seasons

From my desk I have a clear view of beautiful Okanagan Lake, which is really an extention of our front yard. As I'm writing a coyote is crcossing the lake. It's March 3rd. Usually by this time of the year he would have to swim, however, winter is staying around a little longer than normally.

Seasons come and go. They are nothing more or less than opportunities to enjoy and accomplish different things in life. Sometimes when a season lingers longer than expected we long for change. And if a season comes sooner than anticipated we could be unprepaired. Here is my point (from a modern translation of the Bible "God's Word) "We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive everlasting life at the proper time, if we don't give up. Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone..." Galatians 6:9