Blog for August 2011
Time passes differently on vacation.
In the mountains it takes so long to get somewhere. We lean left, then right, then I notice the view and remember I should drive first and sightsee second. We took some fairly long hikes in a lifetime effort to check off all the waterfalls near Gatlinburg. One hike was a five hour long ‘senior moment’. What I mean is that when we got to the top we remembered that we had already done this one before. Arggg!
It was still pretty – just like the last time we saw it!
We spent one entire day going from Antique Shop, to Thrift Store, to junk barn looking for something to go in a certain spot in our new house. After endless mind numbing hours Caroline saw a small table someone had made from an old sewing machine. She said, “That would be perfect!” I said, “Get it, buy it, cost doesn’t matter – no more antique stores please…” At that moment Caroline recalled, “You know I already have an old sewing machine just like that at home…” I held back the tears of frustration because of the joy of knowing that my antiquing nightmare was over…
No vacation is complete without a long bike ride. For the past four years, beginning from the time my dad was in Hospice House, I have ridden a Hospice fundraiser in Clinton called the Flight of the Dove. It is well organized and I do it in memory of my father and to support Hospice. This year the ride came during my vacation. We worked it in and it was good to see some of my old cycling buddies from various places who return for this ride.
We spent one night with my old college roommate and his new wife at Lake Summit in NC. This was the first time I got to see them both as a married couple. It reminded me of the popular saying from the 1960’s that marriage is ‘only a piece of paper’. Only people who never been married could say that with a straight face!
Marriage changes things. Expectations come into play. The boundaries move. I’ve said too much already…
I was sad to be away when a dear active member died suddenly. But, Grace church is blessed with an abundance of active and retired Pastors. I know her family was comforted and her life was celebrated well.
No matter where we are, time passes for us all. Make good use of your time!
Just as Jesus went to mountains to recharge and rest. Time away is not time wasted.
Jim Dennis, Jr.
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