AMERICA’S 250TH CELEBRATION

FREEDOM'S FLAG

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN FINAL SCENE

The freedom of my life was purchased by the sacrifice of countless patriots starting in 1776, including WWII which took the lives of two of my uncles.  They were plucked from a Kansas farm life and thrust into the most horrific experiences that anyone can imagine.  The Medic never returned home and the Guam radar operator returned to a completely distorted life after jungle malaria and untold demons.  I remember my grandmother finding solace in the Gold Star Mothers meetings she religiously attended and we sold poppies on Veterans Day to help those who returned with injuries. 

The fluttering flag is overlayed in both the opening and closing of Steven Spielberg's engrossing film, Saving Private Ryan.  Ryan has brought his family with him to the vast Normandy gravesite of the man who sacrificed his life to save his and our freedom the flag represents.

The adults of this era were scarred from the horrors of war and perhaps showed some restraint to the children that were spared the experience.  But now in retrospect, I understand and truly appreciate their sacrifice and courage.  I also understand that freedom is not free and is always just one generation from being lost.  I do not appreciate those today who take our freedoms so casually.  And when it comes to respect for our flag and all that it stands for in this great nation, I will not defend the right of those who denigrate it. 

 

LAST TIMES

TOY STORY TOYS

GREEN SAND BOX SOLDIERS

The interesting thing about “last times” is that we generally don’t know it at the time. As we start moving through the sequence of growing up and living through significant passages in time, the process of morphing into a young adult requires leaving behind the things of a dependent child and learning how to become independent. That’s when we begin to discover that all manner of people and life skills have vanished in our wake with new survival instincts and relationships while time moves along. And the process of ignoring, celebrating or grieving “last times” continues until we breathe our last breath.

That certainly explains why humans of all sorts relate and mourn the significant transition that focuses on the “last time” beloved toy friends are lost in time in the movie Toy Story. I actually rediscovered a cigar box that my grandfather had given to me that contained a few childhood memories. The box contained the surviving WWII green soldiers that had fought along side me as we detonated July 4th Black Cat firecrackers in the post war summer sand box so many years ago. I must have placed my summer soldiers in the cigar box for the “last time” once school started and only rediscovered them recently, as I released accumulated things that I no longer used.

 

GRACE

CLEARING SUNRISE WALK

Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more or love us less. We are saved by Grace alone, but good works and worship are a natural response to a priceless gift earned through the sacrifice on a cross.

That’s why we acknowledge the black Friday afternoon when the earth went dark for three hours and the bright Sunday morning sunrise when our savior demonstrated his power over sin and death, all for us, and he has promised to be with us until the end of time!

 

RECYCLING WATER

RAIN SHOWER

A very basic fact of our existence here on planet Earth is that matter can neither be created nor destroyed. And our mortal bodies are composed of over 50% water which has been flowing for billions of years. Hydration is essential too, since our brains are composed of 75% water and even a minor 2% drop impairs cognitive performance.

Water has been recycling since the beginning of time and minuscule segments of all living things that have ever existed now cycles within us every day of our lives.

 

ETERNAL CONSCIOUSNESS

VASTNESS OF SPACE

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Enlightened humans all over the planet through endless time have reasoned that we’re not mortal bodies with a spiritual soul. But rather eternal spiritual souls with a limited body. Others believe that we’re not a human being having a spiritual experience. We’re consciousness having a human experience. And once we separate, we return to the vast eternal consciousness of creation.

Great TED TALK LINK:

Universal Oneness: With the left brain offline, her consciousness shifted entirely to her right brain. She could no longer define the boundaries of her own body and felt a state of intense, peaceful euphoria—feeling "at one with the universe."

https://youtu.be/UyyjU8fzEYU?is=HCavQReFdukpyt_D

 

CHARACTER LINES

CHARACTER LINES

 MY NEW MANTRA

“Our scars are not symbols of weakness, but rather character lines.” They’re proof that we survived, learned and became stronger than the challenge that just tried to destroy us. And our greatest strength will always be the person we chose to become because of it.

PSITHURISM

WIND IN THE TREES

 https://youtu.be/Hnq-rFbo-qs?si=DOtotW77_T33grc1

Psithurism is the word that describes the sound of the wind gently moving through trees, derived from a Greek word meaning “to whisper”.  It’s a sound our nervous system recognizes as safe and relaxing.

My young wife and I spent our honeymoon in and around the colorful summer Colorado Rocky Mountains and rushing river valleys. I still have a sharp memory of standing together early one morning at the rim of a deep gorge in the Mesa Verde high country. An eagle soared on the winds’ warm updraft and his call echoed off the cliffs. The ancients that had built the stone cliff dwellings in this gorge had mysteriously abandoned their village long ago. As we stood there in the shade of weathered pines and quietly listened to the wind singing in the needles and the great chasm below, we began to experience God’s presence around us. There was a keen sense of awe and inspiration that we were standing on holy ground in the midst of God’s magnificent creation.

Native Americans of the Kansa tribe that lived in the central prairies were known as the “people of the south wind”. Growing up on the plains of central Kansas made it easy to understand why. It seems as if there is always a wind of some sort blowing across this land and the summer winds are most noticeably from the south. Without even being consciously aware of it, I came to know that this invisible energy force had become an integral part of my existence.  Because God is a conscious spiritual being, His presence is more to be felt than seen.  

The native Indians prayed to the Great Spirit of the South to melt the ice that gathers around our hearts with the warm breath of compassion. They were wise to associate these summer winds with the growing season—winds that could shake the tall corn stalks up towards the heavens. I’ve been fascinated by these natives all my life because I believe they lived a harsh but harmonious life out in God’s creation every day of their lives. They were convinced of the existence of a Great Spirit and the sacredness of the earth. Much wisdom is lost when we distance ourselves from direct contact with the land and sky.

The warm southerly winds are a welcome relief to naturally cool sweaty brows and backs. Red tail hawks glide easily on this uplifting wind beneath their wings. I learned that lesson early on while bailing hay under the Kansas sun. That was quite possibly the most exhilarating, fulfilling, healthy, dusty, and honest sweaty work I ever accomplished in my entire life. When we’re out in God’s creation and enjoying the experience of the life He has given to us, we can begin to feel His presence. I believe God is in these winds more so than anything else in His created universe. And these caressing breezes provide closeness for some of the most sublime moments in our life as a child of God.

Native American Spirit of the South Wind

LAST GAME AT WRIGLEY

WRIGLEY FIELD, CHICAGO

LAST GAME AT WRIGLEY JULY 3, 2022

Life isn’t always measured by the times we travel around the sun, but by the memorable moments we experience. And many times, these are the moments we wouldn’t even consider photographing at the time. They rise to the top once we have time to reflect.

This just occurred to me!

 

SALT WATER

SALT WATER

“The cure for anything is salt water -- sweat, tears, or the sea”.

--Isak Dinesen

A Carolina beach is the perfect place to celebrate cancer remission and

to give praise to the one God who is always with us, even to the end of time.

 

APPRECIATING TIME

TIMELESS SUNRISE

When asked “What’s the biggest mistake we make in life?”, the Buddha replied, “You think you have time.”

Don’t waste your time waiting.

Time is free…

But it’s priceless.

You can’t own it…

But you can use it.

You can’t keep it…

But you can spend it.

And once it’s lost…

You can never get it back.

Getting a cancer diagnosis when you’re busy making other plans, requires a change of plans, forcing you to drop everything and begin a focused fight for your life. Once remission is confirmed, every following minute becomes acutely appreciated. Even the mundane becomes relevant.

 

PEACEFUL STILL WATERS

STILL WATERS

The North Carolina low country close to the Atlantic Ocean is a wonderful place on earth to celebrate the successful conclusion of exorcising cancer. The concept of "still waters" appears most famously in the Bible in Psalm 23:2, where King David writes that the Lord "leads me beside still waters".

It is a powerful metaphor for spiritual peace, divine provision, and the rest that God offers His followers. It’s about God guiding His people away from chaos and anxiety into a safe, nourishing environment where their "soul is restored".

 

MOM

MOTHER AND CHILD

A palliative care worker shared that one of the most common words people call out at the end of life is “mom”. As the body shuts down, the brain often seems to return to the first source of comfort and safety it ever knew.

It’s a sobering thought to see bedtime differently, because one day there will be a last time, even though we won’t notice it at the time, as life moves along.

 

SANCTUARY

GARDEN SANCTUARY

My present mission is to curate my living space inside and outside so that it feels like a sanctuary and not a storage unit containing stuff that will eventually be sold or donated to charity. Using the Marie Kondo method of decluttering by holding items up to the test of giving joy, simplify life by discarding those that do not pass, beginning with 80% of the clothes in your closet and dresser drawers you will never wear again.

 

REFLECTIONS ON LIFE

LOW COUNTRY MARSH

We spend our younger years looking forward,

And our older years smiling at what we left behind.

And it’s our brain that discards the trivial while retaining what proves to be relevant later. Reminiscing back over the years, it’s interesting to note that I only recall one memory of a double play I made during my many years of youth baseball under the foreign night lights of my first all star game. Needless to say I was never destined for the majors!

We are here not to simply exist but to awaken to the reality that love is eternal. Every breath is a quiet gift and every heartbeat a reminder that our creator is giving us the time to live, love and grow. Focus on living one day at a time, for that is where life is played out. And when praying for change, do not ask for “my will but God’s will be done”.

The most beautiful things in life aren’t the stuff we accumulate but the moments of hidden strength and support that carried us through the hardest life storms to the peaceful eye of the hurricane. And always remember that the path to a full life is never a straight line. In the end, that subliminal uneasiness we experience is remembering that this life isn’t our final destination, as we’re all simply walking each other home to a place we’ve never been before.

The last moments in life rarely announce themselves. Recognize them as the ordinary memories in life that will outlast the moments and provide a lasting peace that you were there to experience them along with our creator’s ever presence.

 

MAJOR LIFE CHANGES

KANSAS INLAND OCEAN

CAROLINA ATLANTIC OCEAN

When we’re living in the prime of our lives, it’s quite likely we’re also wearing many hats that we self-identify with as we attempt to juggle multiple responsibilities—and identities.  If we’re lucky, we will actually have the good fortune to experience most of the significant life changes that come with a full life, e.g., I learned early on to see retirement as a life change from success to significance and reset my life course to embrace it.  We choose many of our life changes and identities and others are thrust upon us.  I now identify as a cancer survivor, not by choice, but circumstance.   

I recently watched a short video discussing major life changes that confirmed they don’t just change circumstances but also our identity as well.  And the new version of you hasn’t arrived yet which can take some serious adjustments of self.  A good question to ask is “Who am I now learning to become?” and embrace it.  That’s the hardest part.  Who is this new person I have become that now others, especially new acquaintances, see me in the world at that time in my life?  This may be an easier adjustment for those I just met versus folks I have known all of my life.

And just to keep life interesting, I've migrated from the vast Inland Ocean of Kansas to North Carolina's Atlantic Ocean.

 

STRAIGHT VS ORGANIC PATHS OF LIFE

 

LABYRINTH AND STRAIGHT PATHS

“Treatment is not a straight line.” —Dr Dorsey 

“Life is not linear, it’s organic.  We create our lives symbiotically as we explore our talents in relation to the circumstances they helped to create for us.” –Ted Talk, Sir Ken Robinson

As I was finishing the second three-week treatment schedule towards cancer remission, the access port for the chemo which was imbedded in my right chest became infected.  My care team determined that it needed to be removed and treated immediately before the infection spread to my blood stream.  An arm PICC was also installed in my left arm muscle to facilitate the remaining four treatments in the four-month fight.

Afterwards, the lead oncologist in my care team noted that “the path to treatment is not a straight line.”  My reply was that “Actually, in the greater scheme of things, life isn’t a straight line either.  We always encounter detours and dead ends!”  Now that the treatments successfully eliminated the cancer cells, I’ve had more time to reflect and realize that much has been written and studied about the options of taking a straight versus organic path in life.

I’ve learned that a “straight" life path is a structured, linear, and goal-oriented trajectory, while an "organic" life path embraces nonlinearity, curiosity, and adaptability. It allows for pivots, detours, and personal evolution based on what feels authentic rather than a predetermined plan.  This approach treats life less like a ladder to climb and more like a garden to tend. It embraces detours, failures, and reinvention.

“Most people find themselves living a blend of both—starting with structured foundations and naturally branching into more organic, intuitive directions as they grow older.”  There’s a lot to be said for walking a traditional labyrinth.  Through viewing life as a labyrinth, we integrate the cyclical nature of turning outwards and turning inwards as we move closer to the Heart which is the hub of the authentic life.  

 

NEW DAY, NEW BEGINNING

 

NEW DAY, KIAWAH

Pastor Wendy called me for a “wellness check” when I was halfway through the six, three-week treatments that began just before Christmas last year.  I just finished the sixth treatment last week and my care team is optimistic.  She asked me if there was anything I had been able to draw from my faith?

There were three salient drivers that sustained me throughout my treatment to eliminate Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer for the last four months that I’d like to share; 1) an attitude for prayer, 2) living one day at a time and 3) the firm belief of never being alone on the journey.

First, in the Lord's Prayer, the phrase "thy will be done" is a petition for God's purposes to be fully realized on earth just as they are in heaven. 

It is an act of humility where the person praying submits their own desires to God's plan, acknowledging that His wisdom is superior. This is often modeled after Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane.  “He said, Father if it’s your will, take this cup of suffering away from me.  However, not my will but your will must be done.”    –Luke 22:40-42

When looking for comfort, this phrase allows for trusting God with outcomes, rather than desperately trying to control them.

We understand that God is timeless.  He’s aware of the past, present and future.

Knowing the past and understanding the future may influence His will for us.

Secondly, from scripture:

“Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.

For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”     —JOSHUA 1:9

My oncologist was being honest when he said, “The longest path in treatment is rarely a straight line.”  And of course, that applies to life in general.  God walks with us on those paths and sometimes even carries us on those treacherous detours!

 

At Bethlehem, He was “God WITH us.”  At calvary, He was “God FOR us.” 

And, At Pentecost, He became “God IN us.”  Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 

Jesus gives us the Great Commission at the very end of Matthew’s gospel, so others in our community can benefit; “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

And third, I had to repeatedly remind myself many times a day to;

“Live one day at a time” and “Don’t get ahead of your skis!”     

My sister overcame breast cancer and counseled me to get the facts which are always more sensible than our human imaginations. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus teaches us to live in the present and avoid anxiety about the future.  He urges us to focus on the current day's responsibilities and trust, rather than being overwhelmed by what may happen later.

Ultimately, this teaching is a call to choose peace over worry and to live in the assurance that God is already in the future providing for His kingdom.

Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about the things you cannot change. 

Prayer is a conversation you have with God about the things He can change.

Finally, I came across these short thoughts from Ullie-Kaye:

“Nothing teaches you gratitude, like having walked through something hard—

Knowing that at any given time, your whole world

could come crashing down and change again.

I am thankful for a past that couldn’t destroy me.

A present that still looks for miracles and a future that is secure,

Not because I’m holding it all together. but because God is!”

GOD MOMENTS

 

To begin, we must be open to recognizing “a God moment”, kairos, or we will never realize it happened.  Some are noted immediately and others later upon reflecting back on a situation, where one sensed that God’s ever presence and intervention revealed his influence in our daily lives that defies mere coincidence.

·         My immediate family transferred from North Carolina to Chicago on an opportunity and resided there for over fifteen years.  About two years ago they received another opportunity to transfer back within about an hour’s drive away.  I recently received a treatable cancer diagnosis and now treasure their close assistance.

·         I recently began cancer chemo treatments after having a port implanted in my chest to facilitate the infusions.  On the post infusion day of a scheduled shot to facilitate the chemo, the port started to bleed due to an unexpected infection.  Fortunately, my oncology team was immediately available to evaluate and prescribed antibiotics to mediate the problem.

·         While consulting in Mexico, I was staying in McAllen, Texas and had parked my rental car in the corner of a crowded lot at Barnes and Noble at twilight.  As I returned after nightfall and entered the car, something prompted me to glance back and see a hand hit my door handle.  I instinctively hit the door lock and I’m convinced that stopped what could have been a life-threatening situation.

·         Going back further in time, I still vividly remember my last duck hunt on a vast reservoir in central Kansas where a winter clipper storm caught us by surprise in a floating blind on the north shore.  We immediately gathered our decoys and started zig zagging to the boat ramp against a strong wind and freezing rain until our motor hit bottom and broke the propeller shear pin!  As we were being forced out into the white waters, our motor operator suddenly noticed a spare shear pin he had taped to the bottom of the motor months ago, which was installed by frozen fingers just in time to save us from being overturned in the deep icy waters.