The Road Much Less Traveled

My wife and I had the privilege of visiting a center in downtown Nashville that exists to meet the needs of children and youth who live in the area. Chris was gracious enough to take us on a tour and tell us the behind the scene stories. As we talked several children and adults played in the gym just outside our door. There was an occasional knock at the door, and at one point Chris took the time to carry on a conversation with one of the students who spoke to him from the other side.

We learned a great deal about the children who visited that center every day during the summer. Most of them come there to eat and have a safe place to learn and play. They hear about Jesus and His love for them, and then see that loved displayed by the staff that serve them. With minimal parental involvement many of these children are starved for affection, and drape themselves to the arms and legs of those who are there to love them.

Through this center the children are privileged to do things that they normally would never get to do. Things like riding in an airplane, seeing a play, or learning how to take pictures and develop them on sight.

I asked Chris what percentage of children were they able to help. His reply was expected but none the less unfortunate. "We are only scratching the surface." With the help of many volunteers and a small but significant budget they are able to impact the lives of children, and for that we should all be grateful.

As you and I travel this journey of life, it is always a good idea to consider the plight of others. Sometimes I get to feeling so sorry for myself that I forget about others who have far less than I will ever have. None of us have to travel too far to find those who could benefit from our time and resources. Take the time to pause on the journey long enough to see what might be available for you, and how you might be involved. If you live in the Nashville area check out the website of Youth Encouragement Services.

Poison Ivy and Good Friends

About thirty-three years ago, me and some of my buddies camped out in the woods. Little did I know that I made my bed for the evening in a very large patch of poison ivy. Needless to say, the next week or so of my life was miserable. I remember laying on the couch with cold compresses covering the large whelps and blisters.

For the last thirty-three years every time I get into more poison ivy I can't help but think about that time. This week was no exception. The staff and I spent some time this week cleaning up around our campus. Although my intentions were to not get into any poison ivy, it simply was not to be. Fortunately, this time I did not wait until it got out of hand, but went to the doctor the next day. The itching is not as bad, and the patches on my arms don't look as bad as they have in the past. Most importantly, it has not progressed to my eyes and fingers like before.

The moral of this story is simple. Every time you work in or around poison ivy you will break out and need medical attention. Of course that is only true for those of us who are highly allergic to the stuff. But as is so often the truth there is a silver lining in every rain cloud. It causes me to remember the best club house ever and some pretty cool friends. Just another part of the journey that makes me smile.

Grateful

The young man you see walking beside me on my blog home page is my grandson. Last week he had a pretty serious bike wreck. He spent two nights in the hospital, but is now resting at home. As we journey through life there are some experiences that cause us to reevaluate things. An accident like this is one of those events. This young man is full of life, and is an excellent baseball player. He loves being at his Maw Maw's house, and watching videos. He is a true ladies man. However, after the events of this past week we are just grateful for who he is. All those other things are important, but none more than the fact that God spared his life, and brought him safely back home.