Common Ground

It is often a strange thing how life takes you down one path then curves you around. You have your family, interest, activities, you may seem self absorbed at times. Then some event will occur or a communication line is open and you suddenly have people in your life that previously were just names or holiday acquaintances. You find that time has brought you around to a place of common ground.

Years ago, many years ago, I was fortunate to have a few visits to the deep south to visit cousins. We enjoyed each other, had fun and wrote letters for a few years after our last visit. Then life happened. College, marriage, moves, work, family changes. Time continued on but our connection was lost. Perhaps in the timing of life we lost our common ground. Perhaps we were distracted. Whatever it was, there was a gap.

I remember getting this article from my cousin. She was so excited. And years later I bet she has long forgotten this and the letter it came with. But years later we are on the same page again. Growing children, aging parents, middle age siblings. We are on common ground again. What is really special is the ability to pick up where we left off. We chat a few minutes and essentially have filled in the gaps. We discover in some way or another we have been doing the same things.

I have cousins, aunts and uncles that are just the same. Years where we are living everyday life with minimal communication not because we didn't care but because we were taking care of the home front. Now a quieter or at least more controlled time has risen giving us the chance to re-connect. When we talk it all out, we find we are standing on common ground. So for this moment I can enjoy the love of family and celebrate the chance to know family better, to share in their joy and their trials.

Adventures

Wouldn't it be fun to get into the car and just drive to the center of somewhere and see something? In the good old days there were fewer somewheres to see, but by gollie, everyone saw what ever it was. You drove to one of those big stars on the map, stopped your car and said "Yep, there it is. What is it?" No matter what the answer was you could at least say you had been somewhere and seen something.

Today so few people take the open road. The take the silver sausage over the clouds where the only thing you see is clouds, the hair follicles of the passenger in front of you and the stain on the fabric on the seat back in front of you. And let us not even talk about the smell, or the noise, or the cramped quarters. Good times!

We would hop into our ginormous Mercury with room for 100 in the backseat, drive cross the country and look at the land. We have seen a lot of land too. But there was fresh air, Stuckeys pecan rolls and the Pennsylvania Dutch pancake houses. On the plane all you get is,...no wait, you don't "get" anything now. But you can bu a fast food meal for 3X's it ground based cost. Yum!

It is true you can get places faster, BUT, you can not get there without a cramp in your leg and a cold. And now the prices are up as well as your luggage is now considered a passenger. Give it a name and they will charge it for that happy meal:)

So what do we need to consider when taking some great adventure: is there really a rush? Can you take one extra travel day to take the trip on land and see some of the wonder that is America? Can you take a road less traveled and see things that, well, are unique, like the worlds deepest hand dug well in Greensburg KS or Dorothy's home in.....do you know? Hmmmm time to get out that map and start a road adventure of your own.

Look for things like the geographic center of the contigous United States or the geographic center of North America. Plan from there, then you can say we went somewhere and saw something. When others ask you will know the answer and have a trinket or photo to revive a memory of License Plate BINGO or other lame but entertaining travel games. Oh, and leave those nasty tv's and headphones at home. Make it a real family adventure, you know, everyone taking the same trip.

Enjoy the road less traveled!!

Closing the Gap

Well the holidays are here and gone, so where is my family? Hmm? Did anyone think all those years ago when we were in our footie pajamas that a day would come when we would not get to wake up, be blinded by the camera lights and not have moms turkey dinner (it is really all about the gravy :) ). The world has gotten smaller in a technological way so we can now text, email, skype, conference call and more. You name it we can at least touch base so that is wonderful. But no hugs, that is the tough part.

I spent this year pulling out at least one picture of a "memorable" moment so as I talked to or at someone I had that image in my sight. When we think about the measure of life it is clear that while the number of days or years seem large, the time is always too short. So enjoying good times together or at least the memories we can perhaps be mindful of are the greatest gifts we have been given over the years.

I watched the people running wild this year, stressing out about shopping, gifts, impressing others, fancy parties, appearances, etc. While those things are fine, they should not be the focus, yet many miss the point of the holiday and the family gatherings all together. And now that it is over, we put the tree away (yes away, it is stored in a box) and resume the daily activities for another 341 days. And just like this year it will be here before you know it. And most of you won't even remember what you got or who sent you a lovely card.

So instead of waiting for a special day, just call someone, send a note, text them, let them know that even though there is no turkey or big fancy tree, they are wonderful to you. Even if they drive you crazy, don't let the year pass by. Step outside your comfort zone and send a February 9th letter just because you care. Or a May 16 card just to say hi! And if you need decorations, a tree and a turkey to get in the mood then by gollie, leave your tree up and your Butterball in the oven. But whatever you do, reach out and close the gap.

The UNITED States

Football. A national past time, or obsession. No matter where you live or what you know about the sport, you will attach to a team. Maybe it is the cute mascot, or the color of the uniform, or because they are from the same part of the country or because it is the team others are cheering against. Whatever the reason, we adopt them as personal friends and the end results of their performance gives meaning to our lives or at least to our football parties.

So what is it anyway, that draws a country together to watch grown men run around in tights and throw a lemon shaped leather ball around a grass field, with stripes? It could be the amazement of watching the physical and mental ability displayed by these guys who work hours everyday to perfect their craft. It could be, but I think, not so much. More likely it is because in some way they are able to do what we used to do, what we would like to do, or what we would like to do to others! Admit it, a good tackle wound be so much fun!

I love that a simple thing like sports can eliminate the barriers between people. Sure we may cheer for opposing teams, but, we will cheer. It reminds of the Shirley Temple films back in the depression. It took the minds of a troubled country off war or financial hardship. Everyone wanted to tap dance and sing a little ditty. With sports we can forget for a moment troubled times in our lives, our country or our world. And we get to have some fun in the process.

So now is the season for the country to unite and cheer with one loud voice "GO......?" You can fill in the blank, and perhaps we will meet in the Super Bowl for a final yell fest before we get back to the routine of life.

"As cute as she looks she is a piece of work", a saying that applies to my son today. Hmmm. I had to do it by myself, whatever it was. Parents help? No way. Siblings help? Double no way. Dog help? Sure why not. The dog could be trusted, not so for the humans or so I would believe. And sometimes it was absolutely true. You know, the sibling who tickle you until you were purple or wet or other some such. Or who chases you around until you run into the wall and cut your head open. True! I have evidence. So it would be until I as older, I won't say how much older. I would find my own way, do my own thing.

Not all bad. I have been around the world and done a great many things that others only dream of. I have met so many fascinating people, many who are still friends today. And I have done some things that were less desirable as a result of my independent way. For me, often, learning comes by doing. A few 100,000 criminals have the same story. Fortunately I was not lost for ever. Salvation came and I was given a chance to do it over. Not everyone gets that chance. It has been even better!

So that cute little kid who broke everything she owns (I am talking bones not possessions) and was attacked by her science project has had her eyes opened a bit over the years and sees things a lot different then say, when I was 19. Whole other world and purpose. That was the world without borders or rules. Anything went. It was really not so much rebellion or apathy, but searching. Longing for a life satisfying experience to be the best high ever. As reckless as I was I never found it in all the adventure. Just a short "buzz".

It was when I found out why I was here, what my purpose was, who I could trust that I found I could find real contentment no matter where I was or what I was doing. No longer seeking to find something but suddenly interested in giving something, doing something that mattered for someone else. It has been life altering. I have a long lasting peace and joy that is there no matter what is going on around me. It is better than anything I felt before. And it didn't cost me a thing, I didn't have to fly around the world to find it. It is here all the time, 24/7. Isn't that great? So when you are tired of the roller coaster of life, check out the journey of a lifetime.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."Psalm 16:11
Mark 8:36 Romans 10:13 2 Corinthians 5:17 Jeremiah 29:11