Celebrate

This past Saturday we hosted a dinner at home, a Lord's Day Celebration (kinda like a Jewish Sabbath) in honor of our son, Prince 85 and his bride the Princess K.  About 40 friends were present as we prayed and sang and rejoiced in the many ways that God has loved us.  It was an evening I don't want to forget, full of smiles and hugs and laughter, good conversation and some re-connecting. 

Nephew Jake, Goof Ball, Semper Fi

Jake, you used to be a goof ball.  Then you grew up and became a Marine.  You look so strong and dignified in your dress uniform.  And I am convinced that you are an excellent Marine. But I suspect you are still a goof ball.  You just hide it well.

In this moment, as you prepare to go, I see images of you as a toddler playing with Paul, as a goofy kid with braces, as a sober/hilarious teen and as a focused emerging adult at college.  And of you in your dress uniform – so straight and strong and determined.  It’s a far distance that you will travel, not just in miles but in experience and I expect that the intensity of both the brotherhood and the challenges you deal with in the coming year will be with you forever. In the midst of it – in the moments of boredom and tedium as well as the times of danger and loss I pray that you will cling to Jesus (he too has been to hell and back). If you do, He will bring healing to your soul in every way and in every need. 

You are still a goof ball.

Love you,

Aunt Katie

Any time the soul chooses to isolate rather than to embrace, it is the ego

Betty Duffy included this reference, uncited, in a post this week  and it struck me hard.  How may times have I willed to remove myself from a situation that was not to my liking - at church , in my community or family - thinking that I'd just about had it with this "whatever" - and how many times was  it a manifestation of exactly this dynamic?  Something to think about.