Years Ahead, Years Behind

I had a remarkable thought as I was driving around on this Labor Day weekend. I had mentioned to the church on Sunday, that it was my 17th anniversary of being there pastor. I had started on September 1, 1994. I received the warm applause that reflects the graciousness of the people in this congregation (along with the side-comments "Seems like only 25 years ago!" that shows one is accepted).

But today, it dawned on me that I have now been living in Northern California for longer than I lived in Southern California! I arrived - kicking and screaming - in Sacramento in August/September of 1981, having just graduated from seminary and wondering what in the world God was going to do next. I knew exactly one person in Sacramento and yet had signed up to be a Bible teacher at a Christian high school!

I've always identified with Southern California more than its Northern counter-part. Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside and other counties down there were my haunts for many years as I traveled around playing volleyball.

But, I'm more settled in Northern California. I don't know if I consider it better - just different. Here in the north, one has some type of change in seasons (along with the withering summers). In the south, temperatures were much more moderate - likely the smog kept the weather from changing. There's a slower feel here in the north ... although friends from even smaller cities remark how the don't like driving in the "big city." I do miss the easy access to the beach and the ocean, although I don't miss the megaopolistic feel of cities being strung together in the south.

I suppose there is no great epiphany or revelation ... just a note in the passing of a milestone.

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

It's been quite some time since I typed something in here. It's been a year mainly of hurt, recovery, more hurt and more recovery. Some of it has been physical - a right hip replacement. The time was fraught with anxiety as I didn't necessarily ask the right questions at the right time. I had hoped that it would ease that tremendous pain I felt when I ran up and down the soccer pitch. At worst, I was hoping to bend over and tie my shoe.

The surgery was - at least in the surgeon's view - picture perfect. The recovery was "normal" from a medical point of view. But, from my view, without the support of a wonderful wife and some great folks from Mercy Home Health, it would have been much tougher. But, bit by bit, I got more range, strength and flexibility in the leg. It was also a gracious surprise to be assigned a physical therapist who also happens to coach a "select" soccer team. His encouragement and sport-specific work has made things move even more smoothly.

Other hurts can't be found by x-ray or MRI because they are hurts to the heart. Not that muscle that pushes blood through the body, but that intangible place where we store our hopes, dreams and fears. Some hurts are slight and need to be ignored. Others are so great that one risks their life if they are ignored.

For me it all comes back to this: "Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV)