July 9th, 2010
Today as I read the comments on my last blog, “How to find friends in a world of fans,“ I came across this very special comment from my son in law Scott Fowler. Scott once sang with “The Cathedrals” and now travels with his own very popular Southern Gospel group, “Legacy Five.” Scott has more fans than a Tennessee deer has ticks. His comment is a tribute to the character of my daughter, Taryn and the quality of their love. I hope you enjoy the comment and the story.
February 10th, 2010
A glimpse of what is ahead often changes the course of our lives. If you are on the freeway and see flashing ambulance and police lights ahead, you will most likely take a detour to avoid an accident.
For me it was a glimpse from behind that changed my life. Seeing this flattering picture started me on a two year journey that became a physical, spiritual and emotional adventure that I will never regret.
After many gains and losses, I have finally lost almost 50 lbs, I have maintained that loss and I have found a renewed excitement about every aspect of living. The discipline and resulting vibrance I found in my physical life, also helped me take a close look at my spiritual life. I had become lazy there as well. Thank heaven there are no pictures of that!
Benjamin Franklin said, “Most people die at about 25 and aren’t buried until they are 75.” This last year I feel like my life has been rewound 25 years…
December 28th, 2009
We spent Christmas at 9000 feet in the Colorado Rockies. One morning I got up early and started up a trail that leads to the three beautiful Harvard lakes, about 1000 ft up the mountain. In the summer this hike takes me about an hour, but in the summer there is no snow. This year had dumped an enormous amount of the white stuff on the trail and I realized that without snowshoes there was probably no possibility of making it to the lakes. Then a wonderful surprise. Someone with snowshoes had blazed the trail ahead of me. Their trip had been several days before and the melting and refreezing of the their tracks in the snow had created a crust that I could walk on. My face stung with the cold and my lungs ached, but my heart soared as I made my way toward the top. Occasionally the crust would break and I would find myself floundering hip deep in snow. It only took a few steps like that to leave me weak and gasping for breath. Just when I was about to give up, my feet would find purchase on the trail made by someone else and I continued on. It took me about an hour and a half to finally see the first lake. There the traiblazers tracks stopped and so did my progress. I got as close as I could to the beautiful slide that exists just above the lake and snapped this picture.
Standing waist deep in snow, I prayed a very sincere prayer of thanks for the trailblazer who made this hike possible.
July 1st, 2009
Today I rode 16 miles on my bike. It was hot and the last three miles were all uphill. I was one mile from home, pedaling up hill with all my might, when I was passed by an old guy with a gray beard. I tried to catch him but could only watch as he disappeared around a corner.
As I rounded that corner I saw that he had slowed down and was waiting for me to catch up. When I reached him he greeted me warmly as he slowed to my pace.
“I won’t keep you long.” He said.
“I wanted to tell you to never stop doing what you are doing.
October 20th, 2008
I am seriously trying to get in the best shape of my life. When I am exercising regularly and eating right I feel great. As motivation to keep at it, I am training for a Triathlon. Not like one of those “Iron man” things you see on television. This is more like “aluminum man” or “Styrofoam man.” In this one I run to the bathroom, fill the tub, get in, pull the plug and fight the current. Then I take out my bike, pump up the tires and go to bed.
Actually the swim is about 300 yards, the biking is about 9 miles and the run is a little over two miles. The funeral will follow immediately with fun and food for all.
God gave us one body, I have learned that I pay a dear price when I don’t take care of it. I may not end up looking like a stud but I am going to be a feisty little bundle of wrinkles.
1st Corinthians 6:19
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Keep the house strong.
