As I was taking another “therapy walk” before sunset, my three grandchildren from next door decided to join me. Their Dad was behind us and snapped a picture of the four of us as we strolled along the extended driveway. This is the same driveway that provided a passage to multiple dwellings for both humans and a variety of animals over many years. As a two-year-old, barefooted toddler, I recall making my way along the same route over seventy years ago. I never dreamed in those days that I would be strolling this same road with grandchildren. Years filled with opportunities for learning, giving, growing, and discovering seem to have flown by since that bare footed two-year-old strolled the dirt driveway. A seemingly well-adjusted eighteen-year old moved from the farm to the college dorm. Summer camps and vacation time with the family provided ample opportunities to realize that there were many and varied experiences from which one may learn. College graduation was the springboard to teaching biology, physical science, and physics to nearly 500 high schoolers during the four years of teaching in both North Carolina and South Florida. I discovered that working two part-time jobs was necessary to support my “teaching habit”. A “why not” venture into Pharmaceutical Sales launched a career that took me around the world and underwrote a master’s degree in Organization Dynamics from an Ivy League School. I called Lake Worth, Florida, Long Island, New York, Kew Gardens (Queens), New York, Manhattan, New York, Milford, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida “home”. I worked on every continent except Antarctica, and South America. I directed and facilitated the refocus of a major world-wide corporation as it upgraded its poorly defined tenure focused job descriptions from twenty-seven levels to six competency bands. I retired from corporate life and was developing a consulting firm when the Master at the center of my faith directed me back to a call He made to me while in High School. Shortly before I was ordained as Pastor of the church where God had led me through a rigorous academic preparation. A neurologist dubbed my physical challenges to be summed up as Parkinson’s disease. I responded with relatively equal portions of doubt, dismay, and determination. I discovered blessings in many challenges, sought the reflection of God’s love in all the activities I engaged, and listened for God’s voice as doors began to open for the way back to the farm in North Carolina. And, today, as I scuffle gratefully along the dirt road with the barefoot grandchildren, whose parents wedding I officiated seven years ago, I give thanks with a thriving heart made possible by the surrender to the greatest of blessings – His grace and mercy that show me daily the substance of His love!
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