Monthly Archives: June 2015

With the new electronic approaches to communications (and there seems to be something new each day), receiving a paper based communication is always fun.

I go to our local post office each day.  There I find flyers for various stores, bills and sometimes a personal letter.  Not as much as in the past.  Back when stamps were inexpensive and handwriting was normal.

Yesterday we received written words that dealt with insurance confirmation, financial dealings, irrelevant fundraising, awaited licensing, duplicate information – and a flyer or two!

We have a rule about written mail.  We only open what has been addressed to us.  Even though we may be 99% sure of what is in the letter, if it is not addressed to us, we don’t open it.

Which makes for some real suspense – not a bad thing.

I wonder what will appear in our post box tomorrow?

Today at the job site (what a nice way to describe renovating your home), we got more done than expected.

A closet needed to be torn out – done!

A room needed to be gutted (again, not a desirous term) – done!

A water heater needed to be moved (thanks to a plumber who also made sure our shut offs were worker and arranged for our gas meter to be moved outside) – done!

Oak stairs revealed under carpeting – done!

Visitors toured through the house – done!

Only slight physical injury – done!

As they say – “all in a day’s work!”

Well, on Saturday we started taking our walls in the basement.  The area that was needed immediately has been cleared out and made ready.  That took a little elbow grease, sweat and whatever else goes along with good hard work.

Sunday I felt quite good.  My muscles were still in place and not aching much at all.  We had an active day with church service, picnic lunch, afternoon activities and cleaning up at the end of today.

This morning is another story.  I’m a bit stiff and there is one muscle I can definitely feel.

The older you get the wiser we get?

The immediate judgement, after the initial victory of completing our tasks on Saturday was, “I can do this!”

Today, the words might be closer to “Maybe I can do this.”  I’ll carry that thought with me today as I continue to apply elbow grease to the basement remodelling!

I wonder what words will echo in my head tomorrow!

My exercise bike has just crossed the 4000 mark.

I think that number symbolizes the miles I have travelled. 

No traffic.  No hazardous potholes.  No unjust rain or inordinate wind.

Just me, on my bike, limbering up for a day’s activities.

Perhaps one day sitting at a desk, writing a sermon.  Another day flexing my muscles as I remove a basement wall.  Another day visiting friends and parishioners.  Another day contacting family and friends about loved ones.

The bike is unconcerned about the day’s activities.  The function it has to perform is merely to serve me.  Provide tension when needed – firming up my muscles and resolve.  Provide movement to stretch muscles that need to flex throughout the day.

Not a function that brings grandeur.  But whatever glory I receive throughout the day, I reflect back on the preparation my bike provided. 

OK, this is really a parable of how we are to live in light of God’s glory.  We have a purpose God has provided for us.  Perhaps without limelight or fame.  But in the glory God receives, there is a reflection back upon us for being faithful and fulfilling our purpose.

That’s how I’m beginning my day today!