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I am blessed with two.  I say that with sincerity and disregard for all the mother-in-law jokes I hear.

Over the past years, some of my great moments of discussion and encouragement have come from my “married into” relations.  I have recipes and great baking.  I have a regard for those who wisdom is held in 85 year old bodies but whose minds are still 16.

I wonder what would happen if we turned our thinking to the wisdom found in those older than ourselves.  As we look at the possibility of getting a new senior pastor here, our seniors have mentioned the need to look for someone who understands seniors.

I’m slowly coming to see the meaning in that statement.  It’s not about having to change who a minister is.  Rather, a minister must be able to both understand progress (which a younger group requires) and finality (which an older group understands).

World War II provided us with a baby boom.  That boom resulted in amazing progress in the decades following.  Now the daily news reveals an increasing desire to understand death.

Both of my mothers-in-law have suffered the death of a loved one.  Deeply!  And both of them, as they approach their final years, are imparting life to me – in friendship, advice and in a desire to continue to live for God. 

I like having two mothers-in-law.

Happy Birthday – mom Cooper!!

Well, I understand that Safeway has been taken over by Sobeys.  And the Club Cards are going to be discontinued. 

Not that this affects us much.  We do have a club card, but we do not have a Safeway in town.  The card gets used infrequently on visits out of town – helpful for getting discounts but not much else.

The thing that struck me is the connection my head makes to Safeway.

In my teen years my church youth sponsor was a manager for a Safeway store in Regina.  Bob Kinnie just lived over a block or two from us.  As an impetuous teen, I had a few run-ins with Bob.  But, as I look back, his love for me and his desire to make sure we all followed hard after Jesus sticks out!

Bob later went on to become the President of Safeway Canada.  He mentored a number of young men who have been influential in Christian ministry.  His legacy is around us.  And is a part of my history.

My thanks to Safeway for hiring, and placing a young father in the same town.  Just for a few years.  But a few years are enough!

On the morning show the host was talking to a business analyst.

The topic turned to drinks.  The sale of what used to be called soda drinks, now called pop, is declining.  In its stead, energy drinks and caffeinated drink sales are rising.

The host made a somewhat side comment, but probably most telling of our society.

She asked if we were just not resting enough.  Perhaps we are too busy.

And maybe she is right.  There are many things that we can blame for that – the retirement of a large segment of baby boomers, technology’s underbelly of constant change, constant open hours for stores, higher expectations in output for lower wages, . . the list could go on.

Of course, a more gracious society, one that is forgiving and that requires rest would be a good start.  That’s where a Judeo-Christian view of the cycle of life can create a place for rest. 

Now, can we make that shift?

Days off tend to be flexible.

At least in the job which I do.

This past week, and for a few weeks previous, I had taken Thursday off.  This week I have booked in an appointment that works best on Thursday.

So today, I took the day off. 

To find out that I was not feeling that well.  Well enough to be up and about.  But not well enough to skip a morning and afternoon rest.

Somehow not being able to be active on a day off seems to be a disappointment.  At the same time, I’ve spent time with my wife and hopefully have recharged for the coming week. 

Tip the glass upside down, look through the bottom of the glass and that lens can give some needed perspective.