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I ventured into the local (meaning two hours away) Christian bookstore the other day. 

Things have changed.  Amazon has become only one of a number of on-line retailers who carry Christian product.  Yesterday I noted that they want me to buy groceries and will pay for the shipping.

Scott’s Parables have changed their store display.  The music area is close to the front now – although most people have moved from buying CD’s to downloads, there are still a number of titles.  The area that seems to grow is the “product” area – pictures, trinkets, etc.

To my mind the tangible bookstore will continue to change.  The allure of cheaper product delivered on-line is a reality.

How does that affect me?  I’m still trying to figure that out.  I have bought books on-line.  The wait time has not been too bad.  And you can also download ebooks.  Living two hours from a store means this is definitely cheaper and perhaps a better use of my time. 

Perhaps I will contribute to the demise of the tangible store.  I’m not sure – but the possibility is there.  The past century has seen much change in retailing – this is the current one!

I am awake this morning – a few too many times.

In this last while I have been twisting with various situations that are not necessarily of my own making.  I suppose those types of circumstances leave me shaking my head – and imagining.  With lack of a solid sleep those imaginings are not always the most positive. 

So today will be a balance of tasks and recalling.  Tasks that are a part of the regular flow of the day.  And prayerful recalling of  details and decisions for the sake of understanding and wisdom of some of these most recent circumstances.

This spiritual exercise is well worth the effort.  But I realize it will require effort.  So, off for a bit of breakfast – a meal that will provide nutrition for the body.  And off to a time of prayer – nutrition for the soul!

When someone hits a terminal disease, they often turn to those who have been a part of their lives over the years.  Sometimes the previous contact has been days, some months, some years, some decades.

Yesterday a person from at least three decades ago contacted me.  They have cancer.  And the treatments sounds rather aggressive. 

They asked for prayer.  And a visit. 

Now, we live just down the block from our local hospital.  This request for a visit was from a hospital two hours away. 

This person has continued roots in our town – a usual hospital visit would be minutes away.  But  the nearest cancer treatment center is hours away. 

Decades ago we attended a mentoring small group.  We talked of God, and Christ and life with God and others.  Over the years they have waivered in their commitment and this call for a visit and prayer is perhaps a return to a previous day and age.  I trusts  this is a time for a reassessment of their life. 

And so, today I will use those two hours of driving time for prayer and preparation – not only for them, but also for myself.

Percolating in the back of our minds!  Shortly after we were married, my wife mentioned that she would like to collect coins.  This had been a long time desire.

So, as we gathered coins around the house and rolled them into batches, we held them.  Not for a rainy day (no such thing in February!).  But rather for a time to decide what we wanted to do with our coins.

The idea was quite simple – as we started to consider what to do. 

Collect Canadian coins – two for each year.  We soon found that some year’s denomination of coins had more than one type of engraving (Google searches are amazing!).  If possible, collect these as well.

In the end, the end really is to have a set that will journal the years that Canadian coins have been made.

Of course, the majority of coins that we will collect will have been in the last 30 years.  Interestingly, we have run across three 1940 pennies. 

So, around our games table last night, we organized and sorted.  Extra coins went back in our pockets, or change baskets in the car, or into rolls. 

The time was fun – working together as a couple. 

Great marriage therapy – better than expensive counseling sessions.  Just seated around a table with a common (and not so hard to do) goal – and a good bit of talk as we went!