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Two young men.  Two different stories.  Two windows into the soul.

I find that people are  the same.  They have history that encrusts them.  They have futures that invite them.  They have perspectives on both that can enslave or free them.

Both of the young men today are in the transition stage.  They can choose a picture of health or hell.  That’s where they are unique.

My hope is that, in my passing on a bit of the message that God gives, they will choose a picture of freedom.  Pray for them.  I am!

I started the day’s 8:00 meeting with hot water in hand.  Coughed a bit, then came home around 10:30.  Last night I cancelled an afternoon appointment and this morning I cancelled my evening responsibility.

The cough is getting close to being gone.  And perhaps that has to do with not running myself ragged.  Maybe it has to do with “running it’s course”.  And maybe it has to do with trusting God to heal me.  Maybe all of the above!

So, I’m resting once again this evening and looking forward to the busyness that will be tomorrow.

I feel good.  Other than the kind of cough that wretches from your toes.  And then your back begins to feel tense.  One cough too many and you walk a little less spritely.  Your head then begins to cloud a bit.

OK, maybe I’ve got a bit of a cold.  Had a meeting tonight but two out of four of us were not well.  We cancelled til a later date.

So, I’m home, relaxing.  Rearranging some papers and generally being lazy.

We’ll see how tomorrow goes.  I have an 8:00 meeting — after that, we’ll see!

This new year has been a new thing.  I use the word thing, because I’m not quite sure how to describe it.

For the techie geeks, I’ve found that I still enjoy the techie stuff — and love to adventure into the virtual realm of bits and bits.  I’ve just switched over to using Word (I started with MultiMate many years ago, then to WordPerfect, and by sheer dint of peer pressure have moved to Word).  I’ve been watching the continued evolution of computers — the ipod touch is a nice touch (and even that is now getting dated!).  But that’s not where my heart is.

For the weight watchers, I’ve found my ideal weight is coming closer.  I’ve been weighing myself daily, sometimes more often.  I’ve been watching what I eat with almost religious fascination.  Someone mentioned that the people who maintain the body shape they desire are those who are constant in keeping tabs on their progress.  But that’s not where my heart is.

For the mood swingers, I’ve found a bit more of a “normal” in my life.  The swings of the past year have become shorter.   I’m watching my stressors.  I’m taking  a day off each week.  Those around me are having to adjust to the welcome balancing of my highs and lows.  But that’s not where my heart is.

For the pastoral managers, I’ve found a renewal of my administrative bent.  I’m keeping detailed attendance of various church activities.  I’m following up more consistently on those who are absent.  I’m thinking ahead with visions of our local church in the short and long term.  But that’s not where my heart is.

And that is just a sampling of some of the progress over these past few months.  But, where is my heart?

My heart is following hard after God.  I can’t say that I’ve found the rut that will keep me on this track.  Some days I’m less than happy with my progress.  But at least I’m trying to keep a heightened track of that progress.  And my sense is that God is working to keep me on that path.  I sense His delight in me, I experience those “ah-ha” God moments and I’m cautiously optimistic that God has me here for just such a time as this!