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“This is the first day of the rest of your life.”  In a time of uncertainty, this gives me hope. 

At the same time, I read “Take no thought for the morrow, stick with today.”  That encourages me to dismiss worse case scenarios and live for the moment.

But, what about living in the middle?  What has gone before us and what is to come all encourage me. 

Before:  God has set up a plan to erase the bad and reward the good. 

Now:  God has given abundant life that is accessible every day. 

Future:  With God, in the end there is no end of joy.

I’m reading through (a more formal way of saying I’m auditing) a course on Western Christianity.  Some great reminders of faith and faltering.

Right now I’m into St. Antony who was a desert monk – 251-356.  Here are some thoughts from his biography (some would call it hagiography – read it and you can judge for yourself).  He is responding to the thought of living a life that is able to live above earthly matters and concerns.

“Why not rather get those things which we can take away with us — to wit, prudence, justice, temperance, courage, understanding, love, kindness to the poor, faith in Christ, freedom from wrath, hospitality?”

There is a song that keeps surfacing in my thoughts.

Written by my first wife, Jill (Cooper) Baker, on November 6th, 1999. 

Jill had recently been involved in a number of musical adventures, including composing and playing for a studio album.  In the midst of all this, she awoke one morning and visited the washroom.  When she came out of the bathroom, she had a song in her head.  All written.  No changes.

Here it is – a good reminder for today!

From my 1971 yearbook – we grads did know something?  One liners under the grad photos:

School is mind over matter, if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.

It’s good to have an open mind, but don’t forget to always keep on end closed.

Did you know that women’s feet are two sizes larger than they used to be from trying to fill men’s shoes.

A smile is a curved line that makes everything straight.

I’m physically coordinated; it’s the rest of the world that’s clumsy.

If I keep frowning, I may get credit for thinking.

How beautiful it is to do nothing and rest afterwards

Look up . . . Look way up.

The closest he’ll ever come to a brainstorm is a light drizzle.