The gift of ALONE

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous snapping this picture with my cell phone. What if I drop it to the bottom of… oh, just don’t think about that. On my day off this week, I rented a kayak, one of my favorite “day off” things to do.

Paddling furiously across the open lake, I can get a great work out. Then moments later, I will put my feet up, lean back and sit very quietly, sort of becoming one with the water. I feel God’s presence in the wind, in the bounce of the water, the glow of the sunshine dancing on the water and the serenity of nature. In a single seated kayak in the middle of the lake, it’s a place where alone seems natural. It's a place where alone is wrapped as a beautiful gift that pulls my heart in close to Jesus in a way that just can’t happen quite the same amidst the noise of life, in the presence of people. When was the last time you experienced the gift of alone?

My Fathers' Day Thoughts

It was a moment frozen in time but I didn't really stop. I thought of him this morning when I put my guitar back in the case at the end of the church service. He was meticulous about the gentle care of musical instruments, always positioning the guitar strap in the case in such a way to avoid pressure and fold overs.

I grinned to myself this afternoon when, during my shopping trip looking for hanging flower baskets, I bought a flame broiled burger and roasted ear of corn from an outside vendor at the farmer's market. "Now that's the kind of Fathers' Day 'dinner' my dad would have appreciated,” I thought to myself. Two reasons: It was inexpensive. When we'd take him to an upscale restaurant, he would comment on how we just "bought a whole lot of atmosphere". Secondly, I remember him comparing home grown, fresh corn on the cob to lobster. Not just because they both taste best dripping in butter. He said, "Corn tastes best when it's picked from the stalk and dropped right into the boiling water ... like a live lobster."

Those were some of the simple memories I treasure the most. What a guy! Gone but never forgotten. Happy Father's Day, Dad.

FRIENDS DAY at Rockside Church

After a great concert with the vocal band, Praise-apella (http://www.praise-apella.com/), we spent the afternoon in picnic mode enjoying incredible food, a volleyball tournament, snow cones and games for kids. But by far, my favorite part of the day was what you see pictured here ... visiting with so many special people. Our regular attendees brought their parents and co-workers, neighbors and friends. I loved meeting each one of them. And I was especially honored when several of my neighbors I had invited showed up (pictured here). See their blog at clevelandrumi.org. They also brought some delicious Turkish and Indian food that was a huge hit. It was a good day of meeting one another's guests and making new friends. What a great "FRIENDS DAY!"