I've had a wonderful past 2 weeks!!
I experienced one day of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. This annual event is definitely one of the pluses of living in the Bay County area. I had tickets for 3 of the 4 days of the fest, but could only make the first day. I appreciate the little bit of time I got to share in that experience. Lawn chairs in the park by the beach, listening to jazz music, watching the stars at night is a very tranquil time.
The following day, after my jazz festival opportunity, I was off to Seattle, Washington. Man, that was a great experience! I was able to do my job and enjoy the city all at the same time. The Seattle trip starts with me "stopping by" the Seattle Mariners-Chicago White Sox game as an afterthought to what was originally an item on the weekend agenda that I thought wasn't going to be. Something brought me to that game anyway. And, amazingly, I was a witness to the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history!! The Mariners lost the game, but White Sox pitcher Philip Humbar (I think that was his name) pitched a perfect game, and I saw it! Of all days for me to be completely across the country from where I live, I had to make it on the day a perfect game would be pitched in that city. Absolutely unreal!! I am grateful for that experience.
I was able to tour the city of Seattle, experience the cuisine of the area and worship with the Goodwill Church and our friends Bishop & Mrs. Garry L. Tyson. The whole experience was incredible! I hate the flight to and from Seattle (because it's so long), but what you get once you arrive (both ways) is well worth it!
I returned to the east coast primed and ready to attend my only son's and eldest child's graduation from the Florida A&M University this past Saturday. That was truly one of the greatest moments in my 45 and 3/4 years of living. My son has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice!! Isn't that just phenomenal??!! I am so proud of both of my children; they are absolutely the best! To see my son walk across the stage, shake the university president's hand, and receive a degree cover on the same campus I, his mother, his grandmother and his grandfather all matriculated was simply amazing. I'm glad the Lord let me live to witness all these great milestones. Next: marriage and grandchildren :-)
In the midst of all of these wonderful experiences, I have thought very little about all the issues, pain and worries that are presently in my life. It's good to be able to retreat away from what you're going through, but the fact of the matter remains, just because you retreat for a while, reality will return and set in. All of it will be waiting on you when you get back from your "trip." The question is: what then?
There's an old secular song (I think the O'Jays use to sing) that says "don't let it get you down, girl, don't let it get you down. I'll be standing right here to bring you back around, girl, I'll bring you back around." I hear God saying that to all of us who have the blessed privilege to get away for a minute from the heavy burdens we may be bearing. If God could keep you during retreat, He can keep you during reality. We just have to check where our mentality is going to be in both instances. If you can not worry in retreat, don't worry in reality. God finds a way for us to connect the two and find joy in both.
I experienced one day of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival. This annual event is definitely one of the pluses of living in the Bay County area. I had tickets for 3 of the 4 days of the fest, but could only make the first day. I appreciate the little bit of time I got to share in that experience. Lawn chairs in the park by the beach, listening to jazz music, watching the stars at night is a very tranquil time.
The following day, after my jazz festival opportunity, I was off to Seattle, Washington. Man, that was a great experience! I was able to do my job and enjoy the city all at the same time. The Seattle trip starts with me "stopping by" the Seattle Mariners-Chicago White Sox game as an afterthought to what was originally an item on the weekend agenda that I thought wasn't going to be. Something brought me to that game anyway. And, amazingly, I was a witness to the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball history!! The Mariners lost the game, but White Sox pitcher Philip Humbar (I think that was his name) pitched a perfect game, and I saw it! Of all days for me to be completely across the country from where I live, I had to make it on the day a perfect game would be pitched in that city. Absolutely unreal!! I am grateful for that experience.
I was able to tour the city of Seattle, experience the cuisine of the area and worship with the Goodwill Church and our friends Bishop & Mrs. Garry L. Tyson. The whole experience was incredible! I hate the flight to and from Seattle (because it's so long), but what you get once you arrive (both ways) is well worth it!
I returned to the east coast primed and ready to attend my only son's and eldest child's graduation from the Florida A&M University this past Saturday. That was truly one of the greatest moments in my 45 and 3/4 years of living. My son has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice!! Isn't that just phenomenal??!! I am so proud of both of my children; they are absolutely the best! To see my son walk across the stage, shake the university president's hand, and receive a degree cover on the same campus I, his mother, his grandmother and his grandfather all matriculated was simply amazing. I'm glad the Lord let me live to witness all these great milestones. Next: marriage and grandchildren :-)
In the midst of all of these wonderful experiences, I have thought very little about all the issues, pain and worries that are presently in my life. It's good to be able to retreat away from what you're going through, but the fact of the matter remains, just because you retreat for a while, reality will return and set in. All of it will be waiting on you when you get back from your "trip." The question is: what then?
There's an old secular song (I think the O'Jays use to sing) that says "don't let it get you down, girl, don't let it get you down. I'll be standing right here to bring you back around, girl, I'll bring you back around." I hear God saying that to all of us who have the blessed privilege to get away for a minute from the heavy burdens we may be bearing. If God could keep you during retreat, He can keep you during reality. We just have to check where our mentality is going to be in both instances. If you can not worry in retreat, don't worry in reality. God finds a way for us to connect the two and find joy in both.
My goodness!!! The Lord always knows how to speak to my situation. Thanks Pastor. Keep doing what you do.
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