Transitional Places
The following photo has little to do with the subject matter at hand this morning, but I thought I would throw it in here just because. In fact, I might just throw in a couple more random photos just to get them off of my phone.
Perhaps sunrises do have to do with transitions. I am sure, astute reader, that you can draw the parallels quite well without my needing to enumerate them for you. Whatever the case, let's begin.
A few decades ago when I was in my upper teens and 20s I'd had the mistaken idea that when I was the elderly age I am today (haha) life would be quite, quite settled with no surprises or upsets and that I would know everything and all would be well and life would go smoothly.
Fantasy never translates well into reality, as hard as we may try to force ourselves to believe. I should know; I spent much of my younger years with my head in the clouds. Those were my mother's own words, so I know that is true. It is one thing to dream about a future, but quite another to have the drive, discipline and self confidence to pursue it. I have never had much of any of those three qualities in my life. What good that came into my life in my first thirty some decades came from my blundering about and the Lord somehow blessing my blunderings. (There is an autobiographical book title in there somewhere I am sure) Life, in other words, has happened to me and I have gone along with it, and enjoyed the ride.
Now in my mid-50s, at the age when most of my high school friends are entering into blessed retirement, I find myself looking forward to new challenges. I do not wish to fade into the background of backyard barbecues in summer and flights south in winter. I wish to "do."
Almost 2 years ago I began attending a writer's club in town; an eclectic collection of writers who meet once a month to discuss writing projects. During one writing exercise I discovered, quite by accident, an interest in writing children's short stories about a specific character, or group of characters. So I am in the process of finding an illustrator and, on down the road, a publisher. Even if it is just local, it would be fun to see a book in print with my name in the author's position.
Here a few months ago, it also occurred to me that Gary has been retired from the dairy for 2 years now. He does still do his other business of water well work and gravel hauling, so he is out and about quite a bit. But I, however, am no longer "The Calfkeeper." So in yet another transition for me, I am making a determined stab at becoming a substitute teacher in the local school system. It has already been almost 2 months since I began the application process and, due to my lifelong trait of blundering about, it has probably been more of an ordeal than it ought to have been, but I am persevering.
Last, but not least, I am working on leading a small group at church. I know I intend on the focus being prayer walking. Pretty soon I am going to have a meeting for all of those who might be interested in attending so we can work out the details.
I do realize that every decade of our lives brings different transitions that are not controllable and that we needs must conform to whether we will it or not. At this point I am determined to work on these particular transitions and see where they lead me.
Oh, here are more random pictures.
The cat trying to "help" me make the bed when I was changing sheets.
The Sheep honking at Gary. He'd come out of the house and was heading toward the feed bin.
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