A QUICK LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER

Have you ever driven a car without a rear-view mirror?  If you do, you will find yourself continually looking toward that spot but feeling frustration that the ability to see behind you is not available!  We tend to minimize the importance of seeing where we've been.  We attribute the phrase, "the unexamined life is not worth living", to Socrates.  Have you ever paused long enough to think about his suggestion?

You can choose any time to review and evaluate your life. However, for whatever reasons, most of us rarely exercise this practice. The ending of a year seems a natural time for me to take a look over my shoulder.

2017 was a year that frequently popped up on my life-screen over the decades. When I began my work-life, it was predetermined to be the year of my retirement.  I often joked about this because all through the years, it was also predicted to be the first year that the Social Security Department would not have appropriate funding to meet the needs of all the retiring baby-boomers.  I haven't really heard how that's working out, but so far my checks have been deposited on time...

Actually, retirement was never a goal for me.  I know that some look forward to it and plan for it with great enthusiasm;  I just wasn't one of those people. But, as 2017 drew near, I had a sense that the time for me to step aside was arriving.  I've discussed that process before and won't go into it again here.

Anyway, I stepped out of the flow of active ministry at the end of May.  That sets 2017 apart in a significant way.  Needless to say, life has changed in many ways as a result.

My life and thoughts are no longer oriented toward the development of church leaders and church life.  I have literally spent the summer and fall working around our new home:

• landscaping
• putting a yard in
• finishing a garage
• sorting through boxes that haven't been unpacked since leaving for China in 2012
• and sorting through my personal library

We've had the freedom to make more frequent trips to Connecticut to see our grandchildren.  We spent a relaxing week in Banner Elk, North Carolina.  But, by-and-large, we've spent the vast majority of our time at home - working. Debbie continues to cooperate with her siblings in the care of her mother;  as a result, I'm left to my own devices (for 24-hour periods) with a certain degree of predictability.  

Our greatest challenge has been adjusting to and learning to live within the boundaries of our new financial picture!  

Some reading this might think:  "Wow!  Hal's got it made!  He must be really happy now!"  However, that is not necessarily true.  2017 has not been what I would describe as a banner year.  For those who have stayed with me this far, let me try to explain why.

First, (please don't groan when you read this) our loss of Travis (two years ago) effects us globally!  Although we don't talk about it every day, the loss of our son is a drag on our emotions and has dulled us in many ways.  I won't be-labor this point;  I will simply say that any family that has lost a child has had their lives indelibly changed!

Second, I have lost a sense of purpose that kept me focused and hopeful.  I am a driven person!  I have lived with great expectations.  I work hard to achieve goals.  I love to motivate people and move them collectively toward a new future!  This has captivated me for four decades!  Now, it is gone.

I am not surprised by this reality.  I had read a number of books to prepare myself for retirement.  I did not make this major move with a blindfold on.  I knew that working around our new home would become my new focus through the fall.  I also knew that preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail (in 2018) would give me a winter focal point.  Yet still, something is different - or missing...

Those who are wiser than me may quickly discern what it is.  It's taking me some time to decipher.  Here's what I'm coming up with:

I have moved from a ministry-centered life to a self-centered life!  My contact with people and my investment in others has shriveled over the last seven months!  I've moved from impacting people and directing the dreams of a congregation to moving dirt, planting shrubs and tinkering in my garage or barn.  And next, I'm about to embark on a self-absorbed backpacking trip that will consume (if I'm able to do it) half of 2018.

The world's thinking is that self-absorption should produce great satisfaction and pleasure - right?  Wrong!  When we withdraw to "do our own thing", the key word is WITHDRAW!  Our lives have the greatest value and satisfaction when we integrate with others and engage with our world!  I knew this.  I know this.

We stand at the outset of a new year.  We are free people and live in a free nation.  We can choose how we will deploy ourselves in 2018.

I still plan on fulfilling my dream and putting my feet on the AT in early March!  Keep in mind that nearly 4,000 began this attempt in 2017;  just over 600 actually completed it.  It's a VERY social trail!  All parts of the trail are populated with section hikers and day hikers as well as thru hikers!  I will not be alone during this trek!

But this still leaves some questions:

• Will I be purposeful in my AT adventure?
• How will I regain a sense of purpose and direction upon my return?
• How can I fulfill my role as a servant of Christ in this new phase of life?
• How will I use my influence to impact the lives of others?  
• How will I avoid the perils of self-absorbtion?  

When I was a teenager, our youth director suggested that I sing my first solo one Sunday night.  Martha Smeltzer worked patiently with me, helping me to prepare my musical gift.  I sang these words:

Only one life to offer 

Jesus my Lord and King 

Only one tongue to praise Thee 

And of Thy mercy sing (forever) 

Only one heart's devotion 

Savior,  O may it be consecrated 

Alone to Thy matchless glory 

Yielded fully to Thee

Only one life to offer 

Take it dear Lord I pray 

Nothing from Thee withholding 

Thy will I now obey (my Jesus) 

Thou who hast freely given 

Thine all in all for me 

Claim this life for Thine own to be used 

My Savior ev'ry moment for Thee

Fifty years later, I still want it to be the cry of my heart!  How about you?

MEMORABLE CHRISTMAS GIFTS

Well, there was the year I got my walkie-talkie's!  But, you know, after you've asked and answered:

• "Hi - over"
• "Where are you? - over"
• "What are you doing? - over"
• "What did you get for Christmas? - over"

...with every member of your family (Dad, Mom and Beverly), it sort of loses its luster.

Then, there was the year I got a red, 3-speed, English racer.  It's sort of torture to get a brand new bike on Christmas day when its 12 degrees outside with over a foot of snow!  There's only so much pleasure you can get from standing and looking at your new bike!

My parents were really good to me!  Over and over, for seventeen years, they overwhelmed me with an abundance of nice things.  Then, after opening them. they would put me in the car so we could go and visit my Aunt Sylvie and Uncle Ernie;  and then my Aunt Peg and Uncle Dave;  and then my Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Lester - where my Grandma Haire also lived.  By the time we got back home it was too late to play with any of my new stuff!  

Once I became a Dad, the game changed and Debbie and I got the fun of giving surprises.  I remember the year Troy asked for a new pair of tennis shoes;  he was eight.  He said, "They haffa say L. A. Gear!"  So, I got an old pair of his sneakers and painted L. A. Gear on them with red paint.  When he unwrapped them, he failed to see the humor and threw them on the floor!  [He did get the new shoes a little later.]

Then there was the exciting year when we got the kids a puppy.  One of the last gifts was a note that sent them to the basement, where they found a pound puppy.  She was a collie/husky mix and was a couple of months old.  They were THRILLED!  Keeto was the greatest pet and livened our home for quite a few years.  When we would let her loose, she would bolt around the yard so fast!  She knew how to fly past Troy and Tracie and bump them just enough to knock them down - they would get so angry with her over that!

One year, I was purchasing some backpacking gear and saw some 'mummy' sleeping bags at a greatly reduced price.  I bought three of them, wrapped them and hid them behind the couch until Christmas day.  When all the other gifts had been opened and we had enjoyed our Christmas lunch - I remembered them.  When the kids opened them, it was instant love!  They spent the next week in those bags playing games and swinging one another around on the hardwood floors!  

Oh, and there were more than a couple of years when the kids played more with a cardboard box than they did with any of their gifts!  

I remember the year when my Dad bought me a video camera!  They were a pretty new thing at the time and I knew he had spent nearly $1,000 on it!  We used it for years before video cameras became more commonplace.  As a result, we have a stock of valuable videos of Christmases and other family events!  I wonder if Dad realized the impact his generous gift was going to have?

I struggle every year with the pressure to give obligatory gifts.  Like many of you, I love to give gifts and get far more excited about giving gifts than receiving them.  When we pack our Samaritan Ministries Christmas boxes, we try to imagine the joy that will be expressed when those boxes are opened somewhere far away by a child who has so little!  That simple thought brings a happy tear to my eyes.  

Reality is:  gifts can, indeed, have a memorable impact!  Especially when they're given with love and creativity!  

Imagine the impact of the gift of gold as Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt for several years.  We know the symbolism of the other gifts of the magi, too!  

By the way, if you want a real blessing and a reminder of the value of precious gifts, get online and read O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi.  What a powerful reminder of the impact of a gift given in love!  It's one of my favorite stories!  Consider it my gift to you this wonderful, sacred, Christmas season!  

THE FIRST TRIP TO BETHLEHEM

Once upon a time—way back when the country of Israel was being led by judges— there was a famine in the Middle East. A man from Bethlehem (named Elimelech) left his home and moved to the country of Moab where there was food.  He took his wife, Naomi, and their two sons.

Not long after arriving in Moab, Elimelech died!  When the sons matured, they married Moabite women.  But after ten years, both sons died too. 

Naomi decided that her best chance for survival depended on her returning to Bethlehem where family might support her.  She tried to set her daughters-in-law free to seek other husbands and stay in Moab.  But one of these women, Ruth, was extremely dedicated to her mother-in-law and insisted on returning to Bethlehem with her.

Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, the town started buzzing over what all had happened to Naomi.  It was harvest time, so Ruth went out to follow the field workers (with their permission) and try to gather some of the grain that was left behind. 

It so happened that she worked in the fields of a man named Boaz who was a relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.  When Boaz happened by, he quickly noticed Ruth because she was beautiful and also a very dedicated worker.  He told his men to protect her and to leave bundles of grain for her to pick up.  He spoke to Ruth and told her to work only in his fields where she would be safe! 

At the end of the day, Ruth was very excited at the amount of grain she had gleaned.  She reported to Naomi of Boaz’s kindness. 

The next day, Boaz showed up again and invited Ruth to eat with him and his men.  He told her to drink of their water when she became thirsty.  He reminded her to work in his fields only and complimented her for her kindness in staying with Naomi and leaving her homeland.  Ruth was overwhelmed with his generosity and kindness. 

Boaz instructed his men again to leave plenty of grain for her to pick up.  He encouraged them to give her special treatment. 

When Ruth reported all this to her mother-in-law, Naomi explained that Boaz was one of her husband’s ‘kinsman redeemers’.  At that time and in that culture, this meant that Boaz was one of several in Bethlehem who had the opportunity to accept responsibility for Elimelech’s family. 

Since harvest was nearing an end, Naomi gave Ruth a special assignment.  She was to bathe, put on perfume, get dressed up and go to the place where the grain was processed.  Naomi told Ruth to watch when Boaz slipped off to sleep.  Then she was to go and lay at his feet and sleep there.  This would signal to Boaz that she was available for marriage.  Ruth did exactly as she was instructed.

Boaz seemed greatly pleased with her actions and told her to return to Naomi the next morning.  He filled her shawl with grain when she left.  When she saw Naomi, she reported all that had happened.  Naomi told her that Boaz would take care of the legal responsibilities that very day.  And he did!

He sought out the only other ‘kinsman redeemer’ and called some elders together to witness their agreement.  Because the other man was already married, he only saw Naomi and Ruth as a liability.  Therefore, he legally passed his rights to Boaz.  Boaz was now free to assume responsibility for all that had belonged to Elimelech.

Boaz immediately married Ruth and together they cared for Naomi.  Very soon, by God’s grace, Ruth conceived and bore a son.  The women of Bethlehem marveled at how God had changed Naomi’s fortune!  Naomi became the babysitter for this new child!  Boaz and Ruth named him Obed.

That child, born in Bethlehem 1300 years before Jesus was born, may seem insignificant to us.  But later, Obed grew up and married and had a son;  he named his son, Jesse.  Then Jesse grew up and married and had seven sons;  he named his youngest, David. 

This David, to everyone’s surprise, became the King of Israel!  He was also the one who received the promise from God that eventually the Messiah would come from his family line. 

And when the fullness of time arrived, God spoke to another young woman, named Mary.  He also spoke to her boyfriend, Joseph, and confirmed to them that Mary would give birth (as a virgin) to the Messiah.  They were both descendants from the line of King David!  They were instructed to name their baby boy, Jesus – which means Savior! 

______________________________________

We all love good stories!  This is a true story recorded for us in God’s Holy Word!  You can find it tucked away in a short book that carries the name of its heroin, Ruth. 

I want to draw one key point from this drama:  God Prepares In Advance!

In about three months, I plan to embark on one of the greatest adventures of my life! 

When I was in my early 20’s, I began to hear about a relatively new hiking trail that began in Georgia and ran over 300 mountains and meandered through the Appalachian Mountains all the way to central Maine!  I was captivated by this concept.

However, I was newly married and heavily involved in educational pursuits that were preparing me for a life of pastoral ministry!  There was NO WAY that I could take 3-6 months off to go for a long walk in the woods!  So, it became a dream for me.  Frequently, I would think about what it would be like to hike the Appalachian Trail.  Thousands of times over the next forty years, I would dream about embarking on this adventure.

But, life happens!  Kids were born.  Ministry became my life!  Family, church responsibilities and educational pursuits filled my years!  Hiking the AT was relegated to nothing more than a dream.

Actually, after forty years in the ministry, I arranged with the New Middletown FMC to have a ‘Sabbatical Leave’ for six months.  My plan was to hike the AT (in the spring of 2012) and fulfill my dream! 

But, it never happened.  Instead, Debbie and I packed up all our belongings and left for China to teach English.  Our three years of missionary work there became the three most enjoyable, exciting and gratifying years of my life! 

However, I did harbor a little disappointment that my AT dream had been canceled. 

I retired at the end of May.  We’ve created a new home for ourselves in Enon Valley, Pennsylvania.  And with my wife, Debbie’s blessing, I am now actively planning that AT adventure. 

In just a little over three months from now, I will board a plane for Atlanta, Georgia.  Then I’ll shuttle to Dahlonega, Georgia.  Then, I’ll shuttle again to Amacola Falls where I will start my 2,150 mile hike!

So, as you can imagine, my life is seriously picking up speed as I prepare for this trek. 

o  Gear is being purchased and tested

o  Food is being prepared

o  Drop boxes are being planned

o  Training is taking place

o  Debbie is learning to drive our new riding mower.  I’m also helping her learn about other responsibilities that I carry in our home.

We’re both on a steep learning curve as I plan to leave for approximately six months.  Hiking the AT is not something you just decide to do quickly!  It requires preparation!

But my preparation is insignificant compared to God’s! 

It’s nearly impossible for us to imagine preparing 1300 years in advance!  And actually, God had prepared even much earlier than that. 

Listen to Ephesians 1:3-6 from The Message:

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in Him. Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son.

We are not capable of conceiving the complexity and completeness of God’s advance planning!  His planning infiltrates our lives!  God  cares enough to prepare!

My Mom was very serious about observing The Lord’s Day.  She would work on Saturday evenings to do as much meal prep as possible to reduce her efforts on Sunday.  Every Saturday night of my first seventeen years, she had peeled potatoes covered in water and sitting in the pot ready to be cooked the next day.  She prepared to observe her Sabbath!

Listen!  You’re getting the message, I know you are!   Good things happen because someone prepares! 

When I was a kid, Christmas morning was a time of unbelievable fun and excitement.  Most Christmases, I would receive at least one gift that sent me on a hunt.  I would open a package and find a note that would tell me to look under my bed.  Another package – another note to look somewhere else.  And on and on and on.  But eventually, the hand-written notes led me to a gift that brought me great joy! 

But this joy was the result of someone’s preparation and planning.  One year, I kept those notes and tucked them away.  I found them years later as an adult.  As I studied them again, I noticed that they were written on paper from my Dad’s shop!  I also noted that they were written in his script!  It was my father (not my mother) who was the mysterious Santa! 

My father wasn’t very hands-on.  He wasn’t very affectionate and didn’t spend much time with me.  But as a young adult, I realized that my father loved me enough to prepare, wrap and hide these gifts!  I felt very loved! 

Preparation is important! 

Imagine God’s excitement as He watched Naomi and Ruth moving back to Bethlehem!  Imagine His joy as He saw Boaz’s interest develop in Ruth!  Imagine His smile as Obed was born and cradled in his Grandma Naomi’s arms! 

Imagine God sitting in the Heaven’s looking forward to a day 1300 years later when another baby boy would be born in Bethlehem to a young, obscure couple! 

Advent is the season of preparation! 

The call of Advent is twofold:

FIRST,

We are called to remember the birth of the One who saved us from our sins and has given us the hope of everlasting life!

SECOND,

We are challenged to look forward to His Second Coming!  This challenge causes us to reflect on how we are living our lives.  We are called to live in such a way that we can secure our eternity AND influence as many others as we can to accept Jesus as their Savior and live for His purposes.

So, how about it today?

There's still a little time before Christmas! 

Don’t let Him be omitted from your preparations for His Birthday!  Take control of your life!  Don’t allow Him to be squeezed out!  Hallmark movies are great, but they RARELY communicate the message of a Savior born to rescue a fallen world!

Prepare yourself!  Prepare your family!  Help prepare those around you. 

Recently, Debbie and I ate using coupons at Burger King!  Another retired couple sat in the booth next to us and we exchanged laughter about using the great coupons!  As they got up to leave, the gentleman wished us “Happy Holidays!”.  Debbie wished him a “Merry Christmas!”.  He clearly noticed her greeting and you could see the wheels turning in his mind.  Finally, he looked directly at her and said, “You’re right!  Merry Christmas!” 

You can and do impact others - consider that thought...

You might enjoy this link to a wonderful song by Christine Dente:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MelsSzlgDVI

SAM'S CLUB

Debbie and I recently rejoined Sam's Club after a long absence.  On a visit there this week, I noticed a truly lighthearted feeling as we walked through the store marveling at the massive quantity of goods available at one location.  As I wandered up and down the huge aisles, I got to thinking about why I felt so good in this environment.

It occurred to me that I had really pleasant memories of shopping at Sam's from way back in the 80's when we were living in East Liverpool, Ohio.  Our kids were young;  Travis was a pre-teen.  We would all pack up in our car for a day-trip to Boardman and a visit to Sam's.  This was usually done on a Saturday when we had time to enjoy ourselves and stock up for a month.

Debbie and I both worked:  she was a clerk at the Tri-State Federal Credit Union and I was leading the Oakland Free Methodist Church.  

We would grab a buggy and head through the store throwing all the items in that we needed (and quite a few that we didn't need).  By the time we were finished our cart was chock-full!  It would include cleaning items, clothing, after-school snacks and lots of food items.  The kids LOVED these little pizza-bagels, and also the sandwich-chicken-patties that came in long, frozen packages.  

We would spend a couple of hours roaming the store and having fun together.  As we neared Christmas, I would sometimes have a second buggy that we tried to conceal from the kids (good luck with that).  

The only downer was when we would check-out and I would watch the register climb to $100, then $200, then over $300.  Then out the door we would go to load all our prizes into our vehicle.  It seemed we were all always in a good mood during these trips.

After shopping at Sam's, we would head for Chuck-E-Cheese for more fun and lots of pizza.  If it was summer, we might stop at a miniature golf course at the corner of South Avenue and Rte. 224.  It was a monthly splurge time and a genuinely fun time for our family!  

One year, when we were living in a rented house on Bradshaw Avenue, I thought I was particularly clever in hiding our kid's Christmas gifts.  We had a small garage in the basement and I had hung my 16' Coleman canoe from the ceiling.  I had stuffed it with all their gifts - just waiting to be wrapped and placed under the tree.

We found out years later that Travis had searched the house and found the stash.  He had excitedly called Troy and Tracie to the garage while we were gone and they had a fun time ruining their Christmas morning!  

Those were fun years for our family!  

One of those fun days occurred on March 13, 1993.  Again, it was a Saturday and the snow began falling in the morning.  Warnings were out to stay off the roads.  But having gone to college in Rochester, New York, I was never one to be frightened of driving in snowy conditions.  We had planned to go to a huge shoe warehouse (Reyer's) in Sharon, Pennsylvania that day.  

Despite the cautions, we loaded into our big Chevy and started up Route 79.  The warnings were warranted - the snow came down in a fury!  We went from Reyer's to a Coney Island for our lunch.  Then we headed to the outer area of Hermitage to go to a KMart store.  As we walked into the store they informed us that they were closing due to the blizzard!

We decided to head home.  As we drove down Route 79, many cars were off the road and some were even stopped in the driving lanes.  The snow was over a foot deep, but we were able to keep rolling.  

Suddenly, we came upon a car stopped in the right lane.  An older woman was flagging us to stop.  She had taken her husband for a treatment at the hospital and couldn't keep the car moving.  She was desperate and asked if we could get her (and her husband) home to the Calcutta area.  They piled into our back seat and off we went.  

Less than a mile down the road, we saw a big man climbing out of his car from a ditch.  We stopped to see if we could help him.  Minutes later, he joined our troop as our crammed Chevy (with lots of added weight) snow-plowed toward East Liverpool - passing dozens of abandoned cars along the way.

As we road along, Travis seemed to recognize the woman.  Turns out she was Mrs. Possage, one of his elementary school teachers.  It was a festive time as we managed to get them to their house.  Then we delivered the man to his home.  Then, fortunately, we got back home safely.  Seventeen inches fell that day and it was later memorialized on a Brighton Hot Dog Shop cup as the Blizzard of '93.  

Lots of fun days are stored in our memories from those wonderful child-rearing years!