Hey through it all, there is still a joy of discovery

Hey through it all, there is still a joy of discovery

Last night I the preface C.S. Lewis wrote in 1961 to The Screwtape Letters on page X he shares the devil is more likely to work in management or an administration than the "den of crimes" Dickens wrote about. It may be easy for us to infer some political connection to the opposite party one may hold. But I think it is more useful for us to see the devil's hand in any administration, political, business or church. Reading this extended preface I was once again encouraged following his argument. Lewis knew The Screwtape Letters by 1961 had large sales, but he wondered if life the Bible people owned a copy but did not read it.
In the Bible I am reading through Jeremiah in the NIV. It is my 12th time through the Old Testament. I have lost count on the New Testament. The freshness of the Bible never wears out for me. Like any good book or author, reading is he key to it. We may be impressed with a shelve of good books but that doesn't replace the reading of it.
The "Joy of Discovery" is done with be treated for depression and anxiety. Both battles have lifted, but anxiety that I have still needs medicine. My body needs to walk and exercise and eat healthier. Like others both my wife and I have concerns about our future employment. In front of us is the question can God who has cared for us to this point, will He care for us in our cares down the road. I don't mind telling you faith is always tested.

Praying for the little guy tonight

Experience is somewhat of a help as we recall other times of need. Faith adds to it and acquires over time experience with the Lord caring for us. We can recall times when we learned an applied truth from God's Word. We can look back on answered prayer and pray again. In some ways the issues are big because with age comes health and our mortality. But it wasn't any bigger than when our children were small and kept us up at night when they were sick. When my grandson very quickly fell into a life and death situation. Tonight little Liam has croup, I can hear him as I write. (Lord help him) So I look ahead and present and pray. I think this is what walking with the fat man is all about. There is still a joy in discovery, but our paths are often filled with challenges and burdens. Keep walking   

No sweat on a fall walk

Fall walks are often the best in the year. For one I don't sweat so much. It only takes a minute or two and the cool weather is comfortable. The trees have lost alot of their leaves but there are things to see and enjoy. A young buck well camouflage and a family of ducks swimming in a pond brought back to life from fall rains. You may have a hard time finding the buck in the picture. Every park bench we passed we used to do our push ups. 10 at each bench on our route in and 5 at each on our way out. The exercise is excellent for my my joints. The reps also boost my aerobics and get the whole body pumped up.
Barb pushes off the back rest and I the seat. The lower the bench the more challenging.

When we got home I listened to an Internet radio on my iPhone with ear plugs, and sat back listening to my own concert as the sunset. It was wonderful. As we walk along in our lives, I think it helps us enjoy or experience each day. Last night efore bed I took to the joys of reading and the concerns of praying. Keep alking

An African walk recalled

Walking into Timma Town, Grand Bassa, Liberia

For over 30 years I have been sharing stories of my life in Africa to kids at JT. I think some of my stories have gotten a little bigger as time has gone by. Much of the adventure of it, I owe to the Liberian people themselves. In particular my lads.
 Back in Liberia in 1977 I spent a year + working in the jungle in Liberia, West Africa. I was involved in missionary work that involved pasturing, evangelism, medical and educational work with hundreds of people. It was he greatest adventure of my life. Talk about walks, I had the privilege to walk in beautiful trails winding through the jungle. Often as I went to villages like this one and smaller ones where the sights and sounds filled my senses. Much of what I was able to do was depended on young teens who knew the ways of the jungle, local leaders and teachers who gave of their time and energy to help an all too young of a missionary for the work I was doing.

Alfred Joe

One thing I believed I did right was to take advantage of what the people of Liberia were able to give me. Barb, Elaine, Rn's and myself shared of ourselves, but I was always the student of Bassa and Pele people who invited us into their lives.
The boy in the picture if he survived the wars of Liberia Is Alfred Joe. He was 13 at the time I was there and one of the older kids in our school. I can tell you he was he best football player, (we call the game soccer.) Along with Melvin, Daniel and Moses these kids were always with me when I trekked to local villages. Sometimes adults would come if the occasion was deemed important. These boys helped me understand the heart of Africa I lived and worked in. Alfred Joe was at his best as I walked with him through the jungle. He always knew and could interpret what was ahead. Hidden dangers, safe trails, what was in the rain forest his knowledge was exceptional. Aussies use a term that describes Alfred Joe, "keen", he was in tune with life in the Liberian jungle.  When  think of enjoyable times walking I think of these boys.


The hunter lol, Alfred, Becki, Moses

If I have a regret in my life it was not getting back to my boys. I went back to the US to complete my education and then go back. Two years after I left Liberia fell into a nearly 30 year civil war. Even today, what I did in the late 70's would not be possible. Alfred and Daniel, Moses and Melvin would be 50 now. That is old in the jungle. A big thanks also to Peter and John who gave so much of their language skills.
Sometimes, driver ants flesh eating, mambas, scorpions would be in locations where people were on the mission. They would pose a danger and I was definitely not able to remove them like Crocodile Hunter. The boys would help me hunt them. I never hunted in the jungle. I fished some, but game in the jungle was not edible. Hunting around the grounds was to keep people safe. There were people who were bit by snakes an died not far from where I lived. Times when I had to destroy wild life wasn't very often, but living in a heart of a jungle you are close to danger that is real. The boys were always available to watch over Becki as she played. They were very aware of their surroundings. Becki also spent allot of time with us as we did our work. She was a trouper.
The next time you are on a nature trek, listen and learn. I was blessed with the lads. Keep walking

I am tired tonight, need a refuge

Th Lord is my refuge, but Barb is more than I
deserve

Ps. 57:1 "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by." When we walk in nature hikes sometimes a storm comes up and if we get time we look for a shelter to be protected until the storm passes. Some of these walks are refuges for wildlife and plants in themselves. Their refuge is from our interests that don't care about the habitat or wildlife that goes against development. As I walk trails preserved in urban development I am thankful for those who foresaw we needed such areas.  Probably every generation will have to fight for these protected areas.
Tonight, I am thinking of our own need to find a quiet place where we can take a personal refuge. All over our planet are many in danger with their health or harm from others and we need a time of safety and care. David writing crys' out to God to save him and protect him until the danger passes. In verse 3, God sends His loving kind, need are love and truth to be the basis for the shelter He provides. For us it may be medical  knowledge or protection from evil. My cousin has been fighting for his life with cancer. his health has improved, but the fight continues. Prayers are urgent and real.

The Lord is our Rock

For me I am just tired and needed a nap. Before I go to bed I will take a little refuge with the Lord. My room is quiet, I can hear the reassuring night sounds from the river and railway tracks. My Bible is opened to Ps. 57, my iPhone plays wonderful music. Yet in my city there are people in pain, abused and in fear tonight. A young man who was in my classes the last few years was shot and killed. He was a good kid to me. His family is in pain. The human willingness to take up a gun to use against one made in the image of the Lord, don't we see the evil in it. Lord be merciful to me as I take refuge in you. I am glad I have a shelter. I have added  few more pictures to my friends of people smiling on me. It is a good thought as I go to bed. I add 2 sit ups for each picture.
My walk was indoors today. With my nap it was a little late for a night walk. Where is your refuge? Sometimes it is the strength of my wife and kids. Many of you will find your kids will be a rock for you. As you were for your parents. I had 10 minutes with my son tonight. It was a refuge. He is a good man.  Keep walking
 

Being comfortable in our skin, Ain't easy

Aboard the Missouri, and I could pass up the pose. When it comes to aging
don't you think it is OK to fight it a little. What do you think?

Are we comfortable in our skin? At the age of 60 my skin has replaced itself 8 1/2 times.  I was feeling my grandson's skin at 22 months and his is smooth and soft. My skin by contrast a little more weathered.
One of the blogs I follow, Already Pretty by Sally McGraw explores fashion no matter what body type. Her blog is feminine and the opposite of me, but her message is a good one. I have met too many beautiful gals who thought different of themselves.
When it comes to fitness, I think it is first, it is about our health and well being. If I was younger I probably weigh in how one looks. Do I think that because I've given up on my youthful looks? Probably, but am I comfortable in my skin? To be honest, I think I am working on that one.
A few things  can say is I am feeling more fit than 8 weeks ago. Almost daily push ups, squats and sit ups are working. Being active at work and watching what I eat is a part of it also. Doing right things has the benefit of not doing what is harmful.
About my skin so different from Liam's, accepting growing old. Part of it I think it is good to work at and fight it. I don't think it should be easy. Aging is iinevitable so I think we should be realistic but give in? Walking and diet, working on social, spiritual, mental issues I think is healthy to work at. Continue to live and not give up but accept how we look and feel. How is that different from accepting fashion for any size? Sally McGraw is right for those struggling with body image.  Mystery writer the late Robert Parker would say, that is a shrink question? In therapy maybe the ultimate goal is dealing with loss. Ultimately loss is our struggle with death. Long before shrinks aging has been a problem.
For me I have to understand "my skin" with eternity in view. Paul wrote in Romans 8:22, "For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now." That groaning is part of my aging. Life on earth after the fall was never meant forever. My life continues after physical death, where it is spent depends on my coming to faith in Christ while I live on this planet. Finding peace with God is huge in how I feel in my skin. You can check my page on a relationship with God.
Saying this, I still struggle with "my skin". I know my time to be with the Lord in heaven is not yet. So I walk, exercise, see my doctor, change my diet to continue to live an active fuller life. I'm working on it. Keep walking

Walking wit Kids and take in the season

Hiking with kids, I read an article by Debra Way brought back some walks I have done with kids. Helen Olsson, author of "The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping With Kids." gave the following advice.

• Most kids can walk a half a mile for every year of their age. (I wished I would have known this better)
• Kids may enjoy walks with elevation more than flat areas, but the walks are harder.
• Hikes in a loop are more fun for kids that hike in than back out.
• Walk at a slower rate and give a chance to discover things like wildflowers, birds, animals.

It has been my experience not to over do a hike distance. When Addison was six I took him on two hikes in Glacier National Park. There were kids his age that did well but it was over doing it for him. The first one was a five mile hike. He loved the first three miles, but after that is was too hard. I was short sighted on the distance. The second hike was about 2 miles and it was a lot of fun. What I remember most was seeing the trail through his eyes.

Some of my favorite walkers doing the hard part of
remodeling the upstairs. Tanya, Billy, Addison

Addison still remains my best walking buddy and we like to play different Frisbee golf courses some thirteen years later.
Spencer and my son Billy had their own adventures out west and they out did me. I learned from them, but I did take time to have supplies needed for a trek. With my kids and grand kids when we camped, they did the cooking. I was the helper. They were good cooks.
More ideas on walking with kids check out
http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sc-health-1017-fitness-hiking-20121017,0,1938418.story
Rain is bringing down many leaves here in Illinois. Anne Cassidy in her blog A Walker in the Suburbs today wrote about the fall colors being a "Forest fire" where she is at today the sky is blue and she writes of the brilliance of the light moving through the trees. She doesn't want to let it go. Well stated on her part. It is good to enjoy the colors when we can. Thank You Lord.
The rain will bring my walking indoors today but our walks ahead will be nice with lakes and rivers being restored from the summer draught.
Take in the season where you are at. No day is the same. Keep walking

Enjoying my view of JT

The section of Joliet Central High School in the photo was built in 1901, probably construction began in 1900. The halls in this section and stairs are marble. Also here was the first Junior College. The benches in view are great to do push ups from. I am up to 25. I think it is to bad that they did not make the college a four year school. The number of college graduates in the town would have made a difference. We need a public college in our city.


Beautiful berries this time of year

Ju-co moved out but I think of the thousands of students like myself who walked these halls. To be sure it is a different school than when I was there. Freedom of thought and life was fuller back then. Kids would have filled this area I am sitting alone at on good days. I like the solitude, but this area really shouldn't be for me but for the kids. I was a student here back in the late sixties and we were debating Viet Nam and racism and the usual teen conflicts. Ideas were more assertive and less controlled by adults. I can't say it was the good old days but it was lively. There was no busing so most of us walked to and from school and on the walks the kids I walked with it was just us. No parents or bus drivers. We live in our own times and we can't go back but I wish kids today had our freedom.
In the years ahead younger leaders will have to look at the effects on loss of freedom and more social control and what it does to the young minds. Today everything is filtered and the conformity is stifling. I don't know if you remember bull sessions, but they were great.
Growing up in any era has its' problems but I miss education that wasn't geared for a standardize test. Colleges are a mill today and what happened to a  good book. Most books seem to be sermons today. I know must be sounding like an old man walking and not just fat. Education is a gift and more of an art than we think. Somewhere in hall like here it is still going on. Herman Horne in "The Teaching Techniques of Jesus" pointed out the student was a big part of the ciriculum. It is an old book but it is a great book. Google it, there are online editions.
Rain is in the forcast so I am glad to take a lunch with such a great view. This old building has given me a lot of steps. In it are kids who are worth the effort. Someday I will be feeble and they will care for me, unless somebody gets the idea we don't need the feeble. Keep walking