Our children are The Change
Today while watching our new president being sworn into office and giving his inaugural address, I thought about the campaign theme of Change Can Happen. Change.gov was the name of the website for now President Obama's transition project. Today's speech spelled it out a little bit more:

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

I believe it begins with individuals who have had a change of heart within families within community. We can not be a part of the we, if we as individual people have yet hope, unity of purpose, let go of resentment, grow up, stand up for others and lay down our lives, be the go getters and for us as Christians salt out of the salt shaker. I am resolved to be content at being an obscure laborer who is willing to see my children go further and higher. At the same time be willing to press on and see how far I can make it in the journey, do my best to never give up.

So that leads me to my children (K-Mac was the only commenter who wanted to hear about the children being gone) who have been gone for over a week and the oldest having been gone since the end of December. First, let's remember that they are young adults (almost 16, 17, and 19) and each of them wants to make a difference in the world. Until today, it hasn't been too quiet around here.

(did not finish this post after starting)

Back to the my children that are growing up so quickly before my eyes. There is a song by Jon Forman "C'mon, C'mon" and there is a line that says, "let's not be our parents." It is my desire that my children will go up further and higher than their dad and me. Each one will make an impact in their community and be a part of the change in this country by changing and growing more and more into the likeness of Christ. I am not specifically talking about the political landscape or policy making, although I will not count those out. However, I hope and pray for them to each influence the culture for the glory of God.

In the time that my kids were gone. I prayed for them and some of you may be surprised, that I did not pine after them even though I missed them. This is a strategic time in their lives as we "shoot out these arrows of ours" (as Gregg Harris likes to put it). Each of them have been through test launches and they are looking good and continue to prepared for their final launches. Not exactly sure when that will be for each of them but we know that is closer than we think.

Relationships with our children change as they grow up. When we resist the change the pain is greater. I have delighted in walking through life with them all through their childhood. In some ways people may think that the parents who educated their children at home have a harder time letting go, but I am doing what I have done through the years, embraced the change because it will help me to continue on my own journey in this life. By no means am I doing it with ease. I fumble, fall on my face but I get up again, often with one of my young adults helping me brush myself off and telling me, "it's ok mum."

So I want my kids to sing it out:

So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!
Let's not be our parents.
Well c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!
Let's follow this through.
Oh c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!
Everything's waiting.
We will rise with the wings of the dawn,
When everything's new.
Everything's new.

That they would not just do better than us but that they will be better than us. To Grace, Katie and Michael I say stand on my shoulders.

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There are so many things that I want to write about listening, aging, kids test flying out of the nest (2 weeks with all 3 teenagers gone) and not letting the nest get cold, hospitality, families, death, dying and forgiveness for a start. With such a list in my head and on my heart what happens is I don't write at all.
I am very aware of the fact that I have a number of regular readers and 2 regular readers who comment. So this is a shout out to all of my regular readers. First of all THANK YOU for reading and encouraging me over the years. I enjoy getting feedback. All writers want to be read. I write because I love to do it. Today I am asking for more comments: please pick one of the subjects from the list above for me to write about next.
Again, thanks so much for reading!

In light of what is about to take place in these United States:

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, no one thinks of changing himself."
Leo Tolstoy

"All they wanted was one last great adventure."
Kenny, the grandson of my dear friend asked what the sign was, so I told him what it said. It hangs on the wall entering our kitchen. His Bebe said it was appropriate for our family. And yes, I thought to myself. I want the adventure of staying put, not having a favorite type of moving boxes, getting everything out of storage, etc. I could go on with quite a list but I think you get the picture.
Then I googled to find out who the quote was from since two people had asked in the last 3 days and I was unsuccessful in my search. I did however come across some other interesting things as a result. Here are a few:

'Running From Safety: An Adventure of the Spirit,' 1994. Daisy is Richard's Cessna 337

" Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. "
Helen Keller

" People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering. "
St. Augustine

" Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- ’WOW, what a ride!!! "
Anonymous

" To die will be an awfully big adventure. "
James Matthew Barrie

[There were many more but I will spare you.]

The last quote here from the beloved JM Barrie got me to thinking. That it IS death that will be THE last great adventure. The biggest part of it being, its not an "if" but merely "when." In God's economy we are not the ones to determine that factor, but we are to be prepared. The "being prepared" part can mean different things to different people.
So many thoughts have been flowing through my mind this very morning. And thinking on the terms of being prepared for the end, the final curtain call, our final change of address, the following questions come to my mind:
"is your own house in order?"
"am I doing my best to live at peace with all men?"
"are my actions lining up with my convictions?"

I realize that there are many more questions to ask ourselves and thoughts that help us to be prepared. The thing that is comforting about death is that it is 100%. Not one of us (human beings) gets out of this life alive. It is something we all have to face and it is one of the hardest things for us to help others with facing. Lots of folks are not afraid of death but dying. I believe that I am going to need to read and write further on this subject. It has been on my mind for a totally different reason (no, I am not dying.).

As a Christian, I know that I am alive in Christ forevermore even when I face death. It will be different because it will be in the Presence of the Holy One who can not abide with sin. It will be glorious and like nothing that I have ever imagined.

Living out my life here on earth until the last great adventure.

EACH DAY

The other day on the phone with a really good friend of mine she said something in passing that hit me between the eyes because I had just written it also in passing, "living one day at a time is probably the best way to live." The thought occurred to me that it isn't just some plans I want in the works perhaps it is just control that I want. Part of the adventure of life is seeing how the plan unfolds.

At the same time there is nothing wrong with making plans and goals, writing them down and looking to execute them. There has to be a willingness to be flexible because life has a habit of altering our plans. So, when I got off the phone I suddenly felt hopeful, that it was OK to want to have plans but in fact it is really important to live and stay in the day.

I head into the new year with goals, hope and a renewed fervor for the day.

Thanks GML.