It’s been a very long month filled with a lot of work, not much time off, and some heart breaking developments in ministry.  This weekend my wife and I went home to Grand Saline, Texas to spend some time with our parents and take our mind off of some things.

I’m not sure what the age is that your parents stop being comforting to you, but I know I haven’t reached it.  Thursday night my mom’s cooking, conversation, and embrace really helped to pick me up.  I was home, and there’s just something about that.

Friday my dad and I spent the day scuba diving in Athens, Texas.  We talked a little bit about the problems we were both facing in ministry.  More than anything, though, we just spent time together.  

Sitting in an office or a church building for a large portion of my work, I’d forgotten how much I missed the sun.  Being outside, hearing the birds chirp, seeing the beauty of the sunlight reflecting off of a crystal clear lake...

I forgot about “stuff” for a while.  As my dad and I slipped beneath the surface of the water and isolated ourselves in the peaceful liquid of the quarry, I felt a burden begin to lift from my shoulders.  We had a great time diving through sunken planes and buses, navigating through the waters with nothing but our compasses and a prayer.  Upon surfacing we laughed about what we’d seen, how cold we were, and (of course) how much air my dad had consumed in a single 40 minute dive.

There would be time later to be concerned with what tomorrow would bring.  Today I was alive, I was enjoying God’s beauty, and I was thankful for the loving family the Lord had blessed me with.  

It’s good to be here.