Up Close and Personal

Okay, I just had another experience that kind of surprised me.  I got to be on the sidelines of the Tour Down Under professional bike race.  Go figure!  I have watched several times portions of the Tour De France on television and never thought I would see something like that in person.  This event draws riders and spectators from all over the world.  Goolwa is one of the towns the tour passes through on it's third leg of the Tour.  On television you get to follow the bikers as they ride the course, you get the bird's eye view of the lead riders and the distance that separates the peloton, in person...not so much.  As you can see from the video the experience lasted only a few seconds.  http://youtu.be/eRP03XHyTQY The video doesn't do justice the speed or force of the riders.  I'm sure there are some deep spiritual insights, parallels, or truths that can be drawn from this experience but for now I'm just enjoying the experience and the cool summer breeze in South Australia!

Be Blessed,
Marty

I think I'll take a Mulligan!

Golf, for some it brings thoughts and feelings of relaxation, anticipation, and excitement.  For me, not so much!  I have dabbled in the sport, but find it too slow and very agonizing.  I've never gotten the hang of it, never really understood the technique of it, and really haven't had the time or willing "coach" to lead me from "the rough" to the green of the game!  By description I'm a hacker.  I have on occasion shown greatness on the green for one hole out of eighteen but overall, I choose not to frustrate myself with slices, hooks, dribbles, and going through packets of balls.

One aspect of the game I find intriguing: the Mulligan.  I tried to find the origin of this term and there are many legends surrounding how this term became a standard for "do over!"  Where ever it came from doesn't matter to me, I like it!  Wouldn't it be great if life came with mulligans?  Give the wrong answer on a test...mulligan!  Rear end the guy in front of you...mulligan!  Say too much in a conversation...mulligan!  Retaliate after a deep hurt...mulligan!  A mulligan is in a sense the ability to wipe the slate clean and start over.  However, it's more like a second chance.  With a second chance I can take the experience of what I've just done, hopefully learn from it, make corrections, and take another swing at it.  I find that new years are somewhat like a mulligan...a fresh start, a second chance!  I have the opportunity to take the experiences of the past year, learn from them, make corrections, and take another swing at it!  This is not a new thought, God has pretty much designed life this way and even provided a way for new things to emerge out of past hooks of pain and slices of disappointment.  Jesus declares that he is making all things new again...!  He provides me with the opportunity to take a mulligan and take a second chance (although with me, I think I'm on my 14th or 15th chance in some areas)!

This new year, I'm grateful that God is a God who allows for mulligans.  I look forward to this year and the opportunity I'll have to go for the green.  I do know there will be times I'll swing and land in the rough but when I can, I'll remember the option to use the mulligan to get back on track!

Happy New Year...and to you golfers out there, keep your eye on the ball and take a mulligan for me!

Marty

Tradition

Usually, I buck tradition.  However, when it comes to Christmas there is a tradition I have been a part of my entire life. 

From my earliest years I remember one gift that has always been present under the tree: a box of chocolate covered cherries.  This gift was always given to my grandpa Longcor.  It was one of those things you could count on every year.  Grandpa would receive the hollowed box of cherries.  The tradition included him opening up the box and passing them around for everyone to share.  It was just a given that Grandpa Longcor loved Chocolate Covered Cherries and Christmas wasn't Christmas without a box under the tree!  I can remember for weeks after Christmas going to Grandpa's and within a matter of minutes he would pull out his stash of cherries to share. 

A few years before he died he was spending a week with Ruthann and I.  I was at work and he and Ruthann were doing gardening.  They took a break to have a cup of coffee and Ruthann pulled out our stash of Chocolate Covered Cherries to share with Grandpa.  As they sat on the couch enjoying their coffee Grandpa leaned into Ruthann and with a faint whisper said: "I have something to tell you: I don't like chocolate covered cherries!"  He then threw back his head and laughed like there was no tomorrow.  The secret was out.  It all made sense to me why he would always open the box and share.  It also made sense why he always had cherries well after Christmas.  The following Christmas he received a plethora of chocolate covered cherries!  It has been 21 years since grandpa died but every year a box of cherries would magically appear under our tree. 

This has been a tradition for 50 plus years and this year I was wondering if Christmas would come and go without the cherries.  Unlike the States, Australia hasn't caught on to this tradition and does not have chocolate covered cherries...chocolate covered licorice yes, cherries, NO!  When Natalie's luggage came she called me to her room as she unpacked her suitcase and what did she uncover?  A box of Chocolate Covered Cherries sent to me by my sister in law Jan!  WOW, the tradition continues.  Thanks Jan!

It's Christmas Time!

I was asked the other day what the word Christmas means.  My answer: "it means Christ Mass or the Mass of Christ."  I then did a little research and learned it is associated with the celebration of the Lord's Supper.  I am struck at how we celebrate the birth of Christ with a word that goes right to the heart of the mission of Christ...to give his life as a ransom for us.  He came to bring fulfillment to life and connection back to the Father!  May you be blessed this Christmas with the realization that Jesus loves you.  I don't know about you, but that gives me hope and a reason to celebrate!!!

By the way, this Christmas there are a lot of firsts for me: 1. long daylight hours, 2. Caroling in sandals and shorts, & 3. 80 F weather.  (Sorry, just had to mention that!)

Merry Christmas,

Marty

Done, but NOT Finished!!!

I'm DONE, done with my Master's from Fuller Theological Seminary.  In January 2008 I started the adventure and today, submitted my final two papers for my last two classes.  I have to admit, when I finished the last paper and sent it to my editor, tears welled up in my eyes.  This has been a long haul but I have learned and gained so much from this experience.  The knowledge was a given, the life-long friends were unexpected.  I have great friends now all over the world who have walked with me through a significant part of this journey.  I also have come to realized how blessed I am.  My family, Ruthann and Natalie have put up with almost four years of me being consumed at times with homework, papers, reading, and the anxiety of waiting for grades to be posted.  Ruthann has put in countless hours as my chief editor and put up with a lot of run on sentences, poor grammar, and looming deadlines.  Who would have guessed that 34 years ago in college when I was flunking out of Freshman English, that pretty little tutor I began meeting with several nights a week would be editing my papers for my Master's!  Thanks Ruthann! Both Ruthann and Natalie have been my cheerleaders through it all. I love em heaps!  I'm done, but NOT finished.  I'm done with my Master's but not finished learning.  I am committed to be a lifelong learner...there is so much more to learn!

Be Blessed,

Marty

Settled?

Okay, this having patience and waiting is getting a little old.  A reoccurring question I have been asked over the last six months is: "how are you settling into life in Australia?"  My usual answer is: "Great."  But underneath the surface, I'm beginning to think: "Settled? What's That?"  It seems like nearly every aspect of getting settled is taking a very long time.  We are still living in temporary accommodations, albeit, very nice accommodations we haven't been able to unpack things that were boxed up in late December of last year.  We're hoping...anticipating...wondering...and a little bit skeptical about when we'll be located in a more permanent place.  Here's the latest:

About a month ago Ruthann got a call from a property management company.  They had a house for us to see that they thought might be "the one" for us.  We have decided to rent, since buying is out of the question for us at this time (that's a whole other story).  So, we set an appointment, saw the house, made the decision to rent, and set the date to move for Sept. 15th.  This would give us enough time to accumulate everything we needed to strike out on our own, I could finish my class (I just submitted my final paper and took the final...YES~), and have time to move!  Ok, so, Ruthann was taking care of arrangements to transfer things like phone line, change of address, and internet when she discovers there is a very real possibility internet isn't available to this residence?  Long story short: when the new development went into the island (yes, were hopefully moving to an island...I've been watching reruns of Gilligan's Island and am trying to find Ruthann a grass skirt and coconut top.) they only set up the internet capability for 60% of the residences.  The phone company is saying the system maybe at capacity and internet may not be available.  WHAT???  Are you kidding me. So, the waiting game continues. Yesterday phone lines were hooked up and today, the 15th of Sept. at 3 o'clock they will run a test to see if there is room for one more hook up to the internet.

So, are we settled?  Yes!  We're settled on the fact that God is in control and loves us with an everlasting love.  We're settled in knowing that one day EVERYTHING will be settled, all wrongs will be righted, all things will be made new, and there will be no more waiting for things to be settled.  We are settled into the fact that we have an awesome family and great friends.  At this point, what more could there be???  Are we moving?  Don't know, maybe, maybe not!  If we do, we could use some help especially with moving Ruthann's new island wardrobe!

Camping in the City!

Okay, for some of you this may seem like an oxymoron but for a non-camper like me it's a compromise almost to the extent of adverting a national debt crisis!  This past weekend we took a little get a way with another family.  When we first started conversations about this get a way we talked about going to Kangaroo Island (just off the coast of south Australia).  Once the price of the get a way exceeded $1,000 plans quickly switched to a more economical get a way.  Before I knew what was happening camping became the selected event. 

However, the location was Adelaide, a bustling metropolis of over a million people.  Things were looking up.  The event started with a trip to the Adelaide zoo where the only two panda bears in the southern hemisphere are located.  In the afternoon we made our way to the "camp".  The family that traveled with us pulled their caravan (RV).  As we pulled into the "camp" no tents were seen only caravans and nicely situated cabins!  YES...running water, queen sized bed, heat, full kitchen and bath...my kind of camping.  What we discovered was in this large city was a place to feel like you were out in the middle of nowhere.  The rest of the time we spent hanging out, playing games, and doing a little exploring.  What we did discover was beautiful waterfalls, hiking trails, a lone koala hanging out in a tree, and a nearby Woolworth's store with a great deal on chocolate!  Not to mention the memories we made with good friends!  All in all, two thumbs up on camping in the city!