Perspective

I run into some pretty abnormal circumstances during my many hours at coffee shops each week. This morning I was asked by a lady in my section at the Panera to wear this pin. I took the picture with photo booth on my macbook so you may not be able to read it. It says, "Today is Earl's 80th". Some guy named Earl turned 80 today and there was a table of 10-12 people very excited about it. So excited that they were unashamedly asking perfect strangers to wear those pins. So Earl came into the restaurant and everyone wished him a happy birthday...including me. Some guy even took a picture of me with the pin on so Earl could remember his special day.

Today was also "free coffee day" at Panera. They were giving free coffee so people could donate towards the "Make a wish" foundation. I looked at the person being featured for this particular make a wish program and it was a little 3-year-old girl battling leukemia. She wanted to go to Disneyworld so Panera and Make a Wish were trying to see this reality come true. So in one restaurant this morning there was a birthday party for an 80 year-old man and a charitable organization assisting a 3 year-old fighting to live. As I pondered this, I was reminded once again how fragile & unpredictable life is.

My sister was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer 14 days ago. Just like December 7, 1941 and 9/11 forever changed our country, January 14 changed my family's life. I mean EVERYTHING (abs) changed that day. With one phone call from my dad, my perspective immediately changed. Trivial things became instantly magnified as not very important and priorities were properly realigned. The bottom line is I know a few things better now than I did 15 days ago. I know I love Jesus and want to make a difference in this world for His good. I love Gretchen and my three little girls. I love my mom, dad, three sisters, three brother-in-laws, a ton of nephews and nieces, and everyone on Gretchen's side of the family. I love my church and am very excited about how God may use the GC to impact our community and beyond. I love my involvement at Normandale and how God is initiating His Kingdom there. So my days look and feel different. I want to be with those I'm blessed to share life with. I want to connect with God as much as possible in prayer. I want to cherish each moment of every day. I can't relive the past and I'm not guaranteed tomorrow so I better just live in the present and be thankful for my next breathe.