A Realization


Back when we were pups, people like us went to high school, then to work.  Or to college.  Some of us traveled.  Some of us did all of the above, in various orders.  All kinds of experiences were had.

John and I went to high school.  We went to college, working along the way.  We met, got married, had kids.  We sometimes marvel that our kids are at the age when we had 2, 3, 4 children, a mortgage, bills we are embarrassed about now, and they don't have those same challenges.  Understand, we are NOT complaining, or feeling like we missed something.  I, for one, firmly believe C. S. Lewis was absolutely right when he said, 

“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own,' or 'real' life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life -- the life God is sending one day by day.”

None of what we were living was unpleasant, or an interruption, although that does sound a bit Pollyanna-ish.  It was what we were given by a loving God, and we have been, and remain, grateful for it.

I have wondered, from time to time, what people do after all the choosing of a path and the raising of children and the paying of debts and worrying about health and suchlike is not necessarily over, as such, but less of an unpleasantry, less of an interruption.  I have wondered what the options are, and how we will choose what to do.

Today I was driving through the Smoky mountains, and realized, of course, that we're doing it.  It was given to us to do and we're doing it.

Go figure.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Travels Begin (Wait, What?)

Image
 I thought it might interest some people to see where we've been.  Although this trip started at the end of June, I didn't start this record until this month, October.  So, below, behold where Behemoth spent June/July. We started  from our home of the last year, Madison, Alabama.  (OK, technically, we started from a nearby Cabela's parking lot)  Madison taught us alot about life; bloom where you're planted, don't be judging, have fun when fun is available, and not all post offices are at all competent.  Being planted in Alabama helped us immensely in starting this trip.  We found a well kept and well priced RV and tow vehicle: had we been in another, more comfortable state, we would have had to travel to find them.  But, here they were, almost next door. And yet, at the end of our lease, it was time for other lessons, other fun, and other places.  It was time to roam. Our first adventure was simple.  We headed north to our son's, ne...
Read more

An Anniversary

Image
John and I looked up the other day, and realized it had been a year since we started this adventure.  We weren't sure of the exact date; we had to look it up.  So, now you know.  As of today, June 25, we've been at this silliness for one year. When you meet people who are full-timing, (that's the technical term) the conversation will eventually turn to, "So what motivated you to make the big decision?"  We have told this story many times, and we don't get tired of it.  So I thought I'd share it with you. In 2019, we had a milestone birthday.  We realized we would be retirement age in 5 years, and had over $300,000 in debt.  Now, that included our mortgage, and our retirement savings is healthy, but it didn't take a financial whiz to see that our retirement would not be what we wanted it to be if we kept that debt, so we made the commitment to get rid of it.  Once the consumer portion was gone, we would work on the mortgage, with the eventual goal ...
Read more

Time on the Water

Image
We camped several nights at Tahquamenon Falls.  (Look it up.  It's a place.)  While there, we decided to rent kayaks, and a canoe.  Jay and Kris had joined us. The water was clear on the river.  I tried to show you some fish here.  I tried.   It was a gorgeous day, cool and sunny.  Perfect for being out on the river. Jay and Kris in the double kayak, young John in the single. Zoom in on his grin.  He was born to do this. Molly also joined us.  This was just before she started trying to jump in.  It was worrisome, until John figured out that she wasn't trying to jump in, but to drink some water!  Good dog owners that we are, it slipped our minds to water the dog.  We pulled over, and did just that. And, off again! We have talked and talked about buying kayaks.  It's problematic, because we have nowhere to carry them.  It's not recommended on a soft top Jeep, and, although we tried, we haven't been able to fin...
Read more