A Time Away
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: …
a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
From Hebrew literature (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 6)
In 1999 my wife, our children, their spouses and my wife's brother experienced our first family vacation together. We went to the Outer Banks in North Carolina; then the kids were planning weddings, now they’ve been married for a decade; at that time my brother-in-law was in the beginning stages of dealing with grief and loss.
Soon we will have another family vacation. Every time some of us are together, I think back to that first family vacation where we were working through mourning moments, where we were trying to find a way to dance. The verse from Ecclesiastes is true, friend. Mourning does turn to dancing!
Throughout that week eleven years ago, we honored each other’s needs. There was time spent in reflection and there was also time spent in party-like celebration. The same might be true as we gather for this vacation. Now, the grievers may be my daughter and son-in-law. Their oldest starts kindergarten in just a few weeks and they may be grieving that their “little girl” is growing up too fast! We will have to tell stories of her early years and adventures. The rhythm of the mourning/dancing time will again be part of our vacation. The family will become stronger because we took some time together.
May your day have a sense of balance as life unfolds for you. Have a good day.
A prayer for today: God of vacation, thank you for the gift of family. Amen.
--Ben Keckler
07.28.10
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Daily Devotion - Tuesday, July 27
A Time Away
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: …
a time to search and a time to give up.”
From Hebrew literature (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 6)
In September of 2003 my wife and I began to formulate a plan for our 2004 vacation. We dealt with “who, what, when, where, why, how much” questions. Since we wanted to spend some family time with our kids and their spouses, along with my wife’s brother, we first checked to see if they wanted to “party” together for a vacation. We proceeded to then talk about the additional questions.
Recently we've been putting together a trip with comparatively little planning. Just like the wisdom writer of old promised — there is a time to search and a time to give up. Now that there are grandkids, we've found the extended family doesn't have quite as much time to do extensive planning.
I am confident that the time will be good and that renewal will happen. As I trust the rhythms of life, I will have a refreshing time away. I trust that you will have a good week; I am certain that when vacation does start, the adventure will be most meaningful and memorable!
--Ben Keckler
07.27.10
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: …
a time to search and a time to give up.”
From Hebrew literature (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 6)
In September of 2003 my wife and I began to formulate a plan for our 2004 vacation. We dealt with “who, what, when, where, why, how much” questions. Since we wanted to spend some family time with our kids and their spouses, along with my wife’s brother, we first checked to see if they wanted to “party” together for a vacation. We proceeded to then talk about the additional questions.
Recently we've been putting together a trip with comparatively little planning. Just like the wisdom writer of old promised — there is a time to search and a time to give up. Now that there are grandkids, we've found the extended family doesn't have quite as much time to do extensive planning.
I am confident that the time will be good and that renewal will happen. As I trust the rhythms of life, I will have a refreshing time away. I trust that you will have a good week; I am certain that when vacation does start, the adventure will be most meaningful and memorable!
--Ben Keckler
07.27.10
Monday, July 26, 2010
Daily Devotion - Monday, July 26
A Time Away
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: …
a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
From Hebrew literature (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 7)
As we begin another week, I am looking forward to some time away. It is almost time to head for the mountains of Colorado and camp with the Colorado kids and grandkids! Vacation begins soon!
There is a time for everything, including vacation time. Self-care is an important part of our work. To be away from all the business, or should I call it “busy-ness”, can be most helpful.
We are giving careful attention to the details of this trip since it is our first camping experience in quite a while. I think we are ready, particularly if I can remember the following prayer attributed to the great musician, Duke Ellington:
“Every person prays in his/her own language,
And there is no language that God does not understand.”
Have a good week!
--Ben Keckler
07-26.10
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven: …
a time to be silent and a time to speak.”
From Hebrew literature (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 7)
As we begin another week, I am looking forward to some time away. It is almost time to head for the mountains of Colorado and camp with the Colorado kids and grandkids! Vacation begins soon!
There is a time for everything, including vacation time. Self-care is an important part of our work. To be away from all the business, or should I call it “busy-ness”, can be most helpful.
We are giving careful attention to the details of this trip since it is our first camping experience in quite a while. I think we are ready, particularly if I can remember the following prayer attributed to the great musician, Duke Ellington:
“Every person prays in his/her own language,
And there is no language that God does not understand.”
Have a good week!
--Ben Keckler
07-26.10
Friday, July 23, 2010
Daily Devotion - Friday, July 23
In Need of Soulful Restoration
“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul….”
--An ancient song
Psalm 23: 2,3
I don't know how this week has been for you; I hope it has been meaningful. I do know that I've had to deal with yet another loss of a friend I have grown to love and respect, a friend who wasn't that much older than I am. I do not like these moments because the pastures don't feel green and the waters don't seem still when death visits.
I am hopeful that my friend's dear family will spend these next days and weeks, possibly even months and years discovering their green pastures, their still waters, their restoration of soul that feels depleted because a meaningful love has died.
The weekend is very near! I trust that I can start my restoration. I plan to spend time in Mother Earth tending to weeds that seem to forever spring up in my green pasture. Once again I'll need to mow the growing grass that has been encouraged by summer rainfalls. While working I'll think of men who left this sacred garden way too early – John, Dennis, Kipp, Mike, Estes, Jerry. I'll give thanks for their gifts I was privileged to receive. Come soulful restoration, come!
--Ben Keckler
07.23.10
“He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul….”
--An ancient song
Psalm 23: 2,3
I don't know how this week has been for you; I hope it has been meaningful. I do know that I've had to deal with yet another loss of a friend I have grown to love and respect, a friend who wasn't that much older than I am. I do not like these moments because the pastures don't feel green and the waters don't seem still when death visits.
I am hopeful that my friend's dear family will spend these next days and weeks, possibly even months and years discovering their green pastures, their still waters, their restoration of soul that feels depleted because a meaningful love has died.
The weekend is very near! I trust that I can start my restoration. I plan to spend time in Mother Earth tending to weeds that seem to forever spring up in my green pasture. Once again I'll need to mow the growing grass that has been encouraged by summer rainfalls. While working I'll think of men who left this sacred garden way too early – John, Dennis, Kipp, Mike, Estes, Jerry. I'll give thanks for their gifts I was privileged to receive. Come soulful restoration, come!
--Ben Keckler
07.23.10
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Daily Devotion - Thursday, July 22
Building A Sand Castle
"Grandpa, I can't wait to build a sand castle with you and Gran!" said our oldest grandchild a few years ago. We couldn't wait either. My wife and I were eager to work hard and make everything just the way she wanted it. And, I hoped a wave wouldn't wash it away before we finished.
Each of us are building our sand castles, aren't we! We have a plan on how our lives will unfold. Some of us are fortunate to even have a nice moat around our sand castle so that the waters have to work extra hard to destroy our sand castles.
All of us are aware about the devastation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf that finally may be repaired. Life can change dramatically and our sand castles can be washed away so quickly. People along the Gulf Coast still reeling from Katrina's damage now face more devastation! Damaging waters are completely changing the entire environment along the entire Gulf Shore line, and that is only the beginning of the effects each of us will experience as our sand castles experience yet another wave in our journey through time..
I still remember building a sand castle—that was my granddaughter's dream! It was a good day, filled with struggle, crumbling walls and new walls built. May peace surround you today!
--Ben Keckler
07.22.10
"Grandpa, I can't wait to build a sand castle with you and Gran!" said our oldest grandchild a few years ago. We couldn't wait either. My wife and I were eager to work hard and make everything just the way she wanted it. And, I hoped a wave wouldn't wash it away before we finished.
Each of us are building our sand castles, aren't we! We have a plan on how our lives will unfold. Some of us are fortunate to even have a nice moat around our sand castle so that the waters have to work extra hard to destroy our sand castles.
All of us are aware about the devastation of the BP oil spill in the Gulf that finally may be repaired. Life can change dramatically and our sand castles can be washed away so quickly. People along the Gulf Coast still reeling from Katrina's damage now face more devastation! Damaging waters are completely changing the entire environment along the entire Gulf Shore line, and that is only the beginning of the effects each of us will experience as our sand castles experience yet another wave in our journey through time..
I still remember building a sand castle—that was my granddaughter's dream! It was a good day, filled with struggle, crumbling walls and new walls built. May peace surround you today!
--Ben Keckler
07.22.10
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