When I was a sophomore in high school, I sprained my wrist one time, bad enough for my mom to take me to Dr. Smale for an x-ray to see if it was broken.

“I have some good news,” he said in his soft, British tone. “It’s not broken, and you are still growing.” He showed me the x-ray and pointed out the space in my wrist where the bones hadn’t yet “fused” together, as they do when growth ends.

This was great news for me! I was only 5’7” at the time. My brother was 5’9”, my grandfather almost 6’.
There was still hope.

The doctor was correct. Over the next three years, I had a growth explosion, all the way to 5’8”. (Well, 5’7 3/4”, probably just over 5’7 1/2”) And that is where I stayed. Physically.

Today, we honored two young men in our church who just graduated high school. I have known both for quite some time. Both carry a level of character and drive that is not usual these days. I talked to each of them about beginning this new course of life; the process of becoming an adult, a man. “You never stop growing. I’m 66, and God keeps moving me from one of my plans to the next (of His plans). It’s never boring…but sometimes it’s kinda scary….”

If you know me, you know that I am a believer in the Life that can only be received from faith in Jesus’ payment for everything i have done in opposition to God.

But, these days, I find myself trying to find myself; not in the old ways, when we were trying to discover who we are, who we are meant to be, what is our purpose, why are we here?

I’ve always had a desire to write. As long as I can remember. Only in recent years have I begun the process of actually purposely writing; maybe not every day, but I do kinda get a pit in my stomach when I go a couple of days without trying to put something down in words.

I carry two people inside of me: (1) the one that was knit together in my mother’s womb, with a personality that was also planted inside me, and the sum of earthly experiences that have helped mold me into who I am today. The one that likes to be liked, likes to make people laugh, desperately wants people to think well of me.
(2) The one that received this New Life in 1978, and has grown to love his creator and the plans his creator has for him as he navigates his way through this new venture.

I am trying to find my voice.
And, every time I think I’ve got it, that little voice, that quiet voice inside me keeps saying , “Just keep moving forward…there’s more…there’s always more.”

So, if you are reading my scratchings (can you call them scratchings if you are typing them on a computer ?) then realize that some are for fun, some are about the life I have lived, some are about the imagination that was planted in me from a very early time, and some are proclamations of the Joy I find in serving the One I love over everything else in this life.

I hope I can make you think, and laugh, and see more than you already do.

And, I am not afraid of criticism.
There is much to be gained from an honest, polite (stress on the word ‘polite’), friendly exchange of ideas.
So, join in, anytime, and enjoy the ride.