Leavin' on a Jet Plane + Prayer to Start the Week

Okay, first off I have to say I'm sorry for having been such a slogger over the last few weeks.

Of course I have oodles of excellent excuses. But I've also begun to realize that the expression, "People don't want to hear your problems," applies even to me and most of my problems. Which is not to say that narcissus is dead; but blight has begun to set in. I'll keep you posted . . . so to speak.

Anyway, tomorrow (Tuesday) morning, the Bellizzis (that's me, 1 wife, and 3 kids) plan to head south. Destination: Altus, Oklahoma.

For what it's worth, the first syllable in "Altus" sounds like the first in "Altoids." The best way to get, "You ain't from around here, are ya'?" is to show up in Altus and call it "All-tus."

That settled, I should say that the reason we're going in July and not January is because next Sunday evening, we'll have the celebration of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

Naturally, I've been looking forward to this trip for a long time. It will be so good to see my Mom and Dad, my sisters and their families; to spend a few days in the old house that was my home for a long time, and in certain ways still is; to attend worship at the congregation where for countless hours I've sung and prayed and learned and laughed, the place where I was baptized some thirty years ago.

Just thinking about it reminds me that everyday each one of us is writing a book, creating a history that will be remembered for a long time and make an impact for an eternity. So choose what's right and good. Identify the will of God and do it. Oh, and before you begin, be sure to pray. Here's how I'm praying today . . .

Dear God,

Thank you for my family. And thank you for my much bigger family of which you are Father.

Thank you, Father, for taking care of my parents for all of these years. Thank you that when they were young, you drew them to yourself. Thank you for the the dozens of wonderful people, sold on the gospel and filled with your Spirit, who led and cared for and nutured us.

Help me, with those you've entrusted to my own care and keeping, to be a good and faithful steward like they were.

Please bless my family over the next week as we reunite, remember, celebrate, and look towards a future that promises to be even better in ways that we can't even imagine.

For it's in the name of Christ that I pray,

Amen.