Sabbath Messages | Sabbath Message: February 14, 2004
Good Sabbath
February 14, 2004 "The greatest pleasure off life is love"
(Sir W.Temple)
"Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss."
(John Milton)
Fran and my birthdays bracket St.Valentine's Day. I remember when I was child, giving and receiving Valentine cards at school could be both cruel and wonderful. You could develop an inferiority complex if you blanked out, or you could act like a puppy-in-love; love had no depth, but need did. Our eldest, Steve and his great wife, Linda, sent us a series of incredible visuals, vi e-mail. They were the personification of Valentine need and fulfillment. We need to be loved as much as we need to love; wonderful scene-after-scene, with humans and animals devoted to each other. It ran from cute to wonderful, just as my marriage has been. I did make one decision, that I would retire ....on my 100th birthday.
"I have enjoyed the happiness of the world; I have lived and loved." (Shiller)
I also remember those who have passed into immortality, my beautiful cousin/baby sister, Diane; the angelic Alec Z; the primary cast of "Gunsmoke" less Matt; Carole Passavoy, and of course the myriad relatives headed by my Grandparents, Mom and Dad, Fran's Mom and Dad, and Uncles and Aunts who guided my childhood.
Thank You O Lord
For Your love and guidance
And for the blessings of family,
With whom you blessed me
making certain that love was never in short supply.
My beautiful friend, Tim Larrick, sent his sustaining group a letter of fun and beauty. His battle against "Big C"
has become an adjustment to life rather than a rant of "why me?" His handsome features are enhanced by a magnificent bald-head. His humor replaced lament as he so enjoys life with his life-partner and children. He began his fun-letter with "My wife has convinced me that women are not just being nice when they say that I look good as a bald guy...it's your destiny-head...you have a nice, round head and not everyone does."
He adds: "sitting with other bald people in the Santa Barbara Cancer Center chemo room--mostly women--you begin to recognize that baldness is a badge of honor that gets decorated with wigs and scarves and turbans. It is symbol of all those people who share this challenge." He is off skiing joining with Mother Nature.
He concludes with: "Talli and I trust God by choice. We are enjoying every single day together as a family and learning a lot...being connected to our friends and family is what helps to make the challenge tolerable."
As I read his letter, tears did not fill my eyes, as there was room only for admiration and love of this big guy , trying, at age 51, to dunk a basketball. He will learn as he teaches us all.
It's past my birthday, a big one, and life's finality comes at an accelerating pace. But there is no pain that the last part of life is here, after all the waste of youth--no matter how popular or seemingly successful. God has blessed me with true success, for I have what every mortal longs for, love, accomplishment, being liked, creating legacy, and nurturing a family through all my own growing up mistakes.
Thank You, Dear God, for illuminating my pathway
So that I progressed with Thy light to guide me
Through the darkness of doubt and youth.
Think of Valentine through the blessing of memory and love, sometimes belated or hidden, but always alive, always there.
sandy
