I am moving! I don't know where and I don't know when, but I know that I am moving. My stomach swirls with excitement and nervousness. The uncertainty of the details spins in my head and there is not a runway in sight for landing. I know all will be well, but in the meantime, I swirl.

Nothing Better Than A Good Laugh

Change

Earlier this year, Peggy and I had the privilege of facilitating a team building day for a group of educators from a school in a small town in BC. The venue was a power raft on the extreme white water rapids of the Fraser River. As we approached the infamous Hell's Gate, I must admit that I felt slightly scared but completely pumped. The water seemed to have a mind of its own while the monstrous rapids pushed the insignificant raft to and fro. What a rush!

Yesterday I said yes to an invitation to be lead pastor at the Church of the Nazarene in Abbotsford. Today I announced my resignation as an youth employment counselor with Free Rein. I have found myself in the middle of substantial change. A tad scary and yet deeply exhilarating. What a ride!

How do you make it through times of change?

The eyes!

When I get close enough, people immediately scan my eyes looking for clues. I can read the questions in their eyes, "What happened, are you okay?" A little ooked out at first glance, they begin to explore.

I am amazed how much we can read through the eyes. If I take the time, I may be able to discern what is really going on when I ask someone, "how are you doing today?"

My daughter, Sherilyn, graduated from John Casablanca School of Make Up Artistry. She is a gifted artist and did a fabulous job on my broken nose and bullet wound.

Eyes are the windows to the soul.

I gasped when I read an article referring to a survey done in Britain that indicated that 1 out of 4 people carried multiple cell phones.

Then it occurred to me, in my house we have 8 different phone numbers and 5 computers with over a dozen email connection points. Overkill? I think so. We are so conveniently accessible today, we can be reached from anywhere in the world in mere seconds.

Have we become chilly communicators rather than warm blooded, face to face connectors?

Leo Sayer smoothly crooned, " ...Miles and miles of empty space in between us, the telephone can't take the place of your smile".

Maybe the thing I am most sad about is that we could be in the middle of an eye to eye, warm bodied conversation and as soon as the cell phone chimes or vibrates, we choose to drop our real conversation for the electronic one.

Thanks!

My wife and I have 6 children. They aren't perfect. Nor are we perfect parents. With our imperfections we love each other and continue to discover ways to be the best possible people in our world. Peggy and I are blessed to have kids that are not willing to settle for selfish mediocrity. They see the world outside of their own existence and in one way or another, they reach out to contribute. I am overwhelmingly thankful for my family.

Judging others