To celebrate our 49th Anniversary, my wife Judy and I were recently in the magnificent Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. The drive was breathtaking along the spine of the Parkway. At times the road was the width of the spine, and we were able to see 30 plus miles out of each side of the car at the same time, not to mention looking several hundred feet straight down.

This is truly God's magnificent creation over billions of years. Geologists report that these are the oldest mountains in the world. Inside the car it was "awes" of amazement mixed with anxious noises as we rounded a sharp curve with no guard rails. 

We were encouraged to hike up to the early American working farm from the lodge, a mere seven tenths of a mile. There was no way to drive, you could only hike. It became seven tenths of a mile up hill. Through a pasture, through a woods, through a hatch of bugs, around two more turns and still up hill. We decided to turn back. After all we have seen farms before.

Last Friday was my 49th wedding anniversary. We were married on a beautiful Saturday evening in central Pennsylvania. It was a simple wedding with family and close friends, and a punch and cookies reception in the church basement. That is the way you did it then. We left late that evening for a honeymoon to New York and Cape Cod... kind of ironic that we now live in the metropolitan area and vacation in Cape Cod.

Forty nine terrific years. Two sons, (one born in Florida and one in Ohio), served several churches, did three years of clinical training, and started the Montclair Counseling Center. While the boys were in high school and college, Judy earned her BSN, became a Head Nurse and is now at Valley Hospital, Dept. of Education, Ridgewood. And we now are the proud grandparents of 7 grandchildren from age 5 to 17.

This past Sunday I was at the Marble All Church Retreat. I was very moved with the morning worship service... the prayers, thoughtful comments by Kim and David, and by our sharing together at the Lord's Table.

But what impressed me even more was the diversity of this Marble Family. African American, Asian, European backgrounds; age spread from 10 months to 82 years; kids, adults, swimming, sack racing, canoing, talking together, and in worship, a request that we sing together, "I Need Thee Every Hour..." someone seeking support at a difficult time.

There was a wonderful oneness within a diverse group of God's children. This, in many ways, is what we pray every Sunday, "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done..."

The other morning crossing the Meadowlands swamp area on the train, I was reading Psalm 24. "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it. The world, and those who live in it; he he has founded it on the seas and established it on the rivers."

At that point I looked out and saw a small hill rise out of the water. It was "landfill", a politically correct term for garbage. We were crossing the Passaic River... certainly not the river the Psalmist was talking about. I remember not long ago when this area used to catch fire, and you generally prayed that the wind was not blowing your direction. The fires, the smell, the garbage, scavenger sea gulls... it was truly an ugly place.

And when we create a mental image of a place (or person), we tend to hold onto it even when the reality changes. I still assumed this was an ugly place.

This was not a good morning.

When I got up the house was cold. I like to start the day by running a mile or so. I looked out and the trees were bending in the wind. I decided to go run anyway, after all it wasn't raining. Half way into my run it started pouring. You know the kind, a cold driving rain that hurts when it hits your face.

I came home, soaking wet, ate breakfast, showered and dressed for work. I needed to run two errands which would only take a minute. The first errand the bank was not open; the second errand was a line that would cause me to miss my train. Driving to the train station, I followed a school bus full of kids and windows so fogged over that no one could see out.

There is a great verse in the opening of the book of Acts telling about the disciples meeting in the upper room. It is the disciples, women, Jesus' mother, and his brothers (who are mentioned in the Gospels only once). This is the early Christian community, probably 15 or 20 people. They have lost their leader, their hope, and their purpose. However coming together as a prayerful group, God is real to them and they find His life giving presence. This is what it means to be the church.

It comes often through the power of connection.

These past few days, we were with our son, daughter-in-law, and three grandkids. You who know me know how much I enjoy taking them swimming, playing catch, being an adoring audience for a song and dance review, going out for breakfast, etc.

I am always amazed how much they change between visits. Based on our last visit I am geared up to do what we did then, only to learn that It is now boring! Kids do not stand still and the challenge keeps us growing.

In the Gospel of John there is a curious verse: "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you." 

This verse is often used in funerals to give a comforting sense regarding the hereafter. It also raises strange imagery that somehow the hereafter is a big house with lots of rooms. And yet I do not think this is a traditional concept of heaven or the afterlife.

The concluding session of the Men's Retreat this past weekend focused on work, feeling a call to a particular kind of work, and what is God's will regarding the work we choose. Doug Wysockey-Johnson, our leader, pointed out that most people do not see God in the work equation. God calls people to church vocations, ministry, etc., or human service vocations, medicine, nursing, teaching; but God is not involved in the vocational choose for most of us.

And yet maybe God is, or could be.

I believe that there is a family of vocations that tend to be "right" for a given person. Some people have excellent people skills, are visionaries, are great with detail and numbers, and so forth. Most of  us bring a unique blend of these strengths.  And to know them is very important. Books like "What Color is Your Parachute" help. Reflecting on what we feel passionate about helps. Discerning the activities that cause you to feel energy or to feel tired help. Quiet meditative time alone (with God) helps. All of this prompts the speaking of the soul and a sense of direction.

First Corinthians 13 is certainly one of the most popular chapters in the Bible. We all love to hear verses 4 through 7; "LOVE is patient and kind; LOVE is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. LOVE does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right. LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things endures all things."

Paul did not mean these verses for weddings or for poetry, but rather for living every day life.