The Reward of Longevity

Nineteen years ago today (April 1) my wife and I along with our two daughters drove our Mazda GLC and Ryder truck up the drive and began the marvelous adventure of pastoring a small but great group of Believers gathered under the name of Cross Timbers Church. Where the years have gone by is hard to fathom. Yet the calendar doesn't hide the fact of the passage of time. (Neither does the balding head of this writer.)

A milestone is set to occur in this journey of pastoring CTC. This year will mark a first - from birth to HS graduation. I have been here at CTC long enough to see Abilgail Davidson born and now (in two months) graduate from High School. This is a feat few pastors witness because we do not stick around in one place long enough to see both the birth and graduation of the individual. Thank you Lord for this great honor. And thank you CTC for putting up with me for such a long time!

It's almost finished. The puzzle I have been working on for 4 months has now gotten to that critical mass stage where there are fewer pieces unattached than are attached. This is good news. Now instead of rejoicing in getting 3 pieces per day put together I am picking up steam and finding it easy to get 6-7 pieces assembled per day. This makes me almost giddy as I can sense the day when the mocking will cease. After having the puzzle out for about a month people who pass through the house on a regular basis began commenting on the lack of progress being made on the puzzle. There were the open comments on my inability to advance. There were the looks of bewilderment at the puzzle seeming to go weeks without anythings being done to it. Even the Hospice flower deliverer - (every two weeks on Thursday) looks inside the door to gauge the progress. Yes, she too regularly makes a comment or two. But soon, and very soon, it will be over. And the completed puzzle will stay on its table for two weeks until all the mockers, including the Hospice flower lady, (in fact I will invite her in just so she can see it up close and personal) will see the completed puzzle. Oh, the sweet music to the ears of hearing the mocking replaced with congratulations.

And then we tear the puzzle apart and start all over again on a new one!

Blessings.