Sorry, I'm late.
Well, I'm late. A new blog post is overdue. Did you miss me? The Super Bowl and Valentine's Day are history. As for Valentine's Day, it's a day of dread for some and hopes-too-high for others. For sure, love is complicated and vital.
Then there's puppy love. I laugh remembering when I took nine year old Basil, my grandson, to CVS to buy a bunch of Valentines for his class. Remember those days? Well, I looked until I found a package of Valentines with cute puppy faces. They begged to BE MINE. When I showed Basil, he scoffed, "Nobody likes puppies." Then he handed me his choice of Ninja Turtles.
Love's a mixed bag. Some say that, love's in the eye of the beholder. Love's fickle, a feeling. No, it's a verb, an action. But real love is vital. The world tries its best to manufacture and market love. But stuff only goes so far. The heart knows true love.
So speaking of love, I was back at Gordon College to speak in chapel yesterday. I love being on campus. It's sacred soil, for me. We sang Sunday School songs and President Hammond introduced me. What a loving community! We all need to know that we are loved and belong.
For sure, I love and respect President Mike & Jen Hammond and their family. Gordon's blessed by his leadership. He is a bridge-builder, a healing, joyful presence. Both Mike and Jen listen to learn and then they love us. Period!
So, how's your love life? Anyone to whom you need to say, "I'm sorry, I'm late" ? I'm late to apologize or to fulfill a promise? Or I'm sorry that I'm late to say words to encourage and build bridges? How about words of gratitude?
For sure, at my age, I'm grateful for help. Like yesterday, Kurt Drescher picked me up and drove me to Gordon. Bob Whittit, Chaplain at Gordon, took my arm to help me to the podium. Lee, my neighbor, put out my trash and recycle bins last week, plus he cleaned the snow off my car. So much for which to be grateful.
Well, yesterday I shared, "Tips from an Old Traveler," in chapel. I reminded them of one of the Bible verses that nudges me to get unstuck, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you'll never get anything done."(Ecclesiastes 11:4 TLB)
It's interesting that after you die, sometimes you are referred to as the Late Jan Carlberg. So to you and to me I say, before we are really late, lets show up and love like we would love to be loved. As someone said, "It's better to arrive late than not at all."
Oh, that's bleak.
But true.
So love today like there's no tomorrow.
And remember that moments matter.
"Sometimes you won't know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." Dr. Seuss
6 Comments
Dear Jan: You and I share having been loved by dear godly men! And even after they are gone from this earth, you know you were loved and love lasts a long time. Thank you for being one who loves - and now I am going to listen to the Chapel service from yesterday! Sending LOVE,
Oh, dear Suzy, we were both blessed to be loved by good and godly men. These firsts , like the first Valentine's Day without David, are not easy but good memories help, as so children and grandchildren. For ysure your home was filled with love. It was always a welcoming place for family, friends and strangers. Wherever you are, dear Suzy, on this 17th day of February, I pray you are deeply aware of how loved you are by Jesus, your family and friends. I imagine David, Jack and Jud are having fun catching up, and busy praying for the rest of us.
I just tried to find your msg on the Gordon website - but alas - they don't make that easy :) I too am thankful for a loving husband, and so many others who love me! NOT to be taken for granted! But especially for the love of my heavenly Father. <3
WelI, maybe call the chapel office to see if they can help. But thanks for trying, dear Wendy, and for your comments on the love of Steve and God's love for you. I always love hearing from you and other Gordon alums. It was so good to be back on campus and in chapel. I love getting to meet students.
Jan, thank you for forwarding your latest letter to me. I don't want to miss a one - especially from a sister Norwegian. I just resubscribed again and this time it said I should receive posts "instantly" - prayers up and fingers crossed! I love that you continue to serve your Gordon family.
Well, I hope it worked to resubscribe, my dear Norwegian sister. Relieved this post made it to you. And yes I love getting invited back to campus. It's been almost 50 years since Jud and I first came to Gordon College. In the summer of 1976, we showed up with Heather, age 6 1/2 and Chad, age 4. We lived in one of the dorms until we found a house to rent. What a wonderful adventure God took us on from Michigan to Massachusetts. And I'm so grateful to still be part of this Gordon family.