For some reason today after my devotions, I found myself reminiscing. For some reason the Roy Rogers song “Happy Trails” popped into my mind. For many of you reading this you have only heard “old people” talk about Roy Rogers and “Happy Trails” and it means absolutely nothing to you. Then my mind went to Bob Hope’s “Thanks for the Memories.” What is going on? Am I in some time machine? Before you become overly concerned, no, I haven’t “lost it.” All of those past memories caused me to spend time thanking the Lord for the journey. Thirty-two years of ministry has come and gone, and there have been multiple challenges, highs and lows. I wouldn’t want to repeat it, but I can honestly say “Thank you Lord.”
Then my mind turns to my wife, Rodetta, and thirty-two years of marriage. Wow! What a journey. We were both too young to get married, but young love is often blind. We have had many financial struggles, health challenges, multiple surgeries, moving all over the country, both of us cancer survivors, dealing with the expectations (more often than not unrealistic expectations). But, as I look back it is very clear that God blessed me with a wife, called to the work of ministry, one equipped to stand beside her husband in good times and bad times. So, Rodetta, thanks for traveling beside me all these years.
Now for the real purpose of writing this blog. As I look back over the years I give thanks to God for His faithfulness, but I also see the past journey as preparation for the rest of the journey. I am looking forward to the future as never before. I am convinced that the journey ahead is going to be filled with opportunities beyond anything I can imagine. The “Wow God” moments of the past were all field training for the future.
Thank you Lord for entrusting me with challenges, painful experiences, great people and difficult people. Thank you Lord for the past journey because I know the past was all preparation for the rest of the journey. Thank you Lord for birthing a sense of excitement for the future. I can’t see too far down the road, but because of the sweet memories of the past, I am excited about the rest of the trip.
