Enjoying the unexpected

A couple of days ago I remarked on taking time to slow down and appreciate the "small things" that we normally take for granted. I was lacking in expressing to you the enjoyment, as opposed to the fear, of life's surprises. All of us have heard the expression "I don't like surprises". This is most likely attributed to an unexpected, sudden event that occurred in ones' past and resulted in something that wasn't pleasant or even life-altering in a bad way. I like to call it the Charlie Brown Syndrome. Regardless, I received a phone call last night from someone who I consider to be my closest, dearest friend, a member of the family and my brother. It was TOTALLY unexpected but what a great surprise it was!!! In the past he was there for me in a moments' notice when my health was quite poor (not that it is so great now) :) and had travelled a considerable distance to do so. Of course, when I was healthy we shared many happy moments together playing a mutually loved sport and just hanging out together watching movies, eating wings with GOOD vodka and talking about everything under the sun. Now... I, like everyone, has had unexpected "surprises" that elicited sadness or even shock, worry about the future...or even if there would be a future. However, I read something today that I thought might he a nice reassurance to us all. Very simply put it said " Be careful ( worry) for nothing but in every thing ... let your requests ( stuff you need ) and worries be made known unto God." "Then the peace you look for will keep your hearts and minds assured. " Also, this peace will help you in "being content in whatever situation you may find yourself". (Phil. 4: 6 and 11.) Trust me when I tell you, that after a little bit of thought and some self reflection on this little passage that surprises aren't something to be wary of but rather something that was planned for our lives that we just didn't know about yet. Life truly is cool because we never know what tomorrow will bring so in reality, most every new day is a surprise. Take care guys and worry about nothing....it just ain't worth it.

Phenomenal

Hi everybody: Since my health has declined over the past several months I have been forced to sit down and actually take a look around me and appreciate some of the "smaller" things in life that all of us probably take for granted. I am not referring to modern conveniences and all the technology that we have at our dispsoal that makes our life easier. What I am am referring to are things like the moon, the stars, and nature. I grew up twenty miles from Niagara Falls and knew it was there and visited often as a teenager but never really appreciated its awesome power and beauty. It wasn't until my wife, Paula, saw the falls for the first time in 1980 that I really marveled at their majesty. My wife stood by the rail, right at the brink of the falls and said "this is so awe striking I don't know what to say, Joe". I could barely hear her over the deafening roar of the water. That was twenty eight years ago.
Sitting here now, I am watching a squirrel working diligently in my back yard. All the world seems to be in turmoil but yet this squirrel knows what to do and when to do it because its' creator is in control. I'd like all of you who read this posting to read the following objectively and with some thought and see if it doesn't perhaps act as a reassurance to you in these troubled times.
"When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have created, what is man...that you are so caring of him and his children that you make Yourself known to him and crown him with honor and glory? You have allowed him to have control over the things that You created! O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth".
Psalm 8.
David ( an all powerful king) wrote this over 2000 years ago but what was true then is true now. In a nutshell, look around in a quiet moment on a starry night and just give these words a thought. Awesome!!

My Wife Paula

Here are a few pictures of my lovely wife, Paula. She loves working outside and in her hospital setting at Easley Family Practice. The love of her life, besides me of course, is our new great niece named Sara. Bye for now.

Fall Appears Near

Well everyone, it seems as though fall is getting closer here in the upstate of South Carolina. It has been an unusually dry summer and we are hoping for some much needed rain. All of the University of South Carolina football fans are gearing-up for our first game in two weeks against North Carolina State at Williams Brice. I think we actually have a quarterback this year so perhaps we will improve upon last year's record. But, as Hank Stramm said, "That's why we play the game." You just never know.

We are also looking forward to the presidential elections in November. As Russia flexes its muscle along with everything else going on in the middle east, we need a strong leader. Let's all vote our conscience but most importantly, make sure you get out to vote.

O.K., that's it for now. To all my friends who are probably shocked to see my name in a blog, surprise!! It's about time.