Jack’s Winning Words 12/2/13
“Just because it isn’t in your life plan doesn’t mean this isn’t exactly where you’re supposed to be.”  (Nahnatchka Kahn)  You’re an unusual person if you’re at the place you planned to be when you started thinking of the future.  Events, circumstances and people…all can alter life’s direction.  I could make a list of the twists and turns in my life, and I’m sure that you could, too.  God also has a way of getting involved.   ;-)  Jack

 FROM THE CALIFORNIA CLIFF: I highly recommend The Will of God as a Way of Life by Jerry Sittser. Read it for the first time about 12 years ago and rereading it now.====JACK:  I find it interesting that Professor Sittser teaches a course on "spirituality," by taking students into a kind of monastic setting.  I also find it interesting that, as a student, Martin Marty was one of his professors.  But...referring to his book that you're reading, does God's plan for our life leave room for self-determination, i.e., free will?

  FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Confronting something that hadn't been expected can certainly get a person out of a rut.  Resolution can require some fresh thinking and give a person better understanding.  It also reminds me of the several occasions when I've taken a wrong turn during travel, and it resulted in finding some new and interesting scenery or landmarks.  We often meet some admirable people that way too.  Seems like it may be good judgment to withhold our discontent for a bit before we complain too much.====JACK:  I wonder if the poem, "The Road Not Taken," was the result of Robert Frost making a wrong turn?

 FROM TARMART REV:  An especially good word and thought for my day .====JACK:  Who woulda thunk of a chaplain ministry for someone at a Target and a Walmart store in Minnesota?  I guess that God woulda!

 FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Yes. God has a plan for all of us, and we might as well enjoy each day, be helpful whenever we can be, and count our blessings.====JACK:  Yes, we had a nice family get-together and worked on our THANKSGIVING acrostic.  It was a little bit nippy outside.

 FROM BLAZING OAKS:  "There is no cure for birth and death, save to enjoy the interval." (George Santayana)  Not many of  us, for sure, are at the place we planned to be early on, you are so right!  But that doesn't mean we  can't enjoy our circumstances, and be thankful for where we. I took Christmas baskets of goodies and small gifts from my church,  to shut-ins yesterday and one 90 year old friend in a nursing home exclaimed, "I have so much to be thankful for...everyday, I'm so thankful!"  Her life seems minimal compared to earlier times, but she is SO thankful!  Whatta gal!  I told her that she was an inspiration!! I, too, as an elderly person am so blessed!====JACK:  Some give thanks for many blessings.  Some give thanks for any blessing.  Does the validity of  "Count You Many Blessings" depend on a number..."to see what God hath done?"

 FROM SHARIN' SHARON:  I remember a time when Jerry's Mom thought she'd rather be dead than to ever live in an assisted living/nursing home. After a certain amount of angst, now she is living in an assisted living and behold her table mate in the dining room has a Lutheran son who has published an inspirational book "For the Faint of Heart: Hope for the Hurting" which Mom is enjoying reading and her nurse on the floor is having a baby which Mom is enjoying crocheting a bright, sunny yellow baby blanket for. Sure, it's hard to see the many vulnerable people but God seems to have given Essie the strength to be there and I think she is saying "Hey, this isn't all that bad". I didn't have a clue as to exactly what would happen but this is certainly someone who has taken a good turn and is showing the family a thing or two, even at 94 years.====JACK:  In the Rocky and Bullwinkle TV cartoon show, there was a someone named, "Mr. Know-It-All."  I think that some of us in our lifetime could play that character.  Then, as time goes on, we realize the part isn't for us.

 FROM PEPPERMINT MARY:  the key is not letting your forward focus get away from you.  life is a day to day ride.  hold on!====JACK:  It's something like driving a car.  There's a forward gear, a reverse gear and a brake.  To know when to use them is the answer to success.====MARY:  ain't that the truth!