Chaplains on the River

In conversation over a meal a few days ago with my closest friend, the topic of my recent birthday came up.  Always a quick wit, she commented that I was so old (54 years old) that, in Roman numerals, my age would be written “LIV” (“L” for 50; “IV” for 4).  After some good-natured ribbing and self-deprication, it suddenly dawned on me – “LIV” could also be read “LIVE”! 

This same friend gave me the gift of an MP3 player, a Sanza Fuse, for my birthday.  It included a Slot Radio card loaded with Billboard hits in many music genres.  One of the rock oldies is the Rare Earth hit “I Just Want to Celebrate.”  Rare Earth was a Motown group who hit the top in the early 1970s.  The lyrics of the song include:  “I just want to celebrate another day of livin’, I just want to celebrate another day of life.”

This is the attitude I am trying to live by each day, and I want to invite you to do the same.  Can you find something to make you smile and laugh each day?  I believe that we can and should!  Life is a precious gift and is meant to be celebrated, shared, enjoyed, and savored each and every day.

In the Gospel of John, Chapter 10, Verse 10 in the Holy Bible, Jesus the Christ says that he came so that we might not just have life, but have abundant life.  Now we all understand that the abundance mentioned here is not limited to only money and possessions.  Different people have different amounts of money and possessions.  But we can all have true abundance – riches from A to Z, from Attitude to Zeal, and every good attribute of personality and character in between.  Life is not about what we are dealt, but is about what we do with what we are dealt.

Back when I was in high school, a friend did a pen and ink sketch of Jesus with his head thrown back in a hearty laugh.  I loved that image.  It cast a whole new light on faith for me.  For may years, that sort of image of Jesus was rare to see.  Now, such images abound on the Internet and in retail outlets.  We have come to understand that life is best lived with laughter.

I just want to celebrate another day of life!

I invite you to join in with the celebration!

Be blessed and be a blessing!

See you on the water!

Chaplain Mike