Drats! Missed it again!

The other night Charlie came over for group and said, “We’ve just passed the Summer Solstice.” Every year I purpose to celebrate the day in some way, but because I don’t actually schedule something, I miss it. You’d think I’d learn.

Why would I want to acknowledge the Summer Solstice? I’m not sure. For one thing, I’ve been discovering over the last few years that I’ve closed my mind and heart to many wondrous things – works of God, like the solstices and equinoxes – that were associated perhaps with pagan practices at one time. Like using the rainbow. Many New Agers use it as a symbol, so if it’s seen in your home, someone might call your attention to this. How ridiculous is that! Who set the rainbow in the sky anyway? And didn’t He say it represented a wonderful promise He made to us? Use them everywhere then. Plaster your walls with them for all I care. They’re wonderful. I love rainbows.

The Summer Solstice occurs every year on the longest day. It is normally June 21, but because of changes in the atmosphere and things beyond my understanding, it occurred on June 20. The sun is at its highest point in the Northern Hemisphere and thus we have a very long day of light. Our God arranged that – so to me, it’s important. If it makes you feel any better, this date is also celebrated as the Feast of John the Baptist. I’d like to explore it and celebrate it because the works of God impress me and teach me many things about life. Why can’t I use that day to celebrate the Light of the World and the fact that He has instructed me through Christ to “let my light shine so others can see my good works and glorify God…?” I don’t know. I find it fascinating and I just like the way the words – Summer Solstice – roll off my tongue. I know, I’m a little nuts!

So what else is going on these days? A lot of things. Fran and I have broken even with our book now. We’ve sold enough copies to reimburse our initial investment. So buy more copies so we can make some money! We continue to get wonderful comments from readers. I’ll post a few to the right of this column. We enjoyed a fruitful winter and spring, speaking, conducting conferences, sharing the adventure of our lives and the wonder that awaits anyone who says “Yes!” to following Christ authentically.

I just began reading Malcolm Muggeridge’s autobiography Chronicles of Wasted Time. I’ve wanted to read him for years now. He was a well-known British journalist who chronicled the ups and downs of the 20th Century with style and matchless prose. If you read at all, you see him quoted everywhere. I’m loving the book.

I also have committed myself to reading Dostoevsky sometime this year. It’s just time to do it. The Brothers Karamazov at the very least. If I’ve learned one thing about writers in the past five years, it’s this: you can’t be a writer if you don’t read. I mean read voraciously. It’s part of your job description. I challenge you to read more – no matter what your profession is. You’ll be the better for it.

We have traveled a bit this year. I’m writing this from a hotel room in Atlanta. Bob is at the United First Financial’s National Convention. UFirst placed Number One in the top 10 as National Entrepreneur of the Year. They won the award last night and announced it today at the convention. It’s an incredible company committed to helping people get out of debt. If you need help, call Bob.

I spent the day with an old friend, such a good friend, yesterday. She listened with grace to all my grumblings about heavy circumstances and encouraged me to know these days will pass and other happier times will come. Oh the joy of a good friend! I am blessed with many. They pray for me, love me, and tell me when to stop whining and get off the pot.

Glen Beck spoke at the conference last night. What an outstanding communicator! And a follower of Christ. I am impressed and will follow him more closely now. In his speech he mentioned the darkness that is advancing in our nation. He wasn’t alarmist in any way, but he was blunt and forthright. Stuff is coming our way. He belongs to a church who advises their members to have some storage supplies for possible emergencies. We discussed this with friends in Atlanta on Tuesday evening.

Often we’ve tried to talk about it with our family and friends, but most people blow us off. They have visions of Y2K and the leftovers in their cupboards and are desensitized to anything requiring storage or preparation. Bob’s studies with national crisis management insists that both plagues and terrorist attacks are a given – we just don’t know when. So laugh if you must, but if for no other reason than hurricane season, we will order water storage containers and rotate some cans of chicken, tuna and Dinty Moore Beef Stew (anything canned in a white will last for years). There’s nothing to lose if it’s food you can eat anyway.

Back to the light that shines in darkness – remember how we’ve always said that the darkness is getting darker, but at the same time the light is becoming more brilliant? Well, that is truer today than it was 10 years ago when I started hearing it. “Arise, shine, for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” Be the light. Wherever you are. Shine on me, and let me shine on you. We need each other in these dark times.

We are now advancing towards the Autumnal Equinox – when we’ll have equal time with light and dark. Perhaps I’ll remember to celebrate that event. I hope I get to share it with you.

Cathee