My time away from writing the last two months--for repairs, rejuvenation, re-connection and respite from the world of 24/7 caregiving--has been more than rewarding. Resulting are at least two more “R” words: Resumption and re-commitment.
Truly I have missed writing weekly. Perhaps you haven’t missed me, and perhaps I am viewed like the pesky youngster who vowed he’d leave home, marched away in morning hours, but by mid-afternoon, realized that he’d behaved badly.
Surely, thought he, his return home would be with outstretched arms of parental love, only to find that his parents had moved and left no forwarding address. Or, perhaps my assumptions resemble the eternal optimist who ran for a lower level political office. His favorable votes came from only SOME of his relatives, and he was defeated in a landslide. Still, he appeared for a breakfast address the next morning, including in his opening remarks that “it’s always good to be among friends, even if they ain’t yours!”….
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During an eight-day respite, I flew to Denver, to be guests in three homes of Howard Payne University alumni, all of whom are making positive marks in life, and all thankful for their college experiences where I was president.
One met me at the airport--even carried my luggage--for the drive to his family’s beautiful home in nearby Highland Ranch. Unforgettable was an hour of gazes the next morning at the Rocky Mountains. Little wonder the Rockies have captured writer’s and songwriter’s attention.
It was tough to leave the next day, but there were miles to go and others to see. My host handed me automobile keys, admonishing me to “bring it back empty.” I complied, looking forward to returning four days later for another couple of days. (I drove the car some 700 miles, and, as instructed, returned it empty.)...
The drive from Denver to Casper was breath-taking. Mountains seemed to loom without ceasing. God’s creative genius seemed ever present, the topography so unlike some expanses of West Texas where some folks jokingly feel that God may have been growing weary as he finished up late on that sixth day. So, some say, he decided to leave the land “just like it is, and create some people who like it that way!”….
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In Casper, more delight awaited. There, an alumnae and her husband were more than welcoming. She is the dental office manager for her husband of 26 years. At the midpoint of their marriage, a freakish accident permanently took away use of his legs. Determined to forge on in dentistry, he resumed his practice from a wheelchair a year later.
His commitment, faith, boldness, perseverance and determination are like none I have ever seen.
Their home on the banks of the beautiful North Platte River, again provided additional evidence of God’s presence, handiwork and provision.
Dare I believe that the couple closed their dental practice for the two days of my visit? I was humbled to the core, hard to convince that they were “just using two vacation days.” Never to be forgotten is the hour spent alongside the dentist in the Argo moving slowly down the river, an antelope high atop an adjacent ridge, watching us meander down the stream. (For the uninitiated, as was I, an Argo is an amphibious craft that also moves on land, albeit at speeds never warranting traffic citations, except maybe for driving too slowly.)
The three of us alternately laughed and cried as we captured long-ago moments. It was difficult to head back to Fort Collins. I learned later that my toothbrush had been left behind, but the alumnae--who had expertly edited our college annual more than three decades ago--called to say they’d save my toothbrush to be re-claimed upon my next visit….
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In Fort Collins, I was welcomed by two alums who married soon after college graduation. He’s now in international sales. But he spent years traversing four states and driving some 55,000 miles annually, never tiring of the open, yawning freeways where buffalo once ran and cars frequently are miles apart.
I understand his enchantment, and deeply admire their parenting of three children, one of whom, at age 19, has graduated with a highly-technical degree in automotive and EV technology. Two children remain at home, and one forfeited a bedroom for me. The family has deep church commitments, and mom now manages a church-operated coffee house, open to both congregants and the public. An extra treat was attending a football game, joining in the couple’s excitement of a son playing and a daughter cheering.
Already my word allotment has been exceeded. But there is more to share in upcoming weeks. I’m still vertical, ventilating and able to find home keys--with both eyes now wide open….
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Dr. Newbury, a speaker in the Metroplex, may be reached at 817-447-3872; email: newbury@speakerdoc.com. Column audio version at www.speakerdoc.com.