Reflections 8/25/2020: I came across this old photo of me in my freshman year of college at UC Santa Barbara. The look on my face transported me back to all the crazy feelings I felt as I launched into my own life, leaving the security of home and family. A tenuous hope trying to take hold in my 1 year-old walk of faith in You God. Not much track record to rely upon yet. Thrust into the turmoil of a campus ablaze with Viet Nam war riots (Bank of America in ashes), hippie love-ins, drugs flowing freely in the streets, tear gas hazes, whole sections of the town cordoned off with police blockades, and nude beaches confusing my emerging morals! (Made me realize the present-tense madness of today is nothing new!) Overwhelms me as I gaze on this in a 50 year-old rear view mirror. SOOO much has transpired in my life over these decades! (True for all of us!) Had I known then what lay ahead I might have lost heart! Plenty of good, but the sad and bad would have defeated me before I even started. Jesus, thank You for Your wise admonition to take one day at a time, entrusting that one global rotation into Your capable hands. Seeking first Your Kingdom, and allowing You to meet my deepest needs. You HAVE been sooo faithful to me over the years! Growing me. Providing for me. Protecting me. Healing me. Revealing Yourself to me. Racking up Your track record of trustworthiness! From tenuous trust to courageous confidence! Empowers me to face whatever lies ahead… bald head, sketchy brain, oppressive cancer reoccurrence statistics and all!