Another Birthday

I look at pictures from way back then and I hardly recognize the guy in the pictures. I have always lived with a worldview that life gets better and better if you let it and make the right choices. Some folks have a glass half empty viewpoint and no matter what you see in their lives that is good they miss it. I expect life to be good and it is. Not that life hasn't brought it's share of sorrows and concerns, but even those, if you try, you can find some good in it. As I've got older my body has changed from a skinny kid to a strong adult to an overweight priest to a relatively trim retired golfer, my physical self has changed through the years. I went from a smart underachieving kid, to a broken young man who felt like he had ruined his life, to an atheist school teacher, to a successful graduate student to a the privilege of priesthood, I also changed in attitude and character. I've been blessed with great companions on the way, from high school, especially Pete, to college, to teaching friends, family, my Camp Dennen family and the various parishioners I've been blessed to share my life with, good friends really help. And then there was always Marsha it seemed. It's funny how once in college on a dare a couple of us after a few beverages had our heads shaved. Marsha was in all my classes and thought I was so ugly with a bald head. She dated and married me after my hair grew back never knowing that I would lose it for good in years to come. She never wanted to marry a bald guy but I think we did all right together. I don't know what is to come, so much has changed in a year and yet God still gives me great companions for my journey and so many things to look forward to each day. I may not recognize me in the mirror but I'm OK, God still holds me in the palm of his hands and know me inside and out, even the number of hairs on my head. I might change but God's love and grace remains the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow, so next year is going to be great, I'm sure of it.