They call the wind Mariah

If you're of a certain age, you should get the cultural reference for the title of today's post.  The wind here blows, but it did not blow today and for that, I'm grateful.  A calm day was appreciated by all up here in Oregon's Bay Area.

I went back to the church I attended last Sunday.  I figure that if I keep showing up, sooner or later, someone's gonna talk to me.  I get how people are standoffish these days, and I've always thought that a church was one of the toughest groups of people to find your way into.  At this point, I'm that quiet guy who shows up and sits in the back.  They're worshiping outside on the lawn, so it's bring your own chair and Bible.  After the service, it's easier to just leave than it is to sit there and feel stupid waiting for someone to come over and talk to you.   I try not to do things I would find weird if I saw other people doing.

I kinda went through this with my church in Ogden.  It took a few months for people to warm up to me.  It's a much different experience I think, for couples, than for a single guy like me.  First off, I'm tall and that can be a little scary for some people.  Second, I'm single.  So there's that level of creepiness whether or not it's supposed to be there.

The pastor and his wife were very welcoming last week but I didn't get to speak to them today.  Pastors are busy on Sundays and wisdom tells me that's absolutely the worst time of the week to try and speak to one.  Far better to make an appointment during the week.

An appointment like that saved my life ten years and change ago.  That's another story, though.

I'm out on the back deck.  There is just a hint of a breeze and if you listen closely, you can hear the roar of the ocean off in the distance.  It's due west.  It's also very calming to listen to.

Life here in Oregon is good.  I have more here than I could have ever asked for.  God has been answering prayers left and right and Bucky and the cats are making the adjustment to subdivision living.  The homes here are significantly closer together than ours were in Ogden, but I have far more here than I did there.

In fact, it's so good that I found myself just wanting to give God thanks for everything yesterday.  No prayers for myself; just thanksgiving for what's been given me here.

Some people pray and pray for a second chance at life.  God decided that in retirement, that a brand new life is what was needed and it's what He provided.

The sermon today was a bit about God's providence.  I'm ever mindful of how His providence led me to here and how He's in charge of me.  I like that.  My life is by no means on autopilot but it's far, far more abundant than I could have ever imagined.

My God is a good God.  He's faithful and He's been so good to me; so good that I really can't even find words to explain.  Dogs are barking.  Kids are playing.  Over the fence in Coos Bay, a family is chatting outside.  And still, it's against the backdrop of God's majesty being played out as the waves come to shore.  

Mariah is quiet tonight.  Because she is, I can hear the sounds of life that surround my casa (almost) by the sea.  It's a beautiful place and I can't even begin to tell you how much I know I"m right were I belong.