Yesterday was my birthday and after breakfast with Cara and Dustin (the rest of my children were out of state) Janet and I went to Cedar Point and rode some of the world's greatest roller coasters.
Funny how some of our entertainment is designed to scare the heck out of you. That "Top Thrill Dragster" coaster at Cedar Point is one monstrous ride: It goes zero to 120 mph in about 6 seconds, shoots you virtually straight up a 420-foot climb, then drops you almost straight down, with one scary twist midway down, and then coasts to a stop. The whole ride lasts 17 seconds, and even though it's an hour and a half wait nobody leaves complaining that the ride was too short. They're just too pumped with adrenaline.
I also spent part of the day reading "Night," Elie Wiesel's shocking Holocaust memoir. In this slim volume, Wiesel describes with a few quick strokes of the pen some of the most horrific atrocities ever conducted by humanity.
I cannot imagine what leads to such genocide except that it is proof that there is evil in this world. Some evil is on a small scale and some, like the Holocaust, on so large a scale it's almost unimaginable.
Birthdays seem less of a "personal celebration" to me as I get older. It's more of a day to reflect on your blessings and to appreciate everything positive in your life.
I have much to be thankful for and I am grateful all the time. I think it's a good thing for us to be aware of. Despite all the problems, there is so much good in this world.
When I read "Night" it makes me even more aware of the blessings and God's grace in my own life, although it baffles me how and why God did not intervene to stop the Nazis.
At church this morning, Pastor Chad Gilligan preached from Isaiah, Chapter 38, in which ailing King Hezekiah was told by the Prophet Isaiah to get his house in order, he is going to die. Hezekiah prays to God and reminds the Lord of his faithfulness and upright living. God then tells Isaiah to go back and tell Hezekiah that he's changed his mind, he is going to extend his life by 15 years.
Pastor Chad spoke of how great God is and how we should be grateful for what we've got. He then passed out cards titled "Think on it" with lines for everyone to write down 10 things we are thankful for.
I filled out my card in just a few seconds, then added a few more on the back.
What about you?
Here's a little interactive internet exercise for you: Think about 10 things you can be thankful for and mentally fill the in blanks below.
1. __________________________________________
2. __________________________________________
3. __________________________________________
4. __________________________________________
5.___________________________________________
6. __________________________________________
7. __________________________________________
8. ___________________________________________
9. ___________________________________________
10. __________________________________________
* * *
Sylvania, Ohio
August 3, 2008