PASTOR’S NOTE

                                       I did some work for old customers of mine this week, the Thurmans.  I have spoken of them before.  This elderly couple, both in their eighties now, have endeared themselves to me.  They met during the Second World War while they were both serving in the Navy, fell in love and married.  Captain Bud Thurman served until his retirement in 1975.  It has been my privilege to work for them on several occasions.  I count them as friends.  They have recently moved into an assisted living facility.  I was asked to do some work at their home of forty-some years in order to get it ready to sell.  They have not moved all of their belongings out of their old home and in order to do what had to be done, I found myself moving things around to clear a work area.  Among the stuff moved like a pool table, ping-pong table, weights and bench, treadmill and other fitness equipment, we moved a lot of personal paraphanelia:  pictures and plaques marking their days and experiences in the military, pictures of ships, destroyers and aircraft carriers. There were scenes of places around the world that I have never heard of.  There were mementos most certainly presented to them by the men and women who served under their command.  One collage was an artistic drawing of Captain Thurman and many of the important people he had met through his long career.  All of this may be just stuff to an outsider but to them these are a few of the things that mark the tracks of their lives.  When they are gone, these things will help their children to remember and will tell their story to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.  For me, it has enabled me to realize what a great couple they truly are and the sacrifices they willingly made for their country.  I wonder, what kind of tracks will we leave behind?  What mementos will there be to tell our story?  The question each of us should ask is:  are we living a story worthy of telling?  Are the mementos of our lives going to be such things as empty bottles, used needles, broken promises, ruined lives and unattained dreams?  Or, will there be such things as good memories, pictures of places and people we have loved, old useless but cherished gifts, love and honor?  The choice is yours.  You can decide right now which it will be.  What story are you leaving behind and what tracks have you made?  Stories are to be told and tracks are to be followed.  Will your story tell what you want heard?  Will your tracks lead those you love to a place you want them to be?