Today would have been my grandmother Ruby’s 94th birthday. I still don’t think I’ve processed the fact that she’s not here to celebrate it with us.

My sister had the brilliant idea to buy mini vanilla cupcakes and purple balloons in her memory. We ate the cupcakes and released half the balloons into the heavens.

As I stared into the sky, I could see these balloons drifting further and further away until they became invisible to the naked eye. At one point, they looked like tiny dots against the horizon, and when I turned away for an instant and looked back, they were gone.

I know that Ruby would have loved every part of it.

I also know that just as those balloons didn’t cease to exist when they vanished from my sight, I also know that Ruby didn’t cease to exist the moment she drew her last breath.

I know for a fact that I will see her again one day just as surely as I know the sun will rise in the morning on October 8, 2018.

Until then, I have lots of happy memories and good stories to treasure in my heart for as long as I live.

Thanks, Ruby. You were the best.

On the calendar it’s fall. Autumn arrived on September 21 with the autumnal equinox, and for a precious few days, it actually felt like fall.

Then summer got all hurt and jealous and came back and now won’t go away. Add to that the fact that the A/C in my Jeep quit working yesterday, so I’m really ready for real fall weather to get here. REALLY ready.

I’m realistic enough to know that fall in Tennessee is different than fall in most other places. We still have flip flops, shorts, hot weather, humidity, mosquitos, and a lot of sweating. Basically, it’s summer but with pumpkins.

Even in Tennessee, we get a few picturesque autumn days where it actually feels like fall, and all is right with my world. Supposedly, a few of them are headed this way in a manner of days.

Until then, I’ll just be sweating constantly. Oh, and thanking God for working air conditioning whenever I find it.

Today’s soundtrack was provided by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. They got me from work to home to Franklin to Cool Springs to home again.

I miss ol’ Tom Petty. I’m saddened by the fact that there will be no more new music from what I consider the greatest American rock band ever. I’m glad that he left behind over 40 years of incredible songs and albums, up to the very end.

My listening selection was An American Treasure, chock full of some great music beyond the 20 or so songs that probably everyone who hasn’t been hiding under a rock for the last 40+ years has heard of.

Tom prided himself on being a songwriter even above being a rock star, and it shows up loud and clear on this collection. Every song’s a gem, even the unreleased material that didn’t make the cut on his albums.

I read tonight that there’s a lot more unreleased material in the vault. I hope I get to hear more of it. I only wish that there could be new Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers albums with new songs, but that is not to be.

I can only celebrate the legacy of one of the best.

Never stop learning. Never stop inquiring and asking questions, not settling for sound bites and rhetoric but digging in and finding out the truth for yourself.

The best adults are the ones who still retain a childlike wonder and awe, who find joy in what most people have simply ceased to see anymore.

“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we” (G. K. Chesterton).

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself” (Tecumseh).

I saw recently on Facebook where a friend from Union University’s son passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly. I don’t know any of the details. I only know that she and the rest of her family are grieving and in need of God’s peace that passes all understanding.

It shook me awake from my complacency and reminded me again that life is so very precious and fleeting and not guaranteed for any of us beyond today.

I was reminded sharply that I need to quit taking my family, my friends, and my life for granted, as if they will always be there.

The best way I know to keep living this life as a gift is to give thanks early and often. Even if your one gratitude is for being alive, that is still enough to give thanks. Gratitude breaks the stranglehold of entitlement and helps me to see that everything good in my life is God’s good gift to me, not anything I’ve earned or deserved.

My mantra once again is to give thanks and to keep giving thanks until I change my attitude from one of complaining and grumbling to acceptance and gratitude.

It starts again today.

This Tuesday’s edition of Kairos was special. For one night only, Mike Glenn made a return to Kairos. It was just like the ye olden days way back in 2016.

I’m convinced that there wouldn’t have been a Kairos without Mike Glenn. Sure, there were young adults who had the dream, but Mike Glenn helped make that dream a reality.

I count myself as one of the many whose lives that the ministry of Kairos touched and blessed. I’m better for being a part, albeit a small one, of this Bible study/worship event every Tuesday night for the last 12 years.

I also see now where Mike knew when to step aside at the right time to let a new voice take over. The transition from Mike Glenn to Chris Brooks was a rare healthy one that has led to a resurgence and a renewal of Kairos in the last 2 years.

Tuesday nights are still my favorite part of the week. I’m still thankful I get to serve by greeting people as they come in the door. I get to be that friendly face and welcome that may be the only positive interaction some will have had all day.

I can’t wait to see where God takes Kairos next, whether to a new venue or just a bigger and bolder vision right where we are now. I only know it will be an unexpected but amazing journey, just like the last 12 years.

In case your Monday was a typical Monday, here’s a little something to perk up your day. To help you stay grounded. . . . I could go on and on.

After a 5 am wakeup call, coffee (doctored with the usual liberal amounts of creamer and sugar) is a beautiful sight to behold. And drink.

Enjoy.

“Joy’s a function of gratitude. And gratitude’s a function of perspective. Counting gifts changes my perspective – & my LIFE” (Ann Voskamp, #1000gifts)

Yeah, I think I’d forgotten that. It’s easy to do.

We’re constantly being told to count our money to make sure we have enough for when we retire.

We’re told to count the number of toys we need to satisfy that inner longing and to finally make us happy.

We’re told to count how much our neighbor has so that we can keep up with those Joneses (and maybe surpass them someday).

But what we really need is to count our blessings and name them one by one, as the old song goes. Counting the myriad of daily gifts changes your perspective and makes joy possible in every kind of circumstance.

Yeah, I need to get back to doing that.

Maybe we all do.

Perhaps the world would be a little nicer place if we spent less time complaining and criticizing and more time counting blessings.

Just a thought.

I can’t believe it. I’m nearing the end of my quest to watch all the episode of the classic run of Doctor Who from 1963-1989. At least all of the surviving episodes. Ok, all of the surviving episodes that Britbox has rights to.

Anyway, I’m up to the 7th Doctor, Sylvester McCoy, and his oh so perky companion, Mel. Apparently, the production values and the budget took a bit of a hit during the last few seasons of Classic Doctor Who (and it shows from time to time), but it’s still a fun watch.

I still love to see how each incarnation of the Doctor brings out different nuances in his character and how each of them interacts with the various companions that come and go throughout the seasons.

I do wish that Peri had a better sendoff than ending up as a Warrior Queen with a King she didn’t like (but apparently somehow fell in love with in the space of one episode).

I may have to continue the quest on to the newer incarnation of Doctor Who that started in 2005. I’m having too much fun with this.

I can’t remember when I’ve ever been so glad to see Friday afternoon. I mean I was more than ready for 4 pm to get here.

I didn’t have a bad week. In fact, in many ways, it was a good week. A good but a long week.

Some weeks are like that. It feels like you’re driving a car with half the cylinders firing. You get to your destination eventually but it takes longer.

Rest is God’s prescription for those times when you’re worn out. God took the seventh day to rest and commanded that we do the same, not because He wanted us to add one more rule to memorize and follow but because He knew we needed someone to tell us to rest.

I fantasize a lot. Lately, my fantasy is turning off the alarm and sleeping in on that glorious day of the week called Saturday. I get to sleep until it’s actually daylight outside.

They say that you should go out and chase your dreams. Tomorrow, I plan to do just that by rolling over and going back to sleep.