Stray Thoughts for Thursday

I always feel guilty when I let a week go by without a blog post, which is somewhat odd given that I'm not sure exactly how much of a regular audience I have. Unfortunately, I have nothing particularly interesting to share today, so I offer instead a gallimaufry of thoughts. (Gallimaufry, you ask? It means a "hodgepodge" or "jumble." Yes, indeed, my thesaurus is indispensable to me).

A year ago today, the warranty expired on my appendix, resulting in a rupture of great proportions. In so many ways, that experience doesn't seem that long ago. I still have phantom pain from time to time. But when all is said and done, I'm still here, and I'm glad to be here. I've been blessed. I still owe my wife a cruise vacation, though. Maybe this fall?

I was outside this morning while the kids were getting ready for school. Spring is most certainly in the air - in fact, it has been nearly all winter. Last year at this time, we'd had 15 inches of snow. This year, we've seen flakes twice, with no accumulation whatsoever. I didn't even have to put insulating covers on the outside spigots. The birds are tuning up their spring symphony, the purple clover is dominating my yard, but I'll be darned if you can make me pull out the lawn mower in February. Not. Going. To. Do. It. But it is a beautiful morning, the air is moist and cool but tinged with the promise of a warm day.

I am starting to long for the day I can afford to start a second career - this one is beginning to wear on me. It still has its good moments, but every now and then I wish for something other than engineering. Of course, I don't know what else I'd do. Bottom line, it is good to be employed in this economy, so I will just have to continue to man-up.

I've been listening to a series of sermons via podcast on the topic of grace. In a strange twist, I find it much easier to extend grace than I do to receive it. On reflection, I surmise that our fallen nature predisposes us against the full embrace of grace. The dissolution of pride, I believe, is key to our transformation by grace. Because while mercy brings relief, the work of grace is far deeper when it is fully realized.

Finally, the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Race has come and gone. I get great joy in letting my son design and craft his car, mostly with hand tools. When the power tools are necessary of course, I step in. Soon enough, I'll let him use the tools himself. But not just yet. His entry this year placed 23rd of 60-some cars, a small step back from last year's performance. He did well, though, and it was fun.

This concludes today's parade. Thanks for reading.