Mid-week News 3-20-13

Dear Family of faith, Happy Spring! That’s the hopeful outlook; unfortunately it’s been a cloudy and rainy day in this Sunshine State. I heard today that long ago the St. Pete Times would give away free newspapers on any day that the sun didn’t shine. Wouldn’t that be nice? The days are longer now, which is how we get the word “Lent” for this season of the church year. The word lencten in Anglo Saxon meant “to get longer” (our lengthen), and is the root of our word, Lent. I saw a female cardinal in the backyard yesterday. I was so excited! Now when I lived “up north,” such birds were no big thing—they were ‘a dime a dozen.’ But I don’t remember seeing a cardinal in my yard since I’ve lived in Florida. It was a little reminder of the past as well as a hopeful sign for the future—that God’s creatures are moving back into the once stripped-out, deforested allotment where we now reside. We all live between the past and the future. Happy are those who have pleasant memories from yesterday to bring new joy; and happy are those who have wonderful dreams to look forward to in the future; yet, real life, the only life we have, is now. May all of us enjoy the day at hand and delight in the cardinals, the blue jays and the mourning doves that show up unexpectedly in our backyards! I am in a quandary. I received a check in the mail from my mortgage company payable for the amount of $.01. Now I know that it has already cost the company a lot more than a penny to process that check, and if I cash it, it will cost them more again; but if I don’t cash it, then their books will be off. What to do? I wonder if I would need a bank account to cash it at a local bank? Would I need an ID? Sometimes life gets ridiculous, doesn’t it?! Just keep laughing! Already this week some of those who have been attending worship regularly are leaving for the cold country. Hug those around you a little tighter in these coming weeks. Many more will be going north. Never take your friendships for granted. They are worth more than gold. With affection, Pastor Carlan