Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

It’s Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end to summer. I’m not all that thrilled about that. After all, in spite of the sometimes grueling heat and humidity, I love the summer months. I love running the boardwalk and then being able to jump into the ocean for a swim. I look forward to our family’s annual time up in the Adirondack Mountains, swimming, hiking, boating, etc. And, I simply love being able to get up in the morning and throw on some shorts and a t-shirt to walk the dog—no need for the big coats and sweaters. There’s so many things I like about summer. But, as they say, “all good things must come to an end,” and such is the case with summer.  Of course, the end of summer is not the “end” period. Rather, the end of the summer season marks the start of a new season. The end of summer, leads us into the season we call “autumn” or “fall.” And, it as well is a beautiful time of year.  With cooler temperatures making their way in, the leaves changing color, and so many different thi

The other day I heard someone say, “Aging is a gift and a privilege.” The words struck me hard since this weekend I’m turning 65. In my mind, turning 65 is kind of a strange milestone. It was one thing to enter into my 60’s; it’s another to now be halfway through. I don’t feel like I should be on Medicare or be considered to be a full-fledged “senior citizen.” Yet, that is where I’m at. I haven’t been sure whether I should be celebrating this birthday or merely accepting it.  When I heard those words, however, “aging is a gift and a privilege,” something clicked in my brain. I began to ask myself, if that is true, what will I do with this gift? How will I make best use of this season of my life? After all, if aging is a gift and a privilege, I then have a great responsibility to both enjoy this season and use it to its fullest.  For me that means, finding meaningful ways to invest into the lives of others, including my family (and especially my grandchildren). It means keeping myself h

This past week I’ve been able to catch a bit of the Olympics. As I watch, I am constantly amazed by the athletes. It’s incredible to see the way they run, swim, throw, jump, shoot, etc. Even the losers are spectacular to watch, no less the winners. And then there are those who are breaking world records! It’s an incredible show of power, speed, balance, and focus. How many times I’ve thought to myself, I wish I could run like that or swim like that…or do something like that!  A lot of people dream of becoming an Olympic athlete, but few actually make it. For one, for most of sports, there’s a genetic component. For example, world class pole vaulters are all very, very tall whereas gymnasts are usually quite small. And there is the natural talent component—i.e., something innate that creates a great potential for a particular set of athletic endeavors. Most of all, however—and this is what amazes me the most—is the hours and weeks and years of discipline and training. After all, one mig