The gift of unexpected friendship

My new friend, Jeffrey Ritter, shared the following on social media recently. I couldn’t have said it better myself. My life is richer because of people like him I have met on this journey.

So, in the hospital, I was diligently walking laps, but kept finding someone's marker on the lap-board creeping ahead each day. Damn, who was beating my butt?

Well, we met, compared surgical scars (think of the scene in Jaws) and, despite wearing backless surgical gowns, became instant forever friends. Both survivors that will not stop being alive!

There is such strength when we fight together!

Sunrise on a Sunday morning

I love my early morning walks here in our neighborhood. This is the last one for a while as we leave for Durham later today in order to prepare for my surgery at Duke on Tuesday.

This morning was quite ordinary - listening to Russell Moore’s podcast, then worship music.

The future is so uncertain, but I will heed this solid advice I've received:

Don't look left. Don't look right. Look straight ahead, and follow Jesus.

Amen.