Plans Change, what now?

It's snowing today. Exciting and dangerous too for me since I love living in the south! Did you know that for very many soldiers in today's Army if they had a date they were authorized to leave the Army, that they could be retained for whatever time the Department of Defense required? Then add to that the reason for the mandatory extension was to go into combat. You had plans, going to college, getting married, moving? What we do when plans are forced to change is a measure of our character. George Bernard Shaw said "there are two great disappointments in life. One is to not get what you want and the other is to get what you want." Life altering changes have impact on our lives; move us in another direction; but it does not mean that our goals have to change. Plans change, we don't have to. What we do when new directions are upon us will alter those directions even more. Be full of grace and committment and flexiblity. They will pay dividens to our lives in the days, months, and years ahead. Dr. D.

The Past is Now

Time is a funny thing, we only have today and this moment today. Yet all the yesterdays still are alive and well. Most of us understand that who we are today was molded in our younger years. Sometimes there is a traumatic event that changed the course of our lives. Sometimes it is a job offer or a graduation, a marriage, or a tragedy. Today I met two people from my past, at least 12 years ago. I'm always cautious when people walk up to me and say "I know you." But this time, each of them thanked me for my participation in their lives. One because I wrote a reference for him. The other even said that he still hears my name mentioned as "the guru" of marriage and family chaplains." Whew. That's the kind of "past catching up to you" that is just fine with me. Agree? Dr. D.