It was 1952, a beautiful summer day in the south central foothills of Oklahoma. I was a young boy on vacation at Grandma's house. There was lots of things to see and do for a skinny kid from California. Grandma lived 10 miles from the nearest town, and the closest house was over a mile away. Outside at play one day was I, when I noticed coming up the dirt road that led to town, was a huge white horse carrying a big man dressed in black. He wore a huge black flat brimmed hat, with a black jacket, pants and boots. From underneath his hat flowed long snow-white hair, and from his face was a long white beard. Since it had been over 2 weeks since I had seen anyone but my grandmother, this man for some reason frightened me. I ran to the house and told grandmother about what I had seen coming up the road towards her house. She laughed and said oh that is just Mr. Smith, he is going into town,probably to another KKK meeting.

Obviously love means different things to different people. I am one who never fully evaluated my love for others like so many of you seem to do. I would not know where to begin. I never gave any thought to where she might work, how financialy stable she might be, where she lived, what kind of things she accepted or rejected. I have been blind in that department all my life. However I have loved and been loved by many. Love comes in many sizes and shapes. Who does not love a beautiful sunrise or sunset? How about a baby, or fido laying over there by the fire. So many things our father gave us to love. This is a day the father has made, and I thank you father for having left this old man on this planet long enough to enjoy it.

Outside in this part of the world today-is just beautiful. Sunny, about 70 degrees and not a menacing cloud in the beautiful blue sky. I decided that this was just to great a day to be inside doing anything. So I decided I would go outside and wash my neglected pick-up truck. As I was doing so, several neighbors drove by and waved and two even took the time to stop and visit a few minutes. As I was drying my truck off, soaking up the warm California sunshine, I began to think about just how blessed in this world I have been. How gracious the father has been to me and mine. Thank you father for your wonderful warm sunshine.

Call me doubting Thomas if you will. I am not from Missouri but I am almost as bad. Lack of trust, unbelieving eyes, mental deception, maybe all of these things and more. But as I continue life "one day at a time" clarity seems a possibility. With it surely has to come a deeper love for my fellow human beings. And maybe a little more light will be shed on the pathway that I seem to be following.

My biggest struggle in life continues to be me. I have fleeting moments of wanting to become someone that I am not. You know, a person with no flaws, such as addictions, desires, things that for most would be fine, but for me self-destruction. Alas I am a human being, with more defects than most. So for this day I will remain myself, and continue to do things "one day at a time."