Tag: legacy

The Spirit of Adventure

~ Richard Solano ~ Leave a comment

Today, as our church is in the middle of an “At the Movies” series, we learned from the movie Up.

I can relate to Carl. You know, the old guy from the movie.

Life seems to fly by.

But, as we learned today, life can be an adventure.

Make no mistake, getting older stinks, but it beats the alternative.

More and more, I find myself glancing in the mirror and wondering who that old man over there is.

I don’t feel old.

But then, when I get on the ground to do something, I always think “is there anything else I need to do while I’m down here.

I still walk a lot.

I tend to work circles around those younger than me.

And then I’m ready for a nap.

I tend to listen to a lot of hip-hop and pop music…

mixed in with the oldies…

at high volume…

because I don’t hear as well any more.

I’ve worked with youth for years, which helps me feel younger.

And now I have a head full of grey hair.

Honestly, I don’t feel my age.

If you’re wondering, I’ll hit the big 6-0 next March.

Does getting older really stink?

Sure, there are parts of it I could do without.

 

  • I can’t look at a hamburger without gaining a couple pounds.
  • I get winded after going up a few flights of stairs (but I take them anyway).
  • Pain is a near constant companion.

 

But there are so many benefits to getting older.

 

  • I’ve forgotten more than most 20-year-olds know.
  • I have more confidence now than ever before.
  • With my experience, I’ve gotten very good at my job.
  • People give me more respect than ever before.
  • Two words – Senior Discounts!
  • Finally, my relationship with God is stronger than ever before.

 

You can see the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

Even though I’ve had many adventures and am getting a little older, that doesn’t mean the adventures have to stop.

In fact, I’m just a little over 5 years from retirement from my day job. Then I’ll have another whole set of adventures.

Whether you’re 17 or 77,

Don’t let the adventure stop.

Cherish each moment.

Remember the good ones and put the bad behind you.

Then move on to the next great adventure!

Just keep a watch out for me ‘cause this adventurer is cruising along!

The View From Here

~ Richard Solano ~ Leave a comment

My flight back from North Carolina made a detour. Despite swinging clear down to New Orleans, we still encountered turbulence from the large thunderstorms in our path.

Isn’t that just like life.

I arrived home to a misfiring minivan, a broken toilet, weeds threatening the garden, foot high grass in the backyard (it rained so much there was no time to mow), a leaky basement, a failing shower head, and a wife leaving me (just for the week to help her parents. Calm down.)

We managed to get through the week and got all the repairs taken care of but we are still in an emotional fog as my mother-in-law has taken a turn for the worse. She will likely take possession of her heavenly body this week.

This is the view from the middle of the storm.

Emotional and physical exhaustion threaten to rule.

Other than my daily devotional, I’ve only had one chance to sit down and write. The words wouldn’t come.

Even as the storms rage, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there will be sunlight on the other side.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”

Psalms 23:4 NLT

My wife and I will rest in God’s strength and guidance as the storm passes.

When we reach the other side, I will update you on my writing journey and the next exciting steps.

Until then, if you are in the middle of life’s storms,

seek the strength and shelter of the one who can calm storms with a word.

When the storm passes, rejoice in the clear new day.

From Abduction to Action

~ Richard Solano ~ Leave a comment

Maewyn was abducted

from his family home at the age of 16. He was trapped in the world of human trafficking in a third world country for the next 6 years.

He was bought by a war lord who put him to forced labor.

He had no rights.

He had no respect.

He had no love.

He looked for escape at every opportunity.

As he labored, he turned to faith in God for comfort.

There were no other believers in that area but he remembered enough of his family’s faith to get him started.

When the opportunity to escape finally came, he jumped at it. The attempt nearly killed him.

When he finally made it home, he studied more about Christ, eventually becoming a minister.

Then came the call on his life.

He had a vision in which he received a note from the people of the land of his captivity. It begged him to return.

I don’t know about you, but I would be very hesitant to return to where life was horrible. Nobody wants to revisit bad memories, much less, live among them.

The closer Maewyn got to God, the more he understood God’s compassion and the need the people of that land to get to know God.

Maewyn obeyed the call.

By now he had taken a new name to reflect his changed life.

He returned to that violent land, Ireland, under his new name, Patrick.

He brought the Gospel to a land that desperately needed it and brought about the most drastic revival Northern Europe had ever seen.

Maewyn was just a normal upper middle class teenager in his day. He suffered some extreme trauma that turned his life upside down. No one would have blamed him if he had just found a quiet place to hide the rest of his life.

But he didn’t.

Instead of letting the trauma rule him, he channeled it into compassion and action.

I know that PTSD, social anxiety, and many other conditions are real. I don’t mean to belittle them.

But what would happen if we submitted our fears and trauma to God and let him heal and use them to bring healing to others? I know it’s not easy or simple but Patrick and many others have shown it is possible and the fruits of their actions show it is worth it.

This Friday, as you enjoy your corned beef and cabbage or shamrock shake (or green beer), remember the life of that guy who brought Christ to Ireland and ask yourself if there’s anything you can learn from him. It might just bring you to a life of healing and action.

Dadisms

~ Richard Solano ~ Leave a comment

I recently started writing down some of my Dadisms. You know, the words or phrases that the dad in me can’t help but say over and over. If that sounds strange, you need to know that

Normal is just a city in Illinois.

One of the kids will say something like, “Normal people don’t do stuff like you do.”

All I have to do is say, “Normal?”

As they roll their eyes, they’ll complete the phrase.

Dad win!

Those times when I am being extra cautious about something, I let them know that

A paranoid (pair o’ noid?) is better than one.

The other day (which I just found out means any day between my birth and yesterday) one of them asked what a noid is. I had to refer them to the old Domino’s commercials. They now agree with my saying.

Of course, they are amazed that I can remember back that far since I always tell them

The first three things to go are memory and I can’t remember the other two.

Of course, I’ve had older people tell me “You don’t want to remember the other two.”

As I get older, I am continually amazed at how quickly life goes by. To which I consistently proclaim

Fun times when you’re having flies

Which is a phrase that Kermit the frog wholeheartedly agrees with.

All these little quirks of my language are being passed on to my kids just like my dad left me with

You will eat it and you will enjoy it!

(Spoken in a strong German accent because he was, you know, Mexican).

It delights my heart when I hear one of my quirks repeated by my kids but

I’m not as think as you dumb I am.

What I really hope to pass on to them is in what I just read in my quiet time in the Bible this morning.

Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13 New Living Translation

I hope you enjoyed this little twisted linguistic exercise. More importantly, I hope to pass on to my kids, my students, and you, my readers the sense of joy, hope, and love there is in this walk of faith.

May you be blessed as you seek the words that shape your life!

Teach On

~ Richard Solano ~ Leave a comment
Frank Peretti, one of many teachers in my life.

At a men’s breakfast not long ago, we were asked two questions:

At the end of your life, what do you want people to say about you?

And

What are you doing now to make that happen?

Makes you think, huh?

I sat next to a teacher who wasn’t sure how to answer that second question. He was so wrapped up in the daily duties and pressures of teaching and raising a family that he hadn’t thought in those terms.

After his weak unsure answer, I had to speak.

“I never told Mr. Arnot of the impact he had on my life. Nor Mrs. Fender. Nor any of the other many teachers that profoundly influenced my life. You are making a difference just by being there and teaching faithfully.”

I didn’t get a college degree. I could have completed an education program but, after 3 years of college, I didn’t want to make the transfer and borrow yet more money to make it happen. Instead I took a career path in the technology field.

That hasn’t stopped me from teaching. I’ve trained new hires. I’ve instructed less experienced techs.

Over the years, I’ve also had the privilege of teaching in children’s church, Sunday school, and youth groups. While I was one of many voices that spoke into their lives, I’ve seen many of those kids grow up to be excellent men and women. I’d like to think I had a part in that.

All this is to say,

TEACH ON!

Those of you who are teachers by profession, realize that, even when it seems like your words are falling on deaf ears,

you are having a profound impact.

They may not admit it but students are learning from what you say and do and especially from how you say and do.

If you’ve never been a teacher, realize that you are one whether you like it or not.

You influence those around you by what you say and do and how you do it.

We are all teaching those around us.

What is it that you want to teach them?

What are you doing now to accomplish this?

Feel free to comment here or or my Facebook page how you have been influenced by others and how you would like to influence others.