West Cocoa Chat

As I was driving on I-95 (which is being widened to 3 lanes) on the way to school today, I was listening to Simon and Garfunkel’s hit song, “Homeward Bound.” As I exited I saw a sight I’ve never seen before today. A group of about 8 Road Construction workers had formed a circle around one of their co-workers. He was leading them in stretching exercises. It was strange to see a bunch of hard charging and hard working guys doing an imitation of “above ground synchronized swimming” in an effort to get ready for the day.

The circle as well as the song (Homeward Bound) also reminded me of many memories, from the time Steven was 4 through High School when his various baseball teams would “circle up and stretch.” In this time of political debates, Joe the Plumber, Stock Market meltdowns as well as Tampa (watched it to the bitten end with son) Bay Rays meltdowns, the circle had me going homeward bound in my mind. There is nothing as pure, innocent, and hopeful as a baseball team circling up and stretching before a game.

A good friend of mind lost his Dad this past week. His Dad was the model of being a shepherd for both his sons and the various brothers and sisters in Christ that he came into contact with. My friend is one who as Max Lucado wrote, speaks with a “gentle thunder.” Where are church is today is largely due to him, his faith in God, his Shepherd’s heart, and the father that we will memorialize tomorrow. This man of God is homeward bound.

I hope all of you have a blessed weekend and can one way or another, experience being homeward bound again.

BTW – My Noles beat N.C. State last night and the Red Sox hitter who had the walk-off hit, J.D. Drew, was a Seminole.