My writing often deals with the darkness in the world and how I wrestle with it at times, combat it at times and get run over by it at times.  The darkness does exist SO I am thankful for light.  Light shines on hope, on goodness, on kindness and on blessings.  Memorial Day weekend was one of those weekends where the light was evident, where the light obscured the darkness and shined on hope and goodness and blessings for me.

Memorial Day for the people of the United States is a day to remember those who have paid the price for our freedom and to honor those who still offer to pay that price each day.  I am thankful for my dad and my uncle who both served and who both have taught me so much about living a life of service and kindness.

Along with honoring this special day, it was a weekend where I felt the world slow down.  I needed the extra day away from work to truly rest my soul, rest my thoughts and rest my body.  It was a time spent with a wonderful woman who has been a gift in my life.  We spent time talking about the ups and downs of our past, the challenges and the joys of the present and our hopes for the future.  I am blessed to have her, someone I can talk to about things ranging from sports and cooking to the deepest and most soul-searching thoughts I have and to know she will listen, she will try to understand and she will offer perspective.  The beauty of it to me is not just in her hearing me but in her willingness to share, her willingness to become more open to being vulnerable to me, to trusting me with her hopes, her mistakes, her joys, her challenges, her goals, her life.

Memorial Day will always be about those who gave all and those who chose to serve so that I can experience freedom.  That is the greater meaning of the day.  Along with that, it will be a weekend I remember for the peace I felt and the time spent with someone who means so much to me and is helping me change into a better Christ-follower and better man day by day.

Grace and peace.