I have become a dedicated lap swimmer. Currently we are at our place at the Wyndham Resorts in Pagosa Springs, CO. It truly is a home away from home, only five hours away from Arvada. This particular resort has a great amenity called the Community Recreation Center. They have a wonderful swimming pool that I am able to use as part of our stay. Each day you must sign up for a time and a lane. Today I got my favorite lane (8) at the 8am start. It’s pretty simple—you sign up for a lane and you get it for one hour. There can be quite a demand for the lanes but most lap swimmers are very good at sharing.
My goal is to swim 40 or so laps in my hour. I usually finish in about 55 minutes. Today I was right on time and was done by 8:48. What this means is that I felt I had a little ‘no rush’ time to gather my stuff and slowly leave. I was met by a very rude… I am looking for kind words here… Senior citizen with a scowl on her face. “Sir, I have that lane reserved at 9am”. Me—“It’s only 8:55, I am almost done”. No response. My memory went back to this past January where the same____________ did the same thing to me. I said nothing. Upon leaving after taking my shower, I went back through the pool area only to see my nemesis just messing around with a swim noodle and barely moving.
I am in Southern Colorado because I was asked to help at a memorial service near Creede today. It was for a guy named Rick, who I had met some 30 years ago during my ministry in Alamosa/Monte Vista. Rick was a Renaissance Man. He was a man full of joy. A great story teller, artist, teacher, father, grandfather and bigger than life. He was also Fire Chief of the Regional Fire Service as it moved from volunteer to full time.
It was a service that was filled with both laughter and tears. My experience is that the sign of a well lived life being memorialized, is that we find ourselves laughing and crying at the same time. As Dolly Parton said in “Steele Magnolias” —“Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”. Thank you Rick, for your gift. His grandkids each shared. There is no greater witness to a life well lived than from a grandkid. One of them near the end of the service said, “As Papa always said, ‘Be Kind’”. Rick was all of that.
So as I sat there plotting my revenge on the Lane Hog for tomorrow, those words echoed in my soul. “OKAY, Holy Spirit I get it— just ignore and smile… the best revenge is to know you can and don’t ”. She will have no idea what I had planned for her.
Onward and Upward,
Mark
PS—“Lord help me not to be a selfish geezer” NaNaNa
Lyfting Me Up 