Blog 3281 – 10.26.2024

Adventures in Time and Space

By way of a warning of potential difficulties in closing on a piece of real estate, yesterday my son texted me that the closing might be a bit of an adventure. I texted him back that I do so enjoy a good adventure as much as I love a good mystery. I most often use the later part of that line, “I love a good mystery” when asked to help find something that is missing. Over the years I have come to think of myself as a bit of a Sherlock Holmes when it comes to The Mystery of the Missing Whatever. I just ask questions and follow the clues and have had mostly great success except for the occasional missing jigsaw puzzle piece or mate to a sock. There must be another dimension somewhere cram-packed with puzzle pieces and missing socks. That is at least where all the evidence seems to points.

We can all experience our lives as prison sentences – long, boring, uneventful, tedious and torturous or as fun and exciting adventures with mysteries a plenty and lots of clues to follow and problems to solve. One of my favorite two lines in the New Testament, both attributed to the Apostle Paul, point to a positive outlook on life. One says, “Tribulation (troubles – what my son referred to as ‘a bit of an adventure’) results in patience (endurance).” And in the other where Paul mentions a certain city that they were about to leave for where he says, “There are many opportunities and (as if it was an added enticement) there are adversaries.” Paul knew what we too often fail to realize, that challenges make life more interesting and fun.

In our putting so much emphasis on time off work, vacations, and retirement we often miss the real joy and fulfillment that can only be had with an exciting adventure or solving a mystery. It is all in how you look at it. Just as one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, one person’s trials or irritants turn into a great adventure or mystery story full of pearls of wisdom for another.

Just wait till you see how this one turns out.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White