My grandmothers visibly displayed large calendars in their kitchens; important dates were circled on them and notes of various kinds were scribbled around the numbers.  Most of my elementary school teachers had even larger calendars hanging adjacent the front chalkboard just beneath the American flag; above the tear-off-monthly-pages was the Pledge of Allegiance: a ready reference for our daily recitation.  Alas, for most folks, young and old, calendars are going the way of appointment books: surrendering to the ubiquitous iPhone . . . “most folks” does not include me!

This year I’ll add another appointment book to the dozens stored in my office: hourly, daily, monthly, yearly records of countless names and events capturing my stewardship of the moments God entrusted to my care.  On occasion, I retrieve one of these time capsules and challenge my memory to recall the faces of those referenced . . . faces plucked at random from the huge collage of treasured people who journeyed with me over the years in service to the Lord.  I’ve been so, so blessed!

In addition to the appointment book before me, I have another method of marking time: the view beyond my office window – it changes as predictably as the seasons and change is afoot again!  The playgrounds are now alive with little ones in uniforms one size larger; early and late, adults with satchels and brief cases are coming and going; cheerleaders and ball players are perfecting their techniques as classmates stroll nearby engaged in animated conversations . . . the campus of Cross Schools is hosting a new year – by God’s grace, its twenty-fifth!  And given my lengthy view of the past, I can see it’s going to its best!