A Day To Remember

English: “Surrender of Santa Anna” by William Huddle (1847–92), 1886 The painting "Surrender of Santa Anna" by William Huddle, shows the Mexican strong-man surrendering to a wounded Sam Houston. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

April 21 is A Day to Remember. I think I was counting it April 19, but I was wrong. Today is the anniversary of the Day in which 910 scruffy Texans beat 1200 Mexican troops in a short battle at San Jacinto and gave Texas freedom from Mexico. It's a day for Texans to claim and reverence. The Battle of the Alamo is the one everyone remembers. Even John Wayne celebrated it. But the Battle of San Jacinto is the one that counts in the record books and in the historical record.

This hallowed day is one to remember and to brag about. That's something Texas has a reputation for--bragging. We are a proud land and people. And we share a proud history. It's one I have claimed for my own. My ancestors were here in the early days, growing crops, raising cattle, buying and selling horses, building towns and families, making progress and putting down roots. I am so proud to have this heritage and to pass it to my children.

This is something that doesn't loose its luster as I get older. I am prouder of my Texas ancestry now than ever. I'm a Texan all year round, and life long. It's something that I'll never get over.  

Have You Made Your Vision Board?

On a TV Talk Show hosted by Steve Harvey the subjects were encouraged to make a board with visual reminders of their goals and aspirations. I think I've done it in a class or Vacation Bible School, or Girl Scouts. It was fun, but even then I didn't put it on the wall and meditate on it. I understand the principle and impact such a present stimulus is to keeping your goals in the forefront of your thoughts.

On the other hand, my goals are better fixed in my mind than any board made from magazine advertisements could ever match. My imagination carries those dreams and my heart beats with the rhythm of them daily.

The fact is, I'm old, so most of my dreams have been fulfilled or abandoned. The ones I still cherish are a permanent fixture in my 
existence so there is little chance that a Vision Board would enhance my efforts or the realization of long held dreams. 

More and more now I want to make a memory board to celebrate past victories and accomplishments. I want to remember the good times and enjoy the successes of earlier times. I do have another goal--I want to finish well. John Wesley talked about "a good death." I want that to be my final effort. Leaving 'em smiling. 

Easter--New Every Year

Christmas is the holiday that gets all the press about forgiveness, love, new chances, and starting over, but Easter is the one with the track record. Easter represents new birth, new life, forgiveness, and sacrifice. Easter is new every year, too.  We remember and rehearse the events and reclaim both the death and resurrection. And then we also re-claim our own forgiveness and walk in new life.

Every year this is an exciting, new experience; every year I come to Maundy Thursday, Black Friday and Holy Saturday with renewed terror and Easter Sunday with deeper joy and celebration. You'd think it would get old with the same hymns and scriptures, but resurrection life never loses it value. Every year I have grown in my understanding of God's love and deepened in my appreciation of the meaning of forgiveness.

It would be easy to get caught up in preparations, the egg dying and the clothes buying, the company and the dinner, but sacrifice and renewal is the main act. Easter Sunday brings release from the fear and dread of sin. It also provides an opportunity to look beyond death and enter new levels of joy with my risen Lord.  And I must remember that the joy is not in the day or the season or the Church service, but in my relationship with my Savior.