A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Or is it?

Images offer an illusion that must be “ dis-illusioned” to know the truth. Behind the image you initially see is a story and that story just may not match the smile, glamour, fun; community, sense of family or fun that we see.

It’s all apart of our culture now to not trust the news… maybe not trust the photos— have they been photoshopped or has AI done it’s thing and what we are seeing isn’t even real.

We’ve been on a long trip that’s just about to end as we fly home and re-enter our lives there— after having had extended time here. We’ve needed this time here. Our two sons who live in Europe asked us to come; asked us to have time together; asked us to be in their worlds. I regard this as a privilege to be invited. We came here. It’s been a very good trip in many ways.

So I wanted to post a few photos… it’s not to make you jealous or envious. It’s to help you see our world as we have seen it. I’ve never really believed in someone separating their private life from their public life. I went public years ago in my writing to share about my life, my marriage , my sons, my work, my struggles and my joys. I don’t regret this. I have always been drawn to being vulnerable. There’s a realness in being real, isn’t there?

The realness I have believed in is a realism expressed in the Velveteen Rabbit story. It’s a beautiful book about a child’s play animals— all of whom give insight to the reader about the human question, “what does it mean to be real?”

Here’s the heart warming excerpt that I’ve memorized and practiced in my faith and life:

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse. “You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” – Margery Williams’ “The Velveteen Rabbit”

So trust me… there is realness in our family and realness in our relationships; realness in our failures and realness in our love as well.

Perhaps the best thing I can say , there have been meltdowns while here. No pics of that! There have been tears! There have been deep talks. It’s all apart of realness isn’t it?

So here are some images I wanted you to see:

A highlight was our trip to tour

seven monasteries in Greece. It was enthralling and inspiring.

Our son in Greece was promoted to Lt Col. There

was a festive dinner in his honor. At such events the military sets up a table for one to honor all the POWs , MIA’s and fallen soldiers. We had never seen this before and we were sobered yet proud.

A highlight was all of us touring the

Amalfi Coast in Italy. The beauty and food were almost too good to take in… but we did!😎

Gwen and I have three grand

daughters and 11 grandsons. That means the girls are indeed special. So I wanted to buy them matching dresses while in Italy. They loved them! I love them!

I’ve written much about my ideas of our family gathering for supper on Sundays. It won’t happen for years, perhaps. But getting this image and experiencing this particular time etched a goodness and sweetness in my heart. Besides, we all said it was the best pizza ever!!!

I asked my granddaughter to make me a prayer bracelet that I could wear. Each initial is for one of their names. 14 beads… 14 grands! Wearing it makes me mindful and prayerful for them. It’s now a priceless treasure for me!

We went to Holland where our son Blake lives with his family. He is also a Lt Col. We lived here 40 years ago and planted an international church. We are glad they will now be moving to Tampa!

We returned to Greece and went to Corinth. This was a deeply moving time for us, reading parts of Paul’s epistles to this messy church.

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THIS particular passage of Paul’s mean so , so , so much to me. I want what Paul wants for you, my friends, my own family and for all God’s children!

We loved this time. We needed this as parents, grandparents, in our marriage and ministry.

Thank you for sharing this through this post!

When we return, we will be going to my brother in laws funeral service. It’s not like going back to reality. For this has been real and good! His passing is also real and hard. Sickness is also real and so is suffering. But, we needed a break in coming here; living a different way here; being with family that we have not gotten to see much!

I look forward to reentering our life; our friendships, our church life and the mountains!

You are loved!

Steve