Recently Harv and I watch a movie called - A WEEK AWAY! This movie is an uplifting musical about a troubled teen - Will - who takes a leap of faith by attending summer camp and unexpectedly finds love, friends and a place to belong. A WEEK AWAY features songs we listened to a way back when! Songs like DIVE, PLACE IN THIS WORLD, BIG HOUSE, BABY BABY, AWESOME GOD and WHERE I BELONG.

If you’ve ever been to summer camp you remember the camp fires where people share their feelings.. At girl’s camp we called this night “mascara meltdown”! At one point in A WEEK AWAY they have one of those amazing campfires, only they changed it up a bit and said one line that resonated with me.

“I DON’T KNOW MUCH BUT I KNOW THIS……….”

I’ve lived 63 years now and I’ve learned a few things along the way. Some I’ve learned the easy way. Oh, it is easy to live and trust when there is food on the table, money in the bank, clothes on our backs, books in the schoolrooms, gas in the car, having a car, health in our family, friends to share a meal with, a warm home, electricity…..and the like. Some things I’ve learned the hard way. though. Oh yes, it’s much harder when one or more of these things or all of these things are taken away or you’ve never had them.

Charles Spurgeon said, “To trust God in the light is nothing but to trust Him in the dark - that is faith.”

So, here we go!

I don’t know much but I know this……I have the privilege of living in the greatest country in the world. Canada. My home and native land. It’s a place of great beauty - filled with lakes and trees and large cities and quaint villages. It’s a place where I can live out my faith. I can go to my local church, freely, without the fear of being made fun of or ridiculed. I can have conversations with friends on the beach, on the golf course, or out for a walk about my faith and theirs. I can be available to those who question what is going on in our world and how my faith keeps me positive. I don’t know much but I know this - I don’t have to fear or be dismayed because I have a faith in God that is rooted in Him - not rooted in myself or this world. Corrie ten Boom said - “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”

I don’t know much but I know this……it’s a good thing to be a giver of life. It’s always a good thing to look at life with a glass half full. It’s always a good thing to take the high road. It’s always good to be patient and kind. It’s always good to protect, trust , hope and persevere. It’s always great to bring out the best in those you meet. Smile at a stranger. And isn’t it the best when you make someone laugh.

This summer, my grandson Tyson, turned on two fans and then yelled into them making his voice funny and his hair blow wild. We both cracked up. Look at that smile.

I don’t know much but I know this…..I loved my Gramma Castle. She had a stroke when I was only 11 and died 7 years later when I was 18. She poured more into my life in my first 11 years than some who live a lifetime of many more years. She passed on her love for God and the local church. She passed on her love for piano and voice. I have her hymnbook. I remember sitting at the piano with her - pounding out the hymns and songs she loved. Gramma Castle did everything with gusto and flair. She was very British (not in the gentile sense) and lived life large and loud. I’m like her in many ways. Gramma wrote this poem before I was born!

THE CASTLES AT 13 ELM (1956)

Our Stan has a wonderful family - one of the best in town.

You could not find a finer one - if you searched the world around.

Take Marilyn for instance - she’s as sweet as she can be.

And Susan too. She’s just as nice.

And Brenda - well although she’s cute - a little skinny too.

She’s just as nice as all the rest.

Then comes our Dear Sweet Bobby. He’s just a great big squirt.

But all the folks they like him, so that really shouldn’t hurt.

There’s Harry and wee Teddy. Like two cats on hot bricks.

We wouldn’t have them different eh, all in (can’t read her writing) - well that sticks.

Wee Philly and wee Timmy - the sweetest I am sure

Dear Lord. Let these be the last. (There would be one more - me!)

Don’t give them anymore!

And what about their mother.

Oh boy, she makes a stir - I think my son’s a lucky guy - to have a wife like her!

My dad was a lucky guy - and so am I blessed - to have the heritage of a great family!

I don’t know much but I know this…….I’m thankful for second chances.

C. S. Lewis said this - “You can’t go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are now.

Hurtful words come easily when you speak to another? Apologize and set a guard on your lips to not speak until you can control your tongue.

Living a life of laziness? Make a list and stick to it.

Road rage? Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Keep trying.

There was a time when one of my sons was picked to be one of 3 “extras” on his high school basketball team. I remember saying to him - practice harder, practice longer, be in the gym first, leave the gym last, pick up the balls, say “yes sir” to the coach! Wait and see. You will be given a second chance because someone will quit or get hurt. Sure enough, the time came and the coach picked him to play on the team.

Seven years, my first husband, Randy, collapsed while out for an ordinary 10 km run. It was something we both did regularly. Something ordinary turned out to be life changing. Randy passed away 7 days later. My life, quite normal up until this time, changed in a moment. I was now a widow. I was single after 35 years of marriage. I was a Gramma without her Grampa. I was half of a whole. I knew the love of God during those fragile days. I felt beaten and battered and bruised but also knew he was binding up my broken heart and healing my wounded spirit.

George Herbert said - “I live to show His power, who once did bring my joys to weep and now my griefs to sing.”

I know about second chances. God brought my second husband into my life - Harv (a widower himself) to once again enjoy the blessings of marriage and family. I love being married. I love that my kids have a step father who cares for them. I love that my grandkids have a Grampa in their lives. I love the joy of chatting about our day over supper. Thank You - God - for second chances.

I don’t know much but I know this…..I think outside fresh air and exercise are important. My sweet momma was a believer in kids playing outside in all kinds of weather - skating and sledding and street hockey in the winter and baseball and soccer in the summer. Getting a ride to school was unheard of. It was that way when our kids were growing up too. For them and for us. We all played hard, ate well and slept the night through. I know this that I still love all things sports, playing and cheering others on.

I don’t know much but I know this……I love and am loved. I bless and am blessed. I give and receive. And just like young Will at camp - all we want and have in this life is within reach. We just have to take a step of faith sometimes and go for it.

I heard a preacher say - “occasionally weep deeply over the life you hoped for; grieve the losses and feel the pain. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.”