-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Good Ole Times; we have all experienced them. We sit and talk about 'days gone by,' when things were good and life was easier. As we look back, the days become nostalgic; we dream about their return, while knowing all the time of the impossibility.
- I remember, as a kid, playing touch football on the streets of Portland. We would get together like clockwork every day after school; choose up teams and go at it for hours. I look back at those days, and think; those were the "good ole days."
- It seems just like yesterday my daughters would "play rough" with me on the living room floor. We would run around, laugh and have a great time. Sharron would worry that we would break something or that someone (probably me) would get hurt; those were great times.
- I recall, with fondness, the days, as the Divisional Youth Secretary in the Southwest Division, sitting up late at night talking with young adults, often times about nothing in particular; sometimes about serious things. We would laugh and carry on so much that the management, on more than one occasion, would ask us to quiet down and be more considerate of other customers. We tried to comply, but it was difficult.
I guess, as I get older, I value the "Good Ole Days" more. As I reflect back on those special times it brings a sense of purpose and joy about life; I treasure those memories. The only regret I have is that I did not know, or think about, how good those times were while they were happening. I often feel guilty about not recognizing how good I had it at the time. I feel as though I missed out because I wasn’t paying attention. I think, "Shame on me."
Over the past four years, Sharron and I have had the privilege of living in Paradise. Living in the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands has been a phenomenal experience. We have done things we never imagined possible; and going to places that we did not know existed prior to coming to the division. We have met and shared our lives with people that we will treasure for the rest of our lives. The beauty that we have seen cannot be expressed in words or seen in photos. In 33 years of officership we have never, and probably will never, experience anything like it.
The good news in all this is that living in the Islands never lost it novelty with us; we never took it for granted. Sharron would often say to me, as we were walking in Manoa or at Ala Moana, "Dave, we live in Hawaii!" But, the absolute best part is that we knew how special it was while we were there; we knew we were living in the "good ole days."
We are forever grateful to God for the experience. We want to thank each of you for sharing your lives with us; and allowed us to become a part of your ohana. We are better people for having experienced the last four years. I wish there was a better way to say it; but I cannot; so I will leave it with a heartfelt "thank you."
We may physically leave Hawaii; but Hawaii will remain always in our hearts.
God bless each of you. You mean the world to us.
Blessings and Aloha,
d
