MARCH 2019 BEACON

Not all that Glitters is Gold; Not all who Wander are Lost;

The Old that is Strong does not Wither; Deep Roots are Not Touched by the Frost!! Bilbo Baggins

The words above spoken by an old Hobbit in a fictitious place named the Shire in a time long ago have always captivated me and led me to trust in old things that still work well and to be wary of things that look good for a moment. We still have a 1969 Chris Craft Commander that runs rings around many modern fishing boats and She proves more than reliable. I think our human relationships are the same way. As we enter this Lent season, we ponder what we have and what we may do without. Most often people realize it's some material thing or pleasant vice or habit that comes to mind and we think we should take a break from it. I've never heard anyone say they're taking a break from things they truly love, that being the people in our lives. Lent, like Christmas can be a time to strengthen the bonds within our families and with our friends. It ends with Easter, the day we celebrate our coming together with the Lord in a place far greater than this. For me, Lent isn't so much a time of living without something I really don't need anyway as much as it is a time to focus on growing the roots that are not touched by the frost. Ron