Good Courage

We are in the middle of change at Holden.  The new directors, Chuck Hoffman and Peg Carlson-Hoffman are being installed on Saturday.  Chuck and Steph Carpenter are leaving the Village after serving the past five years as directors and five years before that in a variety of positions.  We also have had several long term staff leave for new opportunities.  So lots of tears have been shed, hugs given, and hands waved as people go down the mountain.

As we say good bye, the Village sings the Song of Good Courage by Kent Gustafson.

Oh God, you have called us
to ventures where we cannot see the end.
By paths never yet taken
through perils unknown.
Give us good courage, not knowing where we go
to know that your hand is leading us
wherever we might go.

I wish each of you good courage….

I just got done reading a wonderful book, The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe.  It is a story of a mother battling cancer and her son helping her through her treatments.  I know it sounds depressing but it is really just the opposite.  They form an informal book club of two, read and trade books with each other and discuss what the books mean to them.  I now have a great reading list of their favorites.

I found in reading the book that Mary Anne Schwalbe and I have a few things in common:

•   We read very fast
•   If we can’t wait to get to the end of the book, we read the last chapter just so we can find out    the ending.
•   We have children who also love to read
•   We always are reading something.

There have been times, where I have thought I was too busy to read and I know regret that I just didn’t take the time to read more.  Holden is a great place to read for there is a bit more free time, great places to curl up and read (both indoors and out), and lots of people who also enjoy reading. 

Once again, easing into retirement …..