Leaves, leaving, and lives

I am spending my first week of being jobless to spend it with Holly, Greg and the grandchildren. Being with the next two generations gives me pause to think of my life and what I will one day be leaving behind. This fall we took a trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico and spent many hours hiking in the mountains there. One day we hiked along a beautiful wooded trail and I decided to stop and just experience my surroundings. I sat beneath a towering oak tree that was in the process of loosing it's leaves (not something I get to experience much in Dallas). As I sat there in the pile of decaying leaves, a slight breeze passed overhead and I was showered with withered and dry oak leaves, twigs, and even acorns. Every creature that crawled or hopped or scurried through the leaves made so much noise in the dry leaves that I knew I was not alone. I reached over and picked up a handful of dead leaves and twigs and watched how easily they crumbled in my hand. Moving the leaves aside I looked at the ground underneath and I saw such rich humus soil formed by the decay and I wished I could take back a large load to mix into the hard clay packed soil of my yard in Dallas. I was reminded of the elementary school science lesson I learned about how the decay will return to soil and will nourish the tree so that in the spring and succeeding years the tree will have the nourishment it needs to keep growing. I like how Solomon summed it up in Ecclesiastes 3:15 "Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before." Not to sound negative or morbid, I am decaying as I grow older, but it's not the ground I am thinking of nourishing. I am thinking of what will be my legacy to these children and those who are yet to be born. If anything, I want them to see that their mother and grandmother knew Jesus and heard His voice and followed Him. Let me be light to lead them to Him.
Speaking of children, we are very proud of all of our children, but this week we celebrate Bryce's new promotion at Time Warner. He's young to be in management, but he has worked hard and proven himself and his employers have recognized his gifts. Phillip has also continued to excel in his school work at Southwestern, but he has to keep his nose to the grindstone getting all the work done. Greg loves his new job and is slowly forming his team around him and making the job description come to life. The girls are all doing well. I have to admit after spending these few days with Holly, I honestly don't know how she does it--only by the grace of God.
Keegan is busy working on his presentations for Quest which will begin in two weeks. It's always a lot of work to get it ready and this time the group is even larger. There wil be many returning to continue learning and their enthusiasm about the conference has encouraged others to to want to be a part. Keegan has had to put his doctoral paper on hold until after Quest, but he intends to focus on it once again in May.
Since I am returning to full time ministry Keegan and I will be experiencing God's grace in new ways. Our prayer these days is based on Isaiah 30:21, "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'". Please pray with us that we hear His voice in this new endeavor.