HAVE YOU BEEN TESTED?

I was sitting in church this morning when it occurred to me that I have never been tested.

When I was nine years old my dog disappeared... just before we moved out of state. A few years later the dog we had was sold while I was at camp. My older brother moved 760 miles away from us when he was 16 and I was just 11. I broke my leg early in my sophomore football season, and my finger on my birthday during the next spring training. A friend died from an automobile accident while I was in high school.

I have never been tested.

I made it through Hell Week at Texas A&M. I made it through three knee surgeries and, eight months later, field training. Around that same time another friend died in an automobile accident. I got married, lost my Air Force contract, and my son almost died when he was born a few months later.

I have never been tested.

I left my job working for my dad's company, scared to death that it would reflect poorly on him. I took a job at one third the pay, my wife left me for God knows what, and I went through a horrible divorce. I lost my retirement and everything else I have ever worked for fighting for my children in court.

Yet, I have never been tested.

All four of my grandparents have died. When she was just nine years old my daughter told her mother she wanted to live with her. A judge ordered my children split apart and sent my daughter to live with her mother in another state. My son misses his sister dearly.

Still, my faith has never been tested.

My parents are still alive, as are both of my brothers. Although my daughter lives in another state, I see her as often as possible. My son is with me, and as a result of my marriage to a wonderful woman, he has two loving step-brothers. I am blessed to be where I am and with whom I spend my days. I thank God for this every day. And no matter what hardships I've endured in the past, I do not deserve to have all that I have and to be where I am in the world.

I have never been tested.

No doctor has informed me that part of my body is trying to kill me and must be removed.

I have never been tested.

My wife Benita is beginning a project to interview and photograph survivors of breast cancer.

They are being tested.

None of them deserves to be where they are in the world. While I find it easy to give thanks to God each and every day for what I have... could I do the same if I had what they have? No, I could not give thanks for it. But could I be sure that God was still there with me? Could I be sure that he still loved me? I've been through so much less in my life and wondered so much more.

Benita hopes that her project might help them, if only to give hope or comfort. I know Benita; her friendship will do that. Her sense of grace will bring warmth to a cold and lonely situation. I hope that her photographs can reveal the beauty that is still there in each of the women she reaches. And perhaps her faith can bring assurance that God is still there.

If you know anyone who might benefit from being a part of this project please contact Benita through her website:
http://www.asweetlifestudio.com/

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME!!!!

My wife, Benita, was informed today that two of her photographs have been selected to be included in a set of collector cards to benefit The Literacy Council and The Walker County Arts Alliance. The cards will go on sale at The Heritage Festival in Jasper, Alabama on October 17, 2009. I would include a copy of the photos but, alas, they are part of the fundraiser, so I can't reproduce them here. Do yourself a favor and take a look at her NEW website and some of her photography: http://asweetlifestudio.com/

Why are the congratulations for me, you ask? Because I had the wisdom to marry such a talented, intelligent, enchanting, sensual, and absolutely incredible woman. Kudos to me!

The Battle for Decatur

On Saturday we attended a reenactment of the Civil War Battle for Decatur. This was a commemoration of CSA Lieutenant General John B. Hood's 23,000-man Army of Tennessee's attempt to cross the Tennessee River near Decatur, Alabama. Union Brigadier General Robert S. Granger was able to force Hood west approximately 45 miles with a force of between 2,000 and 5,000 men... then he promptly burned Decatur to the ground. Everyone did a great job (Saturday, not in 1864) and my family and I are thankful that so many people are dedicated to preparing for and performing these reenactments so that we may - if only for an afternoon - imagine what our forefathers went through in the course of building this nation.

I took some video and photos of the event without planning to do anything with them, but ended up putting this together with a standard program on my computer.