Of all the stuff I inherited from my dad, one of the most useful is the shit box, as he called it.
It’s my go-to resource whenever I’m fixing or building something. Over his lifetime, my dad added hundreds of screws, nuts, springs, odd pieces of metal and all kinds of other assorted junk to it. It’s amazing how often I find exactly the thing I need. I used it today.
But in looking around my garage, seeing all the stuff I’ve hung onto that harkens to earlier years… it occurred to me: I could really use a break from living in the past.
“I’ve been aware of the time passing by; they say the end–it’s the wink of an eye” wrote Jackson Browne. And unfortunately, I also tend to brood over years gone by rather than relishing the ones ahead. Looking in the rear view mirror rather than through the windshield.
But in doing so, I’m stealing the joy of the current times, today, now. I’ve paid my dues; college, 35 years in the Corporate world as an engineer; all that stuff behind me. Now…for as long as the Lord provides…comes the fun stuff: Traveling. Maybe grandkids. Volunteering. Lazy days of doing exactly what I want, when I want.
This week, I’ll try to close the door to the past. Not all the way; but enough to keep the beams from the setting sun from blinding me.
My little corner of the world 
I struggle with this myself. I think about how fun it was when my kids were little and needed me for every little thing. Now they are all grown. But now, I realize they still need me. Now, as a good listener and someone who has unconditional love for them.
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