The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was a gifted educator -- raised by parents who assisted him in believing that dreams are possible, he proceeds through life, continually checking off those dreams as they are attained. At 39,he marries and has 3 kids, while teaching computer science at Carnegie Mellon. He appears to have loved this position, and the opportunities it afforded him to "help" students achieve their dreams and believe in themselves. Diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer in 2007, he faces the next months with courage and wit -attacking the disease with all that he has. This memoir was poignant because of Amy and Arlene, and my friend Lynne who battled the same disease for less than a year. Randy wrote this book in conjunction with his "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon, saying good-bye to over 400 people crowded into the small auditorium. He emphasized then that he did it to leave a legacy with his small kids of who he was and that he loved life; he wanted them to know him, but he also wanted to make sure they knew that he loved them. Many themes come through, but the most consistent is his encouragement to stay positive and enjoy the time that is given. He doesn't mention faith or heaven, and it makes me wonder that such a courageous, loving, and positive man could remain so in his situation without faith. The Last Lecture was given in April 2008. Randy Pausch died in August 2008.

Firstlights by Sue Monk Kidd

Short devotional thoughts, compiled from early writings in Guidepost, the author struck a chord in me. As I have been studying rest and contemplation, my desire to listen in silence has increased over the past year. Sue Monk's experiences validate what God has been teaching me on my journey. I didn't always agree with her theology, but her musings and illustrations were good and have caused me to think about looking for daily "moments" from God, that I can write about. Lord, give me those thoughts.

Unbroken by Laura Hilldenbrand

Difficult read. Story of Louie Zamperini, almost Olympian, who was drafted into the army for World War II. The main gist of the story was that he had an infectious joy for living and an indomitable spirit that never quit. He faced so many unimaginable sufferings as he not only went down with a plane and lived over 40 days on a raft in the middle of the Pacific with 2 others, but also endured all of the atrocities of Japanese POW camps. So intense, I was happy for the end; Loved that the author included all of the PTS that Louie was suffering and the amazing "healing" (alcoholism/ rages/ broken marriage/ chronic nightmares)that he experienced after giving his life to the Lord at a Billy Graham revival. Immediately, he never wanted another drink nor had another nightmare. How God bestows miracles in the most awful circumstances-- Praise Him.

February Snow

While enjoying a walk through our neighborhood in the umpteenth blizzard of the year, I looked up from my plodding and "safe" baby steps in the unplowed street --and saw God! As Psalm 29 reminded me in my reading that morning, "God sits ENTHRONED over the flood" (of snow!) just as He sits enthroned over the drought in CA or the ice in GA. God is in the mounds, the unrelenting winds of white, the pristine pureness, the clogged roads that impatient humans want to conquer. The activities that seemed important fade as we sit by the fire, we gaze out the window into the vast whiteness, we bake, we take slow walks going nowhere, and our hearts and souls rest from the ever frenetic pace that is our life. God is in the snow --He calls us to sit & listen, to reflect on our lives, to hear for the next steps that He is directing. Thankful.