Naked Man Moleskin

This was the (veritable) anniversary of my first post with F3 Naperville – back when the virtual option was called “Bad Boy Records” and met through Ring Central.  I have ever-vacillated on whether one ought to make much of anniversaries (other than weddings and birthdays).   I considered asking Sir-Mix-A-Lot to switch days so I could Q, the 4^th, but summarily dismissed the thought as trite or hokey (which worked out better, anyway, as he had a well-conceived Star Wars themed Q).

I try (and far too often fail) at my practice of reading, daily, a passage of Scripture with my family.  Recently, however, we have rededicated ourselves and are presently reading through Genesis.  In skipping over some of the genealogies and seemingly repetitive reiteration of the preceding events, one of my children inquired why they are even presented in the text.

I essayed to explain that God instructs His people (in both the old and the new covenant) to write their history upon their hearts – to reflect on and meditate on that which their antecedents endured and accomplished for the Lord, and to teach their children to do the same.  While by no means intimately familiar with Judaic practices, I understand that to this day, on certain holy days, Jews read the histories and acts of their forebears—the patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets—in their synagogues, memorizing prolix tracts of scripture so that they do not forget their history.

Drawing a practical parallel to our own traditions, we discussed national and religious holidays.  We observe Easter as an holy day recognizing of Our Savior’s sacrifice – or more accurately what was accomplished, or, in His words, “finished” through the Cross.  Similarly, we celebrate Independence Day as a way of reminding ourselves of our nation’s founding and to refocus on those principles that enshrined America as the “City on a Hill”.

It struck me then that my first (and subsequent) anniversary with F3 Naperville is a major milestone worthy to be publicly acknowledged and honored (as it is also humbling).  I am ever-grateful to my friend in F3 Cape Fear for the introduction to the Nation and for, after a brief hesitation, clicking the Ring Central link on the Google doc connecting me to a region I incorrectly pronounced for months.

So, why do I celebrate Easter, Christmas, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, or my family’s respective birthdays?  To remember and be grateful for what has transpired until that time, acknowledging those who were paramount in our progression (spiritually, physically, emotionally, etc.) over the years, and to pray and offer well wishes on more such occasions to come.

Simply stated, what happened in the past matters!  It grounds our present with the perspective of how and why we, collectively and individually, arrived in this precise moment of our lives.  Perhaps, even more importantly, it offers us direction and guidance on how to proceed prospectively, to ensure that future “me” that we meet on the next anniversary is a better version of the “me” we are today.

Honor the past!  Thank you to the men of F3 Naperville who had been a part of my own personal, physical and mental growth over the past year!