JanBeek

This year, 2014, began with the promise of new beginnings – bright and full of cheer. This is the acrostic I wrote in January:

Just
Another
New Year?
Unmatched
Appreciation and
Respect Daily for
You, O Lord!
Make my
Integrity
Real
And
Contagious.
Lengthen
Every
Second!

Did you see that the acrostic poem read vertically says “January Miracles”? I was expecting all good things, of course, as I asked God to lengthen the seconds and let the minutes linger.

Then the endings began. First our good friend, David, died of emphysema. Actually, in retrospect, the endings started in 2013. My friend, Mary Lou, fell down the stairs of her home and died in November. Then Marcia slipped on the ice on her sidewalk and broke her hip. That ended our weekly Bible studies up the stairs in my sanctuary. Then our neighbor’s dad, Mik, slipped off a step stool… died two days later. I was reminded of my wonderful cousin, Bobby, who died after falling off a ladder two years ago. In the midst of my reminiscence, two friends from our church went to meet our Maker. This week a childhood friend – someone my age – died after fighting a ten year battle with Alzheimer’s. I had a long talk with his wife. Life is tenuous, my friends. Are you making the most of each day? Every minute?

ENDINGS

How steady
is your step stool?
How level
is your ladder?
How alright
are your arteries?
How much does that matter?

A step stool
is not very high.
A ladder
can be deadly.
Your arteries
can wipe you out.
It’s a life-threatening
medley!

Mik slipped
from a step stool.
He landed
on his head.
Just a day
or two later,
our friend, Mik,
was dead.

Bobby fell
off a ladder.
He landed
on his head.
Just a day
or two later,
my cousin,
Bobby, was dead.

Plaque in arteries,
Cholesterol in veins,
High blood pressure,
Heart pumps, but strains.

Careless smoking,
Nasty habit.
Lungs shut down.
No life remains.

Take care of yourself, my friend. You matter. Each day is a new beginning. Each day has its endings, too. Stretch the seconds. Lengthen every minute. Make the time count.