Keeping the Flame Burning

Being a believer isn't always easy, especially when you don't get much encouragement to do so.  It is a lonely road at times.  You wonder sometimes if you are going to make it or not.  I will admit that I have wondered that about myself many times.  I am determined to finish this race.

I remember an old song many years ago "Keep the Flame Burning" sung by Debby Boone and Phil Driscol.  It has always been an inspiration for me.

Here are some of the lyrics:

Lord, I find myself needing You
Like I never have before
In all of the darkness around me
Every day, my hunger's growing more

It's clear to me now, You are my only refuge
My port in the troubled sea
Help me to give my life completely to You
And make me only what You want me to be

Lord, just keep the flame burning in my heart
Light my way with the fire of Your spirit
Keep the flame burning in my heart
And let it spread to whoever comes near it
Lord, just keep the flame burning in my heart

Children, He knows what you're going through
He suffered more than you'll ever know
Well, He's drawing us closer and closer to Him
He'll be back soon
You've got to get ready to go

Well, there's no time for complacency
There's no room for compromise
Just walk straight and strong
'Cause it won't belong
'Til we see Him split the eastern skies

Lord, just keep the flame burning in our hearts
Light our way with the fire of Your spirit
Keep the flame burning in our hearts
And let it spread to whoever comes near it
Lord, just keep the flame burning in our hearts

Listen to the song here:  https://youtu.be/ZkJUzV6mCN4?si=wbG--F5fEkJEsCiy

Such a powerful song to express how it feels sometimes.  There are times I don't really know if anyone cares if I am a believer or think that I might be misguided in some way.  I can tell you that this is the only way I know to be.  To believe in God through his Son Jesus Christ.  It may seem silly to others but it has been my life for so many years.  To know me, you have to accept that is how I am.  I won't debate it with you and I won't force you to believe that same as I do.  I just live my life the best I can everyday.  I'm really not sure if I am even making much of an impact in anyone's life.  I'm not a preacher with a pulpit and I have no ministry other than to write.  I can only do what I feel like I should do.  I can't do God's part for Him.  

Most of all...I want to keep that flame burning.  The desire to keep going and to keep the faith.  When I was young I may have wanted to make a name for myself or find satisfaction with success in some type of ministry.  Today I want my life to be faithful to the God that I serve and to be content with my life today.  I don't seek the spotlight.  I simply want to make it.  Most of my years are behind me now so I want to keep the flame burning in my heart that was ignited many years ago and has kept me on this journey.

Remembering Greenland

There has been a lot of talk recently about our country taking over Greenland for whatever reason or political purpose. Greenland has a special part in my history. I lived there for one year from November 1983 to November 1984. I was stationed at - what was then known as - Thule Air Base. At the time it was northernmost U.S. military base in the world. It was located about 900 miles from the North Pole.

When I look back on it now, it is sad how I didn't appreciate the experience then as I do now. I was more concerned about counting down the days until I could leave. However, the experience of living there is one I will never forget.

Greenland is like no place I have ever been. It was a very unique place.

I initially had volunteered for the assignment in an agreement that I would be granted the base assignment of my choice after my one-year tour there.

I boarded a C-130 military plane at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey for my 13-hour flight. There were no windows or inflight movies. We were given a blanket and a "boxed lunch". When we arrived, it was mid-afternoon and total darkness. My sponsor boarded the aircraft, tossed me a parka and said, "Here, you will need this!" - and I did!

On my first night, the base experienced a Phase 3 blizzard which was the highest rated storm requiring everyone to remain in place. I looked out of the window of my room only seeing white as the wind whipped around our building. It was then I wondered again what decision I had made about being there and volunteering for the assignment. Fortunately, that first night was the last Phase 3 storm I had to experience during my time there.

My assignment at Thule was in the Military Post Office. I handled the mail and provided postal service to American military and civilians who worked there. I also worked with Danish and Greenlandics. The Danes called Americans "hestetyve" which translated from Danish meant "horse thieves" which was alleged due to our fascination with Westerns.

Yes, it was cold in Greenland. There were no trees or grass. Only snow/ice in the winter and mud and rocks during the spring/summer. There had been a constant joke people would say about Greenland that there was a woman behind every tree but there were just no trees.  There were, in fact, women assigned to the base but still no trees.

I didn't like the "dark season" which lasted until mid-April when it was dark every day. There was an excitement when we would see a slither of sunlight peak above the mountains. I preferred when it was 24 hours of sunlight during the spring/summer months when the temperature reached into the upper 30s or lower 40s. I did most of my off-base exploring during those months on my days off. I even walked across the frozen bay and climbed up on an iceberg which was trapped in the bay. Looking back on that now, it probably wasn't the smartest thing I did.

We played softball during the warmest months. Our field was a hard mud field with many rocks. Sliding was not allowed in fear of serious injury. A base hit could ricochet against the rocks and result in a home run. In one game it was so foggy that you couldn't see the outfielders. Our team lost in the championship game.

I'm sure things there are much different now. We didn't have the Internet then or cell phones. We were allowed two 15-minute "morale calls" per week. We had one Armed Forces Television channel which aired a variety of shows. We would see sports about two weeks after they were originally aired back in the states.

The highlight for most on the base was the arrival of the plane with people, mail and packages. The radio station on the base would announce the "Big Mac Attack" when the plane was 40 miles out. People would converge on the terminal. I would often drive our mail truck there to pick up the bags of mail and return to the post office to sort and put up the mail to impatient patrons waiting for something to hit their mailbox.

If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, I would tell me to enjoy the experience instead of counting the days to leave. As I look back on it now, I can appreciate more what I had experienced then.

It saddens me that there is a push to take over Greenland. Greenland doesn't belong to us or anyone else. It is a special place which should never be exploited.

Christmas in New York

Now that I have spent my first Christmas in New York, I can give you the scoop on what the reality is about Christmas in the city.

Let me begin by telling you that if you think a trip to New York for Christmas is going to be some dreamy, Hallmark experience it is not! Do NOT come to New York expecting this wonderful Christmas experience.

With us living here, we had the advantage of knowing when and how to get around and navigate the Christmas season. When you are a tourist visiting here, you have the pressure of doing everything you can in the limited amount of time you have here.  

Make no mistake, there are a LOT of people here during the holidays. These are not crowds but blobs.  It gets so condensed that you will find yourself unable to move at times. 

So what did we do on our first Christmas in New York?

• Attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade
• Visited the New York Gingerbread competition
• Walked through the Christmas market at Bryant Park
• Saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center
• Attended the performance of the Radio City Rockettes
• Viewed Christmas windows at Macy’s
• Walked 5th Avenue to see lights & displays
• Walked through the Christmas market in Times Square
• Walked through the Christmas market in Grand Central Terminal

Obviously we didn’t do everything we had hoped to do but these were the things at the top of our list.  Some things we don’t need to do every year.  

Also contrary to the movies, they don’t always have a “White Christmas” here.  In fact, we got snow here the day after Christmas.  

I enjoyed our first Christmas here and think we managed it well.  

If you want to visit New York during Christmas, here are some suggestions:

• Map out your transportation and learn the subways.
• See the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center early in the morning (5-6 am).  Do not attend the tree lighting.  It is a mess.
• Don’t spend your Christmas here.  Visit at the beginning of the Christmas season.  The Christmas markets are less crowded.
• Book any shows or experiences early and ahead of time.  Prices are insane if you wait until you get here.
• If you want to shop at FAO Schwartz Toy Store, be prepared to wait.  Lines wrap around the building.

I think many locals celebrate today with most of the Christmas tourists have departed.  I won’t say that Christmas in New York isn’t a good experience only that you have to manage your expectations.