Here We Go Again!
January 5, 2017
It’s a new year and we’re still around to celebrate! Maybe we need to think about what our presence means. I am sure you have your own thoughts. I’m willing to share mine, right or wrong.
Being here to start another year means to me that my boss up above is not through with me here on earth yet. It also means another year of trying to the best of my ability to fulfill whatever assignments I am directed to perform in my service to God, Country and Family. It means another chance to get right what I didn’t get right last year. I hope that this year there will be less drama in our lives, greater stability, security, peace, good health and friendships with lots of love.
I often think about all of those who came before us and those who will come after us. This past year I spent countless hours trying to preserve some very old documents that I have been entrusted with. I am doing this in honor of those who came before me. I found the documents most interesting and think that someone might find them even more interesting after me. These sorts of thoughts cause me to reflect about what is truly important in life. For me, the things in life that really count are my faith, memories and love that I share. I think about all of the men and women who sacrificed for us to allow us to enjoy the things we take for granted in all aspects of our lives. I feel blessed and honored that by the grace of God, I am in good health and able to continue to push forward into the new year. I often say that “we’re in the business of touching lives and we just happen to work on airplanes.”
Almost daily I ask myself “Why in the world should I continue to write a blog and newsletter?” and “Why would anyone want to read what I think?” Then, routinely but out of the blue, someone (and normally someone who I consider much smarter and much more successful than I am) tells me that something I wrote was special to them. These comments motivate me to continue to share my poor grammar and strange thoughts. I have to admit that often I don’t fully understand what’s in my head, but often my thoughts are overpowered by what is in my heart and by my desire to serve.
I am sometimes referred to as “Mr. Positive” but I think that is a myth. I am super critical and a tough, callous and candid taskmaster, even toward myself. Recently someone made the statement to me, “I got your newsletter and things appear to be going fine.” The fact of the matter is that we all have challenges beyond what is seen, read or heard. My positive thoughts and words are part of the daily spiritual and motivational food that I must feed my own mind to offset my thoughts of doubt, weakness and failure.
Life is hard for everyone and there is no getting around it. I want to share with you below one of my favorite passages that I often read. It helps me keep all of the events and seasons of life in perspective. Like you, I am reporting for my 2017 assignments for the upcoming year and pray that I don’t mess up my mission! I am glad you are my comrade in life! May we all do a great job, regardless of the seasons we encounter in the new year. Remind yourself as I do, we are still around for a reason!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
1
To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
6
A time to get, and time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
Written by KING AEROSPACE Founder, Jerry Allan King-Echevarria.