It seems all of my life I've been on a mission. When I was a child I was on a mission to be the best musician in the band. So I started out on the recorder as most youngsters do these days, and chose the flute to be my instrument. I held first chair for one day and ultimately ended up at nearly last chair. Although I still love to dust off my flute case, pull that shiny piece of metal out, put it together and blow across it to make a beautiful sound; I resolved myself that I would never be a James Galway. Spectacular is far too simple a word to describe his rendition of The Flight of the Bumblebees. I can just see all of those bumble bees flying around, landing on the flowers to collect the nectar when I listen to this piece ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDLI3wIHFQkAk&v=LI3wIHFQkAk ). And simple would be far to great a word to describe my rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (I'll spare you the Youtube link to my recording).

My next mission in life was to venture out into the world of sports and see what great athlete I could be. I must say I was much better in this arena. My claim to fame is making a triple play in softball and hitting a hole in one in golf when I was in my early 20's. I'll take credit for the triple play but must say that the hole in one was definitely a fluke if there ever was one. I was in my second year of playing the most humbling sport on the face of this planet when we approached a par three and got out of the cart. Now most people know that "real" golfers do not ride in carts but rather walk around with those silly pull carts. So that made my handicap even higher. As I walked up to the tee box with "driver" in hand I sized up my shot. Before raising my club into what would have been a beautiful back swing I stepped on my driver, putting a lovely scratch on the thing and nearly fell to the ground. But, with confidence, I regained my balance and swung at the little ball. It went straight as an arrow toward the little flag and disappeared to what I thought was the back of the green. After looking for my ball for what seemed like five minutes my husband said I should check the hole. Funny, "I said," but did and jumped and screamed like a kid when I saw it nestled inside. The gallery of one sitting on the patio of a condominium which overlooked the green, gave me a nice little clap and we drove to the clubhouse to collect my prize (a sleeve of balls). It was a far cry from a brand new car which I've seen golfers win on TV, but hey, I made a hole in one!!!

My next mission in life was to get a good job to help support my family since I had just gotten married. My misery job as I'll call it sent me home crying every day and begging my husband to let me quit. But he consoled me and told me it couldn't be that bad. My crying at home eventually showed up at the office but no one heard or saw as I was the one man show and there much of the day by myself. The day God showed up is the day that changed my work life forever. I had just gotten off the phone with a friend where I had held a previous job. She called to ask how I liked my new job. I unloaded on her and told her the truth and how miserable I was. We hung up the phone some time later and she called me back within 2 minutes to say that she didn't even have her hand off the receiver when her boss walked in the door and said, "You don't know anyone looking for a job do you?" Needless to say, that person was me and I went on to have a wonderful career and retired from that company 34 years later.

But, my underlying mission for much of my life has been to follow God although I can say that many times I have failed miserably in my attempt. He has never left me or forsaken me. I can look back over my life and see God's hands all over me in times of joy and in times of trouble. He has given me so much. He is the only reason I am here on this earth and I am so thankful that he did not leave me in the wilderness. He brought me out of the darkness and showed me the light, and set my feet upon the rock.

And so my mission in life is to honor God in all that I do. To share his good news throughout the world. And I Bow Down, and I worship you. I lift my hands and I worship you. My voice cries out just to worship you. Jesus I worship you.