Hickey Theology

Life goes by so fast and there are things we want to do and places we want to see so we make a list, whether mentally or on a physical list. Maybe we have dreamed about doing something as wild as skydiving, white-water rafting or as simple as flying in a plane for the first time.

I am sure we all have that special place we would love to visit. Susan and I would love to take an Alaskan cruise, ride a gondola in Vience and see the castles of Scotland. There are those wish lists that broke my heart, you know them. They are the ones that for some are signaling that the end may be near and before that comes they want to experience something special or visit that very special place.

Susan and I have talked about the things we want to do together and the places we want to visit. The buck list we will attempt to complete we will do together and that brings me great joy, but I have a different bucket list that I am working on!

You see, I have been blessed throughout my life. For every bump, and valley in my life there has always been someone(s) who was there for me. There were moments in my life that overwhelmed me that threaten to drown me in sea of sadness and hopelessness, but there was always someone there to pull me out to safety, to life. My buck list is full of names not destinations

Where do I begin! The people, the saints that I needed to say THANK YOU to was very lengthy. I have been very fortunate to have been able reach out to all those in my past to not just say thank you but to let them know just what they did for me and the positive effect they had on my life’s journey.

There are some that I was unable to say thank you directly to them because they have passed on. Through the years I have sent up prayers of gratitude to those, who are no longer here, to say THANK YOU, good and faithful servants. It is through my sermons and the sharing of my life’s journey that I have made a point in telling their story and how much their gift meant to me.

It was very important that I to reached out to those who were special in my life but not only are there those I needed to THANK, there are those who I wronged, hurt or disappointed. I am glad to say that there are far less on this list than the other one, but it is just as important, or maybe more important. I wanted to be able to say I was sorry for any pain I may have caused them.

Even after all these years there is still a pain, a regret that I hurt someone. The one that haunts me still was my dear friend Brock Cayton. I said things as a 17-year-old that I was never able to take back before he passed. I asked God long ago to forgive me, and I know God has, I prayed every day that Brock had forgave me. I stood over his casket and wept for the friendship I had lost.

During this Thanksgiving season take time to reflect on all those whom God has put in your path, not just in the good times but all those who have been there when life’s issues have tried to bury you.

Please take the time to say thank you to those who are special to you and to even say you are sorry, to ask for forgiveness from those you may have hurt. Maybe you can make your own buck list!

Thanksgiving is a time for reconciliations, and in our reconciling, we can help others to heal and in doing so we can begin our healing. I know I would not be here today nor would I be the person that I am without my special angels, THANK YOU!

Until Next Time Grace and Peace