Pictures breathe life into us.

My daughter, who lives 1200 miles away, sent us a collage of 72 pictures she has taken over the past two months when we last saw her and our grandkids. Funny pics, serious pics, some taken when stress was high, a few posed ones. As is her style, these pictures were of real life. Glimpses into a family in transition.

New dreams. New visions.

New beginnings.

Family Road Trips

Rogers and Hammerstein, wrote a song for the 1955 musical “Oklahoma”, titled, “O What A Beautiful Morning”.

The only time I ever heard my dad sing was when he sang this song.

In the 60’s; on our once-a-year trip to his ancestral home in Ohio, each morning dad would break into this song. It was the one uncharacteristic silly thing he did. We would all groan when he did it. But I secretly loved it. 

“Oh, what a beautiful mornin'

Oh, what a beautiful day

I've got a beautiful feelin'

Everything's goin' my way”

Those trips back to Ohio from Arizona, were for a new beginning for my dad. Those trips lifted, from Dad’s mind, the burden of the pressures of life, running a business and managing a family with four boys - things to which we can all relate.

He experienced a freshness of life, a restart, a new beginning.

I do not have a single physical picture from those trips taken 6 decades ago. We seldom took photos, unlike my daughter does today.

But I have a treasure trove of meaningful mental pictures that I reflect on especially when I take to the open road. And yes, I sing that little ditty every morning on those trips – privately, in my head, as when I have tried to sing to my family…let's just say it didn't go so well.

New Every Morning

Lamentations 3:22-24 reads:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

Jeremiah, the prophet, wrote these words after reflecting on his sorrows about how difficult life had become for his Jewish brothers and sisters. Israel’s culture and country lay in ruins. Families were separated; the oppressors were winning.

But Jeremiah saw each day as a new beginning. A new opportunity to celebrate the Lord.

New Beginnings

I am encouraged by Jeremiah.

I am encouraged by my daughter and my dad.

God’s love and mercy give us a new beginning each time we pause and reflect on who he is and what he has done for us by sending Jesus to live with us and give us new life. Let us be encouraged by the Lord – the giver of new beginnings.

When Rick Burdett was a kid, he dreamed of being a professional football player. Now, he’s the Chief Operations Officer at Outreach Canada. Before joining OC in 2019, Rick served as an executive pastor in two churches over 22 years. If Rick had a free afternoon, you might find him fishing, kayaking, bike riding or napping. Rick is passionate about working with and supporting people who are sacrificially loving lost people into the kingdom of God. He loves listening to the stories of how God is using team members to bless our culture & world.