I just woke up. My clock says 3:30 a.m. I feel the warmth of my electric blanket. It feels good. I’ve been asleep nearly 4 hours. Sleep is a mystery. It’s marvelous. The Bible says “He gives his beloved sleep” It recharges the human body and pirit. In the dim light I look around my room. Pictures of Carol’s and my four children smile at me from the wall. Next to them are pictures of their families. I feel thankful and in that instant say; “Thank You , God.” In This moment I feel joy and ectasy in just being alive for another day. I breathe deeply and feel the cool air coming down into the depths of my lungs. In my mind I form the words that come out of my mouth. “Life is wonderful. I’m awake to another year in space/time relationship.

The most significant feeling in my thoughts is that I am a christian. I’m not fully christian. I’m not a Muslim ,not a Buddhist, not an agnostic. I am a Christian. I was exposed to the Christian faith as a child. I confronted a decison at the age of l2 and was baptized. In my early twenties I reaffirmed that childhood decision.

In Junior College days I read the New Testament through and reaffirmed these carly decisons. I experenced Him; a mystical Presence. Analyzing my talents and gifts with my Pastor Dr. Frank Fagerburg and Dr. Gale Seaman at the Junior College I made a choice to go to the University of Redlands. Reaffirming the licensing that had taken place in the West Adams Baptist Church. I began to feel that I was called by Christ Jesus to be a minister. What effect my mother^s words had on me during a serious illness, when I was near death, I do not know. She had like Hanna of old dedicated me to the ministry. . It’s mysterous I really don’t know , but I prefer mystyery to inadequacy. I do know that I discerned one Sunday m ning when Dr. Fagerburg was speaking on matching your talents with God’s Call to ministry that I felt a Presence challenging me for ministry and I knew that The Christ -Way was to be my way. I had a strange feeling that the New Testament was to b my script for life. Goethe, the Philosopher once said “that the highest things in life cannot be expressed; they can only be felt.” From April l931 through these over 60 years I knew I was to be a pastor and I have never doubted it. I cast my life ith the American Baptist Churches, serving 5 churches amd 9 years ministering as Area Minister in Colorado and New Merxico to 40 churches. Now retired in SCalifornia I am richly blessed with enough money to live comfortably. Our Denomination has the best Retirement Fund for pastors.

I am still in the process of achieving my Christ-hood. As I read the Bible and sing the songs of the Christian faith, I realize that this is my life. I want to be a good-role model; A HAPPY HELPFUL OLD MAN who loves his Soulmate Carol and the delightful family we have produced. I’m now in a laboratory of “afternooners” who are experimenting with new skills, hobbies, friendships .

Browning had Rabbi Ben Ezra say: “Grow old along with me..The best is yet to be. The last of life for which the first was made. Our times are in His hands who said 'A whole I planned, Trust God be not afraid.'”

Caleb Elroy Shikles.