A year (several) like no other. Or maybe not.

Wow!

I’ve never seen anything like this!

Wait a minute.

Several years ago, my wonderful wife and partner, Tanya Gregory Potter, asked me to post what I’ve lived through and seen in my life. She asked this of me at the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

I was 3 when Pearl Harbor happened. Shortly after, my dad re-enlisted in the Navy. I remember rationing. The fear. Mom and I traveled coast to coast to follow his career. California, New York (tonsils taken out at Brooklyn Naval Hospital). Portland, Oregon, after Dad’s ship was hit by a suicide plane in the Pacific. Miami, where Dad was on a submarine chaser. Back to California.

I remember the day President Roosevelt died. I was a month away from turning 7.

The Atomic Bombs.

The Polio Epidemic. Swimming pools closed. The concern was it was in the water. Keep your social distance!

The Korean War.

The Vietnam War.

The Gulf War, Desert Storm.

I was on Radio in Dallas when President Kennedy was assassinated. I was also directing TV for PBS in Dallas at this time. Programming changed dramatically. Nothing like it. Until….

9/11.

On 9/11, Tanya was visiting her family in Alaska. I was going to the inauguration of a new President at our university. They still did the inauguration.

This was a scary time. But, it brought the country together. We had a common enemy. We were one with each other.

Hurricanes, Maria, Katrina, Wilma, Andrew, Rita. Tornadoes; Joplin, Missouri; Moore, Oklahoma; Woodward, Oklahoma (we moved there the following year).

Earthquakes, Tanya was in Los Angeles during one of the largest.

Coronavirus, CoVid-19 and it’s variants.

And now the war in Ukraine with questions, is this the start of WW 3?

Here’s the deal. Through it all, God is still on His throne. The Lord has not given up His authority.

We are still the sheep of His pasture.

He, the Lord, is our Shepherd.

And even in the valley of the shadow of death, I choose to fear no evil.

His rod and His staff provide me comfort.

In the book of Joshua, chapter one, Moses died. Joshua is told, …so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…. v.6.

Only be strong and very courageous….v.7.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. V. 9.

The chapter ends with Only be strong and courageous. V. 18.

Nearing my 84th year in May, I believe the best is yet to come. We will recover. God is still in charge.

Be strong and very courageous.