Have you been bragging about me again, God?

 In the Book of Job, Job's friends secretly think that Job must have done something wrong to deserve all the calamities that fell on him so spectacularly and dramatically. They were unaware of the big picture.

Our calamities happen, I think, because our Creator brags on us. Mostly. There is also our stupidity. And arrogance.

In THE beginning, even before Genesis, God created a menagerie of Eternal, Invincible Beings. Angels.

We can guess that God gave them the basics. Who He was, is and will be. Infinite. All powerful. All knowing. Alpha and Omega. That means He knows the ending because... He's already there!

They were to be witnesses to what God was going to do. And they were going to assist Him in His greatest project... us!

God spoke, "Let there be light!" And light exploded into existence. Spectacular!! Yada, yada all the way to the Garden of Eden. Then He made us.

Wait a minute! Sir, do you realize how weak these creatures are? Here, I'll show you. And Lucifer went down to Eden, started a whispering campaign against God (Hath God said?) and just as he thought, Adam and Eve fell. Hard. And the calamities began!

So, why did God do this? To show a better way.

If you would be great in God's Kingdom, learn to be servant of all.

There is great beauty in weakness, such as a baby. Or a sunset.

When trials come, God says "My grace is sufficient for you."

I suspect God has been bragging about me. Satan appears to be after me.

My name is William Michael Dittmer Jr. My father had polio. William Michael Dittmer the 3rd died in infancy. William Michael Daly also died an infant.

My youngest daughter Wendelyn (my late wife wisely intervened when I wanted to name her Willimina Michelle) had a tragic car accident. She should have died. Her mother's prayers intervened.

My first helpmate and strong right arm died of cancer too young. My second wife has early onset severe Alzheimer's. I am caring for her, with an immense amount of help and Hospice, even though I am now disabled.

And yet I am smiling, partly because I suspect God is using me to help others.

God, are you bragging about me again? Thank you for using me to upset your opponent and reveal how powerful your grace is.

God's most powerful moment was when His Son Jesus was at His weakest, dying on the cross.

Running

RUNNING:
I am 71 years old. I like to run.
I use toe strike running to avoid pain.
So far, so good.
I am slow.
I run one direction, jogging, perhaps 600 feet, (???) then I turn around and push myself to run as fast as I can.
I am improving. As soon as I turn around, I push myself to move my legs faster, stride bigger, and bounce on my toes higher. As I get to my starting point, I push myself more. I go till my legs turn to jelly or I run out of of breath.
I run past my starting point, still at top speed, trying to find my exhaustion limit. It is encouraging to run at my utmost for a while and realize I am not yet exhausted. So I run a little farther both ways each day, trying to find my limit.
Because of that, I look forward to running each day.

Very Good! #meatheals #zerocarb #Carnivore

Today, I felt good. 
So I ran. Also good. 
I did not die. Very good!
#70yearoldrunner
#meatheals #zerocarb #Carnivore

Easily Distracted!

Ceaselessly pray! - Paul 
(Working on this. Extremely helpful to me, but a long ways to go! So easily distracted.. SQUIRREL!)

Spectacular Mistakes #rmdo #maddog

Spectacular mistakes humbles a proud, handsome, talented man - me, and blesses me with Grace. #rmdo

My brother, Ted, and me, on the right.

Extreme Night Owl

After a lifetime of shift work, I remain an extreme night owl married to another night owl. I look at it as a gift. I can't sleep until everyone else (in this case Mary) is asleep. 

This was very useful when baby-sitting, chaperoning youth groups, staying in high crime areas, or anticipating practical jokers. Walking up quietly behind someone who is hiding in my room and me scaring the Bejesus out of them are treasured college memories. On the downside, I did not well in classrooms. Fortunately, I was always a speed reader with a high retention rate. I also listened while I slept, which frustrated teachers who tried to sneak up on me or ask me a question. My late wife said I was snoring when the teacher tried to surprise me with a question. I woke up, recited the question, answered it, then went back to sleep.

With low carb, and no caffeine, I can go to sleep after Mary does, which is early in our book, 2 am. Lately, I've sleeping 3 to 5 hours, then supplementing it with 3 to 5 power naps of half an hour. Mary likes to lay down with me and sometimes will sleep maybe 9 or more hours per day, which seems to help her. She has advanced Alzheimer's.  

Noting the pre-industrial hunter gatherer sleep efficiency rate of 81 to 86%, I may actually be doing better than that, so I am happy with it. It helps that I am retired. I am also unsafe to socialize with in the morning and I like it that way. #maddog #alzheimers #AwesomeGod

A Good Hair Day

At 70 years old, a good hair day is when I look up and it's still there.
A few unruly hairs is a cowlick. A head full of unruly hairs is a fashion statement.

Reassuring #runforrestrun

Reassuring to have Mary cheer me from the balcony while I ran, knowing she'd call 911 if I collapsed. #70yearsold #runforrestrun

It Was 96 degrees. I am 70 years old.

It was 96 degrees. I am 70 years old.
I ran today. I ran faster and longer than I ever have before. I normally run till I am winded or my arms and legs feel like jelly.
But today I did not get winded, nor did my arms and legs turn to jelly.
I felt good when I started to run. I felt good while I ran. When I stopped, I was not winded or tired, and I felt good.
I felt so good that I looked forward to running again.
But not today.
For it was 96 degrees.. and I am 70 years old.