THIS WAS WRITTEN AS THE FIRST ENTRY IN THIS BLOG SERIES BUT IT GOT HUNG UP IN THE EDITING LOOP.  I INCLUDE IT HERE FOR INTRODUCTORY PURPOSES.

It would be premature to say that I’ve been diagnosed with Leukemia.  Maybe by the end of the summer we’ll know for sure.  It feels extremely strange to even suggest that the J Dan Small I always knew (active, productive, energized) is now facing a very different season of life.  Mind you, I’ve always felt bad for folks diagnosed with CANCER I just never thought my name would be linked to it.

Needless to say, being laid up has given me more time for reflection than I’m used to.  I’m feeling in my bones (literally) how fragile life is.  And, with a wife, six children (some with spouses), and seven grandchildren, I feel like there are some things I’ve learned that I want to share with them.

Just a word about the Finally, then . . . title for my blog.  I don’t mean for it to sound ominous.  It’s somewhat tongue-in-cheek as I recall several places in the New Testament where the author invokes this “concluding statement” and then proceeds to write page after page.  The fact is, we don’t know (most of us) when FINALLY will happen to our earthsuit.  But, we don’t walk around with our head in the sand when symptoms appear suggesting major life-threatening conditions.  So, this blog may last a few weeks, months, or years -as the Lord wills!  Meanwhile, I’ll pass on some “concluding statements” you might find helpful as you run the race (or crawl the path).

Oh, and a word about HOME.  I like how C. S. Lewis put it: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”  I really like his use of the word DESIRE because I’m coming to believe that what we DESIRE is the most important thing about us!  In fact, I believe that this whole world exists because of a DESIRE the Creator had.

So, I hope you can find a few bread crumbs* in all my blogaciousness!

jdansmall