Stan Hitchcock-View From The Front Porch-May 1, 2013

I've just been sitting here listening...different birds sing at different times of the day. You have your morning symphony, a cascade of joyful noise that welcomes the new day. But, in the evening, as we sit out on our back deck to watch the sunset, and it's a completely different song. There is the mournful sound of the Dove, quietly calling to his mate...and other, gentle bird calls...and then as the sunset is just a dim color in the sky...the first call of an owl...and the special night birds start their song. After that dim glow is almost gone...the distant call of a coyote, as he starts his forage of the night.

The sounds of nature is an awesome listening experience...it calms you, for the evening rest, it charges our battery for the morning coffee on the porch, and then we go about our lives oblivious to the still sounding calls, songs and praises of all the creatures of God's making. But, for a little while, morning and evening, I join in the beauty around me, picking out favorites in a bird chorus, watching the hummingbirds come awake and feeding at Denise's feeder, hearing the faint sounds of the creek, chuckling to the Cumberland.

It is God's rich bounty, given to us as a gift, to enjoy and to protect, in any way we can, raising our children to also love the sounds and creatures of nature.

Today will bring a whole new set of challenges to many of us, in our lives, some will face health issues, others just trying to make a living in a hostile economy, others, like Denise and I, how to keep doing what it is that we do, with our business of music and television. The only answer, to whatever the challenge, as long as you have breath to breathe, and strength to stand, their is hope. We are a strong and resilient people, most of us born of ancestors that faced the Great Depression, Two World Wars, and several Wars that were not called Wars, but were, and who came out of it to build a family, or else you wouldn't be here. Can we do any less?

On the final chapter of my book, "At The Corner Of Music Row, And Memory Lane" I quote from a favorite passage of Isaiah 40:28-31, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, The Lord, The Creator of the ends of the Earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the week, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint."

So, I reckon that about says it. There is no strength, except that which is given by the Lord. Age is not the answer, even though, in todays marketplace, only the youth population is of any importance. No, the answer is ageless, it is to seek the Lord, and His Will for your life.

We can make it through, whatever comes, for we are not Alone. No, not ever.

So, I'll pick myself up out of this front porch chair, I will slip into my old Wranglers, I will head out into the World and fight the Dragons that I might come across. Haven't heard of many Dragon sightings in this part of Tennessee lately, but ya' just never know. Cause, as the young men, faint and grow weary, I'm just gonna ease on by and keep on 'a'truckin'. Shoot, it ain't no hill for a stepper. C'mon, let's go get 'em.  Stan