Week 404

Positive Post Sunday, November 24, 2024…. Week 404.  As we approach Thanksgiving, I’ve taken an inventory of all that I am thankful for, and the list is long!  However, I can boil it down to 3 words, Faith, Family and Fitness.  Yes, the Triangle of Life.  I’m thankful God has blessed me with a foundation of faith, family and friends who I love deeply and a passion for physical, mental and most importantly, spiritual fitness.  I’m grateful to be alive, living a life filled with love and service to others. 

Speaking of love and service to others, now that I have had a few weeks to let it sink in, I want to share my glorious experience at our very first Bridge of Grace (Home – Bridge of Grace) event, “Sharing Art from the Heart.”  God was clearly present on November 8, 2024 at Touchmark Senior Community in Meridian, Idaho (Touchmark – 2024 Pricing, Photos, Reviews in Meridian, ID).  It was magical to see over 40 student artists from the Idaho Fine Arts Academy (https://www.facebook.com/idahofineartsacad) share their amazing art with many of the senior residents at Touchmark.

I am blessed beyond words to have been able to attend our first event in person and with my wife Michele, daughter Alison and grandkids Liam and Ani.  Jay McCall, it was an honor to see firsthand how we are fulfilling our mission: We are dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between youth and seniors through the transformative power of art, poetry and storytelling.  Through the grace of God, we have taken a big step toward achieving our vision: We strive to bring greater awareness to the need for companionship within the senior community and to address that need by creating intergenerational experiences that promote understanding, empathy and connection.

There were so many moments during the event that warmed my heart.  From greeting Jenny Valenzuela, Director of Visual Arts at the Academy, and the students when they stepped off the school bus carrying their artwork with great pride and anticipation, to helping them set up, to welcoming the seniors at Touchmark to the event with Jenny Mangus, Life Enrichment Director, and most gratifying, watching the students and seniors bond in a way only God could create.

There were countless exchanges between the students and seniors, both learning from each other.  The seniors were amazed by the skill and creativity of the students and the students were grateful to learn from the experience of the seniors.  I simply cannot explain in words the emotions, pride, goodwill, and energy I felt in the room during 2 of the most heavenly and humble hours of my life.  Perhaps the photos below will give you a glimpse of what I was so blessed to witness.  Each photo, just like each piece of art at the event, has a story behind it, often one of deep meaning.  I am so grateful our good Lord has given me the opportunity to experience so much love and admiration.

I can’t wait to see where our most gracious Lord takes us next and how He guides our ministry of service to the youth and seniors in our communities!

How do you enrich the lives of youth and seniors by building a Bridge of Grace to create meaningful connections among them?

Where do you see the grace of God at work in the youth and seniors within your family and community?