We are on our way back across the State of Michigan from our Director’s meeting at IBLP Headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. It was a beautiful weekend. The sun shines brightly on the snow. Lois is my driver this week. She’s a steady woman.
I had an urge to look on big water on the way home. We got off the highway and drove along the lake for a way. We traced the bluff overlooking the South Haven light. The beach was piled up with sand, snow and ice. The harbor was frozen and snow covered. The gray-blue water had a calming effect on my soul. We stopped for coffee and tea and a granola cookie. The lady in the coffee shop swore people had hazarded life, fortune and sacred honor to duplicate the recipe without a breath of success. Since I am in a ministry of hospitality I thought it my duty to sample an item so esteemed.
Friday evening we had dinner at Water’s Edge Restaurant with Mr. Gothard and the other directors. Saturday we enjoyed a daylong planning meeting. In the evening we returned for the banquet.
The whole weekend is built around a Valentine Banquet arranged and conducted by the young people who serve on staff at Headquarters. They transformed the Staff Center into a French Restaurant complete with valet parking, coat check, photos, live music, and a six-course meal. The decorations were elegant. There were candles on the tables and glass vases three feet high. The most beautiful thing in the room was the woman who was seated next to me. She has never been more beautiful and we have never been closer than we are today. She wore a simple black dress and a silver heart necklace. I love to watch her dark eyes sparkle.
As dessert was served it was my privilege to deliver the message for the evening. Lois and I felt blessed just to be asked to attend the weekend. To be asked to speak at such a gathering was a great honor for me. The group was warm and responsive.
