TGIF

Friday afternoon, the Friday before a holiday weekend. It’s been a long day….a long week, in fact, or maybe just a string of long days. How does the expression go? The weeks are short but the days are long. Indeed.

Today was kind of quiet, though, so I got a lot of editing done and caught up on emails and phone calls. But it was a little lonely, too. Executive editor Rick Hamlin, who was with his family in California at his father’s memorial service, has been gone all week. Our prayers are with him and we’ll all be happy to get him back. Amy Wong, a very small person physically who more than makes up for it with her exuberance and energy, took a vacation day. Things always feel a little too quiet without Amy. Audrey Razgaitis, our creative director, was off visiting a prospective college with her son and husband (I remember doing that). And our copy chief, Keren Baltzer, worked from home (and got a little extra time with her new baby, I hope). I have to admit that I miss her coming into my office and saying, “I hate to bother you”—no she doesn’t—“but have you looked at the cover story yet?” Yes, Keren. I did that today.

So I was somewhat left to my own devices, which was nice. At lunch I slipped out to the gym and took a very tough cycling class, after which I told the instructor, “I forgot how much I hated your class.” She looked at little shocked until I assured her it was a compliment. I got back to the office only to find Bob and Tina, a couple from Seattle visiting New York for their 25th wedding anniversary, waiting in our lobby. They are longtime Guideposts, Daily Guideposts and Angels on Earth readers and just dropped by to say hello. So I pulled Angels editor-in-chief Colleen Hughes away from her lunch and we all had our pictures taken together. Sharon Azar, our administrative assistant and all-around wonderful person, showed Bob and Tina the magazine offices and then took them to meet Daily Guideposts editor, Andrew Attaway (another person who likes to ask me for stuff).

Now it’s getting late, though I can’t help but notice the sun stays up just a tiny bit longer these days (not technically correct: the earth is just tilted a little closer but who cares?), and it was nearly 70 in the city this afternoon. Julee is hungry and wants me to come home (Millie’s had her dinner but wants me to come home anyway). Still, I stay a little while to look out at this great city just a bit longer and think about the earth spinning and tilting, and all the people we love and miss and think of and run to. I imagine a great life force, moving the planet through space and time, making sense of chaos, and I think a little more about my week and am grateful.

P.S. Thank you for all the kind comments about the video promoting my new book, The Promise of Hope: How True Stories of Hope and Inspiration Saved My Life and Can Transform Yours.  Pre-order a copy of the book today.