I knew it was somewhere around here.  I just couldn’t remember where.

In my defense, a LOT has happened since our honeymoon.  My twelve-month vicar (intern) year, my final year at the Seminary, at least six moves (two across the country – one westward and one eastward!) and six different homes, the birth of six children and one miscarriage, and 34 years of pastoral ministry.

I certainly remembered many of the wonderful things from that relaxing week following our wedding ceremony in my wife’s home church in Benton Harbor, Michigan.  I had booked a five-night stay in a cabin on an inland lake in north-central Michigan.  I remember being able to look out on the water from our cabin and thinking how very nice that was to be there with my new wife.  Additional memories included rowing the boat out on the lake and the two of us catching a few panfish, a campfire on the beach, watching the Detroit Pistons playoff games in a local bar (there was no TV in the cabin), and eating at a nearby Ponderosa Steakhouse several times.  (I enjoyed the steak; my new wife delighted in the all-you-can-eat ice cream bar.)

After our stay on the smaller lake, we drove West to Ludington and visited the very large Lake Michigan.  There we hiked miles down the sandy beach to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse, visited the Pere Marquette Shrine and the local marina, and walked through the local shops.  (I purchased a duck-handled letter opener that has been on my office desk ever since.)

In short, I could recollect many things from that special week, but I couldn’t remember where exactly our honeymoon cabin had been.

Since we now live in central Michigan, I suggested to my wife that we utilize her Labor Day off and revisit Ludington, where we had gone following our cabin stay 36 years ago.  During the course of that conversation, I mentioned that the cabin we had honeymooned at was also somewhere in this area; I just couldn’t remember where and I wish I did.  This led my wife to retrieve our wedding memory book that she had compiled all those years ago.

Here’s where things got extremely interesting.

It turns out that the cabin we rented was on Crooked Lake in Lake, Michigan (not the Great Lake, but the unincorporated township settled firmly on solid ground).  Lake happens to be about 15 miles from where we currently live.  (A number of members of one of the congregations I serve actually live in Lake.)  And that Ponderosa where we ate several meals?  That was in Clare – a mile away from our new home!  It also happens to be where we ate one of our first meals upon newly arriving in town a little over a year ago.

My wife and I marveled at how we had come full circle … and completely unbeknownst to us.  As we began our marriage in central Michigan – just the two of us, so we enter our later years of marriage in central Michigan – our children on their own and just the two of us again.  And now we’re not just visiting a lake, but living on one!  Every day I look out on the water and often reflect upon how nice it is to be here with my wife of 36 years.

How faithful and good is our God!  He loves us in the beginning; he loves us throughout our lives, and he’ll still be loving us and blessing at the end.  And because of his love expressed in Jesus and Jesus’ all-encompassing atonement, there is no “end” to his blessings!  Only an eternity to bask in his love in his very presence in heaven. 

‘“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you” (Isaiah 54:10)

It was an enjoyable Labor Day for my wife and me; a trip down memory lane.  We drove through Lake on the way to Ludington.  We walked the beach to the lighthouse again.  We bought a few new souvenirs.  And we reflected on how amazing God’s love is … ever present and always guiding.  Sometimes all the way back to where things started.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 136:selected
¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
² Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

²³ He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
²⁴ and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
²⁵ He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.