Sledding in the Bird Sanctuary

      A couple of times each winter, snow would blanket the Bird Sanctuary and

 sledders young and old would appear on the Glendale slopes of the park to shoot down

 the hills. Jerry Medlin remembers this very well and I was reminded of a far too familiar

 analogy as he told me about his memories.

      In the middle of the Glendale boundary still stands two stone stancions and steps

 leading to what used to be our walking/sledding trail Small trees filled the park area for

 about 600'long and 150' wide except the litle exempted trail. When snow fell sledders

 could not begin their adventure from the steps but had to move about 5'over, slide down

 the steep side into the trail, and continue the 200' slide down a 24" wide trail until the sled

 stopped 20-30'short of Ellerbe Creek.

      The entire slide was made up of bumps adn surprises over the 45 degree ride. Initially

one had to drop in a 60-70 degree drop to get started on the ride.This gave an adrenaline rush to start

the ride and one had to compensate for the quick change to 45 degrees or the ride could

 come to a quick halt. About halfway down the trail for a space of about 3' the 45 degree

 slope would level off producing a bump followed by another quick drop. Once the level

 point was reached either the bump or the resulting take off could dump you off the sled or

put you into a tree.Exact rsponses were demanded and from then on sled manipulation

resulted in a long, smooth ride.

       I look at Jerry and I see where life has treated him much the same way. Jerry has

been blessed with tremendous people skills and he never meets a stranger. He was raised

by a loving mother and father and had  a strong family network of sisters and cousins

especially. Jerry has had several adrenaline rushes and bumps in his life to which he has had

to respond quickly and correctly, just like all of us.

      Back in 1967 Jerry had a near death automobile experience which brought him to

a crossroads with his Lord and just like the Glendale drop in, he could not

overcompensate. Jerry married and had a couple of daughters, but an eventual divorce

left him alone and somewhat frustrated,but he had to comensate for this little dip also,

or face deeper bumps.Later Jerry moved back into the homeplace so he could help his

father care for his mother's Alzheimer's. This was yet another dip in his sled ride called life.

      When his father and mother passed within 4 months of each other in 2003, Jerry had

hit the leveled area of  his sled ride and was close to being run into the tree of sadness

and sudden loss. Jerry was able to compensate and pull out of this bump by the strength

of his many friends and family. The rest of Jerry's ride can now be swift and smooth as he

glides up to the creek bank.

       I can see where the Lord called loudly to Jerry in 1967 to draw him into God's service

 by using his God given talents. I can also see where the Lord has pulled Jerry through other

of life's dips and curves. I pray for Jerry weekly to see that the only way he can finish the ride

successfully is by total submission to the Lord's will. His tremendous memory and caring

people skills must be put to work for His work. I appreciate Jerry allowing me to share what

his life's story means to me and I pray for Jerry's obedience to the Lord's will for him.