Time passes

What a strange thing time is. Whether you're counting billions of years or the eternal ages that follow after the blip that is our existence in this life. Last summer was supposed to be Pads swansong, with trips all over the country, including Ellen MacArthur. Now he's been a second time! In conversation about this year's sailing, Ally said that if he wants to go again he it would be different: he was something of an old hand, and Ellen MacArthur do another level of sailing for the more experienced crew. Of course that would be for next year. NEXT year...
This is so far into the future! But thinking about the future is something that challenges all of us in various ways, at different stages of life. Pads has been worrying that, if he lives, he won't be able to get a job or be much use because he's so far behind with his schooling. I just tried to reassure him that he's already more literate than many people, and that many jobs do not require an advanced academic education. Of far more consequence and comfort are verses I hung onto when I was his age:
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33