--- title: "Summertime: And the Livin' (Isn't) Easy" description: "Summertime: And the Livin' (Isn't) Easy" image: https://blog.unitedchurchhomes.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Tug-Boat-on-River.jpg --- [![Center for Abundant Aging](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/wp-content/uploads/uch-logo-200x84.png "Center for Abundant Aging")](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center) [Back to United Church Homes](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - [Educational Opportunities](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/) - [Overview](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/) - [Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/clinical-pastoral-education-cpe/) - [Quellhorst Endowment Fund](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/quellhorst-scholars/) - [High School Community Service Opportunities](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/high-school-community-service-opportunities/) - [Internships-Undergraduate and Graduate](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/internships-undergraduate-and-graduate/) - [Research Opportunities](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/research-opportunities/) - Engagement with Congregations - [Resources for Worship and Reflection](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/resources-for-worship-and-reflection/) - [Age-Friendly Congregations](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/age-friendly-congregations/) - [Church Resources](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/church-resources/) - [About the Center](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/about-the-center/) - [Overview](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/about-the-center/) - [Meet Rev. Beth Long-Higgins](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/meet-rev-beth-long-higgins/) - [Advisory Committee](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/advisory-committee/) - [Press Releases](https://www.abundantaging.org/category/press-releases/) - [Contact the Center](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/contact/) # Summertime: And the Livin' (Isn't) Easy By [Rev. Al Irby](https://blog.unitedchurchhomes.org/author/al-irby)  •  August 15, 2019 ![](https://blog.unitedchurchhomes.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Tug-Boat-on-River.jpg) I was born in West Virginia. As a young boy, I would lie in my bed at night and listen to the towboats blow their whistles as they entered the curve on the Ohio River at Huntington. The towboats actually pushed the barges. It was dangerous work  The barges were usually in groups of six across and eight long, stretching several hundred feet. Most tugs were driven by two 15,000-horsepower diesels.  A load coming down the river had very little control, so the diesels always had the right of way. The tug captains would signal each other when they started into the river’s curve. As I listened to them late at night, I could feel a mystique about them. I wondered: Where did the boats come from? Who were the captains? What were they carrying?  Then sleep would slowly overcome me, without me ever knowing the answers. Today, like those towboats, we live dangerous lives in an unknown world. Our family cookouts and other summer activities cannot change life’s headlong plunge into an uncertain future. One potentially filled with illness, accidents, job concerns and the challenges of aging. Even now, living in a senior community, I still cannot escape all the issues of life. So how did those towboat workers handle the dangers? They trusted their captain who knew those dangers and the treacherous currents and underwater hazards.  That captain who also knew what was on the *other* side of the river’s curve. While we can't see what's ahead, we can also choose to live under the guidance of our heavenly captain.  God continues to offer us many opportunities to be inspired and to continue learning and growing.  The church in all its weakness and wisdom has pastors, theologians and saints who walk among us. God leads us in his everlasting ways.  We often have our own encounters with the divine.  Only God knows what is on the other side of the curve. Let us go on, then, relaxed and enjoying life.  God remains in charge and continues to speak and guide us through life’s dangerous waters. Enjoy the remainder of these warm days! - - - - [RETURN TO BLOG](https://blog.unitedchurchhomes.org/) ## About the Author ### Rev. Al Irby Rev. Al Irby is a retired UCC pastor and a current resident at Pilgrim Manor Community in Michigan. [View all articles by Rev. Al Irby](https://blog.unitedchurchhomes.org/author/al-irby) [![Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/wp-content/uploads/UCH_RFPCAA_Horiz_4c-1-1.png "Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging")](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/the-center-for-abundant-aging/) #### Educational Opportunities - [Overview](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/) - [Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/clinical-pastoral-education-cpe/) - [Quellhorst Endowment Fund](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/quellhorst-scholars/) - [High School Community Service Opportunities](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/high-school-community-service-opportunities/) - [Internship-Undergraduate and Graduate](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/internships-undergraduate-and-graduate/) - [Research Opportunities](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/educational-opportunities/research-opportunities/) #### Engagement with Congregations - [Resources for Worship and Reflection](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/resources-for-worship-and-reflection/) - [Age-Friendly Congregations](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/age-friendly-congregations/) - [Church Resources](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/church-resources/) #### About the Center - [Overview](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/about-the-center/) - [Meet Rev. Beth Long-Higgins](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/meet-rev-beth-long-higgins/) - [Advisory Committee](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/parker-center/advisory-committee/) - [Press Releases](https://www.abundantaging.org/category/press-releases/) Standards of Conduct [United Church Homes, Inc. (UCH) complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate, exclude or treat people different because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, disability, genetic information or ancestry. Spanish: Chinese: German: Arabic: Pennsylvanian Dutch: Russian: French: Vietnamese: Korean: Italian: Japanese: Dutch: Ukrainian: Romanian: Albanian: Korean: Bengali: Polish: Tagalong.](https://www.unitedchurchhomes.org/wp-content/themes/uch-theme/assets/pdf/UCH-Discrimination-Policy.pdf) © 2026 United Church Homes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.