The Early Years

I remember in my early years we moved often. I can remember five different places we lived. We would move from the country to the city and from the city to the country. Three incidents from those early years I remember. One, my mother by accident stabbed me in one of my eyes with a knife. She was trying to cut something wrapped tight around one of my fingers and the knife slipped and came up straight into my eye. I remember wearing a patch over my eye playing in the neighborhood. Second incident, I almost drowned. We were living near downtown and the White River flows through the city. I and another neighbor boy were down at the river where a fast flowing stream of sewage water emptied into the river. I fell in to the fast flowing stream of sewage water emptying into the river. When I fell instinctively I grabbed hold of some vegetation on the bank. The vegetation held long enough for my friend to grab hold of my arms and pull me out. I went home soaking wet from head to toe. Mom said “what happened”. I said, “I fell into a mud puddle”. This was in the summer and mom said “we have not had rain for awhile.” I said, “Oh, this is a big mud puddle that is there all the time.” A few days later the neighbor boy’s mother told my mother what had happened. My parents were so scared I did not get punished for being down at the river, I remember my father asking me to take him to the river and show him the place where I fell in. Down through my life I have believed a miracle form God saved my life at the river. Third incident, lightning struck our house. One late afternoon a storm came up and struck the back of our home and went all way through the attic and came out in the front room. I was terrified and to this day still battle the fear of lightning.

My childhood was sheltered and protected. I never heard a curse word come out of my parent’s mouth. I never knew what it was to see a pack of cigarettes lying on the kitchen table, or a six pack of beer in the refrigerator. I did know what it was to have the Bible read and prayer made in our home on a regular basis. I did know what it was to attend church religiously every time the church doors were open. I did know what it was to hear preachers warn of hell and point one toward heaven. Growing up in the days when Rock 'n Roll music was getting its start, I never knew what it was to hear it in our home, but I did know what is was to hear Amazing Grace and When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” –Proverbs 22:6 NIV

My Journey's Beginnings

My journey began June 11, 1946, at City Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana. I was the firstborn son of Charles Wesley Scruggs and Gertrude Beatrice DeBord Scruggs. My father was from Sumner County Tennessee, he had come to Indianapolis after being discharged from the Army following World War II looking for family members. My mother was from Ironton, Ohio, she had come to Indianapolis looking for work. My father and mother met through mutual friends. Three brothers and two sisters came after me and joined this journey.
My journey had a dramatic turning point early in my life. My mother found Christ when I was around five years of age. Not long after my mother found Christ, my father found Christ. At a young age, 6 or 7, I remember walking down the aisle of West Side Church of the Nazarene in Indianapolis and giving my life to Christ. My parents finding Christ and then me finding Christ as a young lad put my journey of life on to the right path.
It has been a wonderful, delightful, journey, walking with Christ down through the years. I have always been thankful my parents found Christ when I was young and led me to know Christ at a young age. Wow, that has been a blessing. My heart echoes what St. Paul says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection...........” -Philippians 3:10 NIV.

Why Blog?

Lately I have thought of starting writing a blog. In my mind questions arose. Why blog? If I do blog what would I title my blog? Would anybody read my blog? When people read my blog would it be worth reading?
The past year or so I have enjoyed and learned from reading others blogs, so maybe, just maybe, somebody can get some good from my blog. If no one else benefits from it, I think I will. I will learn better how to write my thoughts. Putting my thoughts, what I learn in life and my life experiences in writing will be a time for reflection and introspection for me. If I continue to blog I will leave to my family a journal of my thoughts from what I learn in life. In addition I will have a written record about my experiences in life from this point forward.
I will title my blog, “Journal of my Journey”.
For as long as I can remember I have seen life as a journey, a beginning and an end, a starting place and a destination, I am not standing still I am going somewhere. From the day of my birth to the day of my death life is a journey. Beginning today here is the blog of my journey.