My cousin and her hubby are spending some well-earned time down in Mexico in a little place called Yelapa, Jalisco. It’s on the west coast in a small bay that is part of a much larger bay, the Banderas Bay. On Google Maps, it looks like a relatively out-of-the-way location that might be perfect to get away for awhile. Although such trips aren’t for me (I’m good with a few days in Branson), I’m glad she’s able to make this trip and do the things they are doing there.
And that brings me to the real gist of this blog. I saw her posting on Facebook today of several photos she took of the area…of them, the sunset, etc. Looks like a great place to spend some time. But the really cool thing was that I posted a short reply to her, and in just a few minutes, she re-posted a reply to me. Now, you might not think much of this, but for me, this is a magical and wonderful thing. I know I’ve posted about the wonders of technology before, but this came to the forefront again today as I posted in my prior blog about raising chickens, hunting game for food, etc. I can scarcely imagine, even today, communicating instantly with someone laying on a beach hundreds of miles away in a foreign land. And to add to that, I’m communicating with someone by use of what we used to call a telephone that now goes by Android, I-Phone, or whatever other names have been attached to the lowly telephone over the past few months or years.
Carrying a dial tone around on one’s hip is so…1990’s anymore. Now we carry instant Internet, our calendars, photos, access to financial accounts, maps, and hundreds upon hundreds of other forms of communication or information in a device that measures about 2 ½ by 4 ½ by ½ inch. And this device works virtually anywhere in the world and connects us with virtually anyone else in the world who has a similar device (or a laptop, or heavens…a PC).
I’ve said it before. Back in the day, carrying a dial tone on one’s hip would have been the pinnacle of desire, and would have been equally impossible. Instead, we made do with public telephones, citizens band or business band radios, or first class mail. Now, many of us seldom use that dial tone. Instead, we message, tweet, or otherwise communicate in ways not even thought of just a few years ago. So it is. The world has shrunk exponentially in the last few years. And it’s a privilege for me to be witness to it. Although I’m a little concerned about what may be coming, it truly is an exciting time to be alive. Thanks be to God for His wonderful blessings!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Sooner, The Better
I had a conversation with our custodian here at the church this morning regarding our tossing a lot of VCR’s that have accumulated over the years. Many of them are some kind of teaching or seminar-type tapes, and some are children’s tapes. We put them out for the congregation to pick through, and several were taken. But there were a lot that were not, and we no longer have room to store them, so they go out the back door.
As I was loading up a box to take out to the back, Bob remarked about how people, especially older people, tend to save anything and everything. He talked of a time when they had to clean out the house of a family member. There was stuff in the attic. There was stuff in the garage. There was stuff on shelves. There was stuff everywhere; most of it was not serviceable, such as some umbrellas that were stored in an attic that had no fabric on them. They ended up throwing away just about everything that was there, save about 12 cubic feet of things that easily could fit just about anywhere.
As he was talking, I was recalling cleaning out the home place when Dad passed away some 26 years ago. The trash man brought a dumpster, but it quickly filled. He should have brought one of those 30 yard containers instead. There was stuff in the house. The attic. The cellar. The garage “storage” (don’t ask). There was stuff in the paper house (again, don’t ask). The paper house lean-to. The paper house attic. The paper house bustle. There was stuff in the shop. The shop attic. The shop lean-to. And of course there was stuff piled in piles outside. The iron pile. The wood pile. The brass/copper pile. The pipe pile (The pipe pile was in the shop lean-to). The wire pile. Etc. Etc. Etc. If we would have still had the chicken house and the barn, there would have been stuff in them (probably along with chickens and maybe a steer or heifer).
I’m surprised we didn’t have stuff in a tree house somewhere. There was stuff parked in the cedar tree row that lined the old rail right of way. There was stuff parked in the patch out back. There was stuff inside of stuff. And it all had to be gone through, because older folks tend to squirrel away c-notes and sawbucks in weird places. Of course, this all was a product of a family that had lived there since 1939. A family that was a product of the Great Depression and WWII. A family that always had enough, but never had an over-abundance. Where the bread-winner was all too familiar with a teetering “on the edge” of poverty for most of his child-rearing days. Where work was hard and reward was sometimes elusive. A family where Mom and Dad were acutely aware of God’s provision and blessings during those days. Where prayer was a staple just as much as cornmeal, fresh eggs from the chicken house, or garden green beans.
We live in a different era, it seems. Gone (mostly) are the chicken houses, the garden green beans, beets, peas, and potatoes, the days of pressure canning, of picking wild berries and fruit to help with nutritional needs, raising beef to butcher (or hunting game to fill hungry stomachs), and of raising broiler chickens to sell for a few extra dollars, or taking in sewing or ironing or selling eggs for 25 cents a dozen. Gone are the outdoor showers that used water heated naturally by the sun, the privies, and using phone books or catalogs for toilet paper.
No, I don’t want to go back to the “good old days”. But I do think we can bring some lessons forward into today’s world that just might ground us a little more into the ideas and notions that we aren’t the end-all and be-all of this universe. That we still, whether we know it and admit it or not, depend entirely on the God of the universe for our daily bread, health, and being. And the sooner we get on our knees and thank God for His care and love, the better.
As I was loading up a box to take out to the back, Bob remarked about how people, especially older people, tend to save anything and everything. He talked of a time when they had to clean out the house of a family member. There was stuff in the attic. There was stuff in the garage. There was stuff on shelves. There was stuff everywhere; most of it was not serviceable, such as some umbrellas that were stored in an attic that had no fabric on them. They ended up throwing away just about everything that was there, save about 12 cubic feet of things that easily could fit just about anywhere.
As he was talking, I was recalling cleaning out the home place when Dad passed away some 26 years ago. The trash man brought a dumpster, but it quickly filled. He should have brought one of those 30 yard containers instead. There was stuff in the house. The attic. The cellar. The garage “storage” (don’t ask). There was stuff in the paper house (again, don’t ask). The paper house lean-to. The paper house attic. The paper house bustle. There was stuff in the shop. The shop attic. The shop lean-to. And of course there was stuff piled in piles outside. The iron pile. The wood pile. The brass/copper pile. The pipe pile (The pipe pile was in the shop lean-to). The wire pile. Etc. Etc. Etc. If we would have still had the chicken house and the barn, there would have been stuff in them (probably along with chickens and maybe a steer or heifer).
I’m surprised we didn’t have stuff in a tree house somewhere. There was stuff parked in the cedar tree row that lined the old rail right of way. There was stuff parked in the patch out back. There was stuff inside of stuff. And it all had to be gone through, because older folks tend to squirrel away c-notes and sawbucks in weird places. Of course, this all was a product of a family that had lived there since 1939. A family that was a product of the Great Depression and WWII. A family that always had enough, but never had an over-abundance. Where the bread-winner was all too familiar with a teetering “on the edge” of poverty for most of his child-rearing days. Where work was hard and reward was sometimes elusive. A family where Mom and Dad were acutely aware of God’s provision and blessings during those days. Where prayer was a staple just as much as cornmeal, fresh eggs from the chicken house, or garden green beans.
We live in a different era, it seems. Gone (mostly) are the chicken houses, the garden green beans, beets, peas, and potatoes, the days of pressure canning, of picking wild berries and fruit to help with nutritional needs, raising beef to butcher (or hunting game to fill hungry stomachs), and of raising broiler chickens to sell for a few extra dollars, or taking in sewing or ironing or selling eggs for 25 cents a dozen. Gone are the outdoor showers that used water heated naturally by the sun, the privies, and using phone books or catalogs for toilet paper.
No, I don’t want to go back to the “good old days”. But I do think we can bring some lessons forward into today’s world that just might ground us a little more into the ideas and notions that we aren’t the end-all and be-all of this universe. That we still, whether we know it and admit it or not, depend entirely on the God of the universe for our daily bread, health, and being. And the sooner we get on our knees and thank God for His care and love, the better.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Pet Blessings
Tonight I want to write about a subject that has come up in our family recently. The topic is pets…dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, and even snakes. And the subject at hand is the question of what to do with pets when they create issues for the family. Let me explain further.
Sometimes, things happen in families that make pet ownership very difficult. Financial reversals, health issues (either for humans or pets), food costs, cleanliness of living areas, having a place to live, etc. all are real issues that can be made worse by having pets.
Financial reversals, job losses, etc. may make it very difficult to provide a pet with the food, shelter, and health care it needs to be healthy and happy. Humans can be allergic to pets or the pets themselves can have health issues that affect the well-being of humans. Pet food isn’t as cheap as it used to be, and if an animal needs a special diet due to a health issue, the costs skyrocket. Living areas can smell and have the products of having a pet indoors, even with the best housekeeping. And if one is renting, few landlords will allow pets in their homes, and those that do probably have houses that aren’t fit to live in in the first place.
But what to do if one has a pet that is part of the family. And pets certainly can be part of the family and good for the well-being of one or more family members. Pets are the one constant in a sometimes confusing and jumbled world. It isn’t easy to give up a pet.
Now, before you read what follows and berate me for being callous and uncaring, stop. You have not a clue how I felt when I made the decision to put down Dynamite instead of spend money we didn’t have on a surgery that might or might not work. You don’t know the angst, heartbreak, and tears shed (to say nothing of the nightmares), when we had to give up our beloved Susie. And you weren’t there when I accidently ran over Purry and found Tom run over out in the street, and I had to dig the hole myself, scoop them up with a shovel, and bury them.
There comes a time when, if the question is whether to provide decent food and shelter for the humans, or keep a pet, the humans are the correct answer. Always. Every time. Each time. Pets, even beloved family pets, play second fiddle to the needs and well-being of the humans every time. To do otherwise is to cheapen, I think, the human soul and spirit and elevate animals to the level of people, which is not only unbiblical in a religious sense, but goes against everything we know about the human family and human relationships.
I would like to think that Dynamite, had she been able to process the situation, would have gladly sacrificed herself for our family’s well-being. I’d like to think that Susie, had she been able to understand the importance of our working with abused and neglected teen girls, would have been first in line to volunteer to step out of the way.
I have had a pet (usually a dog) for most of my life, beginning before I can even remember. I don’t have one now and don’t plan to get one primarily because I don’t want to go through the separation and grief process yet again. It will be difficult enough for me when my sister’s dog has to go, as I’ve grown quite fond of Lydia the stray that we found out at our house some years ago.
We need to thank God for the time we were blessed with a pet, cherish the memories and count the blessings; then go on and live life as His beloved children. Easier said than done, but so necessary. May God bless all who lovingly care for a part of His creation, and bless those animals that are held in the hollow of His hand.
Sometimes, things happen in families that make pet ownership very difficult. Financial reversals, health issues (either for humans or pets), food costs, cleanliness of living areas, having a place to live, etc. all are real issues that can be made worse by having pets.
Financial reversals, job losses, etc. may make it very difficult to provide a pet with the food, shelter, and health care it needs to be healthy and happy. Humans can be allergic to pets or the pets themselves can have health issues that affect the well-being of humans. Pet food isn’t as cheap as it used to be, and if an animal needs a special diet due to a health issue, the costs skyrocket. Living areas can smell and have the products of having a pet indoors, even with the best housekeeping. And if one is renting, few landlords will allow pets in their homes, and those that do probably have houses that aren’t fit to live in in the first place.
But what to do if one has a pet that is part of the family. And pets certainly can be part of the family and good for the well-being of one or more family members. Pets are the one constant in a sometimes confusing and jumbled world. It isn’t easy to give up a pet.
Now, before you read what follows and berate me for being callous and uncaring, stop. You have not a clue how I felt when I made the decision to put down Dynamite instead of spend money we didn’t have on a surgery that might or might not work. You don’t know the angst, heartbreak, and tears shed (to say nothing of the nightmares), when we had to give up our beloved Susie. And you weren’t there when I accidently ran over Purry and found Tom run over out in the street, and I had to dig the hole myself, scoop them up with a shovel, and bury them.
There comes a time when, if the question is whether to provide decent food and shelter for the humans, or keep a pet, the humans are the correct answer. Always. Every time. Each time. Pets, even beloved family pets, play second fiddle to the needs and well-being of the humans every time. To do otherwise is to cheapen, I think, the human soul and spirit and elevate animals to the level of people, which is not only unbiblical in a religious sense, but goes against everything we know about the human family and human relationships.
I would like to think that Dynamite, had she been able to process the situation, would have gladly sacrificed herself for our family’s well-being. I’d like to think that Susie, had she been able to understand the importance of our working with abused and neglected teen girls, would have been first in line to volunteer to step out of the way.
I have had a pet (usually a dog) for most of my life, beginning before I can even remember. I don’t have one now and don’t plan to get one primarily because I don’t want to go through the separation and grief process yet again. It will be difficult enough for me when my sister’s dog has to go, as I’ve grown quite fond of Lydia the stray that we found out at our house some years ago.
We need to thank God for the time we were blessed with a pet, cherish the memories and count the blessings; then go on and live life as His beloved children. Easier said than done, but so necessary. May God bless all who lovingly care for a part of His creation, and bless those animals that are held in the hollow of His hand.
Monday, April 09, 2012
Short Supply
I have been reading recently about the lack of the ability of ordinary Americans to petition government for redress due to “security” concerns. The writers or speakers usually rue the death of the protest and petition and long for the days of old when people could more easily command a street for a march, a park for a rally, or the steps of a government building for a speech. By extension, these people also long for the 24 hour news spotlight that comes with this kind of protest.
I agree that the petitioning process has changed over the years. I also agree that security concerns are greater, and that necessarily means that those being “secured” are more insulated from ordinary society. However, I do not believe that these people cannot be reached with the messages of ordinary Americans. We may have to change our methods, but I think we can still have an impact.
I have spoken, in my career, face to face with Sen. Bob Dole when he was majority leader of the Senate, Sen. Jerry Moran when he represented the 1st District of Kansas (I had almost two hours with Jerry), and Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas. I have also had lunch with Dan Glickman when he represented the 4th district of Kansas (I and three others…it was a small group; we met in a local restaurant), have email contact with (complete with personal replies) and met for an hour one-on-one with my state Senator Dick Kelsey of Goddard, and have visited on a first-name basis with the late state Senator Stan Clark of Oakley and then state Rep. Ralph Ostmeyer from that area.
I had opportunity to visit extensively with and personally know a former state representative from the Oakley area (Virginia Beamer), and have email contact with state Sen. Vicki Schmidt, the current assistant Majority Leader, of Topeka. Years ago, I knew, visited with, and encouraged both Rep. John Long and Rep. Dick Alldritt from Harper County. Additionally, I have visited more than once the offices of Sen. Roberts, Sen. Moran, and Rep. Pompeo here in Wichita and have received a good reception and extensive time with those who have the ear of those politicians.
On a more local level, I’ve known several county commissioners, mayors, councilpersons, school board members, hospital trustees, etc. And I’ve served on a city council (Harper). I know what that is like.
I believe for the most part these people really listened and had interest in my opinions. Many times they have asked questions which were meant to elicit more specific responses, but those questions also indicated to me that they were engaged and interested. In most of these circumstances, I went to these meetings, not with innuendo, sound bytes, and unproven allegations, but with information, questions, and suggestions. My questions and suggestions were specific, and I also came armed with knowledge of any pending legislation that I could find that may have to do with the issue we were discussing. In short, I came prepared.
I get frustrated like everyone else. I sometimes think people don’t hear and don’t want to hear. But I know politics is a tough job. I know that just because someone doesn’t agree with me does NOT mean that they aren’t listening. And that’s all I can ask…that they listen to my viewpoint. I can’t ask or expect that they agree with me, because if everyone did that, it would be a total impossibility. And I must be aware that my opinion is only that…my opinion. Good and honest people that these folks represent have differing opinions that run the spectrum, and I must respect that.
It’s relatively easy to yell on a street corner. It’s not very difficult to picket. It’s easy to disrupt a meeting and cause a ruckus where a politician is speaking. It’s not hard to get press coverage. However, taking the time to cultivate a relationship, look at both sides of an issue, prepare a specific opinion/question/thought, and rationally and with respect explain one’s view takes time, work, intelligence, good will,and energy. Unfortunately, at least some of those things seem to be in short supply nowadays.
I agree that the petitioning process has changed over the years. I also agree that security concerns are greater, and that necessarily means that those being “secured” are more insulated from ordinary society. However, I do not believe that these people cannot be reached with the messages of ordinary Americans. We may have to change our methods, but I think we can still have an impact.
I have spoken, in my career, face to face with Sen. Bob Dole when he was majority leader of the Senate, Sen. Jerry Moran when he represented the 1st District of Kansas (I had almost two hours with Jerry), and Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas. I have also had lunch with Dan Glickman when he represented the 4th district of Kansas (I and three others…it was a small group; we met in a local restaurant), have email contact with (complete with personal replies) and met for an hour one-on-one with my state Senator Dick Kelsey of Goddard, and have visited on a first-name basis with the late state Senator Stan Clark of Oakley and then state Rep. Ralph Ostmeyer from that area.
I had opportunity to visit extensively with and personally know a former state representative from the Oakley area (Virginia Beamer), and have email contact with state Sen. Vicki Schmidt, the current assistant Majority Leader, of Topeka. Years ago, I knew, visited with, and encouraged both Rep. John Long and Rep. Dick Alldritt from Harper County. Additionally, I have visited more than once the offices of Sen. Roberts, Sen. Moran, and Rep. Pompeo here in Wichita and have received a good reception and extensive time with those who have the ear of those politicians.
On a more local level, I’ve known several county commissioners, mayors, councilpersons, school board members, hospital trustees, etc. And I’ve served on a city council (Harper). I know what that is like.
I believe for the most part these people really listened and had interest in my opinions. Many times they have asked questions which were meant to elicit more specific responses, but those questions also indicated to me that they were engaged and interested. In most of these circumstances, I went to these meetings, not with innuendo, sound bytes, and unproven allegations, but with information, questions, and suggestions. My questions and suggestions were specific, and I also came armed with knowledge of any pending legislation that I could find that may have to do with the issue we were discussing. In short, I came prepared.
I get frustrated like everyone else. I sometimes think people don’t hear and don’t want to hear. But I know politics is a tough job. I know that just because someone doesn’t agree with me does NOT mean that they aren’t listening. And that’s all I can ask…that they listen to my viewpoint. I can’t ask or expect that they agree with me, because if everyone did that, it would be a total impossibility. And I must be aware that my opinion is only that…my opinion. Good and honest people that these folks represent have differing opinions that run the spectrum, and I must respect that.
It’s relatively easy to yell on a street corner. It’s not very difficult to picket. It’s easy to disrupt a meeting and cause a ruckus where a politician is speaking. It’s not hard to get press coverage. However, taking the time to cultivate a relationship, look at both sides of an issue, prepare a specific opinion/question/thought, and rationally and with respect explain one’s view takes time, work, intelligence, good will,and energy. Unfortunately, at least some of those things seem to be in short supply nowadays.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Hurry Sundown
I was traveling down memory lane one day and thought of a song I heard some years ago called “Hurry Sundown” sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary. There was an Otto Preminger movie of about the same time by the same name, but those two really had nothing to do with each other. The flick was set in the late 1940’s in the South and was a rather forgettable thing, in my opinion. The song…was not.
I’ll not comment a lot on the lyrics. Nor do I know a lot about why the song was written or what any background “meaning” might be attached to the song. I just think it’s a compelling lyric and equally compelling tune sung by a very compelling three-voice trio that grabs and just won’t let go anytime soon.
I assume the song was written by one of the group, or perhaps all collaborated. I cannot find on the Internet any acknowledgement of the author(s) and composer(s) of the song. For my lack of giving proper credit below, I am sorry. I tried.
You can hear the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_YDQ4Yyqx4
My seed is sown now, my field is plowed;
My flesh is bone now, my back is bowed.
Refrain:
So hurry, sundown, be on your way,
And hurry me a sun-up from this beat-up sundown day.
Hurry down, sundown, be on your way;
Weave me tomorrow out of today.
Tomorrow’s breeze now, blows clear and loud;
I’m off my knees now, I’m standing proud.
(refrain)
My sorrow’s song, now, just must break through,
That brave new dawn, now, long overdue.
(refrain)
Hurry down, sundown, get thee be gone,
Get lost in the sunrise, of a new dawn.
Hurry down, sundown, take the old day,
Wrap it in new dreams, send it my way!
Send it my way!
Send it my way!
I’ll not comment a lot on the lyrics. Nor do I know a lot about why the song was written or what any background “meaning” might be attached to the song. I just think it’s a compelling lyric and equally compelling tune sung by a very compelling three-voice trio that grabs and just won’t let go anytime soon.
I assume the song was written by one of the group, or perhaps all collaborated. I cannot find on the Internet any acknowledgement of the author(s) and composer(s) of the song. For my lack of giving proper credit below, I am sorry. I tried.
You can hear the song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_YDQ4Yyqx4
My seed is sown now, my field is plowed;
My flesh is bone now, my back is bowed.
Refrain:
So hurry, sundown, be on your way,
And hurry me a sun-up from this beat-up sundown day.
Hurry down, sundown, be on your way;
Weave me tomorrow out of today.
Tomorrow’s breeze now, blows clear and loud;
I’m off my knees now, I’m standing proud.
(refrain)
My sorrow’s song, now, just must break through,
That brave new dawn, now, long overdue.
(refrain)
Hurry down, sundown, get thee be gone,
Get lost in the sunrise, of a new dawn.
Hurry down, sundown, take the old day,
Wrap it in new dreams, send it my way!
Send it my way!
Send it my way!
Thursday, April 05, 2012
The Discombobulation Fairy
Some nights, it just doesn’t pay to get into bed. You may well know those days…nights when you can’t get to sleep right away. Nights when you sleep for maybe a couple of hours and spend the rest of the night turning from one side to another. Nights when everything seems to hurt no matter how you lay. Nights when the pillow feels like Jacob’s rock.
So you get up at the really ungodly hour of 5am (ungodly at least for you), after running through your mind all the people who are up at that hour every day of the year to either go to work or start the day of their families.
Your eyes notice the lack of sleep, but don’t seem to want to close in any meaningful way. You wonder what the rest of the day will be like or even if you’ll make it the rest of the day without having to crash on the couch or in the recliner.
And to occupy your time in the early morning, since you don’t have a job to go to at 6am or a family to get up and around, you turn on the TV to the local news, look for the newspaper outside, and turn on the computer to send an email or two and blog about how you can’t sleep.
OK, by now I’m sure you know that this is what happened to me this morning. Normally I don’t blog at 6am. Normally I don’t even know when 6am passes by. But today is different. I just couldn’t get comfortable and couldn’t make my eyes close for any meaningful period of time.
As for crashing later today, we’ll see. I’ve done this before a few times and usually can make it through the day without a lot of hassle. Most of the time I’m struck with insomnia, however, it’s been in the middle of the night and I eventually can catch an hour or two toward the end of the night.
I’m not sure why our routines are upset sometimes by things such as this. I have to wonder if the “in my rut” fairy sometimes goes on vacation and the “discombobulation” fairy takes over for awhile. I dunno. But what I do know is that I’m up and at ‘em today a little sooner than normal. We’ll see how this goes.
So you get up at the really ungodly hour of 5am (ungodly at least for you), after running through your mind all the people who are up at that hour every day of the year to either go to work or start the day of their families.
Your eyes notice the lack of sleep, but don’t seem to want to close in any meaningful way. You wonder what the rest of the day will be like or even if you’ll make it the rest of the day without having to crash on the couch or in the recliner.
And to occupy your time in the early morning, since you don’t have a job to go to at 6am or a family to get up and around, you turn on the TV to the local news, look for the newspaper outside, and turn on the computer to send an email or two and blog about how you can’t sleep.
OK, by now I’m sure you know that this is what happened to me this morning. Normally I don’t blog at 6am. Normally I don’t even know when 6am passes by. But today is different. I just couldn’t get comfortable and couldn’t make my eyes close for any meaningful period of time.
As for crashing later today, we’ll see. I’ve done this before a few times and usually can make it through the day without a lot of hassle. Most of the time I’m struck with insomnia, however, it’s been in the middle of the night and I eventually can catch an hour or two toward the end of the night.
I’m not sure why our routines are upset sometimes by things such as this. I have to wonder if the “in my rut” fairy sometimes goes on vacation and the “discombobulation” fairy takes over for awhile. I dunno. But what I do know is that I’m up and at ‘em today a little sooner than normal. We’ll see how this goes.
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