What Do You Think?

I was holding my third grandchild this evening at the hospital. Julia Rose Plank was born earlier today and looks, well, like all babies look when they’re first born. No wonder they have to put ID tags on them…you couldn’t tell them apart for love nor money in my books.
In any event, as I was holding her, she was working trying to burp up some gas. In the process, she spit up a little and worked with that as I cleaned. That doesn’t sound like much to write about, except that she knew somehow what to do to keep herself from inhaling what she spit up, and she also knew, somehow, that what was spit up was to come out rather than go back down.
I am amazed. These things are reflex actions, and are a part of the autonomic nervous system. They are “built in”, so to speak, and most everyone has a bunch of those from the time of birth. They govern everything from breathing to digestion to sweating and blood pressure.
Doesn’t matter. I am still amazed. The strict evolutionist will tell us that these reflexes were “selected” over a long period of time through trial and error. Those that had these lifesaving reflexes and used them lived…the others did not. Other reflexes that may have come about that were not of a life-saving or preserving function may well have been lost to no great detriment.
I don’t buy that. It just isn’t reasonable to think that over the millennia, a few individuals gradually developed these reflexes and populated the species as we have it today. Just who were the parents of these individuals? Those who did not have these reflexes? How did they manage to live to reproduce? And if they did live to reproduce, why did they need to develop the reflexes?
I don’t know all the answers, but I do know that there’s something wrong with that picture. Of course, people will say it isn’t that simple, but in essence, it is. And it’s either that explanation, I guess, or the explanation that there was an Intelligence that designed and planned all of this, then put it into practice.
What do you think?

Some of Both

I was going about my business this morning when I discovered that I was unknowingly humming a tune. I don't do that very often, but was today. I hummed it consciously for a couple of seconds and determined that it was the song “500 Miles” by Peter, Paul, and Mary.
I normally don't get songs stuck in my brain, but this one seemed to be lodged there rather firmly. I sat down, Googled the song, and played it on YouTube as performed in the early 1960's by the group. How quickly the years receded and I was again at home listening to my transistor radio tuned to KLEO (1480 in Wichita). A flood of songs came gushing through my consciousness as I recalled hit after hit performed by them in the decade of the British invasion, social upheaval, culture change, flower power, LSD, The Pill, and the War.
And as I listened to that haunting music as sung by Mary, I shed a tear...not for her passing from this life, but for the passing of an era. IPods, instant messaging, Droids, and Google can't hold a candle to that time and their music. Some things are timeless. Some are almost divine. Peter, Paul, and Mary may well be some of both.

Such a Place

This evening, after the meal at the church and before classes started, I went to the river bank and sat on a stone watching the river and the people passing by on the walking paths. For those who may not know, our church’s back lot backs up to the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita.
Before I even got there, I caught the whiff of nature in the delicate scent of spirea that had been planted along the river bank. I sat on a rock next to some bushes to take full advantage of that smell. They are a little later this year, and are just now opening. As I continued to sit for a couple of minutes, with the inevitable cup of coffee in hand, I noticed a robin singing in a tree, a couple of walkers greeting me, and the slow progression of water to the south as the river flowed toward the Gulf. The temperature was about 70 degrees, the wind was but a gentle breeze, and the sun was in just the right place to allow a tree to shade my eyes, yet feel its warmth.
It was one of those times that one could have wished could have lasted for a long, long time. I did manage to sit there for about 20 minutes as I drank my joe and soaked up the relative peace and quiet. Families passed by, some with toddlers; others with older kids. Couples walked by, and some folks were on a bicycle or were running on the path.
I wondered about the lives of a few of them…especially the kids. I also thought a bit about the class to come inside in a few minutes, and about the rest of my week. And I marveled that I was privileged to be in such a place at such a time as this.

"Give Me This Hill Country"

We heard a great sermon yesterday at RiverWalk. Now, I know that “great” and “sermon” don't often go into the same sentence, but we were reminded of something yesterday that I sorely needed to be reminded of (I know I'm ending this sentence in a preposition, but don't want to re-arrange it). The lesson isn't new. It's been taught many countless times. But the application can be entirely new depending on who hears it and what that person's need may be.
The lesson was taken from the Old Testament book of Joshua, in the part which told of Caleb's request to Joshua to give him the part of the promised land where the Anakim (the giant people) lived. At age 85, according to the account, Caleb said he was still as vigorous now as he was 45 years ago, and could, with God's help, conquer the land.
The pertinent quote for me was when Caleb said to Joshua, “Now, give me this hill country...” At age 85, after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, burying his peers, Caleb could have been satisfied to have just coasted into the promised land and occupied a place which had already been subdued by Joshua and his army. But no, Caleb was ready for more. Caleb was ready to not only claim the promise of God as given through Moses, but Caleb was nowhere close to retirement...nowhere close to giving up and coasting through the remainder of life. He was ready to do battle with the very people who instilled fear and trembling into Israel some 40 years before.
I don't have, as far as I know, a promise from God that He's going to give me any land that I'll have to conquer. I do, however have many other promises of God that are every bit as important as any promised land I might have been given. I also have a tendency to want to just coast through these next several years and just “get by”.
“If I can just make it to Social Security. If I can just make it to Medicare. If I can just get to the point where I don't have to punch an 8 to 5 clock every day.” If, if, if. This is no way to live, and is no way for a Christian to show others the abundant life promised by the Messiah Himself. What kind of an example am I setting for myself and for others?
“I remained loyal to the Lord my God.”
“The Lord has preserved my life just as He promised.”
“Give me this hill country.”
“I'm just as strong and vigorous now as I was years ago.”
“I can go about my daily activities with the same energy now as I had then.”
“Assuming the Lord is with me, I will conquer...”

AMEN

Wondering Again

More things I've wondered about recently.

Why does it seem that people are increasingly rude on the telephone?

And while we're speaking of telephones (an endangered instrument to be sure), why do people call where I work and say, "Someone called me from this number," and want to be connected to whoever it was that called. First, we have one hundred telephones attached to our work number; many are resident phones, and some are staff phones. Second, I'm not a mind reader. How would I know who called this person, especially when the person doesn't tell me who he/she is, or what his/her connection might be with my employer.

What ever happend to "two-toned" vehicles? Used to be that was the cat's meow (if I could use an ancient term of endearment). Now, unless a vehicle has been in a wreck, or is over 30 years old, it's all one color.

How many people under the age of 40 know how to can vegetables and fruit? Make jelly? Plant a garden? Should they know? I don't know how to churn butter...do I need to know? Can I even get the raw ingredients I would need to churn it?

At work this week, I got my March budget of expenses versus budget numbers two days ago. What good does that do me now?

Why do some families feel the need to be overly-assertive when their loved one comes to our nursing home? That just gets everyone off on the wrong foot.

I wonder when I'll get my first I-Pod-type device. I don't think anytime real soon.

How can one person possibly deal with 4,000 texts a month? Don't they have a life?

The "hurry and wait" syndrome is alive and well in Wichita. Hurry to the next light and wait for it to turn.

The herd mentality is also alive and well. Hurry to the next light in a herd and all wait for it to turn so it (the herd) can hurry to yet the next one.

Is Half & Half really 50% cream? I don't think so. And how can there be "fat-free" half and half?

Why do I wonder about things such as this? Don't I have anything better to do?

The Bluebird of Happiness (or not)

I’m listening to one of the old Lawrence Welk shows on PBS right now (yeah, I know, but I like the music and remember watching these things years ago at home). One of the songs sung by Joe Feeney (who passed away a couple of years ago) just now mentioned the “bluebird of happiness”.
OK, what is that? Just what is the bluebird of happiness? Has anyone seen one? Does anyone have one? Where do you find such a critter? And what does he (she-it) do for you once you’ve found him (her-it)?
According to the fountain of all information (the Internet), you can purchase bluebirds of happiness made of glass, ceramic, or other materials. The web also talks of the mythology of the bluebird of happiness going back into ancient cultures. The bluebird, it seems, has long been a symbol of happiness, peace, and warmth. More than one song has been written about such a bird. And there are even videos on YouTube.
I’m reminded of the song by Little Jimmy Dickens that goes, “May the bird of paradise fly up your nose,” in the chorus. I have to wonder if the bluebird of happiness and the bird of paradise are one and the same. Maybe the two birds are related in some way. Maybe one is the evil twin of the other, since one bestows happiness and the other clogs up your nostrils.
Where indeed does happiness come from? How is it generated? Where is it stored? What brings it out into the open in a person’s life? What good is it? How can a person use it to his or her betterment? How is it measured? What does it look like?
You may think the answers to these questions are obvious “duh” answers, but think again. When was the last time you heard of someone who took his own life described as someone who was happy or was always smiling, or always a friend, etc? How often do we equate laughter with happiness? You and I both know those aren’t the same thing.
What about contentment? Does it have anything to do with happiness? And what about a person’s world-view? Does believing in God, for example, generally make one happier than one who does not hold such a belief? Can one be a God-believer (I’ll just say a Christian), and not be happy? Why or why not?
This happiness thing…it’s a real conundrum for me. Could it be that I’m not happy? Am I supposed to be happy? Do I deserve happiness? Why or why not?
Can someone explain this to me?

No Slump

I’m old enough to remember watching Yogi Berra, the legendary New York Yankees catcher (and later a manager and/or coach for the Yankees, the Mets, and the Astros) on television. He would be on the “Game of the Week”, with commentators Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese (themselves legends in baseball and a hoot to listen to as they commented on the game).
Yogi had an extraordinary career, and is widely regarded as the best catcher to ever play the game. One of his attributes, however, had nothing to do with baseball. He had a great knack for creating memorable quotes which, unless one thinks about what is really said, seem to make sense.
I ran across a web page with quotes attributed to Mr. Berra. Herewith are some of the ones I like best.

“I wish I had an answer to that because I’m tired of answering that question.”
“I didn’t really say everything I said.” (This quote is regularly expropriated by politicians of various stripes; however, they say it in words that aren’t quite as obvious as this.)
“You should always go to other people’s funerals; otherwise, they won’t come to yours.”
“I made a wrong mistake.” (If politicians would only use this once in awhile…)
“Nobody goes there anymore; it’s too crowded.”
“You can observe a lot just by watchin’”.
“You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.”
“I couldn’t tell if the streaker was a man or a woman because it had a bag on it’s head.”
“This is like déjà vu all over again.”
“Slump? I ain’t in no slump. I just ain’t hitting.”

I’m sure you can look his quotes up on your own, and there are some you may enjoy better than mine. There are, however, some gems of wisdom in the mis-mesh of words he uses.
You can indeed observe a lot by watching. Sometimes it’s better to shut one’s mouth and look around and listen to what’s going on. Someone once said, “You can’t learn anything while you’re talking.” Some folks I know are first class examples of that.
The slump quote is also a gem. Refusing to carry oneself to the depths of despair by beating oneself up with words is a great attribute to have. No slump…I’m just not hitting right now.
Déjà vu.

The Masters

I’m watching the Masters tournament today. I’m not much of a golfer, and golf on TV is not my idea of the most entertaining thing to do. However, we recently purchased an HDTV, and of course Tiger. Woods is playing his first tournament since coming back. It’s been somewhat interesting.
First, in high definition, one can have a much greater appreciation for the environment of a golf course. You can see blades of grass, veins in leaves, sticks on the ground, and stubble on chins. Oh, wait. Stubble isn’t really environmental, is it. In any event, the clarity of the picture is rather amazing and an enjoyment to see.
Second, I wish Mr. Woods well. I am not a fan of crude jokes or other sanctimonious drivel aimed at him or anyone else. We all are abject failures in life. Some of us have our failures displayed for all the world to see; a lot of us manage to keep them relatively quiet and out of the news. It doesn’t matter to me that he does not profess Christianity, or that he may or may not be sincere in his “recovery”. Nor does it matter to me if he wins (which at this point seems unlikely), or if he just places well. I wish him to do well.
Third, to keep all of this in perspective, at least for me, the microphones regularly pick up the sounds of birds nearby in the trees, calling out their songs. That may not mean much to you, and you may think this a stretch, but that tells me that regardless of what is going on at that place from a human perspective, there is another world there; one that has been there for eons past, and one that will remain (assuming the creation itself remains) for years to come. Human accomplishments, while noteworthy, cannot hold a candle to the inexorable march of time and the work of the Creator in upholding His handiwork day after day, year after year, eon after eon.

At Peace

As I slow down this evening, ever mindful of the inexorable march of time toward Monday, I am in a rather contemplative mood right now. I just came in from sitting on the back porch, listening to the birds, watching folks walk the path in the park behind the house, and absorbing the cool breeze.
We went to sunrise services this morning. Our church is on the banks of the Arkansas River downtown, and we had services down on the bank, along with some ducks, runners and walkers, traffic, some homeless under the 1st Street bridge, geese, and a train or two. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a sunrise service quite like that…not the service itself, but the extras that were part of the environment. Prior sunrise services since we’ve been here have been held inside due to bad weather, so this is the first time in several years we’ve been able to be out.
We then dismissed for a continental breakfast, which was actually very complete, and the regular services inside, sans Sunday School classes. I always go away from that place refreshed and happy that I’m part of that family. Yes, I know we as Christians are to do our work outside the walls of the church building. But it’s necessary also to meet together to refresh and renew after a week spent outside those building walls, living, loving, and longing.
We had lunch with both of our sons and the grandkids; then grandma went with her sis and the others to help our younger pack, as they’re moving in a few weeks to a new home they’ve purchased. Since my daughter in-law is 8 months pregnant, it’s going to be difficult for her, so we’re helping more than we might otherwise.
I stayed here and prepared for a birthday shindig tomorrow evening for my niece. There promises to be quite a few here, and I cut the grass, cleaned up, threw away trash, and generally got things ready. It should be fun tomorrow.
Now, it seems that the evening should last forever. It’s so nice out, I’m at peace, and all is right, it seems, with the world. I know that isn’t really true. All I have to do is look at the news or think about going to work at the home. But for now, I’ll enjoy the minutes we have left in this evening and long for a time when this kind of peace is not fleeting, but forever.

Kid Experiences

The wife and I were talking a day or so ago. We were listening to NPR talk about a retirement community where children could not live, and could only visit for three weeks or less. She mentioned that she enjoyed having children around our neighborhood. I do as well. Although our immediate neighbors are retired, there are kids a couple of doors down, and teens across the street. There are children on down the block and in several homes between ours and where we turn on to Maize Road.
I enjoy seeing them, and I especially enjoy the ones just down the street. Their home, like ours, backs up to a park and the kids there have taken over a small part of the area right behind their yard. There’s an old tree back there that’s easy to climb, and it’s a perfect place for kids to spend time in the summer or on a Saturday.
I was beginning to wonder if kids did that kind of thing anymore. But these do, and they have friends over and they all enjoy themselves there, or in their backyard pool, or maybe out front at the basketball goal by the side of the drive.
I recall years ago (you knew this was coming, didn’t you) when I thought summers would never end and we had more things to do and places to explore in our neighborhood than we would ever, ever get to. There was always the railroad spur line that ran to a grain elevator next to our small patch of ground (a couple of acres). Or there was a huge pile of trees that had been felled in a neighboring lot that we could climb all over, at least until the owner burned them. When that happened, they had a wiener roast and the neighborhood showed up with hot dogs, marshmallows, and salads and had a good time.
One neighbor had a plot of sweet corn where we would hide and play in after the corn had been picked. Then there was always the drainage ditch a half block away which pretty much always had water in it, or at least puddles of water. Many times there would be crawfish, tadpoles, and other such life in the puddles.
We had an old barn on our property that was good for several hours of exploring and play. It had a loft in it where dad had stored lumber from an old house he tore down on that same lot. And before he tore down that house, it was a good place to explore, along with the yard surrounding it.
And, of course, when all else failed, we could trek across the highway to the far east part of town. There were several lots there on the edge of town that were overgrown and perfect for exploration, and several friends lived in that area. Besides, the town’s sewage treatment plant was nearby (yes, I know that sounds gross, but to a group of boys…) and places we’d not seen in a long time were right nearby, including the highway overpass over the railroad, Sand Creek, and other attractions.
When I was older, I enjoyed working in dad’s shop. He built a workbench for me, which I still have and use by the way, and I spent hours taking things apart, trying to fix things, and building things. I worked a couple of summers in that shop repairing lawn mowers for paying customers, having my own business. That, combined with helping out on the farm (we lived in town, but dad was a farmer/stockman) and helping him with his other job working plumbing and heating pretty much kept me busy during my teen years. I didn’t have any time to get into trouble.
I hope the kids down the street retain fond memories of their years here and are able to tell their kids and grandkids about the times they spent climbing trees, exploring the park, and shooting baskets. About having friends over, swimming in the pool, and playing games until all hours of the night. And I’m sad for any kid that doesn’t have the opportunity to have those kinds of experiences.

Could Someone Just Answer a Question?

There has been much made of the latest health insurance reform package, both pro and con. One of the biggest arguments against the package is that we need to keep government out of health care. I know that the reform package is related to health insurance, and it’s not quite the same as health care. I also know that there won’t be a nickel’s worth of difference between the two when it comes to government having its finger in health care/insurance.
The fact is that government is already pervasive in health care/insurance. But don’t take my word for it. Tom Scully, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that administers the Medicare program) Administrator in the Bush era from 2001 to 2003, said in a news clip regarding the role of CMS in health care/insurance, “You (CMS) get into every little nook and cranny of every part of the health care field.” This is from a man who was there well before any reform was passed by this congress.
Think about that amazing statement. “Every nook and cranny of every part” of the health care field (which includes health insurance, by the way). The government, friend, is already there and has been there for decades. Both parties are responsible. Neither will own up to it.
Let me tell you a true story. I know of a nursing home that had an annual fire inspection not long ago. It used to be that, since the State of Kansas was conducting the inspection, state regulations were used as the standard. Not so now. The inspector was working for the State of Kansas (Fire Marshal’s office), but was conducting an inspection according to CMS standards. CMS contracts with state agencies to conduct these kinds of inspections at facilities that participate in Medicare or Medicaid.
The inspector cited a deficiency in a linen storage closet, saying that fire sprinklers needed to be installed in the closet. This closet was built into the wall and was about three feet wide and sixteen inches deep. It had doors on the front and shelves in the closet to hold linens.
The building is relatively new (two years old). It has passed multiple fire inspections on both the local (Wichita Fire Department) and State (Fire Marshal) levels. The architect (well-versed in regulations of this kind) didn’t spec sprinklers in the closet when he drew the plans. The sprinkler sub-contractor, who is also well-versed in sprinkler regulations, didn’t see the need for sprinklers in the closet. An independent fire safety engineer reviewed the area and said in a formal opinion that the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Code, the gold standard for fire safety, specifically stated that sprinklers were not necessary.
CMS, however, wouldn’t budge. Regardless of the opinions of multiple professionals, and the explicit statement of the gold standard of fire safety, it threatened to withhold all payments to the facility until the problem was corrected. The State of Kansas threatened to not issue a license to operate the facility. The facility was faced with the real possibility (these guys don’t fool around with you) of having to transfer over 60 residents to other facilities and close its doors if it didn’t comply.
The facility reached an agreement with CMS that was satisfactory to CMS by cutting a 4 inch by 12 inch opening at the top of each of the closet doors. Think about that for a minute, then mumble under your breath in hapless wonder.
Let’s see. CMS is already into health care so deeply that it can mandate that a facility cut a 4 inch by 12 inch hole in a closet door, under penalty of non-payment of about $20,000 a day due from Medicare for treatment of Medicare residents. And you have the nerve to tell me that government is not into health care, and that the new reform package will ruin all of that and put government into the equation?
Oh, you say that government may be into health care, but the new package will make things worse. How can it be any worse than the federal government using the power of the State of Kansas (to withhold a license to operate a facility) and the power of the federal purse to mandate a hole in a closet door that doesn't, by all professional accounts, have to be there?
Would someone honestly answer that question for me without partisanship, without stump speech phrases, and without rancor?

It's Past Time

I don’t know where I read this story, nor do I recall the story word for word. I do, however, believe it to be pertinent today even more so than thirty five years ago when it first appeared.
In mid 1974, a man was showing a friend around his home. They viewed several rooms together, then went to an area where there were several pictures hanging on the wall. The centerpiece of this area was a very large photo of Richard Nixon, the President of the United States. The time was shortly before Mr. Nixon would resign his office due to the Watergate scandal. The picture was framed in a very nice frame and lit with a light over the photo.
The friend asked the man how he could honor such a man as Richard Nixon like this, since Nixon had lied about his involvement in Watergate, then tried to cover it up. Impeachment was a distinct possibility.
The man replied that he wasn’t honoring Mr. Nixon; rather he was giving honor to the President of the United States. The man further explained that regardless of party affiliation, he had hung a photo of the current President in this spot for many years in a desire to honor the office and the one holding that office.
The man explained that as long as Mr. Nixon was the President, he deserved the honor of being placed in such a position in his home. When another President was selected, regardless of party affiliation, and whether by election or by succession, his (or her) photo would be hung in that place.
There’s a lesson here for all of us. Regardless of our party affiliation; regardless of our passion for certain issues; regardless of who occupies the office of President (or Vice President, or Senator, or Mayor, or Governor), they deserve the respect and deference of the office they hold. We may disagree, and do so vigorously, with their ideology. But we do so with respect for the office and for the rule of law that placed them there.
In recent years we have lost that sense of respect. We have lost the civility. We have lost the ability to disagree, yet remain on civil terms. I long for the days of Bob Dole and Everett Dirkson. I am saddened by the crudeness, the hostility, and the outright ill will that accompanies our disagreement with someone else.
Such behavior is juvenile, ignorant, and crude. And it certainly has no place in the life of a professing Christian. Peter says to “fear God and honor the King.” At that time, the “King” was the Caesar of Rome, from whence came all manner of persecution of Christians and from whence eventually came Peter’s own death. Can you imagine Peter (or Paul) telling crude jokes about the Caesar, or wishing his death or injury? Neither can I.
Paul says that we are to “imitate me (Paul) as I (Paul) imitate Christ” (I Cor. 11:1) How can we possibly say we’re even trying to do that when our minds are filled with vitriol and even hatred for those with which we disagree politically?
The Christian community has a lot of repenting to do and a lot of changing of attitude and action. It’s past time to get started with that.

No Judgment From Me

I was watching a little of the History Channel tonight. The program was one about military snipers. In particular, the part of the program I saw was about Charles Benjamin "Chuck" Mawhinney, a Marine Corps sniper in Vietnam in the late 1960’s. He has the most confirmed kills of any Marine Corps sniper, 103, and 216 probable kills. Wiki says that this man was born about the same time I was and would be about my age.
When he got out of active duty, he came back home, started a family, and worked for the Forest Service until he retired a few years ago. He lived in obscurity until about 1990, when word of his achievement was published in a book. He now attends sniper conventions (I didn’t know there were such things) and gives speeches.
I don’t know about you, but this man was in a different universe when he was an active Marine. He talks of the kills as if it was a natural thing to do and says he has no nightmares, etc. regarding his job in the Marines. His rationale for doing what he did was good, and I can understand the necessity of it. That doesn’t change, however, the fact that war is not at all like the movies; not at all the glorious and grand thing it’s often portrayed to be.
War is ugly. War is brutal. And war is savage. The normal civilian population has no comprehension what some of our men and women have endured or the lives they have lived in Europe, Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, and other places and times when we fought and died.
Mr. Mawhinney said in the interview that if he and his partner would have likely been captured, they would have not allowed themselves to be taken alive because of what the enemy would do to a sniper from the other side. He recounts one incident in Vietnam where he took sixteen shots and had sixteen kills…all head shots from 50 yards at night with a monsoon closing in.
Some men (and women) willingly do things that aren’t even on my radar screen, and do it as a matter of course in order to survive. And they voluntarily place themselves in those positions because they volunteer to serve our country in one of the military branches of service.
Once a Marine…always a Marine. Even though I have the greatest value for human life and know full well both the spiritual and moral implications of taking a life, I dare not sit in judgment of this man or of anyone who serves. And even though I haven’t the faintest comprehension of the full import of what I saw on that program, and probably never will, I thank Mr. Mawhinney and others who willingly do those things that allow me to live my life in relative peace and safety.

You Breathe In and Out...

I was visiting with one of our residents early this morning (well, early for me…about 8am) as he was sitting at the breakfast table. He took off his glasses, blew on them, and put them back on. Now, I’ve done that more than once, and I’ll wager that you have too, just to get the big chunks off of them. The fine cleaning would come later. I mentioned to him that I did that sometimes as well, and he said to me, “You gotta breathe in and out; you might as well do something productive with it.”
This man has mild dementia and cannot live on his own. However, what he said was well worth it and was right on. Of course, he was talking about blowing on his glasses. I immediately thought of some other things.
You might as well do something productive. Why do we waste our time and energy on things that don’t matter?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we do or say things that we know are harmful to ourselves or others?
You might as well do something productive. Why do we complain about things that we can’t change?
You might as well do something productive. Is there any way we can leave our corner of the world better for our having been here?
You might as well do something productive. How can we serve those we know have need?
You might as well do something productive. Can you be an example of honesty, integrity, and truthfulness rather than selfishness, greed, and vice?
You might as well do something productive. What would it take for us to mentor a child, volunteer at the school, or be a special friend to a neighbor?
If you’re reading this, you’re breathing in and out. What have you done with those breaths that has been productive today?

Pickups and Carloads

Yesterday, I helped my niece move from her rented apartment to a home that she and her fiancé had bought just the day before. She will be living there and preparing the house to be a home until later this spring when they will be married. (How refreshing to see them living together AFTER they are married instead of before.) She has quite a task ahead of her, even though the house is fairly new and won’t need much painting, fixing, etc.
There are drapes to hang, a yard to work, furniture to buy (and move), things to hang on the wall, and the usual assortment of little “fixes” that are inevitable when someone moves into a new home. She and her fiancé will be busy these next few months.
It took three pickups and a couple of carloads to move everything she had out of the apartment and to the house, which is just a couple of blocks up the street in the same addition where we are living. Obviously, they will accumulate more “stuff” as time goes by, but I’m hopeful they will be mindful of a couple of things; where their stuff ultimately comes from, and just how much of it they are accumulating through the years.
Life does not consist of our possessions, says the Good Book. There’s a lot more to this than who has the most toys when he dies. After all, if that’s it, what’s the use?
We have a lot to learn about possessions and things. All too often, we define and identify ourselves by our possessions. Surely, there is much more to a living, breathing human being than what car he drives or what brand jeans she wears.
These kids have, if all is normal, a long life ahead of them. There will be plenty of time for possessions. Far more important will be the fostering and flowering of the relationship and the development of a solid foundation for a committed life together as husband and wife.
Godspeed.

Responsibility

I was laying awake last night at about 4am (I don’t know the exact time…I didn’t want to know), and was thinking about the word “responsibility”. Don’t ask me why, I just was. In any event, I was thinking about that word, along with what it means, and what kinds of responsibilities I had in various aspects of my life.
I can easily understand why some people get so upset about the responsibilities of life that they become virtually paralyzed and cannot function in ordinary situations such as work, home life, and living. It can be a daunting thing to think of all of those people and situations who are dependent in some way or another on someone to do a job or carry out a task.
In the light of day as we go about our daily tasks, the burden seems somehow lessened. We manage to do at least most of what we are responsible for doing, and what doesn’t ge done waits until another day or really didn’t need to be done at all. But at times when it is quiet and we are alone with our thoughts, they can quickly loom ever larger until they just seem to overwhelm the senses.
I am reminded of Paul’s statement that he had learned the secret of contentment. Whatever the situation he found himself in, he said, he learned to be content with it. I would imagine that if anyone had responsibilities that seemed to overwhelm, it may have been him. Carried into situations not of his making and which altered his plans for the future in big ways, Paul learned to rely on a Higher Power and be content with wherever he found himself.
I know that I need to emulate Paul and others that have managed to find the secret of contentment and peace, even in the midst of chaos and disorder. I have a difficult time with that, and know that I would have a much easier time of life in general if I wasn’t so worried about getting this done or fulfilling that responsibility in a timely manner. Yes, we as Christians are to be diligent to live our lives “as unto the Lord” and so we must do the best we can. But to worry excessively about something or to allow external forces to take away our happiness, contentment, and peace is not appropriate and has no place in the life of the Christian.
I also know that for some people, the problem of excessive worry goes beyond what can reasonably be accommodated, and professional help may be needed. If so, there should be no stigma attached to that need; rather, we support and encourage our fellow Christian as best we know how and “bear one-another’s burden.”
Most of us don’t have the worry of where we will get our next meal, or where we will stay the night. Instead, our worries are more along the lines of paying bills, keeping promises, and attending to looming future events. We have moved away from worry about survival to worry about things not as important. The fallout of that worry, however, does not change. We can still be paralyzed by excessive worry, and that worry can rob us of the peace and contentment promised by our God.
There are no easy fixes. There is nothing I know of that will change this in five minutes or less. I know it is a learning process. And I know that true peace and contentment are gifts and blessings from God. I know that it involves one giving up the right to control one’s destiny and allowing God to take charge. I know that it is a daily decision that becomes a daily way of life.
And that, my friend, is not easy.

Preparation and Prayer

I’m teaching an adult class this quarter (beginning tomorrow) on Exodus. When I was asked to teach it, I thought to myself, “That’s 40 chapters in 12 weeks in an Old Testament book that many people see as rather dry history.” Accepting the challenge after a day or two of thought, I now face the challenge of making this class something like our education minister had in mind for it.
Of course, we will need to do kind of an overview thing this quarter. There’s no way we can discuss each verse, or even each event, story, or section of the book. I’ll have to find the highlights, and for that I’ll need some kind of guidance to land on those places that I think will make the most relevant sense for us today.
In thinking about that, I was taken back to many years ago when I did a series of sermons on Joshua. I took much of my information from a book written by Dale Ralph Davis called “No Falling Words”. In the book, he zeroes in on God’s promises and how those promises were kept. Joshua, in his farewell address to the people in chapter 23 said that “Not one word of all the good words of Jehovah have fallen to the ground.” Of course, he meant that God has kept each and every promise that he gave to the nation of Israel.
Although the first promise to Israel was given to Abraham in Genesis 12, the fulfillment of that promise, and many others, in many ways begins as Exodus opens with the story of the calling of Moses and Aaron. I think it will be quite good to prepare the upcoming lessons based on the idea of “No Falling Words” and what that means for God’s people today.
I have all 12 lessons (we won’t meet for class Easter Sunday) outlined, and the introduction to the first lesson done. I’ll prepare the rest of tomorrow’s lesson later on today. We’ll look at the first three chapters of the book.
I enjoy teaching, as it gives me fresh eyes to look at something I perhaps have looked at many times before. I don’t pretend that I will cause any earth shattering changes in the lives of my students, but I do encourage them to think for themselves, to examine what they’ve always thought about God and their relationship with Him, and to go from class a little more refreshed than when they came into class. I am also acutely aware that as a teacher, I will be held to a greater account (according to James in 3:1).
Tomorrow should be interesting just in seeing who will be coming to this class. I doubt that I will have a house full, but hope that there will be enough that we can have good discussions. I would ask you to wish me luck, but suspect that preparation and prayer have much more to do with it than luck. So as I prepare and pray, if you’ll pray with me, perhaps the favor of the Lord will shine.

Enjoy the Spring

The last couple of days have been, weather-wise, just wonderful. Compared to the weeks and weeks that preceded, these days are a gift to be savored. It’s a little early to say that winter is over, but it is March after all, and things are warming up.
A couple of days ago, the neighbor kids were out on the driveway shooting baskets…in bare feet. Deer have come back to the park out back of our house, and we’re beginning to see a few more varieties of birds. The tulips are peeking through, and people are beginning to stir around, get things cleaned up, and prepare for the summer ahead.
I like all four seasons, but I think spring is my favorite. It’s a time for renewal and growth; of promise and expectation. The sometimes stifling heat of summer seems to suck some of that promise and expectation out of my system at times, but that’s to be expected in this part of the world.
It’s been a rather cold and dreary winter, this one has. All winters seem that way at times, but this one seems to have hung on longer than in recent past years. When the gray, foggy days just go on and on, people begin to get a little nervous. Folks have shorter tempers, and it just seems that it will never end. But it does, of course.
I hope you’re looking forward to spring as well. It’s a great time of the year. Stop and take the time to enjoy it.

Always a Possibility

Today was just a lost day, it seems, for me. I was just wasted today and didn’t feel at all well. No bugs or illness…I think it was a mild exhaustion that overtook me today. Not sure why because I seem to sleep well, and long enough. I got home a little early today and promptly took a 45 minute nap, which helped immensely. I wish I could have done that about 10am this morning.
You know the kind of day. You have to work extremely hard, it seems, to put one foot in front of the other. Your brain isn’t working as well as it should. And you’re just not really into anything you do. Caffeine doesn’t help a lot. You can’t wait to be done.
And that is kind of sad because this was the prettiest day outside. One of the best. Tomorrow promises to be as good, however, so I am looking forward to that. We’ve had lots of winter, but not nearly like they’ve had in the Northeast.
Every Friday I look back over the week and think about what happened. I compare it with what I thought (or hoped) would happen five days before. It never seems to be anything close to what I thought it would be, even when I know some of what I have to do that week. I don’t know why I do this…maybe it’s one of those things that everyone does, but they just don’t talk much about it.
This weekend will be somewhat busy for us, but enjoyable. Unless, that is, things happen that disrupt our plans and routine. And that’s always a possibility.

This and That

I don’t know why some days just seem to take it out of me more than others. Yesterday and today were both like that. I don’t know if it was the amount of things I had to do, what those things were, or my physical or mental condition…maybe a combination of all of the above. In any event, I’m glad this day is almost over, and can pretty much guarantee you that I will be in bed by 10pm or shortly after.
In other thoughts, aren’t the Olympics something! I’ve watched them for many years now, and always enjoy most of the sports that are presented. Some, of course, I enjoy more than others. Do real men really watch figure skating? Yes, they do, and many of them enjoy it.
As time continues to march on, I am more and more convinced that what is here…what is in this life…this existence…doesn’t really matter all that much. It didn’t used to be this way, but now there is an overriding truth in all of my thinking that tells me to temper any decisions regarding the here and now with the reality of the eternity of which we partake as certainly as we exist.
I’ve agreed to teach an adult class this spring on the book of Exodus. I’ll have twelve Sundays to go through all of those chapters and help my class make sense of what is there. It certainly is a different way of teaching than I’m used to. I like to take things more slowly, but really, Exodus isn’t written in that way in very many places. So the survey approach probably will work better anyway.
There were about half a dozen crows in the peak of the bare cottonwood out back this morning. That tree is the tallest one around and the crows were at its peak, looking around, cawing some, and flying off a short way and back again. I came in and told my wife about it. She thought maybe they were discussing where to have breakfast. I dunno. Even though they are “just birds”, I like crows. I’ve heard, and have also thought, that they are probably one of the more intelligent animals we have around. You can read some of the work that has been done on that topic by Googling crow intelligence. Some of that is a rather interesting read.
It’s time to get back to the Olympics.

You Get What You Get

It’s been another cloudy, dreary day here with freezing rain and sleet falling sporadically. It seems to be melting when it hits the ground, so things aren’t slick. The official temp is 34 degrees, but probably will fall tonight.
We were out doing some errands this morning and had to drive to several locations. Most of the time, the drivers were pretty good, but we ran into (figuratively, of course) one or two that I kind of had to scratch my head (figuratively, of course) and wonder what in the world they were trying to do. One woman, it seemed, was making a “U” turn on East Douglas in the middle of traffic, holding up the works in several directions. One person (gender is known, but will not be given for fear of my being accused of being biased) sped up and passed me in the rain on I 235 only to get behind a truck after passing, slowing down, and making me go around her so I didn’t have to slow down. I wasn’t sure what she was up to, nor was I sure I wanted to know.
And so it goes, to borrow a phrase from Linda Ellerbee. All in all, our foray into the retail and public areas of Wichita went well, including our visit to Sam’s Club to buy a few things and cash our rebate check.
So it’s been a slow day, which probably is a good thing for us. We’re watching the Olympics, the KU basketball game, doing laundry, and otherwise just vegging around. I went out to the garage awhile ago, but didn’t stay even though there were things I needed to do, because it was cold enough there that it wouldn’t have been a very pleasant time. One of these days, I have to get out there and do some of the accumulating chores.
We’ll host our small group tomorrow evening, and of course we meet for church in the morning. The wife is on administrative nursing call this weekend, but hasn’t had much in the way of issues just yet. Let’s hope that dearth of problems continues through the weekend.
That’s it. Not much from here. I don’t feel like stretching my brain today to ponder the meaning of life or the origin of the species. You get what you get.

Another Day

Today is Valentine’s Day. According to Wiki, the day is named for at least two Christian martyrs of early Christian times. The day was authorized by a Catholic pope in the fifth century, and currently is a time of celebration of love and affection between intimate companions. I assume most all of that is pretty close to authoritative.
We didn’t do much to celebrate the holiday. I never like to do much to celebrate any holiday, including birthdays, and today isn’t any different. We did go to a nice Italian restaurant for Sunday dinner. It wasn’t crowded or noisy, and the food was good. We also spent the afternoon with each other, as we normally do on weekends and went to see the grandkids and took pizza over to their place this evening along with Valentine cards and candy for the kids.
A couple of observations and comments please. First, my apologies to my wife for my reluctance to celebrate this or any holiday in the traditional way. I never was comfortable doing some of the traditional holiday things. She has known that for years, but somehow I feel the need to say it again.
I want her to know that in spite of her not getting flowers or chocolates today, I love her intensely, and cherish the time we are together, even if it’s just sitting in our easy chairs watching the Olympics. When she’s gone overnight, I don’t sleep well. I notice the empty space. Things just aren’t normal. When she’s not feeling well, I don’t feel well. Again, things just aren’t normal.
Second, it’s great to be a grandparent. Who else could take pizza and candy over to a couple of pre-schoolers, let them indulge in both, and then leave after a couple of hours and have someone else deal with the aftermath?
There’s also something about the unconditional love between grandparent and grandchild that is just different from anything else I’ve ever experienced. It’s not the same as a parent/child relationship. In fact, it’s not the same as any other relationship. On this day especially, it’s a privilege to be reminded of the special bond between the grandkids and us.
I don’t know if my wife is disappointed in my lack of holiday skills or not. If she is, she doesn’t say anything about it. I am capable of a lot of things and, I suppose, could break down and get flowers on Valentine’s Day. I’d much rather, though, do something unexpected on a routine and regular day. To me, that seems more genuine than doing something on a certain day just because everyone else does it.
Tomorrow is another day.

Surprises Await

I’m reading a book called “Physics For the Rest of Us” by Roger S. Jones. Yes, it is what you think it may be, a book that attempts to explain modern physics in language and ways the ordinary person can understand. Although the author tried very hard to do this, he didn’t succeed, at least with me. There are places in the book that are relatively easy to understand, but there are places where it just isn’t possible to mush it all down into something that the ordinary person can swallow.
I am fascinated by modern physics…relativity, the quantum theory, the big bang, and all of that. Many of the things I do understand are just jaw-dropping. The world that we think we know of as such an orderly and predictable place is, in fact, a world of organized chaos, probability, and unthinkable truth. Imagine light slowing down inside a substance to a speed of a few inches a minute. Imagine a beam of light exiting a substance before it enters into it. Imagine a particle thousands of miles away reacting to the deliberate modification of it’s “partner” particle, with no apparent connection between the two. Imagine the fact that one can know either the movement of a particle or it’s location, but not both at the same time. Imagine something that behaves either like an electromagnetic wave or like a physical particle (commonly thought to be an impossibility due to the vastly different properties of each), depending not on anything it does, but rather depending on how it is observed. Imagine an electrical current that, once induced into it, traverses a metal for hundreds of thousands of years, yet never being replenished or decaying.
I could continue, but you get the idea. The book tries to explain the above phenomena, but I couldn’t understand it all. What I do understand, and what I take from the book is the incredible complexity of this creation.
That, friend, is a gross understatement, but it’s the best I can do. This creation is just astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly complex. For example, why is a crystalline substance either a conductor of electricity (metallic copper) or transparent (diamond); but not both. And how does the answer to that fit in with all the rest of the creation and enable everything else to work as it should? Yet it fits together and works perfectly; astonishingly, amazingly, unbelievably, incredibly well. We don’t know so much more than we do know, but what we do know is more than enough to be able to say that something truly unique is going on here…never in quintillions of years could all of this come together on its own.
I’m about three quarters finished with the book. Many more surprises await, I’m sure.

The Future Visited

Is it a sign that one is getting older when his vision of the future doesn’t include anything beyond a certain number of years? Or is that just normal?
When I was much younger, my vision of the future was virtually unlimited in terms of length. I could think 20, 30, even 50 or 60 years into the future and find that I was a part of it. Now, whenever I think much beyond 20 or so years, I also think that I probably won’t be around to see it anyway, so why worry about it.
I have to wonder just how common of a thing that is. I know there may be some folks that don’t think that far ahead at all. They have concerns in the here and now, and don’t look much beyond the week or month ahead. There are others who enjoy thinking about life in the twenty-second or twenty-third centuries, and some (Gene Roddenberry, George Lucas, and others) who have made tons of money from those thoughts.
I would think, though, that as life begins to wind down, a part of that process is a change in how one thinks about things to come, as well as the things that were and are. I’m already well past the point that I think I have to scratch my way to the top of the work pinnacle, or that I have to prove my competence to someone else. Yes, I still do good work and I still give 100% when at work, but the reason for doing so is different. I’m also looking more to the time when I won’t have to punch the time clock so religiously.
This thing called aging is yet another adventure that I am witnessing in myself and in others I know and love. It, like all other of life’s adventures, is a marvelous thing to behold and presents far more questions than answers. I may no longer be seeing myself 50 or 60 years from now in the future I concoct in my mind, but I’ll still have enough to think about as time marches on.

A Place to Go

Well, folks, it’s been a few days since I’ve written, or even felt like I had something to say. It’s been cloudy, foggy, rainy, snowy, and generally dreary for more days than I care to count. I think the lack of sun truly is beginning to take a toll on me as I struggle at times to maintain a decent demeanor.
It doesn’t help that work seems to be never-ending. Additionally, things seem to never get better…we always seem to be a half-step behind the ball, catching up in some way. We hold things together, but just once I’d like to see us at the top of the hill looking down instead of struggling against the grain trying to gain a little altitude.
Maybe that’s not practical in today’s work world. As I talk with others who work in different places for different employers, it seems to be the same everywhere. Everyone seems to be peddling hard just to keep from falling off. These are the folks who have to remind themselves that they are thankful they have someplace to go at 8 o’clock on Monday morning.
And then there are those who don’t have any place to go on Monday morning. They probably haven’t had a place to go on Monday morning for several weeks to several months to even a year or more. For them, life is on a different plane. They think differently, plan differently, and act differently. Life centers on unemployment insurance, expense cuts, and possibly even acceptance of charity. They worry about health insurance, or lack thereof. They don’t sleep much some nights. And their demeanor is even harder to control sometimes.
So as I gripe about work and lack of sunshine and where I am on the hill of life, I must also think of others who have different worries and different concerns. And I indeed am grateful that I have a place to go on Monday morning.

We'll See

“Every day is election day” in Washington. Or so says President Obama in his State of the Union speech a few days ago.
Yes, it is, Mr. President. And it has been for years. Instead of making decisions based on what may be good for the country, legislators all too often make decisions based on how they will play with the electorate, as if the election was being held the next day.
This phenomenon is not unique with the Republicans, or with the Democrats, for that matter. It’s an infection that has permeated the Washington establishment for years.
Why else is it such a refreshing thing (and much talked-about) when a politician states in plain words that he or she is not running for re-election (a-la Mark Parkinson, governor or Kansas)? The clear implication is that he or she is no longer bound to think about decisions based on the future election. Instead, he can actually do the job he was put into office to do. What a novel idea! Doing one’s job!
As I said in a prior blog, this is not funny…it’s just sad. If there is any pessimism within me regarding our government, it is that those who are our elected representatives always seem to be running for office, and the minority party always seems to be the party of “No”, obstructing anything that it didn’t think up on its own or that may result in a better image for the majority party.
Will it change? I don’t know. What I do know is that something needs to happen soon. The government, both local and national, is becoming more and more irrelevant as the years go by, and more and more expensive. I also know that this cannot continue ad infinitum. We’ll see.

Time and Timelessness

This weekend, we volunteered to keep the grandkids overnight so their parents could take a day off and celebrate their anniversary. The time is winding down and mom and dad should be here before long. Both of the kids are asleep…one in his bed and the other is sacked out on the couch a few feet away from me. It’s been an interesting time.
We’ve kept the kids before, and we always enjoy doing so. However, it’s a break in our routine, and it is kind of tough sometimes to remember that we have others we have responsibility for, and that we just can’t get up and leave, or even just go to the bathroom.
We’ve had several weekends leading up to this one where we either went somewhere, had someone at the house, or had some other responsibility of some kind. I told the wife that I’d really like to have a weekend where we had no responsibilities like that scheduled. Next weekend won’t quite do, as she will be gone to some kind of meeting, and I have agreed to substitute at a Sunday School class next Sunday. I’m sure that by the weekend, there will be something else we’ll need to do.
I always wondered how retired people spent their time. We’re not retired, but I’m getting an idea of how that might go should one or both of us be fortunate enough that we could retire. I suspect that we will be busy more of the time than not, assuming our health holds out and we have the financial means to do a few things from time to time. In a way, I look forward to that time as I know there are things we could do during the week that had to do with “church work” that we just cannot do now. A lot certainly needs to be done, and it seems that retired folks do a lot of it, probably due in great part to the fact that they have more time in which to do it.
Besides, remaining active like that, they say, keeps one healthier and happier than if one just vegetates in the house all the time. Sometimes, I like to veg out, but it never lasts very long and I’m ready to go after awhile. That’s one reason I don’t like to be ill, besides the obvious of not feeling well. Those four walls and ceiling get awfully old after just a short time and I’m ready for some new views of the world.
One of these days, it won’t matter for me any more. I’ll not be concerned with illness, retirement, or having something to do. I truly look forward to that time (or timelessness, to be more exact), and trust you do too.

It's Just Sad

I know many are joyous over the win in Massachusetts of a Republican for the Senate. Others are boding the end of the world as we know it because of that. As an independent, I am just sad. If you care to read further, I'll tell you why.
No, it won't be the end of the world as we know it. And, no, there's no particular reason for joy. Not much really will change, except the politics of legislation will be much more complicated, much more overrun with lobbying and bribery (yes, I said that word), and much ado about (usually) very little of substance. And that's what makes me sad.
The founding fathers had a deliberative body of august men (no women in that time) in mind when they conceived the Senate...a place where substance, country, and the people could rise above politics and the cesspool that often accompanies that profession. They deliberately made Senators appointed, not elected, and staggered their six year terms so the body could remain relatively intact and somewhat insulated from the whims of the day. Senate rules (each house sets its own rules) originally were conceived to carry out this vision of a great deliberative body which intentionally goes it slow and steady over the course of time. The rules attempted to preserve the rights of the minority (no limit on debate, etc) while maintaining a process so that needed legislation would eventually rise to the top and be debated and voted upon.
The Senate today is nothing like that body which was in the minds of Jefferson and others of long ago. Senator Byrd notwithstanding, the Senate and its rules have become a breeding ground for politics and political shenanigans at the basest of levels. The direct election of Senators began to bring down the Senate to its present form and function, and the polarization of the political process has brought the work to substantial completion.
Where is the great oratory on either side of the aisle? All either party knows how to say now is “filibuster”. Where are the debates wherein the words of the debaters are recorded, analyzed, and taught in the classroom as an example of great political debate? Where are the great Senators? Where are those who have, as many before them, distinguished themselves as men and women who have the interests of the American people at heart and aren't afraid to go it alone, if necessary, to preserve and protect what we hold dear? Where is the Senator who is not constantly looking toward the next election and how his or her words and actions will “play” in that election? Where is the Senator who is not constantly raising money for the next political campaign, and selling his or her soul and vote in the process? I wish someone would tell me who are the truly great Senators of today.
So, I'm sad. I'm disappointed. I'm angry. And I'm cynical. It doesn't matter three cents-worth if the Republicans or the Democrats are in control or if one has a filibuster proof majority or not. It's the same on either side of the aisle. Democrats have nothing to crow about regarding ethics and doing the right thing, and Republicans certainly aren't any better.
The only thing that this election in Massachusetts will do is make the Congress of the United States even more irrelevant than they have been the past many years, and as Rome burns, they will continue to fiddle until all that's left is for someone to shut off the last light as they leave.

Not Just Think, But Do

It’s been a week (almost), since I last blogged. Let’s see. There’s been a week’s worth of work at the nursing home, six nights slept, and many meals eaten. There’s also been the comfort of a nice home, the company of a good wife, and the great relationships with friends and relatives.
Such has life been here; such has not been life in Haiti. What a tragedy of untold magnitude. Words just can’t describe what is happening there, just as words couldn’t describe Katrina or the Tsunami or other earthquakes or hurricanes. I haven’t a clue why such things happen, nor do I have a clue why bad things happen to good people. Yet, to say, “It is what it is,” seems to be trite and dismissive.
So, do we throw up our collective hands and say something about not being able to fix the world? Or do we stop for a minute, collect ourselves, and ask what we can do? I hope the latter, as it is the collective help of individuals that will truly make a difference, not only in Haiti, but wherever there is calamity.
The earthquake is but the last of untold decades of despair, evil, and catastrophe, both natural and man-caused. While many, many people have been and continue to help places like this in any way they can, the task truly seems gargantuan and that two or three steps back are taken for every step forward.
Yet we continue. We press on. And some of us really do what we can, although many of us could do a lot more. This is a good time to give ourselves an assessment. This is a good time to not just think, but do.

To Crash or Not to Crash

It’s Saturday morning. I don’t often get up at 5:30am on Saturday; consequently, I don’t often blog at 8am. Oh, I know some folks just seem to wake up as the perfect perky person, but I’m not one of them. It takes awhile for the bones to get used to supporting the weight each morning.
Oh, why am I up, you ask? Our church hosted the York College (Nebraska) touring choir last evening (a great performance, I might add) and we kept four of the young men in the choir overnight. They had to be back at the church to load up on the bus for Colorado at 7:30 this morning. So that meant we had to get up early to feed them and get them to the building.
Now, I’m not sure whether to crash for another hour or two of sleep or just tough it out. As I think of it further, maybe that hour or two would be a good thing since we’re hosting a birthday party for our younger grandson this evening. I don’t think a tired grandpa would be a good thing tonight.
Well, the hour rest suddenly, with a phone call, has vanished. Sis has a frozen pipe and they want to borrow my radiant heater so I’ll be loading up and going into their place in a minute or two. It’s been cold here and their older home just has a draft or two that in this weather will freeze water pipes. I just hope the pipe didn’t break. It’s in a place that’s hard to get to under the house.
Later…

Award-Winning Comments

Rush Limbaugh had to go to the hospital a few days ago suffering from chest pain. They didn’t find anything cardiac related, and Limbaugh was released. On his release, he was quoted in an Associated Press article in the Wichita Eagle on January 2, 2010, as saying, that he got the best health treatment in the world "right here in the United States of America."
"I don't think there's one thing wrong with the American health care system," Limbaugh said. "I got no special treatment other than what anybody else that would have called 911 and had been brought in with the same kinds of symptoms."
I am truly glad that Mr. Limbaugh was able to get the diagnosis and treatment that he needed at that time. However, as someone with both fame and money, Mr. Limbaugh hasn’t a clue whether there’s anything wrong with the health care system or not. I challenge him to attempt to receive care anonymously, without insurance, and without money. I challenge him to say the same words regarding our health care system after a few years of trying to find free clinics, applying for Medicaid, navigating the emergency room, and hoping against hope that he won’t need an expensive antibiotic to treat a very treatable condition.
An article in today’s Eagle (January 3, 2010) tells of crowds waiting all night for vision, dental, and medical examinations and treatment in Tennessee. A 26 year old mother of three says she has waited “pretty much as long as I can remember” to escape the pain throbbing through her jaws. Her husband is out of work. Medical insurance is out of the question.
Over the next two days, providers at that clinic will have seen 701 patients. They will have extracted 852 teeth, filled 234 others, tested 345 pairs of eyes, and had 87 people examined by an M.D. The bill, if someone was paying, would total over $138,000. And this is just one clinic in one area over two days.
The people that finance and provide the clinic say it’s been this way during the entire 17 year period they’ve been doing this. The clinic just completed was number 587 and was held at a local high school.
Would Mr. Limbaugh have been willing to wait “pretty much as long as (he) can remember” to have those pains in his chest examined? Would he have driven for two hours with three kids, waited overnight in line over 10 hours, and waited some more the next day (with those three kids) in order to be seen by a provider who didn’t have access to the latest and greatest medical equipment, laboratory, or diagnostic instruments? Who had hundreds more people lined up to see him or her? Give me a break.
Yet thousands of people live this way, dealing with their medical and dental care as they can and as others are willing to provide. Having no choice, they wait for the next free clinic which could be next week or next year. They hope against hope that they will be healthy enough between clinics that they will be able to continue to function.
I give Mr. Limbaugh credit, though. His comments certainly qualify for the “stupid comments of an ignoramus” award. They’re right up there with President Bush’s comment that health care is always accessible. “People have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room,” he is quoted as saying in Cleveland, Ohio a few years ago.
By the way, while the EMTALA law requires emergency rooms to provide an examination and stabilization to anyone presenting without regard to ability to pay, that is ALL it requires. No emergency room is required to provide treatment that is not life-saving or does not stabilize the patient’s medical condition. The fact that many emergency rooms DO provide treatment in addition to what EMTALA requires is testament to the generosity of many health care providers. I wonder if Mr. Limbaugh or Mr. Bush would be satisfied with this kind of health care?

P.S. (added later) When Mr. Limbaugh and the mother of three in Tennessee receive substantially the same care in substantially the same time frame for substantially the same out of pocket dollars for the same condition, with substantially the same hope of a good outcome, then health care will be closer to what it should be. As it is now, it is ludicrous to think that both of these people will be treated in the same manner if they both present with the same problem at the same health care institution at the same time. And anyone who thinks that they will be treated equally with the same chance for a good outcome hasn't yet crawled out from under the rock they've been living under all these years.

Saturday Morning

We went “out” this morning to do a few errands. One of those was stopping at the mall to exchange some house slippers I had gotten for Christmas that were too small. The wife also had some things to buy in a department store there. While I was unsuccessful with the slipper exchange (they didn’t have the right size), it wasn’t a total loss. We saw a friend from the community where we used to live and chatted a minute or two. I perused the little shops in the public areas of the mall and wondered how anyone possibly could make any kind of a living selling some of the things they were selling. And I encountered all kinds of people.
I encountered the gamut of men from homeless men to dads who had their kids for the weekend (they’re not hard to spot) to other men who were waiting on their wives to finish shopping just as I was.
There were teens who (and I admit I don’t really know) appeared to not have a clue or care, young mothers pushing strollers, texters, trollers (mostly girls 12 to 15), strollers (who were walking for exercise), the requisite saggers (both male and female) and those who looked like they were angry with the world. There were women in gawd-awful get-ups with heels and others who were nicely attired. Older women were, it seemed, more of the nicely attired group, though there were one or two of that age who looked like they really wanted to be 17 again.
Some men were following their women; others were leading. A few (like me) were just standing around. Sales clerks helped those people who came by and feigned interest, and one even asked me if I was being helped (I’m so beyond help…) as I looked at the watches in a display case.
“I’m just killing time waiting on my wife,” I said with a little embarrassment. I moved on fairly quickly to a corner and just stood there for awhile trying to blend in. Noticing, after a time, that I was in the cosmetics department and probably wouldn’t blend in there in the next hundred years or so, I moved on out to the store entrance.
The wife called just a few minutes after that and we found each other and went on to the next thing. On the way out, I looked at the tattoo parlor, the candy store, the jewelry store, the underwear place (Victoria’s Secret), the book store, the electronics retailer, the import market, the tobacco outlet, and all of the clothing stores and wondered to myself if there was enough money in Wichita to keep all of these places in business. I also went past the little shops set up in the court area… the calendar place, the cell phone place, the shirt place, the massage place, the knock-off perfume place, the hat place, the ink cartridge refill place (yeah, I’ll certainly think of the mall first to get my cartridges refilled or get a tattoo), and the 18 other places on our way out. I wondered if there was enough interest on the part of the public to patronize these places to the extent that they were all here and going to be successful. I just can’t imagine that could possibly be the case.
I dunno, though. Maybe the dames in the heels need the massage parlor. Maybe the saggers need tattoos to cover what their clothes don’t. And maybe those who are angry with it all could use something positive from the bookstore or a new calendar. On that thought, maybe the mall and its inhabitants were made for each other. That may be why I felt somewhat uncomfortable in there.

End-of-Decade Musings

Today is the last day of 2009 and of the decade. (You can count the decade any way you like; in my blog, it ends today.) Ten years ago tonight, I was at the hospital where we worked, making certain that the Y2K hullabaloo was just that and nothing more. About 10 minutes after midnight, when I was satisfied that nothing we had there was going to blow up or disappear, I went out back and lit some fireworks in the street. The city had allowed fireworks to be sold and shot that night for the special occasion of the beginning of a new century. Naturally, I couldn't pass up that opportunity.
Tonight, if God wills, we will spend a relatively quiet evening at my brother's place with friends and relatives, eating, talking, and playing mindless games. There won't be much late-sleeping tomorrow as we probably won't stay up that late. Old people don't stay up late much, you know. Other than that, the decade of the 20-teens will be ushered in whether we like it or not and whether we're ready for it or not.
When that happens, I will have been a part of eight decades, but who's counting? Born in 1949, I like to say that because it makes me even older than I am. Hopefully, others will also think of me as wiser than I am, since age and wisdom traditionally go together.
My, my, a lot has happened these last 10 years. I hope, though, that through it all, what has really taken place is that I have grown more accepting of myself and others, of my lot in life, and of my inability to create true happiness and peace for myself. I hope I have honed my reliance on the One who made it all in such a way that would enable a relationship with Him like I've never had before. And regardless where the 20-teen decade takes us, I would hope that I can say at the end of it, “I have loved and have been loved.”

Emus and Cardboard

A couple of things happened today that I never even dreamed would happen. Have you ever said to yourself, “I never would have thought in a hundred years that…” I said that twice today.
The first was a commercial on TV over the lunch hour. We had the kitchen set on while we were dining on leftover chicken soup, and a commercial came on for emu oil. It’s been on before, but I hadn’t thought about the fact that this one minute spot was constructed to convince the viewer that he or she needed emu oil for good health and wellness. It’s like, “Oh, I’ve never thought of that before! I know now that I really, really need emu oil! Thank you for letting me know that!”
Never in a hundred years would I have thought that someone would try to sell me emu oil.
The second happened at work. Someone brought some pastries and coffee from Starbucks. The therapy girls asked me if I wanted any. I took them up on the coffee…I don’t get Starbucks very often, as I’ve never been in a store ( and don’t intend to start any time soon). They pointed me to the coffee…in a cardboard container with a pour spout.
Never in a hundred years would I have thought that I would be pouring coffee out of a cardboard container.
So, there you have it, folks. I am continually amazed at how ignorant and hopelessly…um…OLD I am when compared with those in the avant garde ranks who slather emu oil over their bodies and slurp (what they say is) the world’s best (and I presume has to be) most expensive coffee.
Excuse me while I trek out to get some coffee in cardboard.

Thought-Provoking

I don't know what to make of the story on "60 Minutes" this evening. A former CIA operative who worked in Afghanistan tells how he and his small bands of warriors defeated the Taliban shortly after 2001 in that region. He and an Afghan government official also talk about what is needed now in that region.
I don't have an opinion on the morality or "rightness" of what these men did. I know enough to know that war is, to say the least, a messy proposition. I also know that due to the fallen nature of the creation, these kinds of things just are a part of life and living.
However, if you wish to see a different perspective on the war in that area, what we are doing there and why (whether you agree or not that we should be there or are doing the right thing there), please watch the video. It's at http://www.cbs.com/primetime/60_minutes/video/index.php?pid=9Ni0XjwOBY60NbRGZWrcQB1b7WDV_gIT
You'll have to wade through some commercials, but the piece is well worth seeing, and provokes much thought.

The Adventure Continues

As I sit here listening to Handel’s “Messiah” on public radio, I am struck by how many of the pieces in that work are familiar to me. More than that I am struck by how many of those I have sung in a choir or some kind at some time in the past.
I am not musically trained, although I have been given a gift for reading music, and have at least a form of absolute pitch. I’ve always been active in choirs in high school and in communities, and enjoy singing with others.
Some of the great memories for me are those where I performed, along with others, such as the “Hallelujah Chorus”, “And the Glory”, and others from The Messiah. I also have fond memories of singing “O Holy Night” and other Christmas music along with non-holiday music such as “The Lord’s Prayer”, “Walk in Jerusalem”, and others. One year, our high school choir performed Handel’s “The Heavens are Telling”…a difficult piece at best for a high school choir. If I remember right, Ardyth Trenary (we called her “Trigger” because she liked horses) was the vocal teacher that year. She stayed only one year, but we did stuff that year (like a Broadway production) we’d never done before (or since).
When we were in southern Kansas, I helped organize a community choir that performed for several years during the Christmas holiday. That was probably one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve ever had, and I relish those memories.
I’d like to connect with a choir just once more in my lifetime…nothing fancy, no opera singers, no hot dog performers; just ordinary folks who have some musical ability who want to get together with a conductor and see what they can produce.
The family will be here in another hour or so and we’ll spend the rest of the day together in warmth and comfort. As my lovely wife wrote on the bottom of the Christmas card she gave me this morning, “And the adventure continues!”

O Holy Night

I was working in the shop at work today. I don't recall what specifically I was doing...fixing something, I think. I have a radio in there, and had it on an FM station that was playing Christmas music. They went through several numbers, then started "O Holy Night". I stopped in my tracks, went to my desk, sat down, and listened to the entire piece.
Now, I know that this song is a "warhorse" of the Christmas music genre. I also know it's been done by many people, recorded times too numerous to count on an abacus, and is so-oooo very familiar. I've heard it too, many many times. But this time there was something that went "click" in my head, and I just stopped everything, sat down, and concentrated on the words and their meaning. I must also admit that a tear or two formed in the corners of my eyes as I pondered the depth of the meaning of those words.
Have you ever really heard the words of that song? I mean to hear with understanding...to get the message...to know what the lyricist was trying to say? In case you haven't, I reprint them below.

O Holy Night
by John Sullivan Dwight (1855)

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of Our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world In sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd And the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts By His cradle we stand.
So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men From Orient land.
The King of Kings Lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials Born to be our friend.
He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us To love one another;
His law is love And His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break For the slave is our brother;
And in His name All oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy In grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us Praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory Evermore proclaim.
His power and glory Evermore proclaim.

Try This

Go to http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap960617.html and click on the picture. It should enlarge. I think if you click on it again, it will enlarge once more. See if you can find places on that picture that you know. If you’re geographically challenged, it might be a problem, but you can try.
For the folks in Kansas, try to find Wichita first. It’s down and to the left of one of the larger dots on the map just a shade to the right of the middle (Kansas City). You can follow I-70 west out of KC where you’ll find Lawrence, Topeka, and so on. To the southwest of Kansas City is a moderately large dot which would be Wichita. About half way between those two dots is a dot that is Emporia.
Once you find Wichita, it’s not hard to see Kingman, Harper, Anthony, Pratt, Hutchinson, Newton, Hesston, McPherson, and other communities. For those in Western Kansas, start at I-70 (you can see where it bends to the northwest at Oakley) and find communities from that point.
Michigan folks will have a harder time of it since the Detroit metro area is so bright. This map works a lot better in rural areas, of course. And if you’re from Florida, Arizona, or Montana, you’re on your own as I’m not that familiar with the local geography.
By the way, the website that has this (APOD) is a part of NASA and has a different picture that is space-related every day. It’s a fascinating place and this site is a great way to take in just a small part of what’s out there.

The Solstice

The winter solstice is fast approaching. Specifically, it shows up on December 21 this year just a few minutes before noon. That is when the sun is as far south in the sky as it will go. The days are also as short (9 hours, 34 minutes in Wichita, according the almanac) as they will get. From that point on, the sun will begin a northerly journey in the sky and the days will begin to get longer. Slowly at first, then more quickly, the sun begins to warm the northern hemisphere yet again in an almost endless cycle of climate, temperature change, and seasons.
I know there is a lot of winter ahead, but I always like to mark the winter solstice as it means that there is the hope of spring, warmer weather, and pleasant temperatures. I am also reminded of the provision of God in all of this. He sees to it that the times and seasons remain and keep in their places. He assures that there will indeed be an awakening this coming spring as the sun warms the earth and life springs forth yet again.
Year after year, regardless of any political upheaval, war, or human-made event, the sun still rises in the East and the plants and creatures continue to inhabit the earth, fulfilling the will of God. I have to wonder how many more springs I will see, and how many more springs will be seen by the creation itself, but those are questions that are not for me to answer. How ever many more springs that come my way, I will marvel at what I see in the creation, even out my back door.
There is life ahead and living to be done. There are adventures to share and experience. And there is the hope of rest from labors and an eternity with the King.

Christmas

I penned this first as a bulletin article five years ago.

“Tis the season to be jolly! Fa la la la la la la la la”. I suppose these words are very familiar to you as from the Christmas tune, Deck the Halls. But if your take on the season is the same as that of Lucy Van Pelt in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, you’ll relate very well to her as she says, “I know how you feel about all this Christmas business, getting depressed and all that. It happens to me every year. I never get what I really want. I always get a lot of stupid toys or a bicycle or clothes or something like that.”

The unfortunate thing is that many in our society feel the same way. Instead of a time for joy, it’s a time for depression. Instead of a time of contentment, it’s a time of greed. Instead of a time fulfillment, it’s a time of unfulfilled (and unfulfillable) expectations.

We go through the motions, succumb to the commercial temptations, break our necks to have the perfect holiday celebration, and put on the best show we know how, only to find that something is terribly wrong.

We have not found what we’re looking for. We’re not even close. And instead of sitting back and taking stock, we pedal even faster, so to speak, in the futile hope that somehow things will be different this time.

In the same TV program, Charlie Brown, exasperated, tired, and harried because of the antics of the others at a Christmas play practice, shouts out to anyone who will listen, “Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?”

And Linus Van Pelt, Lucy’s little brother, takes center stage and says, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you. Lights, please. (A spotlight shines on Linus.) "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men'. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

It is interesting to note that Linus, forever dependent on his security blanket, lets go of it when he quotes “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.” You know, maybe it’s time for a little less “Deck the Halls” and a little more quiet reflection on just what this time of year means to us.

Ignorance & Want

I just saw the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol for perhaps the 89th time. This particular adaptation was the one done by George C. Scott. Each time I watch this, it seems that I see something new or have a little different take on what is happening. Perhaps part of that comes from hardly ever watching the full movie in its entirety. For whatever the reason I seem to always catch pieces and parts of this story. I can perhaps count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen the whole thing at one sitting.
Nevertheless, I was struck this time by the appearance of the children under the skirt of the Ghost of Christmas Present. They are named Ignorance and Want, according to the Ghost. And depending on the version one sees, either one or both have the word “doom” written on their foreheads. This is perhaps the most riveting of all the scenes in the story.
Scrooge and the ghost have a conversation regarding these children. The words below are purported to be the original writing of Dickens regarding the children. The picture is said to be a print of the original in the book.
I leave you to discover the truth of this scene and apply it to yourself as you can.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was a long night, if it were only a night; but Scrooge had his doubts of this, because the Christmas Holidays appeared to be condensed into the space of time they passed together. It was strange, too, that while Scrooge remained unaltered in his outward form, the Ghost grew older, clearly older. Scrooge had observed this change, but never spoke of it, until they left a children's Twelfth Night party, when, looking at the Spirit as they stood together in an open place, he noticed that its hair was grey.

"Are spirits' lives so short?" asked Scrooge.

"My life upon this globe, is very brief," replied the Ghost. "It ends to-night."

"To-night!" cried Scrooge.

"To-night at midnight. Hark! The time is drawing near."

The chimes were ringing the three quarters past eleven at that moment.

"Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask," said Scrooge, looking intently at the Spirit's robe, "but I see something strange, and not belonging to yourself, protruding from your skirts. Is it a foot or a claw?"

"It might be a claw, for the flesh there is upon it," was the Spirit's sorrowful reply. "Look here."

From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment.

"Oh, Man, look here! Look, look, down here!" exclaimed the Ghost.

They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

"Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more.

"They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end."

"Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge.

"Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses?"

The bell struck twelve