The Isaac Papers

I know, I know, I know......

2011-06-01T16:37:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, I know....it has been a long time since I've posted here and I am not certain that anyone even reads this anymore. Life has been busy and challenging since our return from Florida at the beginning of April. There has been much to celebrate. All of the children and grandchildren were here for Easter Sunday and we had a grand time. Everyone attended church with Mary and I at Prince of Peace where I had served for 21 years. It was wonderful to be back there with the whole family and see old friends. We returned to the house for a wet and muddy Easter Egg Hunt. The children were very excited as they searched under, over, and behind trees and rocks. We then feasted on roast turkey and baked ham and all the fix'ns. Sarah arranged to take a photo of all the grandchildren and presented it to Mary in a beautiful frame for Mother's Day.
I enrolled in two courses this spring through the Academy for Life Long Learning in Saratoga. The first addressed the history of the Civil War and classes were held at the State Military Museum. It was very interesting and led to my discovery that my Great Grandfather, William Southwell, served in the 91st Regiment for the last year of the war. I was also surprised and grateful to learn that 21 of his letters written during the war to Mary Law, my Great Grandmother, were stored at the New York State Library. I was able to make arrangements to read the letters and am in the process of obtaining copies of the transcripts. The letters give a very personal glimpse into the life of a young, 18 year old, Union soldier.
The second class was a series of Interpretive Hikes with a naturalist at Moreau lake State Park. I managed to attend 5 of the hikes and experienced the Southern Adirondacks welcoming the season of spring.
In May I had two preaching assignments and also officiated at two weddings. We are now preparing to attend our annual Synod Assembly (church convention) this coming weekend. At that event I will be installed as Dean of the Hudson/Mohawk Conference of the UpState New York Synod of the ELCA. This is a position I was elected to while we were in Florida. I am now working hard to understand the various responsibilities of the position.
Our three raised garden beds have been dug up, composted added, and seeds and plants planted. Following a very rainy four weeks we are now experiencing summer type heat and humidity. It has really gotten things growing.
Memorial Day morning we hosted our annual "camp breakfast" in the backyard. It was a fun gathering of family and friends and a reminder of how "rich" my life is at present. Oh, we barely have enough money to keep the wolf from the door but we have an abundance of love and family and friends and interesting challenges. We are blessed.

Thoughts of Spring!

2011-04-28T22:25:00.000-04:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

The above quotes from Mark Twain are a reminder that the season of Spring is a time of yearning and uncertainty. Nature’s awakening in this season stirs in us a yearning for change, newness, and rebirth. And Spring does not disappoint. Soon the tulips will be in bloom in Albany’s Washington Park, blossoms will adorn the fruit trees, leaves will cover the now bare limbs, and peas will be picked in the vegetable garden. Soon…but when? Like children on a journey we ask each Spring morning; “Are we there yet?” We are impatient after a long and cold winter and desire a rebirth NOW!
And that brings us to the uncertainty and fickleness of Spring reflected in Twain’s second quote. This season of hope does not come to us in a smooth and steady revelatory process with each day becoming progressively warmer and full of more and more promise. No, it is an on again/off again season with ups and downs, joys and disappointments.
Spring is a wonderful metaphor of what it means to be on a faith journey. The Holy Spirit stirs in us a yearning and desire to walk closer with God. To experience the Holy Presence in all that we do. We wish that we would make a steady progression in this most significant task. The truth is that it is on again/off again and filled with days of hope and days of disappointment. This is not because God is fickle or uncertain. The promises revealed to us through Jesus are certain and assured. It is our fears, anxieties, and impatience that create the uncertainty in our hearts.

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!
~Robert Browning

Hope springs eternal when “God’s in His heaven-All’s right with the world”!

Florida Journal #6

2011-03-12T12:50:00.000-05:00

A manatee right off our dock in the canal.

This the trail I walk most every morning in the park.

Mary and I celebrated our 44th Wedding Anniversary on Friday with a trip to Tarpon Springs. It was a windy and cool day. We were especially blessed to meet with Danny, who was the best man at our wedding, and his wife and share a Greek meal together. That is not Danny in the diver's suit, he is in the photo below.

No, this is not Danny either.

This is Danny and I. We had not seen each other for 44 years until this trip and it has been a joy to get reacquainted and share memories of our time in the Air Force.

Mary and I and Dan and his wife, Joann.

Florida Journal #5: Manatees

2011-03-11T11:16:00.000-05:00

We saw these manatees at Jenkins Park Creek which is a lovely park about 3 miles from the house. I walk there most mornings. A few days later we saw a pair of manatee right off of our dock in the canal.

Florida Journal #4

2011-03-09T18:17:00.000-05:00

Mary and John playing miniature golf

Paddling the canal from our house out to the Weeki Wachee River. It takes about 20-30 minutes.

Upon reaching the river the water is clear. If you look closely you can see the fish swimming by.

This view is heading upstream on the river.

Florida Journal #3

2011-03-07T10:34:00.000-05:00

Sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. This is 3 miles from where we are staying.

Another backyard visitor.

Dewey and I went fishing on the Weeki Wachee River. We got there in the flat bottomed boat that we have at the rental house.

John and the Swamp Monster at the Weeki Wachee Swampfest.

Florida Journal #2

2011-03-07T10:26:00.001-05:00

Mary and Zoe at the park. Rich and I are up in the lookout tower.

A visitor in our backyard.

A couple of sun bathers in our backyard.

Rainbow Springs State Park

John fishing off of our deck.

Florida Journal #1

2011-03-07T10:17:00.002-05:00

We had a fine visit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on the way down.

The first of many sunny days in the Sunshine State.

A view of the park that I walk in each morning.

Mary and John at a local fair.

John and a new friend.

A Familiar Route

2011-02-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

We began our annual journey to sunny, we hope, Florida on Saturday morning. It is hard to believe that this is our fifth year. The last three years we have traveled the I95 route down the east coast that is so congested with travelers. This year we decided to use the I88 to I81 to I77 to I95 route. It has brought back many memories for us. The last time we attempted to go this way was 2007 when we got caught up in the Valentine's Weekend Blizzard and spent many unplanned days on the road. Prior to that eventful trip we had driven this route often to visit my parents in North Carolina and our children attending college in the Carolinas. We estimate about 40 trips in all down I81. Of course, we noticed quite a few changes along the highway especially new commercial development.
Except for a few snow flurries the first morning, the roads have been dry. It is a relief to have less traffic and no tolls. I have also enjoyed the scenery especially the Shenandoah Valley. The first morning we ate breakfast at the Penn/Cann truck stop which was a traditional stop for us. The food was not as good as we remembered so will not stop there again. Saturday evening we stayed in Winchester, VA and ate at a Ruby Tuesdays. We had a gift certificate from Christmas (thank you, Suzi and family). Mary and I had the Valentine's special for two which included an appetizer, two entrées, and a decadent desert. It was all delicious and fun. On Sunday we drove to Charlotte, NC and were greeted by 60 degrees. Today we will visit the NASCAR Hall of Fame before continuing our journey south.

Zero Day

2011-02-11T07:15:00.002-05:00

The bright red ball of sun that I am watching come up this morning has a hard day of work ahead of it as our digital thermometer reads 0.0. Even though the sun at this time of year lacks heat, it is the light that I crave. And so this February morning I give thanks for a cold and bright day.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you. ~Maori Proverb

The sun is nature's Prozac. ~Astrid Alauda

Ever since we crawled out of that primordial slime, that's been our unifying cry, "More light." Sunlight. Torchlight. Candlelight. Neon, incandescent lights that banish the darkness from our caves to illuminate our roads, the insides of our refrigerators. Big floods for the night games at Soldier's Field. Little tiny flashlights for those books we read under the covers when we're supposed to be asleep. Light is more than watts and footcandles. Light is metaphor. Light is knowledge, light is life, light is light. ~Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John1:5

A Valentine's Day Greeting

2011-02-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

This is a little Valentine's Poem that I came across.

ALABAMA or KENTUCKIAN's ODE TO VALENTINE'S

Kudzu is green,
my dog's name is Blue
And I'm so lucky
to have a sweet thang like you.

Yore hair is like cornsilk
a-flappin in the breeze.
Softer than Blue's
And without all them fleas.

You move like the bass,
which excite me in May.
You ain't got no scales
but I luv you anyways.

Yore as graceful as okry
jist a-dancin' in the pan.
Yore as fragrent as SunDrop
right out of the can.

On special occasions,
when you shave yore armpits,
Well, I'm in hawg heaven!
I'm plumb outta my wits.

And speakin' of wits,
you got plenty fer shore.
'Cuz you married me
back in '74.

Still them fellers at work
they all wanna know,
What I did to deserve
such a purty, young doe.

Like a good roll of duct tape
yore there fer yore man.
To patch up life's troubles
and stick 'em in the can.

Yore as strong as a four-wheeler
racin' through the mud.
Yet fragile as that sanger
named Naomi Judd.

Yore as cute as a junebug
a-buzzin' overhead.
You ain't mean like no fat ant
upon which I oft' tread.

Cut from the best pattern
like a flannel shirt of plaid,
You sparked up my life
like my rattletrap shad.

When you hold me real tight
like a padded gunrack,
My life is complete;
ain't nuttin' I lack.

Yore complexion is perfection,
Like the best vinyl sidin'.
Despite all the years,
yore age, it keeps hidin'.

And when you get old
like a '57 Chevy,
Won't put you on blocks
and let grass grow up heavy.

Me 'n' you is like a Moon Pie
with a cold RC drank.
We go together
like a skunk goes with stank.

Some men, they buy choclit
for Valentine's Day.
They git it at Wal-mart,
its romantic that way.

Some men git roses
on that special day.
From the cooler at Winn-Dixie
"That's impressive", I say.

Some men buy fine diamonds
from a flea market booth.
"Diamonds are furever ,"
they explain, suave and couth.

But for this man, honey,
these will not do.
Fur you are too special
you sweet thang you.

I got you a gift
without taste or odor.
Better than diamonds,
its a new trollin' motor.

gbailey@mail.gld.com

The Color of Lightning

2011-02-02T18:52:00.006-05:00

Author Paulette Jiles has crafted a very engaging novel about West Texas history in the years following the civil war. The book,The Color of Lightning, was inspired by the real life adventures of a slave, Britt Johnson, who became a freed black man. On October 13, 1864, Britt and the other men were in town when a large band of Kiowa and Comanche warriors attacked the homestead where his family lived. One of his children were killed and his wife and two children were taken captive. Broken hearted, Britt dedicates himself to finding his family and gaining their freedom. Afterwards he buys a wagon and a team of horses and starts a very successful freight business. The author's prose is very descriptive of the country and its people. She writes with a sensitivity and appreciation of the life style of these natives of this wild land. At the same time she does not shy away from graphically depicting the violence and brutality of the times.
Another character, Samuel Hammond, is a Quaker Indian Agent who is assigned the responsibility to treat the native tribes kindly but convince them to stop raiding and taking captives. His idealism is shaken by the realities of life on the prairie and the clash between cultures and life styles.
Jiles novel gives the reader an insight into the tensions, conflicts, politics, and racism of the years immediately following the civil war. This was a fine read and a gift from my son, John. It is not for the weak of heart but the reader will not soon forget Britt Johnson and the integrity with which he lived.

February

2011-02-01T22:03:00.002-05:00

February. I used to dread February. The cold, the snow, and the fact that it is followed by March. March was always a disappointment weather wise. I am always ready for spring by the time March rolls around and it always disappoints. Usually more snow. The wet, heavy kind. And gray skies.
I now anticipate February with excitement. This will be our 6th yearly winter trip to Florida. In past years we have gone for four or five weeks. This year it will be six. The best part? In Florida, spring does come in March. Birds, flowers, warm and sunny days.
I keep very busy in this season of life and continue to have many opportunities to do the work and ministry that I love. I am so busy that people will say; "You're not really retired.". Then comes February and the anticipation of weeks of exploring a new area in Florida, watching the birds, enjoying the beach, visiting the State Parks, spending time with friends, reading, and relaxing with Mary and John. Oh yeah, I am retired.
January was exciting and challenging. I spent a good part of the month preparing to preach and lead workshops at a conference for "First Call" (new) pastors. The four day conference was last week. This year I was accompanied by son, John, who shared his gift of music as part of the presentations. What a joy. We also contended with a few snow storms in January and are in the midst of another now.
So tomorrow we will dig out. What do you expect? It is February.

"Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"
- William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

Sundays

2010-12-12T20:03:00.002-05:00

Many Sundays I still find myself leading worship and preaching at various churches but I also have frequent days like today. Days filled with enjoyable activities, family, and relaxation. It is still a bit of a "culture shock" from when I served as a parish pastor with all the responsibilities and busyness of each Sunday.
Today I attended worship at St. Peter Lutheran Church which is just a couple of miles up the road. After church I walked three miles in the dry and warm Mall in Wilton. On the way home I purchased a few "goodies" at the Dunk'n for Mary and John. Arriving home, I cooked omelets for our brunch and we sat at the table lingering over coffee and the newspaper. I then prepared a pot of chili which simmered on the stove throughout the afternoon as I watched football and dozed on the couch. These activities might sound mundane and boring to many but for me they are what makes this chapter of my life so rich. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to enjoy a "Sabbath Day" in this simple way.

According to Plan

2010-11-23T19:05:00.006-05:00

Overheard at Panera's today; "If everything goes according to plan...". It has to be one of the silliest things we say. When was the last time that anything went "according to plan" in your life? I, like everyone else, make plans and imagine a general outline of how I want to proceed. In reality, the plan never goes as planned and I think that is a good thing. In my experience, it is the detours, challenges, and surprises that enrich my life. The lessons learned are not in the plan but in facing the unexpected.

In this season of my life, I try to practice surrendering more then planning. I'm attempting to be more open to intuition,opportunity, and God's will. For me, that begins with prayer each day. A recognition that "being in charge" is simply an illusion. That much of my life has been shaped by chance or luck or destiny. The real challenge is discerning what to do when the plan goes off the rails. So, after surrendering my will, I pray for discernment. For the wisdom to know what to do. Well, anyway, that's my plan.

Election Day Eve

2010-11-01T08:22:00.003-04:00

This election season has left me feeling discouraged, depressed, and cynical. I am a bit of a political junkie and usually approach an election with both fascination and anticipation. This year, however, the angry words and accusations and attacks have sucked the usual excitement and hope right out of me. Despite all of this, I still believe in our system. Alan Forray writing in the Saturday, October 30, edition of the Times Union articuled how I am approaching this Tuesday.
"Maybe it is altogether futile, but I intend to vote on Tuesday. I will do so because in a democracy, it is my right, my obligation, and my job. Instead of just shouting that it's time to "Vote them all out," I'm voting for the candidates who, at the very least, have indicated that they'd like to try and do something."

retirement?

2010-10-25T08:31:00.006-04:00

"A man's never out of work. If he's worth a damn. It's just sometimes he doesn't get paid. I've gone unpaid my share and I've pulled my share of pay. But that's got nothing to do with working. A man's work is doing what he's supposed to do, and that's why he needs a catastrophe now and again to show him a bad turn isn't the end, because a bad stroke never stops a good man's work." William Least Heat-Moon in "blue highways".
It occurred to me that the above is a pretty good description of retirement as I have experienced it. A person's "work" during this chapter of life is to truly do "what he's supposed to do." Retirement gives one the freedom to make choices based on one's character, principles, and values without the constraint of placating an employer or customer.
The fellow traveler sharing his philosophy with the author concludes his musing with, "Any man's true work is to get his boots on each morning. Curiosity gets it done about as well as anything else."
I love being able to respond to curiosity during this season of life. If I read about a class, a lecture, an exhibit, a performance, etc. that interests me I now have the time to check it out.

Water for Elephants

2010-10-22T09:47:00.007-04:00

"When you're five, you know your age down to the month. Even in your twenties you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three, you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then in your thirties something strange starts to happen. It's a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I'm-you start confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you're not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end, It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it."
So begins chapter one of "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen. I enjoyed reading this fascinating novel about a depression era traveling circus and the wonderful characters and animals that populate it. I greatly appreciated the author's attention to detail and the wonderful descriptions of setting up and tearing down the big top and train travel in that time.

Summer Photos

2010-08-29T18:48:00.009-04:00

John preparing to wave the green flag at Lee Speedway in New hampshire

Mary and I in Maine

Fishing on Burden Lake with Dewey

Kaylyn's Graduation

At Indianapolis Speedway Museum

Here I am kayaking on the Yellow River in Iowa

refirement

2010-05-19T16:59:00.008-04:00

Anxious, excited, tired, energized, filled with anticipation and hope. This is how I signed some correspondence today. This valediction reflects a life that is filled with activities, responsibilities, relationships, and challenges. In the midst of whining about how crazy things are right now I pause to give thanks for a busy life filled with significant work.
When I retired three years ago I would jokingly refer to this chapter of my life as "refirement". A refiring of purpose, direction, and energies. I realize now how fortunate I am to have significant and meaningful work to do in my 65th year of life.
The month of June will be be filled with opportunities to celebrate and succeed at the work I have been called. I begin the month in Rochester, NY at the Annual Upstate New York Synod Assembly. We have been planning six months for this event and I have been working closely with musician friend, Jim, to design the worship experiences at the assembly. Today the final draft of the worship booklet is finished and will be going to the printers soon. I have been supported by the other members of the planning team and others in this work. I am also preparing to present the keynote Bible Study at the opening of the assembly. This is a wonderful opportunity to share my passion for scripture in a creative and challenging manner. The added bonus is that not only is John attending with me but he will also be sharing his musical gifts in both worship and the Bible Study.
On the 12th of June; Mary, John, and I will fly to Cincinatti where I will rent a car and drive us to Eastern Iowa to visit her family. We will return to Cincinatti on the 17th where I will officiate at Keith and Jessica's wedding that weekend. We will return home on the 20th for one day before departing for Atlanta on the 22nd. John is a winner of Moe's Southwest Grill "Be A Dead Ringer" contest and we will fly down for his photo shoot and return the next day.
The day after that we will gather as a family to celebrate our granddaughter, Kaylyn's, graduation from high school. Another wedding on Saturday, the 26th, then off to Senior High Camp Week on Schroon Lake on Sunday. Whew!
We used to joke that I would still be serving on staff at Senior High Camp when I was 65 years old, well, it is not a joke. So now you can see why I sign my correspondence; anxious, excited, tired, energized, filled with anticipation and hope.

Older?

2010-04-08T13:21:00.004-04:00

I had a nice celebration of my 65 th birthday when I was in Florida. We drove to Gainesville, toured the museums, and had a great dinner at Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille. Harry's is a "New Orleans Style Restaurant" and I had a plate of the best Jambalaya that I have ever tasted. After dinner we attended a concert on campus of the college accappela group; "No Southern Accent". They put on a terrific show.
The truth is, I don't feel very old. Most of the time. But every once in awhile something comes up and I realize how much older I am then some others. For instance, the boys and girls on "American Idol' were assigned the task this week of singing from the John Lennon and Paul McCartney songbooks. Many of the contestants talked about their unfamiliarity with the Beatle's and their music. What? I forget how much tiome has passed. In my mind the Beatle's are still contemporary. I guess I am getting old.

Florida Trip: Week Three

2010-03-24T14:34:00.004-04:00

We are preparing most of our meals here at the rental but have also had a number of unique dining experiences in the area. This Friday we drove the 24 miles to Nell's Country Buffet. It is in a very modest building in the town of Brandford. Nell serves up a buffet each day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We were there in time for dinner and the all-you-can-eat buffet included fried chicken, fried fish, chicken pot pie, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatos, green beans, corn, mustard greens. A salad bar that offered all the fix'ns for a tossed salad plus potato salad, macaroni salad, carrot salad, pasta salad, and fruit salad. Plus a dessert selection of two kinds of cake, peach cobbler, bananna pudding, and icecream. All of the above for the price of $6.95. I think we will make the drive again soon.The first day of spring was warm and sunny as we visited Dudley Farm Historic State Park in Newberry, FL. This is not a re-creation but an authentic 1880's era farm complex. It is a living history farm with animals and crops being raised on the property.

In the afternoon we drove into Gainesville and attended the Spring Garden Festival at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. There were over 200 vendors of plants, crafts, and food in a beautiful setting with live music on two stages. On the drive home we stumbled upon an outdoor concert with a terrific band.

Sunday evening we drove to Ocoee and stayed at a motel so as to get an early start the next day at Disney's Wild Kingdom Park. We enjoyed the park very much. It was a cool day in the 60's, just right for all the walking one must do at these parks. The rides and attractions were fun but we especially enjoyed the two live muxical shows; Nemo's Adventure, and The Lion King celebration. I am always amazed by the broadway caliber type talent that perform in these show. We completed the day with dinner at The Rainforest Cafe.

On Tuesday we came home via Ocala so we could visit with friends, see some of our old haunts, and dance at Spanish Square in The Villages in the evening. We enjoyed a great dinner and conversation with the two Richard's and their wives at a Sam St. John's Seafood Restaurant before going dancing.

Florida Trip: Week Two

2010-03-14T17:18:00.004-04:00

It has been a quiet week here in North Central Florida. Wednesday was our warmest day and we drove into Gainesville to take in a Florida Gator baseball game. It was a beautiful evening for baseball and the Gators beat the University of Illinois, 8-1.

Before the game we visited the Baughman Meditation Center on the campus of the University of Florida. It is a beautiful building open to students, faculty, and the public for personal contemplation. Here are a couple of pics of this peaceful place.

Richard and Louise and Rich and Zoe all drove up from Ocala for a visit on Thursday. We ate lunch at Huckleberry's BBQ in Fanning Springs with real southern BBq that is smoked on the premises along with sides of fried okra, fried corn, and mustard greens. Everyone enjoyed the feast. After lunch we took the short drive to the Dakotah Winery for a wine tasting. Everyone left with bottles of wine. This was our second visit and it won't be our last.

Saturday found us driving to Silver Springs Park for a Randy Travis Concert. We sat on the lawn with the two Richard's and Louise and Zoe. The country artist was in fine voice and backed by a terrific band. Temperatures were in the high 60's with a strong breeze. During the concert, John had the opportunity to meet a baby 'gator up close and personal.
Here at the rental, John and I have played a few games of horseshoes, Mary has quilted, I've gone for my daily walks down to the river, Mary and I have played cards, and we've all watched a couple of movies on the tv. It is hard to believe that our time here is half over already.

Florida Trip: Week One

2010-03-07T21:59:00.006-05:00

We began our trip south a day later then planned due to a winter storm in the northeast. The delay did not prevent us from driving through rapidly falling snow south of Poughkeepsie and into New Jersey on Friday the 25th. We arrived safely at the home of Karl and Leslie in the early evening. After a tour of the church that Karl serves as Senior Pastor, we had a fantastic dinner at Famous Dave's Barbeque. Our first but certainly not last bbq of the trip. We had a lively discussion and lots of laughs with Karl and Leslie and their daughters, Amanda and Abigail.

Saturday we had an uneventful trip to Florence, SC; then on to Florida and the town of Homossasa to spend the evening with Poker Blugill (Dewey) and his lovely wife, Elizabeth. Sunday morning dawned with bright sunshine and mild temps. Dewey cranked up the pontoon boat and we cruised down the river accompanied by dolphins and manatees. It was very exciting and Dewey and Elizabeth went swimming with the manatees as I spotted for them from the boat. In the afternoon we headed north to our rental here in Old Town, Florida. This house is about 90 miles northeast of where we have stayed the last three years so we have a lot of new territory to explore. Tuesday and Wednesday we began those explorations with trips to the Walmart (the social gathering place for many in this area), pizza at Hungry Howie's, and walks in the neighborhood as well as on the Suncoast Trail.

Dewey and Elizabeth arrived Thursday afternoon and I cooked apricots and chicken for dinner. On Friday we purchased fishing licenses with visions of catching some Suwanee bass but thanks to unusually high water we came up empty. The day was still very enjoyable as we visited two of the local state parks, Manatee and Fanning Springs. Hungry from being outdoors all day, we visited the Black Diamond Restaurant for a great meal. Returning to the house we ended the day with a lively game of Fact or Crap. Dewey won which I think is Crap but it sure was fun.

Saturday morning, Dewey and Elizabeth headed north after sharing a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, over easy eggs, and smoked bacon made by yours truly. An engaging conversation was the perfect accompaniment to the hearty breakfast. Mary, John, and I visited a few flea markets in the afternoon and listened to live bluegrass music in the evening at the Otter River Campground. Five different bands performed old timey gospel and bluegrass.

Today, Sunday, we made the hour drive to Gainesville to attend church. During a hymn I left the sanctuary to find a bathroom and seeing a sign that indicated the restrooms were in the next building, I walked across the court to the indicated building. Upon return I found myself locked out of the church. After about five minutes an usher came into the hallway and I attracted his attention by tapping on the window. I am not quite sure that I would rate this particular congregation as "visitor friendly" but I did enjoy the worship service. We had lunch at the Book Lovers Cafe and the visited the museum at the University of Florida. The highlight of the visit was the butterfly rainforest where we were surround by hundreds of beautiful specimens. I am having trouble downloading pics here but there is a slide show on my facebook page.

The nights have remained quite cool but each day has been warmer then the previous and today we reached 74 degrees.

Heading South

2010-02-21T19:45:00.002-05:00

Well...yes...I am ready. Ready to leave the Northeastern United States for five weeks. Florida is on my mind and thankfully the sunshine state appears to be warming up after an unusually cold winter. On my sidebar I have the current temperature for Ballston Lake and for North Central Florida where we will be staying. Today our high was in the 30's and there it reached the 70's. Here we are about to enter our 5th month of winter but in Florida, spring is just around the corner.
Much to do before departing. You know the list. This and that. I have the route all mapped out. A stay with friends in the Philadelphia area, then on to Florence, SC, and then a couple days with Poker Bluegill and his lovely wife in Homossassa where we will say hello to the manatees and Lu the Hippo. Then, finally, to our rental in Old Town, FL. This will be a new rental and a new area for us after three wonderful winter trips to the Ocala area. We will be out in the country surrounded by many state and county parks. They call the area Old Florida to differentiate from the Disneyfied and Condoized parts of Florida.
High on the priority list of tasks to complete is getting the Nissan ready for the trip. All was well, then Friday I stopped to get gas. As I squeezed the pump handle, gas ran out of the tank and down the side of the car. Nursing the pump, squeezing tentatively, I managed to get 3 gallons into the tank. Saturday I had the same experience. Tommorrow morning when the service department opens at the dealer, I will be there waiting. Hopefully they will be able to fix it quickly so that we can leave on schedule.
Tonight I have begun packing. Folding the warm weather clothes and placing them in the suitcase creates one of the best feelings a resident of the Notheast can have in February. For my few faithful readers, I will be blogging along as we travel. 'till then.

Ahhhhh February

2010-02-02T22:53:00.004-05:00

"Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"
- William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

As I turn my face to February and my back to January, I anticipate March in Florida.

"Late February, and the air's so balmy snowdrops and crocuses might be fooled into early blooming.
Then, the inevitable blizzard will come, blighting our harbingers of spring, and the numbed yards will
go back undercover. In Florida, it's strawberry season— shortcake, waffles, berries and cream will
be penciled on the coffee shop menus."
- Gail Mazur, The Idea of Florida During a Winter Thaw

Only the shortest month stands between us and strawberries, grapefruit, and oranges. March in Florida is springtime with blossoming flowers and fresh garden vegetables. Often this month my mind will already be on the journey to the sunshine state. February comes with the promise to not be quite as busy and filled with activities as January was.

My last post, written on New Year's Day, described a lazy and relaxing day that would not be repeated. January was busy, challenging, and filled with activity. One such activity involved Potential Unlimited Productions, an organization which offers artistic and musical training for individuals with disabilities. John has been a "cast member" at "Potential" for many years and I serve on their board. In January they moved to a new facility near Woodstock, New York and I traveled there two days to help clean and paint the new space. I also made a trip to the Syracuse area to attend two meetings involving responsibilities I have with the Upper New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. I continue to serve on the Mission in Transition Team and this year I am serving on the planning team for the Synod Assembly to be held in June. I am coordinating efforts to plan worship for that event. My main priority in January was to design workshops on "Preaching Hope to an Anxious People" which I presented at the First Call Pastors' Event, January 25-28, in Convent Station, New Jersey. This was my fifth year on staff at that important event which offers continuing education for pastors in their first 3 years in parish ministry.

In between the ministry responsibilities I continued weekly Tai Chi classes and added a two week Qi Gong class. Qi Gong (pronounced chee kung) sometimes spelled Chi Kung, is the ancient art of Chinese energy work. Qi (or chi) means energy or life force - Gong (kung) means work. The set I recently learned is called "The Swimming Dragon" and it involves stretching and twisting the whole body. Special Olympic bowling started up again on 1/14 and I am once again serving as a coach to John's team. Spending time with these courageous folks is the highlight of my week. We have a great time together. January ended with a "bang" as John and I attended the musical "Grease" on Saturday and John performed for the second year at the Center for Disability Telethon on Sunday.

Granddaughter, Kaylyn, and I began a four week Improv class this week. We enjoyed the first session very much and are looking forward to the upcoming sessions. John and I have tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters this Sunday, I am helping lead a council retreat later in the month, we have another meeting in Syracuse this Saturday, and it is time to start planning Senior High Camp. I am thankful for a full and rich life as March and my 65^th birthday are on the horizon.

New Year's Day

2010-01-01T21:29:00.002-05:00

Just the strangest day for me. I seem to have learned how to relax. Finally. At least for a day. So I began the new decade in my pajamas and stayed in them. Cannot remember ever doing that before as an adult. Ate cereal and blueberries, read the paper, posted photos on the blog, prepared pork and sauerkraut with apples, carrots, onions, and brown sugar and put it all in the crockpot. To my surprise it was 12:30 and I was still in my PJ's....so I took a nap. This afternoon I got dressed, we watched a little football, ate dinner, and watched "Taking Woodstock". A delightful and fun account of the events surrounding the 3 days of peace and music. Until the mouse....not in the movie but running across our living room floor. Where did he come from? Went behind the piano. So we gave chase, went behind the tv, then out a crack under the doorjam. Stuffed it full of steel wool. That'll fix him. Happy New Year!

2009 in Pictures

2010-01-01T10:58:00.009-05:00

Clara Rose born 11/25
Sawyer Todd born 6/26

Mary, John, and I in Florida in March

Kaylyn and I at MassMoca

Christmas Eve

Autumn

September in Diamond Point

Noah and Jake

Noah in his pool

Josh taking the plunge

My son...the guitar man

planting the garden with Jena and Jake

John and Noah with me on a hike

waterfall in Vermont

Morgan up a tree

spring at our house

John the rock star

You "nose" it is 2010!!

Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T09:33:00.003-05:00

I believe in Christmas.

I believe that God continues to work in my life today through this story of Christ's birth so long ago.

I am a shepherd, startled to hear the good news of the angels, but eager to go and see for myself.

I am Mary, aware that somehow God is using me to accomplish things to big for me to imagine.

I am Joseph, not understanding fully that which God calls me to do, but following as fatihfully as I can.

I am the innkeeper, busy and frazzeld, but making some room, somehow, for God to be born.

I am the Wisemen, on a journey of discovery, bearing my gift to be given to glorify God.

And Yes, I am the angel, proclaiming in my own life, the glorious good news that God has come into the world and we shall never be the same.

I believe in Christmas and with my life, today and throughout the year to come, I will proclaim that Christ is born, that Chrismas is here, that God is with us!

(written by Peter K. Perry, Prescott United Methodist Church; Orescott, AZ)

First Snow

2009-12-06T11:04:00.003-05:00

After an unusually warm and balmy November and first week of December, we finally received our first snow of the season. I awoke to blue skies, 23 degrees, and a beautifully decorated snow covered world. These pics are from my morning walk in Shenentaha Park.

When I no longer thrill to the first snow of the season, I will know that I am growing old.-Lady Bird Johnson

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different and if this is not enchantment, where is it to be found?-John Boynton Priestley

A snowflake is one of God's most fragile creations, but look what they can do when they stick together. -Anon.

Two Days Old

2009-11-30T20:41:00.002-05:00

Clara Rose...2 days old

A Week of Thanksliving!

2009-11-28T21:57:00.002-05:00

Clara Rose

Clara Rose and PopPop

Big Brother Noah and his little sister just 25 hours old

8 grandchildren. EIGHT grandchildren. When Mary and I married, she 21 and I 22, we knew we would have children. Plural. Certainly two, maybe three, or more. Turned out to be more. Three wonderful daughters, then a son. Later, through adoption, another son. Blessings all. But grandchildren? You don't even think about the possibility. Then your children marry and you begin to think...hey, I could be a grandfather. Eight times! Clara Rose took her time coming into the world. 42 weeks in the womb. Then we got the call from Vermont...6 a.m....Wednesday morning, it looked like she would come into the world later that day. I was needed to watch her soon-to-be big brother, Noah. Had to make some quick decisions. Mary was needed to work at the store on Friday morning...5 a.m.

I didn't know how long I would be needed. So decision made, John and I to Vermont. We arrived just before noon. The call announcing Clara Rose's birth came at five p.m. (except she wasn't Clara Rose yet because they hadn't decided on a name). John, Noah, and I piled into the car and made the hour drive over the mountain from Waitsfield to Middlebury. We met this eighth grandchild, all 9lbs 8oz., with a beautiful head of dark curly hair. After a great visit, everyone except Mom and daughter went to McDonald's for a quick meal. Behind the restaurant was a supermarket. I had brought some food with me to cook for Thanksgiving but I didn't have a Turkey. In the market I was able to purchase an unfrozen 3 lb turkey breast. Joshua returned to his wife and daughter at the hospital and we headed back over the mountain.Clara Rose and her parents arrived home at 6:30 pm on Thanksgiving Day, just a little over 24 hours old. I served brussel sprouts, green beans, yams, and turkey for dinner. Mary hosted two of our daughters, Carla and Sarah, and Sarah's son, Sawyer (our 7th grandchild) and our dear friend, Linda, whose husband, Don, had gone into Hospice Care the day before. They had a fine dinner of turkey, green bean cassarole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatos and gravy, scalloped corn, and pie for dessert.

John and I returned home on Friday. We met Sarah, Sawyer, and Mary in the evening at the Wilton Mall and went to the movies. We saw the film, Blind Side, a wonderful movie based on a true story. It was the perfect film for this holiday weekend as it celebrates the values of family, love, patience, forgiveness, and courage.

This morning I recieved the sad news that Don had died. We prayerfully give thanks for his life, his generosity, his sense of humor, and his friendship.

November Walking

2009-11-11T20:45:00.004-05:00

West Coast Chuck, a fellow blogger, got me thinking about the joy of walking in November here in the great northeast. We have experienced an unusual run of sunny and warm weather this November, ideal for raking leaves, biking, walking and hiking. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote; I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.

These are photos I took while on a recent walk in Saratoga State Park.
I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape-the lonliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show.

Andrew Wyeth

Halloween

2009-10-30T11:49:00.003-04:00

Grandson, Sawyer, is really "into" the whole pumpkin thing.

John is channeling Michael Jackson for Halloween.

Sand Artist

2009-10-27T11:44:00.003-04:00

I have seen some videos of sand artists at work before but none of the presentations were as powerful as this one. She tells a powerful story in a very dramatic way. Click here.

Our own Piano Man

2009-10-02T15:55:00.003-04:00

I am excited to be able to share this video on youtube of our son, John, performing this past January on a telethon for The Center for the Disabled. Click on this link and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9QNLOxzjKc

Autumn Prelude

2009-09-19T20:08:00.002-04:00

The calendar tells me that Autumn is still two days away yet the signs are all around me. The leaves are beginning to change and tonight will be in the 30's. The acorn squash and the green and red peppers hang heavy in the garden. I've started digging carrots. Orange and plump and sweet to the taste.
The seasonal change nudges me to change my approach to this blog. To write more often. Thank you to those who have said they've missed it. In the midst of a busy summer it has been low on my priorities.
I heard some fellas talking the other day about approaching retirement and their fear that they would be bored. I can honestly say that I haven't once experienced boredom since retirement. My life is rich with family and challenging experiences.
I am thankful for that. Worked at the Habitat Build this week. Will preach tomorrow. Renovating John's TV room upstairs. New carpet, new paint, new futon, and new TV. John calls it his "man cave". Celebrated John's 23rd birthday on Thursday. Family gathered at Friendly's for supper and ice cream. Earlier in the day we played mini-golf and bowled. John smiled all day. Have spent many hours searching on the Internet for a place to rent in Florida this winter as our earlier plans fell through. Late Thursday evening I found the perfect place for us. And it is available the month of March. It has a separate bedroom and bath for John that will be large enough to accommodate his keyboard. The house is in a region of Florida that we have not yet explored. We are looking forward to the adventure.
That's the key I think. Always have something to look forward to. Family times, challenging work, projects at the house, trips both large and small. Tomorrow we will pray a prayer I found; "Supreme Artist, we praise you for Autumn, a season of humbling and liberating beauty, the grand finale of the year."

76 Trombones

2009-08-23T17:08:00.002-04:00

Westcoast Chuck posted this on his face book and it gave me great joy to watch. Click here and I guarantee it will make you smile.

being PopPop!

2009-07-01T20:19:00.007-04:00

Sawyer Todd Mraz, our seventh grandchild was born yesterday, June 30, at 10:18 a.m. weighing 7 lb 6 oz and 21" tall. Our grandchildren now range in age from 0ne day to 16 years old. They all call me PopPop. Of all my titles; Reverend, Pastor, etc., this one carries the most responsibility and honor. I am silly with the young ones and funny with the teenagers. I visit museums with Kaylyn (16), play golf with Brendan (14), attend Morgan's (6) dance recitals and soccer games, go on hikes in the woods with Noah (5), mow the grass and work in the garden with Jacob (5), push Jena (2) in her stroller, and hold Sawyer in my arms. I read books outloud and make up stories, chase lightening bugs, prepare chocolate chip pancakes, have tea parties, and make the "tickle monster" come alive. Most of all.....I simply try to "be there". To be truly present in ways that I failed to do for my children. That is the gift of this season of life; to be free to choose how we spend our time more wisely. And so I am available to have lunch, pick someone up at school, take one to an appointment, go to a play or a movie, bowling, etc. You see, nothing very dramatic, not life changing or saving, certainly not memorable by themselves but the sum total of the activities together build the memories of growing up with PopPop. Morgan, Jena, and Jacob

Brendan and I

Noah

On Monday, Kaylyn and I spent a marvelous day together. We drove on route 2 over the mountain to North Adams, Mass. to visit Mass Moca, a huge museum of contemporary art.

Vermont

2009-06-26T12:20:00.006-04:00

Here is a link to an article in the New York Times regarding the Mad River Valley in Vermont where our son, Josh, and his family live. The above pic is in the article and Josh passes this farm every morning on the way to work. Josh's office is in the General Wait House which is mentioned in the article.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/travel/escapes/26Amer.html

days, weeks, and months

2009-06-19T20:13:00.005-04:00

Mary gave me a new calendar for Father's Day. It begins July 1, 2009 and ends December 31, 2010. Eighteen months, seventy eight weeks, five hundred and forty nine days.......all blank. It is a great gift. The gift of anticipation, yearning, dreaming, and planning. The gift of the future yet to unfold. I begin to fill in the blanks. The first week of July; the birth of Sarah and Todd's son is expected, grandchild number 7. I skip past the summer months to November and write in the anticipated birth of Josh and Elizabeth's daughter, grandchild number 8. This will mean that each of our four biological children have two children, a boy and a girl for each. How symmetrical and how wonderful for the grandparents.

Thinking of the family leads me to write in our family gathering at the end of August each year on the shores of Lake George. I then block off the winter weeks when we plan to be in Florida enjoying the warmth of the sunshine state as our house groans under the weight of the winter snow and ice. We are renting a house on a lake this year and I look forward to fishing for those big Florida bass.

There are opportunities for ministry to plan for also. A couple of weddings, the ordination of Jennifer Peters McCurry on August 29th. Jen has asked me to preach at the service. It is such an honor. Jen attended the congregation I served and I have known her since she was a young child. This will be the second young woman from our congregation whose ordination I am blessed to participate in.

I have received an invitation to serve as the main speaker at a youth gathering of Senior High youth that will be held in Niagara Falls in mid-March. Another honor and surely a blessing to be able to share in the excitement and energy of that event. The planning for what I will say will never be far from my mind the next nine months. Later that same month I will turn 65 years old. What a sense of humor God must have to give me this opportunity in this season of my life. Conversely, this November, I will be speaking on "Faith and Aging" for a Senior group.

So it goes, as I fill in a date here and a date there but most of the days remain blank. This is when the excitement grows. What surprises await me on these monthly pages, what joys and sorrows are yet to be? I am reminded of Jesus' words as recorded in Matthew.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Therefore I choose to anticipate the next year and a half with hope, excitement, and gratefulness.

Good Morning!

2009-06-17T08:52:00.004-04:00

I started my morning with the words, music, and images of "Morning has Broken" by Cat Stevens. Then I went to work in the garden. Click HERE and enjoy.

the hopeful gardener

2009-05-25T21:05:00.006-04:00

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.” (John 15:1)

I have been thinking about this image from the gospel of John as I have prepared my own garden for planting this Spring. For twenty five years I have attempted to coax a harvest out of the stubborn clay soil in our backyard. The compost and manure we added over the years helped to enrich the soil but the annual harvest was always disappointing. So this year I decided to dig, build, and create raised beds for our vegetable garden.

This has turned out to be a very labor intensive project. First step was to remove the sod from an area measuring four by twelve feet. This is accomplished by forcing a spade into the dry, resistant, and stubborn clay dirt and removing 12” by 12” squares. These forlorn looking chunks are placed beside what will become the planting bed. Step two is to use a garden fork to loosen the dirt and break up the clods that are in the 4’ by 12’ bed. Then I place around the bed the frame that I have constructed from 2” by 8” lumber. Now it is time to return the sod I had earlier dug out by placing them grass side down in the bed so that the grass and sod will decompose in the earth. This is followed by using the garden fork to break up the sod as much as possible. Then a 1” layer of compost is laid down and followed by a 4 to 5 inch layer of good top soil. Finally, the soil is ready for the seeds and seedlings to be planted in the three raised garden beds we built this week. Yes, I have repeated this process three times. This brings us back to the Apostle John’s image of God as the gardener. How persistent and patient God must be with us as he prepares us for the seed of his gracious and compassionate Word. I know that the soil of my heart and mind can be as dry and unyielding as the clay in our yard. Yet God continues to work in my life and yours….digging out that which prohibits us from growth, breaking down our resistance, adding those ingredients that nourish and sustain us through all the seasons of life. Gardening reminds me that spiritual growth is a process. A process that takes time and preparation and patience.
Now the seeds and seedlings have been placed lovingly and hopefully in their new beds; not to sleep but to awaken and grow. They are in a place where they will receive 10 to 12 hours of sun a day, when it is not to cloudy. So…if I remember to water every day…and the rabbits don’t eat everything….and the weeds don’t get ahead of me………..
Spirit of the Living God, be the Gardener of my soul. For so long I have been waiting, silent and still-experiencing a winter of the soul. But now, in the strong name of Jesus Christ, I dare to ask:
Clear away the dead growth of the past. Break up the hard clods of custom and routine. Stir in the rich compost of vision and challenge. Bury deep in my soul the implanted Word. Cultivate and water and tend my heart. Until new life buds and opens and flowers. Amen! (from Prayers of the Heart by Richard J. Foster)

Spring in Upstate New York

2009-04-23T11:03:00.003-04:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. ~Mark Twain

The above quotes from Mark Twain are a reminder that the season of Spring is a time of yearning and uncertainty. Nature’s awakening in this season stirs in us a yearning for change, newness, and rebirth. And Spring does not disappoint. Soon the tulips will be in bloom in Albany’s Washington Park, blossoms will adorn the fruit trees, leaves will cover the now bare limbs, and peas will be picked in the vegetable garden. Soon…but when? Like children on a journey we ask each Spring morning; “Are we there yet?” We are impatient after a long and cold winter and desire a rebirth NOW!
And that brings us to the uncertainty and fickleness of Spring reflected in Twain’s second quote. This season of hope does not come to us in a smooth and steady revelatory process with each day becoming progressively warmer and full of more and more promise. No, it is an on again/off again season with ups and downs, joys and disappointments. Today as I write, it is in the 50’s but tomorrow brings the promise of an 80 degree day.
Spring is a wonderful metaphor of what it means to be on a faith journey. The Holy Spirit stirs in us a yearning and desire to walk closer with God. To experience the Holy Presence in all that we do. We wish that we would make a steady progression in this most significant task. The truth is that it is on again/off again and filled with days of hope and days of disappointment. This is not because God is fickle or uncertain. The promises revealed to us through Jesus are certain and assured. It is our fears, anxieties, and impatience that create the uncertainty in our hearts.

The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hillside's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven -All's right with the world!

~Robert Browning

Hope springs eternal when “God’s in His heaven-All’s right with the world”!

Easter Eve

2009-04-11T20:29:00.002-04:00

With hours to go before this most significant dawn.....I am pondering this statement by Richard W. Swanson...

The task on Easter (which is every Sunday for an Easter-based faith) is to tell stories about resurrection in a world where everyone dies.

2009-03-26T11:35:00.008-04:00

“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” (E. B. White)

The desire to enjoy the world has certainly won out these past four weeks in Florida. It has been a whirlwind of visiting friends, activities, and enjoying the beauty of the Sunshine State. I can't believe that our time here is almost over, it certainly proves the old adage that "time flies when you're having fun".

As soon as we arrived we made arrangements to meet fellow blogger, Poker Bluegill and his lovely wife, Elizabeth at Rainbow Springs State Park. Following a picnic lunch and hike we traveled to The Villages for their Mardi Gras celebration.

The next day, Ruth arrived from Zephyr Hills to spend a lovely day with us that concluded with dinner at Sonny's BBQ. Then we were pleasantly surprised with a visit from Richard and Zoe who were making their first post-retirement visit to the Sunshine State. They especially enjoyed dinner at Gator Joe's and dancing at Spanish Square.We have also had the opportunity to visit a county fair and witness a demolition derby, taken a train ride to a reenactment of the gunfight at the OK corral, visited New Smyrna Beach, attended the local stock car races, shop at the huge Flea Markets, picnicing at various parks, attend two concerts; Mel Tillis and Asleep at the Wheel, and attended a Mets spring training game in Kissimmee.

A Different Kind of CEO!

2009-02-17T20:55:00.006-05:00

While listening to the car radio today I heard this refreshing story about a CEO who is not driven by greed but by a generous and caring heart. His name is Hal Taussig and he is founder of Untours, a company that arranges trips to Europe where one can truly experience what it is like to live in a particular setting.

"In a world gone mad with greed, he really believes in the common good," says Bob Fishman, executive director of the nonprofit social service agency Resources for Human Development, who has worked with Taussig on several projects. "He doesn't do it to say 'I'm right and you're wrong,' but rather to show, in his own sweet way, that there's another path. By his example, he gets all of us to think, 'can't I do more?' "
Taussig does not consider himself heroic or saintly. "This is my way of finding meaning," he says. "This is how I get joy out of life. The widening gap between the rich and poor is not sustainable. I fear there will be a violent revolution if we don't find a solution to poverty in the world."

MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — Travel company operator Hal Taussig buys his clothes from thrift shops, resoles his shoes and reads magazines for free at the public library.
The 83-year-old founder of Untours also gives away all of his company’s profits to help the poor — more than $5 million since 1999. He is content to live on Social Security.
Taussig takes a salary of $6,000 a year from his firm, but doesn’t keep it. It goes to a foundation that channels his company’s profits to worthy causes in the form of low-interest loans. (About seven years ago, the IRS forced him to take a paycheck, he said, because they thought he was trying to avoid paying taxes by working for free.)
If he has money left at the end of the month in his personal bank account, he donates it.
At a time of the year when many people are asked to give to the poor, Taussig provides a model for year-round giving.
“I could live a very rich life on very little money. My life is richer than most rich people’s lives,” said Taussig. “I can really do something for humanity.”
His decision to give away his wealth stems from a moment of clarity and freedom he felt when he wrote a $20,000 check — all of his money back in the 1980s — to a former landlord to buy the house they were renting. It didn’t work out, but the exhilaration of not being encumbered by money stuck with him.
“It was kind of an epiphany,” he said. “This is where my destiny is. This is what I was meant to be.”
He and his wife, Norma, live simply, in a country house in suburban Philadelphia that’s nearly a century old, with two bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. It is neither luxurious nor sparse, but a comfortable home filled with photos and knickknacks with wraparound views of trees and clothes drying on a clothes line. To cut energy use and help the environment, they don’t own a dryer.
Norma Taussig uses a wheelchair after suffering a stroke years ago. They have been married for 61 years and have three children, five grandkids and five great-grandchildren.
Taussig said his marriage improved when he and his wife decided in the 1970s to keep separate bank accounts. His wife lives on Social Security and savings from her job as a school district secretary and later as an employee of Untours travel. Her salary never went above $30,000 a year.
Taussig said the house — purchased for $41,000 in 1986 and owned by his wife — is paid for and so is her 12-year-old Toyota Corolla. Taussig has his bike for transportation, which he faithfully rides to and from work every day, three miles round trip.
He calls consumerism a “social evil” and “corrupting to our humanity” because of what he said is the false notion that having more things leads to a richer life.
“Quality of life is not the same as standard of living,” he said. “I couldn’t afford (to buy) a car but I learned it’s more fun and better for your health to ride a bike. I felt I was raising my quality of life while lowering my standard of living.”
Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, met Taussig through a network of social-minded businesses and describes him as “a humble guy — not your typical CEO.”
While big corporations give away more money than Taussig, Cohen said, the donation could be “one-half of 1 percent of profits while Hal gave away $5 million and that’s 100 percent of his profits.”
In 1999, Untours won the $250,000 Newman’s Own/George Award for corporate philanthropy, given by actor Paul Newman and the late John F. Kennedy Jr., publisher of the now-defunct George magazine. The awards event was held in New York City but Taussig balked at paying the city’s high hotel prices. He stayed at a youth hostel while he donated the quarter-million-dollar award to his foundation.
Kennedy’s reaction to his hostel stay? “He stared at me blankly,” Taussig said.
The Untours Foundation loans money to groups or businesses at around the inflation rate. The current loan rate is 3.7 percent. The foundation’s tax filing shows total assets of $1.8 million in 2005, the latest record available, of which $1.6 million went to 38 groups or firms. Hal Taussig is the president, and his wife is the vice president. They don’t get salaries.
“I try to make the poor into capitalists,” Taussig said. “They should be self-sustaining. You give them money and they run out and you have to give more. But if you give them a way to make a living, it’s like teaching them how to fish rather than giving them fish.”
—AP story by Deborah Yao 11/27/07

Vermont Valentine

2009-02-15T11:25:00.003-05:00

Mary, John, and I arrived in Waitsfield, Vermont on Friday evening to visit with son, Josh, his wife, Elizabeth, and their son, Noah. We enjoyed a marvelous Valentine's Day that included a trip to Montpelier surrounded by the signs that the mysterious Valentine Bandit had struck yet again. Every year on February 14th the residents of this, the capitol city, wake to find 100's of paper valentines taped to storefronts, light posts, and any available surfaces. It is a sight that brings a warm smile to all in this cold and wintery part of the country,

In the afternoon we attended a Vermont Frostheaves basketball game. The Frostheaves are part of the Continental Basketball League and they play some of their home games in Barre, VT. We shared a Valentine's dinner of fish tacos at Josh and Elizabeth's home surrounded by construction paper red hearts crafted by Noah. Over dinner we all shared things that we love about life. The list included family, laughter, playing games together, traveling, music, and sharing.

The Orphan Train

2009-02-09T14:42:00.006-05:00

In the early 1850's there were thousands of children wandering the streets and back alleys of New York city. They were penniless, homeless, and hungry. The newspapers referred to them as "street Arabs" because of their wandering ways. In 1853, Charles Loring Brace, a minister, founded The Children's Aid Society. The organization's purpose was to gather up these children and take them by train to the mid-west where it was hoped, they would be taken into homes and treated as family. Over 100,000 children were sent between 1854 and 1930 to rural homes where many were simply seen as a source of cheap labor. Others, however, were taken in by loving and caring couples who raised the children as their own. My wife Mary's grandfather and uncle were two of the fortunate "orphan train" children who found new homes in Eastern Iowa.

Yesterday, Mary and I and our granddaughter, Kaylyn, 16, went to a performance of "Orphan Train" that has been created by composer Doug Katsaros, librettist L.E. McCullough, and lyricist Michael Barry Greer. This poignant piece of musical theatre is being performed by the New York State Theatre Institute under the direction of Patricia Birch. The cast was a fine mixture of young and old with wonderful singing voices. The cast moves on and off a stage through images projected on a screen behind them that depicts trains, farms, and other settings. It all works quite well together, the music, lyrics, set, and costumes but it is the power of the story itself that makes this an unforgettable afternoon at the theatre. Five "orphans" are followed in their journey from boarding the train in New York to being "placed" in their new homes and the consequences of that placement. The play honestly depicts the sorrow and even horror that some of the children experienced as well as those for whom this journey was the beginning of healthy and fruitful lives.

There is a scene, based on fact, when the children disembark from the train in a small mid-western town. They each are presented to a small gathering of town folk and then the children simply stand waiting to see if they will be chosen or left behind. The director allows the silence to build as the intensity and awkwardness of the situation is felt by the audience. It is a powerful moment that allowed me to truly enter into the emotion of the story. The play ends with a stark reminder that thousands of "surplus" and "unwanted" children still exist. A photographic display of some of these children filled the lobby and information was available regarding foster care and adoption.

As I sat in the theatre I thought about how Mary and Kaylyn were experiencing a part of their family history in such a vivid way. And I wondered, were there others in the audience for this production who are related to the original orphan train children?

2009-02-06T10:31:00.002-05:00

As you can see by the view out my window, we are still in the icy tight-fisted grip of winter. This morning we were in the single digits once again but we are promised a weekend when temps might reach 40 degrees. It hasn't been much warmer then that in central Florida where we will go in just 14 days.

I have to drive two and a half hours each way for a 90 minute meeting today. It sure doesn't seem very energy and resource effecient. It will give me an opportunity to listen to some Greg Brown, Dean Martin, and Gavin Bryars as I drive on the thruway.

Sarah shared the news that the baby she is expecting in June is a boy. This will be our seventh grandchild and fourth grandson. Each of them is a gift and brings great joy to us. We are so fortunate to be able to be an integral part of their lives.

I am presently reading Odd Hours by Dean Koontz and these words on pages 150-151 have me thinking about "the given world" and "the man-made world".

The given world dazzles with wonder, poetry, and purpose.

The man-made world, on the other hand, is a perverse realm of ego and envy, where power-mad cynics make false idols of themselves and where the meek have no inheritance because they have gladly surrendered it to their idols in return not for lasting glory but for an occasional parade, not for bread but for the promise of bread.

A species that can blind itself to truth, that can plunge so enthusiastically along roads that lead nowhere but to tragedy, is sometimes amusing in its recklessness, as amusing as the great movie comedians like Buster Keaton, Laurel and Hardy, and the many others who knew that a foot stuck in a bucket is funny, that a head stuck in a bucket is funnier, and that trying stubbornly to move a grand piano up a set of stairs obviously too steep and narrow to allow success is the hilarious distillation of the human experience.

I laugh with humanity, not at it, because I am as big a fool as anyone, and bigger than most.

I think about all the times in my life that I've done the equivilent of pushing that baby grand up the too narrow stairs and I readily identify with that last sentence. Fool that I am. Click on the authors name above and hear his musings about February, poetry, and other matters.

Wise Words

2009-01-25T10:54:00.004-05:00

Yesterday we had the opportunity to meet Jenna Woginrich, author of Made from Scratch, Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life. Here are some wise words you will find in the introduction of her book.

Accepting where you are today,

and working toward what's ahead,

is the best you can do.

But the starting point

is to take control of what you can

and smile with how things are.

Find your own happiness and dance with it.

This is a picture of Jenna's chickens.

Deep Freeze

2009-01-24T08:23:00.006-05:00

If you compare the view out my window today with the one below you can see the results of the continuing cold weather here in upstate New York. We actually had a little break yesterday with temps reaching the freezing mark but tonight we will be back in the single digits.

I am thankful that there is a mall nearby where I can get in my 3 mile walk in a warm place where I do not have to worry about slipping on the ice. I have spent most of my time this past week right here at the computer as I prepare to lead preaching workshops next week in Malvern, PA. It will be a cold but dry 5 hour drive early Monday morning. The retreat ends Thursday at noon and the forcast looks pretty good for the week so I shouldn't have any hazardous driving conditions.

Last night we watched a Hallmark Movie that we had recorded before Christmas. I believe the title was "Front of the Class". It is based on the true story of a young man with Tourette's Syndrome who became a renowned teacher in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a very inspirational story with some fine performances. John watched the last hour with us and remarked, "That's right, Dad, don't ever let someone tell you that you can't do something". Of course, John's life is a testament to that fact. He will be performing live this Sunday at 4:45 pm at The Center for Disabilities Telethon. It will be broadcast on our local Fox affilliate. John is very excited for this opportunity. He will perform Billy Joel's Piano Man and will play keyboard, harmonica, and sing.

Rainbows and Ice

2009-01-09T10:52:00.005-05:00

This is the view I have this day as I work at my desk and my thoughts turn to rainbows. I am working on the Old Testament lesson for March 1, the first Sunday of Lent.

And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you

and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant

between me and the earth.

Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,

I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.

Genesis 9:12-15

And so, with the thermometer hovering at 20 degrees and icicles in my window I picture rainbows and my mind drifts to this hoopeful prayer.

Reaching for Rainbows
(from Reaching for Rainbows by Ann Weems)

I keep reaching for rainbows…
Thinking one God’s morning
I will wakeup with rainbow ribbons in my hair,
With hurts painted over in hues that only angel wings could brush,
Black obliterated, chaos hurled beyond the rainbow and my vision,
The world created in a myriad of colors;
The hungry fed,
The dying held,
The maimed walking,
The angry stroked,
The violent calmed,
The oppressed freed,
The oppressors changed,
And every tear wiped away,
I keep reaching for rainbows,
But instead of colors in our storm,
Gray and black infiltrate, dirtying the sky,
And I hear human voices wailing in the darkness,
The never-ending darkness…
Just the same
I know the promise of the rainbow.
I keep thinking I will turn the corner one day
And find a litany of rainbows
Flung across the sky,
Hosannaing back and forth
Through all the ages and
Out into the eternity forever amen!
Every tear wiped away-
It’s a promise-
When we become rainbows to each other.

Rainbows....not a bad thing to be thinking about on a cold January day at the beginning of a New Year that promises more storms both domestic and international.

2008 in review

2008-12-31T09:23:00.014-05:00

"Summing up, let me just say that I reject, repudiate, renounce, denounce, dismiss, and utterly regret 2008." And so Kathleen Parker begins her column in the 12/31/08 morning newspaper. Her words challenged me to assess how I feel about this past year and I have decided to celebrate, honor, value, and cherish the past 12 months. This is not to discount the tragic amount of pain and suffering in our country and in the world this past year. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the financial collapse, rising unemployment, and a disastrous conclusion to the Bush presidency are all to be lamented. But I choose to focus on those things that have given me joy and hope.

February 3, 2008.....The New York Giants win the Super Bowl. As a lifelong Giant fan I have experienced the agony of defeat and the joy of victory. Watching this game, surrounded by family members (all NY Giant fans, a requirement), I was able to share the excitement of the game with three generations. Here is a summary of the game as described on Wilkapedia. "The first three quarters of Super Bowl XLII were largely a defensive battle, as both teams combined for only 10 points, with the Patriots leading 7–3 entering into the final quarter. New York finally scored their first touchdown with 11:05 left in the game to take a 10–7 lead. New England eventually responded with a touchdown of their own to take a 14–10 lead with 2:42 left. Then came the defining play of the game: faced with third down and five yards to go from their own 44-yard line with 1:15 remaining, Giants quarterback Eli Manning avoided what looked like a sack and completed a 32-yard pass to wide receiver David Tyree, who made a leaping catch by pinning the ball on his helmet which put them at New England's 24-yard-line. Four plays later, New York wide receiver Plaxico Burress caught the winning touchdown with 0:35 left.[13] Manning, who threw both of his touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, was named the Most Valuable Player." Here's a photo of Granddaughter Jena and I preparing for that memorable day.

February 22-March 21.....For the second year in a row we had the opportunity to spend a significant part of the winter in Central Florida at a small rented Villa. John, Mary, and I adopt a relaxed daily routine while we are there that includes sitting on the porch, squeezing fresh orange juice for breakfast, walks in the sunshine, visiting with friends, lunch at Gator Joe's, dancing outdoors in the evenings at The Villages, and scenic drives.March 23.....Easter in Savannah, Georgia where I was born almost 64 years ago. We had two wonderful days in this old city of great charm.Every Tuesday.....Tai Chi classes at The Tai Chi Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. I am in my third year of learning this ancient internal martial art. The practice of Tai Chi has improved my overall health and is an effective tool to manage stress.

June 1 to present day...I was appointed as the clergy member of a three person Transition Team to serve a small local congregation during their pastoral transition. My duties have included leading workshops on transitions, occasional worship leadership, pastoral care, and other pastoral duties. I am thankful for this opportunity to work with a small but dedicated group of faithful people as they struggle to discern what the future holds for them.

August 2......Daughter Sarah married Todd Mraz in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Lanzi's on the Lake. We gained not only a great new son-in-law but a new granddaughter, Morgan.
August 25-27...John and I camped in the popup trailer at a State Park on the shores of Lake George. A great one on one time with John as we set around the campfire each evening telling stories and singing songs.

August 27-September 2.....Our annual trip to Diamond Point on the shores of Lake George. All of the children and grandchildren were able to gather for this end of summer time.

September 17-27....Our son, Joshua, and his family purchased a home in Waitsfield, Vermont where he began a new job. I spent ten days working beside him to prepare the house for their moving in. We stripped wallpaper, tore up floors, sheet rocked, painted, and laughed together through long 16 hour days.

October 13-24....Mary, John, and I took a cross country road trip to visit Mary's family in Iowa. It was a great adventure that included a visit to Galena, Illinois and "The Field of Dreams" in Dyersville, Iowa.

December 24, 25, &a 26.....A wonderful three day family celebration of Christmas. the 15 of us attended church together on Christmas Eve at 4pm and then gathered at our home for pizza and wings and some gift exchanges. I led worship at 7pm at Grace church and it was a warm and inspiring experience of singing, communion, and candlelight. Josh, Elizabeth, and Noah spent the night so we were able to share the excitement of Christmas morning with a 4 year old. The remainder of the family gathered in the afternoon for more gift exchanging and a dinner of ham and turkey and all the fix'ns. On the 26th we helped the children make a ginger bread house at Suzi's.

And so, to you and yours, I wish a Happy New Year!

The 12 Days Before Christmas

2008-12-21T19:18:00.007-05:00

On the 12th day before Christmas freezing rain coated the trees, the power lines, and everything else. The area experienced widespread power outages and we were dark for three days. We are fortunate to have a wood stove for heat and a gas stove for cooking as we ate and read by candlelight.On the 11th day before Christmas we found a restaurant that was open and had power so we gathered to celebrate granddaughter, Jena's, 2nd birthday.On the 6th day before Christmas we experienced a snow storm that brought us 9 inches of snow. We drove in a blinding snow storm to the Troy Music Hall to attend a concert by "Sweet Honey in the Rock". Their sweet harmony and soaring spirits made the journey well worth it.
On this, the 4th day before Christmas we received another 6" of snow. More predicted for Wednesday. It will indeed be a White Christmas here. Click here to experience Bing Crosby creating this enduring carol. I get a kick out of Bing's whistling!

Playing for Change

2008-12-03T19:01:00.003-05:00

Check out this clip from the new documentary film, Playing for Change:Peace Through Music. For 5 1/2 minutes of pure joy, click here.

2008-11-26T18:50:00.004-05:00

I read that the Pilgrims, following that first Thanksgiving, would begin their subsequent celebrations in a very poignant way. Before filling the dinner plates with the results of a bountiful harvest they would simply place 5 kernels of corn on their plates. They served as a reminder of the harsh winter that preceded the first Thanksgiving when half of the settlers perished. During those cold months, 5 kernels of corn were the daily ration. As the years passed those 5 kernels of corn symbolized how far the community had come and how blessed they were. In this time of economic crisis and fears about the future it is important to acknowledge how much we have. Whenever I am tempted to complain and whine about what I don't have....I remember those 5 kernels of corn....and realize that I have an abundance. Happy Thanksgiving!

Election Day!

2008-11-04T07:35:00.003-05:00

Really?

2008-11-01T20:19:00.002-04:00

I have to thank West Coast Chuck for this pic. Can this political season get any stranger?

Reality and Dreams!

2008-10-28T20:39:00.008-04:00

I heard a story on NPR today regarding members of the "white supremacist" movement who hope that Obama will be elected president. They argue that his election will energize their movement and convince the general public that they have been right all along. This NPR report includes the following, "Part of the problem is that Obama is playing into the neo-Nazi and white supremacist narrative, said Brian Levin, who studies hate and extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.
What the groups were saying — "Jews and blacks coming out of the urban areas are going to take over this white nation of ours" — has occurred, he said.
You only have to look to the Internet to see how white supremacist leaders such as David Duke are using Obama to rally their troops. Duke has called Obama a "visual aid for hate groups."
He says an Obama presidency would provide indisputable proof that whites have lost control of America.
"This is a cultural and racial battlefront," said Levin. "Barack Obama is symbol No. 1 of the worst the future has to offer."

The degree of hate and ignorance in the land creates a great saddness in my heart.

On the other hand, we just completed a 3000 mile road trip that took us to the "heartland" as the pollsters refer to the midwest. Everywhere we traveled...Ohio,Indiana,Illinois, Iowa...we encountered people who were kind and welcoming to our interracial family. We visited the "Field of Dreams" movie site in Dyersville, Iowa where thousands still come every year. For 14 weeks in the summer of 1988 Hollywood invaded this corner of Iowa to make a movie about dreams and fantasy and baseball that became a Academy Award nominee for "Best Picture of the Year" in 1989. The house, the cornfield, and the baseball field are just as they were depicted in the film. There is no admission, no video displays, and no guided tours. There is a simple sign telling the story of the site and a small building where one can purchase a baseball, hat, or t-shirt. The site is beautiful in its' simplicity. John and I hit a few balls and ran the bases. "This field, this game, is a part of our past. It reminds us of all that was once good, and it could be good again. Oh people will come. People will most definitely come." Those words were spoken by James Earl Jones in the film and you can see the video clip by clicking here.

Rain!

2008-09-09T09:49:00.003-04:00

Rain today......booms of thunder
Grey skies......weeping
Yellowed grass.....transformed to green

Sound of raindrops upon the roof
makes me want to take a nap
read a book.....or
simply sit
thinking

Scripture says
the rain's a gift
bestowed on all
no exceptions

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? (Matthew 5:43-47 The Message)

August Update

2008-09-07T20:01:00.006-04:00

Wow! August flew by following Sarah and Todd's wedding. Here's a summary.

- a trip to Giants training camp.

-a night of dirt track racing at Albany-Saratoga Speedway

-a relaxing week at a friends' camp on a small Adirondack Lake

-Mary and I took a bus trip to Shea Stadium for a Mets game

-John and I camping on the shores of Lake George

-a week with extended family at Diamond Point in Lake George where I served as preacher at Diamond Point Community Church

August is the best month of the year

we reflect on what's happened since we last stood here

salt in our hair and our feet in the sand

I wouldn't expect anyone else to understand

August is the worst month of the year

with autumn ahead, I feel so much fear

nothing that summertime offers can last

when September arrives,

you'll be a piece of my past

(from the poem, August, by Jade Leven)

A Wedding Celebration

2008-08-04T12:30:00.008-04:00

Daughter Sarah celebrated her marriage to Todd on Saturday in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at Lanzi's on the Lake in Mayfield, NY. The rehearsal dinner was held the night before at the Sport Island Pub also on Sacandaga Lake. Both events were very enjoyable with delicious food and drink. Here are some pics of the rehearsal and the wedding. Saturday's weather was typical of this summer with pop-up thunderstorms throughout the day. One such storm had just ended when we arrived forty-five minutes before the ceremony was to begin. The sun came out momentarily and created a faint rainbow.The clouds moved back in but the rain held off as Sarah and Todd made their vows to one another and to Todd's daughter, Morgan.The reception was a joyous affair with a stunning cake, great food, and family fun.

Saturday Morning

2008-07-26T15:22:00.011-04:00

For most of my adult life Saturdays have always been a day of work. The tasks included final preparations for the weekend worship services, weddings, appointments, etc. Now I approach each Saturday as a gift and opportunity to discover the relaxed pace of this day. On most Saturdays during the spring and summer, John and I head to the Saratoga Farmer's Market to pick up produce and enjoy the sights and sounds. We are members of a local CSA farm along with daughter Suzi and we split a weekly share of homegrown vegetables with them. The bountiful harvest of flowers, fruits, breads, jams, honey, and vegetables on display there are a feast for the eyes. Here are some pics I took this morning.

As I strolled through the market, the hymn "Praise and Thanksgiving" was the sound track playing in my head.

Praise and thanksgiving, God we would offer

for all things living you have made good:

harvest of sown fields, fruits of the orchard,

hay from the mown fields, blossom and wood.

Faithful Communities

2008-07-24T10:45:00.004-04:00

The version of Christianity that appears in the media often embarrasses me: it's narrow, sectarian, exclusive and sometimes mean-spirited. So it was a joy to find in the May 26 New Yorker an article by novelist Ian Frazier about a church being a church in the best sense. So begins John M. Buchanan in an article titled, Something Christlike, in the July 29 issue of Christian Century. It is the story of a small Episcopal Church in New York City, The Church of the Holy Apostles, that had dwindled in membership and was contemplating closing its' doors. Frazier writes that, A new rector suggested that "if Holy Apostles is going out of business, it might as well do some good before it does."So in 1982 the church launched a free-lunch program. Thirty five people showed up and now the congregation is serving 1200 meals a day. Buchanan concludes the article, Maybe the world would find churches more interesting and compelling if they showed something of the love of Jesus in their lives and practices. Maybe there is no more important and life-giving strategy for every church than finding something Christlike to do. You can read the Frazier article by clicking here.
Many congregations around the country are sharing Jesus' love in similar ways and the general public never hears about them. I am blessed at the present time to be ministering part time with a very small and struggling Lutheran congregation, Grace in Schenectady, NY. They are not sure what the future holds for them as a faith community yet they continue to reach out to those in need. Last Wednesday morning I stopped by the church to find three women making 300 sandwiches to be shared at Bethesda House in Schenectady, NY. Bethesda is a neighborhood settlement house, which under its director Margaret Anderton, has been providing some 130 free meals a day, clothing, and social services to the poor and needy, many of whom are disabled by alcohol and drug addiction and/or mental illness. There are thousands of stories like these two but we rarely see them in print. This day I give thanks for the many faith communities, large and small, who truly "walk the talk" of our faith by feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, and working for justice.

Hippy-Dippy Weatherman

2008-06-23T13:22:00.007-04:00

May 12, 1937 - Born. God winces.

(from Carlin's web page)

“The weather was dominated by a large Canadian low, which is not to be confused with a Mexican high. Tonight’s forecast . . . dark, continued mostly dark tonight turning to widely scattered light in the morning.” Those are the words of my favorite weatherman, Al Sleet, a character George Carlin created early in his career. Carlin was a quick, profane, vulgar, brilliant, and hilarious comedian and cultural critic. He was a serious student of the English language and he could creatively turn ordinary words and phrases into bizarre insights regarding the human condition. Here are a few examples that I've enjoyed.

When cheese gets it's picture taken, what does it say?

When someone asks you, A penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny?

When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Is a vegetarian permitted to eat animal crackers?

What if there were no hypothetical questions?

Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck.

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

Before they invented drawing boards, what did they go back to?

Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn't mean the circus has left town.

What does it mean to pre-board? Do you get on before you get on?

Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

June 23, 2008 God surprises George by exisiting and welcoming him home!

Spring Update

2008-06-21T22:48:00.011-04:00

OK. This is the promised update of my busy, exciting, rewarding,fun, and at times exhausting

Spring. Following the early May trip to South Carolina for my 25th Anniversary of graduation from Seminary and a trip to Darlington Speedway for a Nationwide Series race I accompanied John to a Potential Unlimited Music Weekend. It was held at the Rensselaerville Institute where I had the opportunity to take daily hikes to the Rensselaerville Falls.

I then volunteered a week of mornings helping to build a community playground in Ballston Spa, NY. It was hard work in hot weather and great fun. The park was completed in a week with the help of hundreds of volunteers. Here are some photos of the grandchildren playing in the park that "PopPop" help built.

June began with a trip to Rochester, NY for the Annual Upstate New York ELCA Synod Assembly. The highlight of the trip was when Mary and I ate dinner at my favorite BBQ place, Dinosaurs.

On the 12th of June, John and I traveled to Binghamton, NY for the 2008 New York State Special Olympic Summer Games. I served as a coach of the bowling team. John won a silver and a gold medal in the bowling competition. Here are some pics of John and friends at the event.

In between trips I have been golfing with grandson Brendan. He is improving at a remarkable rate and will soon be beating me regularly. Check out his swing.

Beer

2008-06-12T07:57:00.002-04:00

I took a deep sip. The first sip of beer on a hot day is like that first finger dip when you open a new jar of peanut butter. I enjoyed what only could be called God's nectar. Harlen Coben in his novel, The Woods.

Storms and Rainbows

2008-06-11T07:53:00.002-04:00

First of all thank you, thank you to those who continue to check this blog, who have patiently waited, who have encouraged and even harassed me to post again. Thank you! I plan to post an update later today of all that has transpired the past month. For now, a reflection on rainbows.

Yesterday we experienced heat, humidity, and severe storms and the weatherman kept reporting that the conditions were right for tornadoes, which of course, are very rare in our area of Upstate New York. It also occurred to me, as I observed these storms popping up and then rapidly moving on, that it was also the perfect conditions for rainbows.

Isn't that just like life. When we are going through the most difficult storms in life....that is exactly when the conditions are right for signs of God's promise and presence...Rainbows. These rainbows take many forms when we are buffeted by the winds and rain of disappointment and despair. A kind word, an encouraging e-mail, an invitation to have a cup of coffee and talk. Yesterdays unsettled weather was a reminder to me to always look for the rainbows in the midst of the storms.

2008-05-06T06:57:00.002-04:00

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

(psalm 27:14)

I hate waiting. I hate waiting in line, on line, or lined up. Waiting seems like a waste of time, standing still and going no where. Yet, there may be a divine connection between waiting and courage. It often takes courage to wait, to be patient, to not rush to action. Maybe my impatience edges God out? When I hurry, I am often anxious. However, if I wait prayerfully and quietly for a sense of peace and strength and courage.....it comes.

Road Trip

2008-05-05T21:23:00.005-04:00

We departed this morning for a quick trip to South Carolina to celebrate my 25th anniversary of graduation from seminary. On Thursday I will serve as the emcee at the Alumni Luncheon but more about that later. Today we drove as far as Chambersburg, PA. which left us enough time to visit the Cabela's store in Hamburg, PA. This was our first opportunity to visit a Cabela's and this is the largest one in the chain. It was like visiting an outdoor museum. There was an aquarium containing every kind of freshwater fish found in the country, dioramas of African Animals, and a Northwestern Mountain. Here are some pics.

John liked the beavers best.

More thoughts on Courage

2008-05-04T11:21:00.002-04:00

The Latin root of the word "courage" is "cor" meaning heart. According to Webster, heart can be defined as "the whole personality including intellectual as well as emotional functions or traits." In other words, the presence of courage or the lack of it helps identify us as individuals. Maybe God tells Joshua four times to have courage as a reminder of what is in his heart.....the promise that God is with him. The ability to "try again tomorrow" grows out of that promise even when today seems hopeless.

COURAGE

2008-05-03T21:23:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking about "courage" today. This train of thought was triggered by Joshua 1:1-9 where God admonishes Joshua four times to be strong and courageous. Then I discovered the following quote.

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.Alan Cohen

Twenty Five Years and Counting

2008-04-28T19:39:00.004-04:00

This June I will celebrate my 25th anniversery of ordination and the Upstate New York Synod has asked me and others who are celebrating significant milestones to briefly reflect on these years of ministry. I decided that I wanted to focus on two things, first; the value of youth ministry experience and second, the importance of relationships in ministry. Here is what I wrote.

Reflection on 25 Years of Ordained Ministry

Any reflection that I do on the past 25 years of ordained ministry must, I think, be done in the context of 40 years of youth ministry. It was in those early years ministering to youth as a volunteer and later as paid staff that I received the call to ordained ministry. It was in those experiences that I grew as a leader and began learning to communicate the Gospel in exciting and creative ways. The youth I worked with and ministered to taught me how important it is to be energetic, passionate, and creative as I shared my faith. It was during those early days that I felt called to develop “The King’s Clown” ministry as a creative way to share the message through mime. This ministry opened many doors for me including opportunities to lead worship in Germany and Ireland. It was this unique ministry that generated the financial resources I needed when attending undergraduate school and Seminary while raising four children. Youth that I have trained continue this ministry today, bringing joy and laughter along with the Gospel to many congregations. My passion for working with youth and young adults has continued to this day as I prepare for a 26th year at Senior High Camp.
The most important knowledge that I have acquired in 25 years of parish ministry is that I am but one part of the “Body of Christ”. Carrying out my responsibilities as an ordained pastor has been a collaborative affair. Whatever effectiveness I’ve had comes from the love, support, and encouragement of the family members, congregational leaders, parish staff, and colleagues who have shared in this ministry. In those relationships I experienced humility, forgiveness, and the wonderful joy of working together to proclaim God’s love to the wider community. My first call was to The Rensselaer County Lutheran Parish, an effort to bring four congregations and two pastors together in a collaborative ministry. We experienced both successes and challenges as we strived to do ministry together. Three years later I was called to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Clifton Park where I served for 21 years. What a joy it has been to serve a community so rich with people willing to stretch and grow in their faith walk. Together we grew as a pastor and a congregation that could boldly state that we practiced “LEADERSHIP that is inspired by the Holy Spirit and shared by our Pastors, staff and lay leaders as we strive to live as a Christian community with integrity.”
I am now “retired” from parish ministry and am continuing to explore how I fit into the “body of Christ” during this chapter of my life. My purpose continues to be “to creatively and joyfully communicate God’s love” in whatever circumstances I am experiencing. I am forever grateful to all those who have been a part of this journey with me.
His Servant;
Pastor Chuck Schwartz

The Synod also requested before and after photos. Here they are.

Sign of Spring

2008-04-11T15:24:00.004-04:00

Here in UpState New York we yearn for signs of spring on this 11th day of April with a cold rain coming down and temperatures in the 30's. Observe this brave crocus bringing color and hope to all on this dreary and gray day.

"The earth sings a song of gladness.

The earth sings a song of praise.

The earth rises up and laughs at me

Each time that I forget

How spring begins with winter

And death begins with birth."

(from a poem by Nancy Wood)

Don"t Give Up!

2008-04-05T22:42:00.005-04:00

This is a very beautiful video with a great message based on Josh Groban's song, "Don't Give Up". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swl4YKCOetc&feature=related#

And this very funny video on the Mega-Church Pastor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb9DF16Fx8k##

A New Season

2008-04-01T20:46:00.003-04:00

Opening day of baseball.....a day filled with optomism for all fans no matter what team they root for. Everything is even and anything can be imagined. And if you win the first game....as my beloved Mets did.....then, O My! But there is the memory of the September collapse of last year and the year before when our dreams turned to ashes. William C. Rhoden in his commentary titled; Anxiety of being Mets Fan, suggests. "........the baseball fans of America are united by hope. Except in New York, where Mets fans bravely face a new season with optomism and dread." And "On a day usually reserved for declarations of joy and optomism, Mets fans watch and worry."In this season of new birth with the good news of Easter still ringing in my ears, with my tulips and crocuses poking up through the melting snow, and with the sighting of two robins today......I've made the decision to live in Hope. Hope that Santana will make the difference as he and Pedro Martinez become the greatest 1-2 punch in pitching. Hope that this last year at Shea will be one for the ages. Hope that I will even attend a game for the first time. GO METS!!!!!!

Growing Older

2008-03-26T16:33:00.004-04:00

You may notice in my profile to the right that my age has increased recently. Half a century plus a decade plus three years equals sixty-three years. I have discovered that the experience of "growing older" becomes more meaningful as my age increases. The key, I think, is to focus on the "growing" and not the "older". Each year of life is an opportunity to experience, learn, and create. I am reminded of these words.

Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you;

take to heart my commands.

They'll help you live a long, long,time,

a life full and well.

Don't lose your grip on Love and Loyalty.

Tie them around your neck, carve their initials on your heart.

Earn a reputation for living well

in God's eyes and the eyes of the people.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart,

don't try to figure out everything on your own.

Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;

he's the one who will keep you on track.

Don't assume that you know it all.

Run to God. Run from evil!

Your body will grow with health,

your very bones will vibrate with life!

(from Proverbs, chapter 3, The Message//Remix,

The Bible in Contemporary Language by

Eugene H. Peterson)

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T21:19:00.008-04:00

Mary, John, and I experienced a delightful Easter weekend visit to Savannah, Georgia. Skies were mostly blue, the sun was warm, and the temperature was in the high 70's. We arrived from Florida on Friday afternoon, visited a quilt shop and the 8th Air Force Wing Museum. In the evening we walked the riverfront and had seafood gumbo and beans with red rice at the Bayou Cafe. On Saturday we took a historical trolley tour of the city. We were able to see the wonderful old buildings, the beautiful squares, and learn the history of the city. John even had the opportunity to play keyboard and entertain at an art gallery in The City Market. Lunch was at the historic Pirate's House where we dined on fried chicken, lima beans, collard greens, scallops wrapped in bacon, and other delightful dishes. Sunday morning we were blessed to worship at The Lutheran Church of the Ascension. This historic church is home of a vital and active congregation. Easter morning worship included a bell choir and a trumpet player. Following worship we attended a breakfast with a petting zoo in the church basement. It was a wonderful way to celebrate Easter morning.

Quilting Festival

2008-03-17T09:07:00.004-04:00

We accompanied Mary to a Quilting Festival in Trenton, Florida. It was a beautiful warm day for the event, here are some pics.

Florida lifestyle

2008-03-13T09:12:00.006-04:00

Well, we have been here three weeks now and I am finally adjusting to this Florida lifestyle. The pace is slow and relaxed, the sun is warm, and the opportunities to experience nature abound. Earlier this week we traveled to New Port Richey to visit with friends Don and Betty. They are staying in a beautiful home on a canal with a pool. We had a lovely 24 hour visit. Mary and I were celebrating our 41st wedding anniversary on Tuesday so Betty was kind enough to take John to a movie so that we could celebrate. Mary and I visited Tarpon Springs where we enjoyed a wonderful meal at Hella's Restaurant and Bakery. We had scallops, shrimp, fish, and vegatables all cooked Greek style. All of it was delicious.

Paradise

2008-03-07T11:06:00.005-05:00

If "Paradise" is a place of peacefullness and quiet, lush and green, with a tropical beauty; then the small house we rent here in Weirsdale, FL. is paradise. Our two bedroom "villa" sits on 6 beautiful acres of woods surrounded on three sides by an orange grove. There are a couple of orange trees on the property that are filled with delicious fruit which we squeeze many mornings for fresh juice. We also have a friendly owl who is kind enough to pose for photos. What follows are some photos I took the other morning.

2008-03-04T13:06:00.008-05:00

We have been in Florida for over a week now and I finally have the opportunity to post on this blog. We have been very busy with getting settled, hosting daughter Carla and grandchildren; Kaylyn and Brendan, and visiting with nearby friends. I've also run into some computer gliches that delayed this post. Anyway, we are having a great time and enjoying the mild weather. We arrived on Friday evening, 2/22, following a 12 hour drive form North Carolina. It was 34 degrees when we left the motel and it warmed up slowly throughout the day. When we saw the welcome to Florida sign, we reached 70 degrees for the first time and within 15 minutes it reached 80! Welcome to Florida, indeed. Saturday was a day for unpacking, shopping, and becoming reacquainted with the area. On Saturday evening we enjoyed the free entertainment and dancing at Spanish Square in The Villages.

Sunday we atttended worship at St. John's Lutheran Church in Summerville where we connected with Rich and Louise from up home. After worship we enjoyed coffee and conversation on the porch of our Villa. Monday we enjoyed our much anticipated trip to Hommossasa Springs to visite Pokerbluegill (Dewey and Elizabeth). They took us on their pontoon boat down the river past "monkey island" as we spotted three manatees along the way. Then a lunch of fish and stone crab before visiting the wonderful wildlife park nearby. There we learned about manatees closeup and viewed gators, birds, bears, panthers, and Lu the Hippo. It was a great afternoon that concluded with supper at Fat Boy's BBQ.

Carla and the grandchildren arrived on Thursday and we met them at Universal Studios where we toured the Islands of Adventure. We returned on Saturday to visit the Universal Studios park. Lots of rides, shows, and smiles.

We also had a great lunch at Gator Joe's where Brendan snacked on gator tails and frog legs.

Road Trip Down Interstate 95

2008-02-21T19:22:00.003-05:00

My friend and fellow blogger, PokerBluegill, has inspired me to attempt to keep a journal on this winter trip to Florida. It was a cold and clear day in which to begin our trip down interstate 95. As we left home at five AM the temperature was 12 degrees; 11 hours and 585 miles later we arrived at our motel in Roanoke Rapids, NC where it was 39 degrees. We are certainly hoping for a warmer experience tommorrow as we complete our drive to central Florida. Dinner tonight was at a nearby Logan's Roadhouse. It was a fun atmosphere and we had a great meal.

Valentine's Day Bandit

2008-02-19T07:47:00.005-05:00

We are experiencing a gentle snowfall this morning. Flakes like feathers creating a blanket of white on the ground. This weekend we visited Barre, VT. to visit Josh, Elizabeth, and grandson, Noah. They have over two feet of snow on the ground with snowbanks five foothigh making every intersection crossing a high risk challenge. Sunday morning the temp was 1. In Montpelier, the Valentine Bandit had struck again bringing warmth and smile to the hearts of the residents.
Every year this mysterious incident takes place as residents of the capitol city wake up on Valentine's Day to a blizzard of hearts posted throughout the town. Many of the hearts were still visible on Saturday. To learn more about this unusual tradition click here. We drove home in a light rain and 50 degrees. We leave later this week for Florida and 80 degrees. How wonderful to be able to experience such extremes within a week.

2008-02-12T12:46:00.002-05:00

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

(from "Seasons of Love")

It has been exactly a year since I began this chapter of life called retirement. How should I measure these past 12 months, 525,600 minutes, of living. What tools and perspectives should I use to analyze this experience? I don't think that simply listing what I have done will capture the adventure it has been. I have been thinking alot about how this year has changed me, asking how has it been different then any year that came before? It has been helpful to examine this question from the following perspectives.

Physical Health: Simply put, I am living a much healthier lifestyle. I have been able to reduce cardiac and blood pressure medications. My weight has decreased by 15 pounds. I walk three miles at least four times a week. Weekly Tai Chi classes have introduced stretching, meditation, and balance to my life. It is my responsibility to do the grocery shopping, to plan and prepare our meals. We eat a healthy home made supper as a family almost every night. We now include fresh vegetables and fruit in our daily diet. Very little red meat is included in our diet and I've become proficient at subtituting ground turkey in many recipies. Fish is an important part of our meals also and I drink at least two cups of green tea daily as well as much water as I can consume. When I worked, my physical health was of the lowest priority. I skipped meals, ate fast food on a daily basis, was always tired if not exhausted. I wonder how much more effective I would have been if I had adopted these healthier habits earlier.

Relationships: While serving as a parish pastor the relationships with those I served was of the primary priority. That is where I placed my energies, patience, and compassion. This, unfortunately, meant my family received what was left over which I admit was not my best. They experienced me at my most tired, impatient, and stressed. They continued to love and accept me. I have focused this past year on sharing energy, time, and love with my spouse, children, and grandchildren. One of the big changes, of course, is my availability to them. If they need me, I drop whatever else I am doing. My life has been immensely enriched by my interactions with all the various members of my family. I get great satisfaction and joy from preparing the meals, cleaning the house, making John's lunch, and hosting the extended family for Sunday suppers and special events. A special time of day is following the evening meal when Mary and I work together to clean the table and wash the dishes. In my work life I most often missed supper or was hurrying out the door for a meeting. Now having dinner ready when Mary comes home from work is a daily gift that I look forward to preparing. I do greatly miss the daily interactions with the staff and members of our former parish. Filling that void is an ongoing challenge as I had few relationships outside of the parish when I was working. Finding opportunities to establish new friendships will be a priority for this year.

Spiritual Well-Being: The focus of my time and energies preretirement was in doing ministry. The emphasis was on the doing, the action, the work, the activity, and the results. I was blessed to be serving in a growing, thriving, and exciting parish. There was a real sense that the Holy Spirit was leading and guiding us. I woke each morning anticipating the challenges and opportunities that God would throw our way. It was a stressful, energizing, and rewarding life style. Now, in retirement, the focus of my time and energies is on experiencing God's grace in my life and in the lives of those around me. The emphasis is on the experience; the feelings and emotions, the presence of the Divine in my life and relationships. It is an approach to life marked by an openness and patience that I had not practiced before. I begin each morning with prayers that emphasize a yielding of my will and an acknowlegement that God is in control. The result of this change of focus from doing to experiencing is a sense of peace and well-being that is new to me. It is life lived with an expectation that each day I will be surprised with a Divine moment of Grace; a smile from my spouse, John's "I love you, Dad", a grandchild's laughter, an adult child's phone call, softly falling snow, birds at the birdfeeder, an e-mail from a friend, etc., etc.

Work and Ministry: This practice of yielding and openness has meant that I haven't pursued ministry opportunities but have waited patiently for them to present themselves. During the past year I have had a significant number of invitations to lead retreats, preach at special occassions, serve on leadership teams for the synod and region, and mentor individual pastors. I have been most grateful for these opportunities to share skills, experience, and my passion for ministry. The time between these responsibilities is used to reflect, debrief, and prayerfully plan for the next scheduled event. In preretirement there was always a immediate rush onto the next challenge without the benefit of "recovery time". I look forward to whatever opportunities Christ leads me to next.

The Future: I don't know and that is OK with me. I am sure it will be exciting and rewarding. The gratefullness I feel for this chapter in my life is more than I can adequately describe. It is truly a "season of love".

Listening to the Sacred Silence

2008-02-06T15:05:00.000-05:00

I believe it was Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes who once asked Mother Theresa of Calcutta about prayer; "What do you say when you are praying to God?" She replied, "Nothing, I just listen." "Then what do you hear God say" asked Wallace and Mother Theresa replied "nothing, he just listens."
Today marks the beginning of the Lenten Journey for me and all those who are struggling to walk with Jesus in this life. Prayer is an important element in this journey and the above story is a reminder that the practice of prayer is more important then the words of prayer. To listen is to focus on the other without distraction and to be prepared to respond to what is being heard. Mother Theresa's words are a reminder that the Divine is as interested in focusing on us as we are in focusing on the Divine. Prayer is the act of being present, available, open, and sensitive to God's Spirit. Isn't this attitude essential to the growth of any relationship? Going for a walk with my spouse of 40 years is a joy not because of what we might say during the activity but because we are walking together, breathing the same air, seeing the same sights, and enjoying the presence of the other. This is similar to what happens in the act of prayer.
Now I am not saying that words are not important but that they follow the act of listening not proceed it. Achieving an attitude of receptiveness is foundational to the prayerfull conversation. Without that foundation prayer becomes a list of wishes and wants. Glenn Liebman writes in today's Albany times Union; "There will be a lot of theories why the Giants won the Super Bowl, but I will let you in on the real secret. Two hours before the game, I took my son and his friend to the Giants' practice field at UAlbany and both said a prayer for the Giants." While I am thankful for the Giants' victory I don't believe it was because of divine intervention. These kind of prayers treat God as Santa Clause and we are terribly disappointed when our wishes are not granted.
Even answered prayer can fall far short of delivering the results that we want. I am reminded of the story of the four Rabbi who had a weekly theological discussion in which three of the Rabbi would gang up on the one and try to convince hin that they were right. One day the odd man out got so frustrated that he prayed out loud, "God, if I am right, send a sign to convince my collegues." Immediately, on this clear day, a cloud formed blocking the sun and there was a single boom of thunder. Then the cloud disappaited as quickly as it had formed. The three Rabbi remarked that it was simply a weather phenomena and didn't prove anything. So the other Rabbi prayed again, "Lord, if I am right please send another sign." No sooner were the words out of his mouth then the sky became completely covered with storm clouds, there is a boom of thunder and one lightening strike. The three Rabbi responded in disbelief. "Why even this could be explained by natural laws. It doesn't prove anything." The other Rabbi was about to send out another prayer pleading for a bigger sign when a voice boomed out of the heavens. "Hey, he's right!" After a moment of stunned silence the three Rabbi turned to the other and said; "So, now the vote is three to one."
Author Anne Lamont suggests three kinds of prayer. "Help me! Help me!, Thank You! Thank You!, and Wow!" I like prayers that our honest like this one by Richard J. Foster;

I am, O God, a jumbled mass of motives.

One moment I am adoring you, and the next I am shaking my fist at you.

I vacillate between mounting hope, and deepening despair.

I am full of faith, and full of doubt.

I want the best for others, and am jealous when they get it.

Even so, God, I will not run from your presence.

Nor will I pretend to be what I am not.

Thank you for accepting me with all my contradictions.

Amen!

SUPER!!!!!!!

2008-02-04T08:55:00.000-05:00

Granddaughter Jena and I celebrate the Giants Super Bowl Victory.

Super: over and above, extra, exceeding in intensity, surpassing all or most others of its' kind

However you define it, this Super Bowl win by the Giants was Super! I have been a loyal and devoted Giants fan since age 10, that's over half a century. I can remember cheering quarterback Y.A. Tittle for his courage under pressure.

Over the years the Giants have given me great joy as they have won their fair share of big games. But none have been bigger then last nights upset of the undefeated New England Patriots. It was an exciting game and I was blessed to watch it with my wife, two sons, and a son-in-law. We cheered, hugged, and gave high fives as Quarterback Eli Manning and the team that everyone had discounted played with courage and grit. I was hopeful and even confident that the Giants would be victorious but knew the odds were agianst them. However, on this Sunday, all the superlatives applied not to the Patriots but to the Giants. What an example of passion defeating perfection. Life is good!

A dream worth having!

2008-02-01T23:04:00.000-05:00

These words stirred my heart. They are part of an essay by Real Live Preacher.

Imagine if the spiritual people, the dream keepers of the sacred, archetypal stories that arise from our collective unconscious, were to embrace one another and celebrate the ancient beauty of our various traditions. Imagine if we spiritual people held hands across the world and called for peace instead of causing religious wars, which is what we are doing right now.
If that were to happen, the people of our world might see us differently. They might see the beauty and necessity of caring for our myths and traditions. Even brother and sister scientist would celebrate our ancient stories which are, after all, our earliest attempts to understand the world around us.
Peace would be our hallmark, and we would preach that it is the birthright of everyone born on this planet. And we would be set free to pursue truth in all of its wondrous forms.
Wouldn’t that be amazing?

You can read this essay in its entirety by clicking here.

The above peaceful image is from late October on a secluded Adirondack Lake.

Transformations

2008-01-23T19:45:00.000-05:00

I recently read two non-fiction books that were both entertaining and engaging in their honest depictions of transformational experiences. The first is; How Starbucks Saved My Life: a son of privilege learns to like everyone else by Michael Gates Gill. The author was born into a wealthy urban family, experienced the best education and grew up in the confidence that nothing was out of his reach. Upon graduation from Yale he went to work for a prestigious advertising firm in NYC. married, had four children and a mansion in the suburbs. Then at age 60 his life began to unravel as he was fired to make room for younger talent, has an affair with a young woman who becomes pregnant, his wife divorces him, he is alienated from his four children and he begins to experience some serious health issues. He finds himself without employment, income, family, friends, or health insurance. Then one fateful morning he finds himself at a Starbucks to indulge in a coffee he can't really afford and finds himself across the table from a young, attractive, professional African-American woman who is a Starbucks store manager. Unemployed as he was, Gill still looked the part of the wealthy and white professional male in his Brooks Brother suit and expensive shoes. Yet, perhaps jokingly, the woman asks him if he wants a job and to his surprise he says yes.

The remainder of the book describes how Gill's life is transformed by the culture of Starbucks and his relationships with his fellow employees who come from a very different soci-economic background then the author. With honesty and humor, Michael Gates Gill describes his new life as Mike the floor sweeper, table cleaner, bathroom custodian, cashier, and coffee enthusiast. This was an entertaining and at times inspirational read and I highly recommend it. It is really a story of the power of a community that accepts a stranger into its' midst and shares with him their values. Our faith communities would do well to learn from this story.

The second book is Steve Martin's memoir, Born Standing Up; A Comic's Life. Today's' teens and twenty somethings know Martin as a movie star and sometime author rather then the "Wild and Crazy Guy" that did standup in the 70's and until 1982. The author painstakingly describes those days as he shaped and tweaked and grew his act from six solid minutes to the 90 minutes of outrageous hilarity that would draw upwards of 50,000 people to his stadium performances. I found his story to be a testament to what happens when a person is committed to a dream and willing to make the sacrifices to bring the dream to a reality. Steve Martin began what we could now describe as post-modern comedy. L.A. Times critic, Erika Schickel, writes; "His legacy includes a lineage of self-reflecting comedians-culminating in the blowhard, Escher-like character of Stephen Colbert, who is perhaps the ultimate expression of what Martin started almost 40 years ago." This book is a good read and a reminder of the amount of work and sacrifice it takes to become successful in any field.

Warm Thoughts

2008-01-13T11:57:00.001-05:00

As they forcast another Sunday night snowstorm for our area I thought I would finally post some photos from our December visit to Marco Island and Naples, Florida.

Christmas Video

2007-12-14T18:33:00.000-05:00

Check out this fascinating and powerful Chrismas message by clicking here.

Thanks Giving!

2007-11-22T07:46:00.000-05:00

Being aware and attentive to the good things that surround us should be a daily exercise. I am, however, appreciative of this day which reminds us to be grateful. So I begin the day with a list of those things, large and small, which I give thanks for this Thanksgiving.

Love of Family
Laughter
Long Walks
NPR
Photos
Coffee
Ritual of preparing our daily dinner
Prayer
Phone calls from children and grandchildren
Mr. Tickle
Holding Hands
Tai Chi
Mystery Novels
Library
Daily Newspaper
Bananas
Baked Winter Squash with Maple Syrup
Making Chocolate Chip Pancakes for the Grandchildren
Driving to Vermont
Flying to Florida
John's Music
Dancing in the Kitchen
Poker Bluegill's Stories
Shenentaha Park
Farmer's Market
My Favorite Chair
Prayer Shawl
Paul's blanket
Dad's Rototiller
Memories
Movies
Sharing His Story
Christmas Music
Planning a Trip
Physicians Who Listen
Pastors With Passion
Retirement
etc.
etc. etc..........

A Look Back!

2007-11-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

A click on the link below should take you to Teacher Tube and a video based on the Billy Joel song, "We Didn't Start The Fire". The images and words brought back a lot of memories for me of the turbulent times I've lived through.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=f061977fb2f7ba36d74d

Autumn Prayer

2007-10-21T23:09:00.000-04:00

O extravagant God, in this ripening, red-tinged autumn,

waken in me a sense of joy in just being alive,

joy for nothing in general except everything in particular;

joy in sun and rain mating with earth to birth a harvest;

joy in soft light through shyly disrobing trees;

joy in the acolyte moon setting halos around processing clouds;

joy in the beating of a thousand wings mysteriously knowing which way is warm;

joy in wagging tails and kid's smiles and in this spunky old city;

joy in the taste of bread and wine, the smell of dawn, a touch, a song,

a presence;

joy in having what I cannot live without-other people to hold and cry and laugh with;

joy in love, in you;

and that all at first and last

is grace. (words from "Guerrillas of Grace by Ted Loder, photos by Isaac)

An Attitude Adjustment!

2007-10-17T10:21:00.000-04:00

I've been carrying the following around in my pocket for a long time and thought I would share it today.

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than education,

than money, than circumstances, than failures,

than successes,

than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude

we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change our past....

We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.

We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play the one string we have

and that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me

and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you.........

we are in charge of our ATTITUDE.

Up, Up, and Away

2007-09-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

John and I awoke at 5am on Saturday morning to travel to Glens Falls, NY for the Annual Adirondack Balloon festival. Traffic was very congested but we made it in time to watch the launch of over 50 hot air balloons. Here are some photos.

Last Words

2007-09-24T09:13:00.000-04:00

What if you had an opportunity to speak to a gathering of friends and family about your values and principles? And what if you knew that the end of your life was imminent? What would you share? What would be the focus of your speech?
Colleges and Universities around the country have been inviting faculty to imagine that they had one last opportunity to speak. They call this the "Last Lecture Series". For Randy Pausch, 46, a professor at Carnegie-Mellon University, this is not a hypothetical situation. He has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given mere weeks to live. The September 20, 2007 edition of the Wall Street Journal has an article about his inspirational speech. To see excerpts from Professor Pausch's moving and surprisingly humorous lecture, click here.

To Blog or Not to Blog.....

2007-09-19T20:07:00.000-04:00

If there is anyone still checking this blog.....I guess I owe an explanation for my long absence.

The truth is....I've been enjoying summer.....my best summer since Junior High.

You remember those days, before you had summer jobs. The days of July and August stretched out in front of you, unpaved and unscheduled and filled with mosquitoes, sunburns, fireflies, campfires, and adventures. Nat King Cole sang in 1963 about the kind of summer I experienced in 2007.

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer

Dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

I had forgotten how enjoyable summer could be. Walks in the park; camping in our pop up camper which has been setting in the yard the last three years unused;;fishing with friends, children, and grandchildren; spending weekend evenings at the local dirt tracks; watching and suffering with the Mets on the TV in the back porch; sailing on Lake George; boating on the Sacandaga and Caroga lakes; licking an ice cream cone at Dan's; growing an abundance of tomatoes; Saturday mornings at the Farmer's Market; surprising friend Karl on his 20Th anniversary of ordination in Pennsylvania; leading worship on Labor Day weekend at Diamond Point Community Church on Lake George with my entire family in attendance, chasing fireflies with the grandchildren; working on a Habitat Build in Schenectady; and spending a delightful week at a friend's camp on Hunt Lake.

So dear and patient reader, if any of you still remain....that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Granddaughters' Kaylyn and Jena Grandchildren at Diamond Point John and Mary at Diamond Point

Hairspray

2007-07-24T08:38:00.000-04:00

Hairspray-The Musical is a delightful night at the movies. I found myself smiling throughout the evening at the exuberance, joy, costumes, and the hilarious dialogue. Unknown Nikki Blonsky plays the heroine, Tracy Turnblad, with an enthusiasm and grin that is contagious. John Travolta plays her mom, Edna, with respect and sensitivity for this woman of large size and heart. A measure of Travolta's success is that I stopped thinking of the character as John Travolta in drag about half way through the movie in the joyous number, "Welcome to the '60's". The whole movie is a reminder of the fashions, silliness, and racial stereotypes of that decade. It is also a tribute to those who were willing to risk all to create the changes that needed to come. Owen Gleiberman writing in Entertainment weekly gets it right when he writes, "Hairspray is a fizzy and delirious high-camp message-movie musical that may just turn out to be the happiest movie of the summer." Christopher Walken plays Tracy's father with a goofy weirdness that is fun to watch especially when the villainous Velma Von Tussle, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, attempts to seduce him in his joke shop. The movie ends with the exhuberant "You Can't Stop the Beat" and if you go to this movie, I bet you can't stop smiling.