BLESSED RAIN

181 – Tuesday, June 30, 2009

And then the rains came! A huge front has moved into our area bringing with it moisture – not a little, a lot - in fact, 3 ¼ inches just today with even more expected tomorrow. I could almost hear the sinewy and dry blades of grass vacuum up the raindrops as pockets of deluge poured sporadically throughout the entire day and on into this evening. I am pretty sure that I can actually see the grass greening and growing while I watch. Never is this kind of precipitation more welcomed than in the midst of a protracted drought as our area has suffered for more than three years now. There is a spiritual application to every natural event and this is no exception – when our spirits are dry and empty from the prolonged attacks brought about by the arid affairs of living and all our reservoirs are depleted, they need replenishment and refreshing that can only come by a flood of spiritual stimulant delivered by the cover of the Holy Spirit, giving us a desire to drink from the Fountain that shall never run dry. I am reminded that the Lord will send the former and the latter rain and water the dry and thirsty land. It is in such a time that we are refreshed and can once again begin to grow and thrive, through reading His word and sharing with Him our most intimate thoughts. If you have never experienced His refreshment, you really should give Him a chance to revive you. It takes no special talent or words, just a willing heart and the humility it takes to admit that you are dry and empty within then talk to Him as though He is in the same room with you – He is, you know. The potential for refilling is so fantastic that it is worth the risk of embarrassment, especially since you can do this in the privacy of wherever are comfortable. Let me know how it all works out for you.

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IE

180 – Monday, June 29, 2009 Technology is an amazing facet of our social gem --- when it works!! It can also be the most exasperating, aggravating invasion of brain cells imaginable!! As you have probably surmised by now, I am again embroiled in a cyber-tantrum initiated when I double-clicked my Internet Explorer to get on line which informed me that there was a new version of IE that would ‘accelerate and improve’ my surfing experience – NOT! Since the download, I cannot open my internet connection, view video attachments sent to me in emails, use imbedded url’s without errors being identified and Internet Explorer needing to ‘shut down’. I have attempted to do a ‘system restore’, but my computer will not accept any date I have selected. Anyone have any ideas how to get my computer-life back to normal -------- or, if not, need an anchor for their personal watercraft?
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CROSSWORDS

179 – Sunday, June 28, 2009 Crossword puzzles – what a marvelous means of word power enrichment! Think of the enjoyable torture you endure when performing your own brain scan in search of that enigmatic solution to 9-down – then recall the tremendous euphoric rush that overtakes you when you unravel the mystery, but proceed to punish yourself with the fact that you should have known the answer instantly instead of expending all that unproductive energy. My fraternal grandmother was my mentor – she tackled all the puzzles, even the Sunday New York Times skull-busters, filling the tiny squares in a single sitting, scripting all the answers lowercase in ball-point pen – talk about confidence!! She once told me that the real secret to crosswords was to do one every day, progressively working up to higher degrees of difficulty, because the puzzle creators use the same clues and answers over and again in the formation of their brainteasers. Where they usually trip me up is in a homonymic diversion – you know, when you read a word-clue as having a particular meaning, when, in fact, they were introducing a totally different one. She was right, I noticed a pattern there – I have become more adroit in dissecting the elusive grids and filling the blanks – I undertake the daily newsprint versions somewhat adeptly these days – I can always complete the blanks in the booklets purchased to make plane travel seem less mundane - of course, they all carry the label “EASY” on the cover, so even a caveman can do them – but I still have my nemesis – those Sunday New York Times critters!! Gram, where are you when I need you? Whisper that hint into my spirit-ear and help me look good! I have pledged to keep on trying – I am making incremental progress – fewer blanks and more tiny squares filled with my printed capital letters - - - - - - of course, mine are still done in pencil!
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SOARING

178 – Saturday, June 27, 2009 As I intently look upward from my poolside chaise at the gray-shaded clouds meandering across a rich bluish background, forms perpetually morph from swan to Donald Duck to Nessie to hippopotamus head to dolphin and suddenly, superimposed over this mutation series, high in the sky, a graceful hawk soars on a motionless wingspan making lazy circles overhead. This is no cumulonimbus formation conjuring imaginary visions – he’s the real thing. I spent a half-hour watching the silent predator as he effortlessly glided on invisible air currents and could not help but be reminded that his Maker and mine are one-in-the-same being – I am, once again, awed at His exquisite attention to detail. I am fearfully and wonderfully made to be inspired to review my own origins through the simplicity of sky-gazing. I trust you are doing exactly the same thing at this very moment, not from cloud watching, but from a few written words – the ponderings of a true believer.
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THE BUG MAN

177 – Friday. June 26, 2009 Pestilent intruders beware! Our annual treatment for pests of all varieties including termites was performed by Richard, a semi-retired worker who assists our contract agent for pest control during his busiest times, a family friend of nearly a decade. At the conclusion of his service, Richard was going over all the areas he had serviced and what he had done when he offered a genuine compliment to Cynthia for how clean her house is – recognition of her steady attention to every aspect of home management which she richly deserves. He observed he has seen plenty of homes and few are as clean as hers, more like the old days. Our conversations drifted more toward days gone by and how there were lesser amenities to serve our predecessors and yet they seemed to accomplish feats we find impossible today – growing their own produce, harvesting, canning and preserving, making bread and biscuits from scratch ingredients, long discussions on short porches, family intimacy and so on. I posed the question of where they always found the time – Richard’s response sobered me – without hesitation he said the reason was that they did not attempt to do so many things. I had to pause a moment to think about what he meant, given the context of our discussion, talking about how they accomplished so much. It finally made sense, however! We gad about, scurrying to wedge half-a-dozen activities into the time span our ancestors used for only one thing. We use even more of our potential intimate time gazing at a rectangular color projector whose main function is to divert time we once spent sharing thoughts with each other about every topic that might be socially acceptable on that short porch. He was right – my mother always reminds me to smell the roses – I am doing more of that these days! If I am appreciative to Cynthia for one thing regarding her New Year’s challenge for me to write a daily blog it is for the fact that doing so has forced me to slow down – attempt less – observe more – complain less – live more, and for that I shall be eternally grateful!
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FARRAH & MICHAEL

176 – Thursday, June 25, 2009 We were at the home of our dearest friends when Donna first heard the news of the passing of the eighties poster girl, Farrah Fawcett and asked, “Who will be #3, for these tragedies always seem to come in threes?” Donna was making reference to the death of Ed McMahon earlier this week, the consummate co-host of the foremost late-night show for more than 25 years. By the time we had finished dinner and fellowship and arrived home, we discovered the breaking news and that it was to be none other than Michael Jackson. It occurred to me that the face of entertainment is continuing to do as it has always done – transitioning. Nothing stays the same – there was a time when the hottest stars were Bogart and Bacall, Tracey and Hepburn, Astaire and Rodgers – long careers with lots of film credits garnered along the way when celluloid images were captured in black-and-white. Then came the transitions to long-running TV venues which included Fawcett and McMahon in Charlie’s Angels and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson respectively and they became the new icons of their day. Michael Jackson, with his magical moves, the infamous moonwalk, and a following that was even greater overseas than here in America, endeared himself to his music-crazed followers long before he was a teenager. All three of these professionals shared professional fame in an overlapping time-window - but they also held in common egregious personal tragedy. This fact has forced me to again acknowledge that my focus must stay transfixed on the incomparable blessings I have and that the visages of fame and fortune are hollow and totally worthless in the end. All three of these entertainers made more money in a single episode or performance than I made in any year of my career. All of them were recognized by millions yet, in the end, were facing death alone. I must make certain to always keep my priorities in the proper order.
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MENVI

175 – Wednesday, June 24, 2009 One of my least favorite tasks appeared on the docket today. Arising early, Cynthia and I donned our swimwear for a cool-down later and covered them with work clothing and, before the sun was fully risen, reported for duty in her ‘fairy garden’ assigned the ‘top secret’ mission, code named MENVI, or if you are not skilled in acronymic decoding, mandatory extraction of non-authorized vegetative infestation – in simpler lay-terms, weed pulling!! Cynthia and I usually systematically pluck the little invaders as soon as they rear their pesky little heads and keep the garden perpetually pristine on a daily basis - but our lives have been a little hectic, to say the least, this past week and we have fallen behind. Having been blessed last evening with a refreshing shower that was so overdue you could hear the grass in the lawn breath a collective ‘AAaaaaahhhhh’ as each crispy critter blade drank in the rejuvenating potion, the earth in the beds was also softened, allowing for less resistance as we pulled the dozens and dozens of the unwelcome green chutes. What victory I felt as I grasped the weed as near the dirt as possible and offered a steady pull and felt the earth move about making room for the taproot to glide easily out, a sign that I had successfully achieved my goal and that particular goblin would not haunt the sacred garden again. Less satisfying were the times when the exact same maneuver was executed, only the results were a premature popping sound and a look downward revealed that only the portion of weed that had been visible a moment before had was taken, leaving the roots right where they were, a certainty that this would not be my final encounter with this particular wild plant. In that grim moment, I realized that I was amid an object lesson about sin in my own life-garden. If I do not eradicate a sprout instantly, it will take over – if I do not stay on top of the task daily, it will bring other sins with it – if I am successful at removing the ‘root’ cause, the same ‘weed’ will not return, however, if I am not, I can know I will struggle over and over with the same one until it too is ‘rooted out’. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to see this from a literally ‘down-to-earth’ perspective. How do I spell relief? - R-E-P-E-N-T! Have an awesome day!
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ED McMAHON

174 – Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Heeeeeeerrrre’s Johnny will never be heard again, at least not from the original source!! For thirty years, at exactly 11:30 pm, the air waves were filled with that one-of-a-kind throaty intro of his ace host on The Tonight Show. Ed McMahon died today - he was well into his eighties yet still quite visible in the modern media. Everyone who ever worked with McMahon said that Ed was a kind and gentle soul who was without equal when it came to the job he did – he made everyone who sat in the top-dog chair look like they were the only visible talent and he was just the ‘lucky dog’ chosen to be the side-kick – but those who occupied those seats of prominence told a diametrically different story. The world will miss this Ed McMahon, but we can still fill his shoes – we can purpose to make everyone we are with look and be their best while we remain in the nearby shadows of anonymity. If we do this, we, too, will endear ourselves to those with whom we share the life-stage. What a fascinating skill that needs more development in my life so I might ever do better to elevate those around me to their proper celebrity of successes. With His help, I will strive for that.
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JOHN & KATE

173 – Monday, June 22, 2009 John and Kate are over – they are making their obvious separation a legal matter through divorce! I am not a watcher of the series, but I am kept in the loop by my sister-in-law who has followed the couple through the earlier years of their ‘on camera’ rearing of eight children. I do not pretend to have insights into what happens when you allow your life to be broadcast to millions of viewers, but it becomes increasingly obvious that celebrities from all across the spectrum know that your life is no longer your own, but becomes the property of all that participate as voyeurs. We should not be surprised or amazed when these lives disintegrate before our very eyes – what should amaze us is that there are people who want to continue to watch the implosion. I am somewhat gratified to know that 63% of the people agree with me, however, that is still way over a third who want to watch the final unraveling of the lives of their victims. What in the world is happening in our society when 37% of them have such a miserable existence that they displace their own painful presence by engrossing themselves in a flight of the imagination by scrutinizing the misery of others? We are increasingly becoming socially maimed!! The saddest part is the ‘eight’ – they are always the sufferers when the adults become the self-centered children, even when they are getting paid a ludicrous $75,000.00 per episode.
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FATHER'S DAY

172 – Sunday, June 21, 2009 Nothing is more satisfying than for a grandfather to have spent time on Father’s Day with both his son and his grandson. Such privilege was granted me today! I spent the greater part of the time thinking how blessed I am and how proud I am of both! Great hopes that they will discover the richness that life can offer with the proper perspective – I offer that caveat of perspective, for life itself is a perpetual challenge often requiring a step back to get a ‘bigger picture’ view, for it is also brutal. My prayer for both is that each may find his pathway to the treasures God has stored up for them – not in silver or gold, but in the heritage of their earthly father who has been blessed with his father’s and his Father’s eyes to know what is truly valuable in life – family. That they may both endeavor and strive, not with each other, but with the resistance that just comes from living, until they can find a solid relationship with their own life-mate is my solemn wish. Growing, nurturing, loving, caring – more for others than for themselves, which will not be easy, given the clime of this ugly world, but it is possible. Such a satisfying day it has been – I wish I could have shared it with my Dad. I love Carlos, but I miss my Dad!
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PERFECT WEATHER

171 – Saturday, June 20, 2009 It’s the day of the estate sale of my mother’s aunt and we are praying like crazy that they have most excellent weather. For the entire spring, their area in Illinois has been literally swamped with excessive precipitation and colder temperatures that have hindered the farmers from entering the fields and probably has resulted in higher prices in the grocery as a result. Go figure! Here we are, I in Florida and my younger brother in Texas, in severe drought where we have been for the past three years – desperate for rain! The grass in my yard (that Christian mowed for me yesterday) literally crunches when you walk on it, and instead of being the lush, rich green color that it should during the ‘rainy season’ which should be delivering a daily deluging of downpours, we host a dry, wiry, grayish-green ground cover. I should be thankful, for many of my neighbors have lost their lawns completely. Anyway, I took a look at the national weather forecast on the radar and it appears their sale will take place in clear blue skies sans moisture – now watch what happens – I bet you that they all mention how hot it is now!!
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A GOOD DEED

170 – Friday, June 19, 2009 As I sat at the computer this morning completing a blog, Cynthia asked me if what we were hearing was the sound of a lawn mower in the neighborhood. As I twisted the rod on the mini-blinds to peer out the bay window of the den, the sight I caught surprised me – it was my young friend from across the street, Christian, and he was in my yard mowing my grass. Chris had asked me several days ago if I was too proud to accept someone doing something for me. I told him that, perhaps, if he had asked that question twenty years ago, I may have been prideful, however, the Lord had shown me time and again that when we decline another’s offer to do a good deed, we eradicate the blessing they may have received from Him. I am blessed when others accept my assistance and I have learned that valuable lesson which now allows me to accept favors. Thank you, my friend, for your ministry to me this sweltering day, and may the Lord heap a grand blessing upon you that you have earned through a kindness and the easing a burden from an elder! The hardest part of that statement for me these days is the admission of the ‘elder’ part!
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EVOLVING

169 – Thursday, June 18, 2009 I made the effort to warn you in last Thursday’s blog that it is a weekly thing to observe grandson and his miniature universe, and today is the day. Unlike other days when a specific interaction on his part has stirred an awareness in me, today I found myself just gaze-fixed as I watched him play alone in his world – a plastic hammer on his kiddy fence, tapping, twisting, inverting, poking, turning, hanging, rotating, every possible combination of movements until thirteen minutes had passed on the digital display of the cable TV box! What was going on behind those compelling blue eyes, portals into his soul? I would give…let’s see, what would I give? I started to say a week’s pay, but that is zero and I would give much more to know how his growing mind was working – what was he imagining? – what did he see that I did not? – what could be so compelling to a seventeen-month-old to so engage his mind? I will never know anything other than it is highly unusual for a child his age to have such a lengthy span of attention. He has tremendous powers of observation when it comes to mechanical things – if he sees you flip a switch or move a lever, even only once, he will emulate your behavior with a high level of detail in his actions. I am enamored with the projection of what pathway his life may follow, a thought, I am sure, that every parent and grandparent alike have imagined. I am guessing it will take him in some highly skilled technical or mechanical direction – I can hardly wait to see, but for now anyway, I just want to savor every single minute of watching this diminutive life form evolve into his very own manhood!
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AS SEEN ON TV

168 – Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Cynthia and I have observed at least a dozen ideas that have made it to the stage of opportunity to be ‘seen on TV’. Some of these ideas are trite and hackneyed, but there they are nonetheless! Have you ever found yourself deliberating the course they took to arrive at their precise point of observation? Was it intellect? – no, at least not only that, for any astute observation reveals that some of these folks are not listed among the world’s highest functioning brains, not the sharpest knives in the drawer, perhaps even a sandwich shy of a picnic, if you know what I mean! Are their ideas superior to those that come to us? – no, in fact, in some cases, we have had similar, if not identical thoughts years or even decades before them. Is it networking? Do they just know the right people in the right places with the proper contacts and funding to ‘make it all happen’? – I truly do not know – but I would love to! Cynthia and I have had many epiphanies in our lifetime – yet that which has ever escaped us has been executions! We seem to know what, just not how. I am not angry or jealous of the success of others – quite the contrary, rather I rejoice for them. I do not want their pie, just a slice of my own! I truly admire the person who has the creative idea and the compelling initiative to claw away their obstacles and lunge to success – who knows, perhaps we are only one second of inventive inspiration away from joining their ranks! Could that be true for you, as well?
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ANNIVERSARY DATE

167 – Tuesday, June 16, 2009 A leisurely romantic lunch at Ruby Tuesday’s – an intimate drive to Tampa – annual passes at the entrance gate from a lovely senior lady – strolling hand-in-hand through the botanical garden to observe the lovely bromeliads and flutter-bys (I always thought they were named by a dyslexic biologist) – getting off the correct path as we made our way to the attraction that compelled us to Busch Gardens, Jungala – back on course through Stanleyville – the sounds of the world’s fastest roller coaster roaring overhead in a blur – people-watching and observing how disheveled and unkempt the community has allowed themselves to be in public – the day is muggy hot and we are perspiring – through the arcades of Timbuktu and a brief cool-down in the pavilion as we enjoyed a song and dance review in air conditioning – into Nairobi and aboard the train – circling the compound while observing antelope and flamingo, giraffe and gazelle – a photo op or two – a quick snack of roast turkey, fresh and delightful, shared under the canopy fan amid a tender gaze into the eyes of a life-love – a musical magic show that was more enjoyable than we had expected – a ride on the tram back to our car – a recounting of the day as me made our way toward our favorite place, home – a dash into the grocery to retrieve a couple of items – a bologna sandwich with mustard and mayonnaise shared in romantic twilight – a gentle kiss to close the celebration of forty years spent leaving individuality and entering complete oneness – my, what an impressive and wonderful day!
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