This and That

It has been a very fast week since last I blogged.

Peter and Lindsey Wilson were here Sunday for Peter's "audition" as worship minister at Otter. It is always good to see them. After church, we had the mother of all pot luck luncheons. So much good food! Then there was an ice cream "crank off". I really miss making homemade ice cream--we wore out at least two electric freezers at Potosi with Mow's vanilla ice cream which had Eagle Bran Milk and whipping cream in it.

While Brandon and Sheryl finished up the newest Zoe recording, I babysat last night. It went better than the last time in getting them to bed. I loved sitting on Sam's bed and talking. He didn't want to sleep because he had a two hour nap that day, and he was ready to talk. As I put my arms around his little round body and rubbed his back, I remembered those days 37 years ago with another redhead who never liked to go to sleep.

Tonight at Otter, the Musical Conversations featured Bobby Colvert and his chosen musicians and singers. Brandon sang I Can Only Imagine and Sheryl sang On My Knees. Amy Westerman sang The Old Rugged Cross. Amanda Vickers sang a song I was not familiar with, but it was beautiful. Philip Henry was visiting ,and he sang Give Me Jesus. Sonya Colvert sang Jesus Loves Me. The program began with an instrumental Ashoken Farewell--probably one of my most favorite tunes from the PBS Ken Burns series on The Civil War. All in all, it filled an empty spot in my heart, and I think all who were there loved it.

My favorite quote of the past year appeared in today's Tennessean: Dolly Parton said, "Sometimes people tell me I should go into politics, but I'm not interested. We've got enough boobs in the White House."

Economic Hysteria

I am getting awfully tired of hearing such phrases as "we are teetering on the precipice" "we are on the edge of" "recession is...." "etc. Yes, I do emphatize with those who are struggling with unemployment, foreclosed houses, and little cash. And I can't say that I haven't counted my assets carefully (after all, I am retired and on an income that doesn't change but about 42 cents a year.)

However, I am coming to believe that the media is enjoying stirring this up (I never thought I would ever say that!). For every unemployed person (and many of those are chronically unemployed) there are millions who have found work. For every foreclosed home, there are millions still living in homes and keeping up payments. For every empty pocket, there are millions who are earning enough to keep it all together. Again, I'm not unsympathetic to those who aren't. It is a scary thing to lose a job.

While I don't subscribe to Dave Ramsey's persona and demeanor--I do think he is right to rail against credit card debt and buying things one cannot afford and cannot use. As Jim says to Huck Finn, "Life is considerable trouble and considerable joy."

What I do think we need is new, fresh, creative leadership on all levels. So let's throw the do-nothings out. Institute term limits in Congress and other levels. Elect those who may not be experienced, but who at least have creative ideas and courage.

And that's my rant for the day.

Celebration

We have had a wonderful weekend celebrating Maddie's and America's birthdays. Friday night we went to Lipscomb for the A Cappella concert and fireworks. This ia a great family experience with no large crowds pressing, a kid-friendly environment and great fireworks. We all loved it. The kids played all around us while we passed the time with friends. After eating rocket popsicles, the children were bathed in sugar (epecially Sam who got so much blue flavoring on his arms it will just have to wear off).

Yesterday was Maddie's 7th birthday party. It is hard to imagine that seven years have passed since I got the call that she was here. I flew in just in time to see her first in the hospital--Sonya Colvert picked me up at the airport. Maddie was a beautiful baby as she is a beautiful girl. Her red hair did not show up until much later, but the gorgeous blue eyes were there from the beginning. Maddie is the consumate thinker and "feeler" of the group of three. She seems to have a literary bent (maybe from me), and is very artistic (with her mother as an model) and musical (with her father's genes). I know she would have my Sam Thomas wrapped around her little finger ready to give her anything her heart desired. Love the girl!

The birthday party was matchless, as are all parties planned by Sheryl. (See Brandon's blog for a discription and pictures). Perhaps the crowning point of the party was the sliding down the stairs on mattresses. The girls went home with monogrammed pillows, bath salts and bath oil and fancy make-up and hair-dos. Little Sam needs a Daddy date with boy things to get over all of it.

Afterward, we went to see Kit Kittredge. I highly recommend this one for family viewing. The period costumes were right on. The movie is set in the middle 30's with the attendant loss of jobs, recession, foreclosures and homelessness associated with the Great Depression. That was all a little too close to comfort as one compares what is happening today. About half-way through the film, I remember just relaxing and enjoying it in a way I have not enjoyed movies for a very long time. It may be old-fashioned, but it was picturing the 30's, and I really enjoyed it. (Sam went to sleep.)

Happy birthday Madeline Gail from your Nonnie.

The Twenty-dollar Tomato

My husband Sam had an excessively green thumb. Every year he would plant an acre in front of our house with vegetables--swiss chard, squash, okra, green beans, onions, corn, peppers, tomatoes, etc. For several years, we had two long rows of asparagus--yum, yum. Of course, there were also fruit trees and flowers all around.

My dark brown thumb cooperated only in the picking, cooking and/or putting up all the produce. It was an enjoyable joint venture that we and our neighbors loved.

Since he has been gone, I have not done anything with vegetables. However, this year I determined to do some gardening in a pot. So I went to Lowe's and bought some very hardy tomato and pepper plants. They were doing quite well until the aphids took over the tomatoes.
Then I had to find a spray to get rid of them....back to Lowe's. The plants grew so tall; I had to find a way to prop them up....back to Lowe's. One evening I noticed that almost every leaf was gone on the pepper plants--looking carefully I found two very green fat worms who had feasted all day. They were almost invisible to the naked eye, and I put my hand on one of them---run, run, run. Of course, they were appropriately squashed. Fortunately, the tomatoes showed no signs of fat worms...until the next morning when I found three huge ones chomping up and down the two plants. Back to Lowe's to find an anti-worm spray. The worms had also taken bites out of two of the three tomatoes I was lovingly cultivating.

Today, I picked the one tomato which had survived to ripen. I haven't eaten it yet, but it seems to have a very tough skin--I know it is not going to be good. Oh, well, maybe I will pay a visit to the Farmer's Market in Franklin next Saturday.

Slumber Party

Maddie, Ella and I had a slumber party Friday night--Whew. Here are a few things we did:

Washed my car (I try to wash it at least once a month whether it needs it or not). This was a very successful venture--the girls are great detailers and we all enjoyed getting wet in the hot weather.

Tea and toast for breakfast. The girls often request a tea party, but we haven't had one for a while. I suggested we have tea and toast for breakfast. I have a couple of tea sets that Sam's aunt gave us many years ago, and we enjoy using the real china, the lumps of sugar, and the cream in our tea--English TeaTime tea is the best. They do not seem to like the flavored teas too much. So we had a veddy English morning. Naturally the toast was cut into wedges and served with blackberry jelly. Yum.

Polly Pockets is still popular. We got out Brandon's old Playschool Village ( which is still in very good shape--don't make the toys like that anymore, even Playschool.) I always have to join in on the play--dubbed Molly Pockets, I was the mother of the bevy of Polly Pockets which came riding convertibles, motorcycles, and Safari Wagons. The village was supplemented with other "houses" from the toy box--A Dora Tree House, A small Barbie mansion, etc. And naturally, all the Pollies had to be dressed to the "T's" with everything matching even the tiny shoes no bigger than my thumbnail were donned for the trip to the village. It was fun.

By far the most popular activity was printing various things from Disney Playhouse on the computer. One of the programs offers opportunities to redecorate bedrooms--Maddie enjoyed that. Another let's one run off Disney characters and color them--Ella chose Daisy Duck which she saturated with watercolors and hung on my refrigerator door.

Oh, yes, we did sleep--at least they did. They insisted on sleeping in my bed with me--it was a bit of a squeeze, but we made it.

Any suggestions for follow-up activities next time? Oh, yes, we did read books, of course--their favorite was Wimberley Worried by Kevin Henkes. Ella recognized Henkes as the same illustrator who did Lily's Purple Plastic Purse.

Thanks girls for an outstanding slumber party!

Naming the Animals

I love The Writer's Almanac on radio and on line (http://www.newsletter@americanpublicmedia.com/. Each edition always carries a poem.

This one today was fun:



Naming the Animals

by Anthony Hecht



Having commanded Adam to bestow

Names upon all creatures, God withdrew

To empyrean palaces of blue

That warm and windless morning long ago,

And seemed to take no notice of the vexed

Look on the young man's face as he took thought

Of all the miracles the Lord had wrought

Now to be labeled, dubbed, yclept, indexed.



Before an addled mind and puddle brow,

The feathered nation and the finny prey

Passed by; there went biped and quadruped.

Adam looked forth with bottomless dismay

Into the tragic eyes of his first cow,

And shyly ventured, "Thou shalt be called 'Fred.'"



From Collected Later Poems, 2003

Fond Farewells

One of my favorite books that I have mentioned in this blog before is Famous Last Words, Fond Farewells, Deathed Distribes and Exclamations upon Expiration by Ray Robinson. It is literally a collection of the last deathbed utterances of famous people. Some are funny; some are poignant; some profane.

Here are some of my favorites--mostly poignant:

"I shall hear in heaven!" Ludwig Van Beethoven--he lost his hearing at age 31.

"Leave the shower curtain on the inside of the tub." Conrad Hilton--who began his hotel empire in Cisco, Texas.

"Get my swan costume ready." Anna Pavlova--world-famous ballerina acclaimed for her performances in Swan Lake.

"More light~" Johann Goethe--Light was used frequently as a metaphor in his drama Faust.

"Here (Washington) ruining people is considered sport." Vincent Foster, legal advisor to Bill Clinton who left this in his suicide note.

Living with Death

In our Wednesday night class, we are enjoying talking about The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Randy is the Carnegie Mellon prof. who is dying of pancreatic cancer. His speech has been downloaded at least 6 million times and his book about the speech is #1 on many book lists. The fact that he does not talk much about the dreariness of death makes the book easier to read.

People just do not like to talk about death, nor do they even like to read about it. I have been noticing the obits in various papers (Sherlock Holmes called obituaries "agony columns") and the euphemisms used by the obit writer to indicate death: The departed---"left this world to be with the Lord" "departed this earthly life" "stepped into heaven and the arms of the Lord" "nestled into a peaceful rest" "passed away"
and two of the most interesting: "went fishing with the Lord" "left this world for places unknown" !!!!

Writing obituaries falls to the most junior of reporters, and generally they are not works of art--but they are very good at euphemisms.

Broadway

I think my favorite awards show is the Tony Awards. It was on last night--very classy, glamorous, and did not run overtime.

The plays offered as the best did not seem to have any staying power except August: Osage
County which, by the way, was written by a Texan. However, it is the dark sort of play about dysfunctional families that I have come to dislike. Someone said that literature mirrors the culture in which it is written. That is certainly true today. I find it increasingly hard to find a novel that I can read which is not full of gloom, doom and obscenities. Plays seem to be the same.

The revivals shone last night: South Pacific and Gypsy got several awards. Sunday in the Park with George looked interesting. The opening number Circle of Life from the Lion King was thrilling--where is one like it today? Or one like South Pacific for that matter? Or Phantom?
The musical muses have left the stage.

Because I have always had trouble memorizing, I have never wanted to act on the stage, but admire those who do. There is something electric about real-live performances for an audience. I have only been to Broadway twice, but was fortunate enough to see Phantom of the Opera there. I did see many plays at ACU performed by casts which rivaled the Broadway casts. And I enjoy going to TPAC--especially the musical road shows which indeed are as good if not better than the Broadway casts. But unfortuntately we have run out of good musicals to take on the road.

Somebody out there needs to write one.

Stopping for Death

Because I could not stop for Death--
He kindly stopped for me--
That carriage held but just Ourselves--
And Immortality.
Emily Dickinson, 1863

It was interesting to note that last night a media giant NBC stopped for death and mourned the loss of Tim Russert. The hour-long tribute, narrated by Tom Brokaw, was moving, spiritual and inspiring. Russert, one of my favorite commentators, was evidently well-liked by all who knew him--even those who dreaded his questioning. Over and over again his blue-collar roots were stressed and how those made a difference in his life and profession. A devout Catholic, his religion was also noted several times in its making of the man. Although I never got to see him on Meet the Press, (it comes on during Sunday church), I shall miss him as we approach the fall elections. He was adept at explaining all the ins-and outs, ferreting out the covert back-room dramas, and predicting very early who would win.

Summer Reading Discussion Series

Doris Colvett and I began our second summer series last night. The group decided to read and discuss The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, The Shack by William Young, and light-hearted Fannie Flagg book Can't Wait to Get to Heaven.

Although the group was small last night, it was lively and should make for interesting discussions.

Why is it when one opens a decision for a book to read to a woman's group, Francine Rivers always comes up? I fail to see her merit as a writer and religious researcher. But then, I like N. T. Wright, Frederick Buechner and Henri Nouwen.

Will the Silliness Never Cease?

According to the Tennessean today, 5 teachers at a Church of Christ affiliated school (Columbia Academy in Maury County) were told to switch churches or leave the school. Seems their church (not named--but probably a Church of Christ) used musical instruments during a Good Friday service. One teacher said she would retire; two others accepted a compromise--they had to agree not to attend the two or three services a year where musical instruments are played. The other two are leaving for other jobs.

Wonderful publicity for the school and the Church of Christ, isn't it? I know Columbia is a private school, but it seems to me what they are requiring is a blatant violation of civil rights--not to even mention the old tradition in the C of Ch. that all churches are atonomous and can set their own agenda. The school has succeeded in proving all the old statements about the C of Ch--we are a bunch of wierdos who believe we have the last word on truth, and everyone else can go to hell. Have a new thought? Believe in civil rights or even social justice? Prepared to fight to the death for every jot and tittle we have added to the gospel over the last 200 years? No, No and Yes.

Those who read this little squib this morning are probably laughing up their sleeves at those
poor little people who cannot see beyond their blind beliefs and adherance to mistaken traditions.

(So glad I am not one of them--God have mercy on me, a sinner.)

Happy Birthday, Dear Sam

We celebrated Sam's 3rd birthday today at the bowling alley. I was quite impressed about how bowling alleys have changed. This one (on Nolensville Rd.) was quite child-friendly. The kids had a good time. I think a birthday party off-site is a good idea.

Let's see, we did McDonalds, the Bowling Alley, the skating rink, the park several times, and a very large costume party when Brandon turned 16 at the church fellowship hall.

Having Sam has really changed the Thomas equation--Spiderman, Lightening McQueen, and Batman have joined all the pink princess dresses. Airplanes, cars, and trucks are now parked amid the doll things. It has really been fun to see the differences. Having only had one child, I had no idea how different the two sexes are FROM BIRTH and continue to be as they grow.

Thank you, God for the gift of Sam. How I wish your grandfather Sam (Poppy) could have met you.

Prince Caspian

I went to see the newest edition of the Narnia Chronicles yesterday. I must say I liked it better than the first one. Those who read this blog know that I do not care for fantasy--so it was a stretch for me, as was Iron Man several weeks ago.

This Lewis classic was beautifully photographed--the computer graphics flowed easily and one was drawn into believing in centaurs, elfin Narnians and talking badgers. It did not seem to have much to say spiritually--Of course, Aslan and Lucy save the day. By the way, the battle scene was one of the best I have seen since Star Wars' battles.

The message that good wins over evil was there and all the heroes came out alive--what more does one want in a children's movie?

Books in the bookcase

I had the occasion to vist Traveler's Rest here in Nashville last week. It was the home of one of the founders of Nashville, Col. John Overton. A very good tour--full of little tidbits about the Civil War and visitors to the Overton home over the years. Overton was a very good friend of Andrew Jackson and his picture is in virtually every room. The home is several miles away from Peach Orchard Hill where one of the decisive battles was fought in the Battle of Nashville. It is also famous for its peach brandy which was served to all guests.

As I visit these homes, like the nerd I am, I always enjoy looking at the bookcases to see what the family was reading in the 1800's. Overton seems to have been a wide reader--his home has more books than any I have seen. He had Don Quixote, The Poems of Alexander Pope, and Gibbons' Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. As I have seen in the other homes, there also many volumes about agriculture.

What will future visitors see in my home (this is just for fun--I will not be remembered historically) in 2200? Well, for poetry, I guess they will see my volumes of Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson. In history, they will see
David McCullough's 1776 and John Adams, History of the Alamo, and Catclaw Country, a history of the Abilene, Texas area. As for fiction, they might find a little Dickens, The Shack, some mysteries and To Kill A
Mockingbird. And unlike Overton, there would several shelves of devotional and inspirational literature and several books on reading and writing. And too--lots of children's books.

One can tell a lot about a person from looking at what that person reads or doesn't read. What do your books say about you?

If Only and What If

As I read the story of Eric Noah-Wilson's sister (see www.Wineskins.blogspot.com/), I had to ponder again how children in the same family can turn out so differently. Eric is the manager and general domo of the ZoeGroup and is a wonderful husband, father and Jesus-follower. He ran away from his very disfunctional home at age 16--but fortunately encountered a family that eventually loved him out of his horrible memories. His sister Kristi, ran away from home at age 11--but found no one to help her. She took her life last month.

My husband grew up in a terrifically dysfunctional family--full of alcohol, verbal abuse, betrayal, and lies. Yet those who knew him described him as God's man--an educator, elder, wonderful father and husband. His salvation probably lay with his grandparents and aunt and uncle (Ralph and Ruby). His siblings were not so fortunate: one died of alchoholism, the other of cancer and a life full of unfulfilled dreams.

Eric and Sam could have easily have said "If only" when their lives were so dark--but they forged on. And it is hard not to ask,
:What if" about Kristi, and Sam's brother and sister. Life does not give us "what ifs", but God supplies courage and fortitude to the one who is open to help. And those who could help such people must stand in the gap.

God, thank you for Sam's grandparents (Back and Granny) and for Ralph and Ruby who recognized his distress and potential.

What If

What if it's wrong (translation: against God's law) to clap hands, raise arms, sing with instruments, have a kitchen in the church building or let a woman teach classes or lead a prayer? What if it's wrong to support orphan's homes or the Herald of Truth? What if it's wrong to use more than one cup for the communion, or to sing during communion, or to practice open communion, or to use wine at the communion table, or to let women serve communion....?

I have heard all of these "what ifs" in my lifetime, and frankly, I am tired of what ifs. As you can see, many of them deal with worship which is probably the least detailed command in the Bible. As folks in my fellowship have tried to fill in the blanks so that our worship is perfect according to God's will, we have trumped common sense with all our "what ifs" and have almost succeeded in sucking worship dry of its heart and joy.

I can't see those early Christians in Acts saying "What if... Instead they "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to everyone as he had need. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." Acts 2:42-47.

If Only

If only I had more money, I would give more to "Made in the Streets", the Wayne Reed Center or the Jellico Mission or the water well project....

During the summer (which seemed to stretch endlessly at first) a friend and I would sit on the front porch and draw elaborate houses for which we yearned. At that time, my house did not have indoor plumbing--it was wreck of a house my folk had moved in from the country. My dad was a carpenter and had the skills to remake it. We dreamed "if only"....

At other times when I have seen beautiful old plantation homes full of antiques, I have wished to have been born into a family with such an inheritance and have enjoyed the "what ifs" of such a circumstance.

But the truth is, we were an ordinary family of the '50's struggling to get by in an old house with cheap furnishings and home-made clothes. However, we always had a bed, clothes and food to eat, and the opportunity for an education--unlike the street children of Kenya.

As I see the photos of the homeless Kenyan kids, I wish I could do more--If only I had been born to wealth...However, as I read the story of the widow's mite in Luke 21:1-4, I give with joy what I can give and dispense with the "if onlys".

"If only...."

"If only" and its companion in crime "what if" are the two most useless phrases in the English language. They are surrounded by and imprisoned by fear and inaction.

They suck the life out of history-making decisions. They delay lives and founder in depression. These cowardly phrases bring the demise of dreams and churches, of theories and ideas, of marriages and economics.

Jesus and Paul , as far as we know, were never men to say "If only I had...." Yes, Paul regretted his early life of perscuting Christ and His followers, but he did not use these regrets as a basis for folding up his tent and sitting out the rest of his life. Jesus strode into risky situations with authority and fervor. True, unpopularity with the religious leaders brought about his death. But none of the gospels record his saying, "What if I apologize...." In the garden he did ask for the removal of "the cup" that faced him, but he gave his heart to God's will even there.

Often as I have gathered with Christians and church leaders, I hear, "what ifs" and "if onlys": "If only the economy were better.... " "What if (a wealthy donor) leaves when we do this?" By the way, I have never heard this at Otter Creek! I have heard some Christians say, "If only I were wealthy, I would be able to give more." "What if I do this or that.... I may lose my salvation."

More later....from a person who does not believe in what ifs and if onlys.

This and That

It has been a busy weekend--here are some of the things I want to remember:

Maddie graduated from kindergarten on Friday--how did those five years pass so fast? Now instead of being our baby, she is almost seven years old and her legs are growing long, her mind is expanding, her beauty is growing. I love watching Maddie think--one can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she analyzes and begins to pose a question. Maddie is our thinker and organizer...she likes to have everything laid out and secure. Talented in music, art and mature in her childish judgements, I look forward to seeing her develop and grow even more.

On Saturday, I went with the Later Day Saints to Smyrna and Murfreesboro to tour the Sam Davis house and to see the Stones River Battlefield. Davis was quite a hero and his home has been restored in Smyrna very nicely. Our guide was intelligent and fun (there have been times on a tour when I knew more than the guide). The battlefield was very well-done as well. Instead of a boat-load of information from one guide, actors performed small vignettes of what occured the day before and the day of the battle. The book store there is one of the best Civil War bookstores I have seen so far. Unlike others, they stock children's books about the Civil War as well as adult histories. Books like April Morning....

I also managed to work in a viewing of the new Indiana Jones movie--loved it!!! Harrison Ford ages well. Of course the special effects are spectular and that iconic John Williams melody !!!