Some gave all...

Dreams dashed. Hearts broken. Anger, confusion...pain, grief. Roads not traveled. Lost love. Lives that could have been, should have been; stolen, lost--laid down.  A last full measure, given, taken. Sacrificial death; not in vain. A way of life preserved. Not deserved. Grace. THANKS.

Help!

Listening to the Old Beatles tune today..."Help." It occured to me...what a tremendous insight that song had into what happens to us as we move into the final third of our lives...which are filled with tradoffs. While we can't "do it all" anymore, the tenderness we experience as our spouses, kids, and friends "stand in the gaps" is profound. Life is good.

Seasons come...

Sitting on the front porch as dusk begins 
to settle over the neighborhood, 
watching Lily entertain herself in the front yard. 
Blooms everwhere I look, pink..yellow..white..red..burgandy. 
Listening to the water cascade from the fountain 
and down into the bowl...
a dragon fly buzzes by. Spring.

Simple pleasures...ARE best!

Busy weekend. 

Laura supervised the Landscape install at son Joseph's house. I worked to catch up after being out of the agency most of last week. Laura and I enjoyed lunch with daughter Erin, Matthew and our grandsons...spent the afternoon attending to yardwork at office building. 

I thank God for life. My father died at age 55 and mom at age 53. I never really thought I'd make it to 57. 

Every day is a gift.

A "taste" of Chicago

Today I had a really interesting drive.  I had a business conference in St. Charles, Illinois, so I hopped in my Ridgeline and hit the road bright and early; as it turned out, not nearly early enough!
      My route to this lovely western suburb took me through the heart of the City.   I think they must be spending all the stimulus money on repairing the expressways of Chicago...and that translates to something other than "express."   It got pretty intense.  As I struggled to stay alive, it occurred to me that driving in the big City is a lot like life.  It requires a little skill and a lot of luck.  
     It's interesting how many driving "styles" are out there...as I dodged and darted, it dawned on me that these parallel the personal styles of the people we rub up against in the ebb and flow of life.
     There's the squatter.  They like to think they're qualified to drive in the fast lane...not.  They squat and expect everyone else to work around them--they were there first and they own the space.  They are oblivious.  They are obstructionists...they hate change and so they find a groove in life and put it on auto pilot...and won't move regardless of what it may mean to others.  These are the passive-agressives that populate our churches, neighborhoods and the workplace.  
     One of my favorites is the lane changer...the grass is always greener for these folks.  They tend to create a lot of stress for the rest of us, because they're unpredictable and unreliable.   They just can't be depended upon.  These are the underachievers in life.  Their lives are a series of starts and stops...and in the end, they never stay at any thing long enough to enjoy the synergy that develops when we discipline ourselves to pursue a long obedience in the same direction.
     Danger: here comes the guy that loves to pass on the right.  These are the folks who think the rules apply to everyone else.  They are rouges.  They break all the rules, then blame others when things go really wrong.  These people just don't play well with others; they don't get it...ever.
     Have you noticed the guy with the biggest most expensive car is the one who always drives at a recklessly inappropriate high speed.  "I'm important so move out the way, I have people to see and things to do."  The world is full of these narcissistic types that are captivated by their own reflections.  They get it, they just miss most of the really choice moments in life because they don't have room for anyone else. 
     Don't you just want to scream at the guy who refuses to yield...they do their best work by driving in the slow lane victimizing the poor souls who attempt to merge into traffic.  Ah, yes, these are the rules keepers."  They are intolerant and follow the rules to the letter of the law, and never give any grace; then wonder why they are tolerated but never celebrated.
     So...what does your driving say about who you are?  The lesson here is that the world is a big stage where the way we live is constantly scrutinized.  And when the way we live demonstrates we can be trusted, that we care--we take a giant step toward relevance; a chance to make a difference in lives of people we touch...a chance to make hard lives, easier.
     I don't know if the conference I'm attending will prove to be a "keeper."  But I do know this; the drive was worth the conference.  

WHY?

Please, tell me...
Why is the express line, not very "express?"  Why is over-night delivery always 2nd day?  Why do yellow lights make people see red?  Why is urgent rarely important?

Why do we expect politicians to lie to us, and then get upset when they do?  Why do we complain about the quality and direction of government, then refuse to vote?  Why do we ask government to lower our taxes then complain when they reduce our services?  Why does everyone think they can do a better job teaching than our teachers, but make so little effort at educating our children?

Why do we make vows we don't really intend to honor?  Why do we "honor" people we often don't respect?  Why are love and heartbreak two sides of the same coin?  Why do we swear on a book we don't revere?

Why are teachers accountable, but parents aren't?  Why do we need a license to marry, but not to parent? Why can a 15 year old get an abortion, but not a divers license?  Why do we mandate an education for "students" who won't try, don't care and refuse to cooperate?

Why do we feel sympathy for those with great need and outrage for those with great privilege?  Why is the Humane Society only about animals?  Why do we pretend everyone should be treated the same way. when we know that's not the way life really works?  Why do we act like everyone is born with the same set of genes, when we know that's just not true?

Why does the right to privacy trump the right to life?  Why is profile a dirty concept when, if applied appropriately, it can save innocent life? Why does our Constitution work harder for criminals than for good citizens?  Why are some lives more valuable that others?

Why is justice such a fleeting ideal?
Tell me, please...

AWOL

Education in America...and educators... are in trouble.  I don't know why we tolerate it; but I do know we, our culture, have lowered our expectations for parents and embraced unrealistic expectations for our teachers.  By any reasonable measure, what we are asking our educators to do is unreasonable.  The result: the implosion of the system.

It's happening right now, this year, this month, TODAY.  Entire teaching staffs being reassigned; schools closed and teachers fired.  Educators chasing the holy grail--passing scores on standardized tests.  Under pressure to achieve a "passing grade" administrators have dumbed the system down by teaching to the lowest common denominator.  The result...a brain drain of gargantuan proportions.

Effective education is a partnership.  Parents and teachers working together. Problem...too many parents are AWOL.  Parents from every demographic...busy parents, tired parents, distracted parents, ambitious parents...selfish parents.  Unless and until parents see parenting as a worthy vocation, a selfless vocation and we can build some sort of accountability into the system for PARENTS, as well as teachers, our system will continue to breakdown.

For some reason, it's just not politically correct.   It's always easier to blame someone else.  Meanwhile, another generation slips away and gets left behind.

Credit, where credit is due...

Say this about President Obama.  He is courageous.  Regardless of core values; this man has convction about the ideas he has embraced.  That's a good thing.  Leaders need to "lead boldly."   Unfortunately, for many of us, he is leading/leaning the wrong direction.

But...if in the course of this presidency, this President is persuaded--it's possible--to tack back toward the middle, his courage in leading, his charisma and his intellect will make him a very formidable politician--in terms of what he might be able to accomplish during his tenure as the leader of the free world; the most powerful person on the planet. 

The key...to courageosly face down those on the extreme left.   If he, when he, finally embraces the fact that he's not simply reperesenting the South Siders of Chitown...but "we the people"...I believe his presidency could be salvaged and become something more than simply a watershed "moment" when America came to grips with her diversity--then moved on. 

I believe it can happen.

Perplexed...and amused.

Yesterday, President Obama reminded us, again, that the election is over.  Mr. President, when does the governing part start?   Please, Mr. President,  keep the main thing, our economy and jobs, the main thing.

Not to be outdone, Vice President Joe Biden, made an interesting assessment of his role in leading our nation.  "Being Vice President is...easy."  Laura, my wife, commented this morning at breakfast..."This must be what candidate Obama meant in his campaign promise to bring a 'new transparency' to Washington."

She is so clever.

Finding rest...

Last week Home taking care of my soul mate.

This week breathless trying to catch up.

From stress to distress.

Last week Gentle servant, loving husband,

best friend, chief cook, bottle washer, caretaker.

This week Solving problems, answering questions,

consulting, advocate, agent, sales pro.

From stress to distress.

Then it occurs to me...

"Come unto me all you who are weary

and burdened and I will give you rest...

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and

my burden is light."

Peace.