Good Afternoon All & Happy Sunday!
It’s a gloriously sunny day in Spokane WA today and everything is growing and/or in bloom…Spring is here in all it’s beauty! Not to mention so many different birds at our bird feeders today…Robins, House Sparrows, English Sparrows, Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Northern Flickers, Stellar Jays and to cap it all off, the most favorite bird of all…the American Goldfinch in all it’s vibrant yellow and black coloring! What a year for bird watching!
Speaking of birds, we were visited by a tom wild turkey and two wild turkey hens the other morning and it was as sight to see, for sure, as the tom really puffed out his wings in full display…he was really “full of himself” to say the least! Quite the display, I would say!
Well, yesterday was the birthday of one of the best human beings around…our long-time friend and the godmother to two of our children (Amy & Jake), Julie in Reno/Sparks, Nevada, who, if memory serves me correctly, celebrated her 70th birthday yesterday. Among her many talents, Julie is a a dental lab owner extraordinaire, a golfer who knows how to hit it “straight down the fairway,” a champion of many causes, including urban forestry and national parks, and a lover of souls. Her name is the definition of “true & loyal friend.” Here’s to you Julie! Hope you had a glorious birthday yesterday!
Speaking of birthdays, let me be one of the first to wish our friend and stock broker/financial advisor extraordinaire, Todd of “Selkirk Wealth Advisors” in Spokane, a very Happy Birthday as he celebrates his birthday tomorrow, May 3rd. Here’s to you Todd! And Happy Birthday wishes go to singer Engelbert Humperdinck (how’s that for a name?), who is 85 today; to singer/songwriter Larry Gatlin of “The Gatlin Brothers” music fame, who turns 73 today; to clothes designer Donatella Versace, who is 66 today; to actor and former world wresting star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who turns 49 today; to former soccer great David Beckham, who is 46 today; to country singer/songwriter Tim McGraw of “Humble & Kind” music fame, who is 54 today; and last, but certainly not least, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, who turns 6 today. Here’s to all of you!
I was sad to learn that one of my heroes as a young boy, Michael Collins, the command module pilot on Apollo 11’s mission to land on the Moon, died the other day at age 90 or 91. He lived his life with class and style. He had a fulfilling career after his astronaut days and worked to improve the Smithsonian Institute as a Board Member for many years. I’ll never forget those days when we tracked the journey of Michael Collins and the spaceship “Columbia” and the lunar module “Eagle.” Those were inspiring days, for sure! Here’s to Michael Collins for a life well lived in service to his country!
For those of you who have been enjoying reading my father’s remembrances of his World War II experience, here’s another excerpt from his interview as part of the Washington State World War II Oral History Project…
“…But the joke of that was, and he’s still living, my lieutenant who was the chief spotter and our commanding—our immediate commanding officer, our lieutenant, was Owen Cone. And Owen came from Chelan, Washington. And his father was a superintendent of schools in that whole area over there. Later years, his brother became a Superior Court Judge. But Owen had, I think, a little Chelan Indian blood in him. In fact, Owen looked a little like he had Chelan blood — or, Indian blood. Nice guy. Very polite to his men, looked after us. We really liked him. We called him Bogey behind his — after Bogart, because he was kind of cool, you know. But then also we called him “Batman” in combat because he would — in combat, it was raining, a dead rain on Iwo a few times, and when it was raining, he could stand up and we told him he was crazier than you know what because he — not all the time, but he’d stand up, he couldn’t find a target he was looking for, he’d stand up and look for this target. And he — and I’ll tell you Japanese snipers were pretty good. They’re good shots. They used to — the old adage, the Japanese have poor eyes and they can’t hit anything is (laughs). B period, S period. (laughs). They’re pretty good shots. So, anyway, we called him Batman. And that’s — but he was always Lieutenant Cone. He earned that respect and we gave it. And so anyhow our joke with him, and later — I told him later in life, but between all of us, you know, the team. We figured he’d pick the ugliest one, and I said it doesn’t take a hard thinker to figure out why (laughs). Of all these gals, he got the ugliest one. Well, that — you have to understand the times, the thinking and that.”
(I remember having the privilege of meeting Owen Cone as a young boy when he visited our home in Olympia. I can’t remember if he was just passing by or specifically came to visit my Dad when he was visiting his family in Chelan. He was living in Albany, New York at that time. I can remember how thrilled Dad was that Owen took the time to come by our house in Olympia to see him…I really enjoyed meeting him then, and all the more as I recollect what he meant to my Dad.).
Here’s the word definition for the day:
“Raillery”: A mid-17th century French word meaning “Good-humored teasing.” We could sure use more “raillery” these days…sometimes we take ourselves way too seriously, don’t you think? My beloved father-in-law, Dwain McIntosh, was a master at the art of “raillery.” I didn’t fully appreciate his “raillery” earlier on in our relationship, but I sure appreciate it now and miss it so much. One of many fine qualities of my father-in-law…Here’s to you Dwain, and all you masters of “raillery” out there!
Here is the thought for the day:
“…godly contentment is a disposition of the spirit that is gleaned from a fear, trust and reliance on God, and a recognition that we are and will always be in his loving care. Whatever our need might be, he has met it and will always meet it.
Using this definition, I can truly say I am content. My heart is at peace with regard to my relationship to Christ, my trust in his presence and grace and the security of my future in his care. I sleep well and carry a relatively low level of anxiety and strees. It’s not only a good place to be, but to not be content seems an affront to the love and grace of God.
If, however, you asked me if I were happy, I’d say, “no, definitely not.” The predominant feelings I wake up with every morning and carry with me throughout the day are what I would term a holy heaviness. I call it this because I consider the holiness, goodness and grace of God, then look at the state of the world from whatever angle I choose, my heart is heavy, burdened and even sorrowful. How can it not be? As followers of Jesus how can we not ache at the devastation sin is causing in our world? How can we not be deeply troubled by the non-stop flow of disturbing stories of injustice, hatred and racism? How can we be happy when so many in our world are starving, homeless, and hopeless? How else could we respond when we see the bitterness and vitriol with which our nation’s leaders at every level attack one another?
With narcissism as the new cultural creed and victimhood the prevailing identity of choice, our country is in a moral tailspin. And at the time our nation needs her most, the church is increasingly divided and the attacks on our faith are growing daily. Above all, there is a prevailing sense of hopelessness that is driving up suicide rates and robbing a generation of the abundant life promised in Jesus Christ…
…In the face of it all we must cling to the truth Paul proclaimed of his own day, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2nd Corinthians, 4: 8-9).
Sound familiar? Content but sorrowful. At peace yet burdened. Lacking nothing, yet grieving. Can this be? Yes, not only can it be, but I believe it is the proper and best place for us to live and serve as faithful stewards in the Kingdom of God…
…We must steward this precious place; letting God use our contentment as a witness to his presence and provision that can bring light into a dark world and using our sorrow to keep us in solidarity with the world, equipping us to serve our neighbor as the hands and feet of Jesus.
Godly contentment and holy heaviness; may we experience both and steward this precious place, ever prepared for God to use us for his glory.”
—Scott Rodin, “Stewarding The Space Between Contentment And Sorrow,” The Steward’s Journey (www.thestewardsjourney.com)
Here’s to a great Sunday and the week ahead and lots of love & good wishes to you and your loved ones!
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)