Good Morning All & Happy Monday!
I love “Indian Summer” days…how about you? Autumn is “in the air,” as there is a bit of a “tinge” in the air and the mornings are a bit colder. It’s hard to describe, but there’s something about the way the sun hits the trees and the vividness of the color of the grass and leaves that’s a sure sign that Autumn is on its way. Even with all the chaos going on in “civilization,” the outdoors shows off the magnificence of our Creator, the “Intelligent Designer.”
Speaking of the Intelligent Designer, the gift of life is truly an amazing & wonderful thing. Here’s to our friend LuRae Schlect, who celebrates her birthday today! Have fun on your special day of celebration! And Happy Birthday to actor Ben Savage of “The Princess Bride” movie fame, who is 41 today; to actress Barbara Bain of “Mission Impossible” T.V. fame, who turns 90 today; to actress Eileen Fulton of “As The World Turns” T.V. soap opera fame, who is 88 today; to actress Jacqueline Bisset of “The Deep” movie fame who turns 77 today (hard to believe, as she always looks like she’s in her 30s—at least to me!); to singer Peter Cetera of “Chicago” music fame, who is also 77 today; and to singer Randy Jones of “The Village People/YMCA” music fame, who turns 69 today! Here’s to all of you!
Speaking of birthdays, our newest grandchild, Rowan, is doing really well. By all accounts, he is thoroughly enjoying his entrance into this world and being surrounded by his loving & adoring family…father Joel, mother Amy and big sister June. Here’s to you, Rowan. We look forward to getting to know you more and more in the days ahead!
One of the things on my “bucket list” is to finish reading all of Will & Ariel Durant’s “The Story Of Civilization.” It’s taking awhile, as there are 11 volumes and they aren’t short! I wonder if Will & Ariel ever had any time to do anything else. Right now I’m immersed in “The Age Of Faith” (Volume IV) and the writings of St. Augustine. It seems as though history has many recurring themes. There’s a passage talking about the Middle Ages I just read that seems to capture one of these recurring themes…mankind’s search for meaning. Here’s an excerpt:
“To understand the Middle Ages we must forget our modern rationalism, our proud confidence in reason and science, our restless search after wealth and power and an earthly paradise; we must enter sympathetically into the mood of men disillusioned of these pursuits, standing at the end of a thousand years of rationalism, finding all dreams of utopia shattered by war and poverty and barbarism, seeking consolation in the hope of happiness beyond the grave, inspired and comforted by the story and figure of Christ, throwing themselves upon the mercy and goodness of God, and living in the thought of His eternal presence, His inescapable judgment, and the atoning death of His Son…”
—Will & Ariel Durant, “The Story Of Civilization, The Age Of Faith, Volume IV,” pages 74-75.
Speaking of a “bucket list” item, I just finished re-reading the history of my college alma mater, Whitman College, written by my history professor and mentor, G. Thomas (Tom) Edwards. Tom was not only a gifted writer & researcher, he was a engaging teacher and lecturer. His book on Whitman is entitled “The Triumph Of Tradition: The Emergence Of Whitman College, 1859-1924.” A key point he makes in the book was had it not been for benefactors/fund raisers like Dr. Daniel K. Pearsons and Virginia Dox, it is doubtful that Whitman would have survived and prospered. I like to think that every successful endeavor needs good sales people behind it…those who are willing to knock on doors and have the initiative and perseverance to make things happen (maybe that’s because I earned my living being a sales person!). By the way, Dr. Edwards tried to teach me the importance of being on time. Once I came down the hall late for class and Dr. Edwards was standing by the door to the classroom and just as I arrived he turned around, closed the classroom door and locked it! I was NEVER late for class again! (Although I can’t say I’ve never been late to anything).
Speaking of the value of a college education, our family recently received some letters for Washington State University (WSU) students who had been awarded scholarships from a scholarship fund our family set up honoring my dad, Don Newbold. The purpose of the fund is to help students who have indicated an interest in a career in insurance and/or risk management. Here are some excerpts from those letters:
“As a student paying a portion of his tuition out of his own pocket, it means so much to receive financial support from the school. It hasn’t always been easy to make money for the past four years to meet the amount I needed to pay for each school year. Being recognized by my own school’s department and awarded for my progress means more than getting money from another group…”
“One of my professors at WSU shared with me further details about your father’s legacy, and the sacrifices he made in his military service during WWII. My father is a disabled Air Force veteran who served in Iraq. Coming from a military family, I have a deep admiration for those who have served and would like to express my respect and appreciation…
…Going forward in my academic and professional endeavors, I will remain cognizant of the fact that I am privileged to be here today because of the sacrifices of those who came before me.”
—Letter of Nicole Johnson, March 19, 2021
Here is the thought for the day:
“Could we with ink the ocean fill
and were the skies of parchment made,
were every stalk on earth a quill
and every man a scribe by trade,
to write the love of God above
would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song!
—Frederick Martin Lehman, “The Love Of God”
Here’s to a great Monday and lots of love and good wishes always!
Press on,
Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, Mark, etc.)