God

A Time to Turn

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Click: https://playback.fm/charts/rock/video/1965/the-byrds-turn-turn-turn

If you’ve ever wondered how we all have gotten to this place in time, a time in which nothing much makes sense and everything seems turned upside down, you might have an idea of what’s been churning in my noggin’ for the past several months.

We have stopped watching “news” on television. Our once, mostly reliable, favorite station and their News website have descended into a similarly tawdry version of their British tabloid cousin. It has also proven the broadcaster, Megyn Kelly, correct in stating that, no matter what source you rely on for news or what slant you prefer, the “News” has one job: Scare you and keep you scared. They just keep talking. Click link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IgjUYrDbWI

But, there is something more happening. Something that started out as disliking ourselves and descended into a near hatred of mostly everything else: the inability to see ourselves and others as creations of God. Nothing else can account for what is happening now.

It’s enough to make one throw their hands up and say, “I give up, there’s nothing that I can do.” But, maybe there is another way. A friend recently said, “We’re all here just to help each other walk home.” If we believe that, then we must ask: where is home, who told us we must do this and, finally, how do I do this?

One doesn’t need to be a Biblical scholar to appreciate the profound message in John 13, 34-35: “I give you a new commandment: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also must you love one another. By this, all shall recognize that you are my disciples: if you will have love for one another.” If we recognize the Author of that quote for who and what He is, then we have the answer to the first two questions. But, going about doing it … now, that is the question! Some, volunteer their time at various charities. Others go about doing “random acts of kindness”. Still others donate money to worthy causes that help the less fortunate. All that is good. But, for some, there must be another way. Which brings me to this.

There are six of us. We are not crusaders or “do gooders.” Our backgrounds and experiences are very different. Yet, we do have in common several things: Our belief in the words of Jesus, as quoted in John 13, 34-35, that we must love one another. We also believe, quite unexpectedly, in the truth of Vladimir Lenin’s words: “Give me just one generation of youth, and I’ll transform the whole world” and “Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.” We each also believe that the time for hand-wringing and wishful thinking is long gone. We believe that we must do something to help in the reversal of the moral and spiritual decline and lack of knowledge that has plagued our nation for too many years. Lenin asked that he be given four years or one generation of our children. It seems he was given that several times over. We pledge to give Jesus even more.

We are starting a school. A school based on love of God, love of one another, teaching and learning the Truth and helping, with God’s Blessing, generations of children on their walk Home.

To learn more about our school and its progress, please click here: http://stmarysschoolva.com

I’ll see you all back here soon.

Living with Crazy

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Hemingway at work on, For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Ernest Hemingway, in a 1929 interview with columnist Dorothy Parker in which they were speaking of courage, stated that “guts” was having “grace under pressure”.  Lately, I have seen more than a few examples of grace under pressure.

We hear stories of cops and firemen and medics (personally, I dislike the term, First Responders) who risk their safety to come to the aid of others. Whether by training, habit or vocation, most of them do this day in and day out throughout their careers. And much of the time without recognition or fanfare.

But, it is of the everyday acts of generosity, thoughtfulness, courtesy and, even, humor that I have recently witnessed that I am now referring to.

The all-pervasive virus news has featured stories of people loading up multiple shopping carts at the Costcos and Walmarts with toilet paper and paper towels. Maybe they have a hygiene issue or maybe they’re just plain “panic hoarders”.  But, the image that comes to mind more frequently is that of a lady at our local Food Lion walking ahead of us in the “paper goods” aisle. Only two packages were left in the entire otherwise empty aisle.  She looked at them and said, “Take one and leave one”. Thoughtful.  A similar situation at another nearby grocery store took another twist. The paper goods aisle had only a few packages left and people were looking anxious (kind of like seeing a highway sign saying, “next rest stop 25 miles”. Suddenly, you gotta’ go!). A nicely dressed woman eyed the situation and blurted out, “I don’t give a darn about the toilet paper, but they better not be out of coffee”! Grim faces suddenly turned into grins. Laughter is truly the best medicine.

Our little Shenandoah Valley town of Staunton is coming together, one neighbor to another. Small food businesses are helping area residents and one another by setting up an on-line ordering system for food staples from nearby organic farmers and food suppliers. These suppliers and farmers will bring the orders to a central location and the residents can pick them up without even getting out of their cars. Restaurants are offering curbside take-out service. It’s a win-win in difficult times.

Churches, including our beloved St. Francis of Assisi parish, are increasing their aid to the needy and to those that may be more vulnerable to catching something. Our pastor, with the aid of parish staff, managed to livestream this Sunday’s Mass. To partake spiritually in the Mass along with our fellow parishioners, even from a physical distance, was a great comfort to us .http://stfrancisparish.org/homily-lent4.html

Just the beginning of new floors

In the meantime, despite setbacks and these very trying times, the construction on our new home is continuing. The siding seems to be nearing completion. Installation of the hardwood floors started this past Saturday. Our newest target date is from the end of April to mid-May. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Chris fitting section of Hickory floor board.

So, let us all remember to be calm and kind and patient with others and ourselves.  And, to have Faith. We will be alright. God is watching over you and us, especially in these crazy times!

And, for goodness sake…Don’t Run Out Of Coffee!!

As always, Comments, Likes and Follows always welcome.

Bill

Everything is going to be o.k.

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Every year ends the same: We are bombarded with lists of “Best Of” and “Worst Of” the previous year, reviews of what actually occurred from last year’s list of predictions and, of course, new lists of what will happen this coming year.

I’ve got this figured out now!

Sages and pundits will have a prediction for everything: what  the “hottest” colors and fashion trends will be, what will happen to the stock / housing market, what will happen with foreign friends and foes, etc., etc. I’ll bet there will even be a few soothsayers that will predict who the next president will be! Ya’ think?

Oy, Vey, what will happen??

I’m thinking, though, that like this past year, when events do unfold most of us will simply scratch our heads and think, “Well, ain’t that something”. Is this the result of apathy or disinterest? No, not at all. It’s more a belief in that everything is going to be o.k. and some of us have been “around the block” a few times. There are, believe it or not (to coin a phrase), people that actually make a living trying to scare the bejeepers out of us. Oh, yeah!

Are ya’ scared yet?

So, because everything is going to be o.k., here is what we plan to do this coming year:

Plan our “Housewarming Party” for this coming Spring.

Plan which trees and shrubs we’ll plant on our property because, despite an abundance of clay soil, it’s going to be o.k. – something will grow.

Plan on a layout for my new basement workshop because, yes, I’m getting back to work.

No more working in “The Dungeon”! No wonder I lost my hair!

Plan to find some porch rockers because, despite being new-comers here in Staunton, VA it will be o.k. Friends and new neighbors will come by and set awhile on our front porch. And, vice-versa!

Entertainin’, Gibby style!

But, mostly, I plan to be happy and thankful. Because everything is going to be o.k. Believe it!

Thanks to all of our friends, old and new, that have become or have remained such an important part of our lives. And, I am truly thankful to God, His Holy Mother and St. Joseph and St. Padre Pio for the gift of healing my beautiful Redhead this past year.

Below are some pics of an unexpected Christmas / New Year gift from our builders: our framing has started!

Front of house, library will be second window from left!
Some views!

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.  Everything will be o.k.

Bill