Another Week on This Spinning Globe

Sam called from Haiti and asked for sunflowers seeds. And books. Think about the what books you would recommend to someone. I think Sam is in that boat. We're sending The Bible, The Razor's Edge and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

He said his job has changed. He is "on call" each day at 5 am. His platoon awaits a call telling them what they are doing that day. Today he did crowd control at food distribution. It could be security, or traffic control or passing out food. He seems to like it better as far as each day has the same time frame, no rotating around the clock. He also said there are no stores to buy things from, though they can't go off the hospital grounds even if there was any place to buy something. Sam did say that at times they will be traveling and came across a road and people will have set up stand to sell something. Someone will have water, someone will be cooking and selling something, and someone something else. Other than that, the country is in ruins. No where to buy something if they could go out into the city.

A Smattering of This and That

I've been thinking of too many things lately and with only a bit of time will attempt to convey here some of these thoughts. Some of these ideas could be a post by themselves, but alas and alack.

Baseball starts tomorrow. Still no grass on the infield, but not much water also. The new drainage system seems to be working and the addition of sod will help. This will be another interesting year in ways that I can see and some I can't yet.

Tomorrow I will be a cog in a meeting where more of the "plan" will be laid out for the six period day next year. I hope this time I won't lose the discretion that controls my tongue part of the time. The following will be an overstatement, but it's how I've been thinking lately. I feel like an extremely tiny version of the soldiers at Gallipoli in WWI. I recently saw a newer Robert Redford movie, Lions for Lambs. The title comes from a German general's comment about the British Army in WWI. Whether the quote is "Lions led by donkeys," or "Nowhere have I see such Lions led by such Lambs," you get the drift that somewhere decisions are being made that don't always make sense, nor seem to be thought out completely. But we're moving full steam ahead.

The movie is a good one to make you think. I've watched parts twice before getting to watch the whole thing in full. It's not a happy movie, but each time I have been focusing more and more on the Redford/professor and students sections. The idea of doing something for your fellow man is being shouted to me. Maybe it's only me, but that is a theme I've been dwelling upon lately.

I just finished Farm City, The Education of an Urban Farmer by Novella Carpenter. It is a book I grew into liking, then hoping it wouldn't end. She is a few years ahead of where we want to be, so it was an inspiration to read. Towards the end Novella wrote about the dumpster diving for pig feed/salami/prosciutto making of owning a pig. I became really intrigued with that, both the pig raising and the salami eating. Many ideas and thoughts will come from reading and rereading this book. Hopefully some action as well.

Maureen years ago led me to two wonderful writers, Susan Issacs and Diane Nienhuis. They led me to the Burnside Writers Collective, to which they contribute. While reading Diane today I wandered over to the Collective and stumbled upon this article by Karen Spears Zacharias. Maureen and I have been talking a bit about the Robertson comment, but more about the Prosperity movement within the modern Christian church. This article addresses some of those thoughts. Having someone in Haiti trying to do good has focused me again on whether my efforts to help others are effective or not.

Hard to Believe, Or Is it?

Just an Update

Sam made it to Haiti. Texted that it was muggy and hot during the day, but nice at night. Never thought I'd enjoy a text so much. Don't know when we'll hear again.

Oh Brother, Who Art Thou?--Part Two

John 3:
16 For God so loved the world,. . .

Yesterday as I was sitting in church Pastor Elson used the readings from Jonah and John to help me further define "my neighbor" as I wrote about last post.

Most of us know the passage from John 3, it's one of the first I memorized as a new Christian. But what struck me was the first part of verse 16. Pastor Elson pointed out that this is the verb love, not the noun. Action is required. In Luke we are told to love(verb) God and our neighbor. Here in John God shows us how to love, by giving up what is precious to Him. And what do we gain when we do this? Life, here and in heaven. And a purpose for living here and in heaven, loving God and our neighbor.

We know the story of Jonah being told by God to do something and avoiding the task by running the other way. A big fish helps Jonah to Nineveh and Jonah finally did what he was told. Guess what happened?

Jonah 3:5-10
5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.

6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.

7 He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.

8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.

9 "Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."

10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

What I learned from Pastor Elson yesterday was that those from Nineveh weren't of the Israelites. Yet God cared for them enough to send someone to help them. How many times did Jesus help the lowly Samaritans? Another example of everyone being our neighbor.

When I heard of Pat Robertson's recent comments about the Haitians and their assumed sin, I thought of the question asked of Jesus in John 9.

John 9:2-3
2 And His disciples asked Him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Why is it that when bad things happen to people we think they have done something wrong? It seems like an Old Testament idea. Why can't we KISS it. Simply love God and our neighbor. Isn't that hard enough? Love your neighbor. And glorify and love God.

Even in Haiti. Especially in Haiti.

Just a few pictures of Sam with his siblings, cousin Maggie and Sofie, one of the many cats that always find Sam's lap. Sam just called to say he'd been recalled. Since Wednesday he has been packing, in briefings and trainings. As I type, Sam is on his way to the airport and on to Haiti.

Vaya con Dios!

P.S. Sam just called, 2100 hours his time. That's 6 pm ours. He "hurried up and waited" all day. Orders came down about an hour ago. He will be flying out on a commercial flight full of Army 0200 hours his time Tuesday morning.

Vaya con Dios, otra vez.

Oh Brother, Who Art Thou?

The Coen brothers asked the question that is on my mind lately. Maybe the better question is, "Who art Thou?" A certain lawyer asked the same question.

Luke 10:27-29

27 And he answered, "YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."

28 And He said to him, "You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE."

29 But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

In the news lately is the destruction in Haiti, the homeless in Visalia (and everywhere), the joblessness in our area of the Valley and all of the world; I have been thinking about this parable and its application to my life. I don't have any earthshaking new plan, but it still leads me to thinking and hopefully action soon.

Maybe it starts with using only what we can use, so that others can have their share also. I'm not talking all Americans should live like an Australian Bushman, but what about fewer nights out and more at home with family. What about a staycation instead of flying somewhere for a week? Do the math. I know the dinners out are cheaper in Mexico, but factor in the cost of the plane. Couldn't we spend less by staying home and eating at a local restaurant? Couldn't our neighbors who own restaurants use the money? And think of where the tax money goes? To your local government. I bet they could use it also.

That's just one thought, and I'm sure someone will say that I have strayed from the meaning of the passage. But have I really? This will be a ride.

Early January Ramblings

We received some rain last night. Besides the fact that we here at the suburban farm aren't quite ready and haven't covered things up that should be, the rain usually signals that baseball season is around the corner very soon.

That usually signals that I am at the field more than I have been recently. Things I put off doing during the winter need to be done now in preparation for the upcoming season. Now that we killed and cut out the grass in the infield, I guess we should put it back. This week the earth movers have been scraping, shaping, digging and moving the dirt around to grade and create a base for the new sod to be laid. A trench was dug 2-3 feet deep and 100+ feet long along the low point at the backstop, filled with crushed gravel and pipe to create the drainage that we have been missing in the first 15 years of the stadium. A French drain is what many have been calling it. Personally I don't care what it is called as long as I don't have to go out in the dark, wade through water, lay hose and start a submersible pump to get the water off homeplate and the field so we may play a few days later when everything is a bit drier.

Maureen has been going through the cellar, bless her heart, and weeding out some. When you have two packrats as we are stuff accumulates. And the ridding of stuff though cleansing, is tough. Tough both in the memories and the time involved in wading through boxes and tubs and bags of your life. Doesn't matter if we haven't looked at it for years. The blessing is we won't be drug down by the weight of possessions. A wise science teacher of mine said life is like living in a trailer. Anytime you add something new, something else has to leave or the accumulated impedimenta gets in the way. I am grateful for what she is doing. I plan on helping this weekend.

On the Morn of the First Day Back in School

On this first day back, not counting the trips to the classroom to prepare, I will not run away.

I will think of a place that is dear to me.

And I will forge ahead, looking to what is ahead and not what is behind.

Rubbish! I won't often be thinking of Rocky Hill and the fun afternoon spent with family. I won't have time as I sort through the new students I will spend the next five and a half months with. Now that is an adventure.

On the Fourteenth Day. . .

Today was the day that God gave to me.

Today in reverse order:
-Buster, Pecan and Lenin all are competing for my lap and hands as I type this and I listen to Pat Metheny on Pandora.
-Brad and I talk about the 49ers and their win today.
-Cruised the www perusing the bike world.
-Finished off a great white bean soup Maureen made, San Luis Sourdough bread and a surprisingly good Yellowtail Shiraz-Cabernet.
-Sam called to say he made it to North Carolina and sounded tired.
-Made headway on the kitchen backsplash with another piece of the cement board puzzle.
-Read a college scholarship letter and gave advice. I hope it doesn't hurt the student.
-Watched a bit more of the tube with Maureen.
-Wilson and I added two quarts of oil into the Adam Corollie.
-Wilson and I tried to start the Baseball car. We need to charge the battery.
-Watched a bit of the tube with Maureen.
-Wilson and Annie reminded me there is no school tomorrow-another day of "vacation."
-Maureen and I went to church and heard a good sermon on love and loving our community from Leviticus 19:17-18 and John 13:31-35.
-Drove south from Fresno, stopped in Visalia, bought a piece of cement board, then continued home.
-Left Sam at the Yosemite-Fresno International Airport.
-Woke before 6:00, drank some coffee, drove north with Maureen, Sam and Annie to Fresno.

Vaya con Dios.

On the Thirteenth Day. . .

I know, just a few more then I will move onto some better titles and hopefully better subjects.

In fact, the reason I'm posting at this time is I can't connect to the school network from home. One of the wonderful abilities we at EUHS have is to do work at home, often at more convenient times. For me that is early morning as the rest sleep or are waking. Among I have to set up class rolls for the new term that starts Monday. Just thought I'd do some work now, but someone or something says, "Not now." Maybe later.

This break so far has been about family.

And that has been good. The local and non-local Derrs were here for Christmas Eve and Christmas.


We've seen the local Garvers and had dinner with earlier.


This is a "Hi, Sam" picture I'm not sure has been seen, but should have been.

Today and tonight is Sam's last time with us for a while. I'm sure it will be event filled. Annie has already said, "I'm sure not looking forward to school on Monday." Wilson hasn't stated his opinion, but I bet we all can guess what he's thinking. Brad starts his last semester before graduation and that will be eventful. Maureen and I are worried. Worried about things we can control and things we cannot. I guess it's the life of a parent.

Have a Wonderful New Group of Days we call a year!