The Freckle

by: Lori Waggoner

Glass reflects that dark blemish 

Which thou didst love and make thine own.

Conjuring hourly secrets shared 

And seeds unduly sown.

Sunny Music for Cloudy Days

Finding a Long Gray Hair

Finding a Long Gray Hair

by: Jane Kenyon

I scrub the long floorboards

in the kitchen, repeating
the motions of other women
who have lived in this house.
And when I find a long gray hair
floating in the pail,
I feel my life added to theirs.

Grati-Tuesday

I skipped last week's gratitude post.  Not because I had nothing for which to give thanks, but because I simply couldn't write.  Occasionally I lose my ability to focus, which means writing becomes arduous...or impossible.  Last week was one of those weeks.  I suspect this week might be different, if for no other reason than I expect to get some much needed time out of doors!

And that brings me to my thanksgiving for today.  I am sincerely thankful for a break in the cold weather.  I really don't mind the low temperatures so much.  In fact, I find the cold rather exhilarating...but the icy sidewalks prevent  me from walking outside and when that luxury is taken away, my spirit suffers.  I'm good for a few days, but it has been nearly 3 weeks since I've exercised in the fresh air.   The monotony of indoor treadmills and bikes just doesn't provide the same sense of sanity.

Forecasters are predicting several warm days in a row...and I will certainly take advantage of any sunshine.  But as of tonight, the sidewalks are free from ice and that's all I needed!  I feel better already. 

El Hombre

St. Louis is abuzz with frenzy about Albert Pujols' future with the Cardinals.   We all feel the need to choose sides, even though we really have NO IDEA what is taking place in hearts or behind closed doors.  But we pretend to know.  Mozeliak is stingy.  Pujols is greedy.  We pass judgement as though we have inside knowledge of the people and the process. 

My favorite STL sports writer, Bernie Miklasz, weighed in today with an article that's level-headed and worth sharing.  Check it out here.

In the meantime, I intend to defend Albert with some anecdotal evidence.  I was disappointed with Albert during his last round of negotiations, judging him as demanding, arrogant, and not so different afterall.  But I have seen evidence to the contrary in the way he has lived his life over the last 10 years.  I know...most anyone can present well in the public eye, if they want to.  But here's the deal.

I recently began to do some volunteer work for the Pujols Family Foundation.  In addition to charitable work in Albert's homeland, the Dominican Republic, they work locally with families of children with Down's Syndrome.  Many of you know that issue is close to my heart, so when Aunt Riesa left our home, I pursued opportunities there.  All I can tell you is this: 

At their Fall Festival, which was held at the car museum in Chesterfield, they set up a delightful evening of safe entertainment for these children/teens and their parents.  It was well-organized and thoughtful, but simple too.  Not the least bit ostentatious.  It was all about the families and bringing joy to them.  Albert and Diedre showed up with their own children, but you would never have known that a man whose name is a household staple had just entered the room.  He went from station to station with his kids, and blended in like any other parent.  There was no attention given or drawn to HIM.  He was just there.  A parent.  A citizen.  A Christian....doing what Christian citizen parents do in the most ordinary fashion.   That was impressive.  But...this event was sponsored by him and provided a relatively private and protected environment where he couldn't be rushed by crazed fans, so maybe it was safe to show up like a regular Joe.

But again, recently, I observed him in another setting without the safety and privacy of a charitable event.  On Thursday last week, my son and I attended a funeral for the mother of one of his closest friends who lost her long battle with cancer.  One of her younger sons is a classmate and close friend of AJ Pujols, so the Pujols family attended the funeral.  No bodyguards, no attention, no bru-ha-ha.  Nothing.  He was there, again, as a Christian man, father, and friend.  He didn't get escorted in...he didn't rush out when it was over to avoid people.  He walked downstairs to the simple reception and mingled like everyone else did.  And what many people in the larger community don't know, is that for months, Albert had privately funded a cook for the family since the mom was too ill to function in that way.  No public posturing here...no one even knows about it.  I only know because my son spends a lot of time at this family's home.  

Bottom line: Albert is a genuine man and appears to live out privately what he proclaims publicly.  He is not full of himself and greedy.  He is generous.  He is faithful.  He is humble.  

This is why I don't really care anymore how much money he asks for.  Yes, he publicly SAYS that this money isn't his and that it belongs to God...that he is merely a steward.  But his private life demonstrates that he really BELIEVES and PRACTICES that.  I admire The Man.

I hope like crazy he remains a Cardinal for life (and I think he will), but if he doesn't, our city loses more than a sports icon.  We lose a faithful man of God...and THAT would be the bigger loss. 

Wordsmith Wednesday

A Google search tells me that, according to the Oxford Dictionary, "good" wins the prize for the English word with the most synonyms at 380.   Here are just a few:

Good as in SATISFACTORY:

adequate, acceptable, worthy, fine, excellent, choice, commendable, prime, select, sufficient, beneficial, reputable, recommended, effective...

Good as in MORAL:

virtuous, righteous, wholesome, honorable, upright, conscientious, exemplary, respectable, noble, chaste...

Good as in KIND:

humane, benevolent, sympathetic, compassionate, charitable, altruistic, merciful...

Good as in WELL-BEHAVED:

mannerly, respectful, polite, considerate, proper, becoming, correct...

Good as in UNSPOILED:

fresh, untainted, uncontaminated, fit, sound...

Good as in SKILLED:

able, proficient, accomplished, competent, adept, capable, qualified, talented...

Good as in CONSIDERABLE:

substantial, sizable, extensive, ample... 

Good as in GENUINE:

authentic, valid, true, sound...

Good as in PLEASANT:

enjoyable, desirable...

These comprise less than one-third of possible synonyms!  Is there ever a GOOD reason to even use the word GOOD when so many GOOD synonyms exist??!!  I think not!

Analyze This!

We are an analytical people.  That's really not such a bad way to be.  In fact, as I've argued frequently in my posts on education, analyzing is one of the primary means by which we learn...that is, by which we gain knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

When done well, it carries the potential to reveal previously unrecognized glory, enhance our delight, grant dominion and increase our control.  Let me try to illustrate what I mean.

In order to construct clear, concise and graceful sentences, we learn how to deconstruct them by parsing.  We pick them apart and diagram them, analyzing the way each word and phrase functions within the sentence and in relationship to each other.  Basically, we kill the sentence by separating and unmaking it.  BUT...we kill it in order to resurrect it!  When we reconstruct the sentence, it is not more glorious than it was previously (unless of course we discover error in its form and correct it!), but now we see its glory more fully because we understand it in a new way.  This process of analyzing a sentence increases our appreciation for the logic and beauty of language as expressed in a well-formed sentence.

What about Literature?  In order to thoroughly value good narratives, we must undergo the discipline of slow reading, detailed study, and analysis.  This process of ferreting out images, symbols, figures of speech, themes, patterns of movement, etc., is tedious and can remove all sense of delight, but in the end, we will have gained insight and a more mature understanding of the story.  The next time we read it for pleasure, our delight will be enhanced, as will our delight in other works of literature. 

Consider Math.  Deconstructing, analyzing, reconstructing and applying algorithms, enables us to take dominion over many spheres of life...from calculating how much fabric is needed to reupholster the sofa, to investigating a crime scene, to designing structurally sound buildings, to generating minute and seemingly endless sports statistics.  All of these are made accessible to us through the process of analyzing mathematical formulas and the way and reasons they work, thus allowing us to rule effectively over various aspects of our lives.

In the realm of science, analyzing a plant by dissection propels us toward mastery of farming techniques, development of new breeds, heartier food supplies, redder roses, sweeter apples, etc.  We are enabled to increase our control over outcomes based on the understanding we've gained through analysis.

This principle extends into nearly every realm of life...music, technology, trouble shooting, sewing, cooking, production, even to man himself.  Whether in the form of self-analysis or relationship analysis, it can create opportunities for glory, delight, dominion and control. 

Can an analytical approach ever be unhelpful?  Well, yes.  As with most everything else in this fallen world, the motivation driving the analysis largely determines whether its result is destructive or redemptive.

If a teacher analyzes her students' compositions in order to highlight their ignorance, the result will likely be destructive; whereas, if her desire is to increase their skill and effectiveness, it will likely be redemptive. 

If a man sets out to analyze his relationship with his sister in order to belittle her, harm her reputation, or to prove that she is the problem in their relationship, that analysis is destructive; however, if he seeks understanding so he can nurture her and the relationship, correct his own faults and build up his sister in love and good works, that analysis will have a redemptive effect!

Because deconstruction is a necessary component of analysis, it carries a degree of risk and threat that can lead to confusion, separation and death.  If the end goal is to diminish glory, extract delight, rule harshly or manipulate for selfish ends, then that analysis contradicts the image and glory of God and is ultimately destructive.

But no matter how often and to what extent analysis is undertaken in order to reveal glory, enhance delight, grant dominion or increase control in a way that builds, encourages, nurtures, and matures the world, ourselves and others, then that analysis is redemptive and leads to new and more glorious life!

Portrait of a Figure Near Water

Portrait Of A Figure Near Water

by: Jane Kenyon

Rebuked, she turned and ran

uphill to the barn. Anger, the inner
arsonist, held a match to her brain.
She observed her life: against her will
It survived the unwavering flame.

The barn was empty of animals.
Only a swallow tilted
near the beams, and bats
hung from the rafters
the roof sagged between.

Her breath became steady
where, years past, the farmer cooled
the big tin amphoræ of milk.
The stone trough was still
Filled with water: she watched it
and received its calm.

So it is when we retreat in anger:
we think we burn alone
and there is no balm.
Then water enters, though it makes
no sound.

Faces on a Sunday Morning

Faces on a Sunday Morning II.

by: Lori Waggoner

Near-hearty laughter escapes involuntary,

Contradicting sorrow-laden eyes.

Grati-Tuesday

Today I give thanks for another of life's simple luxuries:  flannel sheets! 

No matter how cold the air is outdoors or inside my bedroom, these babies INSTANTLY absorb and retain body heat!   Although I like the room to be cold for sleeping, I hate to crawl in bed and shiver for 10 minutes!  I need that instantaneous and pervasive warmth that sateen cotton sheets can never provide.

Besides providing instant warmth, I love all the beautiful designs available.   Every functional possession should also be aesthetically pleasing!

Hmm...

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture?

See that black hole in the floor there?  Any idea what that might be?  Back in the day, we called that a laundry chute.  You know, a little space carved out of the 2nd story floor which leads directly to the basement laundry room?  We actually thought of it as rather a convenience...you know...it kept us from having to descend 2 flights of stairs to deliver our laundry to mom.  Seriously now, folks.  Could I make it any easier for the children?  This hole lies almost directly between their 2 bedrooms, so they've actually taken the time to carry the clothes TO the hole...but apparently that final act of scooting them INTO the hole requires just a bit too much effort!  

ARE YOU KIDDING ME??!!  Oi-vay. 

I Remember

I remember the launch of the very first space shuttle, Columbia.  I had a unique view that day.  Our family was living in Venice, Florida, at the time and  was told that the launch from Cape Canaveral, on Florida's eastern coast could be seen from the western gulf coast where we were.  

At the appointed hour on April 12, 1981, we gathered in our yard...full of excitement at such a new adventure...full of pride that "our" people had accomplished this...full of adrenaline at the possibility of seeing this first journey of its kind LIVE!  It lived up to the hype and we could indeed see it from our front lawn.  From that day on, our family followed the program closely.  We never missed a launch or a re-entry.

Which means that, of course, when the The Challenger took flight on January 28, 1986, we were watching.  By then the shuttle launches were somewhat routine...this was #25...but we were die hard fans, gathered around the TV in my parents' living room.  This was the first time a non-astronaut citizen was part of the crew, adding to the excitement.

It's strange now to watch and listen to the video.  I distinctly remember bursting into tears after seeing it explode, but the TV commentators were relatively non-reactive...uncertain what had happened and what to say.  It  was hard to believe what we had just seen.  Surely this couldn't happen after all this time!  We know what we're doing!  How can this be?  What a sad day.  And what a humbling day.  Man, even in his most glorious accomplishments, is fallible and frail.

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing? 

Faces on a Sunday Morning

Faces on a Sunday Morning I.

by: Lori Waggoner

Tightly-pursed lips in vain conceal

What supercilious brow and

Heav'n-raised promontory

Willingly flaunt.

Wordsmith Wednesday

It's a tradition we call Shakespeare In A Week.  It's happening right now at Grant's school as they prepare for this year's performance: Romeo & Juliet.  (Grant is Benvolio...in case you're wondering!)  The students and parents devote a full week to preparation: set construction, costumes, hair & makeup, blocking, etc. is done during this week.  Lines are distributed at Christmas break and ideally are memorized ahead of time, but the majority of the work takes place during this one week of concentrated effort.  It's fun...and a wee bit stressful for those in charge...but a tradition I don't think anyone is ready to forego. 

I love Shakespeare's humor, his insight into life and people, his poetic ability, but I also love his sheer brilliance and playfulness with words.  The man possessed a dynamic vocabulary and even made up a few words of his own along the way...words which have made their way into the English vernacular!  Here are a few to remember from Romeo & Juliet:

addle (adj) - muddled; confused 

Thy head is as full of quarrels as an egg is full of meat; and yet thy head hath been beaten as addle as an egg for quarrelling.

prolixity (n) - longwindedness; verbosity

The date is out of such prolixity.

doff (v) - to take off; put aside; discard 

Romeo, doff thy name; And for that name, which is no part of thee, Take all myself.

sententious (adj) - pithy; trite; moralizing 

R is for the- No; I know it begins with some other letter; and she hath the prettiest sententious of it, of you and rosemary, that it would do you good to hear it.

jocund (adj) - pleasant; cheerful 

Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.

paramour (n) - lover 

Shall I believe That unsubstantial Death is amorous, And that the lean abhorred monster keeps Thee here in dark to be his paramour?

gossamer (n) - a filmy cobweb floating in the air or spread on bushes or grass 

A lover may bestride the gossamer That idles in the wanton summer air, And yet not fall; so light is vanity.

penury (n) - scarcity; lack of necessities 

Noting this penury, to myself I said, 'An if a man did need a poison now Whose sale is present death in Mantua, Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.'

bandy (v) - to toss back and forth 

Had she affections and warm youthful blood, She would be as swift in motion as a ball; My words would bandy her to my sweet love, And his to me...

 

culling (v) - to pick out; select; gather 

I do remember an apothecary, And hereabouts 'a dwells, which late I noted In tatt'red weeds, with overwhelming brows, Culling of simples.

abate (v) - to deduct; terminate; diminish 

And this shall free thee from this present shame, If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear Abate thy valour in the acting it.

troth (n) - faithfulness; promise 

By my troth, it is well said.

sallow (adj) - a sickly pale yellow 

What a deal of brine Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!

descry (v) - to discern; discover; detect 

We see the ground whereon these woes do lie, But the true ground of all these piteous woes We cannot without circumstance descry.

supple (adj) - easily bent or twisted; flexible 

Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off...Each part, depriv'd of supple government, Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death...

antic (adj) - fantastic; odd; grotesque 

What, dares the slave Come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?

inexorable (adj) - not able to be persuaded  

The time and my intents are savage-wild, More fierce and more inexorable far Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.

pernicious (adj) - fatal; deadly; wicked 

What, ho! you men, you beasts, That quench the fire of your pernicious rage With purple fountains issuing from your veins!

feign (v) - to invent; fabricate; pretend 

But old folks, many feign as they were dead- Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.

Grati-Tuesday

Because my first couple of gratitude posts have been rather serious, this one may seem silly...like I'm grasping for an idea or making fun of being thankful.  But that's not the case.  For me, one of the ideas behind intentionally giving thanks is to pay attention to the seemingly simple things in life...things easily overlooked, not only because I take them for granted but because they are "small."

Today, as I sat with an elderly friend eating a bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with caramel and chocolate, I had to chuckle at our conversation.  We sat there with big grins, both of us verbally effusive about how absolutely delicious it was and how much we LOVE ice cream...and it occurred to me: this is one of those simple gifts that I never stop and give thanks for.  It's just ice cream, afterall! 

BUT...several "someones" in history took the time to figure out the right combination of cream, sugar and eggs to make the perfect frozen concoction!  And then they shared the result with the rest of us!  Not life-changing...not world-altering...but a gift nonetheless for which I return thanks!

Nullification

I generally avoid talking politics.  But you all already know that.  It's not so much that I find the topic irrelevant, as it is that I find it exacerbating beyond belief!  The falsification of facts, the vitriolic rhetoric, the hypocrisy and inconsistency, the finger-pointing, the lack of common sense and decent discourse...on and on it goes.  I become overly emotional and emphatic if I think on it too long, so I generally avoid it altogether. 

HOWEVER...Thomas Woods came along and wrote a book too intriguing for me to avoid.  The concept made perfect sense to me and I wanted to learn more about it.  That concept is: NULLIFICATION.

Woods makes a well-reasoned, historically-based argument for states to employ this practice in the face of federal tyranny.  Simply put, nullification is the legal means by which a state can declare null and void any law established by the federal government which is outside of the carefully prescribed, constitutional boundaries which they have been specifically assigned.  Which is pretty much about 98 percent of legislation since the early 20th century!  See, there I go getting all emotional and opinionated!

Woods provides excellent commentary on the need for nullification, but his best decision was to include a number of primary source documents which present extensive, hotly-debated, highly sophisticated, arguments about the role of the federal vs. the state government.  

The subject has been elevated to the forefront in our day because we are FINALLY beginning to recognize that the states have acquiesced for much too long, making ourselves subservient to the point of virtual irrelevance.  

Whether or not you are politically inclined, I encourage you to explore the concept...and Woods' book is an excellent place to start. 

Miniatures & Morals

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Mr. Leithart that literary criticism must, by its very nature, be dry and tedious!  His critique of Austen's novels is both enlightening and surprisingly engaging.

If you already love Jane, read this critique, then revisit the stories again with his insight.

If for some inexplicable reason you have avoided Ms. Austen ("that's girl stuff," or "I don't DO romance"), perhaps his evaluation (specifically the first chapter: Real Men Read Austen) might persuade you to dive in, head-first, with enthusiasm! 

My First E-Novel

I was in the living room one evening when it hit me suddenly.  The lamp, I mean.

I had just replaced a burned-out light bulb.  The hideous Victorian gold-fringed lampshade looked even worse illuminated.  As I took a step back, wondering whether I should replace the lamp instead of the bulb, my leg bumped the side table.  I made a grab for my coffee mug as it began to topple over, not realizing that my shoe had snapped the lamp's cord.  Down came the lamp with a crash.  Shards of light bulb scattered in every direction.  The mug was knocked out of my hand and fell with a thud onto the wood floor, leaving a trail of hot coffee as it rolled under the couch. 

So begin the adventures of writer and notorious klutz, Vivian, in My Life Behind the Brick Wall. 

In her first full-length published novel, Ms. Angie Brennan has skillfully woven a comic tale about the serious business of everyday life.  Her characters - the meddling mother, the narcissistic neighbor, the hopelessly romantic sister, the pessimistic grandmother, the benevolent aunt - are instantly familiar because they are characters we have encountered in real life.  

Ms. Brennan's humorous portrayal of the ordinary events of life and relationships - irritating co-workers at a less-than-fulfilling job, Thanksgiving dinner with extended family, both unwanted and desperately desired romantic overtures - left me laughing out loud and drove me to finish the book within 24 hours.  

While "moral lessons" could easily be extrapolated, I don't believe that was Ms. Brennan's point (correct me if I'm wrong, Angie!).  For me, the point was quite simply the delight of a good story well told.  And that alone made it worth my time.

Order your e-copy today...relax...and enjoy!

Let Evening Come

Let Evening Come
by: Jane Kenyon

Let the light of late afternoon
shine through chinks in the barn, moving
up the bales as the sun moves down.

Let the cricket take up chafing
as a woman takes up her needles
and her yarn. Let evening come.

Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned
in long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.

Let the fox go back to its sandy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the shed
go black inside. Let evening come.

To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.

Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.

Grati-Tuesday

Today I give thanks to God for the men in the Missouri Presbytery who sacrificed their time to thoroughly investigate the accusations against my pastor, Jeff Meyers. I am especially thankful for their conclusion that he remains within the bounds of orthodoxy in his teaching and ministry.  Several men worked tirelessly to ferret out the truth and the Lord heard and answered our prayers in bringing about his exoneration.

I also give thanks for Pastor Meyers, who endured close scrutiny, answering very tedious points of theology with precision and detail.  This too required an additional sacrifice of time and energy on top of his routine pastoral duties.  I thank God for the endurance, patience and maturity granted to him throughout this process. 

ADDENDUM:  Almost as soon as I posted this, I became aware that the Presbytery's rule is being challenged.  Nevertheless, I am STILL thankful for their work and pray that God will confirm their faithfulness by granting them the same vindication they granted Pastor Meyers.