The Book Thief

On the website 'oldmustybooks.com' there is a featured review of 'The Book Thief.' It is excellent, and I agree mostly with the author. I also didn't want to finish, because I knew how it would end and I had found myself cheering on the young heroine, and I savored every last page, hoping against hope the end would change. It certainly cries out to be read by every English and History class because of its realistic description of everyday life for children in Germany during WWII. I think every parent, that still has kids at home, would find it an inspiration; and what a unique gift for parents to read the book to or with their kids! ENJOY!

This afternoon, Gram and I, will be driving to the biggest city in Michigan to see some of our grandkids. We got word last night that our southern kids/grandkids arrived home safely in Alabama after spending time with us this week, and we thank God for their traveling mercies!

The Great Mystery of the Bird Feeder

Over the past week we have noted that our bird-feeder, just outside the north window of my wife's study, has been consumed every night by a mysterious guest. Regardless of how full it is during the day, its empty the next morning ... and now we are noticing the wood ledge around it is also being stripped ..... evidently our ghostly visitor is not just satisifed with just the seeds inside it ... I've half a mind to stay awake one night to spy on the guilty party ... except the other half of my mind is insisting on going to sleep, and rules the night! Perhaps if I start taking the bird-feeder in at night our mysterious guest will be forced to appear during daylight hours when it's more likely to be exposed ... but that takes away the mystery. On that mysterious note, I went to the Library today and brought home the book 'The Heretic's Daughter,' a historical novel about the Salem Witch Trials.

'Follow truth wherever you find it,

even if it takes you outside your preconceived

ideas of God or life.

Even if it take you outside your own country

into most insignificant alien places like

Bethlehem.' -George Macleod

Slower Lane of Life

'Sadly we have interpreted the slower lane of life as the poorer lane!'
-Eutychus2

We teach our children how to measure
and how to weigh.
We fail to teach them how to revere,
how to sense wonder and awe'
-Rabbi Abraham Herchel

'All of earth is crammed with heaven, and every brush
aflame with God,
but only those who see take off their shoes.'
-Elizabeth Barrett Browning
[how few times I've bothered to take off my shoes and observe
spell-bound! -Eutychus2]

What is this life if, full of care,
We have not time to stand and stare-
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows;
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass-
No time to see in broad daylight
Streams full of stars, like stars at night
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance
A poor life this if, full of care
We have no time to stand and stare.
-Wm. Henry Davies

[most of these poems were found on the terry hersey link.]

Nothing Like Family

Tonight, at the Adult Bible Study, we are focusing on Mark 3:31-35. This is where Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders and accused of being under the influence of Satan; Jesus' family comes to rescue him, and Jesus refuses their help. In refusing their help, many have interpreted Jesus has being caustic to his family's efforts - and nothing could be further from the truth. As I think about how instead of DIMINISHING the concept of family Jesus is instead ENLARGING the family, I give thanks for my spiritual family. ThE past two year's journey for my Masters in Spiritual Formation was truly one of the 'highlights' of my life! In addition to all my learning, spiritual forming and new perspectives, I have to say one of the greatest benefits were my cohort-mates. Hopefully we have formed bonds that will last through eternity. Kathy, Kendra, Sylvia, Becky - the last queen of Indiana, Don, Cal, Ryan, Matt, Martin, Rodger, Arvin, Craig, Brian, David, Rudy & James are friends forever.

Sometimes I believe it is as easy to forget, and take for granted, the preciousness of our spiritual family as well as our dna family. Today, my Alabama side of the family leaves for home in the deep south, after a family pit stop in Illinois. The blogs that some of my friends have listed on this site are quite interesting, especially the ones that talk about their families!! [As you've already noted I have a tendency to jump from subject to subject without warning or introduction] Time to go, guess I'll call my mom and see how she and grandma are doing today. They only live two hours away and sometimes I'm not a very attentive son; I'd hate to hear what the Apostle Paul might say about that laxity.
-eutychus2

The Day After

Good Morning....
Wow, what a wonderful Memorial day weekend with the kids from Alabama. By the way, the town they live in has 300 people, even the county-capital has fewer people in it than Hastings, so anything we do here is bigger! For example: in Hastings you can watch numerous traffic lights instead of the same ole one all the time.

For Memorial Day we all got up and went to the parade - we sat on the curb [on Broadway] across from Tyden Park ... had a great time. It was sweet, my five year old grandson made sure everyone had their little American flag held high right before the parade got to us! Then we came back home and packed a picnic lunch and went to Pierce Creek Park and hiked ... it was a beautiful day for that! Then we came home and got rested up. During the rest four gentlemen from church [Ernie, Randy, Tim & Robert] came and mowed the church/parsonage lawn. With four men it went pretty fast and they did an excellent job. I had to rope off a patch of lawn where we discovered a mother rabbit had hid four babies - my one granddaughter, who is in love with ALL creatures made sure Gramps cautioned them! I looked out in the backyard one time and all four lawn tractor were in a line like they are starting a race across the campus - my grandson thought that was cool and waited for them to 'take off.'

Later we had a birthday meal for my other granddaughter, and immediately after supper, Gram had a surprise for us all .... we went to the movie theater downtown to watch 'The Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian!' - it was excellent! Then we came back and had cheesecake and ice cream and birthday presents were opened.

Arrived with Gifts!

The kids [and grandkids] arrived safely last night, just in time for Gramps to put corn and hamburgers on the grill! Then they gave Gramps some graduation gifts ........ a Starbucks gift card and 'The Pilgrim's Progress in MOdern English.' This is excellent, it includes an audio excerpts CD. Every chapter of the book is annotated with scripture and notes, then in the back there is a study guide for each chapter. Wonderful.

Memorial Day weekend.

On May 3, 1915 a Candian physician Lt.Col. John McCrae wrote a poem after he witnessed the death of a close friend. Later McCrae rejected his own poem and tore it out of his notebook. A fellow officer saw him do it and rescued it, later it was published.
"In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Below the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved; and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe;
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This weekend, in particular, we honor all men/women who have given their lives for our freedom in all parts of the globe. It is also appropriate that we honor those who have served in some capacity in protecting our nation; and particularly those who have life-long wounds because of their service.
In my wallet I carry a military patch that designates the unit I served with in the Army from 1969-1972. USARPAC, USSAD, ACSI
-eutychus2