In the arboretum that's across the street from our home some wild Canadian geese make their home, at least sometimes. Yesterday I observed mother goose and her six goslings on the pond that's there. It's always interesting to watch wild life, especially as they're about their "family" things.
It looked like mother goose was trying to teach her offspring how to fly. The whole family (didn't see Mr. Gander) was swimming across the pond, with the goslings quite a ways ahead of mama goose. When they reached the side of the pond, the goslings began to fly just above the water back to meet their mama. When they were all together again the goslings rose and flew just above the water to the other side of the pond from whence they had come. So mama began her slow swim back to meet them.
Perhaps many of the problems we have in our society come from a lack of this simple kind of family relationships. If family is important among the birds (in this case geese), then perhaps many are missing a very important ingredient in their families among us humans. Geese are often referred to as "silly birds." Perhaps if they could name us as humans they would call us "silly people." And just maybe that's the way it should be!
Pilgrim on the way
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
416 - separation
I'm not sure I can do this blog adequately but I decided to try. 416 children - separated from parents, familiar surroundings. What's to come of all this? Only the future will reveal that.
I'm torn with this story. Separation from parents, mothers in particular, sometimes seems like a good idea, sometimes not. This case presents some circumstances that are not presented in most child custody cases. If the state officials, courts, lawyers, news commentators etc. can't sort it out in while close to the situation, it's obvious that those of us who are further away can not either.
There's just a sadness that goes with the whole situation. One is sad because one man, who thinks he has become a god, can gain so much power over other human beings that he can order all kinds of illegal, immoral, and hideous things to be done that this many people are damaged physically, emotionally, psychologically and every other way for life.
One is sad for all the innocent children who are nothing but pawns in the hands of ruthless people who want to use them for their own selfish gain and gratification. Listening to the ladies who have "escaped" from such situations only confirms the enormity of the psychological damage inflicted by these situations on all those involved.
One is also saddened by the plight of the women, mothers. Some feel pity for these people, others condemn them. Just seeing them makes one sad for their helpless plight. Yet they are mothers, mothers with God-given instincts for taking proper care of their offspring. It's sad because they only seem to know how to follow the orders of those governing them and not those that come by nature for their children's care.
At this point, I'm not sure how I feel about what's taking place. I do know that I'm sad that such situations as these have developed here, and elsewhere. I also know that I am glad that Mr. Jess is locked up in jail, but again I'm saddened to learn that even there he has control of what happens to those under his power.
In a state where the system is already searching for answers as to how to deal with all the children needing foster care, one wonders how in the world they will provide for 416 more. Only the Lord knows the answers to the many questions we all have about this, but will anyone ask Him for direction. I sincerely hope so.
Pilgrim on the way
I'm torn with this story. Separation from parents, mothers in particular, sometimes seems like a good idea, sometimes not. This case presents some circumstances that are not presented in most child custody cases. If the state officials, courts, lawyers, news commentators etc. can't sort it out in while close to the situation, it's obvious that those of us who are further away can not either.
There's just a sadness that goes with the whole situation. One is sad because one man, who thinks he has become a god, can gain so much power over other human beings that he can order all kinds of illegal, immoral, and hideous things to be done that this many people are damaged physically, emotionally, psychologically and every other way for life.
One is sad for all the innocent children who are nothing but pawns in the hands of ruthless people who want to use them for their own selfish gain and gratification. Listening to the ladies who have "escaped" from such situations only confirms the enormity of the psychological damage inflicted by these situations on all those involved.
One is also saddened by the plight of the women, mothers. Some feel pity for these people, others condemn them. Just seeing them makes one sad for their helpless plight. Yet they are mothers, mothers with God-given instincts for taking proper care of their offspring. It's sad because they only seem to know how to follow the orders of those governing them and not those that come by nature for their children's care.
At this point, I'm not sure how I feel about what's taking place. I do know that I'm sad that such situations as these have developed here, and elsewhere. I also know that I am glad that Mr. Jess is locked up in jail, but again I'm saddened to learn that even there he has control of what happens to those under his power.
In a state where the system is already searching for answers as to how to deal with all the children needing foster care, one wonders how in the world they will provide for 416 more. Only the Lord knows the answers to the many questions we all have about this, but will anyone ask Him for direction. I sincerely hope so.
Pilgrim on the way
Friday, April 11, 2008
Birthdays
These thoughts have been triggered by my wife's birthday yesterday and our oldest son's birthday today. What's to say about birthdays? Following are a few thoughts on this subject.
Birthdays have always been important. Children look forward with anticipation to their next birthday, often adding a fraction of a year to their age when asked how old they are. It seems that the older we get the less important our birthday becomes - until we get to a certain age. Sometimes that age is 30, or 40, and of course 50.
After age 50 it seems that we begin to think differently about birthdays. Some will look forward to 65, or whatever is considered retirement age these days. Some don't really look forward to that time at all, or to 70 - that's three score years and ten, the age spoken of in the Bible as representing life's expectancy, you know. Do we really want to go there? What choice do we have?
Getting "older" usually means beginning to think more about our own mortality. There's something sobering about that, isn't there? We usually think we will wait to make wills, make out our health care desires, etc. until we're "older." Does anyone have the assurance of living to a certain age? Don't think so.
My Mom was 40 when I was born, so she always seemed "old" to me. I used to ask her on her birthdays if she thought she was old, and she always said "no." Finally when she was 80 I asked her that again and she said, "well if you say so." "Old" then is a relative term, and I really just prefer "older," but it really doesn't matter in the end (no pun intended) does it.
My observation is that as people get "older" they begin to look forward to their next birthday, much like we did when we were kids. People who reach, let's say, 90, consider that as having reached a milestone that is worthy of dignity and respect. So why wouldn't one want to get to ninety? Birthdays at that age often become times of family celebrations and get-togethers, celebrating the life of the birthday girl/boy.
How many birthdays do you want to have? I've been asked that question many times, and my answer is that my father lived to be 90 and my only brother lived to be 90, so 90 sounds like a good number. But somehow my opinion doesn't really matter, does it? My life is in the Lord's hands and I will live until He calls me home to be with Him. Whenever that time comes, I'm ready to meet Him in glory. Are you?
Pilgrim on the way
Birthdays have always been important. Children look forward with anticipation to their next birthday, often adding a fraction of a year to their age when asked how old they are. It seems that the older we get the less important our birthday becomes - until we get to a certain age. Sometimes that age is 30, or 40, and of course 50.
After age 50 it seems that we begin to think differently about birthdays. Some will look forward to 65, or whatever is considered retirement age these days. Some don't really look forward to that time at all, or to 70 - that's three score years and ten, the age spoken of in the Bible as representing life's expectancy, you know. Do we really want to go there? What choice do we have?
Getting "older" usually means beginning to think more about our own mortality. There's something sobering about that, isn't there? We usually think we will wait to make wills, make out our health care desires, etc. until we're "older." Does anyone have the assurance of living to a certain age? Don't think so.
My Mom was 40 when I was born, so she always seemed "old" to me. I used to ask her on her birthdays if she thought she was old, and she always said "no." Finally when she was 80 I asked her that again and she said, "well if you say so." "Old" then is a relative term, and I really just prefer "older," but it really doesn't matter in the end (no pun intended) does it.
My observation is that as people get "older" they begin to look forward to their next birthday, much like we did when we were kids. People who reach, let's say, 90, consider that as having reached a milestone that is worthy of dignity and respect. So why wouldn't one want to get to ninety? Birthdays at that age often become times of family celebrations and get-togethers, celebrating the life of the birthday girl/boy.
How many birthdays do you want to have? I've been asked that question many times, and my answer is that my father lived to be 90 and my only brother lived to be 90, so 90 sounds like a good number. But somehow my opinion doesn't really matter, does it? My life is in the Lord's hands and I will live until He calls me home to be with Him. Whenever that time comes, I'm ready to meet Him in glory. Are you?
Pilgrim on the way
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Hard Times?
We have a song on cassette that includes the phrase, "Hard times, hard times, come again no more." I think it's a fact that we have at least a couple of generations living who have not experienced "hard times." Granted there are still many people in this country who are living in "hard times." But that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.
My parents often told stories of the hard times they experienced early on in our family. My father traveled a lot as an evangelist and told of times when he came home from such a trip with less money than he left home with. There was even one time when he spoke for a week or so in a small church in Missouri when he needed to borrow money to come home.
In the story of my parents written by my sister, she told of the way our mother needed to "create" things for the family to eat, such as "sand plum pudding," and "white pudding." Sand plum pudding was made by picking sand plums from the roadside, cooking them, and mixing them with sugar and flour. It was eaten with milk. White pudding was made by grinding suet, mixing it with flour and seasoning, and stuffing it into a small cloth bag, then soaked in hot water and left to dry. It was sliced and served like mush.
Many could tell stories of hard times. Will the hard times come again? Who knows? I am all for conserving energy, resources, and being frugal in whatever ways we can. But that all is hard to do when we live in a society that is literally overrun by consumerism. And affluence. I remember when it was the goal of young people to want to be millionaires. Now we live in the age of multi-billionaires. It seems totally impossible that "hard times" will ever come again. I think most people in the younger generations feel that having all they want is the normal thing and it will always be that way.
But as we know, things in this world seem to run in cycles. I hope that we never need to return to making sand plum pudding and white pudding, but I suppose there are many people in this world right now for whom these hard times foods would be a good meal.
Pilgrim on the way
My parents often told stories of the hard times they experienced early on in our family. My father traveled a lot as an evangelist and told of times when he came home from such a trip with less money than he left home with. There was even one time when he spoke for a week or so in a small church in Missouri when he needed to borrow money to come home.
In the story of my parents written by my sister, she told of the way our mother needed to "create" things for the family to eat, such as "sand plum pudding," and "white pudding." Sand plum pudding was made by picking sand plums from the roadside, cooking them, and mixing them with sugar and flour. It was eaten with milk. White pudding was made by grinding suet, mixing it with flour and seasoning, and stuffing it into a small cloth bag, then soaked in hot water and left to dry. It was sliced and served like mush.
Many could tell stories of hard times. Will the hard times come again? Who knows? I am all for conserving energy, resources, and being frugal in whatever ways we can. But that all is hard to do when we live in a society that is literally overrun by consumerism. And affluence. I remember when it was the goal of young people to want to be millionaires. Now we live in the age of multi-billionaires. It seems totally impossible that "hard times" will ever come again. I think most people in the younger generations feel that having all they want is the normal thing and it will always be that way.
But as we know, things in this world seem to run in cycles. I hope that we never need to return to making sand plum pudding and white pudding, but I suppose there are many people in this world right now for whom these hard times foods would be a good meal.
Pilgrim on the way
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