In the mid-late 60’s and early 70’s when this country was going through the Hippie Era, about as close as I got to involvement in it was living on the Big Sur coast, growing a mustache, having frizzy hair and long sideburns, and owning some 33 rpm records by Cat Stevens, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. The appearances were truly deceiving because I was a campaign worker for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater, read everything Ayn Rand wrote, drove a BMW, and almost enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps so I could serve my country by fighting the Communists in Viet Nam. I was also a strong Christian.
I realize it might be a stretch to find any congruity in the above characteristics, but I think there was some. Even then I was becoming more and more concerned with the evil in the world and wanted to do something to help people avoid what I could see could be their personal downfall by being blindsided by it and by aggregation of many victims, the downfall of our nation. The drug culture and ‘free love’ (i.e., unbridled sex) were prime examples of one type of evil all around me.
So I became a teacher. I also joined a new Church.
Although I was stretching the context somewhat, some lyrics in Cat Stevens’ song Wild World caught my fancy then and I still remember them:
You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two . . .
But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
Oh, [children, children] it's a wild world . . .
It still is a “wild world,” and will get far worse before it gets better. There is a lot of bad out there and we must beware. But there is hope, for “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
Many haven’t been as wary or prepared as they should and have been badly hurt because they didn’t realize how vulnerable they were. There is evil in the world—evil men, evil organizations, evil combinations and political and religious philosophies—yes, there are “evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days” and there will yet be many casualties. The casualties in the Middle East have been often physical. The casualties in our own land have been, so far, mostly spiritual.
Except for occasional vociferous outbursts of rhetoric, especially in political campaign years, one of the evils in the Western World we must be alert to and wary of is that old and insidious one of “Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; … yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines…and their works shall be in the dark….” And many who follow this line of nonsense will perish. It is happening all around us.
As a Christian, one who is a disciple of the one true Way out of this ‘wild world’ I could do no better than reiterate the words of the Apostle Paul: “Put on the whole armour of God.” Learn what it is and where to get it and put it on every day, and make sure it is tightly fastened. In order to survive we will need it.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Resolved
We are now one week into our ‘new’ resolutions which are in all likelihood just recycled old resolutions. There was probably nothing wrong with the old ones, but another year has rolled around and possibly the old ones just didn’t materialize; we aren’t any better than before. Why?
Could it be that our approach to changing something we didn’t like about ourselves focused too much on the undesired outcomes and the causes (e.g., too fat because of too much chocolate; or didn’t read the books I wanted to because of too much television; or bills not paid down because of impulse buying, etc.) and not enough on the violated principles that govern our issues and failure to enlist the help of the resource that could help our ‘resolutions’ become ‘resolved?’
Let’s look at a couple of eternal verities, from my frame of reference, that impact upon the direction our life takes.
Jesus said to his chosen apostle Peter, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Do you seriously, diligently, regularly enlist prayer to help you with the weaknesses of the flesh? Though we are often “encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me,” can we not acknowledge, as one still trying to become ‘resolved,’ that “my God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions … and he hath preserved me….He hath filled me with his love…he hath confounded mine enemies…he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge” to deal with my problems (2 Nephi 4:18-23). As the Apostle Peter said, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Peter 2:9). And every Christian knows that in Jesus’ prayer to our Father He said, “and lead us not [or suffer us not to be lead] into temptation, but deliver us from evil…for thine is the kingdom and the power…” (Matt 6:13). Come unto Him and enlist his help. We can be delivered; these things can be resolved.
Finally, there must needs be opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11, 14-16) Recognize it. Again quoting Peter, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you…” (1 Peter 4:12). The apostle Paul, likewise, enjoined us to “endure afflictions” (2 Timothy 4:5), meaning, I think, to stay engaged in the struggle.
Indeed, the bottom line in life’s instruction book is that “[We] must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).
Overcoming the resistance and ungodly opposition is the essence of the great personal victory in life. Let us at the last say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing” (i.e., who love his coming to redeem us and give us opportunity for the more abundant life) (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
So be it. Resolved.
Could it be that our approach to changing something we didn’t like about ourselves focused too much on the undesired outcomes and the causes (e.g., too fat because of too much chocolate; or didn’t read the books I wanted to because of too much television; or bills not paid down because of impulse buying, etc.) and not enough on the violated principles that govern our issues and failure to enlist the help of the resource that could help our ‘resolutions’ become ‘resolved?’
Let’s look at a couple of eternal verities, from my frame of reference, that impact upon the direction our life takes.
Jesus said to his chosen apostle Peter, “Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Do you seriously, diligently, regularly enlist prayer to help you with the weaknesses of the flesh? Though we are often “encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me,” can we not acknowledge, as one still trying to become ‘resolved,’ that “my God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions … and he hath preserved me….He hath filled me with his love…he hath confounded mine enemies…he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge” to deal with my problems (2 Nephi 4:18-23). As the Apostle Peter said, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations…” (2 Peter 2:9). And every Christian knows that in Jesus’ prayer to our Father He said, “and lead us not [or suffer us not to be lead] into temptation, but deliver us from evil…for thine is the kingdom and the power…” (Matt 6:13). Come unto Him and enlist his help. We can be delivered; these things can be resolved.
Finally, there must needs be opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11, 14-16) Recognize it. Again quoting Peter, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you…” (1 Peter 4:12). The apostle Paul, likewise, enjoined us to “endure afflictions” (2 Timothy 4:5), meaning, I think, to stay engaged in the struggle.
Indeed, the bottom line in life’s instruction book is that “[We] must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20).
Overcoming the resistance and ungodly opposition is the essence of the great personal victory in life. Let us at the last say with Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…and not to me only but unto all them also that love his appearing” (i.e., who love his coming to redeem us and give us opportunity for the more abundant life) (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
So be it. Resolved.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Concluding Thoughts of 2011
“I have long believed there was a divine plan that placed this land here to be found by people of a special kind, that we have a rendezvous with destiny. Yes, there is a spirit moving in this land and a hunger in the people for a spiritual revival. If the task I seek should be given to me, I would pray only that I could perform it in a way that would serve God.” (Ronald Reagan)
“There is no greater drama in human record than the sight of a few Christians, scorned or oppressed by a succession of emperors, bearing all trials with a fierce tenacity, multiplying quietly, building order while their enemies generated chaos, fighting the sword with the word, brutality with hope, and at last defeating the strongest state that history has known. Caesar and Christ had met in the arena, and Christ had won.” (Will Durant)
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and the virtue of our own.” (Abraham Lincoln)
“Sometimes a nation abolishes God, but fortunately God is more tolerant.” (unknown)
“If we spend sixteen hours a day dealing with tangible things and only five minutes a day dealing with God, is it any wonder that tangible things are two hundred times more real to us than God?” (William R. Inge)
“Here is my creed: I believe in one God, creator of the universe. That He governs it by his providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render Him is doing good to His other children. That the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.” (Benjamin Franklin)
“God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas -- but for scars.”
(Elbert Hubbard)
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
“There is no greater drama in human record than the sight of a few Christians, scorned or oppressed by a succession of emperors, bearing all trials with a fierce tenacity, multiplying quietly, building order while their enemies generated chaos, fighting the sword with the word, brutality with hope, and at last defeating the strongest state that history has known. Caesar and Christ had met in the arena, and Christ had won.” (Will Durant)
“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown; but we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and the virtue of our own.” (Abraham Lincoln)
“Sometimes a nation abolishes God, but fortunately God is more tolerant.” (unknown)
“If we spend sixteen hours a day dealing with tangible things and only five minutes a day dealing with God, is it any wonder that tangible things are two hundred times more real to us than God?” (William R. Inge)
“Here is my creed: I believe in one God, creator of the universe. That He governs it by his providence. That He ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render Him is doing good to His other children. That the soul of man is immortal and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this.” (Benjamin Franklin)
“God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas -- but for scars.”
(Elbert Hubbard)
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
“…For hate is strong and mocks the song of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men”
I have, for days, been pondering this line from the Christmas song, ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.’ The line, standing alone, is true. The conclusion that hate and its derivatives will win the day however is not.
News reports from the sectarian violence of the Middle East, and of the senseless violence in the drug wars of Mexico, and the sexual violence perpetrated upon children, and of economic and other social ills suffered by millions, if that is all one digests, discourages many into believing otherwise.
But when all the lines from the song are read we get a much more optimistic view of the story of mankind’s life and the destiny of this earth. Of course, you say, this is only a song; but Handel’s Messiah is “only a song,” and both proclaim great truths. The good will ultimately be victorious; evil, hate, and violence will not win the day. The Holy Scriptures and revelation to living prophets and to my soul strongly convince me of this.
These thoughts were brought to fore by a video on YouTube recently suggested to me by a good friend. I watched ‘Pale Blue Dot’ by the late astronomer Carl Sagan. The photographs from space and the musical score by Vangelis and the compelling voice and narrative by Mr. Sagan were beguiling but were symptomatic of the existentialism and nihilism of so many of today’s generation. As Brigham Young once suggested, there are 99 truths mixed with one falsehood that brings many down. Satan (yes, I believe he is real) is a great counterfeiter. Satan always has used ‘the philosophies of men mingled with scripture’ to good advantage.
After watching the video I read the comments made by other watchers of the video, most, I suspect who were young adults. Many of the comments were vulgar; most were nihilistic; and Mr. Sagan was elevated to the status of a secular scientific prophet (as I suggested was Steve Jobs as the tech prophet of our age). Sagan’s is the voice, I believe, of the ‘me’ generation or of ‘generation ‘x’ as you will have it.
Mine is a counterpoint (as you know if you have read any of my commentaries) that sustains me and gives me great hope for the destiny of mankind.
We will be in for some very rough times in the future—far beyond what many of us who sit in our warm and comfortable homes have ever experienced—but there are ‘islands of safety’ and messages of hope that ring true for any who have ‘ears to hear and hearts to understand.’ Seek, and you shall find them.
And you will probably not find these on YouTube.
News reports from the sectarian violence of the Middle East, and of the senseless violence in the drug wars of Mexico, and the sexual violence perpetrated upon children, and of economic and other social ills suffered by millions, if that is all one digests, discourages many into believing otherwise.
But when all the lines from the song are read we get a much more optimistic view of the story of mankind’s life and the destiny of this earth. Of course, you say, this is only a song; but Handel’s Messiah is “only a song,” and both proclaim great truths. The good will ultimately be victorious; evil, hate, and violence will not win the day. The Holy Scriptures and revelation to living prophets and to my soul strongly convince me of this.
These thoughts were brought to fore by a video on YouTube recently suggested to me by a good friend. I watched ‘Pale Blue Dot’ by the late astronomer Carl Sagan. The photographs from space and the musical score by Vangelis and the compelling voice and narrative by Mr. Sagan were beguiling but were symptomatic of the existentialism and nihilism of so many of today’s generation. As Brigham Young once suggested, there are 99 truths mixed with one falsehood that brings many down. Satan (yes, I believe he is real) is a great counterfeiter. Satan always has used ‘the philosophies of men mingled with scripture’ to good advantage.
After watching the video I read the comments made by other watchers of the video, most, I suspect who were young adults. Many of the comments were vulgar; most were nihilistic; and Mr. Sagan was elevated to the status of a secular scientific prophet (as I suggested was Steve Jobs as the tech prophet of our age). Sagan’s is the voice, I believe, of the ‘me’ generation or of ‘generation ‘x’ as you will have it.
Mine is a counterpoint (as you know if you have read any of my commentaries) that sustains me and gives me great hope for the destiny of mankind.
We will be in for some very rough times in the future—far beyond what many of us who sit in our warm and comfortable homes have ever experienced—but there are ‘islands of safety’ and messages of hope that ring true for any who have ‘ears to hear and hearts to understand.’ Seek, and you shall find them.
And you will probably not find these on YouTube.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Authentic Christmas
As we reflect upon the first Christmas—the coming to earth of the child Jesus—we cannot help but anticipate that it will not be long before our Savior returns to this earth much differently than he did 2000 years ago. It will not be, as before, as a humble babe in a manger, or a life lived out as a humble carpenter, or as a humble itinerant preacher and healer, or even as the humble and infinite Atoner for mankind.
Instead, his next appearance to the world will eclipse even the “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” or the exclamations of the “multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” It will be, instead, His coming in glory with the hosts of heaven, in great power, as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It will be then that many of our great Christmas hymns will become a reality. And we will be in awe.
But we should also remember His first appearance. A little over two thousand years ago the archangel Gabriel appeared from the Heavenly realms and made a startling announcement to some faithful shepherds who were attending to their task in the dark of the night. Additional heralds, a multitude of what we suppose were singing angels, joined Gabriel praising God. They, too, left their message with the astonished shepherds. The shepherds responded with haste to this glorious outpouring to find this child, this long-prophesied Messiah—to gain a personal testimony of the things they were told. After they had seen for themselves, they enthusiastically told all they encountered of what they had heard and experienced.
What can we learn from this? What does God want us to learn from this? The scriptural record here shows that God will make known even to the lowliest of His children messages of transcendent importance. There is no indication in the record that the shepherds were aged or highly-educated sages; nothing is said about them holding position or priesthood. Nothing is said of their gender. The likelihood, instead, was that these were probably poor and uneducated young men and/or young women who knew how to care for God’s creatures, who were in the line of their duty, and who were not asleep.
Can you see the pattern? Though the wise men came later bearing gifts, the response desired by God of those who were in a position to immediately respond to this Holy day, this Birthday of Birthdays, was for them to listen to His messengers, to gain a personal testimony themselves, to worship God’s Son, and to proclaim to others what they knew to be true.
Could this not be the proper response for us to emulate during this Christmas season?
Instead, his next appearance to the world will eclipse even the “good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,” or the exclamations of the “multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” It will be, instead, His coming in glory with the hosts of heaven, in great power, as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. It will be then that many of our great Christmas hymns will become a reality. And we will be in awe.
But we should also remember His first appearance. A little over two thousand years ago the archangel Gabriel appeared from the Heavenly realms and made a startling announcement to some faithful shepherds who were attending to their task in the dark of the night. Additional heralds, a multitude of what we suppose were singing angels, joined Gabriel praising God. They, too, left their message with the astonished shepherds. The shepherds responded with haste to this glorious outpouring to find this child, this long-prophesied Messiah—to gain a personal testimony of the things they were told. After they had seen for themselves, they enthusiastically told all they encountered of what they had heard and experienced.
What can we learn from this? What does God want us to learn from this? The scriptural record here shows that God will make known even to the lowliest of His children messages of transcendent importance. There is no indication in the record that the shepherds were aged or highly-educated sages; nothing is said about them holding position or priesthood. Nothing is said of their gender. The likelihood, instead, was that these were probably poor and uneducated young men and/or young women who knew how to care for God’s creatures, who were in the line of their duty, and who were not asleep.
Can you see the pattern? Though the wise men came later bearing gifts, the response desired by God of those who were in a position to immediately respond to this Holy day, this Birthday of Birthdays, was for them to listen to His messengers, to gain a personal testimony themselves, to worship God’s Son, and to proclaim to others what they knew to be true.
Could this not be the proper response for us to emulate during this Christmas season?
Monday, December 12, 2011
The Enduring Questions
I have on my bookshelves an old philosophy book titled The Enduring Questions. It contains over 800 pages of the thoughts of men (no women, interestingly) from Socrates to the 20th Century behaviorists who have grappled with the issue of man-- who he is, why he is here on this Earth, and what he should be doing with his time. In short, they are trying to get a handle on the meaning of life so we can live with meaning.
I suspect we all have given these enduring questions some thought. Or at least we should. They are of deep concern to every thoughtful individual. We should not just leave it to the philosophers and poets to worry about these things; metaphysics is that branch of philosophy that attempts to do that and true religion absolutely should do that. I testify that the answers are ‘out there.’
Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Well, I disagree; it is worth living but it doesn’t amount to much until it is examined and measured against the standard of conscience and revealed truth and then set on a direction that satisfies that conscience with which we were programmed from our beginnings. Disregarding our conscience (that ‘ought to’ or ‘ought not to’ feeling) and not trying to educate it beyond what we came with by simply ‘going with the flow’ or even just sticking with cultural norms is not good enough. Doing so is an abdication of the highest in us that needs to be tapped and the highest outside us that needs to be explored.
I feel that each of us should periodically take some time to stand alone without distraction under the stars and contemplate the enduring questions and the answers we have come up with. If we don’t “stand all amazed” we are avoiding the issues that make up the very purpose for which we were born. Or maybe we have not looked hard enough for answers and direction. You can tell if you are on the right track by having a reverence for all life and a deep feeling of gratitude for your own life—regardless of its circumstances.
I end with a statement from Blaise Pascal: “Know then, proud man, what a paradox you are to yourself. Humble yourself, weak reason; be silent, foolish nature; learn that man infinitely transcends man, and learn from your Master your true condition, of which you are ignorant. Hear God.”
I suspect we all have given these enduring questions some thought. Or at least we should. They are of deep concern to every thoughtful individual. We should not just leave it to the philosophers and poets to worry about these things; metaphysics is that branch of philosophy that attempts to do that and true religion absolutely should do that. I testify that the answers are ‘out there.’
Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Well, I disagree; it is worth living but it doesn’t amount to much until it is examined and measured against the standard of conscience and revealed truth and then set on a direction that satisfies that conscience with which we were programmed from our beginnings. Disregarding our conscience (that ‘ought to’ or ‘ought not to’ feeling) and not trying to educate it beyond what we came with by simply ‘going with the flow’ or even just sticking with cultural norms is not good enough. Doing so is an abdication of the highest in us that needs to be tapped and the highest outside us that needs to be explored.
I feel that each of us should periodically take some time to stand alone without distraction under the stars and contemplate the enduring questions and the answers we have come up with. If we don’t “stand all amazed” we are avoiding the issues that make up the very purpose for which we were born. Or maybe we have not looked hard enough for answers and direction. You can tell if you are on the right track by having a reverence for all life and a deep feeling of gratitude for your own life—regardless of its circumstances.
I end with a statement from Blaise Pascal: “Know then, proud man, what a paradox you are to yourself. Humble yourself, weak reason; be silent, foolish nature; learn that man infinitely transcends man, and learn from your Master your true condition, of which you are ignorant. Hear God.”
Thursday, December 8, 2011
To Live, To Love, To Learn, To Leave a Legacy
To Live -- survival
To Love-- relationships
To Learn—growth and development
To Leave a Legacy—meaning and contribution
As you may have noticed if you have perused my biographical sketch, one of the seminal books I have read that continues to influence the direction of my adult life is Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. A follow-up book, The 8th Habit, further develops our understanding of four great human needs, especially the last one, to Leave a Legacy or as the theme of the book, to develop what Covey calls ‘Voice.’ As I grow older I find myself more and more focusing on this one. This weblog, Omnium-Gatherum-Millerum, is an outgrowth of that need in my life.
The Biblical writer of Ecclesiastes says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… a time to be born, and a time to die…a time to heal…to build up…to dance…to lose…to keep…to keep silence, and a time to speak….” I read a book once: Black Elk Speaks. It was this great Native American’s legacy.
Though some of these human activities of Ecclesiastes may require, at times, almost undivided attention, I think that with planning and effort the four great human needs can be pursued contemporaneously. This has been a conscious goal of mine for the past 2/3 of my life.
I have begun to know a woman, a wonderful 98 year-old woman named Priscilla Nesbitt who lives in an assisted living home with my mother and several other fine women. Although she is very aged she has a wonderful mind and wit. Just today, as I was reading out loud to the women in the home she said to me, “I think it would be a wonderful thing to write a book like this and have it read.” (I was reading a 1944 novel, Winter Wheat, by Mildred Walker) To me, having known her for only a few months, I look at her as a living book. She was career teacher who, I am certain, wrote indelible lessons upon the tablets of the hearts and minds of her students for over three decades. She is leaving lessons with me each time I visit.
Priscilla Nesbitt has lived a long life—she is a survivor; she regularly tells me of how she loved her students—and her cats; she continues to learn—she reads constantly; and she is leaving a legacy with me without even trying.
My mother-in-law Beth Fischer is another 95-year-old plus who is cut of the same cloth. She has no middle name, but if I had my way it would be ‘Service.’
These women are an inspiration to me and to any who know them, and for that reason alone, if for no other, their lives have value and they are making a contribution as they endure to the end.
May God continue to bless them.
To Love-- relationships
To Learn—growth and development
To Leave a Legacy—meaning and contribution
As you may have noticed if you have perused my biographical sketch, one of the seminal books I have read that continues to influence the direction of my adult life is Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. A follow-up book, The 8th Habit, further develops our understanding of four great human needs, especially the last one, to Leave a Legacy or as the theme of the book, to develop what Covey calls ‘Voice.’ As I grow older I find myself more and more focusing on this one. This weblog, Omnium-Gatherum-Millerum, is an outgrowth of that need in my life.
The Biblical writer of Ecclesiastes says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven… a time to be born, and a time to die…a time to heal…to build up…to dance…to lose…to keep…to keep silence, and a time to speak….” I read a book once: Black Elk Speaks. It was this great Native American’s legacy.
Though some of these human activities of Ecclesiastes may require, at times, almost undivided attention, I think that with planning and effort the four great human needs can be pursued contemporaneously. This has been a conscious goal of mine for the past 2/3 of my life.
I have begun to know a woman, a wonderful 98 year-old woman named Priscilla Nesbitt who lives in an assisted living home with my mother and several other fine women. Although she is very aged she has a wonderful mind and wit. Just today, as I was reading out loud to the women in the home she said to me, “I think it would be a wonderful thing to write a book like this and have it read.” (I was reading a 1944 novel, Winter Wheat, by Mildred Walker) To me, having known her for only a few months, I look at her as a living book. She was career teacher who, I am certain, wrote indelible lessons upon the tablets of the hearts and minds of her students for over three decades. She is leaving lessons with me each time I visit.
Priscilla Nesbitt has lived a long life—she is a survivor; she regularly tells me of how she loved her students—and her cats; she continues to learn—she reads constantly; and she is leaving a legacy with me without even trying.
My mother-in-law Beth Fischer is another 95-year-old plus who is cut of the same cloth. She has no middle name, but if I had my way it would be ‘Service.’
These women are an inspiration to me and to any who know them, and for that reason alone, if for no other, their lives have value and they are making a contribution as they endure to the end.
May God continue to bless them.
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