dual personalities

November 21, 2024

That due sense of all thy mercies

by chuckofish

So I am picking up a new car tomorrow–a Mini Countryman in British racing green. My Mini Cooper is 10 years old (!) and I love it and it is perfect, but I need a bigger car for those highway trips to Mahomet. (The OM does not like switching cars. I get it.) Anyway, I am passing old Giles to DN who will use it to drive to work, thus freeing their Subaru to be used by daughter #2. Katie says, You mean we can go anywhere we want anytime we want?! 🤯 Yes, dear, exactly.

The learning curve on this 2025 model will be challenging. My old Mini has few bells and whistles–no rear few camera, etc. So pray for me.

In other news, the boy and daughter #3 bought a house! They will be able to move in before Christmas. We are very excited for them!

And a week from today is Thanksgiving. Daughter #2 and DN and the prairie girls will drive down on Wednesday. DN is cooking! And it is the boy’s birthday!

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

–BCP, 1928

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November 20, 2024

Casual simplicity

by chuckofish

Yesterday was a perfect fall day and a lovely one wherein to drive down to the city to pick up some “stuff” I won at last week’s auction. Forest Park was beautiful, sparkling in the sunshine. I drove by my old university and sighed contentedly that I no longer work there.

How happy is the little stone
That rambles in the road alone,
And doesn’t care about careers,
And exigencies never fears;
Whose coat of elemental brown
A passing universe put on;
And independent as the sun,
Associates or glows alone,
Fulfilling absolute decree
In casual simplicity.

–Emily Dickinson

I had lunch with a friend and then later in the afternoon the boy and the bud came over while Lottie went to her dance class. We caught up on world events.

Then I had a Historical Society board meeting after dinner–quelle full day! Thankfully such days are not the rule.

And, look, the last rhododendron!

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November 19, 2024

“An’ weary winter comin fast”*

by chuckofish

Yesterday was such a dark, gloomy, rainy November day! Lots of leaves came down. Being Monday, I had a lot to do. C’est la vie. I was happy to see that the Prairie Girls were using their time to good advantage.

Oh Mylanta, cuteness overload.

Today we remember President Abraham Lincoln, who gave the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the military cemetery at Gettysburg, PA on this day in 1863. Let’s just take a few minutes and read it:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Of course, not everyone at the time thought that it was a great speech. The Democrat-leaning Chicago Times observed, “The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly, flat and dishwatery utterances of the man who has to be pointed out to intelligent foreigners as the President of the United States.” Yes, times have not changed. Especially within the ranks of our so-called intellectual elites.

*Robert Burns, “To a Mouse”

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November 18, 2024

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!*

by chuckofish

As you know I am a creature of routine and this weekend I was a little off-kilter–mostly I blame Mr. Smith because he got his shampoo on Saturday rather than Friday. I managed to do all the same things, but slightly out of order. I guess it’s good to shake things up even a tad.

On Sunday I had my last Sunday School class and, of course, there were nine children–nearly double our usual number. Lottie was in fine spirits–volunteering for everything–and she read Acts 12: 12-15. She has no fear. I was impressed with her reading ability! We learned an important lesson on the power and necessity of prayer. I asked her if she thought anyone prayed for her. Well, I said, I pray for her every day! That angels watch over her and protect her. Insert mind blown emoji. 🤯

We had a good sermon on Hebrews 6:13-20 and the unchangeable-ness of God and we sang good hymns. I felt, as usual, the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.

Meanwhile the prairie girls worked in their yard…

As the Madcaps say, “Here’s to amazing days ahead.”

Have a great week!

*Robert Robinson, 1758–I love this rendition:

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November 15, 2024

So many multitudes.

by chuckofish

Well, happy Friday, friends. Not to have Gretchen Weiner vibes, but just like last week, I have been so busy! This week has been exhausting. My job keeps me busy at work (how rude) and I have exciting things to do at night like giving blood, lowering the median age at historical society meetings and bible study.

Other exciting activities this week included getting stuck in rain-related traffic on Highway 40 while being late for a church dinner.

You know, I’ve changed in many ways over the past several years. One of them is that I no longer find internet jokes like this ridiculous.

Sometimes, I go to the park and not only do I bring my dog, I pose and make my sister take our picture on a bridge while he’s wearing a bandana.

I find endless amusement in my dog and his antics. I assume everyone else does, as well.

This Fall, I became a person with seasonal bows on my door!

I made this one, but I bought a fancy one for December! Get excited for that update. Also a Muppet Christmas Carol meme is always going to make me laugh.

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November 14, 2024

A sheep of thine own fold, a lamb of thine own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming

by chuckofish

A couple of days ago I received a letter from a man in California writing to tell me his father had died. Bob was one of my former students at my flyover university institute. After a successful career at IBM, he had diligently pursued his hobby of photography and he was, among other things, our unofficial photographer, taking pictures at all events. When he moved to California with his wife in 2010, we had a luncheon for him at our faculty club and he was so touched that we had honored him that way. He was a truly humble man, a man who “went down to his house justified” for sure.

I am blessed to have known quite a few “Bobs” in my life and in my career. They believe(d) in duty, honor, supporting their family and their country, volunteering their time and talent. They were curious lifelong leaners. I remember once running into Bob and his wife on a Saturday trip to WalMart and they were excited because they had worked all morning in the yard and were going to reward themselves with lunch at Steak ‘n Shake. Small pleasures that are earned are best!

I can picture Bob giving his son a list of people to contact after he died to let them know he had passed away. He was organized like that and serious. He had hand addressed the envelope himself. He wanted us to know he hadn’t forgotten us. Nor, hopefully, we him.

Into paradise may the angels lead thee; and at thy coming may the martyrs receive thee, and bring thee into the holy city Jerusalem.

(The painting is by William Mellor, 1851-1931.)

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November 13, 2024

To live in the mercy of God*

by chuckofish

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

I quote this particular scripture a lot on this blog, because it is one of my favorites. I also think about God’s mercy a lot and I pray (continually) for Him to have mercy on me a sinner.

This is a helpful article about God’s mercy and 10 key Bible verses.

And here is Dane Ortlund on God being rich in mercy. “Nowhere else in the Bible is God described as rich in anything. The only thing he is called rich in is mercy. What does this mean? It means that God is something other than what we naturally believe him to be. It means the Christian life is a lifelong shedding of our small thoughts on the mercy of God. God’s mercy is bigger than we realize.”

In other news, the Archbishop of Canterbury resigned, after a report found the Church of England covered up sexual abuse by a barrister. As Anne says, “[T]his sort of thing is a tragic exposure of the hubristic and hypocritical rot of the sexual revolution, which is coming to a cataclysmic conclusion. Justin Welby has tried to play the game out of both sides of his mouth, to be “evangelical” and yet “joyfully” flirt with the LGBT agenda, letting it devour and destroy a church already in decline. Guess what, you can’t do that. Sexual Immorality is a sin, full stop.” Oy vey.

Have a good day!

*A poem by Denise Levertov. Read it here.

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November 12, 2024

“Eternal Father, strong to save, Give us courage and make us brave”*

by chuckofish

As you know Veterans Day was yesterday and as usual I gave it some thought. I think a lot of Boomers like myself are fascinated with WWII because we grew up with so many WWII veterans–fathers and grandfathers–ordinary men who did extraordinary things.

So I was doing some research about a local man who became an “Ace in a day” on August 7, 1942 at Guadalcanal. Courtney Shands was awarded the Navy Cross for “extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron SEVENTY-ONE (VF-71), attached to the U.S.S. WASP (CV-7), in action against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 7 August 1942. Leading his fighter squadron in the initial air assault on Japanese positions on the Solomon Islands, Lieutenant Commander Shands’ flight destroyed seven enemy fighters and 15 patrol planes. This victory eliminated all local air opposition in the area, thus greatly contributing to the successful occupation of the islands by American ground forces. Lieutenant Commander Shands personally shot down four Japanese fighters and two patrol planes. His outstanding courage, daring airmanship and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

A month later in September 1942 Shands was commander of the USS Wasp’s air group when the aircraft carrier was torpedoed and sank in shark-infested waters. The descriptions of this disaster are blood-curdling. At one point Shands was “floating in the water in his “Mae West” life preserver and holding on to an injured man when he saw Lieutenant Ray Conklin helping a wounded sailor down one of the lines and into the ocean. While towing a wounded man toward one of the life crafts, Shands was amazed that Conklin towed his casualty past him “on the double.” The reason for Conklin’s Olympic speed? A shark was following him.”

Courtney Shands from Kirkwood, MO (KHS class of 1923) went on to become a Rear Admiral in the USN.

Lest we forget.

And what do they fight for? This:

*John H. Eastwood, WWII Army Air Corps Chaplain

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November 11, 2024

The sure and steady anchor

by chuckofish

November is here–already the 11th!

It rained all day on Saturday and after my DAR meeting in the morning I hunkered down at home. I watched Rio Bravo (1959) which was on TCM in the afternoon and then watched The Italian Job (2003) in the evening. Both good choices.

On Sunday I got up and went to church and enjoyed a 40-minute sermon on Hebrews 6:4-12, a difficult passage to be sure. Our new pastor does not mess around and I am continually impressed with this 30-year old who does not shy away from hard ideas. We also welcomed new members and had an adult (!) baptism.

In Sunday School our lesson was Acts 10 wherein Peter learns that the Good News about Jesus is for all people, Jews and Gentiles alike. But as I listened to the woman who leads the big group, I was reminded of my own Sunday School days back in my old Episcopal church and how really awful my friends and I were. I recall that we made one teacher cry and that during her melt-down she harangued the class, especially the girls who went to a certain private school (mine), for our beastly behavior. We were too cool for Sunday School and laughed and giggled at everything. I am horrified now to contemplate it and am very thankful that my current charges would never act that way. They take it all (i.e. their salvation) pretty seriously, as well they should.

Well, I guess there is hope for all of us miserable offenders, even us very slow maturing types.

I went over to daughter #1’s house on Sunday afternoon and Mr. Smith went full terrier on one of her slippers…

(Yes, those are slipper parts all over the carpet.)

And the Christmas cactus is blooming–wow!

Happy Veterans Day!

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November 8, 2024

A quick post and a cute pic.

by chuckofish

Happy Friday, friends. We made it! We made it through a week that I think most of the country has been dreading for awhile. And now it is over, it is the weekend and happy hour will commence at 4 p.m.

With Veterans’ Day on Monday, please consider sponsoring a wreath to be placed on a veteran’s grave by using this link: Wreaths Across America–Cornelia Greene.

Relax! Be grateful to be an American! And thank the Lord for another day!

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