Unbroken

As part of his senior leadership class last year, my son Ryan had to read a book. He gave the book to me and told me it would be worth my time to read. He was right. It took 7 years for the author Laura Hillenbrand to write it. Hillenbrand also wrote another best-seller called Sea Biscuit. The name of the book is “Unbroken”. The movie – also called Unbroken – will be released next month. It chronicles the life of an American hero named Louis Zamperini.

Louie was an Olympic athlete and WWII veteran. His story is about survival, resilience, and redemption. It is unlike anything you’ll probably ever see. But ultimately, it’s about his commitment to faith and his uncanny ability to forgive those who tortured him and tried to take away his dignity.

Back in 1998, the Winter Olympics took place in Nagano, Japan. CBS ran this story about the life of Zamperini. This inspirational video was shown at our last PX90 meeting, followed by some great discussion about everyday challenges we face as men and how we maintain our own dignity. I hope you have the time to watch it and appreciate the blessings in your life as you prepare for Thanksgiving. Like my son said to me when he handed me the book, “it will be worth your time”.

May God continue to bless you and your families. Happy Thanksgiving! Here is the incredible life story of Louie Zamperini:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEGL-wyz1yk

A Walk ...

Thoughts … slowly … of thanksgiving …

Fiery sun … invitation through forest … she’s sleeping … dreaming ...

         Stay in toasty bed … wander in nature’s cold … wonder?

Doc for the stretches relieving pain from my lower back.
Home … heat … cold … outdoors
                     cotton seed …  farmers … hoodie
                                                legs … independence … dependence … journey
                                fall red, orange, yellow and eyes to see them
A stranger … “good morning” … it is.
                                                constant ringing in my ears … I need healing … others need it more.
Fresh air … birds singing
                                13 notes … music … infinite compositions.
My daughter … students …  all children …
                                their curiosity … my curiosity.
                                                                                                we live.  we learn.  we play … fully alive?
26 letters … words … infinite stories

Quiet whispers … coincidence?

Wild beauty … rare … everywhere … worth protecting

Signs … 3 coon kits hug a sycamore staring … I pause, stare back

                                                          Stream trickles … water cycles from above … fresh, timeless, infinite
Family … friends … community … family … infinite
                                      Creation infinite … one God, one Spirit breaths in us all

love … conditional … Unconditional … Love

Cell phones … quantum mechanics … 2 bits … infinite information

Goodness … infinite

Deer scrounging acorns … homeless scrounging scraps

Love one richly … lose them … love’s infinite, timeless … loss a short time

laughter … compassion … hope …
                                fear … courage … perseverance
                                                touch … sensation … feelings …
                                                                                                tears … loss … joy
Wood pecker at eyelevel
                                roar above … 292 at 25000 ft … flight … infinite space
                                                Ripening of life and the wisdom to live and share it … memories
Geocache –GPS … 2 bits … names in order who pass this way
Peace - chaos choice … life-death choice

kingdom … Kingdom … both are here.  Which do I build?

Mystery … Paradox

Health … disease … cure … no cure
                tough ticket home
                                 destination known to One … unknown to all.
DNA … cells … complexity … simplicity
Racked bike … journeys to come …
                                                                               past … present … future.
Breakfast aroma … comfort … a new day ahead.

                                                                                                                        Morning sun … evening darkness

Thanks, God!

See January post for upcoming Thanksgiving event coming soon.

But The Snakes are Still Here!

By Fred Vilbig

In the book of Numbers, there is what I think is a strange story about what God did to the Israelites when they were in the desert. They had been eating manna and quail for quite some time. I would imagine that eating the same thing day after day would get old. It probably lost its taste and became unappetizing.

So the Israelites complained against God. In response, the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them. Many Israelites were bitten and died. The people then realized their mistake and repented. They asked Moses to pray to God for them. “Pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” Numbers 21:7.

Moses prayed, and God answered their prayer, but not in the way they had hoped. Instead, God told Moses to sculpt a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Whenever anyone was bitten by a snake, if they would just look at the bronze serpent, they would be healed. Numbers 21:8-9.

This just strikes me as strange. God did not take the snakes away like the Israelites had asked. He did not make the snakes non-poisonous. He did not stop the snakes from biting the Israelites.

He could have done any of those things, but He didn’t. He just gave them a cure.

Meet me in St. Louie!

I moved to St. Louis in 1972 as a one year old when my dad was transferred from Chicago. I grew up in St. Louis, went away to school, and came back to raise my family. However, it isn’t until now that I really appreciate how great our town is. If you look on the Chamber of Commerce or the Visitor Commission’s website, you will see all of these great bullet points about our city. It showcases the low cost of housing or the growing job market in healthcare, sciences and technologies. They mention how great our Zoo is, the cultural diversity, rich history, and thriving restaurant scene. We have professional football, hockey, and baseball teams. It’s a great place to live. But as I get older, the things I appreciate about the Lou is less about the Arch, and more about something else.

The people.