March Madness
UNC is doing well in the playoffs, so am keeping fingers crossed that they continue to win. So sorry that Duke fell by the wayside (not really!). Have gotten on bike only twice since Christmas. Either is has been too cold or on the warmer days I have had a hundred other pressing things to do. After today I have only 54 working days left until retirement!
Am spending inordinate amount of time on Marion County Library building project. Had four obligations two Thursdays ago in Marion and Mullins concerning the fund-raising and politics of the three projects and the $7 million we must find somehow. Met with Marion Mayor Gerald and acting city manager Alan Ammons; then with capital campaign finance committee and then with county manager Tim Harper and then that evening with Mullins City Council and Mayor McDonald. In between had a school district one strategic planning and accountability committee meeting. Long day! Then drove 120 miles to Columbia and left next morning for 400 mile trip to Birmingham, AL for the weekend.
Have also spent time in Columbia at SCLA and PASCAL meets. While whelmed over by such, still find these meetings to be useful and invigorating. Also get to see old friends there.
There are some plans being laid for a retirement celebration, but I would prefer a quiet, almost unnoticed exit. Any limelight will be embarrassing. After 33 years, one needs to just fade into the sunset.
Stevenson reunion is this Saturday March 29 at Lebanon Presbyterian Church. Should see bunches of kinfolks then. Food is always better than words can describe. And plenty of it. Should be fasting right now in preparation.
Watched an episode of "Law and Order" last night that portrayed crime committed by mercenary from Iraq war. Idea that independent contractors are using "lite torture" on suspected enemies is terrifying in itself. Program certainly placed such independent contractors in a bad light. Scary. I do feel that some of our more important freedoms are being eroded if not violated by super-fanatics. I know I am naive, but I cannot justify such treatment of other humans and continue to claim to be Christian. The program really opened my eyes to a part of the war that I do not support. Yes, I support our troops. It's just our political leaders that scare me with their calous disregard of human rights.
Did get to read some of latest issue of Christian Century, and that always helps reframe my religious beliefs, especially if I tend to drift away from a progressive stance, which is how I understand Christ, his life, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. "What would Jesus do?" remains a hard question in so many of life's challenges. And maybe not what would he do, but can I do what I believe is right. Anybody that claims that Christianity is easy immediately loses my attention and respect. Too many places in the New Testament say just the converse.
Happy Easter, and Amen. And Shalom. And Praise Allah.
Am spending inordinate amount of time on Marion County Library building project. Had four obligations two Thursdays ago in Marion and Mullins concerning the fund-raising and politics of the three projects and the $7 million we must find somehow. Met with Marion Mayor Gerald and acting city manager Alan Ammons; then with capital campaign finance committee and then with county manager Tim Harper and then that evening with Mullins City Council and Mayor McDonald. In between had a school district one strategic planning and accountability committee meeting. Long day! Then drove 120 miles to Columbia and left next morning for 400 mile trip to Birmingham, AL for the weekend.
Have also spent time in Columbia at SCLA and PASCAL meets. While whelmed over by such, still find these meetings to be useful and invigorating. Also get to see old friends there.
There are some plans being laid for a retirement celebration, but I would prefer a quiet, almost unnoticed exit. Any limelight will be embarrassing. After 33 years, one needs to just fade into the sunset.
Stevenson reunion is this Saturday March 29 at Lebanon Presbyterian Church. Should see bunches of kinfolks then. Food is always better than words can describe. And plenty of it. Should be fasting right now in preparation.
Watched an episode of "Law and Order" last night that portrayed crime committed by mercenary from Iraq war. Idea that independent contractors are using "lite torture" on suspected enemies is terrifying in itself. Program certainly placed such independent contractors in a bad light. Scary. I do feel that some of our more important freedoms are being eroded if not violated by super-fanatics. I know I am naive, but I cannot justify such treatment of other humans and continue to claim to be Christian. The program really opened my eyes to a part of the war that I do not support. Yes, I support our troops. It's just our political leaders that scare me with their calous disregard of human rights.
Did get to read some of latest issue of Christian Century, and that always helps reframe my religious beliefs, especially if I tend to drift away from a progressive stance, which is how I understand Christ, his life, his ministry, his death, and his resurrection. "What would Jesus do?" remains a hard question in so many of life's challenges. And maybe not what would he do, but can I do what I believe is right. Anybody that claims that Christianity is easy immediately loses my attention and respect. Too many places in the New Testament say just the converse.
Happy Easter, and Amen. And Shalom. And Praise Allah.
posted by Paul Dove at 1:26 PM
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