Two Teenagers…

Let me share about two teenagers, both in the 9^th grade.

The first guy loves sports…you name it, he plays it.  Now it’s football and he’s a QB for his high school team.  I saw two clips of his touchdown passes.  Then, it will be basketball, then baseball and a flurry of golfing…he loves it and is getting better.

The second guy has been diagnosed with a heart problem.  One of his aortic valves is not doing well.  Not unlike his father, a heart valve surgery will most likely be necessary in the next few years.  Because of his health challenges, his world cannot include sports.  He loves studies, is devoted to becoming a very good cellist…and knows how to say thank you and, “Can I help with anything?”  And.  He’s learning chess to keep his mind keen.

So.  Two boys.

Truth transparent, which you’ve probably already figured out, Diane and I know them pretty well….two of our grandsons.

Our fervent hope is they do not take life for granted…and appreciate what they can do to grow…whether it’s the goal line or learning Pachelbel’s Canon D.

In any case, to love them fully, no matter their strengths and weaknesses is what life’s call is…hopefully with God’s presence we can always answer that call!

Grace, Mercy and Peace,

Mark.

Bring On The Day…

Two pictures tell such an important story this day, August 3, 2023.  The first, thanks to David Davis on Facebook, is a tortoise about to enter its future…the vast ocean, the clouds and blue sky.  Taking on the day.  The second, a left-handed pitcher [can identify with pitching with the left arm, but was blessed to have my right hand.]  Jim Abbott had no right hand…yet, that didn’t stop him from being an excellent major league pitcher.

So…for each of us…whether we live at the pace of a tortoise or think of some personal handicaps…may it be that we take on the day…this very day.  Giving our fullest, so mediocrity never wins!  A deal?

Jim Abbott is one of the most remarkable stories in baseball history. Because he was born without a right hand, his parents encouraged him to play soccer as a kid. But he loved baseball.

And despite his disability, he became a terrific baseball player.

As a senior at Central High School in Flint, MI, he won 10 games on the mound and played first base and outfield on the days he wasn’t pitching — hitting .427 with seven home runs. That led to the opportunity to continue his career at the University of Michigan.

There, Abbott received the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur player in the country in 1987, beating out Ken Griffey Jr. and Robin Ventura. After compiling a 26-8 record at Michigan, Abbott was selected in the first round of the 1988 MLB Draft by the California Angels.

Without any minor-league seasoning, he landed in the Angels’ starting rotation in 1989, and then enjoyed his finest season as a big leaguer in 1991 when he went 18-11 with a 2.89 ERA in 34 starts for California and finished third in balloting for the Cy Young Award behind Boston’s Roger Clemens and Minnesota’s Scott Erickson.

Abbott tossed a no-hitter as a member of the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 4, 1993 — against a potent Cleveland Indians’ lineup that included Kenny Lofton, Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Sandy Alomar Jr.

Abbott once described his incredible journey by saying: “I truly believe that difficult times and disappointments can push us to find abilities and strengths that we wouldn’t know existed without the experience of struggles.”

A Taste Of Heaven…

So much MORE than pictures…at least echoed in the pulse of my heart.  Life happens every day…for each of us.  On a very personal note, though, knowing that August is on its way, my morning is nowhere near mourning…

These pictures tell so much that my heart breaks out in song.  It is fishing with Zorba on the Columbia River out of Astoria, Oregon.  I’ll spend two days…in a sled boat exactly like the one showed.  When we begin, just after daybreak, looking East will be the scene…new day, rising sun, flowing river.  Yes, because it brings life, there will be clouds.  But, when fishing, the clouds never win my heart.  Nope, just BEING wins.  The hum of the motor never lacks inspiration.  And, when the reel sings, WOW.

It’s a joy to behold.  May it be, for each of you, your “fishing mode,” whatever that is, is neither lost nor forgotten…ever…MAY THAT BE.

YES!

Today Matters…

 “Effort never takes a day off,” he said. [Scott Rolen]

“There will always be fires in life, but those fires may ignite the next season of your life,” he said.  [Fred McGriff]

Those quotes are more than keepable…they are livable and treasured.  From yesterday’s Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremony when Fred McGriff and Scott Nolen were honored.

In seeing that, certainly a time remembered came for me at Zion Congregational Church, Portland, Oregon, when it was Youth Sunday…and as a 15-year-old, evidently I qualified.  Was asked to deliver the sermon.  In those days there were two sermons…English and German.  In the latter I only knew Guten Tag and Danke, so that was it.

In the longer sermon…a few minutes but not a cure for insomnia, I remember picking out a Bible quote from Philippians, in which Paul said something about “forgetting what lies behind and pushing forward to what lies ahead.”  [Close but not accurate.]  Then came the quote that hopefully has not been lost…from Billy Southworth’s Ten Commandments of Baseball.”  [Hey, by then I knew how to throw a baseball 60’6”:  If what you’ve done yesterday looks big to you, then you haven’t done much today.

Sure, flaws in that, because even though now more than 60 years tagged on to that Sunday morning, I try to remember some things.  But, deeper, at least for me, is the hope each new day is more than a gift of God—an initial first declaration.  I start there.  But, more.  May this be a day when I can experience hope in reality…no matter how small or tiny others may behold it.  For, yes, others are important.  But, the measure of life starts and is sustained in the heart…to not have today be less than a full effort and have ithe journey at least be a light to take those next steps.

Okay, on…for each of us.

Zumwohl!  [Needed to tag in another German affirmation, my full heritage, for that, too, measures in a hopeful way…]

Do I Fit In?…

“I didn’t talk until I was 4.  I am blind and autistic.  I have a lot of dreams…want to build a school for kids who are naturally curious at.”

Oh, my.  Her name is Lavender.  She is 27, adopted.  Her parents are men.

As I heard her sing…two words came to mind: FORM and CONTENT.

Because those are the primary factors in who we are and how we face life and life faces us.

The words of the song are compelling, focused upon Who I am and Do I fit in?

Pondered that?

As Lavender sang, so much darted in and out of me.  Maybe the same for you.

For each of us is to fill our FORM with CONTENT.

And, maybe.

We wonder who we are and do we fit in?

It is evident Lavender has so much to give.  Which, in large part is how MUCH she has received, not letting blindness and autism control her.

I now share…maybe you saw AGT originally.  More, though, I hope it impacts you personally, as you sing your song of living…to know…you matter!  Each of us does.  Yes.

(20+) Watch | Facebook

The Trouble Tree..

From a recent Facebook:

“I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one-ton truck refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier. ‘Oh, that’s my trouble tree,’ he replied ‘I know I can’t help having troubles on the job, but one thing’s for sure, those troubles don’t belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again.’ ‘Funny thing is,’ he smiled,’ when I come out in the morning to pick ’em up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before. THIS ONE IS WORTH SENDING ON. Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance. We all need a Tree!”

How about you?  Do you have a Trouble Tree?

Answering my own question, sitting in front of me on my home office shelf is my Butter Cube.  It brings me solace and shalom [the inner peace of the soul].

The narrative, shortened from previous notes:  More than 50 years ago youth ministry combined joy and challenge.  In one group Blake had his problems.  He shared with us his soapbox entry, had built it himself.  We stood and cheered as he got in his masterpiece at the starting line.  Off he went, for a bit.  A wheel broke loose, Blake meeting the blackberry patch unceremoniously.  Less than a year later, a devastating diagnosis, testicular cancer…at the age of 14.  A year later in a field trip he asked for a cube of butter from the church kitchen.  Each of the 4 days.  Became a Butter Carver!  On the bus home asked for the microphone.  Driver gave it to him, during which Blake made it clear, “I am a member of the Union of Butter Carvers.  We do not appreciate your not appreciating our project.”

Amazing…the bus erupted in applause.

Two years later I went to a new church.  Getting ready to leave, Blake drove up in his new car.  Handed me a package…I opened it.  A Cube of Butter…this very gift!  He then said, “Thanks for not giving up on me…you and our group made a difference.”

Wow!  I have “those days” when I’m not sure I can manage the troubles…

So, for one there’s a Trouble Branch.  For yours truly a cube of butter.

How about you?

Gather Up…

I shall

Gather up

All the lost souls

That wander this earth

All the ones that are alone

All the ones that are broken

All the ones that never really fitted in

I shall gather them all up

And together we shall find our home

“Gather up” A Poem written by Athey Thompson

Taken from A Little Book Of Poetry

By Athey Thompson

The poem and picture struck home this morning.  For in it I am hearing these needs:

Have understanding stronger than judgment.

Have gratitude be a manner of living.

Be aware of the needs of others and respond with any help request.

Have generosity and not greed pattern your living.

Keep ratio of two ears and one mouth for communicating.

Dealing With Negative Energy…

Negative Energy…that was the Simon question to Faith before she sang for Britain’s Got Talent program.

She nodded, “Yeah, some people send me negative energy.  I deal with it because my parents are always positive; they’ll never give up on me.”

Oh, my, did I ever identify with that.  Blessed by my parents, Hank and Es Miller…always there.  And, in fact, I know they are with me this day, about to start a new birth month.  It is a presence no matter the circumstance.

Now I realize, I am not always the object of negative energy.  I probably convey it.  Don’t go for denial here.  Simply realize there are times when I should have thought more before the spoken word.

In any account, literally, because so many of you appreciated yesterday’s blog, especially the voice of an angel, I wanted to share this.

In fact, I save it and is my go-to-moment, when I need one.

So, to not share in this blog about coping with negative energy is not possible…being a positive energy presence.  Put those hands together…yes!  Faith is about to arrive:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Britain%27s+Got+Talent+Rolling+on+the+river+by+faith&docid=603508463502378824&mid=C2334F19718FD3275100C2334F19718FD3275100&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

The Weary World Rejoices…

Today we say good-bye to June.  Tomorrow, in calendared sequence, July arrives.  That’s the calendar.

With it the ingredients of life and living…for you and for me.  For everyone, no matter venue or circumstance.

For a few moments this morning I became, for want of a better word, quagmired.  Has to do with final session of our Supreme Court.

Yes, I know…full agreement on these decisions are not agreed upon by all of us.  My own posturing would be protesting when it comes to loan payment decision, affirmative actions decision, freedom with regard to sexual orientation decision.

Easy.  Maybe too easy, to push a self-question, What do I do about this?

That question had rambling and rumbling responses.  For a while.

Then. my response became deeper…very deep…into the self.  To realize my birthday month will have 11 more months to the next one.  A response that said I’m okay and my calling to be a person of caring will NOT have lessened value and purpose.

How did I find that deeper inner self for primacy and resolution?  I just happened when coursing through Facebook, to listen to a Britain’s Got Talent 13 year-old name Malakai.  I didn’t just listen.  I found myself so very inspired…the voice of an angel.

Maybe you saw this.  If so, please listen again.

And, may it be…that for each of you…no matter the rough edges of each of our experiences, there can be that very holy moment when, as is sung, “The Weary World Rejoices.”  Within the self.  Within the self.

I share that hope with each of you…

ANGELIC Voice Brings Judges TO TEARS and Wins the GOLDEN BUZZER on Britain’s Got Talent! – YouTube

Aled Jones and 12-year-old treble Malakai M Bayoh sing stunning ‘O Holy Night’ duet | Classic FM – YouTube

On Your Side…

A moment focusing on best values.  That phrase came to me when I saw the video clip this morning, taken at the conclusion of LSU’s victory in the College World Series.  The catcher for the Tigers broke his ankle.  The LSU team rushed to the pitcher’s mound to celebrate their victory.  Paul Skenes, who’s been the best #1 draft choice, an ace pitcher for LSU, put his wounded catcher on his shoulder to carry him to the pitcher’s mound.

Ah, what a moment.  And in that blink I was suddenly standing on the pitcher’s mound at Alberta Park, April of 1955, about to twirl my first pitch for my Jefferson baseball team.  I was a pure definition of anxiety.  The umpire indicated it was time for my first pitch.  Before that our third baseman called time out.  He came over, tapped me on the butt, and said, “Hey, kid, we believe in you…give ‘em your best.”

How could I not?  Because our third baseman was a senior, Pete Ward, who went on to play for the Chicago White Sox and then be a New York Yankees coach. 

Sure, this was well before his achievements, but, hey, that moment, because in a very real manner of experience, Pete put me on his shoulders.

Awe.  Worth sharing.

More important, think of those who’ve put you on his or her shoulders…reclaim the moment…and if you can, even like Pete now playing third base in heaven, give them thanks.  Because you are the better for it.

Got it?

Look: Milazzo gets Paul Skenes piggyback ride to LSU dogpile (audacy.com)