Reverse the Order

Awesome Architecture

The Burj Khalifa is twice as tall as the Empire State Building and towers above the City of Dubai. This "world's tallest building" is nothing short of an architectural masterpiece. And to think it is right on the ocean and will have to withstand all the maritime winds and foul weather is truly amazing. As one whom has dabbled in construction work, I can only begin to comprehend what went into building this monumental structure. Its really beyond me to imagine it.

With that I would say, these workers pictured below must have nerves of steel! The title of the picture was "The Last Panel". Boy! ... the pucker factor must have been high that day. Those yellow safety belts might have been to keep them from floating off into space instead of falling to the ground. And I'm surprised they didn't need supplemental oxygen up there.






















There is a restaurant on the top floor being advertised. I would think the view is quite good. The question I have is, "Could I get over a queezy stomach to enjoy a meal up there"? AND ... can I see the Space Shuttle's docking station from my table?

Wintah is back!

Yuh, 'wintah' is back! Its one of those days (weekends) in Maine when I pace around the homestead trying to keep from thinking about the fact that I am pretty-much "encarcerated" for a while; giving up the freedom to come and go as I please. The walls start closing in and the house feels 'smaller' this time of year.

I remember when -in years gone by, I longed for an unexpected day off like this. The demands of two jobs and requirements of a good deal of volunteer work kept me running steady. And there was the challenging responsibility of parenting my three children. That was in South Florida where the weather never really changes your plans, and days run into weeks with a constant and uninterrupted flow of the time line.

But all that has changed now. The kids are grown and out on their own (thank God). And now Josey & I call the extreme Northeast; "home". So I spent the morning digging out the vehicles and clearing the driveway of snow - just in case there is a pressing reason to risk my life out on the roads. Funny thing is, its so often redundant. The fact is, its supposed to snow all day and I'll probably be digging again in a matter of a few hours.

On the positive side, I can get caught-up on some of the unfinished tasks. As a pastor, "planning" for the church is a constant need - but one in which I never seem to feel content. Along with weekly sermon prep and othere regular responsibility, there is an on-going requirement to envision the future and put actions plans into place. Then there is the requirement of planning how to communicate and motivate for action. All this 'stuff' requires a tremendous amount of energy (unnoticed by most people) and a good deal of time. I suppose I could ignore most of it and still draw a paycheck. But that's not me ... and its certainly not good leadership.

So, "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" ... and PLAN! ;-)

An Old Connection

Today I got re-connected with some wonderful memories of the past.

Back in the 80's I had friends in South Florida who were native Jamaicans. On a vacation and visit to the homeland, they discovered one of the orphanages was is in tremendous need of help. Upon their return they rallied a few of us to return with them and help out.

A small group (I think 8) made a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica with this couple, and made our way in a rental van up the mountain to Blossom Gardens. What we discovered was nothing short of emotionally"devastating". Somewhere I have a VHS video of our arrival, and every time I watch the video brings me to tears.

During our stay in Jamaica, we were able to repair plumbing (fix toilets), rebuild a gate (to keep free-roaming livestock out), and install their very first electric clothes washer for all the diapers (previously washed by hand). We made about 60 children and a few staff workers very happy. People there were not resistant to our help like the typical American. They welcomed us with open arms (literally). We all cried several times during our visit. It was a life-changing experience. And I will never forget it!

A Special Visit

Yesterday I had a new friend over for lunch. This beautiful fox stopped by to dine on apples in my back yard. Since the house backs up to lots of undeveloped acreage, we often see deer passing through. But this was the first visit by a fox. And "boy" was she hungry!














After lunch I asked if she could stay a while. Mrs. Fox made herself right at home and found a comfy place against a warm rock. Though she wouldn't let me near, I'm wondering if she may have been a pet at one time. She didn't seem to mind me checking on her and taking a few pictures ... as long as I kept my distance.














She must have felt at-ease. She moved over to some taller grass and curled up for a nice long siesta. As the sun went down she could still be seen curled in a ball and snoozing away. It wasn't until late at night that I shined my flashlight and noticed she had moved on. It was one of those simple events in life that does the heart good.
"Thank you", Mrs. Fox.

The Existence of God