Commonalities of Man

This past weekend I had the good fortune of being blessed with a 3 day weekend.
On Saturday, I took advantage of the wonderful warm weather and strung my hammock up at Paradise, right next to the Flagler Museum. I was minding my own business while reading Call of the Wild and simply enjoying the day.
After about half an hour an elderly couple strolled up to eat lunch on one of the benches facing downtown West Palm Beach and the Intracoastal. We exchanged pleasantries in passing. The man commented on how it appeared that I had a nice rig set up while his wife stated that I appeared to be quite comfortable. I replied in the affirmative to both of their statements. Indeed, it is a nice rig and I was, in fact, relaxed nearly to the point of nodding off. We shot the breeze a bit longer before they had their lunch at which point I continued reading.
While lying there in the hammock, I came to the realization that both I and the elderly man likely were jealous of each other's respective position. On one hand, the elderly man sees his bygone youth and freedom; something that he will never be able to capture again in his lifetime. On the other hand, I see a couple who still enjoys being together after who knows how many years. They have a lifetime full of memories and are hopefully to the point where they are completely one with each other.
This situation also reminded me of the first verse of Old Man, a great Neil Young song from the album Harvest.
Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like
you were.
Old man, look at my life-twenty four and
there's so much more.
Live alone in a paradise that makes me think
of two.

Humbly Repentant

After being chastised to the 3rd and 4th generation by a couple of my expatriate compadres, I feel compelled to apologize for a lack of blogging activity. I know it is no excuse but I do find it difficult to find time to blog while juggling the construction of (hopefully) effective classroom management techniques along with lesson plans.
Apologies aside, I am happy to be in the midst of one of my favorite times of the year. March Madness and all the compelling basketball games that give the event its name make for hours and hours of entertainment. This is about the only time of year that I embrace the TV; an object I normally shun save for Jeopardy and The Office. Seeing teams and players work together for their individual schools and universities is inspiring in a world where athletes care more about themselves and making millions of dollars for their own personal advancement and greed.
On a lighter note, personal lessons can also be taken from this time of year. For example, two years ago I resolved to never again make perilous bets that could possibly result in tremendous embarrassment in the form of being forced to receive a belly button piercing accompanied by the modelling of a belly shirt to that day's classes. Thankfully, this bet did not come to fruition due to a little known school named George Mason. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for mid-majors and the unpredictable nature of the NCAA tournament.

Hometowns

All half dozen readers of this simple blog know of my love for the unique town of Lake Worth. Much of this affection can likely be attributed to the fact that I, like my father, was raised in Lake Worth and have spent the vast majority of my life in and around this town. However, I don't believe that this notion completely explains the reason why I feel the way I do about Lake Worth.
After spending another evening in downtown Lake Worth having dinner and looking at the artwork from the annual street painting festival, I believe that I have found the missing link of why I love Lake Worth that has eluded me up until this point.
The reason why I love Lake Worth is because it is a town that doesn't pretend. In Lake Worth what you see is what you get. They don't attempt to be something that they are not. Lake Worth, like any area, is not without its problems but it doesn't attempt to hide behind a facade of false pretense. Many of the buildings downtown have been here since the Great Migration of the 1950's. They are by no means modern and I find beauty and inspiration in that simple fact. For the most part, Lake Worth thus far has been able to avoid what I feel has been a plague upon South Florida: the urge to get rid of everything that reminds us of the past in the pursuit of wealth and luxury through the building of new high rise condominium buildings.
I also believe that Lake Worth provides us, as Christians, an example to follow with fervor and without hesitation. Instead of constantly looking forward and worrying about what will come next in our lives, we should be content with who we are and where we are in life. I am in no means discouraging a person from improving oneself but am instead emphasizing the need to realize that the means to improve oneself oftentimes comes from the example and witness of people from the past. Instead of disregarding all that preceded our generation in the name of progress we need to come to the realization that we are more likely to be blessed with progress and growth if we will simply be open-minded and follow the examples of our predecessors and forbears, all of whom struggled with the same issues and desires that we still face today.
I am continually grateful for the lessons that I have learned in Lake Worth, in my opinion one of the greatest places to have had the opportunity to spend my childhood, adolescence and now adulthood. I simply hope that these types of lessons and experiences continue during the time that Providence allows me to stay in this wondrous town.

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder

One of my favorite albums of all time is My Mother's Hymn Book by Johnny Cash. Cash said toward the end of his life that, of the dozens of albums he has made, this one was his favorite. My Mother's Hymn Book has been a source of solace and encouragement for me ever since I purchased it a few years ago. All the songs on it are ones that he sang with his family as a boy growing up in the cotton field of Arkansas. These songs largely deal with the rewards that await in heaven.
Another reason I love this album, besides being a source of comfort, is that it reminds me of a Men's Quartet that would always sing those old hymns in the church that I grew up in. I can't say that I really enjoyed going to church during my formative years (I usually spent that time reading a book that I toted along) but my ears always perked up whenever these four men walked up into the choir loft to share their talents with the congregation. However, the biggest treat of all was when one particular member of the quartet would fly solo with the accompaniment of his trusty accordion. I have yet to meet another person who plays the accordion but this fella actually made it look like a cool instrument. He also got away with dance moves that would have been blaspemous in the CRC if exhibited by someone belonging to a younger generation.
As I sit and write this, the man in the above paragraph is lying in a hospital bed surrounded by family members who are awaiting the inevitable: the passing of a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. This man has lived a good, long life and has undoubtedly been a source of inspiration to all those who have had the good fortune of being in his company. He has always been someone I've looked up to and aspired to be like and the songs that he always sang for the congregation have added meaning at this point. The promises that this man sang about are now close at hand. It is understandably a time of mourning for his kin and for everyone else who knew him but the assurance that comes with the knowledge of the saving grace of Christ as well as the assurance of being reunited in heaven is something to be grateful for.
"And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known"

Gene Francis and Gated Communities

Here's an excerpt from the road trip journal that Alan and I fastidiously kept:

We're on the road once again heading to Charleston, SC. The past two days have been spent at the home of Gene Earl Francis III in Winston-Salem, NC, a town built nearly entirely on the fortunes that tobacco has created. It was great to spend time with Gene, the original "rock star" of our college experience. We had the good fortune of being treated to a private concert during which Gene showcased some new songs as well as a couple golden oldies, if you will.
It's difficult to put into words all that Gene meant to us during college and all that he means to us still. He befriended us and hung out with us when he could have chosen to spend time with literally any student at PBA. He just had a personality that drew people to himself. Gene still possesses this personality trait as evidenced by his interactions with people and the willingness they have to help him in any applicable way whether that be getting him a beautiful, maplenecked guitar or loaning him a maroon Volkswagen Jetta when his car broke down. All in all, spending time with Gene while listening to music has been among the most memorable and enjoyable experiences of the trip thus far.
The North Carolina scenery has also been the most enjoyable on the trip to this point. The rolling mountains complete with fall colors have been a showcase of God's gorgeous creation. I simply hope that North Carolina does not follow the path that Florida has taken especially given the fact that North Carolina's population has been growing rapidly just as Florida's did during the last 50 or so years.
By this statement, I mean that hopefully the nature God created for us to enjoy and which initially draws humanity to a place will be preserved and protected and not cut down and paved over in the name of "progress" as has unfortunately been the case in Florida.
This nature serves to bring us closer to the heart of God in a way that no gated community or condominium building can match regardless of whatever name is chosen to grace the rock placed out front with big, capital letters on it: a name that likely will describe the place that has just been destroyed rather than the horde of cookie cutter houses that have just been constructed.

Apathetically Unemployed

One of my high school English teachers said that there are times in life when the stars align and you are at peace with yourself, with God, with all that is encompassed in this earthly life. These instances have become more infrequent following my graduation from college a year and a half ago. However, I feel there is cause for optimism at this present time. This is likely due to the fact that I am experiencing a similar type of freedom that was taken for granted during those college years.
I have recently quit my job at an incredibly convenient time as it has allowed me to embark on a road trip, one of life's greatest joys. I will be driving cross country with my boyhood, college and lifelong pal, Alan Kaiser. I'm looking forward to countless hours of random likely inappropriate conversations as well as listening to a healthy amount of Ryan Adams music. I relish the opportunity to see friends and family and nurture relationships that too often are not given the necessary importance and respect especially since the aforementioned days of college have passed, taking with it the opportunity and privilege to see close friends on a daily basis.
Anyway, the point that I am attempting to make in this rambling, somewhat incoherent inaugural blog is that opportunities to experience life, to go out and grab it by the horns and do something that much of our American society would deem irresponsible need to be exercised whenever possible. I am thankful that Providence has allowed me to have an one of these opportunities that reinforces the belief I possess that life is about living and experiencing different places and things as opposed to the idea that I need to get ahead and save money so I can also one day settle down and possess my piece of the American dream. Not that there is anything in the least bit wrong with the American dream, it's just that I don't feel that I am quite ready to be tied down by all that goes along with the dream. We live in the land of the free and I am incredibly grateful for my country but I feel that what much of our society places an emphasis on serves to take freedom away rather than endow it.