An average runner at best, I often find my most perceptive thoughts occur during the activity. If I could capture those fleeting thoughts I might could rule the world, or at least my own small corner! I run to stay in shape and keep the heart healthy but I also enjoy being outdoors and hearing the birds, the sound of the wind in the trees, and even the occasional car.
But I have become concerned with the trash left at the park. Noticing brand new trash cans strategically placed around the park, why do people not use them? It is very difficult for me to run by trash on the ground and not pick it up. So I have started doing that more often in spite of having to stop in order to pick up the trash. There really is no excuse for throwing cups, napkins, paper bags, food containers on the ground. Not necessarily an environmentalist, I still find it disgusting that people cannot respect nature enough to keep the trash off the ground. Walk over and put it in the nearby trash can.
Politics: Really seems to be a mess this election year. The distinctions between the two parties are not as clear as I remember from years ago. There was a time when the Democratic Party seemed to embrace a liberal concept of using tax dollars to equalize all people and provide opportunities for economic, personal, educational, and philosophical growth. While this is a noble position, it sometimes reeks of elitism. A few people making decisions they deem best for the whole. Kind of tastes bad in my mouth when I encounter the attitude. Yet Republicans once embraced the idea of opportunities for all without excessive government interference. Reduce the tax burden, lessen the role of the government, and encourage self reliance. Use public funds for defense but keep the economy healthy through fewer government programs. My libertarian side prefers the classic Republican position although my liberal, compassionate side questions the beneficial reality of such a platform. These issues make me a political moderate in general...a balanced view in my opinion although some might say it is called walking on a fence.
But I cannot see that distinction any more and it leaves me in a quandary. A champion for the underprivileged and the disabled in particular, I wonder which party and which candidate will serve that population the best...keeping in mind that government funding cannot and should not solve all problems. Which party exemplifies Christianity the most? Which will serve our nation the best? Which is the most honest, compassionate, sensitive to needs? Which will put an end to the violent madness that pervades our world? Not being an isolationist, I have this constant naive view that through education, tolerance, compassion, and global cooperation, we can one day end violence, poverty, and imperialistic driven pain.
Okay, enough of that. Plenty of fodder for further blogs but let's move on. Yesterday I stopped by a small Chinese food place for a bite. When I went to get napkins out of the dispenser, they were so tightly crammed into the dispenser that I had to maneuver around to get one out. Getting frustrated I ended up with about 12 in my hand after pulling hard. This makes no economic sense for the restaurant. Too many napkins in the dispenser actually results in excessive usage by patrons. A silly problem for sure. So to all fast food restaurants: Stop putting too many napkins in the napkin dispensers, you are not helping your bottom line at all.
Fast drivers: why do people get behind the wheel of a car and become maniacs? This morning while running, I had to jump on the grass two times due to the speed of the cars. My first thought was, "crazy kids," but then a closer look revealed middle-aged drivers. Just go the speed limit and all will be well. Oops...just revealed my liberal side. A true libertarian would say to get rid of the speed limits. But I really have no confidence that the world would be better without laws. Laws are there to provide equal protection and opportunity for all. Yet we have laws that are not followed. Obey the speed limit...it is there for a good reason: to protect runners!
I guess this is enough ranting for now. Thanks for listening.
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Saturday, July 09, 2016
Lamenting: Music Week at Glorieta
We owned a tent trailer that we took with us on all family vacations. I recall the first one as a rather primitive, simple structure that we pulled with our station wagon. My father would handle most of the physical work in getting camp setup and Mom would turn it into a little home for a few days. We gradually grew out of our little tent trailer and my parents eventually graduated to a very nice camper for family trips. Fishing, hiking, even a little boating, we did a little of everything when I was growing up. The sacrifices my parents made for us often come rushing back, making me miss my dad, appreciate my mom, and mostly reflect on the love of parents for their children.
One particularly meaningful event came once a year when we loaded up and headed toward Glorieta, NM. It was time for Music week and what a week it was. For one thing it was at Glorieta, arguably one of the most beautiful places I had experienced. Tall trees, cool air, fresh smells, kind people, great food, and a church sanctuary where God surely lived. The sanctuary sat over 2500 people with a ceiling that seemed to reach to the sky replete with wooden arches on the sides, a large stage area with room for 120 voice choir, large windows, comfortable pews, and a magnificence rarely experienced by a growing boy.
Publishers and those in the industry would bring their products to display including pianos, organs, instrumental music, choral music, children's music, handbell tables, robes, new hymnals, books, and youth music of all types. I recall thinking I had arrived in some sort of magical kingdom of unlimited music. And the crowning joy was a quick stop in the little cafe for a coke or a cup of ice cream! I recall seeing people sitting around sipping coffee and thinking that grownups sure did like their coffee. Now at age 55, I am that grownup.
But physical properties aside, it was the music and the sound that made the difference. Choirs of all ages, a band, an orchestra, handbells, pianos, organs, classes on composing, conducting, theory, new music, old music, children's music, adult music, and worship services that I can still hear in my head. Over 2000 people singing All Hail the Power, pianists who could play anything and organists who knew how to both lead and follow. Gifted musicians at every turn who loved the Lord and were unswervingly dedicated to Christian music and all it represented. Premiers of cantatas, choral works, instrumental music, hymn arrangements, and guest artists from all over the country including Truth, Ken Medema, David Meece, Baptist All State Choir and Band, Imperials, Gospel groups, Contemporary, and Classical musicians, the finest in the country all gathering at Glorieta for an unforgettable experience in worshiping God.
One memorable week, we performed What Is Man? by world renowned composer Ron Nelson. We used a full orchestra which included professionals from Albuquerque and accompanied the 125 voice choir. I was in 8th grade at the time and had an opportunity to perform a glorious cantata by a great composer with professional musicians. These experiences and more shaped my journey into music ministry and professional performance. From music week I became entranced with hymns, choruses, rhythm, sound, talented musicians, creativity, imagination, and being around other believers who loved the Lord and loved music. Can it be any better than that?
Gone. No more. Many reasons for this...a changing world, resources readily available, church denomination erosion, sound systems, geographical distance, publisher protection, apathy, shifting music styles, perhaps theological differences. Whatever, music week is no more. In fact, Glorieta itself is not the same. It sold for $1.00 and is now a youth outdoor type of camp and adventure center. Great for youth events but not so much for adults. The glorious sanctuary now has a zip line in the middle of it, lots of flashy lights, incredible speaker systems, and more space for moving around. The calm pond with paddle boats is now a substantial water park with slides, zip lines, and blobs. Sure, I guess it makes it more fun for youth. Below the sanctuary is a climbing wall with an area full of foam pads ready to catch the climbers. Games are everywhere and the youth seem to enjoy it all. The coffee shops are now for "fluffy" colorful drinks and the sitting areas are couches that seem to be perpetually ruffled up and dirty. All about the youth, after all that is the future.
But I miss music week greatly and am bitter at the changes that have resulted in music week being gone forever from Glorieta. Not angry over the personal loss necessarily, but mostly over the next generation of church music leaders, students, professionals, and ultimately congregations who will not benefit from the experiences and training of Glorieta Music Week. Of course there are now alternatives to music week including workshops, online videos, software training, access to skilled musicians, and a huge array of churches available to see and experience. For the diligent and motivated church musician, there are plenty of opportunities for growth. So in most ways one could argue that it is not a lost world but instead is a changed world.
Yet in spite of these arguments, I still miss the Glorieta Music Week of yesteryear.
One particularly meaningful event came once a year when we loaded up and headed toward Glorieta, NM. It was time for Music week and what a week it was. For one thing it was at Glorieta, arguably one of the most beautiful places I had experienced. Tall trees, cool air, fresh smells, kind people, great food, and a church sanctuary where God surely lived. The sanctuary sat over 2500 people with a ceiling that seemed to reach to the sky replete with wooden arches on the sides, a large stage area with room for 120 voice choir, large windows, comfortable pews, and a magnificence rarely experienced by a growing boy.
Publishers and those in the industry would bring their products to display including pianos, organs, instrumental music, choral music, children's music, handbell tables, robes, new hymnals, books, and youth music of all types. I recall thinking I had arrived in some sort of magical kingdom of unlimited music. And the crowning joy was a quick stop in the little cafe for a coke or a cup of ice cream! I recall seeing people sitting around sipping coffee and thinking that grownups sure did like their coffee. Now at age 55, I am that grownup.
But physical properties aside, it was the music and the sound that made the difference. Choirs of all ages, a band, an orchestra, handbells, pianos, organs, classes on composing, conducting, theory, new music, old music, children's music, adult music, and worship services that I can still hear in my head. Over 2000 people singing All Hail the Power, pianists who could play anything and organists who knew how to both lead and follow. Gifted musicians at every turn who loved the Lord and were unswervingly dedicated to Christian music and all it represented. Premiers of cantatas, choral works, instrumental music, hymn arrangements, and guest artists from all over the country including Truth, Ken Medema, David Meece, Baptist All State Choir and Band, Imperials, Gospel groups, Contemporary, and Classical musicians, the finest in the country all gathering at Glorieta for an unforgettable experience in worshiping God.
One memorable week, we performed What Is Man? by world renowned composer Ron Nelson. We used a full orchestra which included professionals from Albuquerque and accompanied the 125 voice choir. I was in 8th grade at the time and had an opportunity to perform a glorious cantata by a great composer with professional musicians. These experiences and more shaped my journey into music ministry and professional performance. From music week I became entranced with hymns, choruses, rhythm, sound, talented musicians, creativity, imagination, and being around other believers who loved the Lord and loved music. Can it be any better than that?
Gone. No more. Many reasons for this...a changing world, resources readily available, church denomination erosion, sound systems, geographical distance, publisher protection, apathy, shifting music styles, perhaps theological differences. Whatever, music week is no more. In fact, Glorieta itself is not the same. It sold for $1.00 and is now a youth outdoor type of camp and adventure center. Great for youth events but not so much for adults. The glorious sanctuary now has a zip line in the middle of it, lots of flashy lights, incredible speaker systems, and more space for moving around. The calm pond with paddle boats is now a substantial water park with slides, zip lines, and blobs. Sure, I guess it makes it more fun for youth. Below the sanctuary is a climbing wall with an area full of foam pads ready to catch the climbers. Games are everywhere and the youth seem to enjoy it all. The coffee shops are now for "fluffy" colorful drinks and the sitting areas are couches that seem to be perpetually ruffled up and dirty. All about the youth, after all that is the future.
But I miss music week greatly and am bitter at the changes that have resulted in music week being gone forever from Glorieta. Not angry over the personal loss necessarily, but mostly over the next generation of church music leaders, students, professionals, and ultimately congregations who will not benefit from the experiences and training of Glorieta Music Week. Of course there are now alternatives to music week including workshops, online videos, software training, access to skilled musicians, and a huge array of churches available to see and experience. For the diligent and motivated church musician, there are plenty of opportunities for growth. So in most ways one could argue that it is not a lost world but instead is a changed world.
Yet in spite of these arguments, I still miss the Glorieta Music Week of yesteryear.
Saturday, July 02, 2016
$100
Recently investing in a particular stock, I have been watching the market carefully in order to avoid any losses. Using a system of careful analysis followed by assessment of the current market and personal finances, I usually protect my losses with controlled stops along the way. This is a common method among finance managers but perhaps uncommon from those in the arts. My recent purchase, however, remained flat without much gain or loss for several days.
Driving through New Mexico, I glanced over to the side of the highway and saw an elderly man walking slowly wearing a sweatshirt and ill-fitting jeans. Not sure if he were homeless or hitchhiking, I continued toward my goal with barely a second thought about him. We didn't have room in my truck for another passenger and besides picking up a stranger in a an unfamiliar territory does not seem wise. Saying a quick prayer for him and others like him, I continued my journey.
Aside from a hidden stash, I rarely carry much cash with me, preferring, instead, to use my credit card at most junctures. In general my hidden stash is reserved for emergencies or unusual circumstances. Occasionally I have $20 or less with me and I have been known to help out those in need depending on the circumstances.
So like any 55 year old, as I begin to think about retirement in 15 years, I watch the market, watch my retirement accounts, and plan for the day when I no longer have steady employment. It would be nice to have a windfall of cash someday but my plan is to invest wisely and avoid spending unnecessarily. The stock market, however, has been fairly volatile with some large spikes followed by downward trends. My own investments remain flat in general with some growth occasionally. Focusing on dividend stocks, I also take a risk here and there, watching them fairly closely for change.
Raising an autistic son who now lives with us as an adult, I remain sensitive to the thousands who deal with mental disabilities in our country. They often need special help and sometimes have no family on which to rely for help. Yes there are homeless who choose to be homeless and I have little doubt that many of them are struggling with drugs and/or alcohol. But rather than live in a constant judgmental world, I, instead, elect to ere on the side of compassion, generosity, and personal humility, after all nobody is without flaw.
Two days after seeing the man on the highway, I went into a coffee shop in New Mexico to enjoy a few minutes with my daughter-in-law before heading home from our vacation. As I sat there thinking about my family, my investments, my life, the same man walked into the shop. He was wearing the same clothes and looked very tired as though he had been up most of the night. He asked for a cup of coffee and the owner gave him one without requesting payment.
Time for us to leave the coffee shop but I kept thinking about the man. Odd coincidence to see him in the shop two days after seeing him on the highway. Easiest to leave and not give it a second thought, not my problem and certainly not my responsibility. I stood up to go and found myself walking toward him as I reached in my wallet and remembered I had no cash readily available. So I found the hidden stash which includes all $100 bills and handed one $100 bill to him. Encouraging him to use it wisely and adding God's blessings to his life, I left with my daughter-in-law, drove to the cabin, packed up and headed home.
Kicking myself for giving away that much money, I decided I had exceeded the normal generosity quotient and didn't even receive a tax credit. Even worse maybe he would drink it away or be so out of it that it had no meaning. Yet in my heart, I knew I had done what I had to do. It would have been wrong to ignore the burning desire I had to give him the money. Finally calming down and telling nobody about it, I again remembered about my recent stock purchase. A quick look at my stocks on my phone revealed a surprise. My recently purchased stock had grown by over $1300 in a short time! Quickly calling in a stop loss, I protected my gain and wryly thought about the $100 I had given to the man. I would not miss it and actually had benefited much more. My loss was both my gain and his. In the end, blessings often come our way in many ways. Money aside, I was blessed by the opportunity to do what I deemed as right.
Driving through New Mexico, I glanced over to the side of the highway and saw an elderly man walking slowly wearing a sweatshirt and ill-fitting jeans. Not sure if he were homeless or hitchhiking, I continued toward my goal with barely a second thought about him. We didn't have room in my truck for another passenger and besides picking up a stranger in a an unfamiliar territory does not seem wise. Saying a quick prayer for him and others like him, I continued my journey.
Aside from a hidden stash, I rarely carry much cash with me, preferring, instead, to use my credit card at most junctures. In general my hidden stash is reserved for emergencies or unusual circumstances. Occasionally I have $20 or less with me and I have been known to help out those in need depending on the circumstances.
So like any 55 year old, as I begin to think about retirement in 15 years, I watch the market, watch my retirement accounts, and plan for the day when I no longer have steady employment. It would be nice to have a windfall of cash someday but my plan is to invest wisely and avoid spending unnecessarily. The stock market, however, has been fairly volatile with some large spikes followed by downward trends. My own investments remain flat in general with some growth occasionally. Focusing on dividend stocks, I also take a risk here and there, watching them fairly closely for change.
Raising an autistic son who now lives with us as an adult, I remain sensitive to the thousands who deal with mental disabilities in our country. They often need special help and sometimes have no family on which to rely for help. Yes there are homeless who choose to be homeless and I have little doubt that many of them are struggling with drugs and/or alcohol. But rather than live in a constant judgmental world, I, instead, elect to ere on the side of compassion, generosity, and personal humility, after all nobody is without flaw.
Two days after seeing the man on the highway, I went into a coffee shop in New Mexico to enjoy a few minutes with my daughter-in-law before heading home from our vacation. As I sat there thinking about my family, my investments, my life, the same man walked into the shop. He was wearing the same clothes and looked very tired as though he had been up most of the night. He asked for a cup of coffee and the owner gave him one without requesting payment.
Time for us to leave the coffee shop but I kept thinking about the man. Odd coincidence to see him in the shop two days after seeing him on the highway. Easiest to leave and not give it a second thought, not my problem and certainly not my responsibility. I stood up to go and found myself walking toward him as I reached in my wallet and remembered I had no cash readily available. So I found the hidden stash which includes all $100 bills and handed one $100 bill to him. Encouraging him to use it wisely and adding God's blessings to his life, I left with my daughter-in-law, drove to the cabin, packed up and headed home.
Kicking myself for giving away that much money, I decided I had exceeded the normal generosity quotient and didn't even receive a tax credit. Even worse maybe he would drink it away or be so out of it that it had no meaning. Yet in my heart, I knew I had done what I had to do. It would have been wrong to ignore the burning desire I had to give him the money. Finally calming down and telling nobody about it, I again remembered about my recent stock purchase. A quick look at my stocks on my phone revealed a surprise. My recently purchased stock had grown by over $1300 in a short time! Quickly calling in a stop loss, I protected my gain and wryly thought about the $100 I had given to the man. I would not miss it and actually had benefited much more. My loss was both my gain and his. In the end, blessings often come our way in many ways. Money aside, I was blessed by the opportunity to do what I deemed as right.
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