Thanksgiving is upon us. Next week.
I've been thinking about the blessings that I have received this past year--and for that matter during all of my life in an effort to better grasp how I take blessings for granted and despite my best efforts, I continue to receive blessings that I neither deserve nor have earned.
I have the usual list--family, friends, job, home, health, peace, pets, and love. And as the Apostle Paul would say, not the least of these is love.
But--I thought I might like to dig a bit deeper into each of these areas to discern the real blessings and not just the superficial, pass it off kind of acknowledgement that I usually do when confronted with truly deep issues.
Superficial is easy, and non-threatening. I have been thinking about some of these blessings and I have come to realize that they are not superficial. It is I who am superficial in so many things that I do. I am afraid to engage and to offer the best of myself to the situation.
Family. I have the best family in the world. They put up with me even when I would rather be somewhere else. (Like Key West) I love them. I wonder whether I deserve them. But, Sundays around the TV watching four different football games reminds me that we are a family and we are all better because of it.
But family is more than watching football games together. Family is the way we look out for each other and overlook our shortcomings to find the inner beauty in each of us. It is the unconditional smile of a grandson (since I haven't any granddaughters, it is OK to write it this way) when I arrive or when we communicate via the new Facetime technology. Family is saying, we've got your dog when we head out for a long weekend.
Family supports when one of us is down and thrives when we are all together. And family is larger than just the cluster of people living in Maryland--but it includes far flung brothers and sisters and parents and cousins and nieces and nephews scattered across America.
And I am stronger because of all of them. We get together all too infrequently.
But they are a blessing and I am thankful for them.
What is the real blessing of family?
The real blessing of family is that I never fear being alone in this world. In family, I have others with whom I am walking beside, or leading, or walking behind--but joined arm-in-arm as we make our way through the world. Although we are not all walking the same path, we are walking together, and we are stronger for it.
I am not alone--there are others with whom I can share my joys and sorrows, successes and failures, and just sit together sipping a glass of wine or a beer and enoy being--even if we are not talking, we are.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Time Is?
What is time?
I think of time as a well-defined measurement that I use to measure events and the interval between significnt occurrences in my life.
A while ago, I was involved in a radical discussion the about time. It was fascinating to think about something that while we spend a great deal of effort defining, but something we really do not understand.
Is there really time? Or is time a creation of man to help measure the days until we die?
Animals do not concern themselves with time-maybe because they do not understand that one day they will die. And so they live day to day without fear of their impending death.
God does not seem concerned with time to the degree that we people are concerned. We measure time to the nanoseconds. God moves within time in terms of eras and ages and millennia.
So, why am I so worried about time? Is it because each passing second reminds us me that I am that much closer to dying? But then dying is really not death, but only an address change. And in eternity I will not be concerned with time--I think that is why it is so hard for me to conceive of heaven because I think an eternity is such a long period of time, when in fact if there is no time, eternity just is.
I found the following on one website:
"There is considerable misunderstanding in society concerning the nature of time. Time simply is; it cannot do anything. Time provides the historical framework in which things happen, but time has no innate ability itself. To express the same thought in different words: time is quantitative, not qualitative. This is a most important distinction with several implications."
Is time constant? No. I can readily see how time ebbs and flows in my own live. Although I believe time to be constant, I think about periods when I am fully absorbed--time passes and I hardly notice it. Yet, when waiting for something to happen--like departing for a trip, time crawls.
A few months ago I blogged about nearly being in a traffic accident and how time slowed allowing me to act and react to each new event in the scene--and ultimately avoid the car that turned in front of me.
The answer to time-fright is to enjoy each day to the fullest. Enjoy each sunrise and sunset and each moonrise and set.
Yes, I look at my watch waiting for time to pass--but if there were really no time, what would I do to measure the progression of events? Perhaps, I would be free. I would be finished when the project was complete and I could depart when I am ready rather than waiting for the clock to announce quitting time.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
I think of time as a well-defined measurement that I use to measure events and the interval between significnt occurrences in my life.
A while ago, I was involved in a radical discussion the about time. It was fascinating to think about something that while we spend a great deal of effort defining, but something we really do not understand.
Is there really time? Or is time a creation of man to help measure the days until we die?
Animals do not concern themselves with time-maybe because they do not understand that one day they will die. And so they live day to day without fear of their impending death.
God does not seem concerned with time to the degree that we people are concerned. We measure time to the nanoseconds. God moves within time in terms of eras and ages and millennia.
So, why am I so worried about time? Is it because each passing second reminds us me that I am that much closer to dying? But then dying is really not death, but only an address change. And in eternity I will not be concerned with time--I think that is why it is so hard for me to conceive of heaven because I think an eternity is such a long period of time, when in fact if there is no time, eternity just is.
I found the following on one website:
"There is considerable misunderstanding in society concerning the nature of time. Time simply is; it cannot do anything. Time provides the historical framework in which things happen, but time has no innate ability itself. To express the same thought in different words: time is quantitative, not qualitative. This is a most important distinction with several implications."
Is time constant? No. I can readily see how time ebbs and flows in my own live. Although I believe time to be constant, I think about periods when I am fully absorbed--time passes and I hardly notice it. Yet, when waiting for something to happen--like departing for a trip, time crawls.
A few months ago I blogged about nearly being in a traffic accident and how time slowed allowing me to act and react to each new event in the scene--and ultimately avoid the car that turned in front of me.
The answer to time-fright is to enjoy each day to the fullest. Enjoy each sunrise and sunset and each moonrise and set.
Yes, I look at my watch waiting for time to pass--but if there were really no time, what would I do to measure the progression of events? Perhaps, I would be free. I would be finished when the project was complete and I could depart when I am ready rather than waiting for the clock to announce quitting time.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Monday, November 14, 2011
Monday Musings - November 14, 20111
1. This is the in between week. That is, it is the week in between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. It may be the last sane week of the year.
2. I was shocked, this past weekend, when I visited the gravesite of a veteran and noticed that local veterans groups had not placed flags on the graves of all of the veterans buried in the cemetary. I bought a flag and took it back to mark the resting place of a hero.
3. It was a very different weekend in Ithaca. Varied in the people I met and the activities I participated in. I changed a door lock, visited, stood beside a grave after finding it covered with leaves, attended a memorial service, participated in a wine tasting, fumed at traffic, enjoyed the natural beauty of the Ithaca area, watched fire trucks responding to a horrific house fire that destroyed a big house in Danby, shopped (in Lowes), ate out three times, laughed at the antics of two small kittens, and watched more college football in a single weekend than I have in a long time.
4. Now is not a good time to invest in Euros!
5. Did you know the that the most recent Russian attempt to send a probe to Mars may come crashing back to Earth in January?
6. I had forgotten, but we have been having problems with Iran since 1979, when they stormed our embassy in Tehran and took 63 Americans hostage. It doesn't look to end anytime soon.
7. Have you noticed that airline prices are very high in comparison to recent times?
8. It looks as if the only country in the world with an active, reliable manned space program, that would be Russia, launched an American to the International Space Station this morning.
9. Oh yes--and did you notice that the Ravens are the most inconsistent team in Pro Football? They lose to teams with losing records and win against teams with winning records.
2. I was shocked, this past weekend, when I visited the gravesite of a veteran and noticed that local veterans groups had not placed flags on the graves of all of the veterans buried in the cemetary. I bought a flag and took it back to mark the resting place of a hero.
3. It was a very different weekend in Ithaca. Varied in the people I met and the activities I participated in. I changed a door lock, visited, stood beside a grave after finding it covered with leaves, attended a memorial service, participated in a wine tasting, fumed at traffic, enjoyed the natural beauty of the Ithaca area, watched fire trucks responding to a horrific house fire that destroyed a big house in Danby, shopped (in Lowes), ate out three times, laughed at the antics of two small kittens, and watched more college football in a single weekend than I have in a long time.
4. Now is not a good time to invest in Euros!
5. Did you know the that the most recent Russian attempt to send a probe to Mars may come crashing back to Earth in January?
6. I had forgotten, but we have been having problems with Iran since 1979, when they stormed our embassy in Tehran and took 63 Americans hostage. It doesn't look to end anytime soon.
7. Have you noticed that airline prices are very high in comparison to recent times?
8. It looks as if the only country in the world with an active, reliable manned space program, that would be Russia, launched an American to the International Space Station this morning.
9. Oh yes--and did you notice that the Ravens are the most inconsistent team in Pro Football? They lose to teams with losing records and win against teams with winning records.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Weekend Images to Remember
It has been a long holiday weekend. The images of the weekend are varied.
We stumbled into a wine tasting at a local wine store on Thursday evening which really improved our spirits. It is always fun to find wines and take a moment from life to enjoy the fruit if the vine with others who also enjoy a good glass of wine. It is amazing how we never seem to find repeats in the wines we taste--the store carried no wines that were familiar to us in Maryland. That of course, makes it all the more exciting to try and find new wines to enjoy. I am so glad that wines are so diverse.
Autumn is in the final stages here. The leaves have left the branches of the trees and found their way to the ground where the wind is whipping them into ever increasing piles and filling the low spaces. I remembered that we needed to be careful when walking on uneven ground because the leaves may be covering a depression and a turned ankle could result from carelessness.
And finally, so what did you do on Saturday afternoon? This kitten was making all of her own entertainment in and around the container. Her sister, not pictured, was not too far away partaking in equally creative entertainment.
It has been a weekend of varied activity--and a weekend to remember. These images obviously did not capture it all, but will help to document a small part of it.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Autumn is in the final stages here. The leaves have left the branches of the trees and found their way to the ground where the wind is whipping them into ever increasing piles and filling the low spaces. I remembered that we needed to be careful when walking on uneven ground because the leaves may be covering a depression and a turned ankle could result from carelessness.
And finally, so what did you do on Saturday afternoon? This kitten was making all of her own entertainment in and around the container. Her sister, not pictured, was not too far away partaking in equally creative entertainment.
It has been a weekend of varied activity--and a weekend to remember. These images obviously did not capture it all, but will help to document a small part of it.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Ithaca, NY - Traffic Constipation
Ithaca is a crazy place. Home of the greatest population of tree huggers known to exist and a city dedicated to the idea that another non-synchronized traffic light to foster continual traffic jams is just what is needed to improve quality of life.
I have to admit, I do not recall ever driving in a place with more difficult traffic. I have driven in much larger cities and not seen such confused traffic patterns. And add to that, a train decided to drive through town at the height of rush hour the other evening which totally shut down some of the main roads through town. I was in a traffic mess of Baltimore proportions.
Ugh! Can't they do better than that?
Ithaca is not that large, in terms of people. In terms of ego though, it plays way above its weight class. Ithaca has a popultion of jut over 30,000 and the region has a popultion of about 101,000. And it is not served by a connecting four-lane highway from anywhere. Amazing.
I did search for this cities not served by a four-lane highway, but could only find big cities not served by an interstate--and Fresno, CA, is the largest of those.
And so my rant about Ithaca continues. Traffic always has been and likely will continue to be one of the most opprressive things about the area. As I drove down one of the hils last evening into Ithaca I saw ribbons of taillights, similar to I-95 at rushhour, stretching from one end of the city to the other. Not moving. Fortunately, I was able to take some side streets nd avoid most of the mess, but that kind of oppressive traffic does not belong in a place with as much natural beauty as Ithaca.
Millions of dollars have been spent to fix the problem. A limited access, elevated, four-lane bypass is really needed.
That aside--the beauty of the hills and Cayuga Lake filling the valley are world class.
But the traffic is totally frustrating.
I have to admit, I do not recall ever driving in a place with more difficult traffic. I have driven in much larger cities and not seen such confused traffic patterns. And add to that, a train decided to drive through town at the height of rush hour the other evening which totally shut down some of the main roads through town. I was in a traffic mess of Baltimore proportions.
Ugh! Can't they do better than that?
Ithaca is not that large, in terms of people. In terms of ego though, it plays way above its weight class. Ithaca has a popultion of jut over 30,000 and the region has a popultion of about 101,000. And it is not served by a connecting four-lane highway from anywhere. Amazing.
I did search for this cities not served by a four-lane highway, but could only find big cities not served by an interstate--and Fresno, CA, is the largest of those.
And so my rant about Ithaca continues. Traffic always has been and likely will continue to be one of the most opprressive things about the area. As I drove down one of the hils last evening into Ithaca I saw ribbons of taillights, similar to I-95 at rushhour, stretching from one end of the city to the other. Not moving. Fortunately, I was able to take some side streets nd avoid most of the mess, but that kind of oppressive traffic does not belong in a place with as much natural beauty as Ithaca.
Millions of dollars have been spent to fix the problem. A limited access, elevated, four-lane bypass is really needed.
That aside--the beauty of the hills and Cayuga Lake filling the valley are world class.
But the traffic is totally frustrating.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Veterans Day - 2011
The History of Veterans Day
November 11, 2011
Veterans Day falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas man named Alvin King, the owner of a shoe repair shop, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. For more information, including educational materials, visit VA's Veterans Day webpage, VA's History of Veterans Day, the Military.com Veterans Day site , the History.com website, and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day webpage.
My Thoughts
There are forces in our Congress right now who want to minimize the sacrifices made by not only our veterans, but their families. Reducing benefits for veterans--those who selflessly answered the call of our nation, is the wrong approach.
We owe our veterans a debt that, for some of them, can never be repaid--those who have given the best of themselves--the best of their lives and their health.
So today--let's devote ourselves to remembering our nation's heroes, our veterans, and to continuing to honor their sacrifices by not reducing the benefits that they and their families are owed.
They answered the call when we could not or would not.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
November 11, 2011
Veterans Day falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas man named Alvin King, the owner of a shoe repair shop, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954. For more information, including educational materials, visit VA's Veterans Day webpage, VA's History of Veterans Day, the Military.com Veterans Day site , the History.com website, and the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Day webpage.
My Thoughts
There are forces in our Congress right now who want to minimize the sacrifices made by not only our veterans, but their families. Reducing benefits for veterans--those who selflessly answered the call of our nation, is the wrong approach.
We owe our veterans a debt that, for some of them, can never be repaid--those who have given the best of themselves--the best of their lives and their health.
So today--let's devote ourselves to remembering our nation's heroes, our veterans, and to continuing to honor their sacrifices by not reducing the benefits that they and their families are owed.
They answered the call when we could not or would not.
-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Trucks and Open Road
We did the trip a bit different than we have done in a long time.
We traveled mid-week rather than the day right before a three-day weekend, which in this case would have been Thursday.
After clearing the traffic catastrophe, which is better known as the Baltimore Beltway, we were greeted with relatively open road. And I mean open road like we have not seen in a long time. As the day passed into night, at all of aabout 6PM, the road became almost ours alone--except for a huge number of trucks.
I remember years ago I use to love to drive with the trucks wide open on Interstate 95 heading through Florida. I remember getting behind a truck and literally hauling at speeds of above 80 mph crusing through the open flatlands in my big-engined Ford LTD. That car would didn't really start to cruise until 70 mph. It was built for speed and power.
Last eveniing, we were not cruising a 80, but we were making greeat time because the usual traffic congestion that we face on the trip never materialized. We gianed probably 15 minutes around Harrisburg and another 15 minutes around Wilkes Barre and Scranton.
It was pleasant drive--except for the trucks.
Has anyone noticed they don't drive as well as they used to? I witnessed many that were weaving around and performing fairly aggressive lane changes.
They made me nervous--and I never used to be nervous around truckers.
November roads are dark though. I pity those who do not like to drive after dark because it is dark for so much longer.
And there are so mny trucks. Why aren't we using the rail system more instead of relying on so many long-haul truckers?
We traveled mid-week rather than the day right before a three-day weekend, which in this case would have been Thursday.
After clearing the traffic catastrophe, which is better known as the Baltimore Beltway, we were greeted with relatively open road. And I mean open road like we have not seen in a long time. As the day passed into night, at all of aabout 6PM, the road became almost ours alone--except for a huge number of trucks.
I remember years ago I use to love to drive with the trucks wide open on Interstate 95 heading through Florida. I remember getting behind a truck and literally hauling at speeds of above 80 mph crusing through the open flatlands in my big-engined Ford LTD. That car would didn't really start to cruise until 70 mph. It was built for speed and power.
Last eveniing, we were not cruising a 80, but we were making greeat time because the usual traffic congestion that we face on the trip never materialized. We gianed probably 15 minutes around Harrisburg and another 15 minutes around Wilkes Barre and Scranton.
It was pleasant drive--except for the trucks.
Has anyone noticed they don't drive as well as they used to? I witnessed many that were weaving around and performing fairly aggressive lane changes.
They made me nervous--and I never used to be nervous around truckers.
November roads are dark though. I pity those who do not like to drive after dark because it is dark for so much longer.
And there are so mny trucks. Why aren't we using the rail system more instead of relying on so many long-haul truckers?
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Near Full Moon
The near full moon was hanging over the end of the street last evening as I drove off to play a racquetball match.
It was there, bright and almost cheery in the clear sky which was just beginning to be populated with points of light.
The sun was in the final stages of setting--and so the sky was not completly dark yet--but it was coming, I could tell.
Many trees still retain portions of their autumnal robes and gave the scene some color--still visible in the just before the darkness waning light.
It was warm--yes warm with temperatures in the mid-60's just to remind me that even in November the weather can be nice enough to ride with the top down on he convertible.
But I was off on a mission--heading off to the court in the height of the evening rush hour traffic.
It seems that rush hour around here is reaally rush four hours as people scurry to and from their places of employment or education. And it happens twice per day.
The moon was hanging there--almost full, it will be full on Thursday and then I wonder whether it will become a true harvest moon. The big cool orb hanging in the sky illuminating the near bare trees and casting stark shadows onto the lawns that we associate with autumn. Maybe more yellow than white--low on the horizon opposite the just set sun.
The kind of moon that when we were kids we would look into its face and really see the man in the moon. Or maybe, if we were quick, we could spy a witch flying her broom across the broad face--but only for a moment.
But it is off for the new day and the coming dawn now. I wonder what is in store for today. Something magical, I hope.
It was there, bright and almost cheery in the clear sky which was just beginning to be populated with points of light.
The sun was in the final stages of setting--and so the sky was not completly dark yet--but it was coming, I could tell.
Many trees still retain portions of their autumnal robes and gave the scene some color--still visible in the just before the darkness waning light.
It was warm--yes warm with temperatures in the mid-60's just to remind me that even in November the weather can be nice enough to ride with the top down on he convertible.
But I was off on a mission--heading off to the court in the height of the evening rush hour traffic.
It seems that rush hour around here is reaally rush four hours as people scurry to and from their places of employment or education. And it happens twice per day.
The moon was hanging there--almost full, it will be full on Thursday and then I wonder whether it will become a true harvest moon. The big cool orb hanging in the sky illuminating the near bare trees and casting stark shadows onto the lawns that we associate with autumn. Maybe more yellow than white--low on the horizon opposite the just set sun.
The kind of moon that when we were kids we would look into its face and really see the man in the moon. Or maybe, if we were quick, we could spy a witch flying her broom across the broad face--but only for a moment.
But it is off for the new day and the coming dawn now. I wonder what is in store for today. Something magical, I hope.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
After Daylight Savings Time
Work week day one of the return to standard time has been completed. The sun rose shortly after I arrived at work and set as I was driving home.
My total exposure to sunlight amounted to zero minutes.
The dark days have officially begun it seems. Departing under the cover of night and returning home after sunset. If I were a vampire it would be awesome--but it turns out that I am a creature of the sun.
And it only gets worse from here.
Today the sun rises at 6:42 am and sets at 4:59 pm for 10 hours and 17 minutes of available sunlight. By this time next month, there will only be 9 hours and 30 minutes of available sunlight.
I need a trip south, south of the equator!
I guess that is my problem with coming off daylight savings time--the amount of sunshine doesn't change dramatically, it is just more aligned to when I am at work. And I work under the warmth of flourscent lighting in a windowless office so I don't even get to see the daylight when it is available.
I suppose that I don't need to listen to the weather for the next couple of months--my weather is darkness followed by brief glimpses of the dawn (or sunset).
It will get better, I kmow.
But in the meantime, gray skies and continual darkness just don't do it for me. I'm told that it is going to be 68 degrees today--if only I get a chance to enjoy it.
My total exposure to sunlight amounted to zero minutes.
The dark days have officially begun it seems. Departing under the cover of night and returning home after sunset. If I were a vampire it would be awesome--but it turns out that I am a creature of the sun.
And it only gets worse from here.
Today the sun rises at 6:42 am and sets at 4:59 pm for 10 hours and 17 minutes of available sunlight. By this time next month, there will only be 9 hours and 30 minutes of available sunlight.
I need a trip south, south of the equator!
I guess that is my problem with coming off daylight savings time--the amount of sunshine doesn't change dramatically, it is just more aligned to when I am at work. And I work under the warmth of flourscent lighting in a windowless office so I don't even get to see the daylight when it is available.
I suppose that I don't need to listen to the weather for the next couple of months--my weather is darkness followed by brief glimpses of the dawn (or sunset).
It will get better, I kmow.
But in the meantime, gray skies and continual darkness just don't do it for me. I'm told that it is going to be 68 degrees today--if only I get a chance to enjoy it.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Monday Musings - November 7, 2011
1. It has been fun watching the long Autumn this year. The leaves are lingering on the trees.
2. The way the sun has been illuminating the golden leaves on the trees in the evening light has been stunning.
3. The ferocity of the presidential race makes me wonder why anyone would want to be the leader of this nation.
4. Fellowship is the desired state of life. To be in fellowship with each other is a state we should be working toward.
5. The fortunes of football, like life, are transient. Enjoy the winning to overcome the heartbreak of the losses. Tomorrow is new day and we get another chance. Win or lose.
6. The cold mornings are surely a shock to my summertime way of thinking.
7. Some holidays just seem to be rewritten out of existnace. I'm told that the Great Oktober Revolution is no longer celebrated on this day in Russia.
8. The is the week of Vereran's Day. Remember the sacrifices others make to ensure our ability to live as we desire.
2. The way the sun has been illuminating the golden leaves on the trees in the evening light has been stunning.
 |
| Autumn Trees in the Evening Sunlight |
3. The ferocity of the presidential race makes me wonder why anyone would want to be the leader of this nation.
4. Fellowship is the desired state of life. To be in fellowship with each other is a state we should be working toward.
5. The fortunes of football, like life, are transient. Enjoy the winning to overcome the heartbreak of the losses. Tomorrow is new day and we get another chance. Win or lose.
6. The cold mornings are surely a shock to my summertime way of thinking.
7. Some holidays just seem to be rewritten out of existnace. I'm told that the Great Oktober Revolution is no longer celebrated on this day in Russia.
8. The is the week of Vereran's Day. Remember the sacrifices others make to ensure our ability to live as we desire.
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