A few weeks ago I mentioned to MJ that we should be seeing the first hints of spring at the end of February. Shortly thereafter we received the a significant ice storm and then the largest snow that we had partaken of in the last 17 years. That was last week…today I am writing from the Writing Porch and it is 63 degrees. It feels like summer time! Last week I wondered if we would be able to fly to Destin, Florida this May….and Sunday MJ was able to secure an appointment for my first Covid vaccine this Thursday. My outlook is improving!

I saw a photo of me that MJ snapped Saturday at her first birthday dinner. I wondered who that old guy was… Time takes its tole on the best of us. We can not escape the daily drip…drip…drip of aging. Dylan Thomas said it best:

‘Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rage at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.’

‘Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a Green Bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’

‘Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

‘Grave men, near death, who see the blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’

‘And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.’

‘Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’

Life is for the living. The best way to live it is to grab it by the ears and shake it for all that it is worth! When I consider the panoply of adventures that await each of us as we travel this road back to Jerusalem…I am amazed at how often that we do not avail ourselves of the excitement and mystery and wonder that is contained in our human experience. In my early days I did to have money and it occurred to me that if I would apply myself and immerse myself in my vocation that the necessary money would be forthcoming…and it was. I left home with a high school education. But….again I knew that if I desired an education that it was there for me if I was motivated to receive it. I came from a narrow minded culture when it came to race and diversity and inclusion. I deduced that this culture was not me. I learned from others that were different than me…and I changed. I always believed that, ‘Jesus loved the little children of the world…red…yellow…black and white…all are precious in his sight…’

We are changing. Yes, you are changing as well as I. But…we are still here! God is not done with us yet! Winston Churchill was 66 years old in 1941 and he led the United Kingdom through World War II and they were victorious. Perhaps there is travel in you future? Perhaps there is ministry? Perhaps there is mystery and intrigue and wonder…just around the corner…don’t you want to take a peek…

I am looking out at the most significant snow that we have experienced in a number of years in Southern Illinois. Several inches are on the ground, 71/2 inches, and some fantastic snow drifts. Along with the snow…and before that ice that has not had the opportunity to melt…we have bone chilling temperatures. It is currently 12 degrees Fahrenheit but it feels like 3 degrees with the wind chill factored in. This is our 10th day of below freezing temperatures and that is unusual of Little Egypt as our winters have been moderate for many years. For those of us who enjoy the changing of the seasons…we should be ensconced in the glories of winter in all of it’s splendor.

My friend’s photo was on Facebook and the first thought that I had was that he is one of a kind. Have you ever known someone that was extremely interesting due to their unique persona? Some of us are not interested in fitting in with the crowd. We are not motivated with the ‘go along to get along mentality.’ In fact we see the world through a seemingly separate prism than many of our colleagues. We enjoy reflecting on the meaning of it all… We speak truth to power and worry little about the ramifications of our sincere opinions.

Life is meant to be lived in the complexity of it’s simplicity… Indeed those things about our lives exceedingly happy seem to be difficult to grasp when we struggle to blaze a trail through the morass of recognized norms and the ‘hive mentality’ of our friends and family and colleagues. I have lost count of the numerous committees and boards and specialized commissions that I have been a part of…where the invited members struggled to ascertain what the expected response was to the problem that the group had been asked to address and then subsequently plugged into the slot of dutiful and loyal member to what the recognized and accepted loyal committee response…was expected.. New and innovative and ‘out of the box thinking’ is as rare as the biblical gold of Ophir.

My friend, Brad, told me a few years prior to my retirement that he had observed that I liked to shake things up. I was pleased with his observation regarding my purposeful action to endeavor to help others. I never sought to better myself at the University but I vigorously engaged in advocacy for those who have no voice. I am at a loss for words when I observe our politicians who are so afraid of expressing their honest opinion…but instead are satisfied to relegate their service and servitude to our nation….to the political expediency of the moment…and the next election…and the next paycheck…

Abraham Lincoln was one of a kind. He brought his self-educated knowledge to the White House. He loved to spin yarns and stories that he had gathered during his many hard scrabble years during his youth. He drew the difficult lot of a Civil War and his role in preserving the Union of the United States. He gathered his political adversaries to become members of his Cabinet. He was not afraid of those who were ‘One of a Kind!’

President Kennedy came from a privileged background. His family was rich and his father, Joseph Kennedy had been the Ambassador to the Court of St. James. The Kennedy seemed to be kissed with the favor of the gods. But tragedy struck them on several occasions. JFK suffered from Addison’s Disease and was in pain during much of his Presidency. He wore a stiff back brace and almost died on more than one occasion. But…he knew that the United States should not be in Vietnam…and he was going to withdraw from the conflict…but he was assiinated in Dallas, Texas prior to being able to effectuate this vital withdrawal… President Kennedy understood the folly our our ill thought out incursion into Vietnam…sadly he was cut down in his prime before he had the opportunity to save thousands of lives.

Be yourself! Do not be afraid to be you and faithful to what your truth is!

Baby it is cold outside. The roads are relatively clear while the parking lots are ice covered with little or no relief from the ice coverage accept for narrow paths to the door of the business. Nevertheless I felt compelled to venture out as I had not purchased MJ’s Valentine Day card. Her gift is coming by mail. I wonder how I appear as a large old man who is taking baby steps on the ice and snow? After breaking three ribs a few years ago…I am extremely careful… We had been enjoying a birthday celebration for our niece, Tara, at a Winery near her home in Salem, Illinois. As the food and drink and laughter ensued someone told us that ice had begun to fall outside. When we entered there was no inclement weather. As we quickly left and walked outside we could hear the ice falling. There was a tiny hill to walk down to reach our car. The tiny hill had a light covering of ice on it…and I fell like a sequoia tree…on to my right side. The first thing that I noticed was that I could not breathe. People around me and including the owner of the Winery asked me on multiple occasions if I was alright. I could not answer their questions…I could not breathe. Suddenly I took a gasp of air and croaked out…that I was fine. Two days later I discovered that I had broken three ribs…and was experiencing extremely painful muscle spasms…every minute or so.

During my younger days I feared no snow and ice. My friend Steve and I drove through a blizzard in 1977. We were working for a custodial contract cleaning service and I was determined to reach our account that was on the other side of Johnston City which was more than 20 miles from our homes. I was driving and the view ahead of our vehicle was that of a white sheet…we could see nothing. Finally we slid into a ditch. Steve got out and pushed us out of the ditch and we reluctantly turned around to slowly make our way home.

Another blizzard fell upon Southern Illinois in 1979. I had recently began working at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale. MJ’s friend, Faye, had heard that SIUC was closed due to the 19 inches of snow that had fallen. When MJ told me…I was fearful that if I stayed home and had somehow misunderstood the parameters of the closing…that I would be counted absent on my new and prized job. So, I began to drive our new 2 door LTD. My journey can be likened to driving through a field…there was no clearly delineated road…I could see the ditches, sometimes, on either side of highway #51. When I arrived at Building Services I could see that our office was darkened with one little night light on. Yet…I walked up to the front door and attempted to open it…but it was locked. One of my colleagues, Elbert, drove up and asked me if we were closed…and I told him that we must be as the office was dark and the door was locked Elbert went to the front door and shook it and proclaimed in a loud voice that, ‘Brooks and Covington were reporting for work!’ Elbert said that I should go home and retrieve my wife and she and I drive back to his home in Desoto and join he and Mrs. Covington for hot chocolate. I thanked my friend and responded that if I was able to safely make it home, which was 15 miles, I would be staying in for the evening

Snow and ice have a chilling affect on our movements. Travel is one of those things that are hard during inclement weather…but often necessary. Much of life is governed by which ‘Hard’ we choose to govern the conduct of life:

‘Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.’

‘Obesity is hard. Being fit if hard. Choose your hard.’

‘Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.’

‘Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.’

‘Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick Wisely.’ Unknown

It is very slick outside. Everything is covered with a sheet of ice. Our Black Lab slipped and slides across the front yard looking for a proper place for a morning constitutional. Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale has closed for the day due to the inclement weather. This is something that rarely occurs. Since I am of necessity sheltering at home….I am enjoying home more and more. I jumped into my first hour of House Walk…and feel better for it. The projected high in our temperature for today is 27 degrees and then it slips to 23 degrees for Friday and 16 for Saturday and 12 for Sunday…with a high of 10 degrees is forecast for Monday… and more snow. So, we that often brag and boast that winter was a non-event in Little Egypt…are eating our words this February. I reflect, with some humor, at MJ and my plans of several years ago of moving to a more northerly climate…as we enjoyed winter and cold… Today Florida looks increasingly desirable!

So, today Jonathon and I tackled the, ‘Bear in the Woods,’ that is the herculean task of changing the light bulb that is above the sink in our kitchen. The last time we changed it we encountered difficulties that we could not have imagined. The light fixture has a glass globe and is affixed to a metal holder that is fastened to the ceiling. Last time the metal holder of the light fixture came loose from the ceiling and it seemed impossible to re-attach. The burned out light bulb held on for dear life to the light socket that it was screwed into. At one point the bare bulb and it’s corresponding electrical wires were hanging freely and boldly…with no apparent solution to fix this very minor issue… Have you ever been a participant in what you believed was a routine home repair and it subsequently became the home repair from Hell? That was Jonathon and my experience the last time we dealt with the light fixture that is above the sink in our kitchen. Today was different. Jonathon brought in the stepladder from our garage and I climbed up the steps to face what I knew would be a job that I would ultimately have to call in an electrician to solve. I first took the glass decorative cover off of the light bulb and then unscrewed the burned out bulb and replaced it with a fresh new one. Then I affixed the glass cover to the light fixture and screwed in the set screws that are along the edge the decorative cover…and it was done…in about 10 minutes! When you are 63 years old…you take your victories where you find them…

Thus are the plethora of problems that confront us. There are some that are difficult and time consuming and that require deep contemplation and study. There are other problems that only require our determination to confront them and vanquish them…

MJ and I have been back to Subaru in Marion, Illinois. We purchased a Forester before Christmas and we needed a refresher course on the plethora of buttons and screens The vehicle is dominated by computer technology. A few days ago we noticed that it seemed to pull from time to time and determined that we would mention the malady to our salesman when we returned for our refresher course. To our pleasant surprise Alex, of Subaru, told us that the pulling was the SUV’s attempt to bring us back to the center of our lane when we strayed to far toward the edge. Who knew? After we left to visit Sam’s…I asked MJ what button we needed to push to return one of our screens to the time and weather report. She pushed two or three buttons with no appreciable result. When she inquired as to whether I wanted to rerun to Alex at Subaru to have him tell us the appropriate button again…I said no way…

The weather report is foreboding for our neck of the woods. It is 3:22 P:M: pm on Monday in Illinois. The forecast is for snow and freezing rain through the night…with a return to inclement weather Tuesday evening until Thursday. A fellow blogger asked me what happened to America as it once seemed like the land of milk and honey…while now it appears that there is a terrible gap between the rich and the poor. Both opinions are valid and yet do not explain the division that has been in our country since its inception and has been magnified over the past few years. The milk and honey has never been easily accessible for all Americans…especially people of color. Indeed during the halcyon days of the 1950’s the African American community could not eat at lunch counters or sit with whites in a movie theater of drink out of the same water fountain as whites. Jim Crow laws controlled much of the squelching of civil rights throughout our nation.

I am sure that my friend watched the storming of our Capitol on January 6th. This insurrection created a bizarre and frightening and Twilight Zone announcement of our political division for the world to read in their morning papers and watch on their local news. When my friend asked me what happened I thought his question was timely and well put. Lies have been grasped by millions of Americans as their truth. Our friends and neighbors have determined that the lies that they have heard from their political leaders fit their situation in life and their observance of American life throughout the kaleidoscope that they view the world through. Many have adopted an alternative reality as their preferred reality…and the outgrowth of that radical philosophy has birthed a caustic and deadly atmosphere. So the United States is attempting to recover from the mistake of coddling radical and divisive and ‘Kook Theories’ that lead to destruction and sorry and death.

Our new President is preparing to produce a 1.9 trillion dollar relief for the Americans who have been left behind during the extreme depravation of our 2020/2021 Pandemic. Money for thousands of small businesses who have been forced to close due to the vagaries of a virus that has taken well over 400 hundred thousand American lives. Relief for those who have been cast out of their homes or rental properties or who are food insecure. American is a great as is her outreach to those who have no voice and no advocate. The people of the United States are as good as the Emma Lazarus quote on the Statue of Liberty, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.’

The chilly rain is following and the wind is gusting in Little Egypt. I attempted to walk campus today…but the persistent rain and wind dissuaded me. I have taken to house walking during inclement weather. I rather like it! During my younger years house walking would have been difficult in our four room home in Elkville, Illinois. MJ and I laughed, the other evening, when we reflected on the fact that we do not move very often. We were in Elkville for 23 years and we have been in our current home in Carbondale for 20 years. Our 43rd anniversary is this March. I have been thinking that the element that makes our lives so special and unique is that we are mortal. We are temporaries in an environment that we would like to be permanent.

When Christmas comes around each year…we understand that we will only experience a certain number of celebrations. When our children crawl onto our knee we understand that this time of bliss is fleeting. When our wife or husband grasps our hand in wedded bliss and the hope for a bright future…we know that our youth will evaporate and our life will pass like a weaver’s shuttle. Time will not wait for us nor will life slow down in order for our slow savor of the fragrance of love and peace and excitement and wonder that is before us…

Think back on the reality of your loved ones. The concrete reality of your grandmother and your grandfather. The everlasting assurance of your mom and your dad. The secure comfort of your career and your comfort in doing something that your are good at and successful at. The struggle to make enough money to live. The peace that comes form securing shelter and food and the accouterments of a middle class life style for you and your family. A nice home and a new automobile or automobiles and European vacations and travel and the money available to do so… And yet your days are numbered. You are like the Prisoner in the popular television series of the same name…you are looking for an escape….when all your future is tied to the future of those that came before you.

There is a feature movie running and many of us are not aware of the title or our role in the production. Shakespeare said that; ‘Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day. To the last syllable of recorded time; And all of our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a waking shadow, a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.’ William Shakespeare…Macbeth

Let us not let our life; ; be told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ Our mark on this life is fleeting. The difference that we can effect and facilitate and cause…is passing before our tired eyes. What we need to do…we need to do today. Tomorrow may be too late… Happiness is contained in the bright eyes of others. Love is held in the tears of a friend that believed that there last hope had passed them by…until you came along. Faith is the outstretched hand that you extend to your brother or sister that is in need and how has given up hope of anyone caring about them or the condition that they are in….

During my campus walk this morning I was especially impressed with how cold the 19 mile per hour wind felt with the temperature just above freezing. I have heard people say that the cold wind ‘cut them like a knife.’ I understood that concept today. It is February 1, 2021…where did January go? As rapidly as the 1st month of our New Year passed…so will the other 11. I have discovered that time passes as quickly as a retired person as it did when I was working. In fact I think that it passes more quickly. It passes as the scripture admonishes, ‘like a weaver’s shuttle’ for both we slow folks as well as for Type A personalities. Sometimes I want to lasso time, as George Bailey promised Mary regarding the moon in the wonderful holiday classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, however I have failed to do so thus far.

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The news, that I have heard, is somewhat more positive regarding our 2020/2021 Pandemic, today. I truly believe that this spring will bring a substantial improvement in our health and safety. The darkest night brings the brightest dawn. So, we wait for the promise of spring and the blooming of flowers and the singing of birds and the fresh smell of freedom in the warming air. As I was taking photographs of my church, yesterday, I reflected on the many generations that have attended church in the same building that myself and my family now enjoy. The beautiful and time worn stones of the building have seen a lot of life. I have been a member of the church since our last century. Many of the folks that I knew and loved…have passed on to their reward. I was in my early 40’s when we began attending in 1998. I thought that I was old and was burdened down with the cares of my career at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale. The welcoming faces of so many of my fellow congregants…caused me to feel a part of the legacy of such a wonderful and historic church in the story of Carbondale. We were received joyfully and with open arms…and our hearts were captivated with the kindness of our friends. I am certain that it was the same in the 1960’s and the 1940’s and the 1920’s…

We are the people that are living in the history of our time. We are the people that are experiencing the most virulent pandemic in over 100 years. Our place in the history books has been secured. Let us ensure that it is a good place. We shall bow our heads and our hearts for the untold amount of people that have lost their lives to this scourge. We weep… Life is on the path to returning to a new normal. The winter clouds are parting and the warm sun of spring is peeking through the darkness of our shared night. We will enjoy each other’s fellowship in our favorite restaurants again. We will return to live theatre and to the movies…again. We will travel again and increase our understanding of each other. We will smell the warm spring breeze of gulf water at Destin, Florida again…and walk the white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. We will visit the pristine beauty and rustic pleasure of Maine and walk out on to the dock of Boothbay. We will survive and thrive…and pass on our life experiences to the next generation. We will place red flags where we have encountered danger. We will highlight the peaceful pleasures of a serene life and our staying on track toward our goal of helping the other members of our human family…as we walk back to Jerusalem…

When I was young I regularly thought about older friends. I identified with them and sought to serve them and help them with their needs. Many times MJ and I went to the supermarket to purchase the groceries for senior’s in our church. One of these wonderful people, Connie, requested Clausen Pickles. We looked and searched for Clausen Pickles…but could not find them. We decided the a substitute of a high class dill pickle would be sufficient…and thus we made an executive decision. When we presented the wonderful substitute to Connie she wrinkled her nose and informed us that the pickles simply would not do…and thus we returned to the grocer and he led us to the desired Clausen Pickles. For your further reference…at least in those days…they were usually kept with the meat. As a senior citizen I often think of the struggles of young people. It is a scary proposition to be young and perhaps with children and a rent or mortgage obligation…and the fear that your primary means of income is going to be gone…or perhaps already gone due to the Coronavirus. Being young is a struggle and merits the assistance of we seniors to make the battle at least winnable…

Puzzles are something that we have become more familiar with during our shared Pandemic. I purchased 5 from my friend, Emily, at Main Street Bookstore in St. Charles, Missouri last year. They are each 1,000 pieces. MJ is currently enthralled with the National Parks Puzzle. Such is life…it is a puzzle…at least 1,000 pieces… Often we are required to make serious decisions with little information. Often we peer at the old television show, Let’s Make a Deal, as Monty Hall asks us which door do we choose, 1 or 2 or 3? Two of the doors have bogus prizes behind them and only 1 of the doors had something of value. At times we choose wisely…and other times we choose the goat… Do not despair…take heart and courage…spring is coming…

So we have all been sitting at home for a year. For many of us travel is a high point of our life and especially so for we retirees. MJ and I are discussing travel plans for later in 2021…and hoping for the best. A few years ago we enjoyed visiting Europe and the United Kingdom and did so in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016. I assumed that we would be continuing our journeys for sometime to come. A significant pause in plans occurred with our pandemic. In 2011 we visited Tunis, Tunisia just after the Arab spring. It was inspiring to hear our tour guide speak of his love for the United States. We visited a hand woven rug emporium and were served the most lovely tea and sweet cakes. The rugs were exquisitely made. The prices began in the stratosphere but the Tunisians were open to negotiation.

During our visit to the United Kingdom in 2016 I learned that London is not indicative of the whole of the country. You have heard the saying regarding the English landscape, ‘ A green and pleasant land.’ York was one of my favorite stops. We lodged right next to the York Minster. ‘The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St. Peter in York, commonly known as York Minster, is the Cathedral of York, England, and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe.’ Wikipedia

We miss each other. Human interaction and fellowship is vital to our happiness and fulfillment. Although we have been separated by the necessity of our health and safety, we are going to vanquish Covid19. When we do what a joyful time that will be. The loss of life and the devastation of our experience with the Coronavirus has been an immersive experience of sadness and sorrow. Economic devastation for millions of our brothers and sisters is unprecedented in any of our lives. But, we will come out on the other side of this virulent virus and travel will be one of the human activities that we will engage in once again…but with a renewed love and appreciation for our human family. I have noticed that the pandemic has united us in our social distancing. We are all experiencing the same thing at the same time…and we have learned that there really is no difference in our place at the table… in our home…earth. We all love our family and friends. We all want the best for our children. Human connection is part of the air that we breathe. After the 2020/2021 shared terrible experience….we will rejoice and cry and sing songs of liberation and joy when we can return to normal life that is enhanced by our mutual realization of how important we are to each other.

Our lives are magical and wonderful and tenuous. Our money cannot save us. Our position cannot save us. We really are in this journey together. We are similar to the ‘Leg Lamp’ found in the Holiday Classic movie, ‘A Christmas Story,’ we are FRAGILE!

Memory is a wonderful component of our human experience. However there is a time that we cannot live in the past but in the present and the future. Memories have the ability to become somewhat distorted by time. We may remember the good old days when in reality when we were living them, we did not consider them so good. It has been said that we tend to forget the bad and remember the good. In that vein of thought…life has taken an abrupt change for the United States. Some of us have dismal and hurtful and frightening memories of our recent past. Others may remember the same past…tinged with a rosy hew. Neither of these photographs of the past are healthy to live in. It is vital that we learn from history…not that we live in it.

Life is best lived in a forward motion. Every day is a new day. It seems that the ‘Slough of Despond’ has been partially lifted from us. We must walk forward in peace and without fear. Many of us have lived in fear of life as we have known it in the United States. A great cloud of fog and darkness has been lifted from us and we should joyfully proceed forward in the pristine endeavor of living our lives and making a difference in the lives of others. Transparency from our government is refreshing and a cause to breathe more freely. Honesty is the best policy. Truth is easy to grasp on to. Clearness of mission is a path that is clearly visualized and a facilitator for moving forward with our life journey.

Honest information is a clear road map for the positive continuation for our journey. Reflecting on the past is counter productive and not helpful to our positive walk forward. Freedom is freeing! Fear of retribution is confining and conspiracy theories are chilling. A comprehensive plan for battling the pandemic is a breath of fresh air and life saving. Reliance on science is vital to the vanquishing of the Coronavirus. Many things are not subject to political debate. Whether we have lost 400 thousand of our family and friends and neighbors to the virulent Covid-19 is not up to debate! Our suffering and tears and fears are not subject to debate. Our loss as a nation…is not subject to debate.

We live in an incredibly nuanced and diverse world. Our continued viability in the family of nations is commensurate on collaboration with our allies. Our hope is contained in the good will of the unified collaboration of our citizenry and their dedication to the best interest of all of our family.

We are a country that has united in our major struggles. We seek our most high aspirations. It appears that we have a President that has been formed by his loss of 3 family members… he has genuine empathy for loss. We have suffered draconian loss… Let us look forward with clear eyes and truth as our banner as we walk into the future that awaits us.

We are surrounded by a kaleidoscope of diversity…while many of us seek a world of monochrome. I am an avid amateur photographer. The emphasis is on amateur. I enjoy posting the photos that I take on Facebook due to my small but dedicated following. Some enjoy the black and white photos while others prefer those with color. I really enjoy both, but lean towards the silver tone due to its timeless quality. However when it comes to the diversity of humanity in all of its panoply of colors and ethnicities and customs…the kaleidoscope is my vision of our society.

Listening is the beginning of understanding. All of us are seeking someone who cares enough about us to focus on us and listen to the thoughts of our hearts and remain silent during the process. The practice is to listen to understand rather than to listen to respond. The more time that I have spent listening to those whom are different than me or who come from a different life experience…the better I am able to appreciate them and their joys and struggles. It is a form of magic when another human being takes you into their confidence and confides in you and trusts you. Trust is a precious gift that forms a bond of cords of love and acceptance that cannot be broken.

Love is an all encompassing word. When someone wants to learn about me and understand me…there is no room for hate and cruelty. Rather the emotion that is generated is to protect your friend and to honor their life. Each time that I have bought into the life’s walk of my friend I want the best for them. When I began at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale…I did not know anyone. I was 20 years old. The first person to befriend me was my foreman, Jim, and he was a cigar smoking African American. Jim told a crew supervisor who had been giving me a bad time, ‘Jay is my son…he just will not call me daddy.’ Jim cared about me and I knew it. Although he passed away many years ago I think of him often.

Labor for clear communication. Nothing of value is achieved without hard work. Success is incremental. When I was the superintendent of Building Services, at the University I had an open door policy. That policy was for every member of our organization. We had 350 – 400 people in the housekeeping department. I did my best to listen to each colleague who wanted to speak with me with an open mind and without preconceived ideas or opinions. Of our over 200 student staff there were people from many nations. I listened much more than I spoke.

Luck is the reason that many of us have succeeded in life. I have heard the glowing stories regarding how a person pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and worked from dawn to dusk and that if they could do it…poor people can do the same… Many times these ‘Legends in their Own Mind,’ have been the recipients of many helping hands as they climbed the ladder of success. It seems that temporary amnesia occurs when poor people become upper middle class or wealthy. Understanding must be grounded in reality. If I am going to understand you and you understand me…we must listen to each other in love and humility and be willing to engage in the labor that it will take to overcome the stereotypes that separate us from our brothers and sisters in our human family. We are sad and lonely and desperate and afraid…because we are separated from our family. A peaceful mind and a settled soul will come from our work to understand and appreciate our long lost brothers and sisters. No longer alone…no longer lonely…no longer depressed because our family loves us so much…and protects us from the dark corners of our hearts that have been filled with conspiracy theories and division and strife. The disappointments of our souls and the closed life… has caused us to look for an enemy and a person or people that have caused our malady. The answer to our insular social media lives is to reach out to other members of our precious human family, God’s creation, and renew the fellowship that we crave so badly.