daily life as life goes on . . .

In this past week I have consulted Wikipedia on a few issues (keeping  in mind that this is not the only source of information).

For those of you who are not familiar with the idea of Wikipedia:  This is, for us older types, what we used to call an encyclopedia.   On the internet you can find wiki sites.  Here anyone (well, almost anyone) can place their knowledge of a subject into a giant database.  Originally anything went.  Except for a few rules – I think maybe even truth was in there, although obscured by the desire to allow diversity (but that’s another day’s discussion on the postmodern age).

Nowadays, when an entry is found lacking, the “stub” is flagged and you can add your helpful information.  You are expected to have foot notes (cross references, articles, etc.) to verify the veracity of the information.  I recently found another “rule”.

If you “list” information, the data is flagged as being “better” understood in prose form.  Narrative has triumphed.  As I was growing up, I loved to listen to lectures that presented point after point.  Often point six was prior to point seven for a reason.  I didn’t need linking narrative.  I could figure it out myself.

Our current society prefers story and that comes in written, visual, dramatic, sensate, verbal, and many other forms.  I appreciate those forms – and I’ve worked in many of them.  But, I’m still a product of a previous age.  Get the information to me quickly, in point form, and I’m good with that.

Although I do enjoy a well written article.  Hopefully whoever edits/revises these Wikipedia articles is a good writer and does not obscure the information or bore us so we don’t even read the information.

A biker came into my office today.  Sporting nice leathers, he mentioned that he sees enough Harley Davidson gear around, he just had to wear Suzuki paraphernalia.

What people wear, and for what reasons! 

Have  you seen some of the Tshirts currently available?  “It’s all about me” seems to be making the rounds.  I like the old saying (at least it’s getting to be old):  been there, done that, got the Tshirt. 

Tshirts do tend to summarize in a small area the large areas of our lives.  What we wear says a lot about who we are. 

And it’s not just the words on a shirt.  Friday I wore a tie to work.  A great reminder that I was headed off to work.  The day was definitely tinged with aspects of life that could have distracted, but I was “tied” to completely to the tasks before me.

There was an old tradition of setting your clothes out the night before.  Not just to make sure they were washed and ironed.  But also to remind us of the opportunities of the coming day.  Not a bad plan!

As I sit with various people over these last few days, I’m reminded that there is a life we now live. 

In this case, the life is short for some.  Entangled with sickness and pain.  Even distinguished by spurts of joy but mostly by survival of the not so fit.

And I pray, and I cry and I trust God for daily health.  For not only the sufferers, but for those of us whose health is steady and predictable.

We can plan a vacation.  We can foresee an evening meal with friends.  We can even enjoy a bath and a time of reading uninterrupted by the fog of pain.

And so, I’m praying for many today.  That God’s grace and joy would be yours.  In sickness and in health.

I received a card today.  The content was a reminiscence of Jill.  The intent was obviously for both remembrance,  condolence and encouragement.  That intent was fulfilled.

I immediately phoned Carol and thanked her.  Since our children were little, and our journeying paths crossed, we have been friends.  I consider her wisdom and love for both Jill and I one of the greatest gifts we received in our married life.  And I can see that friendship is not broken even though, as Carol wrote, “Jill has completed her earthly pilgrimage and has gone on ahead to explore new horizons with the Shepherd of her soul, ‘I can only imagine.'”

Of course, that last phrase refers to a song – one of the great points of intersection in our lives.  Carol continues to write music and I look forward to hearing more of her compositions.

Yes, Carol, sometimes a hand written card has impact.  Thanks for your time and effort.  I have over 200 other cards that sit in my file cabinet.  They also express their thoughts of love and compassion.  I am overwhelmed at the network Jill had built – a true and living monument to her that a granite headstone, or a bronzed plaque can never capture.

As Carol directs her ending thoughts towards me, hear these thoughts – perhaps they are for you today.  May you “sense the presence of that same Good Shepherd in your journey through the uncertain terrain and shifting weather patterns of the Valley of the Shadows.”