Gettysburg

One-hundred and fifty years.

It's a long time. Certainly longer than any man now alive will ever live. Longer than most people in the history of the world have lived. And longer than the lifetime of most words.

There are obvious exceptions, of course. Most notably among them are the words of prophets. But others, such as the Gettysburg Address, may as well have been spoken by prophets, for in my mind, they were inspired by God. They will last forever.

This past Tuesday, November 19, 2013, marked the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's famous speech. It was only 272 words in length (that's also debated) and only took about two minutes to deliver. But it changed the face of this nation and set the stage for freedom for all men and women, not just white ones.

It was my honor and privilege to be in attendance at the anniversary celebration this week.

Many TV stations were there, both local and national, and thousands of others trying to capture a bit of the historical significance of the day. In one of the pictures above (third from the left) you can even see the 16th President of the US (or his reasonable facsimile) delivering the speech.

After the address I went to the battlefield and spent the rest of the day exploring, taking photos and soaking in the history that is Gettysburg. I love the place. I wish I could go there more often. Though it's only about 80 miles from my house, I'm the only one in the family who really digs history. So I go alone or not at all. Too often it's the latter.

In some historical places it's hard for me to imagine what went on there. I have a hard time with the Manassas Battlefield and Ford's Theater and even to some degree the Carthage Jail. But in Gettysburg, the battlefield is so vast that, for me at least, it's easy to see General Pickett charging across the mile-wide field. It's elementary to see Chamberlain's immeasurable bravery, fixing bayonets and holding off the rebel charge up Little Round Top. It's a simple thing for me to see General Lee and General Longstreet conferring on what to do next.

I love this place. Though I know the awful and gruesome things that happened here, for me, history lives on. I'm so grateful to have been able to attend.

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WWJD

I read the newspaper on-line just about every day. I like to keep up with what's going on in the world.

After all, I am a former news guy myself. I've always been sort of a news junkie. I think that's why I enjoyed being in the media so much. I have always liked being the first one to tell people about something that was happening. I like being a news-breaker.

Over the years I've read about Presidents (some good, some not so) and Kings. I've read about stupid criminals and smart doctors. I've read about sports and life and money.

And I've also read about natural disasters.

So it's been with great interest that I've read about the awful typhoon that hit the Philippines on November 7th. I've watched the evening news for word on how clean-up efforts are going. I've talked to people who have family there, interested in finding a way that I can help. I'm just one guy, but I think the efforts of one guy, especially if they are multiplied by several hundred or several thousand even, can be very influential.

Last Friday, as usual, I pointed my browser to USAToday. I know, not the hard-hitting journalism that a newspaper like, say, the New York Times or Washington Post would afford me, but news just the same. As I read through the headlines on the front page, I noticed two that were side-by-side. They read:

• Philippine People Anxiously Await World's Help
• Thousands Camp Out Overnight Hoping To Get New Xbox

The first thought to cross my mind was of Jesus. What would He do if He were here? Somehow I don't think he would be reveling with the campers. I am pretty confident in saying that He would be trying to find a way to help. I believe He'd have His hands dirty, helping clean up the mess and helping rebuild. I believe He would donate whatever time He had to helping alleviate the suffering.

The second thought that crossed my mind was literally this sentence; "Well, Jesus IS here. YOU are His representative."

Humbling experience. Head shaking experience. Get some determination experience.

So, now I'm trying to help. It's mostly her idea, but Kelly and I are gathering clothing in our home that we never wear anymore. Instead of taking it down to the Starvation Army, we're trying to find clothes that are too small for the kids that we can send overseas. We're sending them via a gal in Kelly's office who has family there. She will send whatever we gather to those in need.

It's not much, but it makes me feel good. It might not make much of a difference in such a vast sea of suffering.

But, you know, I honestly think it's going down the same road that the Savior would walk if He were here.

Because in all actuality, He is.

And I don't think He's playing Xbox.

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I Love Life

If you have a minute, I'd really like to tell you how much I love life.

First, I have the best, most loving and lovely wife that ever graced this rock. She has given me way more love than I deserve over the past 20 or so years, and I will never be able to afford the love she will give me in the future. I love her so much it makes my mind hurt when I try to comprehend it. She is THE BEST. The absolute best.

Second, my kids are so intelligent, good looking and basically just danged good kids, that they make Wally and The Beaver look like trouble-makers. I'm so proud of them for their accomplishments, but I'm also just so danged proud as a dad because they're my kids. They are the best kids a dad could EVER have. I love them with all my heart.

Third, I come from a wonderful family, with a loving Mom and Dad who were the best examples I could ever have. I love them both more than I could express. And I grew up with siblings who were my friends and continue to be so. I truly have been blessed in this regard. I've also got friends who I know will be my friends throughout all eternity. Maybe I can build my house in the hereafter next to theirs. Too many of them live in places I never get to go. Those reunions are so sweet.

Fourth, have you looked outside lately? Isn't it gorgeous? This world is so beautiful. Just look at this picture I took the other day of the sunset here in Virginia. Looking at that, how could you NOT love how beautiful this place is? The colorful trees in Autumn, the beautiful flowers in Spring, the gorgeous sunsets you can see just about any day. I can hear Louie Armstrong singing "What a Wonderful World" right now.

My niece, Alison, wrote on her blog this morning about people who think they are ugly or fat or somehow less than wonderful. It got me thinking about how I feel about myself, what I'd like to be in this life and how I'd like to be remembered. I'm not perfect, but I am absolutely perfect in some things. And to be quite frank about it, I like me. I really do. I sometimes wish I were taller and had more hair, but you know what? I've come to accept that neither of those, along with a host of other things, is going to happen, so I'd best get on with loving me. And I do. I'm a child of a loving and perfect Heavenly Father, and to be quite honest about it, with His genes coursing through my veins, how could I be anything but spectacular?

I receive a weekly email from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It gives me updates on the Choir and its activities. It also gives me the Spoken Word from the previous week's radio broadcast. In the email I got today, it talked about the lessons of our lives. It quoted an obituary a few kids wrote for their mother when she passed away. I'd like to quote it again here:

To love fiercely, and tell people before it's too late.
To be loyal, always.
To enjoy life-one bite at a time.
To laugh easily-with others and at yourself. . . .
To be generous with your time, money, and heart.
To love [yourself].
And to never forget that God adores [you].
- Obituary of Lucile Johnson

Think about it. If people remembered YOU this way, and you thought of yourself this way, wouldn't that make your whole life, even all of the suffering, worth it?

So here's my question for you. What are you going to do today to make it so?

I can tell you one thing we've done in our family. Since my sweetie and I got married and had kids, we've not gone ONE day without saying "I Love You" to each other. We never say goodbye on a phone call without saying it. We never leave the house without saying it. I also take the opportunity to tell me kids the same thing every chance I get. I think it's made a difference. At least I know my kids aren't shy about saying those three words. Of that I'm glad.

God adores me. God adores you. He really does. God, who made the world, the universe and everything in them, loves us! He knows our names. He knows everything about us. He is interested in our lives. God. Interested in me!

Makes you think, doesn't it?

I LOVE LIFE!

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