My First...

I can still remember my first...when I was just over 16 years old.

I am now half-way between 67 and 68 years old.

Fifty-one years later, I still remember.

That's a 1951 Studebaker Champion.  It was my first car.  Well, not that exact car, but one like it.  Not that color, mine was more maroon in color.  Mine was never that clean n' shiny.  Mine had some rather obvious rust spots.  The nice chrome hood ornament on the car pictured above was missing from my car.

When I got my car the world suddenly became larger and more accessible all at the same time.  Gas was cheap back in 1961.  27 cents per gallon.  And just to run some historical trivia for a moment: back in 1961, the average cost of a new home in the U.S. was $12,500; a first-class postage stamp was 4 cents; a gallon of milk cost 49 cents; and the Dow Jones hit a high of 734.  The average income in 1961 was $5,315.  I can still remember my dad telling me, as he was showing me how to fill out a tax form, that if he ever made $10,000 per year we would be rich!

The average cost of a new car in 1961 was $2,600.00. For that kind of money you probably could have purchased one of these beauties:

That's a '61 Chevy Impala.  Nice.  Very cool.

And a '61 Desoto.  The Chrysler Corporation used to produce that car.  Nice, I guess, but not cool. 

In 1961 John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the U.S.  Later that year, Kennedy told American families to build bomb shelters.

The Berlin Wall was begun in 1961.  Also that year, The Peace Corps was established, the UN General Assembly condemned Apartheid, and sadly, the first direct U.S. military involvement in Vietnam began.  "Pony Time," by Chubby Checker was released in 1961.

Barack Obama was born in 1961 in Hawaii...although there are some really nutty and nasty people who insist this is not where he was born.  Goobers.

George Clooney, Woody Harrelson, Wayne Gretzky, and Wynton Marsalis were also born in 1961...nobody seems to doubt the fact they were all born in the places they said they were born in.

The first in-flight movie was shown on a TWA flight.

Speaking of flight, Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space.

My first car...just thinking about that 1951 Studebaker, which I became the owner of in 1961...started me thinking about all sorts of things related to 1961.  I ended my sophomore year of high school and began my junior year.  The Yankees beat the Reds in the World Series, 4 games to 1.  Notre Dame's football team had a 5-5 record.  Ugh.

In 1961 I was just 3 years away from becoming the father of twin boys, and moving from Lydick, Indiana to Inglewood, California.  Lydick had a population of about 400, Los Angeles (Inglewood was a part of that sprawling metropolis) had a population of more than 400.  More like 2-and-a-half million.  In 1961, my mother was just a little over 4 years away from dying of cancer. 

Can you remember your first?  And if you can, what other kind of memories flood back when you do?

Lots of luck with that.

Go Ahead, Make My Day...

Like you, I saw a video clip from the GOP convention where Clint Eastwood carried on a "conversation" with an empty chair.  I didn't see much humor in it...thought it was crude in a couple of spots...and, wasn't sure why the GOP would have wanted the routine to be a part of their event.  Moreover, I was very puzzled by Clint even thinking to do it.

I am aware of Clint's political persuasion.  It is different than mine.  I neither find that amazing nor disappointing.  People differ on such things.  However, I wouldn't want Clint to become a political pundit...that I would find amazing and disappointing. 

I do not want Clint to be silent on his political persuasion.  I am not one who thinks Hollywood-types should be silent on their politics, or religion, or whatever.  Just because he is an actor, director, and producer doesn't exempt him from the usual concerns and passions of the rest of us.

But.  But, Clint, I like you so much better as the guy I see up there on the big screen.  Some of your recent movies have dealt wonderfully with very important subjects.  "Gran Torino," and "Mystic River," and "Million Dollar Baby," and "Unforgiven" are some really great flicks.  And as a preacher, I can tell you, Clint, those movies will preach!

When you were that guy with no name in the Spaghetti Westerns, you were quite the screen-presence, even with very little dialogue.  And, as Dirty Harry you had me anxious for each new film as soon as I watched the current one.

Not a whole lot of people saw, or remember, your 1974 film, "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," but I do.  And I watch it every time it is re-run on TV.  (And whenever I can re-watch "The Outlaw Josey Wales," I do.)

"Absolute Power," and "True Crime."  Two of your other really good movies, Clint.

And tomorrow, your newest, "Trouble with the Curve," comes to theatres.  I will be there.  Keep up doing what you do about as well as anybody: producing, directing, and starring in movies.

I hope I don't see you talking to an empty chair again anytime soon...although if that's the way you want to express your politics, its OK.  You won't be amazed or disappointed if I disagree with you, will you?  I didn't think so.  Its a free country, and all.

But by all means, Go Ahead, Make My Day tomorrow with your newest big-screen adventure.

On Healing, and Health, and God

Any thoughts on how God may or may not be involved in death-defying healing?  What's your position on the truthfulness of those reporting they have died and been returned to life?  If 100 people are praying for someone's return to health following an illness, or accident, or surgery, is there a better chance God will respond to those prayers than if just 3 people are doing the praying?

If God is involved in our healing and health, what does that involvement look like?

The Divine Healing website claims this: "There is an unseen world that surrounds us with love and healing, whether we believe it or not. It is the world of the Divine."

The Apologetics Coordination Team website reports that, "True Biblical Divine Healing is immediate, lasting, (and) verifiable..."

The Bible says that all things are possible to those who believe.  It also says the prayer of faith will heal the sick.

Where do you come down on these sort of pronouncments?

I am very skeptical of them.  And yes, I do realize this is a very touchy, sensitive, argument-producing topic of discussion and faith.

I want to quote Scott Russell Sanders at this point:

“How could our hearts be large enough for heaven if they are not large enough for earth?  The only country I am certain of is this one here below.  The only paradise is the one lit by our everyday sun, the land of difficult love, shot through with shadow.  The place where we learn this love, if we learn it at all, shimmers behind every new place we inhabit.” 

 

I think Mr. Sanders is suggesting that real life is the life we live...here and now...on earth...with each other.

 

And now, I want to post a captioned picture:

 

I think the picture speaks incredible truth. 

 

I believe we are able to dispense the healing and health God would want for all of us...but, of course, we have not yet come close to doing that sort of thing.  Hopefully, someday we will.

So Much Hurt...

Some folks have been hurt often.  Some folks have been hurt deeply.  Some folks have been hurt in ways they can't put into words.

Some hurts are physical (I don't know which hurts worse, back pain or dental pain...but they are the biggies I have known personally).  Some hurts are emotional.  Some hurts are mental.  Some hurts fall into the category of spiritual (it could be that when you have a soul-hurt you have a real doozy of a hurt).

It would be true to report that I have hurt folks, sometimes on purpose, more often unknowingly.

Everybody reading this blog-post has been hurt, and has hurt others. 

That's life.  At least, it is life the way we live it.

Its not always easy to escape the hurt.  Time does not heal all wounds.  Its easy to say, "Get over it," but its hardly ever that simple.

Here are some words from wise people and sources that might address in some way how we can take an exit from the hurt, and move toward healing:

*Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. ~ Mother Teresa

*We don't see things as they are. We see them as we are. ~ Talmud

*One should count each day a separate life. ~ Seneca

*With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing. ~ Catherine de Hueck

*There is no such thing as justice -- in or out of court. ~ Clarence Darrow

*Take a day to heal from the lies you've told yourself and the ones that have been told to you. ~ Maya Angelou

*The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
    ~ Mahatma Gandhi

*Don't cry when the sun is gone, because the tears won't let you see the stars.    ~ Violeta Parra

I hope your hurts are few.  And that you refrain from hurting others.