As we get closer to Father’s Day, my father’s jokes come to mind. Yesterday I went to get my hair cut which reminded me of this exchange I had with father when I was a teen:
Me: I think I need a hair cut.
Father: Why don’t you get them all cut?
More wisdom next week,
Andrew
Tonight there are two subjects on my mind.
One close to home,
and one a world away.
The reality of helplessness.
I can’t fix my brother,
I can’t stop the shooting.
I can’t decide whether I should write, or if the words in my heart need to come out as prose or poem. Over the next few days we’ll see a flood of words – laments, calls for action, calls for revenge, calls for peace, and cries of pain. All of which tear at my heart.
Hearts. Billy called again today. It is difficult to know if he needed comfort or if he was trying to be the big brother when he said, “I’m fine, I’ll be okay till Tuesday.”
Tuesday, eleven days after our trip to the ER, seven since we saw his doctor and still no resolution other than a bottle of pills to dull his mind until Tuesday with its promise of a new doctor and the hope of new answers. Hope for relief.
I can’t help my mind from rewriting the scene on that Friday in the emergency room filled with the sick. Imagine the scene. You’re waiting for a doctor when the PA system announces that a large number of trauma cases are coming. Suddenly, a nurse appears pushing a wheelchair stacked with supplies, then a security guard stands in front of the door – then more and more staff as the confusion grows and the ambulance door opens.
Flooding the world with
pain that has no words.
Sadness beyond measure
as the wail takes flight, “WHY?”
And again I wonder what I can do? Or should do? What action, what words would be a benefit at time like this.
For tonight helplessness longs to be changed into hopefulness, into action that will transform the world into justice, understanding, caring and love for one another.
For tonight, there is nothing more on my heart, or in my mind than a prayer for a brother here and a world out there.
May both be healed.
Peace,
Andrew
Yes, there wasn’t a wisdom post last Friday as many one loyal reader noticed. Instead of writing, I was enjoying a morning in the ER with my brother (see last Sunday’s post for details). Here is the wisdom I had intended to impart. This is one that I often use during leadership training:
One day the Colonel was informed that one of his best company commanders had received a promotion and was due to be transferred out which would leave the Regiment short one Captain. The Colonel decided to promote one of the platoon lieutenant’s to company commander and devised a little test. He selected three lieutenants to test.
The Colonel called for Lt. Jones to meet him at a small hill that was made of solid granite. There he had a flagpole and a flag. The Colonel said, “Lieutenant, your test is to put that flagpole on top of that rock and then haul up the flag. Ask for anything you’ll need to do the job.”
Lt. Jones looked at the rock and replied, “Sorry sir, can’t be done. That’s solid granite you can’t put anything it to that. There’s no way I could do that.”
The Colonel dismissed Jones and ordered Lt. Smith to report. After receiving the same instructions Lt. Smith took out a pencil, notepad and a calculator. The Lieutenant starting writing madly and walking all over the granite.
Soon Lt. Smith turned to the Colonel and said, “I’ll need a rock drill, 200 pounds of concrete, 100 feet of rope, block and tackle and it will take me four days to get the flag flying.”
The Colonel dismissed Smith and ordered Lt. Johnson to the rocks and said to Johnson, “Lieutenant, your test is to put that flagpole on top of that rock and haul up the flag. Ask for anything you’ll need to do the job.”
Johnson looked quickly at the rocks and said, “Colonel, I’ll need a sergeant.”
“Very well,” said the Colonel and a sergeant was called.
When the sergeant arrived, the Lieutenant said to the sergeant, “Sergeant, get a detail of six men and put that flag pole on that rock. Then haul up the colors with all due honors.”
Turning to the Colonel, Lt. Johnson said, “Will there be anything else sir?”
The Colonel replied, “Captain, take command of Alpha company immediately.”
After being a little busy with little libraries, I am back to the cutting garden project.
Here is one of the planter boxes with seedlings:
Heather has started one box of seedlings.
Saturday we went to the big box store and bought some of the framing material for the garden area.
Oh look a bunch of 2x4s. Exciting isn’t it?
All that goes here:
The pop-up was Heather’s idea so I could work there all day in the shade.
and if that wasn’t enough going on, I managed to get a little bit of time back on my mystery project.
Oh look, a bunch of clamps!
Yes, my table saw doubles as my assembly table. Please don’t tell my shop teacher – he’d freak to see a bottle of glue near a saw.
If you need me – I’ll be in the shop,
Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 