Friday, July 29, 2011

Vacation




Let’s give a big hand for summer vacation
Let’s send out a shout for a trip to the shore
Let’s go for a ride on the train at the station
Until we’re too tired to play any more.

Let’s all go out hiking on trails in the mountains
And picnic on chicken , potatoes and grapes
Let’s go for a dunking in summer’s cool fountains
On days when you just want to pull closed the drapes

Let’s dance and let’s sing and rejoice in the moment
And have lemonade in the shade in the park.
Let’s play Kick the can with the kids and the neighbors
Until the day ends and it’s getting too dark.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Sacred places


I haven’t gotten a lot accomplished this past week.
I’ve just been too antsy, worried, concerned about my friends and family.
Eleven years ago in May, our hometown was set on fire because of a controlled burn set by the US Park service. We all told them not to do it. May is the driest, windiest month of the year. But some times agencies “know better” than citizens. Consequently two hundred structures were burned. Four hundred families were left homeless. Neighborhoods looked like war zones. The community pulled together and was strengthened. A new town was built. And governments learned new strategies.

This week history repeated itself. June is the hottest, driest month in Los Alamos. The fire that is burning in the mountains surrounding my hometown is the largest New Mexico fire in history. (103,842 acres) In less than a week more acreage was burned than the total amount in the May 2000 fire. The flames have turned away from the town now and are headed up the Santa Clara canyon towards a sacred site of the Santa Clara Indian Pueblo. More fire fighters are trying to head it off from there. It’s different fighting on a sacred site. I don’t know if just anyone can go fight the fire. Do you have to be a member of the pueblo? Do you have to be a member of the Religious hierarchy?
I remember in the 1960’s when my brother was in the navy. His ship caught on fire while in port in Japan. The local fire department wasn’t allowed aboard the ship. They didn’t have government clearance.Security was sacred. I don’t remember if any one was killed, but a number of sailors ended up in the hospital and families couldn’t get any information about them.
I think I have two points that I’m headed towards.
The first is a favorite quote of my daughters. I think John Lennon said it. “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Are you prepared to accept the divergences?
Secondly, In the Family guidebook, James E.Faust writes, "We unavoidable stand in so many unholy places and are subjected to so much that is vulgar, profane, and destructive of the
spirit of the Lord that I encourage our
saints all over the world, whenever possible, to strive to stand more often in holy places. Do you have a sacred place that you are ready to defend if no one else can.
This could be and should include your home . A member of the Washington DC temple presidency told us we should spend more time in holy places.

I would like to encourage to go to the temple.
Go back on the left side, facing the front entrance. ‘If I remember correctly from when I went to my nieces wedding some fifteen years ago, there is a wooded area where you can sit in the shade and look back at the temple. It’s quiet. It’s a good place to look up at the spires, reaching into the heavens, and think. What did you expect from your life twenty years ago. What did you hope life would give you? What were your plans? Has any of it happened to you? Or has life intervened?
What can you do to put your life back on that track you had planned and dreamed about?

Have a happy and safe July.

Magic


There is magic in the air
Bees are humming
Birds are singing--
Summertime

In the heavens stars are shining

Fireflies glow at the pond
People dancing
To the music
Fireworks

Come and join the celebration