thoughts on the news of the day: 2012

hmmm…..

                  It’s a day of endings, on the cusp of new beginnings.  The obvious one is that it is the last day of 2011 and the day before New Year’s Day 2012.  But there are a few other endings of note in the world this week.  Perhaps you have heard about Ben Breedlove, a young 18 year old who died of heart failure on Christmas Day.  His funeral was yesterday in Austin, TX and there were 1500 people in attendance.  No, he wasn’t a rock star or famous athlete; he was just an ordinary teenager, except for the fact that he chronicled his experiences with death on you-tube. 

                  Breedlove said he wasn’t afraid of death and that his near-death experiences because of his heart condition brought him a sense of great peace.  He described many of the occurrences others have described --- the bright light, a feeling of peace and comfort and even seeing loved ones or other significant people.  For Breedlove, death was not a fearful prospect, but a peaceful one.

                  A great lady in our church passed away yesterday.  It was the end of life for her too.  She was ill for a long time, but carried on for many brave years.  I remember meeting her for the first time.  She was on oxygen, which she carried in a sling as she struggled to the fellowship hall after worship.  The first words she ever said to me were. “Nancy, I want to go home.”  And she wasn’t talking about her little house down the street.  She had made peace with her maker and was ready to go whenever the time came.  It has been two and a half years since that conversation and she is finally home. 

                  It’s an end and a beginning, just like today.  Goodbye, 2011.  Hello, 2012.      

                  hmmm…..

                  

thoughts on the news of the day: ice

hmmm…..

                  It is late December, but its shorts and t-shirts weather in Austin, TX where I am visiting my daughter.  I am loving the warm weather and the sunshine which is a delightful departure from the chilly temperatures we left in the Arkansas Ozarks. 

                  In spite of the cold outdoors, my home, and the homes of my friends in the Ozarks are cozy warm.  Heating units, fireplaces and potbellied stoves keep our abodes well above the freezing mark.  And since it isn’t sooo cold, and the gas prices aren’t sooo high, we can stay well within our comfort zone.

                  But what if you chose to vacation in frigid settings.  And I am not talking outside, I mean inside as well.  The Balea Lac Hotel of Ice northwest of Bucharest, Romania is entirely made of ice.  It offers ten rooms with king size beds at the price of about $50 per person.  The temperature at the hotel hovers around 36 degrees to keep the ice from melting.  You can dine there and relax.  I am not sure how they cook, doesn’t most food preparation require heat?  And how do you relax when you are shivering.  I am sure they have figured all of that out though …

                  There’s an old saying “cold hands, warm heart.”  It would probably really fit the tourists at the Balea Lac who are probably bundling up and snuggling up to a loved one.  And that can’t be all bad in any climate.

                  hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: samoa

hmmm…..

                  I have lost a few days of blogs.  Computer problems have plagued me; dismally slow speeds on my ancient computer; frantic efforts to prepare worship services for the Christmas season; and last minute shopping have made it pretty much impossible to stay on top of my blog writing.  Like I say, I lost a few days.

                  We all know what it is like to “lose a day”.  It happens when we are sick and can’t go to work.  We feel like we have lost a day of getting things done.  Traveling can feel that way; it might take a whole day to travel from one place to the next and so it seems like we didn’t have that day to work, play or just relax. 

                  Now Samoa is another story. They are literally losing a whole day at the end of this week.  This Pacific island is changing its time zone.  The country wants to be in sync with the Asian side of time zones instead of the United States side, since they feel they do more business there.  So, in order to change the zone, they have to lose a day and go from Thursday to Saturday which means no TGIF for them.

                  Wonder what will happen to all the people who get paychecks each week?  Will they be docked for a day’s pay?  Will Samoans be charged for a whole month’s rent?  How about utility bills?  Do they receive a discount of one day? 

                  I am not sure how all that will work, but I do know this: cherish today, don’t waste it, don’t lose it because you will never get it back again.

                  hmmm…..