You Count so Speak the Truth!

I am not here for a political message. I had the pleasure of meeting and having a one on one with Ronald Reagan at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum and sharing a few stories as a high school student at Northrop High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I have met other politicians, not due my aspirations, which are not political. Mine are more spiritual…more of social justice…more of how others are served in my life time - especially the homeless and those in need of care.

Instead of giving a message of who is the best candidate for you. How do you vote your truth? I have voted for Republicans, Democrats and Independents and sometimes I have felt the Bern. Instead of debating and arguing, I encourage you to “speak the truth in love.” Live your truth without pontificating and pushing your agenda on social media. I do not need to say who I am voting for in the Presidential election. I am voting because I count, and my vote counts.

Excuse me…I am now in search of the Borax Team and that monkey named Bonzo. It does not matter how to spell “potato.” I only know how to eat one. All kidding aside, somethings do not matter like the Borax Team, a monkey named Bonzo and how to spell potato.

I will conclude with a couple of phrases no matter how unpopular in the world and the U.S.A., but the phrases matter.

“God bless you” my friends, and I am a "Christian." I have spoken my truth, and I will vote in the fall election.

Remember, you and your vote counts!

Celebrate Personal and Professional Relationships

I believe in looking back at the positive relationships that have and continue to be a part of my life. It maybe a personal relationship. Or it maybe a business relationship. Reflect and celebrate with a fist bump, handshake, hug or sign in American Sign Language, "I love you." 

I encourage you to celebrate your personal and professional relationships

Surprising Cathy with a birthday celebration in the kitchen of my first apartment, located on Rivermet Avenue in the Lakeside neighborhood, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cathy's niece, Reannon. Not pictured: Sandy Walker (sister) and Helen (mother).

Cathy's parents were a gift to those who spent time with them due to their faith and love. The following are the words about Helen and Mr. Walker Tom Sir as Cathy's birthday is celebrated this month.

I believe that each person has a gift to share Helen and Tom Walker. A few of their gifts were calmness, humor and love, and Cathy can hold those gifts on her birthday and always.

With six children of their own, Helen and Mr. Walker Tom Sir never hesitated to include me on family trips. Helen said that her children could invite a friend to go on their family trip to Maranatha. Cathy asked me.

Thom Dale, their son, thought of a game that we could play that involved Cathy, Joy, Kathy Minnich, and me. Thom Dale would pitch a ball up to us as we stood on the porch roof and hit it with a large stick. The runner would enter through the window, run down the stairs, exit out of the front door and circle the bases without Thom Dale tagging the individual out.

Joy was on the porch roof, waiting for her pitch. Thom Dale looked down the dirt pathway. He then yelled Mom and Dad are coming. Joy tried to enter through the open window. Her belt was stuck on the windowpane. Thom Dale was yelling for me to pull Joy in. I could not pull Joy in.

Helen and Tom walked by the house as I am trying to pull her youngest in the window. Helen looked at the situation with Joy’s legs dangling from the window. Helen and Mr. Walker Tom Sir calmly walked on by. They never said a word about it to us kids.

Helen and Mr. Walker Tom Sir realized that we were good kids so why not be calm and have a sense of humor. And it was a good ting that Cathy's parents had the above-mentioned gifts because we were always into or doing something as kids.

I sat down with Helen and Mr. Walker Tom Sir as an adult and shared a number of these stories and antics with them. They laughed so hard.

We Pray for an End to Violence

As I walked in the darkness last evening around St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA, I reflected on the scripture that was posted as a prayer within the building.

We Pray for an End to Violence

If I walk out into the field,
look! Those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! victims of violence...
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
Do not reject us, for your name's sake,
do not disgrace your glorious throne.
Remember your covenant with us,
and break it not.

Jeremiah 14:18-21

All Lives Matter. Stop The Violence.

Hold onto hope for our world. We have that promise.

With gratitude to my friend, Tim McCrea for sharing this photo he took in my hometown. 

It speaks volumes.

A Dreary Day and the Sun Shone from Behind the Clouds

I was having a hankering for duck. So I stopped by an Asian restaurant. I was delighted to see a number of immigrants sporting the red, white and blue. (I reflected on how most of us are immigrants. I am Swiss and German.) I was delighted to witness the pride.

Two men, Dennis and Tony invited me to sit at their table. I shared about Living Stones and how seniors and others are making hats for those in need. We also donate new tube socks. Dennis gave me a considerable amount of money for the project. I said, "Oh, I cannot accept that. It's too much."

Dennis wanted me to accept it. I said “Thank-you” through my tear filled eyes and choked up voice. Dennis' son Tony works as a case manager for Downtown Emergency Service (DESC). I asked Tony for his contact info. Tony and his DESC residents will receive our first donation of hats and tube socks for Living Stones' Christmas in July program.

God bless them and the folks these two men are helping.

I played John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Scarecrow” cassette on my drive home, and I sang to “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. The United States rocks, and I am proud to be an American and from Indiana!

Live the American Dream this Fourth of July.

More Than Fire Works: Celebrating Our Freedom

I am reminiscent about my past, leading to this present moment, and my future freedoms on this Independence Day.

As I reflect on this photo of me with my classmates in Miss Hammer’s 3rd Grade Class, saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” as we stood up from our desk, placed our hands over our hearts and faced the American Flag and recited the words every school day morning:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." (1954)

I did not understand the above words as a child. The words give meaning to my life today.

I give gratitude to my Uncle Roger and my Aunt Judy for Fourth of July evening, leading into my senior year of high school. My uncle had is station wagon filled with my mother, sister, brother, their two children, who are my cousins: Greg and Amy, and me with a full length plaster cast on my right leg. My Uncle parked his car in the parking lot in front of the Northcrest Bowling alley and to the side of the Burger Chef. We watched the fireworks light up the humid Indiana, night skies.

 A couple of years ago, I offered an Independence Day service for my residents, who have dementia and health concerns. They were not mobile and seated in wheelchairs or used walkers. My residents served our country. When the pianist began playing the “Star Spangled Banner” as the opening music, the residents, who were cognitively and physically challenged stood up, placed their right hands over their hearts and sang without printed words. All of the words were from long-term memory.

The words with the lyrics did not come out of my mouth; instead, tears flowed down my cheeks as I looked around the room. When the song concluded, one resident’s very young great grandson, who held onto his grandpa's  walker yelled, “Play ball!” 

 The last song in the service was “This Land is Your Land.” Unannounced to me, one resident, who had been a professional musician, had his trumpet handed to him by his son and “Taps” filled the room.

I encourage you to reflect upon today by reading and sitting with the the second statement from the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 We are blessed by learning from our past and living in the present and looking towards the future.