2013 Begins

Are you a reader? Are you a bibliophile?

Here are some trivia:

The oldest book is the RigVeda which pre-date 4000 BC. The collection of hymn and texts included a description of astronomical  occurrences which provides an approximate dating.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/

The second oldest surviving book is the Epic of Gilgamesh. Written in 2100 - 2000 BC in Mesopotamia, the current version dates from approximately 1600 BC. http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/

Project Gutenberg offers one of the largest collections of books on the internet. http://www.gutenberg.org/ 

 Bertrand, a book store located in Portugal, founded in 1732 is the oldest bookstore in the world. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25180769

The largest Atlas in the world is on display in the British Library. It measures 5'10" x 3'5" and takes several people to lift it. The Klencke Atlas was made in 1660 by a Dutch mapmaker for the King of England, Charles II. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0K8FKZkSr4

Which books do you intend to read in 2013??

GMC Died for Me

From time to time, life gives us curve balls. In my case, the curve was on a mountain road and the ball was a Jeep sliding out of control across the center divider and into the front end of my truck.

I could tell you the story of the ride to the hospital. I could tell you the story of the real cost of uninsured motorists. But I choose to tell you the story of the truck.

Selecting the GMC truck off the lot was an exciting day. The detail guys just finished vacuuming the carpet; the truck would never again be quite as pristine. The commitment to the payment was a biggy, even though this story pre-dates the early 21st century Depression-era.

The GMC transported my family, got me to work, and toted the groceries, dogs & supplies. Gas milage was as expected and the overall cost of maintenance was within budget. Of course, the price gas was in the $1.50 - $2.00 range. The CPA and I agreed, this was a good purchase. With a stroke of luck and lots of hard work, the truck fell into the asset column.

Until that fateful day, I hadn’t given much thought to the safety features. Until that day, I hadn’t thought about what a downward moving Jeep could do to my Sierra pick-up. Until that day, I hadn’t thought about the auto designers & engineers. Until that day, I hadn’t thought of how government safety regulations might save my life. I had only thought I drove a pretty truck.

My pretty GMC truck gave its life that day to save mine. I’m grateful.

Preview

‘For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found’. And they began to be merry.’ ~Luke 15:24

A child of the 60s, teen in the 70s, not a boomer or a gen-Xer, I am of the Lost Generation. The Lost Generation watched, as children, seeing daily death from Vietnam on the 6 o’clock news. The Lost Generation watched as the economy took mothers out of their homes, out of their children’s lives, to be employees. The Lost Generation turned to ‘sex, drugs and rock n roll’ to abate the depression that was their lives.

For me: I married at 18, was a divorced mother by 19. Finding the way, for my son and myself was difficult. Without guidance, I went to the school of hard knocks, which gained me the gift "discernment" by experience. At 21, just becoming an adult, I recognized the benefits of walking the Road of Happy Destiny and set about making amends for past mistakes and truly living as Jesus instructed and God intended.

The story of the prodigal son has always brought tears to my eyes. Partially, because I am found, out of a generation lost, and in spite of my best effort, my first son is lost to me, not unlike the Biblical prodigal to his father.

In the Garden of Gethsemane and while He hung on the cross, we are told that Jesus felt sorrow. Even as he hung on the cross dying, he cried, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” feeling the darkness of being Lost.

During Lent and Easter, I am reminded of His Sacrifice for the Lost and of the Joy of Being Found.

Thought:

May the tears of today,
Water the flowers of tomorrow,
And bring Light to the eyes that behold them.



Submitted, this day, for print publication.

X-Files:I want to believe

If you liked the X Files, you’ll like this movie. It’s a continuation of the story. The characters have continued to live in their universe. We find out what they’ve been up to with a few hints within conversations. David Duchovny and Gilliam Anderson are easy on the eyes and believable in their characters.

In the 1970s, many people were open to different ideas. There were societies and organizations that researched, promoted, educated and believed that there was more to life than the 3D dissection oriented scientific or blind faith. Put to the task of explaining the previously unexplainable were people not unlike Fox Mulder and Dana Skully. People who were on both sides of the argument but not so set in their own beliefs as to disregard the evidence of the other side. Sometimes manifesting in a psychic being a proven a fraud; Other times manifesting in the acceptance that there was simple no way to explain what happened.

Some of the brave researchers and activists that come to mind are R Buckminster Fuller, Elizabeth Kubler Ross, Raymond Moody, Hans Holzer, Betty & Barney Hill. These people stood up to ridicule and told their experience.

Paranormal Psychology, as a field of study does not produce the type of evidence many scientists suggested it should, which resulted in funding cuts. One could respond with a question: how is it that when medical researchers who fail to produce their evidence, treatment or “cure” still get funded?

We know that when a person dies, 21 Grams of weight leaves the body. Is this the weight of the soul or spirit? Why do we, as a society, not wish to learn more about this and other related questions? There were large number of those who ventured into this area in the 1970s, not unlike a similar period in the 1920s, as well as, the late 19th century. It would be nice to have a renaissance of open minded folks who would want to believe.

Links
http://www.parapsychology.org/
http://www.elisabethkublerross.com/
http://www.lifeafterlife.com/
http://www.bfi.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Holzer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Hill