I'm doing better at my New Year's goal to write a poem everyday than I am at my goal to write on this blog every week. However, I've only missed a week, I think?
below is my poem for the day.
You can read lots of other poems from http://theschmitthouse.net/poetry.html

Aging

As the years have passed me by
One small question wonders why
As the years have come and gone
Time more quickly passes on
When a child a day could drag
Minutes hours all seemed to lag
Now I’m old they go so fast
Even years don’t seem to last

So we treasure moments still
Try to bend them to our will
Make them last as long as we
Hold them dear and squeeze until
Every bit of joy we find
Leaving nothing left behind
Give our thanks in fullest measure
For this life and loves we treasure

Yesterday we had the grandchildren overnight. 7 months and 2 years. It takes a lot of energy. However, there is a lot to be said for getting to playing with trains and swinging. Grand children give you the excuse to enjoy those simple childhood toys and activities all over again. Truely "anamnesis" moments.

Another week and I've almost not kept my resolve to write something each week. However, here I am! biggest news of the week was cold or flu. We both had it and missed work. Thank God it's mostly over!

Here in Louisiana it's hard to believe in global warming with record lows. It's 19 out there and the furnace is out. We are bundled up in the bedroom with our lone space header and hoping the furnace circulates enough warm air to keep the rest of the house livable until ACUTEMP comes to fix things. Meanwhile doing things to keep the house warm like baking bread and running the dishwasher.

Things are still going well on Helium.com and else where here at the Schmitthouse. My New Years resolution for Helium is to write at least one article and one poem a day. The poetry just seems to flow. When it's right it's right and comes out in less than a half hour. Today's entry is
Icicles

Clear glass spears of jagged teeth
Across the roof drip down beneath
To touch the ground with drips and drops
Until the cold comes make them stop

We break them off for swords and duels
When snow has let us out of school
And watch them break as crossed we crash
And run for cover with a dash

The smaller ones we suck and lick
But not too long lest cold tongues stick
then hold them high before the sun
and watch it set when day is done.

I've not been writing much and truth be told I don't know if anyone out there is reading. However, it is a new year and time for resolutions. So among them will be my resolve to put at least one thing on this blog each week.

That is no where near what I put up on Helium.com where I strive to put up one article and one poem or song each day. I am by the way now a Steward at Helium.com. I have been selected to be the Steward of the Christianity Channel. It is my job to recruit and encourage writers on our channel. So if you are a writer or aspire to be, check it out. Helium.com.

This time of year is one of those Anamnesis times for many people. De Ja vu all over again. It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since my late wife Lily died on New Years Eve. In many ways it is both like yesterday and a whole forgotten life ago.

Meanwhile we have begun having contact with grandchildren. Aiden going on three and Gabriel going on 7 month have been here overnight twice in the last two weeks. It's a joy and a challenge.

Got away to Arkansas for a few days. We both rested up and started our New Years exercise resolve early with three days of swimming.

well, I guess this is mostly a lot about nothing much, but if Seinfeld could do it for years on TV with success it's worth a try in writing. Good Therapy for the writer at least.

If anyone is reading. let me know!
Geoff

All things being equal, which I guess mostly they aren't, being struck by lightening is more likely a curse than a blessing. Not so in the recent experience of First Lutheran, Shreveport.

It would be hard to say we were blessed with rain this past October. There was more than any other October in recorded history. Much of that rain came in thunderstorms.

One Sunday late in the month on day that was not raining, in the middle of my children's sermon, there came a pop in the balcony accompanied by lights going out. Not to mention the noises made by members of the choir. This followed by some smoke. The organ was "fried" and it wasn't even raining that day.

The present organ is a 1970s version Allen purchased used in the 90's from a Dentist. He helped install it using an amplifier purchased at JC Pennys. There have been attempts to raise funds for a replacement for the past ten years. About $4,500 had existed on paper. However, with tight budgets that money has been spent.

At the time of demise another used organ of similar model, perhaps a generation newer than the current was available for $9,000. A small modern digital would be about $20,000. Our first thought was that we might be stuck with just piano for some time to come.

It seemed a shame since we had been fortunate to find a PHD quality organist to play for us.

A brief investigation into our coverage gave us hope. It seemed to us that the church leaders of years gone by had insured the organ for replacement value? So we began to pray the company would see it our way.

Meanwhile, my secretary had the inspired idea to check with our neighbors to see if perhaps any of them had lost equipment to lightening strikes during the same period. Ureka! The Ear, Nose, and Throat Docs next door lost a computer and a copier the same week.

Who knew there were saved records of lightening strikes just about everywhere in the country. The adjuster was able to find corroborating evidence. They wrote it off as a total loss and granted funds to buy a replacement organ at today's equivalent value.

Allen Organ Company has given a loaner while the new one is being built for $69,000 plus.
The salesman will return to us a gift to cover the $1,500 deductible. God has blessed us with a brand new fantastic organ.

Blessed by lightening.

Things certainly are not always what they seem.

I've known for years that being a "non anxious presence" is the most helpful thing a leader can do, or is that be? See Generation to Generation by Rabbi Friedmann. The trouble is , you can't fake it!

As in "Oh sure I'm a non axious presence, just look at me being non anxious, oh please, please believe I'm not anxious, no really, I really, really, am, look at me, don't worry be happy!"

NOT!

On a scale of 1 to 100 I may finally be approaching passing? Although, somehow, I think writing about it in front of the whole World Wide Web may be decreasing my score. Or come to think of it, keeping score is probably a sign I've still missed the boat altogether.

Anyway, I was thinking, before I started writing, that just maybe things are going a little smoother in my life, especially my professional life because I'm less anxious. Maybe it has to do with turning 60? I have less to prove.

On the other hand I'm as competitive as when I was a teen age Boy Scout earning merit badges. Now I'm earning them on Helium.com for writing. check it out. I've got stars and badges and more on the way!

I'm having lots of fun though. I've been writing songs and poems and Christian Apologetics.

Perhaps there is also some connection between letting go and inspiration.

What do you think?