Saturday, June 7, 2008

Wet Weather

I have refrained from the personal for a while and not troubled you with tales of floods and other natural disasters. If the rain keeps up, we will be heading for our fourth, out of six, all time monthly rainfall totals this year.

I have, for the time being, resumed my duties at the golf course and admit I do enjoy the camaraderie if offers. I am only there about six hours a day for three days a week. That’s plenty and I can definitely feel the difference. My duties are split between the pro shop and the snack bar so it does get a little tense at times. The clubhouse is a remodeled old red barn and overlooks about 150 extremely well manicure acres.

The Ozarks has its drawbacks but the tendency is to overlook everything in the springtime. How anyplace can be so ugly in February and so sublime in June is a constant mystery.

Since I mow four of our twenty acres, it is sometimes necessary to drive between the raindrops just to keep up. Another “time robber” I have is the latest acquisition for the library. Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg came recently—thank you Amazon—and I strongly encourage you to read it with me. His grasp of the big picture is excellent. Don’t expect any “feel good” pap from him.

As I contemplated very soberly the events of sixty-four years ago today, I felt a welling of gratitude to those who participated in the landing at Normandy. The expression, “All gave some and some gave all” was never more appropriate. Coincidently, a link showed up in my inbox with the efforts of a mass choir of high school kids and a middle schooler’s group to boot which I found to be outstanding. If your computer supports a reasonably good feed—downloading at least 400 kps—you should have a very enjoyable experience. It is a well presented piece by some very talented performers. It is shamelessly patriotic and presented with absolutely no apology.

I have one closing suggestion. If you are too young to have firsthand knowledge of the Second World War, I recommend you cultivate the acquaintance of some old codger who does. Whether a participant directly or an observer, any person eighty or over would be likely to have some measure of recall.. Be open to diversity here to enjoy the view from a varied perspective; either sex, various nationalities, any religion or none. This is a rapidly diminishing group so don’t wait too long. Also, respect the fact that some memories are too painful and may be repressed. Most of the folks will happily share recollections and be encouraged by the demonstration of caring.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Cecil,
Thank you for the link.
While I honestly struggle somewhat with the war imagery of God's calling for us, I am always moved by the singing and hearing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. In the context in which it was first written, I am at peace.
The moving, building cadence and the solemn melody and soulful harmonies never fail to touch me with the sense of God's abiding love for us, especially captured in the third stanza.
When I hear this hymn, I remember my Dad, I remember my Grandpa and my Uncle, I remember their comrades of freedom who served and fought for freedom's opportunity to triumph and flourish.
All day yesterday, I was thinking about the sacrifices of the thousands who gave their lives on the shores of France. In the sheltered, self-assumed tranquility of freedom's bounty, we often forget the price.
Thank you again for the moment to remember.
In Christ's blessed peace,
Matt