Mental Health Monday

Milestones + Melancholy ... GOMER Returns ... Cat Popularity

It was a blessing to attend a Milestones of Ministry event at Christ Norfolk yesterday. Seven faculty & staff were honored for their retirement. I think another 6 were recognized for anniversaries of service. It left me feeling somewhat melancholy, however, because I still can't shake the feeling that my retirement from Lutheran education was bittersweet. I can't shake the feeling that the circumstances be which I retired from LHNE in March 2017, signaled my departure under a cloud. After all, I tell myself, I went on an indefinite medical leave-of-absence in Nov. 2014, which turned into a medical disability, which turned into a decision that it would be in both my best interests, as well as the school's, for me to depart. It seems to me that I should have gotten over it by now.

From NDN (4/27):  "Are you red or blue in the face? UNL study finds that conservatives show less emotion . . . new research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has demonstrated a correlation between political ideology & facial expressitivity:  Conservatives have better poker faces, while liberals may allow more tells."  COMMENT:  I think I do a fairly good job remaining expressionless despite feelings of depression & anxiety, which I continue to think my depression is somewhat atypical. Then again, I may just be having a pity party. SEE comments above.

G.O.M.E.R. *

NDN (4/27):  Schools extend year for snow. Some South Dakota school districts are being forced to extend the academic year because of days they missed over the winter & spring due to snow storms. The Aberdeen School District has added 5 days to its calendar to make . up for days missed due to bad weather. The last day of classes has been moved from May 17 to May 24."  DEPT. OF IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS:  School official #1: We know how productive those last weeks of the school year are. Official #2: Yeah. You might as well shut down school on May 1. Official #1:  Let's extend the school year by a week to make up for snow days. Official #2:  Yeah!
* Grumpy Old Men & Their Elucidating Rants

From Parade Magazine (4/29):  "What People Earn--Animal Edition. Nala Cat. The 7-yr-old Siamese/tabby mix w/3.5 million Instagram followers & deals w/Google, PetSmart & Purina can earn more than $7,000 per sponsored post. Kitt-size bandanas & bow ties ($12), Nala phone cases ($35), a Nala Cat tree ($124) & more are sold . . . COMMENT:  This is mildly depressing. Nala the Cat is more popular on social media than I?

Dept. of Shameless Joke Stealing

From Norfolk Daily News late laughs (4/27):  "Apple's new futuristic headquarters, Apple Park in Cupertino, CA, is having some problems. The bldg is filled with so much clear glass that employees have reportedly been walking into glass walls. I guess Apple shouldn't have installed windows. (The Late Late Show with James Corden).

Thought for Today

ASKING FOR HELP

“Ask, and it will be given you.” Matt. 7:7

“ . . . one of the most miraculous aspects of human existence is the ability of people to come to each other’s aid. Asking others for help when we are ‘in over our heads’ is a way to access that very miracle.” At the Crossroads: Devotions for Lent, by David Kehret, Creative Communications for the Parish, 2016.

Wit & Wisdom of Cal Thomas *

NDN (11/13/17):  "The Washington Free Beacon reports that Annette Clark, the dean of Seattle University's Law School, has revoked the school's sponsorship of a Federalist Society event. The reason? The proposed debate on immigration, hosted by the school's Access to Justice Institute, might be 'harmful' to minority students & undocumented immigrants,' aka people who broke the law to get to America, though we are not supposed to talk like that these days. At first I thought it was a joke played on those elites who claim to believe in tolerance, academic freedom, & inclusion. Dean Clark's edict reflects her & the school's intolerance, academic propaganda & exclusion of any view that does not conform to the . university's imposed ideology. Isn't this the stuff of re-education camps & gulags?

* One of my 2 favorite pundits

Sunday Meditation

LET HIM LEAD YOU

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Ps. 32:8

“You think it wrong if things do not go as you feel they should. But your thinking harms you and hinders Me. Things must go, not according to your understanding but above your understanding . . . Therefore not you, not a man, not a creature, but I, through My Spirit & the Word, will teach you the way you must go.”  Martin Luther Psalm by Psalm, Concordia Publishing House, 2017.

MY COMMENTS:  This is God speaking. The almighty Creator of the Universe will instruct & teach us through the Living Word. And those lessons usually don't come all at once. They come to us through a lifetime of experiences.

Surreptitious Saturday

The Feckless Fisherman

Yesterday I made my first fishing pilgrimage of the season to Doug's [a former school parent] pond. I fished for a little over an hour & caught six bass. The first one was the best:  17" & fat. I wouldn't have been surprised if it would have gone 3 lbs. I also caught 14", 15", 15", 13", & another 17" bass, all on black, wiggle-tail worms. It was pretty windy, & my fail-safe hula popper didn't engender even one strike. I only had one other fish on the line, which I couldn't land because I didn't get the hook set. And I didn't lose any lures, despite one pretty serious snag on underwater branches near the end of my time. All in all, I'd have to rate yesterday's expedition as a B, B+.

Wit & Wisdom of Cal Thomas *

From Norfolk Daily News column (4/18):  "California act really unbalanced. The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments over whether pro-life pregnancy help centers in CA should be required to post notices informing women of the availability of abortions elsewhere . . . According to Ingrid Duran, state legislation director for National Right to Life, the nation's oldest & largest pro-life organization, 'There is no provision in the so-called Fact Act that would require abortion facilities to inform women about the resources available from pregnancy resource centers . . . ' It is the abortion industry, which makes money off these vulnerable women, that fears information, otherwise they would be posting signs in their facilities about alternatives & the help available during pregnancy & after birth. The pregnancy help centers, unlike abortionists, don't charge for their services, raising the question of who cares more about women.

"I once debated a liberal feminist about this. She said I was implying women aren't smart enough to know what their choices are. I replied, 'Fine, then let's remove the labels from packaged products because women should be smart enough to figure out whether they contain corn or green beans . . . " COMMENT:  Abortion providers will continue to fight tooth-&-nail to keep women in the dark, because abortion providers are part of the darkness that Scripture clearly warns us against.

* One of my two favorite partisan pundits, along with Jonah Goldberg.

LOL Educator *

"From USA Today State-by-State (4/13):  (Louisiana) "Senators have unanimously agreed to require the state's public schools to display 'In God We Trust' in their buildings. Sen. Regina Barrow's proposal also would require the schools to teach students about the motto." COMMENT:  This is an extraordinary piece of legislation, but my reaction is tempered. This motto is well-grounded in our nation's history & culture, but one could rightly argue whose god in our multi-cultural world is worthy of our trust. I'm not sure that I trust thoroughly secular educators to teach about the only true God, Jesus Christ. Plus, imposing this education on students will almost certainly provoke a lawsuit & is unlikely to persuade its enemies.

From LCMS Reporter (Jan. 2018):  "How did pastors & teachers answer last month's question:  What do you tell your congregation/students in the wake of a mass shooting such as the Nov. 5 tragedy that took 26 lives--half of them children--at a church in Texas? Here are some responses (see more at reporter.lcms.org):  From a sermon by Rev. Jonathan Meyer, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Mission Valley Texas: 'This isn't about guns, or religion, or race, or social programs. This is about evil & wickedness & hatred & selfishness, & about the depths of depravity to which a human heart can fall when the devil is allowed free reign there . . . To counter the devil's attacks, St. Paul says, 'put on the whole armor of God' . . . That is the answer against the chaos of this sin-stained world that we live in:  put on the armor of God, given you in your Baptism . . . Trust the promises Jesus made you in your Baptism . . . Live your life freely as a forgiven & redeemed child of God, that others may see your sure & certain confidence in Jesus."

From American Heart Association pamphlet:  "Regular physical activity can improve quality of life & relieve stress, tension, anxiety & depression. You may notice a 'feel good' sensation immediately following your physical activity & also note an improvement in general well-being over time as physical activity becomes a regular part of your life. Physical activity can:

• release stress & calm you
• improve your mood & help you think clearly
• keep your mind off cigarettes if you're trying to quit
• help control your appetite
• help you lose weight if you're overweight, or stay at a healthy weight
• give you more energy & stamina
• lower your blood pressure
• increase your 'good' HDL cholesterol level
• reduce your risk of developing heart disease & stroke
• help control blood sugar by improving how your body uses insulin
• improve your quality of sleep
• help you feel better about how you look."

COMMENT:  I'm convinced that a glaring lack of physical activity has contributed to my heart disease, which led to the insertion of 3 stents last month. I'm trying to remedy further damage through cardiac rehab. I'm working on my 4th week in this program.

* Loony old Lutheran educator

Free-For-All Friday

Summer Sister Bash + Facing Illness + Puppy Chow + Brilliant Einstein

Sister Bash 2018

According to my calculations, there are 78 days left until the Summer 2018 Hill Sister Bash. We understand that when The Sisters get together for their Bash, it is the wishes of The Sisters that rule. Those of us who are camp followers must meekly bow to their inclinations. I would like to remind them, however, that I am a Hill by virtue of my relation to the Handel's. Carmen (Handel) Hill & David have 3 children & 3 grand-children. My relation to the Hills via Carmen thereby renders me a Hill. I am a cousin to both their kids & grandkids. Although I don't rank as high as brother David, I should fall into the next tier of honor.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY:  FACING PHYSICAL ILLNESS

“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance.”  Rom. 5:3

“This does not mean that we are happy about being hurt or ill. But when physical illness strikes us, we can still find joy in the anticipation of God’s work within & through us in those difficult circumstances.”  At the Crossroads: Devotions for Lent, by David Kehret, Creative Communications for the Parish, 2016.

There Is No Place Like . . . Colorado

From USA Today State-by-State (4/13):  "Colorado State University unveiled its new campus craft brewery, Ramskeller. The 264-gallon brewing system is the largest housed at any 4-year university in the country.

Michigan

Ditto (4/13):  "World War II veteran Ralph Taylor received his high school diploma from Greenville High School at age 90. He graduated from the school in 1945 but was called to serve in the U.S. Navy 2 days before his commencement ceremony.

Food for Thought

From Omaha World Herald (4/23):  "Man's best friend shouldn't become a meal, lawmaker says. Yes, you can eat dog or cat for lunch in most states. Or dinner. Or anytime. Unless Congress acts on a new plan that would subject anyone who kills those animals for human consumption to a jail term & up to a $2,500." COMMENT:  This bill is facing sharp criticism & intense lobbying from P.E.T.C.C. *
* People for the Ethical Treatment of Canine Connoisseurs

Cornhusker Climatology

From Norfolk Daily News (4/10):  "A skeptic or a believer? Princeton professor makes argument Einstein would have had serious doubts about global warming . . . Will Happer, a professor of physics at Princeton University, weighed in on that question recently. His answer is that, yes, Einstein would have been a skeptic based on a rich legacy of quotes from the scientist himself that reveals insight into his thinking. Consider the oft-repeated claim that 97% of scientists support global-warming alarmism. 'Einstein would have remembered the famous attack on himself--A Hundred Scientists against Einstein, published in Germany in 1931.' His response was, 'If I were wrong, one would have been enough.'

"Or take the oft repeated statement by climate alarmists:  'The science is settled.' Science, & especially a scientific topic as complicated as the Earth's climate is never settled. No astronomer, for example, would ever say the world knows everything about the universe. As Einstein put it, 'We still do not know 1,000th of 1% of what nature has revealed to us."  COMMENT:  I have just made Albert Einstein a posthumous member of the CBCT. *
* Cornhusker Blog Consultation Team.