The fall rains continue. Rain and shorter days are my forte. It is just over a month until my birthday. I can not recall when I did not enjoy rain and the ambiance of Autumn. The heated passions of summer give way to the cool considerations of fall. I received an L.L. Bean fall or winter shirt. It is a flannel with snaps and a leather pocket cover. It is in the antique style. I saw my dad wearing shirts like that in the ’60s. A time when clothes had character, one for each. The limbs have been falling in the Woods. Large enough to knock the person under them out cold. We live with the unknown as our companion. I often told MJ that we must take as many vacations and road trips as our budget allowed so that Aaron and Jonathon would have memories of the family events. We journeyed to interesting places and still do. Travel broadens your perspective. You meet people different than you. You hear many perspectives on life. No one solution fits all. I have always been a history student. The American Presidency fascinates me. I love stories. Stories fuel our lives. Each day, we walk through a story. We are in the middle of a narrative that has not revealed its ending.

Wisdom is lost on its children. The patently obvious is accepted as truth without a search for the prose. The picture before us and the likes or dislikes or hearts rule our understanding. Many folks are taking medication just to survive what is a chaotic time. There is a lot of fear. We peer around the corner to see what is coming. Will we be politically correct, or will we follow our hearts?

Simplification of compassion is not possible. If our brothers and sisters are those who are like us, we have missed the point. The sick mind and heart seek revenge for perceived wrongs. As a manager/administrator at Southern Illinois University, I quickly learned that not everyone likes me. I told the Director, along with his staff, that my goal upon assuming the leadership of the Building Services was to make our enemies our friends and our friends love us. He smiled wryly. I proceeded to do exactly what I said I would. We need longer tables to invite everyone to the feast.

We live in the eye of the hurricane. We must be peacemakers. Progress is incremental. Let us reason together. Let us seek the elusive wisdom. We happy folk look outward instead of inward. Who needs us? How can we help? I love our little Presbyterian Church because it is constantly asking these questions. Not the church of exclusivity. Do not enter here if you are the right political party or color. ‘Come all those who are burdened and heavy laden.’ Jesus invited us to take his yoke upon us and learn of him as he was meek and lowly of heart, and we would find rest for our souls. He said we should learn from him. Christ loved humanity in all of its human condition. The Bible tells us that all of our righteousness is but filthy rags. We are all alike. As badly as we want to believe we are elite and set apart, we are part of a magnificent creation that is noted for its repeated failures.

So we think not all is well. Not so fast. We can not see too far around the next corner. Shall we treat those in need just like we want to be treated when our turn in the barrel is next?