Admittedly the title of the Post seems strange.  I was watching the premier episode of

Julia Louis -Dreyfus hit television show, Veep, Sunday night.  One of her opening lines occurred as she was being interviewed by her former Presidential Aide, during the time that she was president of the United States on the last season of the show, Dan Eagan.

As Eagan asked her what she had been doing over the year since she had lost the presidency…she replied that she had gotten reacquainted with a wonderful person…Selina Meyer.  The comedic beauty of the statement was its’ real life sincerity.

As a young person I sought adults to emulate, and at time ‘Ape’  peoples’

Behavior while in search of an identity that I was comfortable with.

However, this practice of seeking the accepted societal behavior and endeavoring the emulation of it is very common in both work and social settings.

Have you ever noticed that people act differently when they are at work or church than they do when they are home or at a party?

I have known wonderful individuals…who were ten times more interesting…when they chose to remove the mask of ‘Society’s Theatre’…and reveal their true identity.

I have witnessed several married people who seldom exhibit their true self for fear of offending or loosing favor with their mate.

For years I was a member of an Academic Institution…that touted the supreme beauty of Academic Freedom…while at the same time threatening me for speaking out when  a popular Chancellor was terminated.

I love the institution…and my speaking out during a time of significant duress for me and my family is one of the proudest moments of my professional life.

A poem by German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller speaks to the need to, as we say in the Presbyterian Church, ‘Have Voice.’

“First they came for the Socialists, and I did  not speak out-Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.”

I very much admire individuals who proudly display their individuality and uniqueness.

The next time you have an idea that you feel strongly about…say it without fear…be yourself…fly your flag!

As I was taking my daily walk on the Campus of Southern Illinois University, I could not help but notice the relaxed, playful, lightheartedness of the students that I encountered.

The spring weather is simply perfect for outdoor study and other pursuits.

Such as a shaving cream pie in that face!

The scenes of students studying outside on Old Campus…reminded me of the many SIU Yearbook pictures that I had seen of students doing the exact same thing 40 and 50 and more, years ago.

For the past two years, especially, we have been consumed with worry regarding our unique and beautiful University.  SIU is a beacon of hope and opportunity and promise around the world…and in the homes and hearts of the rural residents of Southern Illinois.

The hope and promise that enriched my life as a twenty year old Southern Illinoisan, who was born in Chicago, when I was hired as a Building Service Worker I…in 1978, is still available.  Many of the student workers that I supervised, on my custodial crew in 1980,…were older than me.  Yet SIU first reached me with employment opportunity and later with educational opportunity; and an enlightening of my understanding of the vastness and diversity of humanity…in all of its’ beauty and splendor.

The hope of our wonderful students…our youth…gives me hope!  Everything is possible…if you only believe!

Senator Dale Fowler is coming for meetings at the University.  The Senator and I are proud graduates of Eldorado High School…class of 1975!  He is a great chap with a good heart!

I cannot believe…and will not accept that our legislative leaders and our Governor will turn their back on Higher Education.  This is our hope for the future.  This is our lighthouse…shining brightly in the inky darkness of prejudice and fear and the despair of no hope for advancement from the station in life that we are born into.

The young instinctively know that ‘the world is their oyster,’ as the old saying clearly portrays.  They understand that opportunity is there for them if they will apply themselves and study and set out on the great adventure that is…life!

Tomorrow we Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

‘And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magadelene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.  And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.  And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall you see him, as he said unto you.’   Mark 16: 1-7   KJV

The resurrection of Christ is what gives the Christian faith its’ promise.  Although the destructive…depressing…Earth shattering scene of Golgotha had transpired…there is the renewal and transformation and hope of Life from the resurrection.

‘For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.’   Psalm 30:5   KJV

I can only remember one Sunrise Service.  The Occassion had a special feeling for me…and has stayed with me for 45 years.

The intricate beauties of spring are indescribable.  We have endured the death of our plants and foliage and the spellbinding falling of the leaves from our lovely trees.  The cold…short…dark…days of winter…seem to go on interminably.  Nature seems barren and a wasteland…the promise of the beauty of spring…seems very distant.

But, then suddenly it begins…and the new life covering our home gives us courage that there is hope for the future.

Nature dies..and is resurrected in the spring.  Christ died and was resurrected!  And, so, we die, sometimes to our old manner of living…sometimes to our failures and hurts and pains and sadness of life and loss…to be renewed and resurrected to, “Joy in the morning!”

Easter is a time of renewal and revitalization and a fresh perspective on the haunting of the past…and the promise of the future!

Of course the hope of the human family is the hope of the resurrection…and renewal…and spring.

When we first began attending the First Presbyterian Church, almost twenty years ago, I noticed that during Holy Week there was a notation on the bulletin board regarding Maundy Thursday.  I had never seen the word Maundy before and thought it very curious.  Maundy means, “The Thursday before Easter is known as either Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday.  Maundy is derived from the Latin word for ‘command’ and refers to Jesus’ commandment to the disciples to ‘Love on another as I have loved you,” according to Greg Garrison.

Maundy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper.  ‘And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.  And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one [Is] it I?  And another [said, Is] it I?  And he answered and said unto them, [It is] one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.  The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written for him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed!  Good were it for that man if he had never been born.  And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake [it], and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.  And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them: and they all drank of it.  And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed  for many.  Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.  And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.’  Mark 14: 18-26   KJV

What an extraordinary command Jesus left his disciples of his day…and his disciples of today…with.  He instructed us to love each other as he has loved us.

This Last Supper directive would therefore apply to those Syrian babies that were killed by the brutal…inhuman Assad regime…that we avenged with fifty-nine scud missiles.  Perhaps it would be better if we allowed them and their parents into our Country…for the safe haven…that we claim we are based on?

Perhaps the homeless should receive shelter and food…rather than our assuring them that…we will pray for them?

Perhaps our Native American brothers and sisters should be considered and reverenced as the original Americans…and not abused and maligned and cavalierly ignored as to their heritage and rights?

Perhaps the African American should be exalted for their noble heritage and their dignity…and recognized for their extreme contribution to this country; rather than being persecuted and shunted aside in inner city poverty and profiled due to their skin color.

Jesus was a Jew.  He was not a milky white Anglo Saxon.

I love the Christian Faith…but it is more than a lovely story…its’ commandment regarding human relationships…are the core of the entire Faith.

I have been rather obsessed with the educational institution that I love.  SIU is something special to me…and it is always new…no matter how many times I walk the beautiful Campus.

Today, President Randy Dunn shared the G. K. Chesterton quote, that has been my talisman, with the Southern Illinois System,  in his Systems Connection Newsletter.

I like President Dunn and Chancellor Colwell.  Both of these leaders speak to me very naturally and sincerely.  I felt empathy for President Dunn at the last Board of Trustees meeting when several members of the Edwardsville Campus spoke very hurtful and disingenuous things regarding the Carbondale Campus.  I believe that President Dunn is doing his best to hold our Carbondale Campus together during the most financially critical time of our history.

We must pull together with these leaders to weather these stormy seas, and come out on the other side with a renewal of our former greatness.

As we  pledged our loyalty and fealty to our leaders…who want our success…we ask that we be kept on board the ship…even in a diminished manner…so that we may be part of the solution…that will surely need our expert…career dedication and support.

One more time…for good measure…” We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.”  G. K. Chesterton

You may have heard the term, ‘Speak Truth to Power,’ and wondered how a person would go about such an endeavor…and more importantly…why would you want to.

Without a doubt the concept of telling a powerful person a ‘truth’ that perhaps they do not want to hear, is daunting.  This fearsome task is compounded if you are employed by the agency that you want to speak the truth to.

According to the scriptures, Moses felt more than a little trepidation when God told him to go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘To Let My People Go!’

Dr. Martin Luther King, spoke truth to power when he proclaimed, ‘I have a dream.’  He also spoke truth to power when he was in the Birmingham jail.

President Delyte Morris spoke truth to power when he tirelessly proclaimed that there would be a University in Little Egypt.  A poor…hardscrabble land…of farms and coal fields.  Out of Dr. Morris’ determination came Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, Illinois.

Now our political leaders, not all of our politicians, have refused to compromise and come to a consensus on a state budget…which has crippled our state and imperiled our great University.

Now is the time to speak truth to power…and let our political leaders know that we cannot continue in this manner!  Soon…we will be consumed…by political expediency!

Former Chancellor Samuel Goldman said of me, that he had never met a person that was so willing to speak truth to power.  I was humbled by his kind remark.

I have experienced on countless occasions, when speaking with Chancellors and Presidents…that they are more than willing to listen to heartfelt concerns…as long as they are presented with a shared respect for our mutual humanity.

One of my favorite quotes is from the author G. K. Chesterton, ‘We are all in the same boat in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty.’

After a rousing three day adventure in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, we found ourselves at the Aquarium.  Now, let me state that I have passed the Aquarium on numerous occasions through the years…and have never stopped in.  This marine museum is worth the visit!

To see the wonder of the amazing sea creatures that are members of our planet…is somewhat breathtaking.

The mystery and variety of the under water world is much like another planet…and the inhabitants…aliens.

There is a serene beauty in observing aquatic life.

It is humbling to come to the realization that many creatures share this blue orb called Earth…with us.

I read an article this morning by Maria Shriver regarding the value of Time.  Time is something that we think little about…until we contemplate that it may be running out.

When I was a child…I could not wait to be grown.  When I became a man…I could not wait to become successful…or at least what society told me was successful.

When I became successful…I anticipated with joy…my retirement.

Now that I am retired…I look with great longing to find identity with life.  What does it mean to be alive…with all of the joys…and all of the sorrows…that life brings?

My recent Gatlinburg visit with my brother Brock and My Sister-law-Marcy and my nephew Jeb and my niece Jamie…helped to teach me the value of our most valuable resource…Time…and how precious it is.

Do you think that God is a Capitalist?  Do you really believe that it matters to the Creator…who really acquired the most wealth?  Will the rich have the best seats in Heaven…and the poor be relegated to the Cheap seats?

The majesty of God’s Creation…and the uniting of Family…is a true miracle…and a key to his character!

A few days ago we had the privilege of spending some time with my brother Brock and his lovely family at Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.  Although I have been to Gatlinburg probably thirty times in the past forty years…our time with the Brooks family was special.

Brock and Marcy are such wonderful people.  Have you ever met someone and felt like that you have been together for all of your life?  That is how we all feel about Brock and Marcy and Jeb and Jamie!

Do you see the family resemblance?  All of us have noticed the similarities shared between my brother and I.  Especially our affinity of hats!

Mary Jane and Marcy make me think that they are sisters rather than sisters-in-law.

I felt an immediate affection for my nephew Jeb and his sister Jamie.  They are such impressive outstanding people…I am honored to be their uncle!

I must explain at this point that Brock and I are long lost brothers.  My mother and father divorced when I was five years old.  I was not aware of Brock and his siblings…and mine…until 2012 when our sister Tammy contacted me.  I cannot think of a greater gift that I have been given than to have brothers and sisters…as I was raised an only child.

We enjoyed a lovely hike in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

This is a part of our Country that captivates my imagination!  We have considered moving to Gatlinburg on more than one occasion.

The Little Pigeon River holds continuing renewal for me.  I would like to have a cabin next to it.

Just the melodic sound that the Little Pigeon makes… will wash away all of your worries and cares.

We also saw a great waterfall.

We observed some blackened trees from the fire that plagued the area just a few short months ago.

We had the opportunity to participate in a Tasting of Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine in Gatlinburg.  It was wonderful!  We thus were compelled to purchase some to take back to the cabin in Pigeon Forge.  We throughly enjoyed this Smoky Mountain Original a week ago last Friday.  All worries…and pain…and suffering…was forgotten over board games and discussions regarding Global Warming.

Needless to say, this was a trip for the Journals and Record Books!  We so enjoyed being with the Brooks of Tennessee…that we want to replicate the experience soon and often!

Morgan is Jeb’s lovely and sweet girlfriend.

Jonathon enjoying a doughnut from the Doughnut Friar in Gatlinburg where he got a free cup of coffee for using their ATM.

I cannot express how meeting Brock and his family has influenced my life.  He and I are much alike and his family is my family.

A wonderful gift for a retired almost 60 year old…only child!