Memorial Day

Memorial Day

During the terrible days of the Vietnam War, I was in the seminary and exempt from the draft. I was shielded from the harsh reality of war except for the evening news that graphically displayed the horrors of war. Those years of political and social unrest created scars in our country that can never be erased.

Today is our national holiday that calls us to remember the price those men and women have paid with their lives. We often hear that freedom is not free because it comes at a heavy cost of human life. Since the founding of our nation over one million lives have been sacrificed in war for our freedom.

In 1868 on the bloody battlefield at Gettysburg, the first Decoration Day was held honoring the Civil War dead. At that dedication it was said, “For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.” The Civil War claimed a half million lives, more lives lost than that of either World War I or World War II.

Memorial Day was designated a national holiday in 1968. It is a tradition in our national cemeteries that on this day an American flag be placed on every grave to honor those who have served their country in the cause of freedom. In our fast paced world it is easy to forget that this holiday is a time to pause and reflect of the price paid in human life for our freedom.

I am reminded of the words Jesus spoke facing the reality of his own death which would release humankind from the chains of enslavement. “No one has greater love nor stronger commitment than to lay down his own life for his friends.”

Ice Cream

Ice Cream

It was Friday evening in early spring here in Montana. That means you can experience all four seasons in one day if you are lucky. Having just toured our granddaughter’s science fair at her school, I suggested to Judy that we drive over to our favorite ice cream parlor for a little indulgence.

Well, it’s not exactly an ice cream parlor. There’s this gas station – convenience store on the south side of town that sells everything from milk and eggs to fresh doughnuts. It’s a gathering hole for ice cream fanatics. They sell Wilcoxson’s ice cream, a Montana made ice cream that is the best! You can get a heaping styrofoam dish of your favorite flavor (ours being coconut cream) for less than the price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Moose Tracks, Pecan Praline and Huckleberry are also my favorites.

Back to my story. Ahead of us in line at the counter was a couple with four children. Realizing that it would take some time for them to decide which flavor to order, I casually said, “Hey, we could join your family and pretend we were your grandparents.” They smiled and continued to focus on the flavor options. I was a little irritated that I had to wait while they sampled and then ordered. When we got our ice cream and went to the cash register to pay, we were told that the family ahead of us paid for their grandparents!

That family’s generosity blew us away. While savoring my pecan praline, I felt ashamed of my grumpy irritability at having to again learn the lesson of patience. Why am I always in such a hurry? Slow down and enjoy the moment and the ice cream.

Remember: I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.

Procrastinatus

Procrastinatus

I grew up with “don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.” I have tried to live by that motto. Realizing that putting off a project, a chore, a decision until a later date can be a recipe for disaster, I kept trying to not let things slide. I think it was easier to do when I was younger.

The word procrastinate literally means to put off till another day. The procrastinator’s mantra is “don’t do today what you can put off till tomorrow.” Those tasks that I enjoy get done right away: walking the dog, hunting gophers, meeting friends for coffee are enjoyable; no need to put them off. Paying bills, going to the dentist, stepping on the scale can always wait till tomorrow.

The problem is I am running out of tomorrows. There is no guarantee that I will have a tomorrow let alone the fact I am getting older by the day. Speaking of getting older, I find that it takes more energy (mental and physical) to do stuff.

Procrastination is working against me. If I need to get something done I better do it today while I still have the energy.

I have made a bucket list for this summer. They are four things I have procrastinated about for some time. I am going to play two golf courses: one at Big Sky and the other The Works in Anaconda. I am going to ride my hybrid bike on the Rails to Trails, a fourteen-mile ride on the roadbed of the old Hiawatha Railway on the Montana – Idaho boarder. If I survive all of that I am going to hike Sacajawea peak, the highest point in the Bridger Mountains.

Even with my good intentions I am reminded of this caveat from the Bible: “Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow.”

That’s true.

Golf

Golf

My golfing career began when I was a teenager. Wanting to make some money, I hired on as a caddy at a local country club. I was the smallest caddy at the club and could barely carry one golf bag for nine holes. I kept at it and eventually I was able to carry doubles (two golf bags) for eighteen holes. By today’s standards the money wasn’t that good, even with tips but it was enough for a Saturday matinee at the local theatre.

What attracted me to golf was that I didn’t have to be really athletic like a football or baseball player. Golf is an individual sport played in competition against yourself. As my interest grew, I got my hands on some bamboo shaft clubs. I made my own nine-hole course in our big back yard. I used empty Campbell soup cans as holes and tomato stakes with rags attached as pins.

Over the years I have had a love-hate relationship with golf. I really love it when I am playing well. In fact, one year I joined a fancy golf club and played at least once a week. I hated golf when I was playing bad. I even put the clubs away and quit for several years. I thought if I could walk away from the game for a season, I might develop a healthier attitude, focusing on enjoyment rather than perfection.

I never took lessons. Looking back, I think that would have honed my natural ability. I kept thinking that if I had the right equipment and the right attitude I would excel at the game. Although I have gone through several sets of clubs, my attitude was always in need of improvement.

Speaking of clubs, last fall I bought a new set of hybrid clubs. They were advertised as helping older guys like me play better. Nothing like a brand-new set of golf clubs to boost your moral. Taking them out for the first time, I placed them on the golf cart, got distracted and forgot to secure my bag. As I drive off my new clubs fell out of the bag and onto the pavement. Embarrassed, I began picking them up and noticed that each one had a big scratch or a chip missing from the club head!

Now my new clubs look a lot like my game: well-worn and a few parts missing. Such is golf.