BARBARO

Barbaro was put down yesterday. I heard of it about noon time and was very saddened. He was a courageous horse who I (as well as hundreds of thousands of his other fans) both hoped and prayed would survive. Such was not to be. To the credit of the veterinary staff and his owners (if in fact anyone can truly own something so proud and magnificent), it became time to make the hard decision and they did so. I applaud them for doing the right thing.

A few observations:
As humans, have medical advances been so great as to cause us to sometimes do the wrong thing in an effort to play god and extend human life instead of doing the right thing and allowing one to pass on when it becomes time? I've long held that modern medical science sometimes ignores quality of life and dignity issues solely in an effort to prolong life without regard to the person whose life is being extended.

With all the prayers offered up for Barbaro's recovery, will our good Lord not find a place for him, as well as those many other of His creatures who've journeyed with us for however short a time; having enriched our lives in this earthly existence?

If you love animals and have lost one or more who have given their life to you, don't you also feel that saddness at his passing and want to go home and hold those still with you a little tighter than usual?

I believe in good animals it is that we first find true unconditional love and that love they share with us allows us to know and appreciate that same unconditional love we are given by the Father.

And finally, if animals have never been a part of your life, you can't understand my point, so don't bother trying.

It's a New Year

In Church last Sunday I was considering the start of this New Year and the many blessings we are privileged to begin it with. Possibly because for several years now I've not had much positive to start another year, it's been hard to look forward. "Been down so long it looks like up to me." You know?

Anyway, our Daughter-in-law will graduate from Sewanee this May and she and our Son will in all likelihood be moving back to Texas and if not back to God's country at least closer. Our son has determined that Law School is the correct path for him so he plans on beginning those studies sometime around September. Getting her graduated, him on a career path and them hopefully closer to home have been aspirations long held.

Our Daughter is engaged to be married to a wonderful man and their wedding will take place in June at our home Parish where she served as Acolyte for many years. Her ex-EYC Youth Director, now a Canon at the Cathedral, will give the homily. She, also, is on track to earn her Bachelor's Degree this May, another thing we have long desired (Graduation, not the Wedding, though we have hoped she finds that right person for quite some time).

My surgery continues to heal. I see continual improvement in its results, and the Wife's health remains reasonably good (have I mentioned that she suffers from M.S. yet is without the more devastating symptoms of the disease).

In addition to all that I've been working on a more positive mental attitude for myself. It certainly appears things are improving and even business is starting off much better than it has since possibly '02. Seems almost too good to be true. As such it's rather difficult to turn loose of all the baggage I've toted for some time now. But, you know what, I'm 'gonna try.

Thanks be to God!

Epiphany

Yesterday was Epiphany and I listened to one of my favorite Christmas CDs one last time before putting all of them away until next year. It's by Michael Martin Murphy and called Cowboy Christmas. If you like Cowboy or Western Music you will love it. It truly is one of my favorites.

Corn, Water and Wood, one cut on the album, stands out as one I can listen to again and again. I take the song as a reference to the Magi but in a current time and a Southwestern setting.

It's the recollection of a Cowboy who's out gathering strays on Christmas Eve and while chasing one particularly recalcitrant calf, late in the night and tired as can be, half asleep or possibly halucinating, he stumbles upon three figures, masked and on horseback, singing:

We seek the soul, of all that is good,

We come bearing Corn, Water and Wood,

Stop and behold, all that is good,

Give thanks for the Corn, Water and Wood.

There's more to the piece than that, but I'm taken by the Corn, Water and Wood imagery. Here in the Southwest on the Prairie or in High Country, and yes Texas does count as the Southwest, one wouldn't have much use for gold, frankincense and myrrh. But alone, on horseback, late at night there's nothing a Cowboy with a lost calf could use more than corn, water and wood. In the song, what was seen as being three horsemen morphs into three real Pueblo children tending their sheep, who roundup the stray and bring him back to the rider. Subsequently they become the singers of the refrain.

I'm trying to figure out what haunts me so about this song and I believe it's how in listening I become mindful of the importance of the gifts brought to the Christ Child by the Magi. They were gifts of a nature that would serve Him later. As are the gifts brought by the Pueblo children to the rider's stray. Or maybe it's the part about "Stop and behold, all that is good."

Quien sabe?

I found a free copy of it by another artist here. If you have more internet savvy that I, you might be able to play the Michael Martin Murphy track free here.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

A Resolution

Got an email with links to two sites featuring photos from Hawaii regarding the recent dedication of the U.S.S. Oklahoma and the 65th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack.

We are not so far removed from December 7th, 1941 as one might imagine.

Truly, the "Greatest Generation" must be those who fought and endured the Second World War. They gave everything and asked little in return. It is they to whom we owe so very, very much. They saw and lived through unspeakable horrors and those who returned did so only with a desire to attempt a normal life and asked only for the opportunity to put those horrors behind them and move forward. Age has taken so many of them and few now remain.

Honor them and their sacrifices, always, and resolve this New Year to remember all those, both then and now, who are willing to place duty, honor and courage above self.