Faith, Folklore, and Friends

What does a lighthouse do? I ask myself. It never moves. It  cannot hike up its rocky skirt and dash into the ocean to  rescue the foundering ship. It cannot calm the waters or  clear the shoals. It can only cast light into the darkness. It  can only point the way. Yet, through one lighthouse, you  guide many ships. Show this old lighthouse the way. ―  Lisa Wingate ,  The Prayer Box

It was a beautiful spring morning when we visited the Stones River National Cemetery near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was cool, and except for the birds, totally quiet.  No yelling, no screaming in pain, no cannon fire, no guns blasting, no crying to God for help.   It is easy to drive on through, never allowing the reality of this place and others like it to disturb our comfortable world.   Every white stone represents a young life gone, his family's broken hearts, a wife or girlfriend who continued to read his letters until they were tear-stained and worn. It represents the hands that were taught to make a living, forever useless, forever empty.  Nothing can ever change what happened here, or the atrocities of war at D-Day, Pearl Harbor, and other places all over the world. When we see these tangible offerings of stone, we can remember, we can honor, and we can offer respect for the sacrifices that were made.

  Rejoice with those who rejoice;  weep  with those who weep. ~Romans 12:15

This blog was written in April of 2011.  I'm posting it again in honor of Don Williams' 77th birthday. I love music, all real music. From Bach to Bruce, Wagner to Wayland, Crawford to Campbell...they are all my favorites. My list does not include those 'musicians' who substitute volume and fireworks for talent, but that's a blog for another day. Several weeks ago, weary from winter, I was surfing the net, looking for something exciting to do during spring break. And there it was...Don Williams at the Georgia State Fairgrounds in Hiawassee! I ordered tickets the next minute. Don Williams has been a favorite since the first time I heard him. I wore out several cassette tapes of his poetry set to music. When he was in concert nearby, we were just never able to go. After being a fan for thirty-plus years, I finally got to see him in concert. He didn't disappoint. "Good Ole Boys Like Me" stirs my soul and I was so thankful when he opened wi...

Recently, we spent a few days at the Daytona SeaBreeze resort in Daytona Beach, Florida.  This view was from our balcony. The beach is huge, and you can drive on it when the tide is out.   The beach at dawn, when all that was stirring were the birds.

It was a hot day, but if you could find a spot in the shade, it was the perfect day for Music in the Park. The music was by Shannon Knight, and it was fabulous. We have made it two weeks without getting rained on.  Hallelujah!