We were comfortable and ready for our 2 ½ hour trip home from our “visit with” Mr. Jefferson. We had dinner in a sports restaurant near the University of Virginia campus--my son-in-law was driving—the rest of our group was in another car. Driving along the highway, we noticed to our left a beautiful scene.
There were the Blue Ridge Mountains, silhouetted against a sky of pale yellow and pink, as the sun was going down. The mountains are aptly named, as the fir trees there give a blue tint to them at any time of day, but especially now.
It got me to thinking about the favorite hymn, “Beautiful Savior.” Verse two:
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorr’wing spirit sing.
Taking a look around our world, there’s lots to see that’s beautiful, reminding us of our Beautiful Savior. With all the troubles in the world, it’s good to do that, because we are reassured that we are not alone, and God loves us. He gave us this beautiful world to enjoy.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Vacation – Part 2 – Mr. Jefferson
While vacationing in Virginia, we traveled 2 ½ hours to Monticello and the 5,000 acre home of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Yet Jefferson touts three other things on his tombstone: Governor of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia.
Jefferson took forty years to build the home and other buildings—much of his life--from land he inherited from his father. Along with that came slaves, of which more than 100 lived on the plantation at a time. Of particular interest to the visitor is the slave Sally Hemmings. She apparently had as many as six children by Jefferson, which tour guides spoke of matter-of-factly, perhaps as an attempt to ward off cover-up accusations by visitors.
It is interesting to note that only members of the Hemmings family were released from slavery following Mr. Jefferson’s death. What also strikes me is the contrast between what Jefferson wrote, and how he conducted this part of his life. In the declaration of Independence he wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Owning slaves and writing these words are quite a contradiction, don’t you think? Yet our words very often are compromised by our actions. Marriage vows are broken, promises we make to God and His Church are not kept, and solemn promises we make to friends, we cannot, or won’t keep.
There’s lots of room for repentance, and correction, in all of those things, don’t you think? As for Mr. Jefferson, he wrote down the baseline by which our country, with its freedoms, was build. As Christians, our baseline is the Bible. I hope you are reading it regularly.
While vacationing in Virginia, we traveled 2 ½ hours to Monticello and the 5,000 acre home of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Yet Jefferson touts three other things on his tombstone: Governor of Virginia, author of the Declaration of Independence, and the founder of the University of Virginia.
Jefferson took forty years to build the home and other buildings—much of his life--from land he inherited from his father. Along with that came slaves, of which more than 100 lived on the plantation at a time. Of particular interest to the visitor is the slave Sally Hemmings. She apparently had as many as six children by Jefferson, which tour guides spoke of matter-of-factly, perhaps as an attempt to ward off cover-up accusations by visitors.
It is interesting to note that only members of the Hemmings family were released from slavery following Mr. Jefferson’s death. What also strikes me is the contrast between what Jefferson wrote, and how he conducted this part of his life. In the declaration of Independence he wrote: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Owning slaves and writing these words are quite a contradiction, don’t you think? Yet our words very often are compromised by our actions. Marriage vows are broken, promises we make to God and His Church are not kept, and solemn promises we make to friends, we cannot, or won’t keep.
There’s lots of room for repentance, and correction, in all of those things, don’t you think? As for Mr. Jefferson, he wrote down the baseline by which our country, with its freedoms, was build. As Christians, our baseline is the Bible. I hope you are reading it regularly.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Vacation, Part 1 - Bonsai
I know this is going to sound like the first essay at school in the fall, but I’d like to share a little about our recent vacation. I’ll write about Mr. Jefferson, and reflect upon a beautiful scene, but first I’d like to write about Bonsai.
Bonsai is a method of growing things that flourishes in Japan. I’m told it can get pretty expensive, but after my experience, I think I want to give it a try.
The word in Japanese literally means “cultivation.” Bonsai came from Egypt and later China, and only in the mid-20th century has it become popular in America. While on vacation we attended a show where the creators of bonsai shared some of their stories. Although I’d seen bonsai shows before, I’m more intrigued than ever. It’s not growing miniatures, but growing trees in small spaces, and enjoying the shapes that are created.
It’s much different than planting a tree in your yard for shade, or a garden for vegetables. The reason I want to try it is because it presents a unique challenge. Everyone needs challenges, and this one is pretty harmless, except now you’ll be asking me how the bonsai are doing, and if they can see them. You will be the ones I’ll be accountable too, I suppose. I’ll let you know how it’s going.
Bonsai is a method of growing things that flourishes in Japan. I’m told it can get pretty expensive, but after my experience, I think I want to give it a try.
The word in Japanese literally means “cultivation.” Bonsai came from Egypt and later China, and only in the mid-20th century has it become popular in America. While on vacation we attended a show where the creators of bonsai shared some of their stories. Although I’d seen bonsai shows before, I’m more intrigued than ever. It’s not growing miniatures, but growing trees in small spaces, and enjoying the shapes that are created.
It’s much different than planting a tree in your yard for shade, or a garden for vegetables. The reason I want to try it is because it presents a unique challenge. Everyone needs challenges, and this one is pretty harmless, except now you’ll be asking me how the bonsai are doing, and if they can see them. You will be the ones I’ll be accountable too, I suppose. I’ll let you know how it’s going.
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