Almost 50 years ago, two things happened that did not seem all that important at the time. The first was accompanying a friend to a concert by Kenny Burrell, a legendary jazz guitarist, then reading the review in the paper. It seemed to us the reviewer had attended a completely different event. We both thought … Continue reading Perelandra
Author: mmwordsmith
Who Am I? Why am I here? Why are any of us here? These are first-class essential questions. The kind of questions many people laughed about when Admiral James Bond Stockdale posed them in a vice-presidential debate in 1992. Who wants a politician to wax philosophical when he could act like he knows all the answers? Apparently, people like me. The need to question and reflect seems to be part of my personality - an inextricable part. I believe I need to take these kinds of questions seriously, but while doing so, try not to take my answers or myself too seriously. My guess is as good as anyone else’s, after all. Maybe the lesson, if there is one, is to struggle with questions like these, to stretch my capacity for understanding, to challenge my ability to tolerate divergent views, to look at life creatively, to remain unafraid to cling to old ideas when they are good and move on to new ideas when they are constructive. The great moral philosopher, Red Skelton, once said he believed we are put on earth “to create and not to destroy.” I sincerely hope my stories and musings will somehow help others grapple with their own questions and follow their best impulses towards creating a better world.
23
The recent shootings of people going about their lives all point to a larger problem. Previously, in “68,” I proposed putting our fears aside. Yet, that’s incredibly hard to do when we are repeatedly told to fear everything. “They” are coming for us. “They” want to take our stuff. “They” want to sell us drugs. … Continue reading 23
Goldilocks
First some numbers. In 1955, when I was born, the population of the US was a little over 161.1 million. Today it is over 336.3 million. In other words, the population has more than doubled in my lifetime. In 1855, the population was 26.7 million, less than 1/12 of today’s count. The US now has … Continue reading Goldilocks
The Choice
“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are … Continue reading The Choice
The Price of Knowledge
When I was boy, I went to a “revival” with my grandmother. The preacher made a point I still hear now-and-then. In short, he said it wasn’t the Romans who killed Jesus and it wasn’t the Jewish people who killed Jesus – it was us – all of us – each of us – it … Continue reading The Price of Knowledge
Behind the Magic Trumpet
How my mind puts bits and pieces together… Once upon a time, my trumpet teacher, Louis Davidson, let me read a short letter he received from a young man in Africa. As I recall, either Louis or one of his colleagues had sent him a trumpet and some method books. This was long before the … Continue reading Behind the Magic Trumpet
Enthusiasm
Fifty years ago, I gave a speech at my high school commencement ceremony. I recall I shared some ideas about success, such as being willing to work hard, being able to get along with people, and being a person who knows how to think and communicate. The most important idea I shared was to have … Continue reading Enthusiasm
68
A Birthday Meditation I had childhood fears. Not of monsters under the bed, or of the dark, or other fantasies. I had real fears. Such as, when my parents argued, would they get a divorce? Many of us have had fears like that. And my generation grew up with a more existential fear: thermonuclear annihilation. … Continue reading 68
Silent Sam
I was five when my paternal grandfather died. I don’t remember much about him, other than that he was a quiet man who sometimes slept on the sofa – at least that’s one image that sticks in my mind. Succeeding generations have called him, “Silent Sam.” He spoke very little apart from telling his children … Continue reading Silent Sam
An Advent Meditation
Thou shalt know him when he comes, not by any din of drums, nor his manners, nor his airs, nor by anything he wears. Thou shalt know him when he comes, not by his crown or by his gown. But his coming known shall be, by the holy harmony which his coming makes in thee. … Continue reading An Advent Meditation
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