Small Town USA

I recently took a trip home to visit my father in the hospital. While I was there I took the scenic drive out Hwy 45 to my grandparents home. Traveling through the "S" curves and 90 degree turns between Bloomington and Unionville my mind began to wander to my childhood and the little town of my youth. As I reminisced further I began to see such value in a place like Unionville. I drove down Bethel lane where the trees arc high over the road and join each other above the oncoming traffic like a covered bridge. In autumn when these change colors the reds, yellows, and oranges are amazing. I turned left on 45 and immediately on my right is Lakeside IGA. It is the quintessential little country store. The owner, Phil Fisher, and Elden the guy in the meat market all my life, both make excellent lunch meat sandwiches, everybody should have a cold cut sandwich from Lakeside. I passed houses where I knew the families, Fishers, Mobleys, Chitwoods, Smiths, Frileys, Richardsons, Moores, Fleeners,Durnals, and many more. I realized we all knew each other - our hardships were shared, our sorrow, or triumph. We were a community where values and Faith mattered.
I passed the Danny Smith memorial park where some of the greatest evenings of my life were spent. Baseball games, free snow cones if you retrieved a foul ball, 202 to center - that was every boy sluggers favorite place. I even bounced a ball off the concession stand roof in my final little league game. The may pole, the horse shoe pits, and the shelter house all played big parts in all of us Unionvillers small town lives. We played, laughed, and cried but we did it together.
If you continue on past my grandparents place you will pass Tunnel Road, it has a real tunnel under it that is a great place to spend time as an adolescent boy, unless there is a bum living in the little alcove then it gets a little scary. Trust me I know! You continue past Brenda Mullis' beauty parlor, which might really be her garage, where my mom got her hair done for her work banquets. On we go to Lynn Stephens barber shop, probably one of my favorite places on earth. You can go get a glass bottle of Coke and sit and talk with Lynn and the UPS guy, who is strangely always around, about life, politics, and basketball. Then you can talk about basketball, and after that did I mention we could talk a little while about basketball. In the middle of it all you can get a great haircut from an even better guy. Next door the fire station and the basketball goal where I spent about a quarter of my childhood,back in the day if you were lucky Lynn may bring his high school hall of fame game outside and beat you badly. Later in life, when I was 17 I beat him one on one and I realized I had arrived into adulthood a year early. It was one of the best days of my life. Years later some grumpy old woman in town office had the goal removed and a little part of me went with it. I cried that day, as a full grown, out of shape adult I realized that the next generation would miss out on what I had experienced.
When I arrived at my grandparents home I was greeted by a manicured lawn, beautiful flower beds and the houses on property all built by my grandfather. My grandma was quilting, my uncle and grandfather were studying a 100 year old tool deciding how it would best be used or sold. While I'm there I'm not Pastor Robertson or the Operations Manager @ VRI I am just one of the family. My grandma fixed me dinner and my grandfather and I discussed politics, family history and believe it or not basketball. They aren't famous or rich, but the people that know Max Leroy and Phyllis Gene Robertson are lucky indeed. My grandpa can fix anything, build anything, and knows just about everything there might be to know. If I turn out half the man he is my family will be lucky indeed. My grandmother is all a boy could ask for as a teacher, cook, disciplinarian, nurturer and friend. I spent so much time with her as a boy I attribute a lot of who I have turned out to be to her care. Oh, by the way she knows even more than my grandpa just ask her. They are wonderful people and I have been blessed to know them.
As I flew back to the city where it is all concrete and steel, where there aren't many small town grocers or barbers left, and community means so little I realize Unionville will always be a big part of who I am.
Small town America and the lessons it teaches ought to be known to all. In our town we knew and needed one another. When someone was sick people cared for and helped meet the needs. When folks died, we grieved and helped the grieving. When people rejoiced we joined right in with the celebration. Faith was important, not necessarily where you went to church or exactly what you believed but that we were governed by our beliefs and faith. People left their doors unlocked and their welcome mats out. Eventually Lakeside IGA will close down in favor of another Wal-Mart, and my son gets his hair cut at Supercuts instead of at Lynn's. Max and Phyllis ,or mamaw and papaw as I call 'em, will eventually pass from the scene but never be replaced. When that happens we will truly be the losers. The mold has been broken, not just for these types of small town heros but for that way of life.
Now I'm back home and the kids are on the Internet playing Webkinz, I have a Wiccan priest that lives down the street and 14 meth labs in our neighborhood. We are worried about getting to the Apple store and the Coach store ( Apple for me, Coach for my wife) and carrying on the regular hustle and bustle of our busy lives. All the while I wish I could shuttle back in time for one more game of round ball at the fire station with my buddies (even if we are infected with TRS) and drive the winding road of old Hwy 45. I wouldn't trade my wife and kids for anything in the world, but what I wouldn't trade to take 'em all back, away from the internet, away from the meth labs, and from the Wiccan priest and into a small town I call home.RLR

Let the Revolution Begin

As I was sitting at Cracker Barrel with my family last week one of the happiest moments of my life took place. I saw my 19 month old little angel scribbling with a crayon (blue in color) with her left hand. I have been waiting with baited breath during the development of each child to find out their dominant hand. Oh, for the joy of just one lefty in the group. When it happened my heart leaped within me, the heavens rolled back and an angel choir began to sing Handel's' Hallelujah Chorus. During my time of great joy my darling wife looks over and proclaims, "Oh, no I'm going to make her write with the right hand (meaning that the left hand is the incorrect hand) we want her to be normal." I was shocked, appalled, broken hearted, such a feeling of melancholy overtook my being that it completely ruined my Mama's french toast in which I paid a dollar extra to get the sugar cured ham. I could only bring myself to drink 2 glasses of sweet tea. Two glasses! I normally drink about 18, my night was ruined. That is when I began to notice the conspiracy. The world hates left handed people. Don't believe me? Just try using a pair of scissors with your left hand, I'll pause here while you go get some...................... Okay now try to cut something, I'll pause again.........................Hurts your thumb doesn't it? See what I mean, tools, musical instruments, and even household items are all crafted for the "normal" right handed person.

We in America have had many civil and social rights movements. Our country as a whole started when folks fled GB to come to the new world to have religious freedom. Then we had an entire revolution based primarily on discrimination between settlers and Torrie's, taxation without representation and all that jazz. Then there was the war between the states concerning states right and the oppressive North, the emancipation of the slaves, the women's suffrage movement, the civil rights movement of the 60's, the cry for tolerance to all people groups beginning in the 80's, and even the gay and lesbian agenda of recent note. All the things have the cry of equal rights for all. Anytime you see Our Flag or a church, when we remember Honest Abe or Susan B. Anthony, when we hear anyone say "I Have A Dream" for that matter when we see an Indian casino we are reminded that people can effect change concerning equality in our great nation.

All this being said I ask you, where are the equal rights for the southpaw, I realize we can buy special scissors, but I want more than that. I am not a weirdo or oddball. Equality for all lefties, liberty for all southpaws. I am not ashamed of my paw orientation, I am lefty hear me roar. RLR

The Most Exciting Moment in Sports

There has long been an argument in the sporting realm as to the most exciting moment in a given sport or the sporting world as a whole. This argument has been around as long as people have been leaping to their feet in appreciation of some tremendous accomplishment on court, field, or in arena. As many less qualified individuals have pondered the topic so shall I.
1. The walk-off home run
This probably gets my vote for a few reasons, it is one on one batter against pitcher for all the marbles. The fact that it comes at a time when the flame throwing closer has entered the game makes it all the more exciting. It is also over quickly plays that develop in other sports that take much longer don't give you the quick adrenaline pumped "Wahoo!" that the long ball does.
2. The hole in one
Golf should probably not be on a list of articles in which the first one included the word adrenaline, but I have none the less. The difficulty factor elevates this above most others, I have gotten off my can for a well placed 6 iron before and so have many others. It deserves a place on this list.
3. Kick off/Punt Return
Improvisation, great blocking, and sheer unadulterated speed. This is what it is all about, taking it 97 yards for the score on determination, desire, and some great jukes. I love the run back.
4. Hail Mary
I guess this is the most publicized of all the great sporting moments and one of the most exciting to watch. Doug Flutie as well as a number of others have made this famous, but the reason it is so exciting is that it so rarely works. The few times a guy does come down with the ball it is a very memorable moment.
5. Last Second Buzzer Beater
This I believe is a little to common for it to rank, but the shot that M.Chalmers of Kansas hit this week puts it in new perspective. That .7 seconds the ball is on the air and 30,000 people stare at it rotate (or not rotate if you shoot like Tim Hardaway) through the air, and then the joy of victory or the agony of defeat as if falls through the net. It is still very nice.
Honorable Mention
The Suicide Squeeze - if you have been the pitcher, catcher, or the runner you know just how adrenaline laced this play really is.
Let the discussion begin, please feel free to add to the list. RLR

Tom Crean and other questions

With limited knowledge of the guy this seems like a good hire for the Hoosiers, maybe he can bring some respectability back to the program. There are many questions and hurdles for Crean lets talk about 'em shall we:

1. Can he convince Eric Gordon to stay - he is obviously not ready, but I think he believes he is. His draft stock is down and he would benefit from a few more years of college.

2. Can he convince Ebanks and Holloway to come - these were Kelvins guys, and they have decommited but IU is still on the list of schools they are considering.

3. How will he cope with the loss of at least one scholarship possible two if Myles Brand has anything to say about it. They football team has helped out in times past, but with their possible rise to respectability will that be an option.

4. What about JaMarcus and Armon - I think he needs to hear their side of the story, there must be more to this than just missing a practice and a run. The punishment dose not seem to fit the crime.

5. Who decided it was Okay to eat sour cream - I mean it's spoiled right? Same deal with cottage cheese, who looked at rotten milk and decided that this is something we should eat? Somebody actually got a hunk a cream that had gone bad and slapped on a baked potato and said it should be ingested. This is a question I have had for years so I thought I would throw it in.

The Resurection

What a topic - it is amazing and polarizing at the same time. Amazing because of the implications and polarizing because of individual opinions held by those who have read it. The real issue is not about the plausibility of the Son of God resurrecting from the dead, but in the truth of the Bible in general. If you hold that the Bible is absolute fact then it is no stretch of the imagination to believe in the bodily Resurrection of the Christ, but if the Bible is held in even the slightest uncertainty in your thinking then this, the greatest of the Bible stories, is shrouded by a cloud of doubt. So the question is not, "Did the Resurrection actually take place?", but "Is the Bible reliable?"

Three complaints generally surface when speaking with those who have questions about the validity of scripture. 1. The Bible is antiquated - too old to be relevant, God should send new revelation to our generation. 2. The archaeological record is not consistent with the what Scripture records. 3. The Bible is full of contradictions.



Fortunately for me there are ample reasons to believe the Bible is reliable. 1. The Historicity of the Bible - more manuscripts and ancient writings on this book than any other. In eastern and western texts the Bible is still 99% textually pure with the others being copy errors and misspellings. Yes there are a few parts of scripture that have come under serious question in recent decades, but all in all the text itself has for thousands of years remained remarkably pure. No matter what you believe you must admit the uniqueness of the text.
2. The longevity of scripture - It is the anvil that has worn out many a hammer. Just the fact it has stayed around when so many have tried to burn it, regulate it, or deny it right out of existence must say something.
3. The archaeological evidence in support of scripture. Read any reputable author on the subject, check numerous web sights, the evidence is mounting rapidly. The more anti-Bible archaeologists claim that certain evidence does not exist, and then poof somebody finds more stuff to validate scripture (see Hittite empire, throne of David, walls of Jericho).

Point is if the Bible is accurate then the Resurrection is a reality and there just may be a thread of hope for the world we live in. If the Bible is really a book of fairy tales then the Resurrection is just another one of those tales and life ends at the grave. We can quibble about all the details, and don't get me wrong I enjoy that as much as the next guy, but the reality of the Resurrection is a hope all should be able to embrace in faith.

It really all comes down to faith doesn't it - a monumental leap to believe in the fantastic account of scripture, or the equally gigantic choice not to believe. One of the saddest things I have ever read was in C.S. Lewis' book The Last Battle, Peter is speaking towards the close of the life of Narnia, all the Kings and Queens are present for the event. All except Susan, when questioned why she was not present Peter explains that she is, "no longer a friend of Narnia". Susan had no doubt grown up, got educated, and realized it was the cool thing to do to live without faith. Go figure that same thing happens right here on good old planet Earth. Later - RLR

Spring Sports

It seems spring might actually be sprung here in the average state of Oklahoma. Although still chilly, it even snowed a little yesterday, there are the tell tale signs of the new season everywhere. Birds a chirping and little bits a greenery are appearing scattered throughout my yard. Saturday it was 77 degrees and beautifully sunny.
This time of year always does something special to me, always excites me and sends me into an almost euphoric state of youthfulness. Four little words that in my youth meant the world to me
" MARCH MADNESS - SPRING TRAINING" as a Hoosier fan and horsehide hurler from way back this is by far my favorite time of year. Unfortunately there are numerous reasons why the season has lost it's luster. I will give you a comprehensive list of said issues, and you may feel free to add your own as well:
1. The early defection of College stars to the NBA - Do you believe that if great players stayed at least three years as they did a decade and a half ago we would be discussing Tyler Hansborough and Michael Beasley as national player of the year. A freshman and a, dare I it, white guy as colleges best players. The other nominations are Kevin Love (he is a freshman and a white guy), D.J. White, and Derrick Rose. I love D.J. because he's a Hoosier, but c'mon you know better than that. While Derrick Rose may be an outstanding pro prospect he has not been a dominant player at the college level yet. Doesn't he shoot like 50% from the line, okay for Shaq, not so good for a PG who handles the ball at the end of a close game. All this to make one little point - lack of star power in the NCAA's
2. The NBA influence! Pure basketball, pure shooters, pure point guards (D Rose might be an exception) all are become scarce in the NCAA. I really could care less about watching or listening to a bunch of thugs playing one on one. I can go to north Tulsa and get that for free. You would think that watching the Celtics ( should this be pronounced seltics or keltics)the Cavs and the Spurs that team basketball still works. Why dosen't anyone on the college level get it. Texas lost to Tech this weekend because Augistine and Abrahms forgot they could also throw the ball to other guys wearing the same color as them instead of just at the orange round thing.
Okay on to baseball....
1. At the risk of sounding like a coverall wearing hillbilly - are there any Americans playing America's favorite past time anymore. I love baseball, I love seeing a RHB's knees buckle when a LHP throws a wicked slider, seeing a lefty with his right arm extended over his head bat in hand as the ball edges past the right field foul pole. Man that is good stuff, I could go on for ages,a good pick off move, back to back homer, a blocked ball in the dirt that saves a run, and the mother of them all,the suicide squeeze, but all the Gonzalezes, Martinezes, and Rodriguezes are making it so you can't tell the players without a program.
2. The steroid scandals - I am sickened at this whole issue. The mess congress has made out of it, the fact that players partook and then lied, and the fact that the record book is now all amok with falsehoods and half-truths. Guys like Clemons and McGwire (neither of which did I ever really like) take so much away from guys like Maddux and Junior who did things the right way. They were not as dominant, but they were fun to watch, and never gave me a sick feeling in my stomach like I had just seen something perverse (see M McGwires forearms). You can have you freakish bald Barry Bonds give me a chubby Terry Pendleton playing the hot corner or fouling off pitches until he gets one he likes, Kruck, Gwynn, Puckett, or even the noble Chris Sabo. That was when baseball was a beautiful thing - now is a bunch of addicts and aliens (legal I hope) and it has lost my attention and my affection.
The green shoots of grass are nice, love to hear the birds sing, and while I will see what Dickie V has to say about the big dance, and I'll check on the Big Red Machine spring will just never be the same. RLR

An acorn or a Catterpillar

If you have ever been in a position of leadership you have definitely given the old "Acorn to a mighty Oak" or "Caterpillar into a Beautiful Butterfly" speech. All of us have been given the equivalent of this pep talk numerous times in our lives. Encouraging and inspiring us to be better. I am reminded of a time I heard this very speech at an educators convention while I was teaching 2nd and 3rd graders in Texas, it was encouraging me to go from fledgling acorn instructor to the mighty oak of a teacher this guy knew I could be. There was a problem with this - I was an awful educator, and I mean terrible in an astronomical way. It came to the place all I wanted to do was look for a reason to spank these children and send them home weeping. That is not good and I realize this, but I hated teaching kids. Don't get me wrong I like children but it would take Jesus Christ in visible, tangible form pleading with me to teach children mathematics and grammar again before I would even consider it.

Point is most acorns end up as squirrel poo, and most caterpillars end up on the bottom of someones K-Swiss. I have several oak trees in my back yard - I hate acorns they mess up my otherwise nicely manicured lawn and are an all around nuisance. I rake them, squash them, and discard them anyway possible. Caterpillars are a blight on our flower beds and back yard gardens cramming their ugly little gobs with all manner of vegetation and ruffage. One out of every 100,000 acorns or caterpillars actually becomes their destiny, the rest are losers.

Truth be told you and I will more than likely never mine all of our unearthed potential. So we are faced with a couple of options, we can a) Decide that when we reach maximum potential we will finally be happy or b) We can be happy right where we are at. I am not asking you to quit reaching for the stars or to aim low, but the problem is we have a nation full of depressed people because they are not the Butterflies they imagined they would be. They turn to alcohol or Prozac or Gambling( you pick the vice) to make themselves feel better and forget their shortcomings.

I say we need to be the best acorns or caterpillars possible - go ahead cram your face full of vegetation and fend off every encroaching squirrel. Do your best where you are, don't rely on thing or success to make you happy and one day just maybe you will become ..... Nah I'm not even going to say it because more than likely you won't. Take heart in who you are and maybe you'll become who you were meant to be. Later. RLR