A Slower Pace

This evening I was lucky enough to have a date night with my wife. There was a work event where we took a dinner cruise in a nice boat down the Ohio river at sunset. We both had a lovely time with some good folks. And I was able to get some nice snapshots too.

Derby City from the water

With a river come bridges…..

And finally, a nice evening shot of the illuminated Louisville Water Tower.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

“God moves mountains
but sometimes a shovel full at a time”

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

The post below is a repost from 2008. But because I have had to repost all old blogs due to my web hosting transition back in Jan from suckie HoDaddy to wonderful American Discount Web Hosting, I haven’t gotten to it yet and today is a good time to revisit it.

Bernard Curtis Brown II…..

Every year for the 9/11 anniversary I try to make it special by honoring those who died by flying my flag at half staff, reflecting on the tragic events of the day and what we can do to make the world better, and hugging my family and letting them know I love them as a tribute to those who can no longer do the same.

However, what I am afraid of as we continue to add to the number of years from that tragic day, is that it will become a day of rote tribute kind of like Memorial Day where we fly the flags and have picnics.

So this year I decided to try something different and personalize the day. I spent some of the anniversary researching one of the victims so I could put a personal face on the tragedy. Not in a sick sort of way, but as a way to keep it human and as a reminder so we always remember.

We tend to watch the video of the planes colliding into the buildings, the buildings collapsing, the hole in the Pennsylvania field, and the Pentagon collapse and fire as events. I would rather we focus on the fact that there were some great human beings whose future and potential was cruelly cut short at that moment. There were moms, dads, sons, daughters, neighbors, church members, and co-workers on those planes and in those buildings.

Well, here is the story about one of those great people.

Bernard Curtis Brown II

Bernard was 11 years old and an energetic sixth grader at Leckie Elementary School who loved school and basketball. A tribute page says that he bounded out of his house every day and “lived to go to school”. In fact, he was headed to Los Angeles, CA to represent his school at a National Geographic Society-funded marine research project at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary near Santa Barbara. He had gained his teachers’ attention by his improvement over 4th and 5th grades and was selected to participate. Because of that accomplishment he and other school members and teachers were on American Airlines flight 77 that hijackers crashed into the Pentagon — the same building his dad works in. Thankfully, Bernard Brown Sr. was not in the building that morning. However, he lost many co-workers, friends, and a son.

The Military Child Education Coalition has set up a space camp scholarship honoring Bernard. The Bernard Curtis Brown II Memorial Space Camp Scholarship will allow other military children the opportunity to attend space camp and pursue learning opportunities.

Look at Bernard’s picture. Look at that glowing smile and youthful enthusiasm. I am glad to know a bit more about him now and wish I could have met him. He would have been 18 years old now and probably a freshman in college. Throughout the day yesterday, I prayed for his mom, dad and family that they have healing and hope and that they might know that strangers out there care about their son. They are lucky to have had him for 11 years and I pray that they put hope and faith into their future reunion in heaven.

God bless the Brown family!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot com

I am excited.

If you are a regular reader, you know that I have a habit of keeping my eye out for opportunities to serve Christ…..most often along the freeway or side of the road helping someone in need. You can read about some of those efforts here.

Last week I had two opportunities that I did not blog about. They were fine and I felt that two people out there now knows someone cares about them and had a need met. However, I felt that I did not go that last final mile and explicitly tell the people that I was moved to help them because of the love of Christ. I feel that is important because none of this helping people out is about me — it is the light of Christ that shines wthin me which is why I do what I do. If it was up to me, I would be on the couch watching football.

I need to cover that last mile to be sure people know of the love of Christ. And that was where I was falling short as a disciple. For all they know, the people I help out could just think I was a nice guy or a Dudley Do Right or good Samaritan. And that might be true, but it is because of Christ, not me. And this message needs to be passed on. Again, I fail at the last mile.

So I brought my struggle to my men’s accountability group Saturday morning and asked them to help me and give me some options and solutions. And, of course, they came through (or rather God came through and used them). One of them suggested using a business card written with a few words that convey the message that they need to know. He had seen someone use this method before. And it is quite effective because it leaves them with something.

So being a disciple of action, I found a free online resource that provides free business cards and only charges shipping. So I am having 250 business cards sent to me for about 5 bucks.

This is what they say. Simple, effective and it conveys the message so I can complete the last mile.

I can’t wait for them to get here so I can use them. Until then, I am going to challenge myself to verbally cover that last mile message.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This morning on the way to work the intersection of the view in my rear view mirror and the music coming out of the radio was beautiful. The orange sun had just peeked above the distant treeline bathing the clouds above in pinks, reds and oranges. And the song audibly echoed the visual extravaganza.

Powerful, so powerful, Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see.
The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing
How marvelous, how wonderful You are.

Beautiful One, I love
Beautiful One, I adore
Beautiful One, my soul must sing

Do a search on By The Tree’s “Beautiful One” for more lyrics.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Please keep the families of the two pilots of the downed UPS 747 in your prayers. One was from Florida and the other was a locally based pilot who attended one of the local churches here. It is a tragic loss on several levels.

Please pray for comfort and peace for the families and friends.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

This was heard from my son today…..

“I’m going to get lots of cows before I get married. That way, my wife can’t say no.”

He cracks me up. Although with that attitude, he might not get a wife.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Well, let’s see if I can squeeze in one last post for August…..seeing as I posted so much this month.

This summer has been abundant for butterflies. I normally notice them because I think they are marvelous gifts from God that are beautiful and random — just what we need to slow us down and take notice for 30 seconds as they occupy our day.

Below is a picture my wife took on the back property of a beautiful tiger swallowtail butterfly. There have been so many butterflies this year — not just swallowtails but also Monarchs, West Virginia White, Spicebush swallowtail and many others that I can’t name or don’t remember. In fact, there was one in the garage window that was as large as my outstretched hand. I was able to catch him and usher him outside where he flittered away. My Dad and I watched him fly away and he was so big we could watch him past the treeline over 400-500 feet away. He actually looked like a bat he was so big flying away.

Enjoy what is left of the summer butterflies. And goodbye August. I will miss you like the butterflies…..even though you were blazing hot and humid this year.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net