Category: Somewhat Current Events

When we think of significant July dates, Independence Day, July 4th, comes to mind first. This year we celebrated our country’s 239th birthday. And we did it up big with family gatherings, picnics, concerts, and fireworks.

Here are some other important happenings that took place in July.

Sixty years ago this month, Disneyland opened in Anaheim, California and changed the American family’s idea of the perfect vacation.

In July 1965, the Medicare Act was developed by Congress, under the direction of Lyndon B. Johnson. Providing insurance 50 years later to 50 million Americans.

Casey Kasem debuted his long-running radio show America’s Top 40 in July 1970.

In 1995 (was that 20 years ago!) George H.W. Bush signed the American With Disabilities Act into law.

All these events brought change to our lives. Feel free to recognize them in whatever way you feel appropriate.

Don’t forget Parents’ Day on July 26 and honor those who gave us life.

Or July 24, which is National Tell an Old Joke Day.

But be careful. Most old jokes are politically incorrect. Do not offend. Do not offend anyone who is blonde, or Polish, or a senior citizen, or lawyers . . . or Pete Rose . . . or Queen Elizabeth . . . or Donald Trump’s hair . . .  or . . .

Easter Sunday shouldn’t be a once-a-year celebration. Everything Christians believe rests on it.

However, in my church home (United Methodist denomination) each year at a special time we do celebrate the resurrection event that is a tenet of our faith.

We begin with Lent, 40 days before Easter. We are encouraged to make a (comparatively) small sacrifice or to adopt a new spiritual discipline to get in touch the tiniest bit with Jesus’ sacrifice and his last days on earth.

On Maundy Thursday, we gather to observe Holy Communion together, in remembrance of the Last Supper Jesus ate with his disciples. Recently, many churches have incorporated a Tennebrae service into this night. The young confirmands assist the pastor in stripping the altar area. The congregation watches soberly as the cross, the candles, the paraments, the Bible — even the offering plates —  are carried out of the sanctuary and hidden. We leave in darkness and silence.

On Friday, there is a huge egg hunt in Daniel Park. Saturday finds the soccer fields full of children. Life is back to normal. Almost. Those who gathered on Thursday may still feel a little sad, unsettled, as if something is lost.

ON Sunday, we quietly enter the still-darkened sanctuary and take our seats. The faint aroma of lilies fills the room. Suddenly —

“CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

The organ and piano burst forth in a joyous Easter song as the altar and chancel area are restored. We sing together, we greet our brothers and sisters in Christ and wish each one the peace of God.

Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!

This week in Arkansas, a young girl left a baby on a neighbor’s doorstep. She said that she was ‘scared and didn’t know what to do.’ That breaks my heart.

Arkansas has a Safe Haven Law. This allows an infant to be left at any hospital emergency room or law enforcement agency anonymously, no questions asked.

I’m sorry this teenager didn’t know this. But she’s not alone. I mentioned the Safe Haven Law at church Wednesday night and no one in the group had ever heard of such a thing.

The late 1990s had a surge in infant abandonment, many resulting in death of the babies. In response to these incidents, a movement began to allow parents to relinquish custody of unharmed newborns to a safe place without fear of prosecution.

In 1999, Texas was the first state to enact such a law, led by then-governor George W. Bush. Since that time, all U.S. states as well as the District of Columbia have passed Safe Haven legislation.

This is a loving choice in the case of an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy — to give the child an opportunity to have a permanent home.

It is sad that the young girl felt she had nowhere to turn. I’m not joining the ones who cry about what she “shouda”. I’m just sorry she didn’t know there was a Safe Haven for her baby. .

For more information:  click here   or call 1-888-510-BABY.

In case you have been out of the country and haven’t heard, Saturday is St. Valentine’s Day. The day of love. The last two weekends have been full of stories about the local Father/Daughter dances and parties in the communities around Beebe.  I am happy that for the past two years our church has held a “You’re Special to Me” Dance.  Anyone can come with anyone they love. It’s a great success.

Friday, children will tote their Valentine cards to school to exchange with their friends. They will have a party with packaged treats (parents can’t bake cupcakes any more), and experience a sugar high not known since December.

A few years ago, on the game show 1 VS 100, a young man won $1,000,000 because he knew that the largest number of greeting cards sent was at Christmas. The crowd had guessed Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day.

I would have guessed Christmas, even though many people have stopped sending cards and settle for a group email or a “Merry Christmas Everyone” on Facebook.

I send about 50 Christmas cards, mostly to old friends and family I won’t see during the holidays. My mother sent twice that, adding many of my dad’s business friends and associates to the list.  But I digress.

I mailed only one Valentine this year … to my great grandson, Noah. I included a few Valentine stickers I knew he would enjoy. It’s up to his parents to see that they are stuck only in appropriate places.

I will spend February 14 with three of my favorite people, my writing group. We meet every 2nd Saturday at the Faulkner County Library in Conway. We will surely exchange tokens of our friendship and love for each other before we wield the red pencils.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

I wish you love.