Thursday, August 23, 2012
Faces
By G. E. Shuman
Friday, August 17th, was Lorna’s and my fortieth anniversary. Yes, I know. I already told you about that momentous event, in my last column. This time I just want to mention something that I came to realize, not because of that anniversary, but because of how and where we celebrated that anniversary. Most couples, when reaching their late fifties and having been married since Richard Nixon was president, would spend their anniversary taking a cruise, or going to a Broadway show. If you know my wife, or if you know me, you know that we are not ’most couples.’ We spent our anniversary at Disney World. That’s right, just the two of us, and about a million sweaty strangers, visited the big mouse for the solid week that included August 17th. Who actually goes to Florida in August, anyway? Apparently, a lot of people do.
What I want to talk to you about today is a realization that I had while we were strolling around one of those huge, ornate, and over-the-top parks in the wonderful world of Disney. (Remember the TV show?) I would call my realization an epiphany, but I can’t even spell epiphany without a word processor, and am not altogether sure I believe in something I can’t spell. You know, you have time for realizations in a Disney park. In fact, you have time for many realizations, while standing in those lines, or while looking for a shady spot to rest in. One thing that I realized is that we humans have done at least one thing that God told us to do. We have been fruitful, and we have multiplied, and those are understatements. We have replenished the earth… and then some. God did not need to tell us twice, on that account.
The bigger thing… the thing I really want to talk about here, is the idea of faces, and the realization of what they truly are. I know, humans are not the only living earth creatures with faces. If you are an animal lover you will be quick to point that out to me. Our dog has a face. So does yours, unless you don’t have a dog. In that case it doesn’t have a face. Our dog happens to be a Pekingese, and so she barely has a nose, but she does have a face. (Someone once said that she looks like she has been chasing parked cars.) Vegetarians say that you shouldn’t eat anything with a face. I agree, and always check to be sure that my cheeseburger is not smiling back at me from the plate.
I do believe that, of all of God’s creatures, humans are the only breathing beings who are like snowflakes. No two of us are alike… because no two faces are alike. You can trust me on this point, as I have checked. No one at Disney World last week looked exactly like anyone else, not even among the several sets of twins that I saw there. I never actually realized that before, and wanted to tell you about it. I hope you are duly impressed. To me, that is one realization that is amazing. Every one of those many thousands of sweaty people I saw last week was unique. Every single face was different from every other, and this is different from in the animal, non human, world. Although our dog might not look exactly like every other Pekingese dog, she is the spitting image of about a million of them. The same goes for bats and rats and alley cats. And for camels, and lions, and dolphins. Also for ants, and uncles of ants, and cows, and daughters of cows.
My biggest realization last week was that I believe there is a reason why humans are all so different from the animals, and from each other. I believe it is intentional, and that our different faces are part of what makes us individuals. It has been said that we are all the same on the inside, in spite of our outer appearance. But that is not quite true. We are all equal, but are not all the same, on the in or the out side. I am me. You are you. We are all, more than any of the animals, unique. I once received a birthday card that said “You’re special, just like everybody else.” That was supposed to be a joke. The truth is, it’s the truth. I am special, and so are you. I am unique, and so are you. I believe that God, in His infinite wisdom, created humankind as a race of individuals, and somehow arranged for all six billion of us on the earth to have different faces. We are not just another animal species. We are aware of our mortality, and, whether or not everyone wants to admit it, we are aware of the reality of the existence of God. If this were not so, why are so many people trying to deny Him? I know that you know that this is the truth. Just look in a mirror. It’s written all over your face.
Friday, August 10, 2012
A Milestone
By G. E. Shuman
Today I checked Wikipedia, for the definition of the word ‘milestone’. I did this for a reason, which you will soon be aware of, if you have the patience and perseverance to make it through this column. According to Wikipedia: “A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile.” They wrote that entire sentence using only one comma. This is partially the reason why I don’t entirely trust Wikipedia. To continue: “They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers mileposts or mile posts. Mileage is the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point. Milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road. This can be used to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed and to indicate either distance traveled or the remaining distance to a destination. …This term is sometimes used to denote a location on a road even if no physical sign is present.”
Okay, from this point on the words are mine, and you might see a comma once in a while. The reason I checked for the definition of the word ‘milestone’ in the first place is because someone told me that a date my wife and I will soon celebrate is a milestone, and I wanted to be sure they were right, and how much we should be celebrating. My guess is that they were right. You see, Friday, August 17th is the fortieth anniversary of the day Lorna succumbed to my irresistible charms, and married me. Well, one of us succumbed. After forty years it’s hard to remember which.
It is interesting, to me, how a big anniversary like this one just sneaks up on a couple when all they are doing is going about their daily lives. Time flies when you’re trying to survive, I guess. It’s also interesting, to me, how the Wikipedia definition of milestone really does describe an anniversary. As mentioned, the definition contains the idea of “a series of numbered markers.” The number on this milestone, for us, happens to be 40. And, “located at the side of the road” depicts how things like anniversaries are observed. They are celebrated as they pass by. The mile they represent all too soon fades into the past; into the distance. Next, the definition mentions: “the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point.” I will say that forty years is a fair distance from the fixed commencement point of that young lady and I beginning our lives together. She is fortunate that I have not changed a bit since that day. At least, if I close my eyes and never approach a mirror or bathroom scale I feel like I have not changed a bit. More words to describe ‘milestone’ were “to indicate either distance traveled or the remaining distance to a destination” and, later, “to denote a location on a road even if no physical sign is present.” Oh yes, our big milestone certainly indicates distance traveled. It also, at least vaguely, indicates the remaining distance to a destination. In this, we travelers realize that the trip is very likely, almost certainly, more than half over. Our destination together grows closer every day. There is some level of peace in this, and it is okay. “Even if no physical sign is present?” Well, there probably are a few physical signs to mark this spot in the road Lorna and I are traveling. Time is something that can be measured, but not seen, other than in its effects. My good fortune is that time’s effect on my wife is one of constantly-maturing beauty, and of ever-increasing faith in God and love for her family.
You may have noticed that I skipped over one Wikipedia quote. I did this intentionally, in the lazy writer’s method of saving something for last. In defining a milestone, it was said that “This can be used to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed.” Let’s see. For the past forty years my wife has endured a moody, often sickly husband who has not hesitated to unload family and workplace burdens on her. She has, every one of those years, somehow, skillfully kept our family’s leaky financial ship afloat, and has been a steady force of Godly discipline for all five of our children. Amazingly and incredibly, she still loves me. For this traveler there is no question that “the proper path is being followed.” Lorna, if we had it to do over, I would not change a thing. Happy Anniversary!
Today I checked Wikipedia, for the definition of the word ‘milestone’. I did this for a reason, which you will soon be aware of, if you have the patience and perseverance to make it through this column. According to Wikipedia: “A milestone is one of a series of numbered markers placed along a road or boundary at intervals of one mile or occasionally, parts of a mile.” They wrote that entire sentence using only one comma. This is partially the reason why I don’t entirely trust Wikipedia. To continue: “They are typically located at the side of the road or in a median. They are alternatively known as mile markers mileposts or mile posts. Mileage is the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point. Milestones are constructed to provide reference points along the road. This can be used to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed and to indicate either distance traveled or the remaining distance to a destination. …This term is sometimes used to denote a location on a road even if no physical sign is present.”
Okay, from this point on the words are mine, and you might see a comma once in a while. The reason I checked for the definition of the word ‘milestone’ in the first place is because someone told me that a date my wife and I will soon celebrate is a milestone, and I wanted to be sure they were right, and how much we should be celebrating. My guess is that they were right. You see, Friday, August 17th is the fortieth anniversary of the day Lorna succumbed to my irresistible charms, and married me. Well, one of us succumbed. After forty years it’s hard to remember which.
It is interesting, to me, how a big anniversary like this one just sneaks up on a couple when all they are doing is going about their daily lives. Time flies when you’re trying to survive, I guess. It’s also interesting, to me, how the Wikipedia definition of milestone really does describe an anniversary. As mentioned, the definition contains the idea of “a series of numbered markers.” The number on this milestone, for us, happens to be 40. And, “located at the side of the road” depicts how things like anniversaries are observed. They are celebrated as they pass by. The mile they represent all too soon fades into the past; into the distance. Next, the definition mentions: “the distance along the road from a fixed commencement point.” I will say that forty years is a fair distance from the fixed commencement point of that young lady and I beginning our lives together. She is fortunate that I have not changed a bit since that day. At least, if I close my eyes and never approach a mirror or bathroom scale I feel like I have not changed a bit. More words to describe ‘milestone’ were “to indicate either distance traveled or the remaining distance to a destination” and, later, “to denote a location on a road even if no physical sign is present.” Oh yes, our big milestone certainly indicates distance traveled. It also, at least vaguely, indicates the remaining distance to a destination. In this, we travelers realize that the trip is very likely, almost certainly, more than half over. Our destination together grows closer every day. There is some level of peace in this, and it is okay. “Even if no physical sign is present?” Well, there probably are a few physical signs to mark this spot in the road Lorna and I are traveling. Time is something that can be measured, but not seen, other than in its effects. My good fortune is that time’s effect on my wife is one of constantly-maturing beauty, and of ever-increasing faith in God and love for her family.
You may have noticed that I skipped over one Wikipedia quote. I did this intentionally, in the lazy writer’s method of saving something for last. In defining a milestone, it was said that “This can be used to reassure travelers that the proper path is being followed.” Let’s see. For the past forty years my wife has endured a moody, often sickly husband who has not hesitated to unload family and workplace burdens on her. She has, every one of those years, somehow, skillfully kept our family’s leaky financial ship afloat, and has been a steady force of Godly discipline for all five of our children. Amazingly and incredibly, she still loves me. For this traveler there is no question that “the proper path is being followed.” Lorna, if we had it to do over, I would not change a thing. Happy Anniversary!
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