My Help

In days of trial and despair
When plagued with worry and with care
When hope was dim and fear was deep
I sought the Lord my soul to keep

I looked for peace, relief to find
To calm my heart and troubled mind
I plead my cause in fervent prayer
And hoped my burden He would share

Then came the answer firm and true
What has God lately done for you?
What blessings from Him could you cite?
Have you looked up to see his light?

The trials with which you are concerned
Are merely lessons to be learned
He's been beside you all along
To help you know that you belong

From the Train to the Landing

The commuter train pulled to a stop. A voice blared over the intercom, “Salt Lake Central”. The doors retracted and people scurried to get off. New boarders waited semi-patiently as the passengers disembarked. One who was waiting was a young girl carrying a backpack that bulged with its contents. An electronic beep sounded indicating that the doors were about to close. Just then, a young mother approached the door pushing a stroller with a small baby. As she pushed the stroller out the door, one of the wheels sunk down in the gap between the train and the landing. The stroller was stuck, and the young mother, who was carrying two or three bags, tried to shift the weight, and reach down to dislodge the stroller wheel. Before she could even bend over, the girl with the back pack quickly reached down right in front of me and lifted the stroller out of the gap. Then without waiting for acknowledgement, she backed away, clearing a path for the stroller.

A simple act, I thought, but then upon reflection I considered what might have happened if the baby had fallen from the stroller, or the wheel had become caught more firmly without the girl’s quick action. She acted instinctively. I would have helped, I thought, but not as quickly as she did. The act was second nature to her. In this tiny act of service, the young girl demonstrated her life style. It was as though this was just a normal part of her day, and that her whole purpose was to perform such small acts of service. Did she save a life today? No one really knows. But she definitely improved the quality of life for just a moment, for a young mother and also for impatient passengers on a commuter train.

What will he learn from you?

I was going through some files today and ran across this poem I wrote a few years ago. Don't wanna lose it so I will post it here. It's just another random example of my varied interests and lack of focus, but maybe somebody can use it someday. Anybody got kids entering kindergarten this year?

What will he learn from you?

I watched my child step on the bus today,
He was nervous and frightened and cold.
He would rather have stayed here at home to play,
But it's time for his schooling I'm told.
It is time to learn reading, and science and math
And subjects there are more than few.
He will learn from assignments and lessons and books,
But what will he learn from you?

When my child steps inside of your classroom today,
Will he be lost or feel right at home?
Will he want to run out, or feel welcome to stay?
Will his interest be settled or roam?
Will the problems he faces be easy or hard?
Will he learn what to say and to do?
He can memorize facts and procedures and rules,
But what will he learn from you?

I know you have lesson plans written and stored
For the subjects you teach through the year.
You have been well prepared and you're ready to go,
But how will you remove his fear?
You have studied your subjects and know them quite well.
There is little in them that is new.
But as my child studies curricular things,
Just what will he learn from you?

Will he learn to solve problems and reason and think?
With his classmates will he get along?
Will he learn to develop the virtues of right?
Will his attitude lighten with song?
Will he learn to connect with the world where he lives,
And the systems that he should accrue?
Will he learn how to work and to finish a task?
Just what will he learn from you?

When you look for the measures of what he has learned
And the way he performs on a test,
Please remember he's human and has feelings too,
And he really is trying his best.
Keep in mind that the things that most often remain
Of the lessons you teach that are true,
Are examples you give by the way that you live
That's what he will learn from you.

Variations on a theme of Row, Row, Row Your Boat

I have often contemplated the well known song, "Row, Row, Row, Your Boat." Even though it is a round, those who perform this song invariably become bored with its simple lyrics. I thought it would be well to expand the lyrics to become more interesting. Then you could sing 15 verses without boredom (at least the first time through.)

Have you ever considered as you sing this as a round, just assigning one group the same phrase (like "Row, row, row, your boat" or "gently down the stream" or "merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily" or "life is but a dream") over and over again. I haven't tried this, but my belief is that it would have the same effect as singing the entire verse in a round. Plus, it would be even more boring than the original way to sing the round.

Oh the wonderful things that pop into my head at 10:30 at night. Anyway, here are the 15 variations:


Variations on a Theme of Row-Row-Row- your Boat

Row, Row, Row your boat, gently down the stream
1. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream

2. If you don't put sunblock on, you'll burn from a sunbem

3. Why we rowin' this stupid boat, I'd rather eat ice cream

4. It's so fun to play in mud, where you're not very clean

5. I think that you should be nice, instead of bein' mean

6. Burritos wouldn't taste so good, without a single bean

7. My dad thinks his belly's cool because it isn't lean

8. Sister sometimes gets her way when she's a drama queen

9. If you could play upon my side, then we would be a team

10. My brother thinks he's such hot stuff, 'cause now he is a teen

11. I'm not here and I'm not there, I'm somewhere in between

12. I'm not gonna lose this game, I gonna try to ween!

13. It gets spooky when it's dark, the night of Halloween

14. You don't have to float on top, if you're a submarine

15. If we don't soon end this song, I think I'm gonna scream!

John Adams

Just finished reading "John Adams" by David McCullough. Brilliant Book. I have a new hero. I am greatly impressed with the integrity of the man. He is a genuine hero and example to follow. I highly recommend the book. Now the only question is what to read next. I have lately been hooked on biographies. I recently read Ghandi's autobiography. Though it was very interesting, it isn't nearly as impressive as the book on Adams. McCullough says that there are well over 1,000 letters between John and Abigail. Too bad they couldn't twitter or email or something.

Riders on This Planet

Ok, So here's my entry in the Ogden Nature Center song writing contest for earth day. Mark Randall and I will be performing this sometime between 11:00 and 12:30 on Saturday, April 16th at the center on 12th Street in Ogden. You can hear some old guy sing the song by clicking on the link under "MP3 Audio Files" to the right.


Riders on This Planet

As children we did ever want to spend our time in play
The things around us we did use to bring us joy each day
The world was ours and all its wealth provided for our ease
The animals and plants were there for all our wants to please
(CHORUS)

But as we grew and learned about the resources we had
The planet became kin to us, just like a mom or dad
And all the life around us was responsive to our care
Through tenderness and love the earth would all its blessings share
(CHORUS)

So humankind now fill the world, and everywhere are found
And now it is required of us to nourish well the ground
To nurture and to beautify and care for all we see
The destiny of life is our responsibility
(CHORUS)

CHORUS:
We are riders on this planet, on this beautiful green earth
God has blessed us with our lives here, we have lived here since our birth
Precious water, land and air here, clean and pure through nature's strife
May we labor to preserve them and the quality of life

The Jungle King

A lion did walk through the jungle lush
He was takin' his time, wasn't in a rush
He was thinkin' he was special, he was quite the thing
He was mean and he was fierce, he was the Jungle King

He came to a monkey swingin' there in the trees
And he snagged his tail and began to squeeze
Then the monkey was scared, knew not what to do
And he wondered if the lion on his face would chew

Then the lion roared out, and made a huge request
"Of the beasts in the jungle just who is the best?"
Then the monkey called out and his voice did sing
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

So the lion left the monkey and he went on his way
Then he came to a fox he thought to make his prey
And he chased the fox to a great big tree
Where he couldn't get away and he couldn't get free

Then the lion roared out, very loud and long
“Of the beasts in the jungle who's the very most strong?”
Then the fox barked out and his voice did ring
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

So the lion left the fox, he was feelin' pretty fine
When he saw a big bear on which he thought to dine
He leapt out front where the bear did walk
And confronted him there with ferocious talk

Then the lion roared out, he was all out riled
“Of the beasts in the jungle, who's most fierce and wild?”
Then the big bear bellowed and the air did sting
“It's you mighty lion, you're the jungle king!”

Then the lion walked on and was feelin' mighty tough
When an elephant came out struttin' his stuff
And he blocked the path where the lion strode
Then the lion got mad and his anger showed

Then the lion roared out to the elephant there
“Of the beasts in the jungle, who's the biggest scare?”
But the big gray beast didn't say a thing
'Bout the mighty lion or the jungle king

But instead reached out with his mighty long trunk
And he batted the lion like he was a punk
Then again and again the lion he did swat
Then his great big feet on the lion did trot

Then the lion roared out, he was hurtin' really bad
“Why'd ya go and do that, you don't have to get all mad
Just 'Cause ya don't know the answer to the question I did bring
'Bout the mighty lion and the jungle king.”

illiterate?

I think that it's quite inconsiderate
That my kids think that I am illiterate.
All my mail they berate,
Saying I'm out of date,
Because I won't Facebook or Twitter it.

Sharing an Egg

I came upon a small white egg
Quite common not so rare
It's all I have to eat today
But with you I will share

You look so hungry sitting there
I'm sure you'd like a bite
Now tell me how to cook the egg
The yellow and the white

Do you like scrambled or face up
Or easy-over flipped
Perhaps you like it sunny-side
Or boiled, hot-water dipped

I'll cook the egg as you desire
So it will suit your taste
We'll split it after it's been cooked
And none of it we'll waste

So now the egg is ready here
I've cooked it very well
Enjoy the part you designate
What now, you want the shell?