More on treasures in the attic

My quest for a manageable amount of "stuff" in my attic is motivated by my desire to save my amazing children from the real trauma of having to throw away so much of "Dad's stuff."  I'm very conscious of my mission here.

Among the unexpected experiences and emotions of my mining the attic, I've discovered lots of correspondence from across the years. 

And in that connection, I've noted a very discernable pattern. 

Early in my "career" I tended to save "positive" feedback from my constituents--mainly members of the churches that I served.  I've discovered so many letters and notes of encouragement from those early days.  Many bring tears to my eyes and surprises to the memory capacity of my heart and soul. 

Later in my work life--have I ever had a job?--I simply threw away the positive notes. 

As a matter of fact, I threw away almost all of the feedback.  I read it all, positive and negative. During this period,  I always tossed the positive.  Some of the negative remains.  I'm not sure what all this means, but it seems to me that as I've grown older, I've also come to benefit from clarity and from criticism. 

One thing I know for sure, really caring about people matters. 

And, it's not a bad way to build a life as over against a job or career.  I've never been perfect, far from it, but I have cared.

Images from memory

The following images were captured in the lobby of the Bank of America Oak Cliff Tower yesterday.  Walking through the display moved me deeply.

Thank you, Clyde

[Reposted from Memorial Day 2009.]

Clyde Erwin was my father-in-law.

He died in December 1997.

He was a veteran. And, like so many others, very much worthy of our remembrance on this day of memory as a nation.

Nothing needs to be said about Nazi Germany, the result of the complete metastatic malignancy that destroyed an entire national community--economy, values, vision, humanity, soul and all.

Clyde spoke very little about his experiences in World War Two.

But he did tell me about December 1944.

He was caught in the very middle of "the Battle of the Bulge." He woke up on Christmas Day 1944 covered in a foot of fresh snow. Cold, fear, combat, in-coming shells, an advancing enemy army, all combined to make those days horrible beyond words.

Clyde was wounded in battle more than once. He witnessed the deaths of scores of fellow soldiers in the close combat involved in his assignment. How he made it back alive was something I know he felt to be a miracle. He never spoke of that horrible time without tears and great emotion. He earned a Bronze Star from the U. S. Army for his service in combat and for what he did in battle to save and protect those around him.

I wrote him a letter before he died to express my appreciation and that of our family for what he had done so far away from Wise County, Texas and the farm where he grew up outside of tiny Rhome. I am so glad that I did.

He was our hero.

Today I remember that he belongs to the nation as well.

Thanks again, Clyde. We miss you and we'll never forget.

Daddy

So, I've been thinking about my father today.

Had he lived, we would be celebrating his 90th birthday.

He was a good man.

I miss him a lot.

For some reason I've been thinking about when I was 16-years-old and he handed me the keys to our 1957 Buick Super 4-door hardtop, the family car. It became my car that day.

I painted it maroon, removed the hubcaps and painted the wheel rims black. He never said a word. It was my car. The '57 above is just like the car I first drove, except for the color and less 2 doors.

Great memories.

Life moves on.

Memories remain. . .thankfully.

Colum McCann, Let the Great World Spin: A Novel

After hearing Colum McCann interviewed over the Christmas break, I put his latest novel, Let the Great World Spin, on my "must read soon" list.  The book is about life in urban America. 

Listen to an interview with him by clicking here.

Friday afternoon on Congo Street. . .

Just ended my week with a walk down Congo Street and the home rebuilding/refurbishing project that links Central Dallas Ministries' AmeriCorps team with Brent Brown's bcworkshop to literally rebuild an urban city block the way the residents decide it should be done.

Great success at the near completion of yet another house.

Wish you could have seen it.

To see an earlier experience on the street, use the Search tool above to the left. Just type in "Congo Street."

Amazing. Simple. Sustainable. Community directed.