SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: longevi-TEA

Hubby's mom (our Mommar) didn't live to be 103, as George Dawson the focus of today's book review did. However, she did grow up during impoverished times and yet kept that same positive "life is good" focus as Dawson projects.

Dawson's book, Life is So Good, written with Richard Glaubman, is not the best book I've ever read---but I liked it. There are so many lessons to be learned from someone who didn't learn to read until age 98. Even his kids didn't know he couldn't read, until he revealed that "secret" to them during their teen years. Yet, all 7 of his children graduated not only from high school but also from college.

His "learning" began at the knee of his father. "Life is good." And with a grin he added. I do believe it's getting better." (Dawson, p. 4)

In his youth, witnessing a murder of an innocent black man, had Dawson asking himself, "Why am I still here?" and realizing the answer. "I am a witness to the truth. That's why I'm still here. I can't let the truth die with me." (Ibid, p. 45) That was Dawson's impetus to get the true story written down before it was his time to die.

Tho his continuing story didn't focus much on that incident, you understand it's impact on his life and his reticence around others, not of his race. From building levees on the Mississippi and driving railroad spikes to breaking horses in his hometown of Marshall, Texas, Mr. George Dawson continued to work hard, show respect for all people and champion learning for the youth in his GED classes. He was their inspiration.

Dawson had a deep knowledge that came from watching and listening. Even with a limited understanding of Watergate, he still showed a depth of understanding when he commented, "...maybe Richard Nixon just wanted something too much. He worked hard to get what he wanted and forgot the important things along the way." (Ibid, p. 217)

Summing up his philosophy, he answered a 5th grader's question who wanted to know what life was like. "Life ain't all good or all bad. It's full of everything." (p. 233)

I, however, appreciated his answer to an adult who asked if he was a "cup half-empty or half-full" kind of guy. "I see it as being enough, so it's just fine." (p. 238) So biblical! (Philippians 4:11-12)

If you liked Same Kind of Different as Me, you'll like this book.

Q & A

2/25/09 You asked---I answered.
Church? First Evangelical---when he was 4, Josh called it “first of the van” and would lament the times he had to sit in the cemetery (sanctuary) maybe b/c he had to be quiet in there.
Favorite song for dancing/bopping---

“Ain’t too Proud to Beg” (Temptations) “I Can’t Help Myself” (Four Tops) I guarantee that if I hear those songs I start dancing even if it’s at “That Place on 98” near Apalachicola. Just ask embarrassed Larry.
Favorite Tea? Hard to narrow---I like a good assam---more of a black tea person than green tea. PG Tips (England) Red Rose (Canada) Bewley’s (Ireland) are in pantry now. Also love Jordan Pond tea (Maine) but I’m out, anyone going to the northeast??
Favorite book? Even harder to narrow but Keeper of the Bees, a real oldie (1925) by Gene Stratton-Porter stands out as a good one few folks have read. More recently read, Same Kind of Different as Me (Hall & Moore) and Shards of Shell, by “my” Michèle Phoenix.
Memorable Gift? Attending a mid-town home tour (1996) with Josh, I saw a French Limoges type porcelain box which had books on it and a Wordsworth sonnet quote---Larry & I had just been to WW’s home in Grasmere (Lake District in England) I loved it---from a distance---as it sat on an antique breakfront in one of the homes. I assume I mentioned it to Josh. A week later on my 50th birthday, I opened the beautifully wrapped Babcock’s gift from Larry and there it was! I was beside myself!! My mother was there and commented, “he probably paid $50 for that”---my thought was, I bet he wished that was all he paid. It’s still a gift I treasure. Diane surprising me on my 40th was a memorable “gift” as well.
Recent Memory? I have no recent memory---or not much anyway.
Big Surprise? “Grandmother” shower for me that I did not want---it was to be the month after Mother died, I didn’t want hoopla for me---kids needed the “stuff” not me---the surprise was that my dear friends brought the expectant parents & other grandparents from Texas along with my entire family from Kentucky to surprise me because I needed a “lift”---they showered me with love and I’ll never forget it. I’m crying just remembering the joy.
Travel Destination? For years, England was always the answer---these days home “feels so good” though I wouldn’t mind going to Germany so I could meet Michèle, whose faith and hope on her MacJourney keeps me hopeful.

Harder question but really the most important one (compilation of several) How do you keep on keeping on? It’s all about Him! I keep seeking His face. When I seek His face (Psalm 27:8) my heart is transformed and when my countenance reflects His peace it’s real, even if the tears are streaming.

As surgeries kept being put off, as new doctors bowed out and a team was being sought, I was faced with weeks of waiting. At the time, 4-6 more weeks seemed like a long time. But oh how I have needed that time both practically--- to deal with Larry’s folks and our dear neighbors and now my own dad’s diagnosis--- and emotionally and spiritually. I have needed time with Jesus.

Quiet times have been times of lingering---just being still in the Lord’s presence. Calming comes to mind. Meditation might begin in the early part of the day and then continue or be “refined” by the end of the day. Sometimes He brings affirmation of something learned at His feet through a friend’s comment, card, or e-mail.

One thing I know for sure---these times have been necessary for me to see my life with MAC, in the light of God’s goodness and truth. It has been a time of preparation for the spiritual battles that I encounter and even those yet to come. Some days l-o-n-g times with Him are NECESSARY (in all caps, for emphasis) to even hold my head up---but that’s when He becomes my shield and the lifter up of my head. (Psalm 3:3) It’s why I have never had to ask why?---that doesn’t matter, God’s glory does.