Life Beyond the Narrow Gate

For starters, we have elected a new president who is not like anything we’ve ever had! Pretty cool! I mean I’m interested in history and this is definitely historical…though I didn’t vote for him,  I’m interested in seeing what transpires come 20 JAN 09 and beyond.  I mean I feel like I’m in the twilight zone as I walk in my office which I can only get to by going through the chaplain assistant’s office. Why? He’s got pictures of the future president adorning the walls (something like this is up in our office) and they are not pictures of some crusty old white guy who’s family hails from Maine and has direct descendants through an original charter member of the Plymouth Colony! So if for no other reason, the president elect has more in common with me than most of the fellas we have had in the last century at the helm. Obama’s family is from Kansas orignally and my mother’s dad was from Kansas. My mother has land in Kansas–a small connection. Nothing like mid-west values. That’s interesting stuff, but for principal sake, he couldn’t get my vote for his stance on abortion. Yeah, I play right into the hands of the Republicans who can count on my vote knowing us evangelicals are typically single issue voters. They got me again! But, I’m okay with that until another party rises up that has pro-life tendancies plus encourages people to go the extra mile to serve, aid and assist our fellow man….oh and is strong on national defense! Can’t forget who pays the bills!

Speaking of going the extra mile to serve, aid and assist our fellow man, I participated in a 4-mile trail run today to provide more services for wounded warriors.  I actually went these four miles as a participant in a great cause thanks to a donation from the local VFW chapter.  I guess you could say I did not really go much beyond actually…literally…going the extra mile since VFW paid my entry fee (thanks to the brigade chaplain’s efforts), but all the same it was for a good cause and the event was very enjoyable. 

I didn’t mention Heather was off co-hosting a women’s coffee & brunch on post, so I was looking for something to do.  Apparently, Heather and another chaplain’s wife got all sophisticated with a traditional coffee with manors, invitations, protocol and much more…all that to say I’m glad I was running miles away from a formal coffee event!  No really, Heather is amazing with this kinda stuff and put a lot of effort into making this event happen.  Women get all into making the table arrangements look pretty.  Everything has to be coordinated as well.  Anyway, she pulls these amazing recipes out of her…cookbook and astonishes us all.  I’m really blessed that she’s as sophisticated as an English socialite and yet she can turn on the down-to-earthiness of say, a Paula Deen…and that goes for her cooking as well.

So I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve discovered that Heather can really cook and we are going to have a president whose family hailed from Kansas!  Lots happened since my last post!