Monday, February 5, 2018

He Musta Got Better

Robert Milne died June 5th 2005, at age 49.
That is not an extraordinary fact. Many people die at that age.
How and where he died is the extraordinary part: at an altitude of approximately 8850 meters during a final push to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.
When I knew Mr. Milne (we attended the same high school) he struck me a something of a nerd. 

That's ok. He was focused on a goal: to study computer science. He had a love of mountain climbing. The two came together when he was field testing a telemetry device in the most remote locations: mountaintops. He had, prior to this trip, already summited the highest peaks of the other six continents and had just this one remaining. He didn't quite make it.
You can't really say that he failed in his quest, though. He went where his vision led him and I presume died with few, if any, regrets. Having more than my share of regrets, I envy him that.
Harry Chapin (singer-songwriter, wrote Taxi, Cat's in the Cradle, 30,000 lbs of Bananas) wrote a bit of advice given to him by his grandfather. In the interest of NOT infringing on copy-rights, I point you to a link on Amazon.com: My Grandfather .

Do your best to fight your own fights, as much as you can, and the fights you care about. Fighting somebody else's fights may be necessary in the course of your life (and, of course, do your best with those, too).

But, do not neglect your own battles, your own goals, your own dreams.

Yes, You Can.

The Madman

An Interesting Thought.


(originally written 7 feb 2009)

If you’ve never read the book: Ben-Hur, I commend to you to do so. The movie Ben-Hur is good (an understatement) but of necessity leaves out much important information. If you don’t wish to purchase a copy, by all means download a plain-vanilla copy from Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org). That’s where I got my copy. I’m not done reading it, yet. But I noticed something in the Fifth Book, where the protagonist comes into a considerable sum of wealth. His steward informs that with such wealth, Judah Ben-Hur could do anything. But he suggests one particular thing: the Messiah is deemed to be poor, though a king; would it not be good for Judah to use his wealth and training to provide the army the Messiah would undoubtedly need?


That they have it wrong is part of the story; I bid you read it for the details. As a historical drama, it is every bit as thrilling as the latest Tom Clancy.


But think: we need not have great wealth to place in our Lord’s service, nor great skills. We only need to be willing to place what we have in His hands, to do with them as He bids us.


What do you have? What can you do?


You can give and do your best.


Yes, you can!