Old friend . . .

I got a call from an old friend I have not seen since the late 1980's and have not spoken to in probably over 5 years. Many know who Rodrigue is from SLU in Hammond, but some of you do not. He and I met in a class during our 1st year of College. He asked me "What's up" and I replied, "Jesus on the 3rd day" and we have been friends ever since. He is from the French Island of Guadeloupe and presently lives there with his wife. His parents are from Lebanon and he has a sister who still lives in Lebanon. He and his wife lived several years in Portugal, which is where she was born and raised. We caught up on alot of history in 1 hour. It was a blessing to hear from him. If any of you would like his e-mail address, e-mail or call and I will pass it along.

Warning: philosophical rant ahead . . .

I find myself sitting here writing, lost in thought even while typing about something else, frustrated about my mother having to go through chemotherapy treatments. As the Dr. told her, her hair would begin to fall out at so many weeks - and it has begun to fall out. She has also experienced the nausea and vomiting, to some degree, as predicted. The Dr. did prescribe medication for this which has helped alleviate most of these symptoms. And of course, the fatigue is present. It is still all too fresh in my own mind, these sysmptoms. I say all of this to express how I feel helpless - helpless to help her. And immediately attached to that thought was "no,you are not helpless". But what can I do? Pray, for one thing, call and encourage her and dad and my Aunt Eva. Spend time with them when possible. Then even further is the notion that we are all, to one extent or another, helpless. That is when the proof of the Divine Sovereignty of God is revealed. As the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." I, and all who become aware of their own humanity and mortality, are the very proof needed to show there is a God. I am a part in the larger symphony overwhich God Almighty directs. So with this knowledge, I should no longer feel frustrated or helpless, for God is in control. I can do something to help - and not just for those I know and love. I now have confidence in Him, rather than in myself. I now have things in their proper order - how things are supposed to work.

I finally saw the movie "All the Kings Men" in which I was an extra. I could not find any familiar faces. The movie was slow at developing, and you had to really be paying attention to the details to keep up. We all felt it could have been so much more than it was. Many things were not covered that could have been. The deleted scenes and the featurettes at the end were very educational about all of the things Huey P. Long did for the State of LA. I am glad we rented instead of paying to see it in the Theatre. I would give it a C+. It is rated PG-13. I would say PG-16 myself.

I also heard that former president Gerald Ford died today. My personal memory of him is when he rode down the Mississippi River in a paddle wheel boat. For those of you who do not know, I was raised only a few hundred yards from the Miss. River - just over the levee. I found out when he would be likely passing by, climbed up into a big Willow tree along the bank of the river and waived like I was crazy. He did see all of us on the bank and waved back at us. I must have been barely a teenager. Time passes by so fast.

One last question: Is life simple complexity or complex simplicity?

Next time will be a list of things I am thankful for.
God Bless and let's get these resolutions cooking.
George.