I am going to start this by thanking all those who have shown me compassion during this bout with illness. Lots of calls, lots of e-mails and texts and lots of prayers. Also, Nancy Anderson and Carla Krom for bring food by. Everyone has been so kind.

Also, an interesting question has been brought up. Will my blog continue when I retire? All I know is that it will not continue on the church website after September 29th. I enjoy writing and I would like to continue, but I need to sit down with Miss Mary and see how to do that. It ran before the website was up and running, so it should be easy. Since it will not be on the church's site, I will need the e-mail addresses of those who wish to continue with it. I will run this once in August and once more in September. If you wish to receive the blog, send your e-mail address to oldirishguy51@yahoo.com

And now, this week's blog.

    I don't know what went on in the Board rooms of Disney in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now they are a 'woke' organization that allows their perverted politics to creep into every part of their huge entertainment empire. Back then, when they met in their cigar smoke filled Board rooms, they may have been plotting all of this. I don't know. What I do know is that what the Disney people did in public really made the parks the most fun and entertaining places on earth.

    During those years, Florida residents got in for a much reduced rate compared to out of state guests. And, we didn't have to buy multiple day passes or multiple event tickets. Show ID, buy a one day pass and walk right in. Marsha and I lived in the Miami area and we could drive to Orlando in about three and a half hours. For three years we went three to four times a year. It really was cheap! Usually on a Tuesday, we would get up early and head north. Marsha, as was her habit, would sleep all the way there. Once there, we would go to The International House of Pancakes, now called IHOP, have breakfast and then head over to Disney just as they were opening for the day. We would experience the sights and the sounds and all the fun. Then, about seven or so, we would make our way back to our car, stop somewhere to get a quick bite to eat and then drive home. Again, Marsha would sleep all the way home. I think she probably still believes Miami and Orlando are only about 30 minutes apart.

    On one of these many trips, we had started to grow tired of the park. Sitting on a park bench to take a break, we just watched people. The kids, especially. Nobody can have fun like a kid! Most of these kids were there on vacation with their parents. Probably staying at some really nice resort, swimming in the pool, watching Disney on TV. But being at the park was the ultimate. They were having the time of their lives. The parents were frazzled, but the kids were all in high gear.

    Of course, there is water everywhere at Disney. Man-made streams made to look natural and, in some cases, natural streams incorporated into the overall park. As I recall, these various streams have attractive wrought iron fencing so no one can fall in, but they can still see the water. One little girl had broken away from her mother and was running after a Disney character when she glanced to her side. Sliding to a stop, she rushed to the fencing and stared at the water. 

    "MOMMY! LOOK! A FISH!"

    It struck me at the time, and still does at the memory, that with everything around her that man had designed, the intensity of amazement that all the children there were caught up in, she was diverted and filled with wonder by a fish.

    We live in a complex world. Everything around us is new and improved and always changing. Farmers from fifty years ago would be amazed at farming today. Medicine from fifty years ago and medicine of today are like two different sciences. And, if you want to catch a fish like that fish from Disney from 43 years ago, you us a fish sonar.

    Man has done wonders and it is exciting. It can also be confusing. And, it can be frightening.

    We went home that night. As Marsha slept, I thought about the little girl and the fish, how the wonder of God overshadowed, just for that moment in her mind, the wonder of man. 

    When Sunday came around, I led the music and then that night had the Youth Group. The music has changed some over the years and the Youth Group dealt with problems and good things unique to the place and time. But when the Pastor stepped into the pulpit, he preached out of the Word of God. That which has been faithful and true for thousands of years. Unchanging. Solid. Dependable. The Word is under assault all the time. Yet it will live on, inspiring people and saving souls, until the end of time. Business, government, entertainment are all changing and want to take us with them. But the Word of God is our shelter, our hope and our guide.

    Read.