"The strength of a community is built on the respect it shows to its elders." — Anonymous

Hello and welcome to Tuesday, February 10, 2026. It's another day here in the neighborhood where I am slinging keystrokes here, there, and everywhere onto the electronic page. The photo comes courtesy of the Artificial Intelligence, AI, utility ChartGPT. The images are real photos of yours truly. I posted the images and asked the utility to show me looking at me in the mirror. That's how it came about. There is no doubt great potential for this milestone development and that potential can be for good or as has been warned by many, it can be used for evil like we've not seen before. In the world of services like medical practice, it well could be of great assistance. At the same time, things like criminal activities, fraud, intrusion into the personal lives of individuals, and, even more sinister operations, well, that potential is there too. Right now people are enjoying the use of the tool in playful ways, manipulating photos, making cartoon images and memes, and the like. Meanwhile, the gurus that know a lot about the power of this engine of ingenuity forecast great caution as we pursue its use. One of the masters of the development of this utility had this to say, “AI will be the best or worst thing ever for humanity.” ~ Elon Musk  Another expert, “Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” ~ Christian Lous Lange  I also read where some preachers are already using AI to prepare their sermons and I spoke to a college student who said the teaching staff warned them not to use AI in their school work and, to know they had programs that could identify if they were using that technology. Maybe they are using AI to detect if AI is being used. I suppose it is something yet to be unpacked and I like this quote from the Great One himself, "I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been." ~ Wayne Gretzky. I'm not sure it offers much in this discussion, but, I like it anyway. What say you? 

 

I tend to be a wee bit obsessed with what it means to be an older person. I admit it. I do find what others before me have found and that has to do with how little revelance we as older folks have in this modern world. I will not apologize for what may sound self serving but here are some inspired words from the Lord God of heaven regarding those who are called the elderly,  "Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32 NLT) ~ "Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father… Treat older women as you would your mother" (1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT) ~ "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’" (1 Peter 5:5 NIV) ~ "Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old." (Job 12:12 NLT). I am thankful I was given the opportunity to show respect for my parents and grandparents. I'm thankful I have no regrets. However, in our world today we hear about incidents where children of aging parents have gone out of their way to take advantage of their parents. WRONG! I can't even imagine how one would be able to sleep at night. But, I know, folks like me are accused of wanting to rain of everybody's parade. I hope it rains hard. Just me. Just a wee bit of a rant, but, come on people, get a grip and show the respect that older people deserve. I think I need a cup of Community and a time out, then, I will be better. May God help us all is my prayer. Amen.