Remember that program? Old folks do the darndest things!

Thursday. Already? Really? Good. Welcome to the last day of May, 2012, where I will be your host in providing this guided tour of today's episode. The other evening I watched the 100th birthday celebration honoring Branson, Missouri. (I think it was a rerun made earlier this year.) It was a two hour program hosted on RFDTV. That's right folks. (RFD: Rural Free Delivery, in case you may not have known it from the Mayberry RFD days.) The large audience at that taping were pretty much dominated by white or no hair and I'm pretty sure that's also the audience they were looking for out in TV land. I watched it because the entertainment is good. Lots of 'pickin and grinnin'. Outstanding guitar work. Great cowboy music and generally what we older folks call good clean fun. That little town of 10,000 residents play host to over 7 million visitors per year.(That's approximately the same number that visit Hawaii each year.) Branson has a typical mid western history characterized by challenge, adversity, and even some calamities thrown in for good measure, but, it has persevered and today it is one of the premier destinations for folks to visit. One of the performers, Jim Stafford, did his comedy routine and then some great guitar work. I remember him from back in the 70's. He has really aged. He is now 68. That's two years older than me, but he looked much older on that show. Do you ever do that? Look at someone else close to your age and think, well, at least I don't look that old? Or do I? Yes, eye of the beholder and all of that, and then some. No doubt. But we get our little lifts where we can, or maybe that's what it was, his didn't work out so well. Just kidding. Someone the other day posted on Facebook that they would be visiting Branson this summer and asked for suggestions. One of their kids responded with great embarrassment that his parents had reached that stage of life. Going to Branson? How sad. What a shame. And, to tell everyone. See what us older guys have to put up with?

This past Tuesday evening I watched a 90 minute special on HDNET hosted by Dan Rather in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that occurred on December 7, 1941. I typically do not watch much of anything associated with Dan Rather but I was drawn in to hearing once again the voices of that fading group of American military personnel who were eyewitnesses on that fateful day. Sure, I had to listen to some sermonizing by Rather here and there but I would recommend this program to anyone who has an interest in the history of our nation. Of the slightly more than 77,000 military stationed in Hawaii on the day of the attack, it is estimated that only 2700 remain. To hear those who remain speak about that day and to see those tears flow again means something. They still feel the weight of the loss of their fellow comrades. Those elderly veterans who live on the island are treated with special respect and admiration as they provide living commentary to many of the visitors who come to the memorial that sits on top of the USS Arizona. Underneath that suspended platform lies the tomb where 900 of our heroes remain. This documentary of sorts was professionally done. The art work and graphics were superb. The interviews were haunting. But, there is also the resolve that came in the aftermath of this great tragedy. That's why Pearl Harbor is special. We suffered a humiliating defeat on that one day but it was not the end of America's story, and for that, and for the memory of those who lost their lives on behalf of liberty, we thank God. I would highly recommend that anyone who has access to this program to watch it and be moved again by this momentous event in our history.

I have not become a TV critic. Critic? Perhaps. But certainly not limited to TV. Maybe I should be called a 'critic at large'. Most of us are, in one way or another, just in different areas of specialization. One of the things I notice is how quickly we can jump from being critical of a situation or outcome but then make the leap to some horribly harsh condemnatory comments about the motivations of those involved. Wow! We end up being unhappy with a result but at the same time we think everyone involved is an idiot and that they actually got up contemplating how they could ruin our day. Sounds preposterous, doesn't it? Here's a scenario: "I drove all the way to this store and they don't have the brand I am looking for. They probably do have it but they are too lazy to put it out or they are holding it back for themselves. They are a bunch of idiots anyway. Maybe I will never come to this store again. How do you like that? " We live in some stressful times folks but we all need to be reminded that typically most folks do not get up each day with us in their crosshairs. And, we all know how quickly we change when we are the perpetrator and our boo boo causes someone else some inconvenience. But this zero to 100 mentality is a growing problem and I just think for those of us who know the Lord, we need to think seriously about our testimony when faced with all of life's dots that don't connect. We need to be mindful that having the mind of Christ in our interactions with others is His will for our day by day living. I could use His help because of that vast conspiracy out there somewhere trying to ruin my day. Know what I mean? Pray for me. Thanks. I'll do the same for you. Amen.   ....More later.