Hard-Pressed To Find One

With the wind now coming out of the south, I wasn't a bit surprised to find our temps above 60 degrees this afternoon. Having not yet looked at our ten day forecast, I'm hoping there's rain predicted because as we're heading into the planting season, our farmers are not going to be very happy with the low moisture levels in their fields.

I did manage to get up an hour earlier than normal, just so I could get myself adjusted to the time change, so hopefully I'll hit the hay at my normal hour tonight. It did seem a little strange when heading to office when it was still completely dark out, but that'll soon change as our days grow longer.

With it being Sunday, I headed back to my quiet corner to get my contemplative session started, and since I had all the more free time available this morning, I remained there much longer, just so I could get some personal reflecting done which is always good for our minds/spirits. For me it becomes a re-booting of sorts where I rid myself of ideas that've attached which I later find, are go against my core beliefs and principles. Yes, I felt fully refreshed by the time I walked out of there, and ready to move forward with my day.

Just before the hour of nine, I packed up my music and headed over to First Baptist Church, and luckily there were people already there, so I walked over to their pipe organ and readied it for today's Service. Unfortunately the pedals were not working properly, so I just decided to make the best of it.

I did bring along an extra copy of 'Blessed Assurance' in hopes I'd be able to get their director of music to sing it as a solo during their Offertory, and once I played it for him, he was more than willing. I later told him that I could already see in my mind early this morning, my accompanying him. Thank goodness he agreed because he has an exceptionally nice voice which should be shared as much as possible.

In spite of them thinking it all sounded very well this morning, I made the big mistake of playing a more difficult prelude which would've been fine if the pedals were working properly, so unfortunately it ended up being very muddy. I couldn't believe how many of their members came up and thanked me for playing their pipe organ.

After visiting with their music director, I made an agreement to play for them whatever Sunday I'm not at either St. Paul Lutheran or First Congregational Church, which would normally end up being one Sunday out of the month, so once I have the schedules for those other two churches, I can call and give them the Sunday I'd be willing to play. As a 'payment' for my playing for them, their music director agreed to sing one solo each time I'm there. I figured since nearly all my Sunday mornings are already taken, I might as well fill in the blanks.

My cousin did end up coming, so I had a nice chat with him before their Service, and then afterwards while we were downstairs having coffee. Having not seen him in quite some time, we did have some catching up to do. I simply touched on his now going to First Baptist because I knew he belonged to another one out of town, and without asking why he left, he plain-out said he was getting really sick of how that church was getting more political, and especially the way in which many seemed to glorify Donald Trump which was the driving force with his leaving, which I fully agreed. He even mentioned having seen that sign in the Republican Headquarters, and then asked me what my thoughts were, and of course when sharing my opinion of it all, I told him it was completely un-called for, and whomever's idea it was, was a very bad one.

I knew he didn't know anything about the happenings in my family since my mother passed, so I gave him a condensed narrative, and the biggest surprise to him, was my telling him what several of my siblings had done, so likely their ears were on fire today, but as we all know, the truth can be quite painful, but also necessary. Gosh it was good seeing him, and in spite my never having told him, I always considered him the 'gentle soul' of that family, and thankful when finding he'd not changed.

When I returned to office, I sat down and went thru the online news feeds, and then changed into my work clothes and headed over to my little/big project. It must've been shortly have the hour of one when I arrived, and to my shock, I didn't leave until it was approaching half past four, and the reason I stayed so long, was my determination to get that light fixture fully stripped of paint. Well, I finally got all the paint off, and I can assure you I have never in my life had such a problem getting paint removed. I was even using the strongest a person could buy at Menard's.

I dare not mention how many hours I likely spent on it, but just out of fun and a little pride, I took the above photo of it with its glass shade. I'm sure you'd be hard-pressed to find one just like it, which is more the reason I decided to use it. Yes, I'm glad I took the time, but for sure it'll be a 'never again' on my list of things to do.

The day definitely went whooshing by, and likely because I had very little down time, so hopefully after a good night's sleep, I'll be prepared for another work week. I'm hoping you're enjoying the extra hour of daylight as I am.

Tonight's One-liner is: A promise made is a debt unpaid.

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