With HDTV just around the corner, it is really fun trying to fine-tune the antenna for existing HD broadcasts. Yes, we have no cable or dish.
The weak sister on my reception is KMOV – Channel 4. They have either moved their tower or are at reduced power. I am led to believe both may be true.
Well, one more trip to the roof so PBS isn’t screwed up, and I’ll just wait for KMOV to get things organized.
Near the end of my running route, I come down a long hill with somewhat of a dip at the bottom. Anything loose on a construction vehicle heading up hill has a good chance of being bounced off. Over the years I have found an assortment of metal objects. Quite a pile had I ever thought to save them.
The jackpot was a few years ago when I found a 12-inch adjustable wrench. Nicely chromed, it has been hanging from a nail in the garage ever since. Until this morning, that is.
When the shower flow abruptly slowed in the guest bathroom, I had to dig out the brochure to see how to take the control valve apart so I could look for the culprit. What was needed was a large adjustable wrench to hold the outer body while the internals were unscrewed and removed. I cleaned and back flushed the filters. Back in business. No service call fee; no hourly plumber charge.
A good find on that morning run. It has occurred to me, however, that the police could have been summoned to check out the old man running down the street with that large wrench. But I am glad that I picked it up and brought it home.
Last Saturday marked the eighth anniversary of my work as a volunteer chaplain at a maximum security prison. Eight years which have transformed my life.
How did all this unfold?
I retired at end of ’96 from a career of engineering, manufacturing, and executive management.
Having retired, I went back to school to study theology.
Studying theology, I wanted a means to express what I learned.
To express what I learned, I majored in preaching.
Majoring in preaching required a venue for my internship
A venue for internship came to be a jail/prison environment
Working in a prison environment led to the lay chaplain role I am now in.
So, eight years of ministering to those in solitary confinement have given me the confidence to minster to those awaiting execution, have led to more impactful preaching at prison prayer services, have made me a more patient listener to those who struggle, have prepared me for a whole spectrum of emerging spiritualities, have been a blessing beyond measure.
In a dim light... 