Community

Ukiah has been wonderful but it isn't really on the way to anywhere and at times a feel a bit isolated. For the most part I enjoy the feeling of being off in my own little corner of the world but sometimes you need a bit more. During the last two weeks I have had the blessing of being surrounded by friends and family from all over. I especially enjoyed seeing a few people that I haven't seen in a very long time, meeting some of Laura's family, and spending time with my siblings. Life is all about community. Our community helps us to grow and mature from when we are born to when we die.

On another note, I always get really nervous going to church the Sunday closest to the 4th of July. I always get a sinking feeling in my stomach when I see churches hung with flags. While I have political and religious objections to our churches forgetting that separation of church and state was meant to go both ways and that I don't pledge my allegiance to anything but God (included our flag) I was pleased with how our church here in Ukiah handled this day. With a respectful nod, a challenge to how we live out our faith and our patriotism (if we have it), and a wonderful hymn.

This Is My Song

Lloyd Stone

This is my song, O God of all the nations,

a song of peace for lands afar and mine.

This is my home, the country where my heart is;

here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;

but other hearts in other lands are beating

with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

My country's skies are bluer than the ocean,

and sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine;

but other lands have sunlight too, and clover,

and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.

O hear my song, thou God of all the nations,

a song of peace for their land and for mine.