On Being Part of Something

Griff · 02-22-2009, 09:09 AM

I attended a funeral this week for a guy I already had respect for, then I listened to his community and was truly amazed. He always had his hand in something outside his own work. He had this vision of himself as part of the flow of history rather than observing from the outside. I don't know what confluence of forces made him a joiner and a doer but his impact on peoples lives was amazing in its scope.

He was a Boy Scout as a kid, but naturally he became an Eagle Scout. He was a Navy guy, then a big business drone, then a small businessman. His progression was that sort of idealized American dream the Republican Party used to represent. He was a wheel in the GOP, attempting to preserve that dream.

He was a long standing Rotary member and officer in two very active chapters. He helped build schools in Honduras as one of many charitable activities. He was a choir member and officer in his local church helping to guide it through an extremely difficult time as they recognized the lifestyles of their gay members. This was quite a step for someone as conservative as he was, but speaks to his fundemental fairness.

He was a Christian who embraced his Jewish in-laws and eventually the Jewish roots of his own faith. I wanted to explore his religious beliefs this summer since he wasn't a bible thumper preferring reason to received wisdom. I'm guessing he saw church as part of the tapestry of community even if it often lacked a foothold in reality. Unfortunately, I'll not get that from the horse's mouth. The gift he gave me was the question he always asked when my or anyone elses musings slid too far afield. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

In this time of macro-economic disturbance it is good to reflect on the power of a hard-working individual to lift a community.

Shawnee123 · 02-22-2009, 10:44 AM

Griff, you're my hero.

Griff · 02-22-2009, 11:36 AM

I just watch. I haven't done crap.

capnhowdy · 02-22-2009, 12:39 PM

Good write, Griff.

I'll need you to write my eulogy.

Griff · 02-22-2009, 12:55 PM

Can do, but not too soon man.

Trilby · 02-22-2009, 01:10 PM

Faith in mankind: renewed!

Shawnee123 · 02-22-2009, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

I just watch. I haven't done crap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

Faith in mankind: renewed!

Exactly. Griff will often remind me that people don't always suck.

xoxoxoBruce · 02-22-2009, 10:15 PM

There was a time, which now seems long ago and far away, when I knew a bunch of people like that... just small variations in the details.
People who were genuinely concerned for, and contributed the best they could to, their family, community and country.

They never heard of Ayn Rand.

Thanks Griff, you've stirred up a flood on memories from the muck at the bottom of my gray matter.

classicman · 02-23-2009, 07:31 AM

Ayn Rand

lumberjim · 02-23-2009, 08:19 AM

i got a very Norman Rockwell vibe from that

thanks G

sweetwater · 02-23-2009, 08:37 AM

That's cool, Griff.

02-22-2009, 09:09 AM	#1
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	On Being Part of Something I attended a funeral this week for a guy I already had respect for, then I listened to his community and was truly amazed. He always had his hand in something outside his own work. He had this vision of himself as part of the flow of history rather than observing from the outside. I don't know what confluence of forces made him a joiner and a doer but his impact on peoples lives was amazing in its scope. He was a Boy Scout as a kid, but naturally he became an Eagle Scout. He was a Navy guy, then a big business drone, then a small businessman. His progression was that sort of idealized American dream the Republican Party used to represent. He was a wheel in the GOP, attempting to preserve that dream. He was a long standing Rotary member and officer in two very active chapters. He helped build schools in Honduras as one of many charitable activities. He was a choir member and officer in his local church helping to guide it through an extremely difficult time as they recognized the lifestyles of their gay members. This was quite a step for someone as conservative as he was, but speaks to his fundemental fairness. He was a Christian who embraced his Jewish in-laws and eventually the Jewish roots of his own faith. I wanted to explore his religious beliefs this summer since he wasn't a bible thumper preferring reason to received wisdom. I'm guessing he saw church as part of the tapestry of community even if it often lacked a foothold in reality. Unfortunately, I'll not get that from the horse's mouth. The gift he gave me was the question he always asked when my or anyone elses musings slid too far afield. "You don't really believe that, do you?" In this time of macro-economic disturbance it is good to reflect on the power of a hard-working individual to lift a community. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-22-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Griff, you're my hero. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-22-2009, 11:36 AM	#3
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I just watch. I haven't done crap. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-22-2009, 12:39 PM	#4
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Good write, Griff. I'll need you to write my eulogy. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

02-22-2009, 12:55 PM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Can do, but not too soon man. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-22-2009, 01:10 PM	#6
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Faith in mankind: renewed! __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

02-22-2009, 10:15 PM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	There was a time, which now seems long ago and far away, when I knew a bunch of people like that... just small variations in the details. People who were genuinely concerned for, and contributed the best they could to, their family, community and country. They never heard of Ayn Rand. Thanks Griff, you've stirred up a flood on memories from the muck at the bottom of my gray matter. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-23-2009, 07:31 AM	#9
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Ayn Rand __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

02-23-2009, 08:19 AM	#10
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	i got a very Norman Rockwell vibe from that thanks G __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

02-23-2009, 08:37 AM	#11
sweetwater lives inside a Mobius strip Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,120	That's cool, Griff. __________________ I knew I shoulda taken that left turn at Albuquerque! - Bugs Bunny

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