 It is difficult to watch our culture slide more and more into the abyss. Families are being divided simply because of viewpoints about a vaccine. Will there ever be a time when we can disagree on an issue without killing the character of the one with whom we disagree?
Life is short folks. Keep things in perspective.
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    The next time you get a trivia question about South Dakota, you can answer with this data. There is more to South Dakota than Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse, the Badlands, Wall Drug, and the Corn Palace. There is the Mammoth Site.   The Children's Memorial Garden at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center is a unique place.   I try to visit cathedrals any chance I get. Although I had been to the cathedral in Rapid City on a prior occasion, I welcomed another chance to make a visit.    Notice at the top it says, "Come away and rest in God." It was not followed with the words, "Stay indoors."
I actually did go for an extensive walk and did not encounter any hazards. It was quite peaceful.  It was my pleasure to once again lead a retreat at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center in Rapid City, South Dakota for the staff of St. Patrick Parish--Casper, Wyoming. I had the privilege of leading a retreat for this same group four years ago in August of 2017.  The retreat center is a beautiful campus. Going to Rapid City at the same time the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is happening may not be the smartest move, but we navigated the trek just fine.   I want to thank the staff at the retreat center for their gracious hospitality. I want to thank the retreatants for their presence at the retreat. You blessed my life immensely during our time together. I also want to thank the pastor for recognizing the need to keep his staff spiritually energized and renewed. I hope I did my part to make that happen.   I had the privilege of being the guest speaker last night at the Frontier Lions Club meeting. I looked back through my blogs to see the last time I was there. I was the keynote speaker at their Eagle Scout Recognition banquet on March 2, 2017. Time continues to fly by.
The Lions do some very good work in the community. As I listened to their upcoming events in which they are providing services of one kind or another, they certainly are not letting any grass grow under their feet. Our communities are made stronger because people give of their time, their talent, and their financial resources in a multitude of ways. To all who volunteer their services at organizations, churches, or solely on their own accord, thank you for your kindness and willingness to serve others.  This bird was not happy that I was crossing his/her bridge at Lions Park. I backed up and detoured as demanded by the angry bird.
I am not sure why the bird was somewhat aggressive. Were there babies in the area? I simply took an alternate route so as not to disturb the bird any further. What role does fear play in our lives? How do others capitalize on our fears? How has society been impacted by fear, indifference, distrust, or anger in reference to these topics? A) The Virus B) The Vaccine C) Vaccine Passports C) The Olympics D) The Border E) The Government F) The Medical Community G) The Media H) Social Media Censorship I) Billionaire Power Players J) Agenda-Driven Propaganda What role does faith play in our lives? How does faith impact our response to these things?  As I prepared for today, I realized more and more how short a 30 second spot truly is. It makes an 8 to 10 minute homily seem like a lengthy dissertation.
If all goes well, we should see a finished product by the end of next week. If it is good, I will share it with you. If it is not good, we will pretend that none of this ever happened. I offer a word of gratitude to Tim from KKTQ (ABC) for his work today. Cheyenne residents will be able to see the commercial on that station or KLWY Fox 27 beginning next Thursday hopefully.  The photo above will probably be the winning location. I had my publicity photo taken on that bridge for the back cover of my book. I am a bit partial to this spot at the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. I think it will make a good backdrop for filming our commercial.   What were some other options being considered?  I like this mural, but is too close to a busy street. The noise would be too much.  The capitol building has potential, but there was a lot of noise today. The traffic noise and lawn mowers seemed to be competing with one another.  Big Boy would be a recognizable backdrop, but being along the busy street of Lincolnway made for more noise than anticipated.  We thought that filming in front of the new Chris LeDoux sculpture would demonstrate that this is indeed fresh material we are presenting. The traffic noise from I-25 was a bit of a concern. Also, the absence of the carnival rides in the background reduces the appeal from just a few days ago. Compare these two photos. The top one was taken today (Monday). The bottom one was taken last Thursday.  |
AuthorThis is my personal blog. The opinions expressed are those of Deacon Vernon and the blog's readers. This site operates independently and is not affiliated with any other entity. The information I provide is on an "as-is" basis. I make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information on this blog. I will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information. Furthermore, I will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its use. |
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