Rules
of Civility #18 - "Read no letters, books, or papers in company, but
when there is a necessity for the doing of it you must ask leave. Come
not near the books or writings of another so as to read them unless
desired, or give your opinion of them unasked. Also, look not nigh when
another is writing a letter."
Uh......a letter? Do you think this rule applies to cell phones as well as letters, books, or papers? Remember, you could be one electromagnetic pulse away from being sent back to George Washington's time....just sayin'.
Welcome to Tuesday and this weeks Musical Notes....that means you are reading Tuesday's Musical Notes....is that redundant or should we type it again? This is the time of the week where we pause together to reflect rhythmically, think thematically, and generally have a good time with classic songs.....well, songs that are some of The Notes favorites anyway:)! Welcome!!!
The years 1946-1964 are considered the generation of the Baby Boomers. The last 2 years of this group will celebrate their 50th birthday either this year or next. Happy Birthday!!! Many will take the time to pause and consider how those 50 years have been spent. Perhaps even this scenario will play out in their mind...."A man walks down the street and says, "Why am I soft in the middle now...""
Paul Simon "You Can Call Me Al" with an assist from Chevy Chase
Welcome to Graceland, the Grammy winner for album of the year in 1987 from Paul Simon. The album featured a wide variety of instrumentation and is inspired by Paul Simon's trip to South Africa. It was a major return to the charts by Simon who had been in a musical slump. With the release of the first single and its synth horn sectioned charged, intro, "You Can Call Me Al", Simon would see the beginnings of a resurgence that allows him to continue to be popular in concerts around the world today. The climb back would be slow as the initial release in the fall of 1986 of "You Can Call Me Al" only went as high as #44. The reissue that received greater promotion would chart as high as #23 domestically, establishing Graceland as an album to be considered a must have for turntables across the land.
"You Can Call Me Al" seems to be the considerations of a person teetering on a midlife crisis with its first couple of verses before receding into lyrics based on the aforementioned South African trip. With these lyrics, Paul Simon exposes the age old questions of embracing the familiar past, while fighting the fears of the future. With the last of the Baby Boomers turning 50, here is some encouragement about what the future may hold:
"Famous After 50"
In some respects, the folks mentioned in this article really began living after they turned 50. While they probably where successful in their personal lives prior to this time, it seems the creative juices of success didn't come to full fermentation until they hit the magic mark of 50. The Notes supposes that it really is all in the perspective that one has as they approach this dynamic crossroad of their lives. It is so easy to think that things were better in the past, while what we tend to embrace is the nostalgia, not the reality of our past.
Many of the men and women of the Bible did not fulfill their destiny until they were old, in some cases very old. It is easy to argue that these people had a different life, after all they were only separated from creation by hundreds of years, not thousands right? What if however, God's intentions were for them to be at a point where they were mature enough to handle the calling He had for their lives? John the Apostle was in his 90's when God revealed to him incredible future events. We know it as the Book of Revelation. At 92, John the beloved wrote what is considered one of the most discussed and debated books in the Bible. This was at a time when the average life expectancy was far less than 92. Most scholars believe that age to be in the 40s. Imagine that....middle age at the time of Jesus was about 20 years old. We have very little with which to complain.
That being said and according to Timbuk 3: "The Future's So Bright...I Gotta Where Shades" (I hear a future Tuesday's Musical Notes in the making). Opportunities abound for those who are willing to take advantage of this time of their lives. According to US News and World Report, 60% of accredited, degree-granting educational institutions offer tuition waivers for older adults (http://money.usnews.com/money/articles/2009/04/20/forget-tuition-how-retirees-can-attend-college-for-free) Churches around the world need seasoned, experienced workers to spread the Gospel to the next generation. Perhaps even the church you attend needs you, have you asked lately? There is much that God has planned for our lives. Our task is to use our natural skills and God given spiritual gifts to bring glory to the One who has a place planned for us to truly retire. Our work in glorifying Him will never cease...it will just change venues... a man walks down the street, it's a street in a strange world.... He says, "Amen....Hallelujah!"
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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