God winks in Neosho

I still look for the God-winks in life.  Those times when you know comfortably and completely that you’re in the right place in the right time.

We enjoyed one of those experiences last week when we stopped for a quick lunch at a Neosho restaurant. Big Al and I were discussing Lauri Lyerla and Jennifer Matters' efforts at Mills Furniture to get “chests of hope” to kids and teens impacted by the Joplin tornado.

So many people are trying to find some way to help that whenever a creative idea is presented to them, they are eager to jump in and help.  Lauri had heard from folks with Oral Roberts University that they had a couple of semi-truck loads worth of donations ready for transport to Neosho.

While waiting on our lunch, I made a quick call to a friend at the Missouri Motor Carriers Office to relay questions about tags and permits needed to head to Tulsa to pick up the donations.

As I concluded the call, a lady walked up to our table and said, “Excuse me, but we couldn’t help but overhear.” 

“My boyfriend," she said, pointing to a gentleman at a corner table “is a truck driver and he has his own truck.  He would really like to talk to you about helping.”

We all moved back to his table and introduced ourselves.  Debbie Greene the woman who took the initiative to talk to us and her boyfriend John Van Syoc were connected emotionally to the tornado disaster like many of us who live and work nearby.  A quick call was made to Mills and by the time we had all been served and had eaten our lunch the logistics were worked out and a plan was ready.

By that evening, John had driven to Tulsa, loaded his tractor unit and a trailer owned by Scott Wade and was on his way back to Neosho.

We ran into Lauri that night at a fundraising event for the McKee family, who had their lives turned upside down by the tornado.  She was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of people who only hours before we hadn’t known, but who were now partners in something much bigger. 

We all should have known that the afternoon’s generosity was a delightful hint of the good things to come at the McKee benefit later that evening.  Initially, the event was intended to raise enough money to cover a month’s worth of living expenses, but wonderfully over five times that much was realized.  Kudos need to be extended to Head Football Coach Jared Schoonover, the football team, members of the Neosho Booster Club, the Neosho Youth Football volunteers, and the faithfully generous citizens of our community who opened their hearts and wallets to help.

It’s good to get the occasional “god wink” reminding you that you truly are in the right place at the right time.  It’s also pleasing to know that you’re living in the right place.  We received that reminder about Neosho last week. 

Servant leaders say yes!

There are a lot of positive aspects to being 45.  I’m not embarrassed to admit that I’m usually asleep by 8:30 pm.  I’m much more appreciative of a work/personal life balance.  I’ve found a “look” that I’m comfortable with in both clothing and hair style.  I live within a relatively sane budget and I’m surrounded with a wonderful group of friends.

I wrote that to back up the following; a couple of weeks ago I became completely enamored with a group of 20-somethings from California that were in town to help with the Joplin tornado recovery efforts.  The group was one of many that have bunked at our church here in Neosho after working all day in Joplin.  Several members of our church have been fixing the various teams dinner in the evening.

The dinners were one way I thought I could help relief efforts, not by cooking, but by washing dishes after.  Around 7 p.m. the group wandered in, from an almost a 12-hour day helping one family salvage some appliances remaining in the damaged home. 

They were dirty, hot and completely worn out, but they were happy and so appreciative of the meal we had prepared.  I hope, looking back, that I was that polite when I was 22 or 23.  They made over the meal and thanked everyone time and again.  They talked with great care and sensitivity regarding the family they had help.

It was obvious they had their whole lives ahead of them and that they were focused on lives filled with opportunities to help others.  They embodied servant leadership and were fascinating to watch as they rearranged our round fellowship hall tables into one large grouping so that everyone in their group would eat from the same table and share in the same stories and laughter.

While getting the room ready before their arrival, I found a folded bulletin that I assumed must have been from that morning church services.  Opening it I was surprised to find that it was the program from Hale McGinty’s memorial service.  I instantly thought of how fascinated Hale would have been with all the volunteer efforts currently underway and how proud he would have been in any part of Neosho’s involvement in helping Joplin recover.

Our minister shared a quote from Hale as part of that memorial.  “If you want to have a wonderful life there are some things you need to do.  The next time someone asks you to serve…say yes.” 

These “kids” said yes.  They didn’t see their job helping a family as too small or meaningless.  They didn’t feel their meals were owed them, but gave back warmth and love and let us share, for however short a time in the hope and happiness they brought.

Walk This Way

There nothing like finally being within 20 pounds of your “driver’s license weight” to motivate a girl to exercise.

If you’ve followed my newspaper column, you’ll know that I’ve written before with my year-long weigh loss effort.  So far, so good; I’ve dropped 60 pounds, which I’ve been told would be about the average weight of a young elementary student.  Hard to imagine I lugged the equivalent of an extra kid around every day.

So here I am, almost able to announce no change needed when I renew my license next year.  (Don’t doubt for a minute that I paid for the long-term license renewal.  No need to avoid eye contact and hide the old hips when grabbing a new license every year or two.)  Now I need to get serious and renew any semblance of an exercise routine.  In the process, I’ve learned a thing or two about what motivates me now, versus when I was in my 20s or 30s.

Twenty years ago if a girlfriend had said “Come with me, I’ve just started a great new jazz aerobics/step/stomp class.  You’ll have fun!” I would have been all over it.  Now, having broken my foot, twice, in my own house, doing routine, everyday things, I run/hobble away from anything coordinated.  My new exercise motivators include my neighbors, who late in the evening, sit on their porch and keep count of the times I make it around the circle. 

We give friendly little waves and for my reward we sit and pass the time catching up on the latest neighborhood news; but let’s be honest, I’m pretty easy on myself, or I wouldn’t have had any need to lose 60-80 pounds.  I need unbiased neighbors letting me know that my evening’s lap count was only two times around as opposed to four the night before.

I also now try to stay out late enough to see the fireflies.   I’m not “allowed” to stand around and watch them; I must be actively engaged in aerobic activity.  Fireflies are fascinating and one of the best parts of early summer.  So I may be slowing by the time their airborne, but at least I’m still moving.

Being social by nature, I’m not a good solitary walker.  I always prefer to have a walking buddy.  I’ve worn out my share in the 15 years we’ve lived here.  So far four different early-mornings walking pals have moved on.  They actually did move and I don’t think just to avoid my incessant babbling.

Currently my friend Misty and I use our late evening walks as a way to motivate each other and let go of any of the day’s stress.  We’ve been looking for a Web site that might give us a calorie burned count for talking.  We know we’re walking at least two miles, but we think we’re talking at least another quarter of a mile.

Whatever your motivator, get out and enjoy the early summer.  Neosho is a great place to take a walk.

Too Much Evidence

I collect quotes. A couple of weeks ago as my mind was reeling from the images and stories regarding the Joplin tornado, I ran across this one from a preacher in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.


This gentleman was interviewed on national television following the tornado that swept through his town and devastated the church he led. Asked if the devastation had in any way negatively impacted his faith or that of his congregation, he emphatically shook his head no and replied, “I have too much evidence not to be confident.”

That evidence and confidence was bubbling to the surface during the Joplin Tornado Memorial Service held on the campus of MSSU. Online comments and media observations following the event all praised the city's religious leaders along with Governor Nixon and President Obama for setting the perfect tone of reverence and determination to honor the memory of those lost while building for the future.

The following Sunday's church service, one of the hymns we sang was They’ll Know We Are Christians. I had never noticed the lyrics of the third verse until then.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,

We will work with each other, we will work side by side,

And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.

Throughout the past couple of weeks, that working together has been as evident as the splintered buildings. Equally shared has been the comfort that music and lyrics can bring to the weary or the disheartened. Just consider the number of tribute songs and videos as well as the original tunes developed and shared freely with those in Joplin.

Time feels altered. Before the tornado, my days were rushing past. The last several have felt like individual years. I have projects on our dining room table that were “in progress” two weeks ago; they remain there today, now stacked and pushed to the side.

Like many I feel helpless to help much now. I heard a preacher shared with his congregation to help by doing what you do best. So I called and volunteered to wash dishes the next time our church hosts a group of out-of-town volunteers for a meal.

The recovery will be months in the making. There will be many opportunities to share our talents and gifts with those in Joplin. Like the elephants from the circus that made an appearance Memorial Day weekend, to help in any way they could. We won’t forget the folks who volunteered and helped us when spring weather stormed through and fields and homes. It will be our turn in the days and weeks ahead to do all we can.

Remember, there’s too much evidence not to be confident.

Weather

I’ve decided I hate weather. Weather in any form other than sunshine in a cloudless sky.


When I was younger I loved rainy or snowy days; which were perfectly suited for my wallflower, never speak above a whisper personality. I would tuck myself into a corner of a room, select the largest book on the shelf and commence reading. If I was lucky I would either completely lose track of time and read until dinner or fall asleep waking up just in time to go to bed.

Now these gray days bombard me with sadness and agitate me with deep need to right some natural wrong. I daydream of shaking a soggy fist at the gray threatening skies, daring the hail to fall.

That being written, I am still utterly in awe, and not in a good way, at the devastation Joplin’s tornado left in its hard to believe trail. For hours at work last week, I listened quietly as people cried about family members unaccounted for and homes lifted up like broken leaves in a mile-high debris field.

I don’t understand storm chasers. How many of these folks went chasing the storms, racing down the roads with their antenna laden trucks and cars, arms dangling out the rolled down windows, aiming smart phones and miniature video camera at the dark dangling clouds.

Prior to this year’s crazy weather, I would have said I loved experiencing four seasons. I’m now ready to give that up if it meant no more blizzards and no more tornados. Craft stores sell fake fall leaves and silk spring flowers. I’ll fake my seasons, thank you very much.

We’re all becoming weather addicts. My iPhone has as many weather alerts and apps as any other category. I check multiple times a day the anticipated hour of the arrival of rain, or seasonally the drifting of snow.

I’m ready to not care again about the condition of the skies overhead. So I'm warming up the comfy chair and researching retirement home locales. I want boring. Boring temps and boring skies, look out – you’re mine.