November 28 was the date of Thanksgiving Day back in 2013. In accordance with my custom, I went to Mass that morning at my home parish of Ascension. The heart of the Mass is the Eucharist when we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ. "Eucharist" comes from a Greek word that means "Thanksgiving".
On that Thanksgiving Day 2013, I would participate in the Eucharist in a deeper way, by serving as a Eucharistic minister for the first time. Earlier that month, I responded to a note in the church bulletin calling for more ministers, and then came training later that month before serving at Thanksgiving Day Mass. From what I remember, the first people I ministered the consecrated Body of Christ were the altar servers and Dad.
It was wondrous how my first time serving in this ministry came together on a day of Thanksgiving at sacred a meal that is all about Thanksgiving.
Over the past 5 years, serving as a Eucharistic minister has allowed me to be part of the Mass in a more profound way. I spend much more time closer to the altar, which is a chance to behold the Body and Blood of Christ even more so than when in the pews.
And I think about this in regards to last Sunday, when I was asked to be in the role of going up to the tabernacle to bring out the extra supply of consecrated hosts. The tabernacle is adorned so elegantly to befit the glory of Christ's Real Presence within. And it is that Presence that the priest brings to the congregation, as the Eucharistic ministers receive it, and then minister it to others. Upon the end of Mass, we all go forth bearing Christ's Presence into our world.
What a beautiful mantra it is to say over and over, "The Body of Christ" with the constant stream of people, and also, too, with "The Blood of Christ". There have been times when I've thought of it as a prayer.
It's special to connect with the congregation when ministering the Body and Blood of Christ, particularly when someone I know comes up to me in line, particularly one of my current or former RE students. At the end of the 2017-18 RE year, we attended Mass, and I was one of the ministers with the cup of the Precious Blood, and many of my students came up to me during communion. After Mass, a couple of them complimented me for ministering the cup to them, and I used that as a teachable moment: Ministering is a gesture that is an extension of my role of handing on the faith to them, as I facilitate their encounter with the Presence of God, to grow in relationship with Him.
Even as I minister to help others encounter His Presence, I open myself up to encountering His Presence, which fills my heart and makes me worthy before Him so that I may live righteously in the world all through each day.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Monday, November 26, 2018
A Capital Excursion
I was awake by 4 AM, and right aroudn 5 PM, I had arrived at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library to begin my day as an election judge for the 16th precinct.
By 6 AM, the polls were opened, and the voters came forth in a steady stream, continuing all through the day. I spent almost all of the day stationed at an e-pollbook to check in voters, who included many Ascension Parishioners, two of my former students who had just turned 18 and were voting for the very first time, other voters I recognized from my previous two times as an election judge, and a woman who was voting for the first time after being recently naturalized a US citizen.
At 7 PM, the polls closed, and by 9 PM, we had packed everything up. I went with the equipment manager to the receiving station at Brooks Middle School to drop off ballots, result tapes, and other supplies. My work day concluded around 9:20 as I walked out the doors of the Brooks lunchroom.
Like the previous two times, serving as an election judge was an exhausting, but simultaneously exhilarating experience. It is inspiring to see the voters come out and participate in the democratic process of our republican government, particularly those who were voting for the first time. And it was wonderful to provide a service to people in my community, especially those I know well from Ascension Parish and elsewhere. And here they were, coming to participate in the important act of casting a ballot, a hallmark of our government.
It's interesting that 2018 is the election year for statewide offices in Illinois, as we mark the Bicentennial.
That coincidence makes it an especially meaningful time to explore the places related to the earlier years when Illinois's government was getting started.
And so as the sun set on the evening of Friday, September 21, 2018, I got in Avila and made my way south along the I-57 corridor to start a weekend excursion to see the previous state capital cities of Illinois.
At Effingham, where I passed by what is considered the largest outdoor cross in the United States (#178), I switched onto I-70 for a short jaunt to my lodgings in Vandalia (#179) for the night, the city that was the state capital before Springfield. I was in company with people who were participating in a Corvette show in Effingham.
The next morning, after breakfast and checking out, I headed into downtown Vandalia to see the Vandalia Statehouse Historic Site (#180), which is in the photo below.
This building was the third building that served as a state capitol in Vandalia, which served from 1836-1839.
As I walked in, I was pleased to notice an old wood smell in the building.
The first floor had rooms that served as offices for various state officials, as well as the State Supreme Court, complete with period furnishings.
The upper floor had the State Senate and House of Representatives chambers.
The woman staffing the building gave me a friendly greeting as I entered and shared about the history of the building. She even mentioned that the floorboards on the 2nd floor are original to the 1830's, which means I got the chance to walk on the same floorboards as Abraham Lincoln did when he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. It was notable for me to hear that Mr. Lincoln started serving in this role when he was my age, at 27. He was elected along with a group of several others from Sangamon County, where Springfield is today.
Apparently, on the first day he came to serve as a state representative, the plaster in the building was still drying, which left a bad impression on him. One of his major goals as a state representative was to move the state capital to Springfield, which he was successful in doing. He was also successful in advocating for infrastructure enhancements.
I also couldn't help but note that the Illinois General Assembly would have approved the city charter for Chicago, effective March 4, 1837, while meeting in this building.
There were various displays in the building, including one that showed the checks Mr. Lincoln got for his service in the state legislature, as well as displays outside on the grounds of the building.
On the other side of Gallatin Street is a small park area with a Lincoln statue. While I was there, I met a woman who had been involved in the construction of this space, and as far as I remember, she took the photo of me below sitting by Abraham Lincoln.
Gallatin Street, I found out is named for the Secretary of the Treasury in the Jefferson administration, who was instrumental in the construction of the National Road, whose western terminus was in Vandalia, with its eastern terminus in Baltimore.
Vandalia has a museum, the National Road Interpretative Center (#181), with exhibits about the road. I took a short walk from the statehouse to see it, after stopping to take a look at the local Evans Public Library.
Inside the National Road Interpretative Center, a woman came out and started showing me around the exhibit and displays. She then told me about the Kaskaskia Dragon nearby, and offered me a coin so I could see it breathe fire. I thought it would be interesting to check out, so I did.
I got back in Avila and drove north toward I-70, and then a short distance west, almost back to the Ramada hotel where I stayed, where I got to the dragon. I slipped the coin in the slot on the box, and saw the dragon breathe out fire (as you can see in the photo below). It was actually kind of cool.
Then it was back onto I-70 to head west as I made my way toward my next destination of Illinois's first capital city of Kaskaskia. After enduring terrible construction traffic, which was slow and stop for about 5 miles, I was on my way again toward IL State Route 4, and then southward. This road took me through various small towns. As I neared Chester, the access point to Kaskaskia, I got on the Shawneetown Trail to see Fort Kaskaskia State Park (#182). There are remains of an earthen fort the French built, as you can see in the photo below.
I continued on toward Chester, driving along a road between the Mississippi River and hills rising up from the riverfront, with the Menard State Prison nestled there. After winding my way around Chester, I got to the Randolph County Courthouse to see a new monument dedicated back on August 26 marking the First Illinois State Constitution (#183).
From there, I got on IL State Route 150 to get on the Chester Bridge, which took me over the Mississippi River into Missouri, which I figured was my first visit there since I passed through onboard the Texas Eagle during my journey for the AMS Meeting in Austin, TX, in early January 2013.
After a short drive on Missouri Route 51, I reached Route H, with a sign pointing toward Kaskaskia. I continue along until I got to St. Mary, and then got on the bridge over a Mississippi River channel, with a sign on the side reading "Illinois State Line".
Mom had remarked about my going on an "adventure" when I bid her farewell. I expressed my preference for the word "excursion", but getting to Kaskaskia was probably one of the more adventurous parts of this trip. Kaskaskia used to be a prominent town on the Illinois side of the river, but was largely washed away by major flooding, which altered the course of the Mississippi, and put Kaskaskia on the Missouri side of the river. A court ruling dictated that the patch of land where Kaskaskia is would remain part of Illinois, though it can still only be accessed via road by first winding around through Missouri first.
And there was more winding around once I was back in Illinois. As I did so, I noticed a few other cars on the road, and figured they were headed were I was Massgoers, and that it would be suitable to follow them.
After a few more minutes of driving around farm fields, I finally saw the sign welcoming me to Historic Kaskaskia (#184). I arrived Kaskaskia a few minutes before the weekly Sunday Mass started at the Immaculate Conception Chapel (#185) at 3:30.
I found a spot to park on a street by the Church. With a few minutes before Mass, I looked around, which included a stop at the Liberty Bell of the West (#186), housed in a brick structure.
The Church was filled with so much light, making for an uplifting mood as we celebrated together the presence of our Lord with us.
Afterwards, I got talking with a woman who shared about Kaskaskia and some of the Bicentennial events that were going. She even gave me the opportunity to go inside the brick structure with the Liberty Bell. (I thank her for getting the photos of me inside, appearing below, and outside, appearing above.)
By 5 PM, I was on my way out of Kaskaskia, and was soon back in Missouri, and then on I-55. I drove north toward St. Louis. I stopped for gas in Herculaneum, and my jaw dropped at seeing the price of $2.39/gallon, which was especially delightful as I ended up having to pay $3.15/gallon the night before when Avila's tank got low. Further along, I stopped in the St. Louis suburb of Arnold, MO, to have dinner at Smokee Mo's. To add to the ambiance, I saw a screen showing shorts of The Three Stooges.
Back on I-55, I soon entered St. Louis itself, and got great views of the Mississippi River and the skyline, including the Gateway Arch, which I drove right past on I-70/I-44, albeit through a tunnel. I then crossed the Mississippi River on the McKinley Bridge back into Illinois, and then drove north on Illinois Route 3 to Alton, where I stopped for pictures at the life-size statue of Robert Wadlow (#187).
The Guinness Book of World Records certifies him as the tallest person who has ever lived, at 8 feet, 11 inches. He was born in Alton during Illinois's Centennial year.
With that, I headed east to get on I-55 and drove north to Springfield, where I had booked lodgings for the night. As I neared my exit, I flicked the lights to celebrate the moment of the Autumnal Equinox at 8:54 PM CDT.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Wingate Hotel and noticed a large group having a tailgate. I found out they were in town for a Route 66 car festival in downtown Springfield. They were in the breakfast room in droves the next morning, making for a lively scene.
Once I finished and checked out, I made my way into central Springfield for the 10 o'clock tour of the current Illinois State Capitol (#188). We went into the House Chamber gallery to start. (We were unable to visit the Senate chamber because of work being done in there.) The guide showed us the artwork features in the rotunda area as we walked along. We went to see the Governor's office and then the hall of governors' portraits, and concluded down on the main level. I lingered a few more minutes and got some photos. (I got talking with a couple from Britain who stopped in Springfield while traveling Route 66 all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica.)
Subsequently, I went to see a special exhibit at the historic Union Station building featuring sets, props, and costumes from the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln. including dresses Sally Field wore portraying Mary Todd Lincoln.
After looking around briefly at the Route 66 festival, I drove into the southwest side of Springfield, through a resplendent neighborhood, to Washington Park to look around at a lovely landscaped area and a conservatory greenhouse.
Then I made my way north and westward out of Springfield to Havana, about an hour's drive away. There, I made a visit to pre-Columbian Illinois history. There, at Rockwell Park, is a large mound (#189), which experts determined was constructed by pre-Columbian peoples, and is one of several of a cluster of mounds that are in nearby towns.
Nearby is the Illinois River. I went to a riverfront park there to eat the lunch I bought a grocery store on my way to Havana, while admiring the river scene.
Once I finished lunch, I started on my way back home. As it turned out, a wrong turn caused me to follow the Illinois River corridor to Pekin, at which point I headed east to reach I-55 in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Illinois has had quite a history for 200 years, and this excursion was a great time experiencing some of it, especially as it pertains to the government that has overseen Illinois, particularly in its earlier years. While changes have been made to the form, and government officials have come and gone, the major structure still persists, speaking to the strong nature of a democratic republican government.
Indeed, this excursion was a wonderful time getting to the roots of Illinois, to see the important places pertaining to where it got started, which allows me to see the bigger picture related to what Illinois has become over 200 years.
By 6 AM, the polls were opened, and the voters came forth in a steady stream, continuing all through the day. I spent almost all of the day stationed at an e-pollbook to check in voters, who included many Ascension Parishioners, two of my former students who had just turned 18 and were voting for the very first time, other voters I recognized from my previous two times as an election judge, and a woman who was voting for the first time after being recently naturalized a US citizen.
At 7 PM, the polls closed, and by 9 PM, we had packed everything up. I went with the equipment manager to the receiving station at Brooks Middle School to drop off ballots, result tapes, and other supplies. My work day concluded around 9:20 as I walked out the doors of the Brooks lunchroom.
Like the previous two times, serving as an election judge was an exhausting, but simultaneously exhilarating experience. It is inspiring to see the voters come out and participate in the democratic process of our republican government, particularly those who were voting for the first time. And it was wonderful to provide a service to people in my community, especially those I know well from Ascension Parish and elsewhere. And here they were, coming to participate in the important act of casting a ballot, a hallmark of our government.
It's interesting that 2018 is the election year for statewide offices in Illinois, as we mark the Bicentennial.
That coincidence makes it an especially meaningful time to explore the places related to the earlier years when Illinois's government was getting started.
And so as the sun set on the evening of Friday, September 21, 2018, I got in Avila and made my way south along the I-57 corridor to start a weekend excursion to see the previous state capital cities of Illinois.
At Effingham, where I passed by what is considered the largest outdoor cross in the United States (#178), I switched onto I-70 for a short jaunt to my lodgings in Vandalia (#179) for the night, the city that was the state capital before Springfield. I was in company with people who were participating in a Corvette show in Effingham.
The next morning, after breakfast and checking out, I headed into downtown Vandalia to see the Vandalia Statehouse Historic Site (#180), which is in the photo below.
This building was the third building that served as a state capitol in Vandalia, which served from 1836-1839.
As I walked in, I was pleased to notice an old wood smell in the building.
The first floor had rooms that served as offices for various state officials, as well as the State Supreme Court, complete with period furnishings.
The upper floor had the State Senate and House of Representatives chambers.
The woman staffing the building gave me a friendly greeting as I entered and shared about the history of the building. She even mentioned that the floorboards on the 2nd floor are original to the 1830's, which means I got the chance to walk on the same floorboards as Abraham Lincoln did when he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. It was notable for me to hear that Mr. Lincoln started serving in this role when he was my age, at 27. He was elected along with a group of several others from Sangamon County, where Springfield is today.
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| Thanks to the fellow tourist who got this picture of me by the doorway of the House chamber, as I'm standing on the same floorboards where Abraham Lincoln walked when he served as a state legislator. |
Apparently, on the first day he came to serve as a state representative, the plaster in the building was still drying, which left a bad impression on him. One of his major goals as a state representative was to move the state capital to Springfield, which he was successful in doing. He was also successful in advocating for infrastructure enhancements.
I also couldn't help but note that the Illinois General Assembly would have approved the city charter for Chicago, effective March 4, 1837, while meeting in this building.
There were various displays in the building, including one that showed the checks Mr. Lincoln got for his service in the state legislature, as well as displays outside on the grounds of the building.
On the other side of Gallatin Street is a small park area with a Lincoln statue. While I was there, I met a woman who had been involved in the construction of this space, and as far as I remember, she took the photo of me below sitting by Abraham Lincoln.
Gallatin Street, I found out is named for the Secretary of the Treasury in the Jefferson administration, who was instrumental in the construction of the National Road, whose western terminus was in Vandalia, with its eastern terminus in Baltimore.
Vandalia has a museum, the National Road Interpretative Center (#181), with exhibits about the road. I took a short walk from the statehouse to see it, after stopping to take a look at the local Evans Public Library.
Inside the National Road Interpretative Center, a woman came out and started showing me around the exhibit and displays. She then told me about the Kaskaskia Dragon nearby, and offered me a coin so I could see it breathe fire. I thought it would be interesting to check out, so I did.
I got back in Avila and drove north toward I-70, and then a short distance west, almost back to the Ramada hotel where I stayed, where I got to the dragon. I slipped the coin in the slot on the box, and saw the dragon breathe out fire (as you can see in the photo below). It was actually kind of cool.
Then it was back onto I-70 to head west as I made my way toward my next destination of Illinois's first capital city of Kaskaskia. After enduring terrible construction traffic, which was slow and stop for about 5 miles, I was on my way again toward IL State Route 4, and then southward. This road took me through various small towns. As I neared Chester, the access point to Kaskaskia, I got on the Shawneetown Trail to see Fort Kaskaskia State Park (#182). There are remains of an earthen fort the French built, as you can see in the photo below.
I continued on toward Chester, driving along a road between the Mississippi River and hills rising up from the riverfront, with the Menard State Prison nestled there. After winding my way around Chester, I got to the Randolph County Courthouse to see a new monument dedicated back on August 26 marking the First Illinois State Constitution (#183).
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| Featured above is a monument by the Randolph County Courthouse in Chester, IL, that was recently dedicated on the Bicentennial of the Illinois State Constitution. |
From there, I got on IL State Route 150 to get on the Chester Bridge, which took me over the Mississippi River into Missouri, which I figured was my first visit there since I passed through onboard the Texas Eagle during my journey for the AMS Meeting in Austin, TX, in early January 2013.
After a short drive on Missouri Route 51, I reached Route H, with a sign pointing toward Kaskaskia. I continue along until I got to St. Mary, and then got on the bridge over a Mississippi River channel, with a sign on the side reading "Illinois State Line".
Mom had remarked about my going on an "adventure" when I bid her farewell. I expressed my preference for the word "excursion", but getting to Kaskaskia was probably one of the more adventurous parts of this trip. Kaskaskia used to be a prominent town on the Illinois side of the river, but was largely washed away by major flooding, which altered the course of the Mississippi, and put Kaskaskia on the Missouri side of the river. A court ruling dictated that the patch of land where Kaskaskia is would remain part of Illinois, though it can still only be accessed via road by first winding around through Missouri first.
And there was more winding around once I was back in Illinois. As I did so, I noticed a few other cars on the road, and figured they were headed were I was Massgoers, and that it would be suitable to follow them.
After a few more minutes of driving around farm fields, I finally saw the sign welcoming me to Historic Kaskaskia (#184). I arrived Kaskaskia a few minutes before the weekly Sunday Mass started at the Immaculate Conception Chapel (#185) at 3:30.
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| Immaculate Conception Chapel |
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| The Liberty Bell of the West |
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| Mural of Kaskaskia in its heyday, inside the Liberty Bell of the West structure |
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| The outside of the brick structure housing the Liberty Bell of the West |
The Church was filled with so much light, making for an uplifting mood as we celebrated together the presence of our Lord with us.
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| The interior of the Immaculate Conception Chapel |
Afterwards, I got talking with a woman who shared about Kaskaskia and some of the Bicentennial events that were going. She even gave me the opportunity to go inside the brick structure with the Liberty Bell. (I thank her for getting the photos of me inside, appearing below, and outside, appearing above.)
By 5 PM, I was on my way out of Kaskaskia, and was soon back in Missouri, and then on I-55. I drove north toward St. Louis. I stopped for gas in Herculaneum, and my jaw dropped at seeing the price of $2.39/gallon, which was especially delightful as I ended up having to pay $3.15/gallon the night before when Avila's tank got low. Further along, I stopped in the St. Louis suburb of Arnold, MO, to have dinner at Smokee Mo's. To add to the ambiance, I saw a screen showing shorts of The Three Stooges.
Back on I-55, I soon entered St. Louis itself, and got great views of the Mississippi River and the skyline, including the Gateway Arch, which I drove right past on I-70/I-44, albeit through a tunnel. I then crossed the Mississippi River on the McKinley Bridge back into Illinois, and then drove north on Illinois Route 3 to Alton, where I stopped for pictures at the life-size statue of Robert Wadlow (#187).
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| Thanks to the person who I asked to get this photo of me, while he was holding on to a dog with the other hand. |
The Guinness Book of World Records certifies him as the tallest person who has ever lived, at 8 feet, 11 inches. He was born in Alton during Illinois's Centennial year.
With that, I headed east to get on I-55 and drove north to Springfield, where I had booked lodgings for the night. As I neared my exit, I flicked the lights to celebrate the moment of the Autumnal Equinox at 8:54 PM CDT.
I pulled into the parking lot of the Wingate Hotel and noticed a large group having a tailgate. I found out they were in town for a Route 66 car festival in downtown Springfield. They were in the breakfast room in droves the next morning, making for a lively scene.
Once I finished and checked out, I made my way into central Springfield for the 10 o'clock tour of the current Illinois State Capitol (#188). We went into the House Chamber gallery to start. (We were unable to visit the Senate chamber because of work being done in there.) The guide showed us the artwork features in the rotunda area as we walked along. We went to see the Governor's office and then the hall of governors' portraits, and concluded down on the main level. I lingered a few more minutes and got some photos. (I got talking with a couple from Britain who stopped in Springfield while traveling Route 66 all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica.)
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| The Illinois House of Representatives Chamber |
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| The rotunda, with the Great Seal of the State of Illinois |
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| The bottom portrait is of Shadrach Bond, the first governor of Illinois. Above him is Edward Coles, the second Illinois governor. These are found in a hall with the potraits of other former governors, excluding one. |
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| Illinois Welcoming the World, the statue at the women's building at the 1893 World's Colubmian Exposition in Chicago. |
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| Above, I'm posing inside the capitol by the various flags, with the Bicentennial flag to the far right of the three. Below, I'm posing outside the capitol. I thank those visitors I stopped who got these pictures. |
Subsequently, I went to see a special exhibit at the historic Union Station building featuring sets, props, and costumes from the Steven Spielberg film Lincoln. including dresses Sally Field wore portraying Mary Todd Lincoln.
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| Near the center of this photo, you can see one of the dresses Sally Field wore in the movie. |
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| The case in the photo above shows props used in the Lincoln movie. Below is an almost exact reconstruction of a set used for the Cabinet Room in the White House. |
After looking around briefly at the Route 66 festival, I drove into the southwest side of Springfield, through a resplendent neighborhood, to Washington Park to look around at a lovely landscaped area and a conservatory greenhouse.
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| Flowerly landscaped area near the Washington Park conservatory greenhouse |
Then I made my way north and westward out of Springfield to Havana, about an hour's drive away. There, I made a visit to pre-Columbian Illinois history. There, at Rockwell Park, is a large mound (#189), which experts determined was constructed by pre-Columbian peoples, and is one of several of a cluster of mounds that are in nearby towns.
Nearby is the Illinois River. I went to a riverfront park there to eat the lunch I bought a grocery store on my way to Havana, while admiring the river scene.
Once I finished lunch, I started on my way back home. As it turned out, a wrong turn caused me to follow the Illinois River corridor to Pekin, at which point I headed east to reach I-55 in the Bloomington-Normal area.
Illinois has had quite a history for 200 years, and this excursion was a great time experiencing some of it, especially as it pertains to the government that has overseen Illinois, particularly in its earlier years. While changes have been made to the form, and government officials have come and gone, the major structure still persists, speaking to the strong nature of a democratic republican government.
Indeed, this excursion was a wonderful time getting to the roots of Illinois, to see the important places pertaining to where it got started, which allows me to see the bigger picture related to what Illinois has become over 200 years.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Ascending to the Highpoint of Illinois
While Illinois is generally considered to be flat (#173), there are places in Illinois that are definitely not flat, in part because glacial movements didn't affect their more varied topography.
One spot left piercing up toward the sky in Illinois is Charles Mound (#174), the highest point of elevation at 1, 235 feet above sea level. (As a reference, Chicago sits at an average elevation of 630 feet above sea level.)
Charles Mound is in the extreme northwest part of Illinois, very close to the border with Wisconsin, and not far from Galena.
It sits on private property owned by the Wuebbelses (#175), who graciously open their property on a select number of weekends every year so visitors can summit Charles Mound.
So I headed out on Saturday, June 2, to do just that. After driving I-90 toward Rockford, I got on US 20, continuing onward as it narrowed to a two-lane rural road. It was interesting to travel on this stretch of US 20, as I travel on a portion of it while commuting to work, with signs on the road noting it as the US Grant Memorial Highway. Eventually, I got on the Stagecoach Trail, which wound me around the northwesternmost part of Illinois, including farm fields, small towns (like Warren), and forested areas.
After nearly 3 hours of travel, I finally came to a country road that had a few cars parked on the sides, right by the gate with a small sign of 688, designated where to enter the property.
So I parked, and then walked about a mile up the farm path road to Charles Mound, which is featured in the three photos that follow, progressing from the beginning toward the high point.
The high point at Charles Mound was on a hill higher than the surrounding farmland. There were two chairs on the spot, and a guest register in a box. A sign proclaims the Gospel message.
I found it fitting to visit Charles Mound on the weekend of the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood, as a central part of Roman Catholicism is the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life, and here I was going to the summit of all land in Illinois. I was pleased to meet a lady named Mary, a fellow visitor who was at the top, as we didn't have to rely on the timers of our respective cameras to get pictures of us there. And we enjoyed each other's company on the milelong walk back to where we parked. (By the way, she took the two photos above in which I appear posing at Charles Mound.)
It was so peaceful being out in quiet farm country (#176), an integral component of what Illinois is all about. I really think that Illinoisans find satisfaction in having a flat state as a defining characteristic of the landscape, which facilitates large-scale farming, and to have higher elevation spots like Charles Mound that break the pattern offer something rather notable and unique.
On my way back, I stopped in Freeport, IL, to pose for pictures at the 1-acre Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square (#177) where the 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate was held, and the 2nd of the debates sites I've visited.
There were many interpretative signs that described how the discourse developed from the first debate into more intricate arguments on the issue of slavery. (This park is centrally-located in Freeport, right by the Freeport Public Library, near Stephenson County buildings.)
By the way, if you're interested in visiting Charles Mound yourself, you can go to the High Pointers' Club website for more information. The open access dates are posted on the website when they are made available. As of today, the dates for 2019 have been posted on the website.
One spot left piercing up toward the sky in Illinois is Charles Mound (#174), the highest point of elevation at 1, 235 feet above sea level. (As a reference, Chicago sits at an average elevation of 630 feet above sea level.)
Charles Mound is in the extreme northwest part of Illinois, very close to the border with Wisconsin, and not far from Galena.
It sits on private property owned by the Wuebbelses (#175), who graciously open their property on a select number of weekends every year so visitors can summit Charles Mound.
So I headed out on Saturday, June 2, to do just that. After driving I-90 toward Rockford, I got on US 20, continuing onward as it narrowed to a two-lane rural road. It was interesting to travel on this stretch of US 20, as I travel on a portion of it while commuting to work, with signs on the road noting it as the US Grant Memorial Highway. Eventually, I got on the Stagecoach Trail, which wound me around the northwesternmost part of Illinois, including farm fields, small towns (like Warren), and forested areas.
After nearly 3 hours of travel, I finally came to a country road that had a few cars parked on the sides, right by the gate with a small sign of 688, designated where to enter the property.
So I parked, and then walked about a mile up the farm path road to Charles Mound, which is featured in the three photos that follow, progressing from the beginning toward the high point.
The high point at Charles Mound was on a hill higher than the surrounding farmland. There were two chairs on the spot, and a guest register in a box. A sign proclaims the Gospel message.
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| Here I am seated in one of the chairs overlooking the surrounding farm fields. |
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| Here's a view of the chairs for visitors at Charles Mound, and the box holding the guest register appears in between them. |
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| Here I am, standing by the sign at Charles Mound. |
I found it fitting to visit Charles Mound on the weekend of the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood, as a central part of Roman Catholicism is the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian life, and here I was going to the summit of all land in Illinois. I was pleased to meet a lady named Mary, a fellow visitor who was at the top, as we didn't have to rely on the timers of our respective cameras to get pictures of us there. And we enjoyed each other's company on the milelong walk back to where we parked. (By the way, she took the two photos above in which I appear posing at Charles Mound.)
It was so peaceful being out in quiet farm country (#176), an integral component of what Illinois is all about. I really think that Illinoisans find satisfaction in having a flat state as a defining characteristic of the landscape, which facilitates large-scale farming, and to have higher elevation spots like Charles Mound that break the pattern offer something rather notable and unique.
On my way back, I stopped in Freeport, IL, to pose for pictures at the 1-acre Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square (#177) where the 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate was held, and the 2nd of the debates sites I've visited.
 |
| Here's a view of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square. In the photo below, I'm posing by the statues of Mr. Lincoln (to the left) and Mr. Douglas (to the right). I thank the woman I stopped who was on her way with a companion to meet a group nearby. |
There were many interpretative signs that described how the discourse developed from the first debate into more intricate arguments on the issue of slavery. (This park is centrally-located in Freeport, right by the Freeport Public Library, near Stephenson County buildings.)
By the way, if you're interested in visiting Charles Mound yourself, you can go to the High Pointers' Club website for more information. The open access dates are posted on the website when they are made available. As of today, the dates for 2019 have been posted on the website.
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Thanksgiving Thoughts 2018
As has become my custom a few years ago, I got myself in the spirit of Thanksgiving Day by attending a Multifaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service, sponsored by the OPRF Community of Congregations, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day. This year's service, held on Sunday, November 18, was at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Parish on the edge of Oak Park, across the street from Chicago's Austin neighborhood.
This service was the third time in a month I had gone to St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, having been there previously for memorial Masses in honor of my late Great Aunt June. It has been special going to this church to remember her life and her significant involvement in the parish.
Toward the beginning of the prayer service, a Jewish cantor sang a prayer of thanks to God, and there are words that give thanks to God for putting us in this moment of time.
That insight struck me: We have all been put into this time, in our places, with all our relationships, surrounded by all we have and all our circumstances, ordained specifically by God.
And when we really stop to ponder it, we have so much to give thanks for to the point of being overwhelmed. Reading over Presidential proclamations for Thanksgiving Day, I notice the language talks about all the blessings we have in this country. Indeed, we stand before a good and gracious God, and His blessings are a reflection of Who He is. In the presence of Who He is, we marvel and give thanks for all we have, of which He is the Source. And so we render Him praise all our days, even as it spills forth into loving and serving, demonstrating the faith by which we acclaim His Goodness.
It's always fitting, as a Roman Catholic, to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day morning, which is part of what we do week after week, recognizing God for Who He is, imploring His mercy, and thanking Him for His blessings, which spurs us on to live out our faith in love for Him and in service to others.
This service was the third time in a month I had gone to St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy, having been there previously for memorial Masses in honor of my late Great Aunt June. It has been special going to this church to remember her life and her significant involvement in the parish.
Toward the beginning of the prayer service, a Jewish cantor sang a prayer of thanks to God, and there are words that give thanks to God for putting us in this moment of time.
That insight struck me: We have all been put into this time, in our places, with all our relationships, surrounded by all we have and all our circumstances, ordained specifically by God.
And when we really stop to ponder it, we have so much to give thanks for to the point of being overwhelmed. Reading over Presidential proclamations for Thanksgiving Day, I notice the language talks about all the blessings we have in this country. Indeed, we stand before a good and gracious God, and His blessings are a reflection of Who He is. In the presence of Who He is, we marvel and give thanks for all we have, of which He is the Source. And so we render Him praise all our days, even as it spills forth into loving and serving, demonstrating the faith by which we acclaim His Goodness.
It's always fitting, as a Roman Catholic, to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day morning, which is part of what we do week after week, recognizing God for Who He is, imploring His mercy, and thanking Him for His blessings, which spurs us on to live out our faith in love for Him and in service to others.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
An Illinois Collection upon the Illinois River
To celebrate the Bicentennial of Illinois and all that this state has to offer, I've taken a few road trips throughout this year to see some of the sights.
Earlier this year, the Peoria Riverfront Museum (#159) had a special exhibit of 200 Objects in 200 Years to mark the Bicentennial, many of which were on loan from other institutions in Illinois.
So back on Friday, April 13, I got in Avila and headed there.
After driving on I-80 for a while, I switched onto I-39. A short distance south of that interchange, I crossed the Illinois River (#160) over the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge (#161), which had a rather wide span.
I left the interstate at the IL Route 18 exit, and after driving west for a while, I came to the Illinois River again just east of Henry, and then began driving south toward Peoria along IL Route 26, which is designated the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway (#162). And there sure was some fine scenery along the route.
After about 2 1/2 hours of driving, I arrived in Peoria (#163). I could see that it is quite a prominent city in Illinois, but I sensed how it could be a little off the beaten path. Following a quick lunch, I went to the museum. It was raining, but it was about 70 degrees, much warmer than when I left Oak Park, where it was about 30 degrees cooler. It was interesting to watch the temperature rise as I traveled south and west.
The exhibit started with objects from the earliest years of European settlement in Illinois, which gave way to the more recent immigration of the 19th and 20th Century, including people from northern Europe and Central America.
Then it moved into Illinois innovations, like the State Farm Insurance company (#164), which retired farmer George Jacob Mecherle started many decades ago. There were also many pieces of agricultural equipment on display, which is fitting for Peoria as the home of the Caterpillar company (#165), which produces such equipment for farmers.
From there it was on to the sociopolitical situations of Illinois, including pictures of major figures such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett (#166) and Mary "Mother" Jones (#167). Of course, no exhibit like this would be complete without something related to Abraham Lincoln. Featured there was the desk where he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Nearby was, as best as my memory serves me, a rocking chair Mrs. Lincoln used. (These items are in the photos below.)
Featuring another Illinois president, the exhibit showed an early copy of the memoirs of Ulysses Grant and an accessory he wore, which are in the photo below, and underneath that is a sign for Ulysses Grant and his first-term vice president.
Moving along, the exhibit focused on the arts scene in Illinois, with figures including architect and Oak Parker Frank Lloyd Wright (#168) and moviemaker and Chicago native Walt Disney (#169). There were even authors featured like author and Oak Park native Ernest Hemingway (#170).
Getting close to the exit of the exhibit were sports figures, including what Ben Zobrist was wearing in the final decisive game of the 2016 World Series when the Chicago Cubs won (#171).
The exhibit also had Walter Payton's jersey (#172).
There were some items for other political figures with Illinois ties, like Ronald Reagan's boots.
Once I finished there, I took a look around the rest of the museum, which included an exhibit on the Illinois River, its nature, history, commerce, and recent conservation efforts, fitting for the museum's close proximity to the Illinois River waterfront--the photo below shows the view.
Upon concluding my time at the museum, I wound my way around downtown Peoria onto I-74 and then, very fittingly, I once again crossed the Illinois River as I made way toward I-55 to head back north toward home.
Earlier this year, the Peoria Riverfront Museum (#159) had a special exhibit of 200 Objects in 200 Years to mark the Bicentennial, many of which were on loan from other institutions in Illinois.
So back on Friday, April 13, I got in Avila and headed there.
After driving on I-80 for a while, I switched onto I-39. A short distance south of that interchange, I crossed the Illinois River (#160) over the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge (#161), which had a rather wide span.
I left the interstate at the IL Route 18 exit, and after driving west for a while, I came to the Illinois River again just east of Henry, and then began driving south toward Peoria along IL Route 26, which is designated the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway (#162). And there sure was some fine scenery along the route.
After about 2 1/2 hours of driving, I arrived in Peoria (#163). I could see that it is quite a prominent city in Illinois, but I sensed how it could be a little off the beaten path. Following a quick lunch, I went to the museum. It was raining, but it was about 70 degrees, much warmer than when I left Oak Park, where it was about 30 degrees cooler. It was interesting to watch the temperature rise as I traveled south and west.
The exhibit started with objects from the earliest years of European settlement in Illinois, which gave way to the more recent immigration of the 19th and 20th Century, including people from northern Europe and Central America.
Then it moved into Illinois innovations, like the State Farm Insurance company (#164), which retired farmer George Jacob Mecherle started many decades ago. There were also many pieces of agricultural equipment on display, which is fitting for Peoria as the home of the Caterpillar company (#165), which produces such equipment for farmers.
From there it was on to the sociopolitical situations of Illinois, including pictures of major figures such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett (#166) and Mary "Mother" Jones (#167). Of course, no exhibit like this would be complete without something related to Abraham Lincoln. Featured there was the desk where he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Nearby was, as best as my memory serves me, a rocking chair Mrs. Lincoln used. (These items are in the photos below.)
Featuring another Illinois president, the exhibit showed an early copy of the memoirs of Ulysses Grant and an accessory he wore, which are in the photo below, and underneath that is a sign for Ulysses Grant and his first-term vice president.
Moving along, the exhibit focused on the arts scene in Illinois, with figures including architect and Oak Parker Frank Lloyd Wright (#168) and moviemaker and Chicago native Walt Disney (#169). There were even authors featured like author and Oak Park native Ernest Hemingway (#170).
 |
| On the right page, second from the bottom is Ernest Hemingway's high school senior year photo. |
Getting close to the exit of the exhibit were sports figures, including what Ben Zobrist was wearing in the final decisive game of the 2016 World Series when the Chicago Cubs won (#171).
The exhibit also had Walter Payton's jersey (#172).
There were some items for other political figures with Illinois ties, like Ronald Reagan's boots.
Once I finished there, I took a look around the rest of the museum, which included an exhibit on the Illinois River, its nature, history, commerce, and recent conservation efforts, fitting for the museum's close proximity to the Illinois River waterfront--the photo below shows the view.
Upon concluding my time at the museum, I wound my way around downtown Peoria onto I-74 and then, very fittingly, I once again crossed the Illinois River as I made way toward I-55 to head back north toward home.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
On the Centennial of a New Peace
It was 100 years ago that an armistice took effect at 11 AM on November 11, 1918, ending the combat of World War I, then known as the Great War.
There aren't too many people still around who remember that conflict. But in reviewing accounts of what happened, it's clear that it was a devastating conflict that affected many nations, totally altering the world order, even as it killed or wounded millions.
So as the conflict slips from conscious memory, it is an occasion like Veterans' Day that helps us to continue acknowledging the devastating effect of that conflict. So long as we don't forget, we can continue to strive in the work of honoring those who sacrificed so much to bring about peace, and work to continue that peace.
It's in that spirit that Armistice Day was changed to Veterans' Day in the 1950's, so we can be aware of all those among us who have served in the US military. The presence of living veterans--and there are millions in the US--continue to connect us to conflicts, so we can acknowledge the effect they have, the sacrifices made during them, and to continue working for peace and well-being in our society.
Indeed, on this Centennial of the World War I Armistice, may recommit ourselves to always remembering so that we can continue the work of peace.
There aren't too many people still around who remember that conflict. But in reviewing accounts of what happened, it's clear that it was a devastating conflict that affected many nations, totally altering the world order, even as it killed or wounded millions.
So as the conflict slips from conscious memory, it is an occasion like Veterans' Day that helps us to continue acknowledging the devastating effect of that conflict. So long as we don't forget, we can continue to strive in the work of honoring those who sacrificed so much to bring about peace, and work to continue that peace.
It's in that spirit that Armistice Day was changed to Veterans' Day in the 1950's, so we can be aware of all those among us who have served in the US military. The presence of living veterans--and there are millions in the US--continue to connect us to conflicts, so we can acknowledge the effect they have, the sacrifices made during them, and to continue working for peace and well-being in our society.
Indeed, on this Centennial of the World War I Armistice, may recommit ourselves to always remembering so that we can continue the work of peace.
 |
| This monument, entitled Peace Triumphant, in Scoville Park, is Oak Park's remembrance to those in the OPRF area who served in World War I. It was dedicated on November 11, 1925, at a ceremony which Vice President Dawes attended. I took this picture on November 11, 2018, right after the ceremony, when people gathered there to continue remembering. |
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The Gospel-Oriented Life
It was 100 years ago today, on November 7, 1918, when Billy Graham was born. In his life lasting nearly 100 years, he became widely-renowned as an evangelist, especially in proclaiming the Gospel message before huge crowds at crusades all over the world.
Wheaton College, his alma mater, has a museum that tells about his life and work of evangelism at the Billy Graham Center. It's incredible to think of how far his reach stretched geographically, not to mention how he regularly interacted with important leaders all over the world.
Yet despite his influence and eloquence, it all came down to the message of Jesus Christ the Crucified and Risen Lord and His effect on the lives of those who believe in Him, which pervaded the way he lived. I remember seeing a video clip of him in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina caused devastation in the city, and he remarked that the presence of Jesus Christ was sorely needed there. Even in a clip I saw of him a few months ago, at an advanced age, he talked about having one message, that Jesus Christ died and rose again to save.
I couldn't help but notice a sense of humility and simplicity at his funeral back in March, echoing through all the remarks made in tribute to Rev. Graham, with the Gospel message shining throughout. Yet there was no doubt about the powerful effect he had given the sizable crowd gathered under the tent, evoking his first crusade in Los Angeles, which took place in a canvas cathedral. And his children demonstrated how his impact continues on in succeeding generations as they are involved in their own efforts to proclaim the Gospel, like in the work of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It's incredible to see the work they do, especially dispatching chaplains to assist in crisis situations.
His life truly sets an example for what it means to evangelize, which Bishop Robert Barron reflected on in an article on Billy Graham shortly after his death.
Truly, our lives as people of faith in Christ must necessarily aim toward proclaiming the message of God Who has saved and transformed us so that we show the world that God is at work in us.
While certainly nondenominational Evangelical churches are heavily focused in the efforts of proclaiming the Gospel message, especially as I've observed it, certainly evangelism is an important element of the life of faith for Christians of all denominations, especially in the sense that all churches should be Gospel-oriented, which is what the term "evangelism" refers to.
Lately, I've noticed important evangelistic efforts in the Roman Catholic Church, which is a rub-off of Pope Francis's urging of a new evangelization.
My Dad and Grandma for many years now have enjoyed listening to Relevant Radio, a station that broadcasters talk shows and call-in programs on Roman Catholic theology and then some. I've heard the term "evangelize" used in reference to what this station does in teaching people about the Roman Catholic faith, especially as I've started to listen to it more and more for myself in recent months.
Last month, I went to St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills to hear renowned speaker Chris Stefanick speak at a Reboot event. He gave an inspiring talk about the greatest love story of all, that God came to save us, and furthermore, how that can impact our lives so we live them to the fullest.
I also couldn't help but notice evangelistic overtones when I attended Holy Fire at the end of last month. This annual faith gathering for students in grades 6-9, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, was held for the 3rd time this year.
One important aspect of evangelization is bringing people into an encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ, so they can actually know Him, not just know about Him.
That was an important idea emphasized in Paul Kim's keynote talk. He talked about how people don't go to church, or they're spiritual but not religious, but no matter what they say, it all comes down to the reality that they haven't encountered Jesus Christ in a real way. In light of the statistics that show large numbers of people are leaving the Church, the key to reversing this trend is helping facilitate that encounter.
The richness of the Roman Catholic tradition is that not only does preaching facilitate an encounter with Christ, but so do the sacraments, through physical elements that reflect how Christ came to Earth and took on a human body.
The weekend before Holy Fire was Confirmation day at Ascension. I spent much of Saturday, October 20, at Church for two Confirmation Masses, with lunch in between with Bishop Casey, among others. How fascinating it was to dine with someone recently ordained a Bishop and to hear about his perspectives starting out life as a bishop.
I feel Bishop Casey's homily was excellent and so well said, especially in talking about how we are people of transformation, not the status quo, doing so in the midst of community, not isolation, filled with faith and not fear. As I watched my students before Bishop Casey be sealed in the Holy Spirit, I couldn't help but marvel that truly something amazing was happening before my eyes, and will become even more amazing as the experience of Confirmation is lived out.
After the second Mass, I was talking with one of my students, and remarked how she still had a gleam on her forehead from the consecrated oil. She remarked about taking it off because it looked like she had a greasy forehead. I suggested she use her oily forehead as a tool of evangelization, a way to share about what she had been through and what it means.
I think about my experiences, especially with teaching RE, and how they serve as a means in my life to share about how my life is being lived out. It makes the anniversary of my own Confirmation, on October 15, a rich occasion for me to celebrate, and it was special to be present for my students' confirmations so close to my anniversary. Later that day, after Confirmation Masses, I spent an evening with my Uncle Bernie, who was my Confirmation sponsor. He asked me what motivated me to dedicate a vast portion of my Saturday to being at Church for two Confirmation Masses. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my faith journey, and how the various pieces of it have come together to fill me with passion for a Person.
As a confirmed Roman Catholic, my life is oriented toward making God known to others, just as Billy Graham's life was, and that's why he was as important of a figure as he was.
He truly sets an example for all Christians in how to be oriented in proclaiming the Gospel message, which is the heart of who we are.
Wheaton College, his alma mater, has a museum that tells about his life and work of evangelism at the Billy Graham Center. It's incredible to think of how far his reach stretched geographically, not to mention how he regularly interacted with important leaders all over the world.
Yet despite his influence and eloquence, it all came down to the message of Jesus Christ the Crucified and Risen Lord and His effect on the lives of those who believe in Him, which pervaded the way he lived. I remember seeing a video clip of him in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina caused devastation in the city, and he remarked that the presence of Jesus Christ was sorely needed there. Even in a clip I saw of him a few months ago, at an advanced age, he talked about having one message, that Jesus Christ died and rose again to save.
Even as he stood before huge crowds that filled stadiums and arenas throughout the world, there was a sense of humility that imbued his powerful proclamation of the Gospel message.
His life truly sets an example for what it means to evangelize, which Bishop Robert Barron reflected on in an article on Billy Graham shortly after his death.
Truly, our lives as people of faith in Christ must necessarily aim toward proclaiming the message of God Who has saved and transformed us so that we show the world that God is at work in us.
While certainly nondenominational Evangelical churches are heavily focused in the efforts of proclaiming the Gospel message, especially as I've observed it, certainly evangelism is an important element of the life of faith for Christians of all denominations, especially in the sense that all churches should be Gospel-oriented, which is what the term "evangelism" refers to.
Lately, I've noticed important evangelistic efforts in the Roman Catholic Church, which is a rub-off of Pope Francis's urging of a new evangelization.
My Dad and Grandma for many years now have enjoyed listening to Relevant Radio, a station that broadcasters talk shows and call-in programs on Roman Catholic theology and then some. I've heard the term "evangelize" used in reference to what this station does in teaching people about the Roman Catholic faith, especially as I've started to listen to it more and more for myself in recent months.
Last month, I went to St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Orland Hills to hear renowned speaker Chris Stefanick speak at a Reboot event. He gave an inspiring talk about the greatest love story of all, that God came to save us, and furthermore, how that can impact our lives so we live them to the fullest.
I also couldn't help but notice evangelistic overtones when I attended Holy Fire at the end of last month. This annual faith gathering for students in grades 6-9, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago, was held for the 3rd time this year.
One important aspect of evangelization is bringing people into an encounter with the Person of Jesus Christ, so they can actually know Him, not just know about Him.
That was an important idea emphasized in Paul Kim's keynote talk. He talked about how people don't go to church, or they're spiritual but not religious, but no matter what they say, it all comes down to the reality that they haven't encountered Jesus Christ in a real way. In light of the statistics that show large numbers of people are leaving the Church, the key to reversing this trend is helping facilitate that encounter.
The richness of the Roman Catholic tradition is that not only does preaching facilitate an encounter with Christ, but so do the sacraments, through physical elements that reflect how Christ came to Earth and took on a human body.
The weekend before Holy Fire was Confirmation day at Ascension. I spent much of Saturday, October 20, at Church for two Confirmation Masses, with lunch in between with Bishop Casey, among others. How fascinating it was to dine with someone recently ordained a Bishop and to hear about his perspectives starting out life as a bishop.
I feel Bishop Casey's homily was excellent and so well said, especially in talking about how we are people of transformation, not the status quo, doing so in the midst of community, not isolation, filled with faith and not fear. As I watched my students before Bishop Casey be sealed in the Holy Spirit, I couldn't help but marvel that truly something amazing was happening before my eyes, and will become even more amazing as the experience of Confirmation is lived out.
After the second Mass, I was talking with one of my students, and remarked how she still had a gleam on her forehead from the consecrated oil. She remarked about taking it off because it looked like she had a greasy forehead. I suggested she use her oily forehead as a tool of evangelization, a way to share about what she had been through and what it means.
I think about my experiences, especially with teaching RE, and how they serve as a means in my life to share about how my life is being lived out. It makes the anniversary of my own Confirmation, on October 15, a rich occasion for me to celebrate, and it was special to be present for my students' confirmations so close to my anniversary. Later that day, after Confirmation Masses, I spent an evening with my Uncle Bernie, who was my Confirmation sponsor. He asked me what motivated me to dedicate a vast portion of my Saturday to being at Church for two Confirmation Masses. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my faith journey, and how the various pieces of it have come together to fill me with passion for a Person.
As a confirmed Roman Catholic, my life is oriented toward making God known to others, just as Billy Graham's life was, and that's why he was as important of a figure as he was.
He truly sets an example for all Christians in how to be oriented in proclaiming the Gospel message, which is the heart of who we are.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
At Yesteryear's Pace
As a way to experience the history of Illinois in this Bicentennial Year, I thought it would be a good opportunity to move at the pace of yesteryear, by taking a ride on a canal boat in the Illinois and Michigan Canal, pulled by a mule.
I invited Mom to join me, and so, back on the afternoon of Saturday, May 19, we went to LaSalle, IL (#156), to climb aboard a replica canal boat, the Volunteer, evocative of a bygone era, complete with costumed guides. (It was a nice way to spend time together, and have a little something special to do as I celebrated 5 years since my ValpU graduation that very day.)
Upon arrival, we got our tickets at the Lock 16 Visitor's Center (#157), and then took a short walk down Joliet Street on a bridge over the Illinois and Michigan Canal and then on a winding path to board the Volunteer (#158), which is in the photo below, at dock in the canal.
There was a small crowd taking a ride that day, and before boarding, we heard one of the guides explain what a mule is, and how useful they've been all through history. They are a cross between a male donkey and a female horse--the reverse mating combination would result in a totally different animal. They've been relied on since ancient times because they are sturdy. Moe and Larry are the two mules who serve the role of pulling the boats.
Then our time came to board, while the mule got hitched up to the tug rope that would pull the boat. After passing underneath the Joliet Street Bridge, we were free to move about the boat, while one of the other costumed guides talked about the history and operations of the I&M Canal, and here I share my recollections of what I learned.
LaSalle is located near the western terminus of the canal, with the eastern terminus in the Chicago city neighborhood of Bridgeport. It served as a vital link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, providing service to transport goods and passengers.
There was so much traffic, in fact, that the state agency overseeing the canal imposed a speed limit of 5 miles per hour. At the typical speed of travel, it would take between 18-24 hours for a passenger boat to travel between Chicago and LaSalle. It was totally astounding to hear that fact, considering how Mom and I got from Oak Park to LaSalle in about 1 1/2 hours. Not too long after the canal opened, the railroad was built nearby, providing passage between Chicago and LaSalle in 6 hours, and with passengers opting for a shorter commute, passenger service ceased on the canal, while transport of goods continued.
At one point, Abraham Lincoln sought to have the canal enlarged to provide passage for boats during the Sectional War of the 1860s.
Eventually, locks were installed along the Illinois River to regular the water flow and provide easier passage for boats, which rendered the I&M Canal obsolete. Today, the canal is mostly used for pleasure boat traffic. And the canal towpath running along the side continues to serve as a path for jogging, walking, biking, and, of course, the mules that pull the canal boat.
There are portions of the canal that are dry, and some that still have water, like the part we rode on in the boat, which had a depth of about 3 feet. We traveled for about 1/2 hour about a mile east, and when we neared the Little Vermilion River aqueduct, the Volunteer was turned around, hitched up to the mule once again, and then was pulled back to the boarding spot.
At one point, the guide stopped her narration as we passed by a noisy area near a factory that was built in proximity to the canal, and then started up again, while we enjoyed the ride all along the tree-lined canal. It was nice to move around the Volunteer to take in the views from the upper level in addition to the main level bow area and the inside seating area.
We were back at the port around 5:30, concluding a wonderful time aboard the Volunteer. (As a reward for their work in moving the Volunteer, the mule got some treats.) It was quite an enjoyable time learning about transportation of a bygone era by actually experiencing it, even going at a much slower pace, as a mule can go, and to take stock of what it was like when the I&M Canal was a major transportation corridor decades ago, and helped fuel the growth of Illinois, especially Chicago.
It's a great way to gain some historical perspective, and I highly suggest going to LaSalle to ride aboard the Volunteer.
I invited Mom to join me, and so, back on the afternoon of Saturday, May 19, we went to LaSalle, IL (#156), to climb aboard a replica canal boat, the Volunteer, evocative of a bygone era, complete with costumed guides. (It was a nice way to spend time together, and have a little something special to do as I celebrated 5 years since my ValpU graduation that very day.)
Upon arrival, we got our tickets at the Lock 16 Visitor's Center (#157), and then took a short walk down Joliet Street on a bridge over the Illinois and Michigan Canal and then on a winding path to board the Volunteer (#158), which is in the photo below, at dock in the canal.
There was a small crowd taking a ride that day, and before boarding, we heard one of the guides explain what a mule is, and how useful they've been all through history. They are a cross between a male donkey and a female horse--the reverse mating combination would result in a totally different animal. They've been relied on since ancient times because they are sturdy. Moe and Larry are the two mules who serve the role of pulling the boats.
 |
| This is one of the mules, though I can't remember which one. |
Then our time came to board, while the mule got hitched up to the tug rope that would pull the boat. After passing underneath the Joliet Street Bridge, we were free to move about the boat, while one of the other costumed guides talked about the history and operations of the I&M Canal, and here I share my recollections of what I learned.
 |
| Here's the view looking east from the bow of Volunteer, which is in the foreground. Near the center of this photo, you can see the mule being led on the towpath along the south side of the canal, by the costumed mule guide in an orangish shirt. The bow of the Volunteer is in the foreground. |
LaSalle is located near the western terminus of the canal, with the eastern terminus in the Chicago city neighborhood of Bridgeport. It served as a vital link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, providing service to transport goods and passengers.
There was so much traffic, in fact, that the state agency overseeing the canal imposed a speed limit of 5 miles per hour. At the typical speed of travel, it would take between 18-24 hours for a passenger boat to travel between Chicago and LaSalle. It was totally astounding to hear that fact, considering how Mom and I got from Oak Park to LaSalle in about 1 1/2 hours. Not too long after the canal opened, the railroad was built nearby, providing passage between Chicago and LaSalle in 6 hours, and with passengers opting for a shorter commute, passenger service ceased on the canal, while transport of goods continued.
At one point, Abraham Lincoln sought to have the canal enlarged to provide passage for boats during the Sectional War of the 1860s.
Eventually, locks were installed along the Illinois River to regular the water flow and provide easier passage for boats, which rendered the I&M Canal obsolete. Today, the canal is mostly used for pleasure boat traffic. And the canal towpath running along the side continues to serve as a path for jogging, walking, biking, and, of course, the mules that pull the canal boat.
There are portions of the canal that are dry, and some that still have water, like the part we rode on in the boat, which had a depth of about 3 feet. We traveled for about 1/2 hour about a mile east, and when we neared the Little Vermilion River aqueduct, the Volunteer was turned around, hitched up to the mule once again, and then was pulled back to the boarding spot.
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| The Vermillion River aqueduct appears near the center of this photo. The towpath is to the right, and there's a factory to the left. |
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| Here's the view from the upper level of the Volunteer as it passes underneath a railroad bridge. |
We were back at the port around 5:30, concluding a wonderful time aboard the Volunteer. (As a reward for their work in moving the Volunteer, the mule got some treats.) It was quite an enjoyable time learning about transportation of a bygone era by actually experiencing it, even going at a much slower pace, as a mule can go, and to take stock of what it was like when the I&M Canal was a major transportation corridor decades ago, and helped fuel the growth of Illinois, especially Chicago.
It's a great way to gain some historical perspective, and I highly suggest going to LaSalle to ride aboard the Volunteer.
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| Mom got these pictures of me on the upper level of the Volunteer, above, and in front of the boat, below. |
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