Today is the most blessed and wonderful day when my family moved into you 31 years ago. It's time to party like it's 1992!
It is an occasion that reminds me of a soundbite that I heard from Studs Terkel in a video at the Chicago History Museum. He remarked that he was legally born on May 6, 1912, but then was born for who he is when his family came to Chicago when he was 8.
Certainly, being born on the North Side of Chicago and living there for the first 20 months of my life left its defining mark on me. Yet this day, November 28, is the day I experienced a birth of great importance, when I came to Oak Park and began living in you, where I essentially came into existence.
Last year, it was quite a day of celebration marking 30 years. I enjoyed having special meals to fit the day, like pancakes for breakfast, food from Pete's for lunch, and a special stew meal I made later in the day. Following dinner, it was enjoyable to play a game of US-themed Monopoly.
Truly you have been a home in the fullest sense of the word, where I built a life.
One great example is the story time I had with Mom and Dad on alternating evenings. Among the numerous books we read were two by William J. Bennett, The Book of Virtues and Our Country's Founders, a children's version of Our Sacred Honor. Both books were compendiums compiling stories and other writings to illustrate character qualities, with the latter focused on content from US history and especially the Founding Era.
It was that type of reading that helped encourage me to build strong character qualities, which has allowed me to live life to the fullest. Indeed, the memory of those books lives on and keeps me connected to you. Again, I feel like I came into existence in you, and certainly my character was shaped in so many ways within your walls.
In the spirit of the recent celebration of Thanksgiving Day, there's a song that I heard on Relevant Radio that resonated with me powerfully, "I'm not Lucky, I'm Blessed". Like Obi-Wan Kenobi says, "In my experience, there's no such thing as luck." And when it comes to you, I know that I'm not lucky for my years within you: I am blessed that I have called you home for so long a time, a wonderful gift.
And so I celebrate today, for you shall never fade into the background but remain ever in my heart:
All my relations.
God's blessings,
Paul
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:17 NAB
Lord God, This is the day You have made, and I rejoice and am glad.
I give You praise and thanks for the place I have called home for so many years at 1036 Clarence.
I thank You for the experience I had there.
I thank You for the large well of memories there that stir my heart.
I thank You for the gift that You gave me in a house that has a home in the fullest sense, a gift that continues to give.
Thanks be to God!
Amen.
 |
| Home on Nativity Day 2022 |
No comments:
Post a Comment