Put that in your blender

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, hmm?

Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's sub-committee.

What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert!

These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness. The following is a portion of the transcript:

"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers." "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field.

The villain was not the club he used. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA.

I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent."

"I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room.

Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. "I wrote a poem that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:"

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.

Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"

You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc. Spiritual influences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact.

What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties.

We do not need more restrictive laws." Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

Political posturing and restrictive legislation are not the answers. The young people of our nation hold the key. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! We do not need more religion. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. We do not need more million dollar church buildings built while people with basic needs are being ignored.

We do need a change of heart and a humble acknowledgment that this nation was founded on the principle of simple trust in God!" "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right!

I challenge every young person in America, and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA- I give to you a sincere challenge.

Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone! My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

Do what the media did not... let the nation hear this man's speech.

Lost Generation by Jonathon Reed

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
'Happiness comes from within'
is a lie, and
'Money will make me happy'
So in thirty years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

There is hope.
It is foolish to presume that
my generation is apathetic and lethargic
It will be evident that
My peers and I care about this earth
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction will be the norm
In the future
I will live in a country of my own making
I do not concede that
Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
Experts tell me
this is a quick fix society
but this will not be true in my era
Families stayed together
Once upon a time
I tell you this
family
is more important than
work
I have my priorities straight because
My employer will know that
they are not the most important thing in my life.
So in thirty years I will tell my children
'Money will make me happy'
is a lie, and
'Happiness comes from within'
I realize this may be a shock but
I can change the world
and I refuse to believe that
I am part of a lost generation.

Watch it here.

Intersecting Thoughts

While waiting for a green light on the drive home today through Salt Lake downtown three gents crossed the street and one could not help but notice the mechanics and apparent hierarchy of the group. Three men in business suits all carrying briefcases all cold and all cheery to have completed there work for the day. The first was the eldest and most portly of the bunch with a long suit jacket and worn gloves and briefcase that suggested a comfortable settling into a daily weekly monthly yearly pattern of use and wear. Each gray hair working tirelessly to keep hold the trenches against the onslaught of the winters cold as gray comrades are lost to the enemy more and more each day. The second walked as if a shadow of the first; keeping pace and rhythm with his mentor with the hopes those gray hairs would soon be gone and he could take the reigns of whatever it is the bunch was reigning on. And the last is the one that really gave away the contrast of the groups hierarchy. A younger skinnier bloke who stepped lightly and still bounded in his steps suggesting an excitement for this new career or sense of accomplishment being associated with such great colleges. Shorter suit jacket and lack of scarf suggesting his unaccustomed disposition to the daily requirements of comfort the others had come to understand over the years. As they completed their pecking order across the street the three split off on their routes home. The first two following a similar route and perhaps the middle having changed his route to be able to pass more time with the headmaster to further learn his ways before the gray hairs ran out. While the youngest of the bunch broke off and looked on ahead at his own path, as anyone walking down the street would do, but it only slightly divulged of eventually leaving this group and continuing on his own path. Perhaps the wisps and whims of youths indecision distracting his vision of a continued future with the three or maybe just the hope that some day things would be different. An "If I owned the company I would..." thought keeping his head clear of the brown mess accumulating on the seconds head. And then as the light turned green and we accelerated through the intersection I considered what I had in the kitchen cupboards to put down before the cold took hold of the evenings plans.

Fear

Fear has been ruining a better part of my last week and its time has come:

Whatever you fear most has no power - it is your fear that has the power.
-Oprah Winfrey

Its time to control our own part and take back the power from fear itself.
I am coming for you.

Perspective

Summer days more likely that you notice breezes
Winter days more likely that you notice heat
When I'm warm more likely that you notice me
In the dark it's more likely that you notice light
In the light more likely that you notice night
Hungry more appreciation for that meal
Dead broke more appreciation for that skrill
A bad day'll make you really notice ones that's good
And that'll make things a little better understood.

A Golden Day

September 26th started out just like any other day, until i woke up. A buffet style setup for breakfast of eggs bacon potatoes tortillas fruit and yogurt. Followed by loading up the cars for a Florida adventure stout style; deciding as we were leaving the front door where we were headed. Everglades in September experience something fierce of heat as the weather gets ready to turn and the coast is struck with a barrage of tropical storms and rain and lightning. Angie and AJ where able to join us for this fun Saturday and off we went in a three car train. In route we came across Panther crossing signs. Thought that was weird. But Florida can do what it wants really. So we get to the trail we had intended to hike only to find that for most of the year it is underwater and will dry up in a few months. Oops. So she told of a out of water trail we could take and we went to that one. Cool boardwalk trail next to everglade forests knee high in water. The trail went back into the forest and is usually a disaster of sworming mosquitoes that lucky for us where busy on this day. As we were walking out Angie heard a rustle in the water under the boardwalk and we looked down to see a three foot gator swim into the brush. Art has said that had he not had his baby on his chest he would have gone for its tail. The trail was also littered with some giant grasshoppers and signs explaning local wildlife. A bald eagle nest was pointed out along the trail and has been there for about twenty years. The trail dead ends into a pond of dark water riddled with activity sparking all kinds of curiousity as far as whats going on under the surface. Dark clouds rolled in and it started to rain and we even heard some gators growling in the distance. On one of the boardwalks we watched a mother turtle and baby turtle surface and swim away. As well as an alligator swam up to the side of the boardwalk and was no more than 3 feet away from us and the little kids we were with. So drenched we returned to Naples and started on Sierra's yummy chunky spagetti. Had some birthday cake and watched State of Play. One of the best made movies I have seen in a long time. A golden day.

I WIN!!!

Its official I win. I have the cutest nieces and nephews of all time. Sorry. You lose.

im a mutant

I have a friend that I asked to stop smoking and their reply was that it was a little joy a small accomplishment that satisfied the minds ability to gain control of life for a simple pleasure for a fleeting moment. I share a similar understanding with books. At one point in my life I read lots. I thrived on rare thoughts from science fiction novels and tales of good versus evil. I truly miss that and have recently started on a track to be a better reader. In the process I have recently taken simple pleasures in the classic Jonathan Livingston Seagull, The Pearl, and lastly Mutant Message from Down Under. Jonathon has a resounding message of pushing ones self again and again and again and far beyond again and again. The pearl was a good read but left a discoloring taste in my mouth as the end winds up in a page or two. Mutant Message describes a aboriginal tribe in the Australian outback that reaches out to a doctor to retell their story as they have decided the world is moving to a place no longer capable of receiving their kind. A kind of people that spend fifteen minutes at days break giving thanks for the miracle of life and its gifts and lessons and celebrations. Followed by a request that the animal kingdom arrange for their food for the day if it be for the good of the people and the good of all. Living long healthy lives the Real People, as they call themselves, make a point of living every moment as a celebration of life and their connection with divine oneness. Celebrating each year of a persons life only at that persons request and only if that person has progressed and improved over the last year. They refer to those that are not apart of their beliefs as mutants because of the different way we look at life and the connections we share with the animal kingdom. Everything has its purpose. A story we relate to the kids from the book tells of the tribes interaction with bush flies. They come in clouds and cover your body, climb into your mouth, nose and ears. The doctor refers to them as being hell and so for her they are. The tribes people just relax and close their eyes when the flies come. And they leave in a matter of minutes. The tribal leader describes to the doctor how they are necessary for cleaning out their ears and nose to improve hearing and breathing in the harsh heat of the outback. Next time the bugs came she surrenders and imagined trained technicians with cotton balls cleaning out her ears and nose and every inch of her body. And before teaching her something new the tribe will ask if she understands how long forever is. After she has said she does, they say "good now you can learn something more." Its really good. But you dont have to take my word for it...

Grandpa's Poem

This is a poem my grandpa stout wrote. Its wonderful.

I well remember then
When fiber strained
Against the winds of truth....
When sails were set
To storm capped seas
On unfamiliar routes....
Then, A chant was found
A course was set
Away from hidden shoals
Sail on to port
To anchor fast
And rest within my soul.
Now, My ship sails right
On compass point
True light ahead my goal....
Sail on to port
To hug at last
The king of my own soul.

Best of People

Long time gone hey, on that note i have something to say. I have recently noticed and wish to pay tribute to the many good people in my daily circles. In order to that I have to lay down some background info from the last few weeks. Work! I love my job. Ever since I have been back in the Outback I have experienced a rush of refresh as well as a measure of self therapy. But mostly a calming immersion back into the calming outback family. Similar feeling to entering a hot tub only spanning a few weeks. We rely on each other to get things done out in the field and often times things will just happen after you think about them. Through telepathy we have found it works best. Than the kids do not have to see us whispering and be bothered by our secret planning meetings. I mean really, its like an extended family. I have had the joy to work with the same group for the last two weeks of work in a row. With I might add the same amazing senior staff. Her name is Yoshi and she and I managed 7 disgruntled children through some amazing terrain. One such day included a 4 mile 2000 foot climb to summit a ridge for the fun of it. They loved it!! So not to make this all about me its just part of telling you the great people currently in my circles, i was just promoted to senior this last week. One of my personal worst weeks ever. I had my head in another place for the first couple days of the week, but my mind found my body and we finished strong and had a good time. Ever though there was a hail storm during the week, summer has definitely arrived as told by a night in only my sleeping bag liner. I tried wearing shoes out the field as well this last week. I got the field, felt weird and sent them back in with the new staff. So glad I did. I have been working on my chaco tan and have a well seen w when I put my feet together. A while back we climbed Mount Olympus with more good people and other hikers would stare at my chacos and mutter something about sandals. To which i would reply "They are chacos!" Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to chacos. You either know or you wear bulking hiking boots. ugh. Where was I.....More good people included my visit to Michigan and playing part in the completion of a home made canoe. I cant wait to try it out in Florida, as that is where the canoe will be living. Seeing my sisters and their families was the best part of this year by far. Joy had all around with parks and libraries and walks and Zingermans. Such a good time. Did I mention all my faithful readers. You are the best of people too. This feels really scatter brained. Its cause I am about to go float the provo river...