Archbishop Gregory Holley

The Nutcracker

Standing in the hallway is a Toy Soldier fashioned after the star of the great Nutcracker Ballet.  Jacob, our grandson, is fascinated with the Soldier whose mouth is a nutcracker.  He wants to try it out.  Show me Pa Pa! Well you first have to have nuts to crack. So it is off to the store and Jacob is hunting the right kind of nuts to crack!  Soon we find out that he Toy Soldier is no good for cracking a lot of nuts and his dad, Sean and me, begin to find other nut crackers in the house to use!  What a night of showing Jacob it was.  Here are the pictures.  clik on them to enlarge!

Merry Christmas!  Spend time with your family!

Most Important Attraction

Sundays the blogger sits on the front row at church with two grandkids nearby who are all eyes and ears. Sometimes the music excites them and they dance a little jig or clap their hands and then there are those day dreaming moments. Attraction to the movement of the moment or the passing thought makes their life most interesting. It seems that we as adults seek to follow the path of the leader in most instances and process that which attracts us filing it for future action. The child just acts.

Case in point.  The praise and worship leader was guiding our minds through different music patterns when an old hymn was stumbled upon.  By saying stumbled upon the blogger doesn't think the leader stumbled but when the song came up the attraction of childhood and mother's singing drew him deep into the words and rhythm.  Lost in a moment of nostalgia it was just 'getting good' when the blogger felt a tug on the pants leg.

Slipping back to reality attention was focused upon a wide eyed young man with a question poised on his lips waiting for pa pa to be attracted to his interest. Sitting down in the chair and leaning forward to hear above the orchestra 5 year old lips prepared to speak.  What could it be in this super spiritual moment that would be requested or observed by Prince Jake? And then it rolled off of his tongue like a summer rain, " Pa Pa, the merry go round with the horses doesn't work any more. Brian needs to fix it."

There it was.  No angelic message.  No flurry of special calling to far away land. Just an attraction to the play place where twenty other machines were to waiting to be mounted and ridden for free but the merry go round with horses was broken. You see, some years ago in anticipation of Jake and Gracie and all the other little church goers, the blogger bought the equipment out of Chuckie Cheese and built a playground of machines. Brian, my co laborer and McGyver, fixed them where no quarters were needed but just the push of a button allowing endless hours of free rides for the up and coming.  And out of all the rides to ride the merry go round with the horses held the attraction and they were broke!

The blogger inquired of the would be rider if he had filled out a maintenance report? Brian only works on things with maintenance reports and he would need to go to Mama Love's office ( our comptroller) and fill out a report.  At this point the song ended and Jake and Pa Pa were a million miles from where the leader wanted the hearers to be! He agreed to go filled out a maintenance report and the blogger thanked him for notifying him of the problem and sister Gracie attracted Jake's attention and he was gone leaving Pa Pa in a mystified state of mind.  From glory land to Pa Pa's Playplace and back again.

Now what was the most important attraction? Was it the la la land of personal spiritual attraction where the Saviour becomes personal and feeling good is paramount?  Or is it the fleeting attraction of a child that brought an opportunity to bring the Saviour closer to home by solving the problems of the little ones? Who goes first? The attraction of the blogger or the attraction and satisfaction of the child to have told the one in charge and go on about our merry way.

To Jake the problem was over.  The merry go round with the horses will be fixed.  He will ride again. Brian will come through because Pa Pa said so and Mama Love filled out the papers. O to be a child and take all of our sophisticated problems to the Saviour and being filled with faith that the problem is over. The Father's good pleasure to take care of the children's needs!  It is the most important attraction! Will we ride again?

Legacy of Grandkids!

Today, on the eve of Mother's Day, the blogger is remembering his dear Mother, Verba Joy Hoffman-Holley and her love for the grandchildren.  In memory of her love for their humor and the laughs we shared a reprint of a post to DataStormers is posted The pictures below are of Jake 5 and Gracie 3...

1) OPINIONS On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."

2) KETCHUP A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."

3) POLICE # 1 While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?" "Yes," I answered and continued writing the report. "My mother said if I ever needed help, I should ask the police. Is that right?" "Yes, that's right," I told her. "Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me, "Would you please tie my shoe?"

4) POLICE # 2 It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. "Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, "What'd he do?"

5) ELDERLY While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!" 6) DRESS-UP A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning. "

7) DEATH While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole, and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Father, and unto the Son, and into the hole he goooes!"

8) SCHOOL A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!"

9) BIBLE A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. (What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages.) "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!

As A Little Child

"Except you become as a little child you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven..."  These words of Jesus are a puzzler.  All the little children I have known have had a wide array of emotions and commotions. From meek and mild to wild and wooly the children drain from life all of its available flavor. Just what was Jesus alluding to?

What about the questions of a child.  Insistent, persistent, and consistent the ability to phrase is the artistic vocabulary developement.  "What ya doing?"  "Why?" "I wanna help." "Let me see." "Can I? Can I?" Are these the actions of a little child that assists one in finding the Kingdom?  Is it the continual, unabashed questioning that draws one close to the Kingdom?

Or the easy laughter of a child? Did you ever get your tickle box turned over when you were young? Were you terrorized by an older brother or sister who tickled you until you couldn't breathe? Or a funny story read by mom or a teacher? Is this an asset in entering the Kingdom? Do we lose the ability to be amuse easily as we get older and thereby miss the joy of the Kingdom?

And about those "bobos".  You know, the "ouchies".  The ones that demand a band aid and nothing else will do until the wound is covered by a band aid? No kissies, no rubbing, no singing, gotta have that band aid attention and the assurance that everything is going to be alright.  Does the child like perspective of wound healing quickly conjure up the doorway of the Kingdom? It must be ability to receive encouragement that is becoming to the Kingdom seeker.

Could the insatiable desire to be "told or read a story" be focus of Jesus' thoughts when uttering these syllables?  Any available adult will do.  Just read the child a story and when one short book is finished another is presented. And another, until the adult tires.  Is this the hunger of the baby Christian that must be maintained to enter the Kingdom?

Any mother or father, grandmother or grandfather could add to the list of the above mentioned extractions of child like behavior.  When all is said would not there be one more though to liken child characteristics to the entry into Kingdom thinking and living?  Yes, Jesus coined the right phrase...."Except you become as a little child...."

Child Developement and Human Relations

Blogger’s note:  There is no recollection where this piece was first read and would love to give credit to the worthy writer. You will agree:

A woman named Emily, renewing her driver’s license at the county clerk’s office, was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. “What I mean is,” explained the recorder, “do you have a job, or are you just a….?”   “Of course I have a job,” snapped Emily. “I’m a mother.” “We don’t list ‘mother’ as an occupation. ‘Housewife’ covers it,” said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own town hall. The clerk was obviously a career woman sitting poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like, “official interrogator” or “town registrar.  “What is your occupation?” she probed. What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out. “I’m a research associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.”  The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

Might I ask,” said the clerk with new interest, “just what you do in your field?” Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, “I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn’t), in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I’m working for my masters (the whole family), and already have four credits (all daughters).  Of course the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).”  There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk’s voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door!

It is indeed a strong woman who can handle motherhood. It is a stronger woman who must work an job outside of the home and return for a few hours to another full time job of raising the world’s little ones. On this Saturday let us not forget the fathers who become mothers as they struggle to raise the child in the absence of the mother. Child rearing is one of the noblest professions in all the world and our world needs the harvest of great families everywhere. Without a doubt children need the strength that is passed through these channels for the day when the cycle will be repeated in their life!      

Youth At Risk

   

In travels, we often take pictures and report on the conditions of children and youth. My father often quoted, “As the twig is bent the tree grows.” It has been the intention of Role Models of America to foster mentorship among those who have been at risk and grown into healthy, mature adults with those still caught in the cycle of struggle. Our focus today is upon a report put out by a Presidential Focus Group for assessing American youth. The blogger is today reprinting a portion of that report for our meditations.

    

     [Young Americans in many communities are at risk. Research has shown that children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors when they are connected to parents, family, school, community, and faith. Risky behaviors, including illegal drug and tobacco use, violence, and early sexual activity, are among the top causes of disease and early death among youth. Statistics show:

• Boys often begin to fall behind girls in elementary school, which leads to higher dropout rates and juvenile delinquency, and they often show signs of behavioral problems early in life.
• Youth who fall behind in reading have a greater chance of dropping out of high school altogether.
• Each year, there are approximately 15 million new STD cases in the

  U.S.

  , and about one-quarter of these are teenagers.
• Half of all new HIV infections affect those 24 and younger, and almost 900,000 women under the age of 19 become pregnant every year.
• Injury and violence is the leading cause of death among youth aged 5-19: Motor vehicle crashes account for 31% of all deaths among youth aged 5-19, and alcohol and other drug use is a factor in approximately 41% of all deaths from motor vehicle crashes.
• Statistics show boys are at greater risk than girls for developing learning disabilities, illiteracy, dropping out of school, substance-abuse problems, violence, juvenile arrest, and early death caused by violent behavior. As boys grow older, risky behaviors, such as alcohol and drug abuse, become more prevalent, and gang involvement increases.

In addition, more children are growing up without a father involved in their lives, and studies show an overwhelming number of violent criminals in the United States are males who grew up without fathers involved in their lives.]

     An open challenge is given today to all who love. In this day of so much ill fated abuse and mismanagement of parental responsibilities the call is out to those who will properly be strength to those at risk. Meditate on the matters. Look for the opportunity to be in a properly supervised program to effectively turn the tide of an increasing and painful trend. Finally, prayer is most effective and needful. Through faith and works the cycle can and will be broken!

An Evening With Legacy

Wiktionary defines legacy as something bequeathed, left or established for future generations. Saturday evening a deposit was made in the love account of the grandchildren.  Speedster Jake slowed down long enough to give kid sister Princess Gracie a ride on the four wheeler. Even begging would not convince the wild one to put into lower gear the transmission for the perfunctory ride around the driveways. Time demanded and received the payment for future generations in hugs, kisses, snacks, meals, gifts from Mexico (expected) and the show.

The show included the decision by Speedster Jake to ride on the sidewalk outside the gates and into the neighborhood. Of course he and mom and Princes Gracie do it all the time, that is ride to the Park. Paw Paw wasn't so sure so off we went with Princess Gracie instructing how to cross the street and then running behind the four wheeler. When determined that the expedition had gone far enough Speedster Jake informed all that he now knew how to put the machine in reverse and proceeded to weave and bobble his way into position to turn around and so successfully that it deserved a bit of praise. Back at the back garage he showed how he could stand on the seat balancing perfectly and the next awareness was that on future returns a Evil Knievel show would be performed!

Evening wore on and it was time to produce the gifts of Mexico (expected). Not being the clothing buyer of the family the moment of truth had come to see how the blogger could size from memory. Seated on the familiar couch poses began as the bloodline of showing out in front of a camera ensued. Jake the Intimidator and Gracie the Princess.

Buying for children in Mexico that which is made in Mexico is very difficult. The imported China items that we see in the States in Dollar Stores are just as prevalent in Mexico. Chosen was shorts and shirt sets. Veracruz soccer for Jake and Rosita Fresita or a version of Strawberry Shortcake for Gracie.

Relief! They fit! Of course they had to be worn to bed and as the grandchildren disappeared into the halls of the home base it was recorded mentally that this was a bequeathing more than money. A deposit of love and time for the memory bank of tomorrow's world shapers. An establishment of legacy. Love to a child and a key to tomorrows excellence!  Yes, Wiktionary had it right for this was chronicled as an evening with legacy.

So, what is the way to go in life in case one lacked love as a child?

                               

"So, what is the way to go in life in case one lacked love as a child?"  This question posed by an international photographer traveling here in Mexico was a puzzler.( http://michelszulckrzyzanowski.blogspot.com/ ) He posed the words of John Lennon's ode to his mother and father bringing to the surface this awkward question. Here's the song:

Mother, You had Me I never had you
I wanted you but you didn't want me
So I got to tell you
Goodbye , Goodbye

Father, You left me but I never left you
I needed you but you didn't need me
So I just got to tell you
Goodbye , Goodbye

Children, Don't do what I have done
I couldn't walk so I tried to run
So I got to tell you
Goodbye , Goodbye

                  Can you tell which child below is loved? Is it one of these two boys named David and Jesus who will grow up in a loving home bereft of angst and  pain? Today they played happily on a construction dump in Flores Magon, Veracruz and dutifully smiled for a camera. Yet could it be that they had just been paid 5 pesos (about .45 cents US.) to bring the blogger 7 green coconuts so he could drink the water? Is it a sign of a loving growing season in their little lives?

                         Is it this beautiful baby girl held by the appearance of a loving couple. Do those who create an outwardly stable and upward mobile environment become the best in the field of causing children to feel loved?  Could there be a connection between love and the administration of care provided?

   What of the young child bride of the experienced young rancher whom we have had the pleasure of hosting from the West Coast of Mexico? Will she be the one who lacked raising love from caring mother and father. Will she become a nurturing mother by the modeling of her mother. Will she have a husband of whom she could point her children's hardest questions too?   

   Wandering back from the beach, taking a shortcut through the property where our coach is parked were these three young gentlemen. It seems as if they have a loving big brother who took them to the beach or... What will be their way to go should their growing aura be lost in distrust and infighting of the family? Is the mother there when they return home? Is the father a hard working man who still has time to talk to his sons? Are these those who will grow up lacking no love?

   And this young, smiling face named Keith who speaks no English yet mastered the games on my Blackberry within an hour enters the equation. Is he from a broken home? Does he sleep under the same roof as Mom and Dad or is he shuffled off because of tearful circumstances to Uncles and Aunts who have one more hungry mouth to feed?  How will he adjust if he is the one who is bankrupt of familial love when coming to manhood?

Of a truth, knowing all the stories above except for the three boys coming from the beach, only one is in a stable environment and of those who are school age 2 have not even started their schooling. Yet can it be said that the one that the blogger thinks will approach adulthood with a banking account full of love and mercy, gratitude and responsibility is in reality the victim of the very cruel example of family hypocrisy? Much talk is said of Mother Earth and how all things are here for our learning and consumption but is there a Father Earth? 

The blogger heard his Biological Father quoting the book of books saying of the Omnipotent Father, "To the fatherless, I will be a father..."   Yet the blogger's earthly father has passed from this life and even though he was a young adult the rigidity of the earthly father left an void and empty direction.  The questions of the blogger adulthood were unable to be asked because they must be asked as they appear and the earthly father is now gone. So in quiet meditation the call for the Father of all Creation was called into the life of the young blogger for guidance. It was then that a superimposed thought came over the blogger's mind and it was this. "I will send an older man to take you by the hand and he will show you the way of life's twists and turns." Since that day there have been, at every turn of the road, in every imaginable circumstance, one who has been before me wherever the blogger is trying to go one who has befriended him and given direction.  The belief in mentoring has answered this question for the blogger yet it took the posing of the question of another fellow blogger to puzzle and bring forth the history of an overcoming of what felt to be an appearance of love yet was a raising that lacked love.

PS. To all the Older Men and Women who have had Fatherly advice, taking time to mentor, the blogger thanks you.

The Next Event

Nestled in the valley between the Rio Grande and the Mexican Border resides children of the hopeful. While crossing the Pharr International Bridge this past week my attention was again drawn to the pallet houses we, with our partners, supplied used Billboard signs for rooftops.  This negative environment housing those left behind by relatives seeking work in the United States had changed little or none at all. Yet the children still ran and played and waited on the next event.  Winter Texans, those who come south for the winter, daily cross the border from their safe RV's and take a few food staples and used clothing in past the watchful eyes of the border guards and drive the rough and often times, muddy roady down through the settlement to be greeted by hoardes of children running to the vehicles for a bright spot in their day.  A piece of candy, a t-shirt, a pair of shoes turns an uneventful day into the greatest!  As the dust of the exiting vehicles settles upon the road once again the children return to playing to await the next event. Not much thought about it, not much reflection, just moving on.

Ever on my mind are the grandkids.  They are seeking for a new event about every thirty seconds, it seems. Both with distinct personalities offer a view of the human race in its greatest search to be entertained. Playing happily can end abruptly with the next event bringing tears of true torture making all believe they are dying the quick death. And just as quick as the RV's came and went down that dusty border road it's over, tears are dried and it's play time again!

Today, I purposed in my philosophical mind, to become more like Jakie, Gracie and the rest of the children of the world and be ready for the next event coming down the dusty road bordering the positive and the negative. Changing the attention from the unhappy to the happy is but the flip of the switch and we are ready to swing wide the doors of reception for the next event. Who knows but it might be the one! No brooding, no reflecting on the painful, just moving on like the children of the hopeful.