SPLENDID — The June 12 dedication service at the beautiful new First Christian Church was a truly splendid and uplifting occasion.

Present were God’s people of varied ages, races, and church affiliations, as well as good folks from many different walks of life.

It was an affirmation that we all are — most surely — brothers and sisters. There was an abundance of love and goodwill, palpably so, present in that gathering.

TRULY SAD — In the past couple of months four of my high school classmates received their final promotion.

The Washington High School Class of ’57 had 111 members who walked across the stage at John Small School that balmy late spring evening, received their coveted diploma, then stepped into the future.

Our time together was over, but even as the ties that bound us may have frayed over the years, in our hearts — and in our memories — they were never severed.

It had been our time — our shared journey — uniquely so, as it is for each class in each generation.

Let us hope that in the journey to come we will all gather together again for a grand reunion in glory.

Let us so hope.

OBLIVIOUS — Steve Wozniak, computer pioneer, is quoted as saying “When we started Apple, Steve Jobs and I talked about how we wanted to make blind people as equal and capable as sighted people, and you’d have to say we succeeded when you look at all the people walking down the sidewalk looking down at something in their hands and totally oblivious to everything around them!” (AARP Bulletin June 2016)

BECAUSE IT’S SO — “Dr. —, do you know why so many people like you?”

“Well. No. Why do you think that’s so?”

“Because you make people feel good about themselves.”

It’s true, Richard.

See you back here next Tuesday.