Building Bridges, Forging Connections, and Establishing Positive Relationships

I have been blessed and overwhelmed by all the congratulations and affirming comments I have received since being inducted into the School District of Milton’s Wall of Honor last Thursday night. In a perfect world I could convey my appreciation and thanks to all these people individually. That, however, seems nearly impossible to me so I will cover as many as possible here in this Espresso Shots post. To that end, I am posting here a scaled-down version of my acceptance comments given at the ceremony last Thursday night.

Several months ago, when I first heard about the Wall of Honor concept for our school district, I was very pleased. I love the concept, but never in my wildest imagination did I ever entertain the idea that I might be nominated and selected as an honoree. When I was informed I had been nominated and selected for this year’s induction. I was completely overwhelmed with surprise and emotion but, oh, so highly honored.

Taking nothing away from any individual inductees, I see The Wall of Honor as a community building concept – a clear example of working collaboratively and collectively to create a synergy - a situation where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

I refer to myself as a Community Catalyst. If nothing else, it creates a great conversation starter. So, what is a catalyst?  Return to your chemistry days where there is a proven way to make change happen faster: Catalysts convert air into fertilizer and petroleum into bike helmets. But most intriguing is the way they generate change. Add a catalyst. Instead of adding heat or pressure, a catalyst provides an alternate route, reducing the amount of energy required for reactions to occur. Here’s the important part for me – rather than pushing, catalysts remove barriers.

I believe I invest time intentionally and diligently to build bridges and remove barriers across the community. How do I accomplish this. We don’t have the time tonight, but I believe a couple of thoughts are worth sharing.

I was fortunate to have Earl & Mabel, parents of extremely high standards, incredible values, significantly deep faith, and exemplary work ethic. As a child and teenager, I’m not sure I totally appreciated this and I’m sure I railed against what I saw then as restrictions and limitations. Now at age 73 and reflecting, I was and am so fortunate.

As I transitioned to adulthood, my life was transformed by the presence and influence of positive mentors and advocates. Professors at Milton College were an initial part of this posse. Several others are sitting in this room tonight. It seems I was unconsciously competent – I could do a variety of things quite well but didn’t really understand all that went into that. Apparently, these people saw something positive and chose to affirm, nurture, and encourage me. Because of these positive influences, I left my initial chosen field of school teaching and entered the world of corporate human resources (we used to call it personnel). I found a successful career where I spent nearly 40 years.

Because of these positive encouraging influencers, I began to move from unconscious competence to conscious competence. HR was a good fit, and I was learning why and how to become better. This wasn’t always easy. I needed correction and guidance often, but these people were masters of this. The organizations for which I worked also made clear the necessity of being intentionally and actively involved in helping make the community better and stronger.

Oh, the power of positive affirmation. In my strong opinion, we must catch people doing things right and then affirm them in these behaviors. Whether it’s students with grades & activities, elected officials, volunteers, salesclerks, police officers, teachers, administrators, pastors, or whomever – positive affirmation is powerful. Never, never underestimate the positive influence you can be.

Careers and community involvement are nearly impossible without strong family support.  Sue and I dated in high school and are now in our 54^th year of marriage. Sue has always supported my career and community activities despite their sometimes inconvenience. My two adult daughters, Nicole and Amanda, along with their husbands, Tom and Leif are also strong supporters. Of course, my biker gang – Rising Red Hawks – Ivan, Gus, TJ and Emmit are part of that club as well.

Sue is an accomplished flower gardener – sometimes uses the tag – Dahlia Girl. She finds that applying her interest and craft in flowers is a great balancer.  I am, clearly, not a gardener of plants but I do consider my beloved community, Milton, my garden. It requires planting, watering, weeding, harvesting, and tending in a variety of ways. My family has supported me in this for years.

I was a young adolescent during the Folk Era. Peter, Paul, & Mary were a clear leading favorite. At the risk of implanting a song in your head that you may take to bed with you tonight, I offer you this brief sample.  The words go.

Inch by inch, row by row 

Gonna make this garden grow.

All it takes is a rake and a hoe

And a piece of fertile ground

 

Plant your rows straight and long.

Temper them with prayer and song.

Mother Earth (that’s Milton) will make you strong

If you give her love and care.

 

Inch by inch, row by row

Someone bless these seeds I sow.

Someone warm them from below

Till the rain comes tumbling down

(This song has been covered by many, many artists. This link will take you to the version I like. If you decide to view it, please watch for the kids’ reactions. After all, are we all investing in them and their futures? You may also simply search YouTube for Peter, Paul, & Mary – The Garden Song.            ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHhRyjwYnX0)

Kari asked, “What would I like my legacy to be?” This baffled me for a bit, but I have settled on this – I would like to be remembered as a positive “character” in my community.

Thank you for this honor and for your attention this evening. I will conclude with a quote from a favorite author, Wallace Stegner. This is from one of his essays written for the PBS program, This I believe -

“I will certainly never do as much with my life as I want to, and I shall sometimes fail miserably to live up to my conscience, whose word I do not distrust even when I can’t obey it. But I am terribly glad to be alive; and when I have wit enough to think about it, terribly proud to be an American, with all the rights and privileges that these words connote; and most of all I am humble before the responsibilities that are also mine. For no right comes without a responsibility, and being born luckier than most of the world’s millions, I am also more obligated.”  

To all of you well-wishers - Thank you soooo… much!  This honor means more to me than I know how to express.

What a great community!

#CRUZAN4MILTON#WEAREMILTON

 

 

 

  

Feels Like Home To Me

Already, two weeks have come and gone since Milton’s great Independence Day Holiday Weekend Celebration. For me, this special time generated much reflection and introspection on a variety of levels.

For a small, but growing city, Milton sure seems to have a “lock” on how to celebrate this most meaningful holiday. There is a great deal of history that has brought us to this point – history filled with countless moving parts, and untold volunteer hours. The array of attractions and activities covers multigenerational age groups. What fun, but also, what a testament to community – to individuals, organizations, school groups, merchants, governmental bodies, all working cooperatively to provide a class act for all citizens and residents. This does not just happen, especially in our fragmented world. I believe we can be proud that, as a community, we have discovered ways of being together that make Milton such a wonderful place to live, work, raise children, and grandchildren. The multiplicity of Schilberg Park activities was phenomenal. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of our merchants, school groups, and other vendors there.

The Optimist Run has long standing memory for me. In ancient history, I used to run the 10-K but no more. For many, many years now, my brother-in-law (and good friend), Brian Bliese and I, as timers, have had the privilege of working at the very start of the race and then hightailing it to the finish line so that we can welcome those first miler finishers. This year we both enjoyed having a new generation - grandchildren (Toby, Tenley, and Gus) working with us. And so, it goes – the march of years.

The run is like a reunion. We greet and chat with people who have participated in this event for years. The volunteers in the results tent have done this for years as have those handling announcing the results and distributing ribbons and trophies.

I particularly like the picture below from this year’s event. In it you see the finish line. I am back-to in the black shirt (#milton pride) and Brian is on my right. On the other side of the street is Skip Drew. Skip and I are high school classmates and all three of us are Milton College graduates as is long-time Race Director and Municipal Judge, Kris Koeffler – Yes, The Spirit Lives. Also in this picture are the first mile finishers about ready to cross the line. The leader is my grandson, Ivan, and neck & neck with him is his friend Braden. The run is tradition, connection, & fun. It is also “give back” and helping young people grow. If you want & expect a vibrant and connected community that’s just what you do.

Milton’s July 4^th parade is also iconic. It’s a time for families and friends to reunite and rekindle important relationships. It’s a time for reminiscing, for catching up and renewing. The pride and celebration are palpable as, carried by our local veterans, our Stars & Stripes lead the way. This is always a respectful and honorable moment as spectators stand and salute and pure emotion creeps into every throat. Our two school bands are always popular, and nostalgia runs rampant as many spectators remember their own marching days gone by.

Our phenomenal fireworks display closes out the day and just like that it’s July 5^th. The carnival is gone, the special traffic direction signs are gone, the blankets and tarps have disappeared from the Madison Avenue terraces and those white directional arrows painted on the roads to guide the runners begin to fade. Miltonites return to their normal jobs, routines, and processes.

But something does remain – the spirit of community, camaraderie, working together, pride of place – all these gain oxygen and become stronger.

On July 6, I experienced an additional shot of reflection and contemplation. Like many others, I am in rotation to deliver Meals on Wheels. My turn comes up something like every six weeks, so it is certainly not onerous. What a great program. People who have challenges that prevent them from getting out have a nutritious meal delivered to their door. Not only does this provide essential dietary needs but also a point of social connection – a check in - that is likely just as important as the food. It is heartening for me to realize that Meals on Wheels or similar variations take place across the United States. Talk about community and connection!

As I was delivering meals on the 6^th, I drove by the Middle School and noticed a new wording on their front lawn sign. I went by too quickly to read it carefully so, when my deliveries were complete, I drove down there to take a close look. What I saw is in the second picture. I had to stop and catch my breath. What a phenomenal sentiment and salute to our students – “our kids.”  It made me think of these words which are credited to Charles Schwab. “I’ve yet to find the man, however exalted in his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under the spirit of criticism.” Great sentiment for anyone in a supervisory or leadership role. In my work with our great school system, I consistently see our teachers, administrators, and staff members implementing this philosophy in their daily activities. Thank you, Tara & Ben, for your leadership at our Middle School and for providing our community with this great salute to our kids.

Because Milton is and does feel like home to me, I pledge to use this July 4^th “shot in the arm” to continue to find new ways to be together in community, to bridge differences with integrity, to relate with love and respect and thereby continue to help Milton on its journey to being even better than it already is. I invite you to join me.

#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON

 

 

 

Dear Milton, Our Mother, Fair Milton, All Hail !

Dear, Milton, Our Mother, Fair Milton, All Hail!

The words above, while quite formal, speak eloquently to my feelings about this community in which I am privileged to live, work, and raise children and grandchildren. They are borrowed from the song, “Our Colors”, written about Milton College in 1911 by William C. Daland.

I reflect often about this community and its influence on me for the past 57 years. It has been incredibly positive for so many reasons. While we have our differences and don’t always see eye, we generally come around to be able to work for the common good.

Foremost in my mind today are two very recent issues of which I am being “nudged” to share my thoughts here. One is very general and very public. The other can be very general but is also very personal and, while a bit embarrassing, needs to be told for reasons which, I believe, will become obvious as you read on.

First the more general issue. I continue to be amazed by the absolutely phenomenal services we residents receive from our public works department. So obvious the past few days is the significant effort to clean up fallen leaves from our streets before major snowfall. Some years, this is unavoidable as we mere humans don’t control when the leaves fall or when the first major snowfall arrives. The resulting mess - frozen leaf-packed snowbanks on the edges of our yards next to the street is nasty. Kudos to Mark Langer and your outstanding staff that make all this work.

The more personal issue concerns my own behavior yesterday. I was driving west on East High Street, very prudently I thought. Recently, prodded by the new “radar signs” that display my speed, I have been concentrating on adhering closely to the 25 MPH limit on almost all our city streets. I understand this, agree with it, and most of the time comply. I believe that these regulations are not “just signs”, as I ‘ve heard some say, but are safety laws for the protection of us all. Many of you would not want to be behind me on the interstate as I set my cruise at the posted limit and then try to stay out of the way in the right lane. I can feel the impatience of many as they literally fly around me. Quite frankly, I feel the impatience from fellow citizens when I am driving 30 on Madison Ave. and 25 on our other streets. But, I digress.

Today, on my westward drive from my house on E. High St. to Hometown Ace, a police car appeared in my rearview mirror, and I felt I was being assessed. I checked my speed but that was okay. Sure enough, the red and blues illuminated, and I pulled over near the Cone Zone. An officer cautiously approached and very politely and professionally asked if I was feeling okay. I replied that I was. He then asked if there was a reason why I had not stopped at the stop sign by the high school and Rainbow Drive. I was flabbergasted as I didn’t even realize I had missed this stop. How many millions of times have I driven this street and always stopped? I hadn’t this day and didn’t even realize it. I do believe they call that “distracted” driving. My mind was elsewhere. I was embarrassed, felt foolish, and more as visions of what might possibly have happened because of my distractedness. Dwell on that thought a bit. We all need to.

I was given a verbal warning and urged to be alert and obey stop signs, especially in school zones during school time.

I was angry but only with myself. I applaud this officer, whose name I failed to get, who did his duty and apprehended me. And he did it in an incredibly professional manner. Chief Marquardt, I applaud you and your staff for all that you do to keep us safe.

Thank you to our city protectors. I am comforted knowing I am being protected (maybe from myself) by your diligence and service.

Next week we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. I am so grateful for this vivid reminder of the incredibly rich lives we enjoy in Milton, Our City.

Dear Milton, Our Mother, Fair Milton, All Hail!

#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON

Historic Grounds Create Community Grind

Last Christmas I was given a most interesting and unique gift – a subscription to Storyworth. What is Storyworth? A business that provides a writing prompt weekly. The idea is to write a short story and publish it on the Storyworth website where a group of people you select may read it. At the end of a year, all your stories are published in a very nice hard-bound book. It’s a great concept which I have enjoyed although I cannot keep pace with a weekly story. Also, in case you have failed to notice, I tend to be rather wordy in my writing where Storyworth seems to lend itself to shorter, more concise entries. I don’t believe there are rules about this but that is my take. My most recent prompt was, Am I a Regular at any Restaurant or Café? I published my story on Storyworth but felt an urge to broaden it out a bit and publish it in Espresso Shots where it would have more broad exposure. So here it is... 

I never thought about having a “regular” place that I considered mine until Sharla’s Coffee Stop came along. Of course, there were places I liked to go but nothing that approached my feelings about Sharla’s.

So, what is the attraction? Oh, so many things. . . to begin, the proprietors, Dave & Sharla, are wonderful people. I struck a bond with them quickly on the first day they opened.

The location is incredibly perfect for several reasons. Sharla’s is in Whitford Hall, one of the precious old buildings on the Historic Milton College Campus. The rooms they occupy were formerly the college and community library. The walls, windows, wainscoting, and flooring are all original. The history is palpable as you sit and savor great espresso-based beverages, freshly baked scones, muffins, cinnamon rolls, and breads. Even more, there are a variety of beverage offerings for those non-coffee drinkers.

I should mention that Sharla’s is a mere 250 steps from my driveway. My home office window has a perfect view of their great patio. Additionally, Sue and I have significant ties to Milton College for a host of reasons – the place is in our bones. A great coffee shop just seems “right.”

Our phenomenal city, Milton, has no other small business like this. In fact, Sharla’s is the only “true” coffee shop with a 10-mile radius. Sharla’s has become a gathering place not only for those who live in my “home base” - the Milton College Historic Neighborhood, but also for the city and the broader area. The atmosphere at Sharla’s embodies neighborhood and community.

Milton schools and all those Rising Red Hawk students are very important to me. Dave and Sharla have embraced Milton High School’s, School to Career program, and hire many of our high school students. I so enjoy becoming acquainted with them and observing as they grow and learn about “adult world” working skills. Many have become friends. I know their names and they know mine along with my favorite coffee beverage when I walk in the door. We recognize and greet each other when our paths happen to cross at other events. I have become acquainted with their parents. Some have graduated and moved on but there is the occasional connection. OPPORTUNITY, ACHIEVMENT, COMMUNITY – a perfect example.

When I go to Sharla’s (some accuse me of living or having an office there) I encounter so many people whom I know from across the community and region. It’s the greatest location for a “meet-up” and serves so well the “work” that I do.  To me, Milton is like my garden. It requires planting, cultivating, watering, pruning, fertilizing - just like a garden. Sharla’s is the perfect place to do that.

Katie & Eric own the building. They and their family live in the top floor and operate a Cross Fit studio on the ground floor. They are good neighbors and great people. I love running into them there. Eric is on the City Council, so I get a chance to bend his ear a bit about our community. I see local shop owners there, Kate & Kelly, and many others. I see the library staff, Ashlee, Jayme, and their gang stopping in. I see Amber, Bill, and author Jim, from the neighborhood. I see Jessica, Ryan and many others from the school district, Keaton from the Historical Society, Doug from the Milton College Preservation Society, friends from my Mercy days, my spiritual coaches (I need many) Pastor Liz & Pastor Nate, and high school classmates. Sharla's has hosted community meetings, piano & voice recitals, high school study groups, knitting clubs, MOFIA – my men's Bible study group (you're welcome to join us at 6:30 a.m. every Wednesday), yoga, personal counseling, mutual support, and much more – the “stuff” of life as it were. I often encounter city council and school board members there.  True neighborhood and community building in action.

If you haven’t visited Sharla’s, you are missing so many good things that make and foster our community.

#cruzan4milton#WEAREMILTON

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dale, Charlotte, and The Rose

 Reflections on Dale and Charlotte’s Wedding

Sue and I were privileged to attend Dale and Charlotte’s lovely marriage ceremony late Sabbath afternoon on October 8, 2022. The setting was the intimate, semicircular, sanctuary of the LaGrange United Methodist Church.

The size, arrangement, and decoration of this room evoked emotional memories of my childhood and churches of which I was a member or had visited. Seeing Dale & Charlotte’s obvious happiness, and the same from the members of Dale’s and Charlotte’s families attending, added to my contented sense of peace. A talented pianist provided quiet selections as we were seated.

Sue and I were enjoying all of this in the pew directly behind Dale’s adult granddaughter, Emily and her parents, Pastor Matt and Ellen. I am not well acquainted with Emily having never spent much time around her, but I admire her evocative, demonstrative nature. Thus, I was most interested to observe her when the pianist began the song, The Rose. I perked-up immediately when I recognized the song and so did Emily – I could see and nearly feel the emotion of it flowing through her facial expresses and her entire body. I hadn’t thought of this great song being used at a wedding, so my mind was working on the words, trying to call them back. I was not entirely successful, so I looked up the lyrics.

THE ROSE

By songwriter – Amanda Mcbroom

Some say love, it is a river

That drowns the tender reed

Some say love, it is a razor

That leaves your soul to bleed

Some say love, it is a hunger

An endless aching need

I say love, it is a flower

And you, its only seed

It’s the heart afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance

It’s the dream afraid of waking

That never takes the chance

It’s the one who won’t be taking

Who cannot seem to give

And the soul afraid of dying

That never seems to live.

 

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snows

Lies the seed that with the sun’s love

In the spring becomes the rose.

Thank you, Emily, for the boost & nudge you gave me to reflect on this. Oh, to be able to write well! There are layers and layers of meaning here which I will leave for any of you to interpret for yourselves should you choose to do so. For me, these words so speak to Dale and the benign, loving, sincere person that is the Dale Green that I know. Barb also speaks to me through this song in a most comforting and blessing way

The ceremony itself was perfect. The happiness and good feeling in the room was palpable. This feeling continued at the lovely dinner that followed. A sense of family, of love, of life descended on me, and I can only say, it is, indeed, Well With My Soul.

Dale & Charlotte, congratulations and all the best as you begin this journey together.

 

Jon Cruzan – October 9, 2022

 

 

 

Once Upon the Wasatch

Sue and I are blessed to have four wonderful grandsons, two Sykora boys and two Murphy boys, living in our community. It has been our privilege to be active in their lives since their births. Thus, we are very comfortable with them and they with us. As they reached an appropriate age, we have made a practice of taking these boys on a vacation trip each year. We determined early on that the best pairing for these trips was cousins vs. brothers so one year it was TJ and Ivan and then the next year Emmit and Gus. Covid threw a wrench for a couple of years, but we returned to the rotation this August.

We began planning early in the year so, as it was TJ and Ivan’s year, we asked what they might like to do. Even though they live on the prairies of southern Wisconsin they fancy themselves mountain bikers. They have both built some “trails” on their respective homesteads. So, they wanted to go mountain biking and zeroed-in on southern Utah and Colorado. They had read about Moab and other similar locations so that’s where their heads were.

At this point I should insert that both boys, now nearly 13 and nearly 17, are good competent bikers. They have biked with Sue and I since they were quite young so know how to handle a bike and be comfortable riding. They are both athletes and are very fit. So, what’s the dilemma? Sue and I are road bikers with basically no interest or expertise in mountain biking nor do we have their fitness level (we are a tad older than they). How could we possibly make this work and feel safe for everyone concerned?

I have a youngish nephew in the Salt Lake City area. I knew he is an experienced mountain biker and rides often. I also knew he was familiar with the southern Utah/Colorado area. So, using the resources at my disposal, I reached out to this young man and asked his advice about the Moab area. He replied immediately that it would be beastly hot there in the summer, packed with people, and the trails were likely far more technical than those for which the boys, and certainly us were prepared for or capable of riding. Well, I was glad to know this, but it was a bit of a bummer until I read the next sentence in my nephew’s e-mail.

He strongly suggested that Park City – just 30 minutes from Salt Lake City – had many, many trails with which he was intimately familiar, beautiful mountains and much else to attract vacationers. But that’s just the introduction. He went on to say that if we did travel there, he would guide TJ and Ivan on the trails. And he even had a couple of bikes we might borrow if they sized-up correctly. While I still had some doubts and misgivings, this proposal seemed too good to pass up so set the dates and made the plans.

If you have tried to schedule two young athletes from two different families to leave town during the summer swim, baseball, camping season, you understand that challenge. However, that could be a blog on its own, so I won’t deal with that here. Suffice it to say we were able to squeak out 6 days – two of which would be flying time.

Off we went. I must add that this was the first time flying for TJ and Ivan and basically their first long major trip. It was so much fun watching their excitement and wide eyes at everything new they were experiencing. We had a very long first day of travel and didn’t arrive at Snow Blaze – our Air B & B – in Park City until 10 p.m. The accommodations turned out to be perfect for us and, as we discovered the next day, located most conveniently. We all collapsed in bed.

The following morning – our first day there – everyone was moving slow in the morning. I talked to my nephew on the phone, and we decided to not start the biking thing until the next day to give us time to replenish and acclimate at bit. We could see snow covered mountains from our windows and found it incredibly beautiful and glorious when we headed outside. We did the typical eating and shopping while gasping and exclaiming over the beauty of God’s nature we were experiencing firsthand. Checked out some bike shops and made rental arrangements for the next day.

My nephew drove up with full bike racks the next morning. He and I, with TJ and Ivan set out to try this mountain biking thing in the actual mountains. The grandeur is a challenge to describe – simply incredible. We pedaled gravel roads, dirt roads and then down hill mountain biking trails. The boys were in seventh heaven. I discovered that I enjoyed the gravel and dirt roads but didn’t really care for the downhill actual trail riding. Too many rocks, stumps, branches, berms, and all that mountain biking really is. In addition, the climbing and the altitude was kicking my butt. At one of our stoppings, I suggested to my nephew that, if he could direct me back, I would do that alone and he and the boys could continue riding – they were champing at the bit to get back at it. They went on and I headed back to Park City. I did arrive successfully but was beat – clocking 19 miles in that altitude and challenging climbs on a bike very different from my road buddy, Double Shot. The other three pedaled around quite a bit longer.

As in most experiences, I learned a lot. I discovered what mountain biking really was and why these two boys really liked it. We now had a common language and experience that drew us closer together and, for me, the light went on about this sport and all the things they had been talking about which I hadn’t really understood. This alone would have made the trip worthwhile, but it became so much more.

The boys could not stop talking about the biking they experienced that day. Never in their wildest imaginations could they have conjured the beauty, the trails, everything about being in this beautiful place.

I was concerned because I was sure my nephew had given us all the time he had available – nearly a full day. I knew that I could not duplicate the experience or even come close because I was not familiar with the trails, didn’t have the skill level to bike with boys, and would not have turned them loose by themselves.

And then the unexpected miracle occurred. My nephew gave these boys three more nearly full days (four total). He planned and participated in rides on a variety of trails and skill sets each day. Sue and I would help transport the bikes to the various trial heads and they would take off. Sue and I would then explore on our own by car or foot and plan to rendezvous with them at their ending point three of four hours later. Absolutely incredible.

Let me tell you about this nephew. I have been acquainted with him most of his life, but we never lived near each other, so we didn’t’ really know each other well. Sue and I attended his wedding three years ago in Salt Lake City and are sharing he and Emily’s joy on the arrival of their first child in the next few weeks. We enjoyed a great dinner out with them on this trip.

Those of you who are well acquainted with me realize that, after a forty-year career in corporate human resources, I am a student of human behavior and am always subtly observing it. Let me share my observations of my nephew on this trip.

This amazing young man is an Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. He is intelligent, vibrant, clearly engaged in his field of study and his students. He has participated in and/or led domestic and world-wide field studies with his students. He is well-read and is an excellent writer. He is anticipating fatherhood with great excitement.

I am so impressed after watching him with TJ and Ivan. On their first ride I could tell he was assessing their skills and abilities to determine where he could take them and how to ensure their safety. He did this unobtrusively. I don’t think they had a clue that this was what he was doing. He jumped in enthusiastically with them – he may well have been having as much or more fun than they were. He took great photos and videos of them. He talked their language and was instructional. I would love to observe this man in his college classroom – his students must be so taken with him. I liken TJ’s and Ivan’s biking experience with him to a semester abroad. They were immersed in mountain biking – an experience they will not soon forget if ever.

As I ponder the lessons of this trip for me, Sue, and the boys, I return again and again to the incredible generosity and love shown to us by this man. I had hoped for a couple of hours. He gave us the best part of four days. In the book, Walden, Henry David Thoreau states, “To affect the quality of the day – that is the highest of arts.” Peter Cruzan Lippert, you so positively affected the quality of our days in Park City. We thank you with our entire being.

Life Lessons at Rockport Pool

Today I received a totally unexpected shot of insight and inspiration. This occurred at 7 a.m. and, of all places for me, at a swimming pool. I can swim a bit but not well, so I am not really a water person.

However, this morning I was privileged to drive grandsons Emmit and TJ to their daily swim workout at Janesville’s beautiful Rockport Pool. They are part of the J-Hawk Aquatic team and are practicing at Rockport this summer. The team covers a wide age range, so the pool was full of young athletes. While the boys prepared themselves, I set up shop at an umbrella covered picnic table. I had my book, my notebook, a good Parker pen, and a thermos of coffee made at home with Dave’s Power Blend beans from Sharla’s. My thermos was a great insulated bottle given to me by my friend, Melissa. It is embossed with the Bible verse Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest,”

As I savored my coffee and perused the scene, I was awe stricken by a pool filled with young people (kids, as it were) enthusiastically swimming regimented laps in a variety of strokes. Every lane was full. Those kids were working hard but they were having fun. Yes, there was complaining but there was also much good- hearted repartee. So apparent was the hard work, the enthusiasm, the dedication, the discipline – all resulting in excellence. Little in life comes to us without developing these qualities. AND, for these kids, all of this at 7 a.m. on a Monday morning.

I was nearly overwhelmed with observing their lean, lithe, muscled bodies, their beautiful execution of strokes I cannot possibly do, their fitness level of being able to swim lap after lap while I lifted a cup of coffee a few times. They had accomplished more physical effort by 8:30 Monday morning than many of us will complete in a week.

My mind took me to some thoughts from author, Stephen Covey, who, in one of his books, discusses the concept of small private victories every day. I have found this to be a powerful motivator for me. I will not expound on it here but just consider what these kids could check off their lists by 8:30 on a Monday morning. What a start on the day and the week!

These reflections are not limited to swimming. They could be applied to any initiative in our lives. They are about small private victories that require us to be strong and courageous. I can’t do everything, but I can do something, i.e., get up a bit earlier, take a walk around the block or to the end of the driveway, do those stretches, cull those files, compose that draft, send someone a note, weed that flower bed.

Just imagine how fulfilled these kids must feel at the close of pool time. Yes, they would be tired but a contented, satisfied tired. I could hear their animation, their energy as it was spilling over onto me. It was 8:30 on Monday morning and they had accomplished so much already, more than many of us will accomplish the entire week.

So, this morning I was inspired and struck to my core about issues in my life. I don’t believe in coincidences. God put me at that pool early this morning for a reason. He gave me those kids to wake me up and inspire me. Thank you, J-Hawk swimmers, for the lesson you gave to me today.