The Last Lap…

THURS., NOV. 26, 1998, 5:51 AM
39,000 FT., HEADING EAST

After a short sleep you commence this Thanksgiving Day on an uncrowded large jet, bringing you closer to sunrise and, then, home. From My perspective it was a good venture, because you sought frequent Teachings… and you got a new supply of Our “favorite paper”. There wasn’t much contemplation, but the balance was almost good between accomplishing your list and just “being” in that pleasant, familiar place.

It was a pleasure to be in Paul’s class and even make some contribution. It was interesting to see Punahou in a “college-style”, but it doesn’t take away from the appreciation you have of your 32 years at SIU. I’ll reaffirm that Punahou was a fine place to start, but your career was “just right” in the balance of the three campuses and teaching tasks. And you know this…

It is fun and nostalgic to revisit Hawaii, but you now are heading home again, on your culture’s official feast-day and Day of Thanks. You can be thankful for both where you just have been and where you now enjoy your retirement years. You realize that your Dad had some fine retirement years both in Long Beach and in Honolulu, but now they are not enjoyable, and he wishes for death, to the extent that his mind can focus on “the future”. As you see him it is not a very wonderful picture of aging and the golden years. They are, with him, quite tarnished. (6:12 / 7:00 – In St. Louis airport).

As I have participated in the whole span of human history I can say that it is quite an accomplishment to fly over land and water for over 4,000 miles in less than 8 hours. It makes possible a visit with a sister and her family that far away and then a rapid return to your own family and Farm. Yet the development of such aircraft also make possible the destructive bombing of peoples even farther away from you. I see the whole picture of life, with much electronic equipment, and while I see the “efficiencies” I also don’t see life as being incredibly better.

This sun that you see “rising” to your right (and it is wonderful to see the sun as your earth moves to greet it), is the ultimate source of all the energy that makes this “new world” possible. In your culture, at this time, there would be a “put-down” of “sun worshippers”, but such recognition is closer to worship of Me than the homage paid to machines, even computers. The sun is My Creation, as well as the Earth, at just the right distance to make for ideal living conditions for humans and the whole web that is necessary for human existence and health. I have stopped some modern “developments”, but I have allowed some of which I don’t fully approve. Yes, we shall see how modern culture adapts to the Y2K challenge of the new millennium soon to arrive. I am counting on human ingenuity and energy to prevail so that suffering is minimal, but, as I have told you I am more in favor of simple living.

You finally do appreciate the need for new, modern, high tech buildings, but you also had a yearning for the buildings and conditions of 50 years ago when you first came to Punahou. Such feelings are fairly natural for those of your age, but it also is honest to appreciate that opening the windows was quite an adequate way to keep the teaching task pleasant (even with “blowing papers”).

Yet there is a natural rise and fall of almost everything in this earth of Mine. Alexander Hall remains pretty much as it was (except for carpeted floors, a nice touch), but Bishop is incredibly different from the picturization of your old shirt. You can remember when your Dad was vigorous and capable… painting the old house, walking Thomas Square… but now you see him deteriorating, with no possibility of rejuvenation, here on earth. Symbolically, he has “passed on” his vigor and capacities to you, his son, and you on to your sons. New buildings take the place of the old, and younger humans take over for the old.