Sunday Musings – June 4, 2017
Welcome to the table
Last Sunday I returned from my niece’s graduation celebration in the Denver area. Monday being a holiday was a good day to play catchup and to let the experience of the weekend become more integrated into my being. Otherwise my immediate life was very routine as was the case, I am sure, for most people. Writing, working with/for people, home chorettes, time with friends, and basic health filled most days. Certainly, I am aware of national and international news - of the achievements and the struggle of us humans to learn to work and live together. There are many who were directly affected by violence this week – violence of mother nature, violence borne out of personal slights or perceived slights, and violence borne out of a belief that one is doing the will of God, Allah, democracy, human rights, or for some other righteous cause.
Yet, to be honest, as is true for many, if not most of us humans, much of my energy and attention was reserved for the people and events which most directly touched or affected the small circle in which I live my life. The highlight within this circle was the Wheeling Hall of Fame induction and dinner celebration held last evening at the local Wesbanco Arena. The ordinance establishing the Wheeling Hall of Fame reads as follows:
“A hall of fame to honor Wheeling citizens and former citizens for outstanding accomplishments in all walks of life shall be established in the Wheeling Civic Center…For purposes and selection and designation, the human endeavors shall be divided into the six major categories:
(1) Music and Fine Arts (4) Sports and Athletics
(2) Business and Industry (5) Public Service
(3) Education and Religion (6) Philanthropy”
As an adopted son of Wheeling and a person who adopted Wheeling only when I well into my fourth decade of life, I was amazed to realized that I had some connection with several of the honorees, their families and the board members of the Hall of Fame. I also was aware of the warm greeting I received by many who were there to honor those being inducted into the hall of fame. Again, I was reminded that Wheeling and the surrounding tristate area has become home for me. For this I am most grateful.
What I was most aware of last evening was the extent to which the honorees – past and present – have holistically nourished many of us living in the Ohio Valley. If one is to have a vibrant, life giving and not life taking community all of the citizens must be fed physically, nutritionally, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and financially. Although Wheeling is a reflection of the United States as a whole and, as such, is sometimes slow to be as inclusive as my understanding of spiritual morality would demand, it is a work in progress. This implies that as Bob Dylan would say “the times they are a changing”. The richness which has been offered to a select group is gradually being extended to more of the community.
Have said this, my experience and knowledge of several of those who were inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame and what I learned of others, affirms that there have been some who have long recognized and tirelessly worked to ensure that the day would arrive who all the citizens of this community would be seated at the table to be fed emotionally, spiritually, physically, nutritionally, financially and culturally. Last night, those presenting the inductees and those accepting for the inductees affirmed this fact.
The current major Glenn Elliott; the powerfully wise and gentle Margaret Brennen; the unassuming Chuck Saad; the singer Molly Obrien who challenges us to be our best while feeding our soul; the business man, J. Ross Felton, whose guiding principle was to use business to enrich the life of all those in the community; Fred Stamp and his wife Joan who lead with their hearts in creating and supporting the arts while working for a new understanding of justice: the work of the historic preservationist Betty Wood Nutting; the one who would with his art beat swords into plowshares, Robert Vallamagna; the electrical engineer, Harry Sands and his wife Hellen who perfected the art of guiding through giving and, thus, continue to feed many literally and spiritually at Sandscrest Retreat Center, and the doctor, John Fissell, whose creative talent brought innovations in healing techniques and facilities along with a host of others in this community have brought their offerings to the table for all to be fed.
As humans, we always, of course, fall short. Yet, if we keep adding places at the table we will, as a work in progress, continue on this journey of rebirth; this journey of reaching for the best within us as individuals and as a village. This, we can do. This we must do.
Written June 4, 2017
Welcome to the table
Last Sunday I returned from my niece’s graduation celebration in the Denver area. Monday being a holiday was a good day to play catchup and to let the experience of the weekend become more integrated into my being. Otherwise my immediate life was very routine as was the case, I am sure, for most people. Writing, working with/for people, home chorettes, time with friends, and basic health filled most days. Certainly, I am aware of national and international news - of the achievements and the struggle of us humans to learn to work and live together. There are many who were directly affected by violence this week – violence of mother nature, violence borne out of personal slights or perceived slights, and violence borne out of a belief that one is doing the will of God, Allah, democracy, human rights, or for some other righteous cause.
Yet, to be honest, as is true for many, if not most of us humans, much of my energy and attention was reserved for the people and events which most directly touched or affected the small circle in which I live my life. The highlight within this circle was the Wheeling Hall of Fame induction and dinner celebration held last evening at the local Wesbanco Arena. The ordinance establishing the Wheeling Hall of Fame reads as follows:
“A hall of fame to honor Wheeling citizens and former citizens for outstanding accomplishments in all walks of life shall be established in the Wheeling Civic Center…For purposes and selection and designation, the human endeavors shall be divided into the six major categories:
(1) Music and Fine Arts (4) Sports and Athletics
(2) Business and Industry (5) Public Service
(3) Education and Religion (6) Philanthropy”
As an adopted son of Wheeling and a person who adopted Wheeling only when I well into my fourth decade of life, I was amazed to realized that I had some connection with several of the honorees, their families and the board members of the Hall of Fame. I also was aware of the warm greeting I received by many who were there to honor those being inducted into the hall of fame. Again, I was reminded that Wheeling and the surrounding tristate area has become home for me. For this I am most grateful.
What I was most aware of last evening was the extent to which the honorees – past and present – have holistically nourished many of us living in the Ohio Valley. If one is to have a vibrant, life giving and not life taking community all of the citizens must be fed physically, nutritionally, emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and financially. Although Wheeling is a reflection of the United States as a whole and, as such, is sometimes slow to be as inclusive as my understanding of spiritual morality would demand, it is a work in progress. This implies that as Bob Dylan would say “the times they are a changing”. The richness which has been offered to a select group is gradually being extended to more of the community.
Have said this, my experience and knowledge of several of those who were inducted into the Wheeling Hall of Fame and what I learned of others, affirms that there have been some who have long recognized and tirelessly worked to ensure that the day would arrive who all the citizens of this community would be seated at the table to be fed emotionally, spiritually, physically, nutritionally, financially and culturally. Last night, those presenting the inductees and those accepting for the inductees affirmed this fact.
The current major Glenn Elliott; the powerfully wise and gentle Margaret Brennen; the unassuming Chuck Saad; the singer Molly Obrien who challenges us to be our best while feeding our soul; the business man, J. Ross Felton, whose guiding principle was to use business to enrich the life of all those in the community; Fred Stamp and his wife Joan who lead with their hearts in creating and supporting the arts while working for a new understanding of justice: the work of the historic preservationist Betty Wood Nutting; the one who would with his art beat swords into plowshares, Robert Vallamagna; the electrical engineer, Harry Sands and his wife Hellen who perfected the art of guiding through giving and, thus, continue to feed many literally and spiritually at Sandscrest Retreat Center, and the doctor, John Fissell, whose creative talent brought innovations in healing techniques and facilities along with a host of others in this community have brought their offerings to the table for all to be fed.
As humans, we always, of course, fall short. Yet, if we keep adding places at the table we will, as a work in progress, continue on this journey of rebirth; this journey of reaching for the best within us as individuals and as a village. This, we can do. This we must do.
Written June 4, 2017
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