Yes, the end is near, if you’re talking about the year 2012. Many people I know have taken off the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Of course those I speak of have built up vacation and seniority in order to accomplish such a feat, they work in the corporate world, factories or they are teachers. But those with jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, police and emergency facilities, hotels, food establishments, the transportation industry or any retail business know that they must be open to meet their customer’s needs.
It’s ironic that the service oriented world we know never sleeps, but if we had government jobs in Washington D.C. we might discover how easy it is to knock off for the holidays. I’m not going to bash our President and the Congress nor am I living in fear of the “Fiscal Cliff”. I believe they’ll put a band-aid on the fiscal problem and life will resume. The tax payer will be told what the new rules are to obey and the media will find another topic to exacerbate because that’s the way the way of the world.
We survived the Mayan calendar predictions of the end of the world, but alas that final day will indeed come for each of us. Some people talked about making big purchases knowing they wouldn’t have to pay their bills since the world was going to end. Of course, that wasn’t too well thought out since they too would not be around to enjoy their purchases if the world really did end (and since the world didn’t end those bills are now due).
Throughout history there have been innumerable predictions as to when the end of the world will be. Personally I’ve survived at least six such prediction dates. But seriously since we are aware that no one gets out of this world alive why aren’t we more prepared for our final day? Perhaps the best response regarding the end of the world came from St. Francis of Assisi who was asked, while hoeing in a garden of beans, “What would you do if you knew the world would end today?”
Calmly he replied, “I suppose I would finish hoeing this row of beans.”
I personally love his response because it showed his understanding of the importance of work and the commitment necessary to complete tasks. His response also showed his preparation for the end of his life. He didn’t have a bucket list or regrets. His answer revealed his peacefulness. Of course St. Francis was not living in twenty first century, nor the USA. But if he had been living here and now I think his answer would be the same based on his character. Something to strive for, don’t you think? Congratulations to Rodney Christman who became Ansonia’s new fire chief. Also congratulations to Daily Advocate for their national award winning website and most recently winning first place for their photo submission online contest.
Congratulation to the Versailles bowling teams as they finished week 5. Presently the Boys Varsity is 3-2; Girls Varsity is 5-0; Boys JV is 4-1; Girls JV is 1-4.
Healing prayers and get well wishes to Brian Voisard, Phyllis Collins, Ron Kramer, Samantha Smith, Tom Magoto, Sr., Wilmer Bey, Connie Winner, Marlene McClurg, Carol Schuh, Donna Petitjean, Rusty Whittaker, Ann (George) Wehrley, Carolyn Poling, as well as those in need that are not mentioned by name.
Happy Birthday wishes to Madonna McEldowney, Esther Eiting, Joe Bulcher, Mary Ann Grilliot, Matt Magoto, Robert Scantland, Karen Bensman, and Rev. Keith Falk.
Hello to Angie Ruhenkamp, Bonnie Frantz, Kay Dapore, Cindy Lewis, Helen Witt, Mike Smith, .
My heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of Urban Diller and Joan Schellenbarg also remembering the lives of Carl Bey, Jacob Magoto, Yvette Groff, James Roeth, Gladys Francis, Anna Barga, Roberta Reinke, Norma Phlipot, Helen Monnin, Kathryn Steed, Paul Eilerman, Jerold Mulvaney and Donald Fullenkamp as the anniversary date of when they left this world approaches.
“The caterpillar calls the end of the world what the master calls a butterfly.” ~Richard Bach
“As to the exact day or hour, no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven nor even the Son, but only the Father” ~Matthew 13:32
“The world began without man, and it will end without him.” ~Claude Levi-Strauss
Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at magmon1@embarqmail.com or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.