The Median Sib

Beth, at Blue Star Chronicles, has an excellent post entitled “American Strength.” It is at once touching, sad and uplifting. Here are some highlights, but it’s worth clicking over to read the whole post.

An American Soldier was laid to rest today. He was eulogized, honored and buried with full Marine military honors.

The ceremony was spectacular and heartbreaking.

It’s the extraordinary common man who holds this country together. It’s the guy who loves his country, his family, his community and his God. It’s the wife who waits for him, understands him and loves him.You probably know these people. They are probably down the street from you, living in your community.

They are the threads that make up the fabric of American society and the cloth of the American Flag.

Copy the questions and provide your answers. Link back so we can see how far this goes. I’m not “tagging” anyone. Use the questions as one of your own posts, or not. Here are my answers:

Five to Get-To-Know-You Questions:

1. What was your favorite game as a child? Pick-Up Sticks and jacks
2. What’s the best thing about being you? My family
3. What’s your favorite meal of the day, and why? Dinner (or as we say in the south, supper) - because I usually eat dinner with someone else. The other meals are often solitary endeavors.
4. Would you rather be exceptionally smart or exceptionally good-looking? This is going to sound very shallow…but I’d choose exceptionally good-looking. OK, now after thinking about it a few minutes, I will change my mind and choose exceptionally smart. Of course my mother would say I’m already both - but she’s biased, to say the least.
5. How would you describe your underwear drawer? a little messy but basically organized

You might consider this a little cheesy, but I like it anyway. And since whatever I like ends up in THE MEDIAN SIB, I’m sharing it here with you.

I’ve written a couple times of attending a small church near where we are going to build our house. It’s a great place, and it has the friendliest and most welcoming people I’ve ever met in a church. The following was in yesterday’s church bulletin at Hillsboro United Methodist Church. (hat tip to Pastor Tom who got it from Betty H.) I thought it was clever and right on!

What equals 100%? What does it mean to give MORE than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%? What equals 100% in life? Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:

If: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8 + 1 + 18 + 4 + 23 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 98%

and

K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11 + 14 + 15 + 23 + 12 + 5 + 4 + 7 + 5 = 96%

But,

A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1 + 20 + 20 + 9 + 20 + 21 + 4 + 5 = 100%

AND,

look how far the love of God will take you
L-O-V-E-O-F-G-O-D
12 + 15 + 22 + 5 + 15 + 6 + 7 + 15 + 4 = 101%

Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that: While HARD WORK and KNOWLEDGE will get you close, and ATTITUDE will get you there, it’s the LOVE OF GOD that will put you over the top!