September 17, 2012
Claire turns 17
Good morning! It's back to school and back to work! Today's is Claire's 17th Birthday! 17 on the 17th! Happy Birthday Claire!
I dropped the older four off at their schools. I stopped by Cafe on the Oval for a quick breakfast before heading to the office. Listened to this CD on the drive down. Inspiring story. Michelle dropped Timothy off at school and is about to teach her Step and Abs class at the Y.
Caught up with Michelle as I was walking over to the cafeteria. She had a good class this morning and is getting things ready for Claire's birthday cake tonight. It's gorgeous weather outside today.
Left work around 6 o'clock. Listened to the rest of that CD and then to This Week in Tech #371 the rest of the commute. I have to eat a quick dinner and head out to an Opus Dei Circle.
Back home from tonight's Opus Dei Circle. Tonight's talks: the story of the Centurion and humility. It also included a story of the famous Eddystone lighthouse. (see below) Went downstairs to see how Claire was holding up with still doing homework and again wished her a happy birthday.
The famous Eddystone lighthouse off the coast of Cornwall, England, was first built in a fanciful way, by the learned and eccentric Winstanley. On its sides he put various boastful inscriptions. He was very proud of his structure, and from his lofty balcony used boldly to defy the storm, crying, “Blow, O winds! Rise, O ocean! Break forth, ye elements, and try my work!” But one fearful night the sea swallowed up the tower and its builder.
The lighthouse was built a second time of wood and stone by Rudyard. The form was good, but the wood gave hold for the elements and the builder and his structure perished in the flames. Next the great Smeaton was called. He raised a cone from the solid rock upon which it was built, and riveted it to the rock; as the oak is fastened to the earth by its roots. From the rock of the foundation he took the rock of the superstructure. He carved upon it no boastful inscription like those of Winstanley, but on its lower course he put, “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it;” and its keystone, above the lantern, the simple tribute, “Laus Deo!” and the structure still stands, holding its beacon light to storm-tossed mariners.
“The centurion sent friends to tell him,
‘Lord, do not trouble yourself,
for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.
Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you;
but say the word and let my servant be healed.’ ” — Luke 7