According to geologists, a continental divide exists on every continent except Antarctica. A continental divide is a border line, of sorts, between two watersheds, and, depending on which side of the dividing line a drop of water would fall (assuming no evaporation or absorption) that drop of water will eventually travel to one destination or the other.
In North America, the Continental Divide divides the flow of water between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. Rain or snow that melts on the east side of the divide flows toward the Atlantic Ocean while precipitation on the west side drains and flows toward the Pacific Ocean. The North American Continental Divide follows the Rocky Mountains from northwestern Canada to southwestern United States of America. It continues through the Sierra Madre’s in Mexico and on through the Andes in South America.
I think the United States of America is currently struggling with many watershed issues. Abortion, same sex marriages, immigration & economic issues, energy and educational crisis, and the ‘so called’ global warming issue all the while our country tries to prosecute an international war on terror. Our country is currently divided socially and politically along many different ideological lines and the average voting taxpayer will fall like rain and flow to one side or the other, and apparently, worlds apart, often times without much thought.
I find this an interesting because behind these issues are ideas. Ideas like ‘justice’ and ‘liberty’ and ‘rights’. Words like ‘choice’ and ‘life’ and ‘control’ take on different shapes and meanings to those who use them. I find myself taking notice of how careful and crafted news reports and political speeches are written and delivered. These topics are important and I struggle to know what I believe and why I believe it.
At the core of all the worlds’ tensions, are the ideas and those that would manipulate the ideas to bring about a particular result. That is the quest for power. The power to will, the power to dominate, and the power to control. By the way, this is not limited to seats of power in government, or church magistrates, or school boards . . . but also in the privacy of our own homes.
So what is my point today? Can tough questions have easy answers? Here are ten questions that I have been asking myself for the last 20 years or so.
10 QUESTIONS
Who am I?
Why am I here? (Alternate question . . does life have meaning and value?)
What does it mean to be a “human being”?
What is the nature (essence) of evil?
Why is their pain and suffering in the world (alternate question . . . why is their pleasure and joy in the world?)
Is there a God/god/gods?
What is God like?
Has God spoken?
Is there life after death? (Alternate question . . .Is this all there is?)
How can I know that I know anything? (Alternate question . . .What do I know for sure?)
Oh how I need to be brave and face these straight on. There are no red pills or blue pills to take. Life is what it is and all the wishful thinking cannot make it otherwise.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hannibal, MO
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, is regarded as one of America’s greatest writers. While he wrote many letters, essays and books, I am most familiar with his novels “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” & “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” which I find are just as fun to read now as when I was in 5th grade.
Hannibal is only a 2-3 hour drive from Saint Louis and varies a bit, as I found out, depending upon which road is chosen. Last Saturday we got up early and loaded up our SUV for a family outing. My own interest in the rediscovery of the writings of Mark Twain was infectious with my family and my wife suggested the day trip. She called and made sure the town was open to visitors as the Mississippi River had recently flooded many communities in Iowa and Northern Missouri.
We were well on our way up the Interstate and heading west when my wife asked me if I bothered to look at a map before we left. While I had a general idea of where we were going, I thought it best to answer her question in the affirmative. I bailed on the first exit that I came to that had a state highway that ran north and south. If you are keeping score at home, that would be Highway 79. We drove from town to town on a narrow and winding road. We were amazed to see the devastating effects of the recent flood. Some buildings right off the highway had mounds of sand bags stacked 8-10 feet around them. Other buildings showed an 8 to 10 foot mud stain on the side indicating severe property damage. Much of our drive towards Hannibal ran parallel to the Mississippi River and looking out our windows to the right, we could see the massive and mighty and very muddy river.
We arrived in Hannibal around 10:00am and decided to go for the one hour sightseeing tour on the Mark Twain riverboat. We had to wait for 30 minutes or so before we could baord so we just walked around the riverfront. We could see the flood damage first hand and it was not at all pretty. Dried mud was everywhere. The shrubs and grass and flowers that would have made the waterfront colorful in the spring and summer were wilted and brown. The dirt that had filled massive landscaped retaining walls had been liquefied and oozed out through the brickwork leaving huge sinkholes. The huge flood gates and levy had protected the downtown area leaving only the water front exposed to be ravished by the river.
The one hour excursion was a wonderful experience. It was heating up to be a very warm summer day and it was good to sit out on the deck and enjoy the weather and the scenery. It was interesting to hear that a cruise to Saint Louis from Hannibal would take 24 hours going downstream but to come back against the current, it would take almost a week.
After the cruise, we walked around downtown Hannibal and stopped at the Mark Twain dinette for lunch. We toured the historic boyhood home of Sam Clemens which has been turned into a museum. There is also the “Huckleberry Finn” house”, the “Becky Thatcher” house, the “J.M. Clemens Justice of the peace” office, and “Grant's Drug Store”.
We also went to walk through the Mark Twain cave before we left that afternoon for our drive back home, this time using Highway 61. The ‘straight and level’ four lane expressway allowed us to return to St Louis in nearly half the time. I have to remember that for next time. .
Oh yes, while browsing the gift shop I noticed many of Mark Twain’s books were available for purchase. One particular title caught my eye . . . it was called “Life on the Mississippi”. I purchased the book and made another note to myself to change the title of my blog.
Hannibal is only a 2-3 hour drive from Saint Louis and varies a bit, as I found out, depending upon which road is chosen. Last Saturday we got up early and loaded up our SUV for a family outing. My own interest in the rediscovery of the writings of Mark Twain was infectious with my family and my wife suggested the day trip. She called and made sure the town was open to visitors as the Mississippi River had recently flooded many communities in Iowa and Northern Missouri.
We were well on our way up the Interstate and heading west when my wife asked me if I bothered to look at a map before we left. While I had a general idea of where we were going, I thought it best to answer her question in the affirmative. I bailed on the first exit that I came to that had a state highway that ran north and south. If you are keeping score at home, that would be Highway 79. We drove from town to town on a narrow and winding road. We were amazed to see the devastating effects of the recent flood. Some buildings right off the highway had mounds of sand bags stacked 8-10 feet around them. Other buildings showed an 8 to 10 foot mud stain on the side indicating severe property damage. Much of our drive towards Hannibal ran parallel to the Mississippi River and looking out our windows to the right, we could see the massive and mighty and very muddy river.
We arrived in Hannibal around 10:00am and decided to go for the one hour sightseeing tour on the Mark Twain riverboat. We had to wait for 30 minutes or so before we could baord so we just walked around the riverfront. We could see the flood damage first hand and it was not at all pretty. Dried mud was everywhere. The shrubs and grass and flowers that would have made the waterfront colorful in the spring and summer were wilted and brown. The dirt that had filled massive landscaped retaining walls had been liquefied and oozed out through the brickwork leaving huge sinkholes. The huge flood gates and levy had protected the downtown area leaving only the water front exposed to be ravished by the river.
The one hour excursion was a wonderful experience. It was heating up to be a very warm summer day and it was good to sit out on the deck and enjoy the weather and the scenery. It was interesting to hear that a cruise to Saint Louis from Hannibal would take 24 hours going downstream but to come back against the current, it would take almost a week.
After the cruise, we walked around downtown Hannibal and stopped at the Mark Twain dinette for lunch. We toured the historic boyhood home of Sam Clemens which has been turned into a museum. There is also the “Huckleberry Finn” house”, the “Becky Thatcher” house, the “J.M. Clemens Justice of the peace” office, and “Grant's Drug Store”.
We also went to walk through the Mark Twain cave before we left that afternoon for our drive back home, this time using Highway 61. The ‘straight and level’ four lane expressway allowed us to return to St Louis in nearly half the time. I have to remember that for next time. .
Oh yes, while browsing the gift shop I noticed many of Mark Twain’s books were available for purchase. One particular title caught my eye . . . it was called “Life on the Mississippi”. I purchased the book and made another note to myself to change the title of my blog.
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