One More Beat in the Heart of Humanity / Remembering Werner Bendorf / School Calendar

One of the greatest
Love Stories,
is you.

What a Gift
you are.

You are an Earth Angel
with your Compassion and sharing
for the good of all people.
Blessings abound
with of Goodness 
of you.

Great Healing
in this Life,
can come from
you.
.
The weight of pain
carried by so many others,
can be lifted,
by the Hope
shared in your Smiles,
and the music
in your manner.

Remembering
the Beautiful past 
makes you Smile,
while remembering it will never happen
again.
.
The past has passed,
and there are precious moments
that will always be longed for,
and
will always belong to
you.

It helps to understand,
and it heals our state of Being,
 to know how our thinking
is influencing our emotions.

To start Loving Life
again,
Loving Nature,
Loving every Living Being,
there is something
only Prayer can do.

A Masterpiece of Feeling
can carry you through the Moonlit Night,
through the Silver Clouds on high,
and past the dark sky,
as you marvel at Life
on the Earth.
.
Let your Heart
Dream of Joy
and Hope
for a Beautiful Tomorrow.

 As Prayer is
answered,
and the Love of God
touches your Heart,
wipe the tears from your
eyes.

If you are so hurt
now,
express the Love of God
to those that surround you.
.
 You will feel
the Power of His Love
flow through your gentle words.

Give Thanks
to the Lord
and everyone you meet,
for the Life you Live,
and the Blessings that abound.
Your Love,
like the Love of God,
will Live Forever.

Your precious Spirit
will give Peace, Love,
and Hope and Happiness.

The Love of God
that Flows through your precious
Heart,
will provide pure Brilliance
and Blessings
to all.

It
is so Wonderful
to remind everyone,
that
Life can be so Beautiful.

Love
in its simplicity,
captures our awareness,
and makes our Hearts
fly.
.
Listen
to your Sacred Heart
with feeling,
and you will realize
that it is talking with your
Soul.

The Sacred Feelings
of your beating Heart,
speak all the words unsaid,
buried deep within
a Life
waiting to be fully alive,
to Truly be Lived.
with feelings longing
to see the Light.

Your Love
brings a Transcendence
to the Beauty
of this World.

We
are never sure
whether our Lives melt
into the paintings of what is real
around us,
or the paintings just float and melt
into the Lives we Live.

Perhaps,
our thoughts for others
can become
like a blanket,
laying over the Heart
to keep it warm and calm.

In your imagining,
picture the mind’s Eye
sharing the different stories
of seemingly unconnected Lives,
and how they all may all fit together
in a larger Story.

 In
their Entirety,
they go unaware
of the Beautiful Song
their Lives Sing,
as they Live
all the day long.

There is flow,
and movement from motion,
and thought provoking Music
in the Creations
of Loving
interactions.
.
And,
in moments of Loving
one another again,
 a Masterpiece of Feeling
Flows from the LOVE
of God.

We
are His Children
at Play.

As you search for a new perspective
into your Human Heart,
visit with those who Truly Love
you.
Ask about the most poignant moments
in their precious Hearts.

And,
Listen.
And brace yourself.
Other Lives,
other Loves,
come unadorned, rare, raw,
Beautiful.

.It can
make you feel like
Living the Life 
you never had.

Loving words
can bring Hope
to those struggling for Life.
And,
there are many.
.
 Only Love
is capable of overcoming
our difficulties,
and transporting our Hearts
and our minds,
outside of ourselves.

.We are all
Brothers and Sisters.
And in sharing our stories,
we can make us Believe
in ourselves.

We can become
filled with Hope,
and Truly Alive
in the Hearts
of others.

We
can be
one more beat
in the Heart
of Humanity.
.
Goodnight.

Remembering
Werner Bendorf
.
There are many stories to tell.
And our Children Love to hear them.
Some tell of Hope, survival and salvation,
Some of Love everlasting.

As I stood at grave of a man I deeply admired and Loved, beyond Belief, I paused to reflect upon the meaning of his Life, and mine. He first appeared to me at the tender age of ten. His name, Werner Bendorf, and his Life is forever engraved in my memory and alive in my Heart.

He still lives in my Life, day by day, between every beat of my Heart, he smiles, he laughs, he is vibrant in my memory and still shares his Love.

My Heart continues to beat because of his deep and abiding Love, because the depth of his Compassion was far greater than anything I had ever known.

He became the Father I never knew.
He was a Father to many young Souls,
and a Savior to me.

                   Werner with our Children.

Now, into the mix of Life and Living, arrived a truly remarkable man, a new Scoutmaster, Werner Bendorf. He was much more remarkable than I ever realized at the time, and was to me, a Gift from God and my personal Savior.

And his Story is both remarkable and unbelievable. And I would Love to share it with you.

“I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness,
it will elude you.
But if you focus on your family,
the needs of others, your work,
meeting new people,
and doing the very best you can,
Happiness will find you.”
– author unknown

In growing up, I thought Life was difficult. But I had no idea what difficult meant. Werner shared with me stories from his Life. Then I knew what the word meant. And I became Truly Grateful for the Blessings bestowed upon me by my precious Mother, Marie, and Werner and Donald Graves, Billy Earl Graves, Bruce and Sid Curry, Marshall Alexander, Richard Fletcher, Lester Kuperman, Roger Carter and Allen Bendorf and so very many others.

In recognizing the seemingly impossible obstacles others have had to overcome to survive, we gain perspective and a depth of appreciation.

Later, when I dry my tears, I will share some of the unbelievable stories Werner told me about surviving the evil of the holocaust. He and his wife hid in the attic of a farm house for over three years. From the floor to the peak of the attic was about 3 & 1/2 feet. And the discomforts only began there. I could not believe they had a baby during this time. But more about their inspiring story of survival later.

My Mother, Marie, and Werner Bendorf, present the Eagle Scout Award to a younger me (age 12).

Remembering Werner always brings my Heart closer to God. The words of John Newton‘s beloved song, “Amazing Grace“ touch each of us with Truth in a Grace of its own. And I now know that “Home” is a place found deeply embedded in my Heart. It is a place where Werner and his family have resided for many years.

And in his Heart, I found something difficult to believe. After all the suffering, the loss of precious Lives and the horror found everywhere, Werner led me to the threshold of something far more powerful than guns and bombs and torture and the pure evil of murderous minds. He opened his wounded Heart to show me his Forgiveness. And I have never been the same since that day filled me with such Amazing Grace.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home.”
– John Newton

Knowledge is power
and LIFE.

School Calendar

2022-23
Please check back regularly
for any amendments that may occur.

First Semester
Sept. 6 – December 16   2022

Sept. 6 (TUESDAY)               First Day of First Semester
Oct. 10 (Monday)                   Columbus Day Holiday
Nov. 21 – 25                           Fall Break (and Thanksgiving)
Dec. 16                                   Last Day of Fall Semester

Second Semester

Jan. 3 (TUESDAY)                 Second Semester Begins
Jan. 16  (Monday)                  Dr. Martin L. King Holiday
Feb. 20  (Monday)                  Presidents’ Day Holiday
Mar. 13 – 17                           Spring Break Holiday
April 7 & 10                           Good Friday and Easter Monday Holidays
May 26                                    Last Day of Spring Semester

Lyrics/songs texts/paintings/articles

are property and copyright of their owners
and provided for educational purposes.

Copyright Disclaimer
– Section 107 – Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for “fair use”
for purposes such as criticism, comment,
news reporting, teaching, scholarship,and research.
Fair use is permitted by copyright statute.

Non-profit, educational or personal use
tips the balance in favor of “fair use”.

© Copyright 1995-2023
The Anderson Private School.

“He who opens a school door,
closes a prison.“
– Victor Hugo

I wish you all
 Peace.

Hang on
to your Faith.
You will get there.

.

 

The High Mountains of Redeeming Love / Supplements / Friday: Shakespeare at School

God lives in the Beauty of every leaf of every tree and in you and in me. (photo by Wm. C. Anderson)

I recently mentioned to my friend,
Sonny McCutcheon,
That in the summer of 1963
I traveled to
Philmont Scout Ranch.
It was one of the great Scouting adventures
of my young life.
And I was truly Blessed by many.

       Waite Phillips

Philmont Scout Ranch
is the Boy Scouts of America’s
largest national High Adventure Base.
Its 34 staffed camps and 55 trail camps
provide an unforgettable adventure
in the high country along hundreds of miles
of rugged, rocky trails.

Waite Phillips developed a ranch
out of an old land grant in 1922
and amassed more than 300,000 acres
of mountains and plains in a place he named
Philmont.

Phillips believed in sharing his wealth.
In this spirit, he offered 35,857 acres of his ranch
to the Boy Scouts of America in 1938
to serve as a national wilderness camping area.

Waite added his best camping land in 1941,
the Villa Philmonte and the headquarters of the
farming and ranching operation.

The second gift was made so that,
“Many, rather than few”
could enjoy his rich and beautiful land.
Phillips was quoted in the Tulsa Daily World saying:

“That ranch represents an ideal of my youth …
and has meant a lot to my son and his pals.
Now I want to make it available to other boys.
I’d be selfish to hold it for my individual use.”

As an endowment,
he included in the gift
his 23-story Philtower Building
in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Every year
around 20,000 Scouts
and many other adults
use Philmont for camping
adventure and Training.

God truly Blesses His children
with many gifts.
One of the most beautiful
was the life of
Waite Phillips.
And the Gifts of his
Truly Benevolent Heart
Keep on giving.
read more

Werner with Alex and Annie Anderson.

My deeply loved Scoutmaster,
Werner Bendorf,
a man who was a Father
and a Savior to me
and so many others,
arranged for me to go to Philmont.
And the precious people at
the First Christian Church,
privately and without anyone knowing,
paid for the trip.
They also paid,
in the same dignified
and Loving (and Christian) manner,
for my participation in the
1964 National Scout Jamboree.
Even I was unaware
of their financial gifts.
and no,
I was not a member
of the Church.

“Be careful not to do
your ‘acts of righteousness’
before men, to be seen by them.
If you do, you will have no reward
from your Father in Heaven.
So when you give to the needy,
don’t announce it with trumpets
like the hypocrites do . . .
But when you give to the needy,
don’t let your left hand know
what your right hand is doing,
so that your giving may be in secret.
And your Father
who sees what is done in secret
will reward you.”
 – Matthew 6: 1-4

I am on the right – the only Boy Scout in the group – the others were all Explorer Scouts, and the sons of Physicians. My dear friend, Ervin Addy III, is helping me hold the sign.

There are many good people
on this Earth,
and I am Blessed
that so many Loved me
and without condition.
I found the Love of God
flowed through their Hearts
and into mine.
It resides there
still.

We hiked in the Beautiful Mountains
for two and a half weeks.
It was truly a Life changing
and deeply enriching experience for me.
I left weighing 125 pounds
and returned weighing 89 pounds.
We consumed a lot of quickly prepared
dehydrated meals and fish we caught
in the very cold streams,
and whatever else we could catch
and not properly cook.
Who had the time to cook?
We were busy
starving.
(Just call it a diet.)

               The Tooth of Time

We ate things that moved,
and some that didn’t.
Hey, we were really hungry!
It was a survival trip
and we were all Eagle Scouts.
The only warning we offered others was:
Just don’t put your hand between me
and my next bite!
When you are that famished,
it is highly likely that your fingers
will taste like chicken too!

I recall everyone so looking forward
to a great steak dinner
when our ordeal was over.
We found a restaurant
and, yes, we all ordered
the biggest steak
on the menu.
No one, not one person,
took more than two bites.
We came to the strange realization
that our stomachs had shrunk
and could hold
no more.

I remember my precious Mother, Marie,
made an appointment for me
to see our family physician,
Dr. Ford, the day after I returned.
I never thought much about that until later.

       One of many activities.

About twenty years after this
truly awakening experience,
I visited with my Mother about the trip
and seeing the good Doctor upon my return.
She shared with me that she was afraid
I was near death.
I asked her what the Doctor said
after he examined me,
and she laughed really loud and stated,
“He told me he had never met
a finer physical specimen.”

   Marie Anderson

Crisp, fresh air,
friendship and fun
in the Sun,
walking up and down
mountains
for over a hundred miles
with little to eat?
Yes,
that will bring you
a good result
from any physical exam,
and whole lot more.

Lying beside
speaking rivers,
resting truly
for the very first time,
the streams of mercy
never ceasing
brought a clarity to my mind
and an unknown peace
to my troubled Heart.
From my lonely vigil
that bound a wandering soul
ever searching
and growing apart
from the Love of God
in me,
I climbed the
high mountains
of Redeeming Love.

I am there
still.

Little did my Mother know,
my adventure proved to strengthen me
in a much, much more
significant and needed way.

                Baldy Mountain

My Dear Friends,
I discovered the Amazing Presence of God
in the mountains of New Mexico.
I found a reason to be.
And I came to know that He
lives within everything He created,
and that He lives within me.
Until then, I never knew
the Power and the Beauty of such Love,
not until I found
that God lives in the Beauty
of every leaf of every tree,
and in you,
and in me.

Whenever I reflect
upon being so deeply embedded
in God’s unbelievable World,
and embraced by all that Beauty,
I melt into tears inside.

  God truly Blesses His children.

And as I remember
such Love as God expresses,
I hear the beautiful music
of rustling leaves,
in the softly caressing breeze,
and the birds
as they sing in their Sacred trees.
And I see His little insects
and other precious creations
scurry around on the ground,
in their attempt to survive the day,
so happy in the world
they appear to be,
reminding me of the tremendous Love
they have for their Life.

All of God’s creations
Love Life.
They are among
the greatest teachers
on the Earth,
if we but listen quietly and watch
and learn.
They teach us about
the Love of Life.
And slowly, patiently,
we can begin to value
and Love our
Life.

        God’s unbelievable World

Sometimes the precious birds
are swallowed into the sky,
and mysteries are unveiled in the silence
of their absence.
The small miracles they are,
are suddenly met by what is no longer there.
Their vibrant passion for Life
is absence truly felt,
something that even the poorest
of the poor in Spirit
can come to know.
The luxury of their fragile little lives
intersects with the awareness
of ours.
And now,
we are poorer,
being denied
their precious and beautiful song,
their passionate
flight.

        Mysteries are unveiled.

Often I wonder,
does God feel the same
when, with blind eyes,
we wander from the fold,
when we
are no longer in sight,
No longer in flight,
in the direction
of His Love?

              Healing Love.

An odor of the Sacred Earth
graces the senses,
A mixture of sweet air
and forest grasses.
It hints at a secret of wonder,
revealing a truth
we thought not about,
until we became so alone:
how sadly you feel
when something Divine
no longer
is with you.

The Miracle is gone.

You watch and wait.
Your mind wanders.
It searches for the memory
and nearly touches something.

The powerful way God displays unconditional Love.

Suddenly,
you feel
God is aware of your presence.
He sees you Worship in His Cathedral
of forest green.
Then a miracle appears:
A small friend
Dressed in the finery
of early morning feathery array,
and your Heart also
takes flight,
your Faith is affirmed,
and you know,
you will never
walk alone.

Embraced by all that Beauty.

“Break forth into singing,
you mountains, O forest,
and every tree in it.”
– Isaiah 44:23

Yes,
truly beautiful memories
remind me of the powerful way
God displays unconditional Love
in everything He creates.

My Precious Friends,
please,
GET  OUT  OF  THE  HOUSE!
Go into your real Home,
the Beautiful Cathedral,
God has built for you.
It is far, far more breathtaking
than any house you have ever entered.

And there are significant, subtle
and very serious considerations:
Our homes, offices and classrooms
essentially contain nothing but
straight lines and ninety degree angles.
Nature doesn’t deal in straight lines.

      His Cathedral of forest green.

Natural things move along complex paths,
not straight from point to point.
Natural phenomena have thresholds and edges,
not linear changes at the outside perimeter.

Tree branches, horizons and landscapes
are jagged and bent.
Things move in arcs and circles,
relationships are complex and cyclical.
Almost nothing in nature is linear,
particularly in complex systems.

In the REAL world,
almost no linear relationships exist.
Nature constantly runs at the edge
of disorder, roughness, commotion
and violent disorder
(in case you haven’t noticed the weather)
with no linearity in sight.

The cumulative effect
of constant exposure
to artificial man-made constructions such as
straight lines and ninety degree angles
upon our pliable, programmable and fragile brains
is to SQUELCH  NEEDED  CREATIVITY.

Natural things move along complex paths.

And MOST importantly –
the unending, repetitive sameness of life
can become so monotonous, boring
and painful
that children, and adults,
will seek an end to it all,
sometimes even life itself.

Our children cannot thrive or possibly survive,
if they do not think outside the box,
you know,
the boxes that look like rooms.

This is why solitary confinement in prison
is cruel and unusual punishment.
Confinement in ANY room is.

So,
GET  OUT  OF  THE  HOUSE ! !
And go into the breathtakingly beautiful
REAL world of God’s
Nature.

And stay there,
with your precious children,
for as long as you can.

   Listen until you can see sound.

Take the time to truly relax.
Sit down,
Yes,
In the dirt and on the leaves,
Breath deeply,
Close your eyes,
And just listen.
Listen until you can see
Sound.
What you will hear
Is the Voice of your Creator.

“Let the rivers clap their hands,
    let the mountains
sing together for joy”
– Psalm 98:8

Yes,
He is all around.

If you listen long enough,
And come to rest your tired eyes,
In the stillness of pure delight
You begin to see with your Heart,
And discover that God
Is not just all above and beside you,
He is within.

       You will never walk alone.

And you
become part of all the Beauty
that surrounds you
and begin to blend in,
for you are Beautiful too.
You
and everything you feel and see and do
become One
with all that is precious and alive
In the natural world,
One with God’s truly Beautiful Dream.
And you will never, ever
Want to leave.

Some do not.

    In the stillness of pure delight.

As parents,
We build a foundation of Love
By giving unconditional love to our children.
And as they experience this
Most beautiful form of Love,
They begin to glimpse the true Nature
Of the Love of God
That comes through us.

“The whole earth
is full of his Glory.”
– Isaiah 6:3

The unconditional Nature
Of this Love
Always brings joy
and a serene and secure feeling
To our children,
Which is
God’s Promise to me
And to you.

   As I am with God, I am in Prayer.

This Love
is Healing Love.
It helps our children
to strengthen their Faith
in us and in God,
and to grow
with inner wisdom and knowledge,
to be compassionate
and Loving
to all others
and every living thing.

 In the still small Voice,
as I am with God,
I am in Prayer,
in Paradise.

Goodnight.

The true Nature of the Love of God.

“Then the wind will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path I’ll be retracing
When I’m homeward bound again.”
– Marta Keen Thompson

My Precious Friends,
may I highly recommend that you
enjoy truly breathtaking scenes
from many of God’s miraculous creations.
Be immersed in the Word of God
while you take in the magnificent redwood forests,
the California coast, Hawaiian tropics,
the Black Hills of South Dakota,
Alaska’s icy wonders and many more.
Hymns and beautiful music accompany
Scripture
to help you relax and surrender
the burdens of the day
during a time of daily prayer and meditation.
“Reflections”
airs on Daystar early every morning.
The time varies from
about 1:30 a.m to 5:00 a.m.
Set your recorder.
It provides a peaceful time
for me
to be still and hear the Lord.
I know you will benefit too.
click here for more

Become One with all that is precious and alive.

Boy Scouts of America sites:

National Eagle Scout Association
Order of the Arrow
National Scout Jamboree
BSA Foundation
Boys’ Life
Scouting Magazine

       In the Beauty of every leaf .

Top 5 supplements for optimal health
by Dr. Jennifer Landa, Chief Medical Officer of BodyLogicMD

There are several vitamin and mineral supplements that both men and women should take on a daily basis and a few others that come more highly recommended for each gender.

For men and women:

• Multivitamin. Everyone can benefit from a multivitamin. This is a great way to avoid taking a million pills every day and still supplement the nutrients you need. When choosing a multi, examine the label – find one that offers the nutrients you need most. For example, if you have a family history of eye disease, you may want to choose a multivitamin with lutein or if prostate cancer is a concern, choose a multi with boron.

• Fish Oil. The effectiveness of fish oil supplements for warding off heart disease and preventing cognitive decline has been questioned by recent studies. More careful examination of the study questioning the efficacy of fish oil against cognitive decline suggests their findings are weak. The supplements used in the study were low in DHA – the key component linked to cognitive function. Despite what the media suggests, you can benefit from the powerful omega-3s found in fish oil. Omega-3s are linked to higher levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), improved metabolism and better nutrient absorption. Just be sure to choose high-quality supplements with high levels of DHA and EPA.

• Vitamin D3. If you haven’t heard by now, sufficient levels of vitamin D are essential for maintaining good health. Low vitamin D has been linked to several types of cancer, weight gain, depression, poor nutrient absorption and low bone density. Vitamin D3 is the most bioavailable form (most readily available for absorption in the body). The sun’s rays, when absorbed by the skin, convert to D3 in the body; however most Americans do not get enough sun year round. Studies have shown that high doses of vitamin D3 supplements – more than 800 IU/day – can have great benefits.

• Coenzyme CoQ10 is well-known as an inflammation fighter. Inflammation in often the root cause of excess pounds, arthritis, headaches and heart disease. Daily doses of 100 mcg of CoQ10 have been shown to improve many of these conditions – but be sure to choose a soft gel over the powder capsule.

• Folic Acid (Folate). Most people are familiar with the importance of folate for women during their childbearing years to decrease the risk of children born with disorders of the brain and spinal cord. However, you may not be aware of the numerous benefits folate has for men and women of all ages. Folate is an essential B-vitamin that has been proven to lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and improve arterial blood flow – lowering your risk of hypertension and heart disease as well.

For women:

• Calcium is renowned for its healthy body benefits: strong bones, healthy teeth, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission and blood clotting. Due to its multiple functions in the body, calcium intake must remain sufficient throughout the lifespan. Inadequate consumption of calcium forces the body to leech calcium from the bones to fulfill necessary task throughout the body – over time this can lead to brittle bones, fractures and osteoporosis. Women are more susceptible to these conditions than men due to the loss of estrogen that occurs with menopause. Estrogen facilitates absorption and retention of calcium. Vitamin D is necessary for optimal absorption of calcium. Women should try to achieve 1500 to 2000 mg of calcium per day through food consumption and supplements.

• Iron supplements are not for every woman, but women should work with their doctor to carefully monitor iron levels, because many women experience lower levels due to monthly menstruation. Iron is vital for transport of oxygen to your brain, muscles and organs. Women with low iron may experience bruising, fatigue, weakness or have difficulty concentrating.

For men:

• Boron is essential for improving testosterone levels in men and plays a role in maintaining cognitive function. Adequate levels of boron have been linked to prostate health. In studies, men with adequate levels have been shown to reduce their risk of prostate cancer by 65 percent.

• Selenium. Selenium is found in abundance in soil and is generally easily obtained from the food supply. In some areas of the country, poor soil conditions lead to low levels of selenium. Inadequate levels of selenium have been linked to an increased incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease and impaired male fertility. Talk to your doctor before supplementing selenium – excessive levels can worsen certain diseases and conditions.

Remember: Supplements do not replace a healthy, balanced diet. Strive to consume a variety of fruits and vegetables, along with whole grains and lean proteins in moderate portions.

Click here for more

IMPORTANT DATES
April 6 (Wednesday) Screening of Hamlet at The Modern Art Museum (11:00 am)
April 29 Scarborough Renaissance Festival
May 1 Tuition Due for 2016-2017 school year
May 2 & 3 (MONDAY & TUESDAY) Annual Anderson School Shakespeare Production (Hamlet) at Stage West Theater
May 15 (SUNDAY) Preparation for Adventure Trip
May 16-20 Adventure Trip to Little Rock, Ark.
May 20 Last Day of School
(See William’s Weblog at andersonschool.net for trip details (posted Wed. at 7:00 p.m.)

     You will never, ever want to leave.

 

A Father to Many, A Savior to Me / Nearer My God to Thee / Friday: Half Price Books and FLIGHT DECK

Please take the kid for a walk.

There are many stories to tell.
And our children love to hear them.
Some tell of hope, survival and salvation,
Some of Love everlasting.

As I stood at grave of a man I deeply admired and loved, beyond belief, I paused to reflect upon the meaning of his life, and mine. He first appeared to me at the tender age of ten. His name, Werner Bendorf, and his life is forever engraved in my memory and alive in my heart. He still lives in my life, day by day, between every beat of my heart, he smiles, he laughs, he is vibrant in my memory and still shares his love. My heart continues to beat because of his deep and abiding love, because the depth of his compassion was far greater than anything I had ever known.

He became the Father I never knew. He was a Father to many young souls, and a Savior to me.

When we practice
Loving kindness and compassion
we are the first ones to profit.
– Rumi

I was visiting, at the invitation of my friend and neighbor, Roger Carter, Boy Scout Troop 17. We had earlier formed a club, the Fox Club, in our neighborhood for the purpose, unbelievably today, of “doing good” for others.

Our club of three, met on the banks of the infamous Gonzales creek to plan good things to do and lay the groundwork for combating evil. Seriously, we met for that purpose. We had great plans to right wrongs.

Television was a big influence. You may remember Superman and the Lone Ranger and Roy Rogers, among others. But the dynamic and good person that I found in Roger Carter, was far greater. He always thought of others and sought to help people in any way that he could. He became for me, and many others, a personal hero.

I was ten at the time, and Roger was older. As a Patrol Leader in the Troop, he wanted another member. And when I arrived to visit, at the tender age of ten, I discovered that he really did need another member, since he was the only member of the, you guessed it, Fox Patrol. I imagined that he elected himself the Leader garnering 100% of the vote. I knew I would have voted for him, and later I did.

“There are only two ways to live your life:
as though nothing is a miracle,
or as though everything is a miracle.”
– Albert Einstein

Dr. Lester Kuperman

The one other Patrol in the Scout Troop had ALL of the other members in Troop 17 (about twenty five boys). Yes, I thought it was strange, until I thought more about it.

“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.”                 – A. A. Milne

And the Senior Patrol Leader was none other than Lester Kuperman, who you may know today is Dr. Lester Kuperman, a highly respected Orthodontic Specialist serving the citizens of Fort Worth (including, by the way, our daughter, Annie, when she was younger). I paid him a visit a few years ago and truly enjoyed seeing him after all these years. Yes, I highly recommend him to you. He is a man of integrity.

I thought it strange that Roger was, by himself, the entire Fox Patrol. I just knew there would be other members. So I joined the Patrol of one and, together, we were the Fox Patrol, evolved from the Fox Club. It made sense though, because the Boy Scout slogan was, “Do a Good Turn Daily”, which reflected the purpose of the Fox Club. read more

“Your task is not to seek for love,
but merely to seek and find all the barriers
within yourself
that you have built against it.”
– Rumi

Later, I would come to realize that Roger was a singular, unique and lone young man because he was not like the others. He was, and remained until his death, dedicated to being a good, kind and truly compassionate person. And since no one else held to this standard, he was truly alone and deeply admired by me. Time would see him evolve into a jet pilot and heroic fighter.

The others in this large Troop were rascals, dedicated to having a good time, even at your expense. Yes, Lester had his work cut out for him, corralling these rascals. And he exerted Herculean efforts to mold them into shape. Yes, he was very successful!

“When you Love
you should not say,
“God is in my heart,”
but rather,
“I am in the Heart of God.”
– Rumi

Our Fox Patrol meetings were, essentially, time for planning “Good Deeds”, while the others were satisfied, as I recall, with pranks and games and some “put down” kinds of things. Let’s face it, they were just having a good time.

Werner with Alex & Annie Anderson.

Now, into this mix arrived a truly remarkable man, a new Scoutmaster, Werner Bendorf. He was much more remarkable than I ever realized at the time, and was to me, a Gift from God and my personal Savior. And his story is both remarkable and unbelievable. And I would love to share it with you.

“I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness,
it will elude you.
But if you focus on your family,
the needs of others, your work,
meeting new people,
and doing the very best you can,
happiness will find you.”
– author unknown

In growing up, I thought life was difficult. But I had no idea what difficult meant. Werner shared with me stories from his life. Then I knew what the word meant. And I became truly grateful for the Blessings bestowed upon me by my precious Mother, Marie, and Werner and Donald and so very many others. In recognizing the seemingly impossible obstacles others have had to overcome to survive, we gain perspective and a depth of appreciation.

Later, when I dry my tears, I will share some of the unbelievable stories Werner told me about surviving the evil of the holocaust. He and his wife hid in the attic of a farm house for over three years. From the floor to the peak of the attic was about 3 & 1/2 feet. And the discomforts only began there. I could not believe they had a baby during this time. But more about their inspiring story of survival later.

My Mother, Marie, and Werner Bendorf, present the Eagle Scout Award to a younger me (age 12).

Remembering Werner always brings my heart closer to God. The words of John Newton’s beloved song, “Amazing Grace” touch each of us with Truth in a Grace of its own. And I now know that “home” is a place found deeply embedded in my heart. It is a place where Werner and his family have resided for many years.

And in his heart, I found something difficult to believe. After all the suffering, the loss of precious lives and the horror found everywhere, Werner led me to the threshold of something far more powerful than guns and bombs and torture and the pure evil of murderous minds. He opened his wounded Heart to show me his forgiveness. And I have never been the same since that day filled with such Amazing Grace.

“Through many dangers, toils and snares…
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far…
and Grace will lead us home.”
– John Newton

Troop 17 camped out every other weekend, rain or shine, hail or high winds. Nothing stopped us from our adventures, except the summer heat. From September to June, we explored every possible terrain.

There are so many stories to share and I simply do not know where to start. I am not sure how I survived my younger days, but God had to be beside me. Allow me to elucidate.

Making it to the top of motorcycle hill had to be easier than making it to the bottom!

We were camping at the base of what was called Motorcycle Hill, just outside of Mineral Wells. In my mind, nothing was challenging enough, ever. That’s called being a “Rascal”. And brother, I was!

It was about 1961. And brave young men frequently attempted to ride their motorcycles all the way to the top of this very, very steep and high hill. Few made to the top. You can just imagine the trip back down with your motorcycle following you or on top, when you failed.

The pace of activities at camp was not up to my standard, so, alone, I climbed up motorcycle hill, from the backside. At the top, I decided to run down the steep incline where so many others, on their motorcycles, had failed to reach the top. Yes, I was young and in love with daring adventures and living on the edge!

True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by.    – E. S. Bouton

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but gravity was about to become my teacher of the year. And it sure looked like fun! So off I went, running down the extremely steep and dangerous hill, by myself. And yes, I picked up so much speed that I really needed to STOP and very quickly. I could not keep my legs under me.

About half way down, I spotted a large flat rock off to the right side and decided to “land” on top and thereby prevent death. So I did. I landed on top and instantly, and I do mean instantly, a LARGE rattlesnake came from underneath the giant bolder and struck at my right leg. I did not stay long. We had nothing to share in a conversation. I leaped off the rock just as the rattle snake opened his large mouth, replete with splendid looking fangs, and moving very, very fast toward my uninvited foot.

Apparently, I disturbed his rest. And did I ever move fast. I bounced off that rock so fast and so high that I should have had a pilot’s license. I think that this is the moment when I fell in love with flying and (very quickly) began my search for God. I was headed in the right direction (up!).

We are made kind by being kind.               – Eric Hoffer

It was then that I noticed I had another problem. I was very high in the air and about half way down the infamous motorcycle hill. Oh hell! I had to, and I mean had to, stay on my feet and run, what felt like eighty miles an hour, to the base of this impossibly steep hill.

In a way, the rattle snake really did save my life. I learned about something to avoid. Stopping, although briefly, on the rock did slow my decent. And I became highly motivated to end this misadventure. All I thought about at that moment was being at the base of this hill, unknown to anyone, battered and bruised from tumbling all the way down, perhaps unconscious and having highly deadly venom from a large rattlesnake coursing its way up my leg toward my rapidly beating heart. Assuming, of course, that I survived the fall! What doesn’t kill you makes you never try that again.

Well, I actually made it to the bottom, alive. The landing found me tumbling and dizzy. And I was so happy that no one was watching. And did I share this story with anyone? Heck no!  No one wants to admit to this level of stupidity, uh, I mean adventure (gulp!).

Love is the Universal language.

Scouting taught me many, many things. And one was to bounce off things and run like the wind, perhaps, even taking flight. It’s a philosophical bent. I did tell the others that I went hunting for rattlesnakes and found one. Having grown up in West Texas, I failed to share that a rattlesnake actually went hunting for me. Which proved I was a fisherman at heart.

Hey, it wasn’t the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, but close. We’ll save those other stories for later. Remind me to tell you about my high flying dance with death when I took my one and only lesson to become a pilot. The instructor failed to tell me I was not a stunt pilot. A few cows failed to show up for milking. Hey, it looked like a landing strip to me! Moooooove over. And no, I did not see the barbed wire fence. In fact, I do not recall seeing the instructor get out of the plane or what was left of it. I think he was glued to his seat. He did scream a little. God watches over us, even when we are high in air or, as I call it, nearer my God to Thee.

Mom only had one child. And I never wondered why.

Philosophy Program For This Week:
This is for Carter who is unable to be with us this week.
I know you did not want to miss the program.
Holographic Universe
The perceptions we observe
may well be coming from an artificial source.
click here to view movie
The Holographic universe suggests
that the physical world we believe to be real
is in fact illusion.
Energy fields are decoded by our brains
into a 3D picture,
to give the illusion of a physical world. 

 “The Earth may not be
the center of the Universe,
But you are.”
– Wm. C. Anderson

Plans for FRIDAY:

For Friday Nov. 13, 2015

By Popular DEMAND!
We will meet at 9:30 a.m. at Half-Price Books, located at 475 Sherry Lane, north of Ridgmar Mall –Telephone: 817-732-4111.

We will then meet at Flight Deck (817) 246-2710 (info@fdtp.com) located a half mile west of Ridgmar Mall, at the Cherry Lane exit off I-30, at 7751 Scott St. in Fort Worth, to enjoy jumping and acting, otherwise, a little abnormal.

                      PICK UP will be at FLIGHT DECK at 2:30 p.m.

         “The two most important days in your life
are the day you are born
    and the day you find out why.”
      – Mark Twain

DESTINATIONS: FLIGHT DECK is where FUN and fitness take flight! It integrates rebounding (trampoline jumping) along with strength and flexibility training. Reconnect with your inner child. Flight Deck features a mix of aerobics, core strengthening, coordination & flexibility exercises. * YOU WILL NEED WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM YOUR PARENTS (contact Flight Deck (817) 246-2710 / or go ONLINE: info@fdtp.com for the form and instructions. Print it, have it signed and bring it with you.

If you arrive late, we shall have departed with your child(ren) and will return to school.  Please call if you will be late.

Students are NOT to leave the bookstore, restaurant or take flight
from the flight deck without the approval of Dr. A. He is well known for
melodramatic swoons and fainting spells if you are missing and it is a bit much for Mrs. A.

FINANCIAL: The cost for Flight Deck is approximately $12.00 for our one hour – please pay at the Flight Deck. And please provide funds for a good book and for lunch. Refreshments: Yes!

Uniform pants with a belt & red monogrammed school shirts are required. PARENTS / FRIENDS / NEIGHBORS, are always invited to participate on our trips.

IMPORTANT DATES:
Nov. 12 Shakespeare Scene and Monologue Competition
Nov. 20 Texas Civil War Museum (Avoid wearing blue!)
Nov. 23 – 27 (Monday – Friday) Thanksgiving / Fall Break
Dec. 3 – 4 Texas A.G.T. Conference (No school)
Dec. 18 Last Day of Fall Semester
Dec. 21 – Jan. 4 Winter Break Holidays
Jan. 22 Fort Worth Stock Show
March 18 DFW New Auto Show in Fort Worth
April 29 Scarborough Renaissance Festival
A. n . d . e . r . s . o . n

                          “Happiness is someone to love,
                                        something to do
                              and something to hope for.”
                                                            – Chinese proverb