A moment of silence

Cornwall Cogitation (North America) #2 Saturday 7 October 2017 I think of lines from Catharina von Schlegel’s (b. 1697) hymn, “Be still my soul,” as I reflect on recent natural and human-made tragedies that stretch from the Caribbean, to Puerto Rico, Mexico and Los Vegas.

Stanza 1 begins, “Be still, my soul, the Lord is on my side, . . . Another verse affirms one’s trust in God “To guide the future as He has the past.”

I pause in memory of those who lost their lives, family and friends, livelihood, and those whose lives have been suddenly changed. God be merciful.

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These tragedies have us scouring our languages for some explanation, obvious, hidden, or obscure. Surely such madness has a cause. Surely such grief has a succor. Surely such varied avenues of response have healing at heart. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us even this day as all the days of our lives.

Signs that silently voice a new mood surfacing in society

We saw this and the sign below in South Haven, Michigan this week. On one street we walked past seven churches. May the churches, among other movements, find common cause in ending the woes that beset society.

Sign at the home of my brother and sister-in-law, Brian and Vivian Bender, New Hamburg, Ontario.

South Haven, sojourn on Lake Michigan

Marcia Parker from Lansdale, Pennsylvania is visiting us for a week. We spent some days in South Haven, Michigan, a region famous for blueberries.

Marty first spent summers in the area as a college student working in a migrant ministry day care. We keep returning and returning and returning.

South Beach at South Haven. South and North beaches are divided by the Black River channel to Lake Michigan.

Cranes Restaurant and Pie Pantry in an apple orchard near Fennville, Michigan

Lunch, but no apple crisp this time ’round.

Empire apples. It’s a sweet apple, a characteristic McIntosh flavor, “like a hint of melon or pineapple or elderflower.”

Saugatuck

Sherman’s Ice Cream

It’s a must stop in South Haven. Last year Sherman Dairy celebrated its 100th birthday. The dairy bar closes for the season 29 October. Slim chance we’ll get there again before then.

It’s a baby serving, cherry amaretto. So satisfying. So Sherman.

Selected South Haven scenes

Model at Captain Nimos where we had breakfast.

Bike, walk, run, the city has invested well in trails.

Loved the screened-in porch in our rental abode in South Haven, called Crimson Sun. Spent a lot of time there.

Crimson Sun, ground level, near downtown South Haven. Easy walking distance downtown and to the beach.

Had lunch here on Monday. Good as ever, Mom and Pop place. Found out later they’ll be closing for good this month.

The mural is near the weekly Farmers’ Market. The directions in the kitchen at Crimson Sun, the plants around town.

Mishler cousins

A week ago descendants of our great- great-grandparents William and Gertrude Garber M Mishler, more directly their son and daughter-in-law , great-grandparents John W and Fanny Jane Kauffman Mishler, got together in Shipshewana, Indiana.

Cousin Ann Junglas from California has done extensive genealogical research on the families, which on her side include the Roods. The Roods at one time operated a stationary and office supply business in Greenville, Michigan. We’ve alternated these annual gatherings between White Cloud, Michigan, where Marty’s dad was born, and Shipshewana, Indiana.

I was especially pleased that this year some of the younger set attended and contributed to the reunion. Stories, visiting, dinner made for a fine day.