Burky's Blog

It is a beautiful morning, rather cool.  I am getting the spirit of November right now.  When the air is like this, I always think of that poem, that I read and memorized while working at CLP, "The Mists and All."

I like the fall
The mist and all
I like the night owl's lonely call
And wailing sound
Of wind around

I like the gray
November day
And dead, bare boughs that coldly sway
Against my pane
I like the rain

I like to sit
And laugh at it
And tend my cozy fire a bit
I like the fall
The mist and all.

Perhaps some of you, this poem sound familiar.  That poem greatly influence my love for "dead, bare boughs" known in winter.  Now, in November of Belize, it is always wet season.  At least I remember rainy day, riding on the back of the pick up.  I hate being wet, but I love sitting inside looking out the window at the rain.  I remember nights in Belize there are lightning every night.  Of course, I would admit that while in Belize, I would fret about missing out the snow. 

My problem with Maryland and Pennsylvania is that there seems like there is no guarantee of snow in winter.  If I would live in Mine Centre, Ontario, I would expect for snow in winter.  And I would admit I would like to live in the log house by the frozen lake during winter there.  But that would be a reality if I am rich and own few homes.  I did think I would like to live in Mine Centre and Belize.  I used to dream about living in South Dakota, as I found they are thinking of building a town of Laurent, a town for deaf to live a normal lives, being bilingual.  But some time ago, I read their blog and found out that they didn't get the legal approval to build the town at the location they first planned.  So the location is left to question.  Just now, I checked their website, and found that I can't get any more information any beyond the figment of dreams.  It really convince me that town may not materialize.  I kind of feel sorry for all those who put their money into that town. 

Truth was, the housing market and economy is slipping these days.  I kind of wish USA would practices same as God ask of Isreal, that every 7 years, the slaves would go free and every debts are forgiven.  Sure, we won't be as rich as we are now, or even that USA won't be the world leader, but we all would be living comfortably, even if it means just food and clothes.

Recently, I was studying about presidents, and I found 4 people are running for presidency.  Later I ask Mark, my friend, how many does he know is running for presidency.  He found somehow on Internet that there are 20 candidates!  Makes me wonder when there is a time in history of America that there are most people running for presidency.  I always have known for 2 competitors, and I did recall one year when Ross Perot was running, that makes 3 candidates, although he did backed out, failing people's confidence in him.  So there are 20 this time.  I sure wonder how many of them would continue until voting stage.

"For the first time since 1928, both major parties will have open contests for the Presidential nomination without a sitting President or Vice President in the running." 

There are about 10 Republicans and 8 Democrats running.  Then there are many others as likely.  I didn't realize there are more than just Republican and Democrats parties.  There are Third Party, with following branches, Constitution Party, Green Party, Libertarian Party, Prohibition Party, Socialist Party USA, Socialist Equality Party, Socialist Worker Party, Workers World Party, and then lastly, just write-in, not affiliated to any collective party.  I am really curious about these.  So maybe I should look into those when I have time.

Nothing new on my side, but I am growing some fascination for politics.  And what's new around the world.  I just now looked up the news in Belize.  Nothing caught my fancy.  I recently got an email from my  friend in Belize telling me that CDI has no director.  That left me wondering how long CDI would last.  I suspect or at least doubted that campus would last for long.  I even went as far as hoping that with all the money put into improving the campus....it might as well be a Bible "college" for Belizeans.  After all, my opinion or reflection is that the Bible has no record of deaf people working for the Lord.  That is not to mean that deaf people can't be Christians or can't believe in God, but it is to mean that it would be harder to win deaf people for Christ than it would for hearing people.  With loss of one sense, it is harder for deaf illiterate to be able to see beyond 3 dimensions.  My strongest conviction is that a effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man would avail anything in that respect.  It is good that my friend did not believing in forcing anyone to become Christian.  That is following the example of Jesus; Jesus never force anyone.  He would denounce Pharisees strongly, but it is very interesting to me to notice that Jesus never condemn anyone who is not self-righteous.  He never speak negatively about anyone other than who is self-righteous and legalistic.  Surely we don't want to be guilty of these.  I surely want to invite you and tempt all of you to pray for someone you have most concern for.

If you read the book, The Purpose-Driven Life, you probably read a page that mentions about power of laser beam.  Maybe you forgot it was there.  It really stood out to me, because so many of us Christians pray and don't get answers to our prayers.  To think the average light bulb give lights, but the magnifying glass can focus the sunlight and start a fire.  And when the light is even more focused like laser beam, it cut through steel.  So that make me think...what would happened if we pray like that?  Few minutes of prayer would get God's attention, but persistent praying without ceasing would get God into action.  I notice myself that it is easier for me to pray through the day than during the night.  But my problem is that I want privacy, and I don't have it by living with Jay.

Sure, I can be in my room and lock the door, but Jay wears hearing aids.  He would surely ask questions later.  Or worse, he may be like Frank Thiessen who would send someone to me and be hindrance to my praying.  That was my worst experience with Frank, and I don't forget that experience very easily.  Sometimes I wonder how much different I would be if Frank would leave me alone that one night.

Anyway, I really enjoy ASL social last night immensely.  There are more people there this time than usual.  It was good to see everyone there, and I hope to see more next month.

I mentions in my last update that I will delete names off my e-newsletter list if they don't give me their updates.  Now I have only 6 names left on my list.  I was kind of surprised to hear from one of my friends; I was kind of expecting that he would be knocked off my list.  But he did email me, so I believe he want to continue to hear from me.  <Smile>

Although I didn't hear anything from my mother, I will still send this email/fax to her, because my mother has a right to know what's going on with her children.  She is the only one on my list that didn't give me her updates.  I suppose she probably think that Julia would write me an email and that should suffice.  Yes, it would suffice and it would give Julia a sense of self-worth. 

You all take care until next time.

--

Omar Burkholder
1091 Martindale Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

Email:   deafdemophile@gmail.com
Fax:     1-888-580-1767