tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post7314852871647508793..comments2023-05-16T02:27:49.807-07:00Comments on Look Before You Land: The Loss of Henry Hill, and the Gain for the Rest of UsJohn Boyackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09733963874439460697noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-66983703644010670662013-03-14T08:56:19.336-07:002013-03-14T08:56:19.336-07:00It's part of our nature to seek out the comfor...It's part of our nature to seek out the comfortable. Life knocks us off whatever path we're currently on, and things are difficult. Then we adapt, we change, we grow and eventually we find a sense of comfort again. It's when life pushes sideways again that we push back, but often we have to start over in that cycle with discomfort again for awhile. But then we again adapt, change, grow, and find comfort.<br /><br />Thank you for being the kind of local leader who actually considers the consequences of actions taken. You do your best to analyze the outcomes ahead of time. Sometimes the best overall decision will include difficulties and discomfort. But what makes it "the best" decision is also the positive (or least negative) changes that will result.Ringleaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633915941108596218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4044066277278575189.post-69253163265603091672013-03-14T08:40:56.786-07:002013-03-14T08:40:56.786-07:00John, you DO get it! I was going to say the only t...John, you DO get it! I was going to say the only thing that I would add is that line about "better prepare them for life" and suggest you add to that, " in these United States." Because we have to mix around and stir our pot of people here and there and immigrants learn to abound in this new home. However, by the time I got to the end of the post, I realized that it does better prepare children for life because CHANGE is constant. Our children will not be well equipped if they aren't coached through this process. Many adults refuse to step out of their comfort zones and that is part of the reason for isolation between genders, classes, ethnicities, religions, etc.<br /><br />John your humility and willingness to go back, review and have the courage to express your heart IS one of your gifts or talents. It's a sad change for your community, but one of the things we in this country need if we are to recover our economy is the ability to look at certain changes objectively. Sometimes people who have a gift for this are seen as detached. Some of them may actually be emotionally detached, but any super successful businessperson/economist would tell you sometimes this is necessary. A little closer to home, any farmer would tell you this as well. <br /><br />A farmer can't keep his orchard the same if its not producing. He must prune. He must cut. As flourishing as a yummy fruit tree looks, he must keep certain branches and sacrifice others. Not because he favors certain branches or doesn't like new ones but because to get the best fruit there must be access to enough sun for each branch. <br /><br />After the pruning what occurs is miraculous, yet natural, the remaining branches give more blossoms the next year and the fruit is more robust and sweet.<br /><br />As your community has done some painful pruning...my hope is that those affected will find inspiration from this phenomenon of nature. Perhaps the new blossoms on the remaining branches are simply the repositioning of the blossoms that would've been. Bit now they are positioned to not only receive more nutrients from the trunk, but are better positioned to receive life giving sunlight instead of shade or flickers of light. May your community heal as the prunes tree and thrive thereby.<br /><br />It would be wonderful to see that place transformed into something that could still add to the coming together of its neighbors. Just like that one tree that remained from your trail or park. I am super sentimental and have had to learn to preserve the memory and feelings and let the exterior change. I know that special memories are in that place for many people, but together something can be preserved that honored and treasured. Put your creative minds together. <br /><br />Thank you, John for posting your heart. Many need this message in many aspects of their lives in our country today. I am re posting this. It's inspired me today.<br /><br /><br /><br />Genahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10530460231991725242noreply@blogger.com