bierkergaard

Well, getting ready to fly out to Portland, Oregon, for a little R and R. I have a considerably less ambitious travel itinerary this year as compared to my two last years during this season. As is becoming typical, I had car troubles and got a cold. That just seems to all coincide. I get antsy when I prepare to travel, which wears me out. I fear chaos. But, I have learned to embrace it because what is gained is worth the cost. I get out of town for Christmas. Because our family convenes more on Thanksgiving, I typically jet-out over Christmas to elsewhere where I give myself permission to eat, drink, and be merry. I almost accidentally typed "messy." It is probably a bit more than true. I enjoy myself but then walk miles in penance back and forth.  I usually park myself physically in some smaller type of city then do all I can to imbibe it deeply for a week to ten days. And then I pack up and head back to be it ever so humble, Columbia, Pa. Once I retire I plan to fol

I had a nice acquisition recently....a picture frame that had a photo of flags in it that had been in storage at work for a lot of years. I cared little for the pic. The frame looked nice. I had intentions.  My grandfather from Germany (Opa to me) was an architectural draftsman with expertise in brewing and breweries. A decade or ago so my dad had uncovered a treasure trove of Opa's drawings from more than 50 years ago which were stashed away at the family cabin . This drawing of the brewing process of his is a perfect fit in the frame. I was reminded that what is inside the frame is more important than the frame itself. Now, don't get me wrong. The frame is sweet. Solid, silver, and hefty. But, the drawing is what justifies and beautifies the frame. In an era where our culture is frame heavy (appearance, money, status, etc) it is good reminder that character matters. What is encased in the frame. Jesus says something along the lines of "What shall it profit a man