Community Voices
Page 5
Wayne’s World
The Power of a Moment by Wayne Geiger
It was an exceptionally dark night with bumper to bumper Christmas traffic. I made my best attempt to be cool, calm, and collected, but I was on a tight schedule and losing the battle. The stop and go traffic brought dreariness, frustration, and anxiety. “What in the world is going on?” I complained, “I’ve got way too much to do to be sitting here!” And then I saw “the problem”. The problem was the Magic Tree (470/Lee’s Summit). “Seriously?” I fumed, you’ve never seen a Christmas tree before?” Then, like a beautiful sunrise, the Magic Tree illumined the darkness and, I too, was captivated by the electric moment. The tree was beautiful and magical. Brilliance in the midst of barrenness. I slowed down, captivated by its beauty, experiencing the power of the moment. I was the problem and I almost missed it. During the Christmas season, good things can rob us of the best things. Like a swinging pendulum, our attitudes swing back and forth between A Wonderful Life and Ebenezer Scrooge. The problem, of course, is the villain--the Grinch who attempts to rob us of the joy and essence of the season. For me, there are three main Grinches of the season.
The Grinch of Busyness
During the season, we are bombarded with an endless array of parties, kid’s events, baking, concerts,
packages to mail, office parties, Christmas cards, and get-togethers; not to mention our normal routine. Our social calendars fill up fast and we find ourselves constantly on the run and, if honest, we get a little stressed and a little cranky, or so I’ve been told. The challenge is planning and controlling our schedule, ensuring that we have a good balance between the things we are obligated to do and things we choose to do. Part of the season should include fun, happy, delightful times with family and friends, or even just the opportunity to relax in front of the fireplace with a warm cup of cocoa watching a sappy movie on the Hallmark Channel. This can be wonderfully therapeutic. These times of relaxing and refreshment should be planned and placed on our social calendar. Then, when one of those “unexpected invitations” comes up, it’s not untrue to say, “I have a commitment that night” (only WE need to know that the commitment is to our sanity and includes furry slippers, a cozy couch, and fuzzy blanket).
The Grinch of Shopping
Shopping can be a delightful experience, but when combined with the business of the season, it can also add to our stress level. Just this week I was talking to a friend who said, “I haven’t done any shopping and I’ve got four kids!” Unfortunately, we’ve bought into the
marketing trap that believes the “season” is synonymous with “shopping.” Gift-giving is a part of the season, but certainly not the main part. We need to rethink that. And then there is the giving to others. We’ve all experienced that awkward moment when someone, outside of our immediate social circle, surprised us with a gift and we were taken aback. We then felt compelled to get them something in return. Reluctantly, at times, we shop for people we barely know, giving them items they do not want or need, with money we don’t really have. That’s probably where the idea of “regifting” came from. Our gift-giving should be fun, but also strategic and purposeful. Rather than focusing on the price tag, we should strive to create lasting memories and heartfelt experiences. It should also be contained within our budget. Homemade cookies can be a great way to involve the kids in giftgiving, can be fun and memorable, and not be too expensive. The Grinch of Decorating As we drive around our community, we get to experience many beautiful lights and displays. I admire the way some people use their creativity to express themselves during the season. To be honest, I loathe decorating (this comes as no surprise to my wife). I’m more of an appreciator of fine art rather than an artist. I just carry the ladder and
put the lights where she says. I have had to learn, over the years, to realize that my help in decorating is one way I can show love. Remembering that, helps me to endure, if not enjoy, the experience. One of my favorite decorating memories is the first year my wife and I were married. We bought a tree but could not really afford to buy ornaments. That year, we made our own. She took little, colorful, business cards with Bible verses about the Christmas story and put glitter on them. We hung them on the tree with red yarn. I still smile when I think about that first tree. The process of decorating should be family-oriented and fun. The finished product should be personal. If you choose to go all Griswold, or if you’re married to this person, try to see the bigger picture and enjoy the power of the moment. The holidays can be a busy, stressful time, but we can choose to fight back. We can take control of our lives and schedules and not allow the Grinch to keep us busy with good things while forgetting the best things. In the midst of all the craziness, we can create ways to slow down and celebrate the power of a moment.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech at Johnson Country Community College, and a freelance writer.
Looking Back: Pink Hill and Stony Point by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society
The history of the Pink Hill and Stony Point settlements are documented in a collection entitled “Grain Valley History” on display at the Grain Valley Historical Society Museum. The journey of Lewis and Clark through this area established Fort Point, which later became Fort Osage. This fort was established as a part of the U.S. factory system for the purpose of trading with Native Americans and pioneers in the area. The Osage tribe was located in this area. Their presence created an
environment for trade that many Americans flocked to partake in. The abundance of animals for trapping and their valued furs caused Fort Osage to thrive. The settlements of Pink Hill and Stony Point were near this lively trading and trapping activity. One of the towns from which Grain Valley grew was Pink Hill, which was located near the present Pink Hill Road north of Grain Valley. In her book, “Jackson County Pioneers”, Pearl Wilcox wrote, “Pink Hill was placed on the map by the United States Post Office in 1854,
the year the town was born.” Pink Hill was located 20 miles east of Independence and three miles north of Oak Grove. Wilcox described Pink Hill as a thriving village that had two woodworking shops owned by Squire William and Phil Sterns, a blacksmith shop owned by Michael Womacks, three general stores and many residences built by J.D. Wood. Erma Doty, a resident of Grain Valley, wrote a history of Stony Point in 1934 while she was 12 years old and attended
school at Stony Point. Stony Point was located three miles south of Grain Valley. It was termed “Stony Point” because of the apparent numerous stones in the area. “The Stony Point community was outstanding among all others because it could boast of having a school, church and store, or trading post as it was called in those days,” Doty wrote. “There were only two trading posts in eastern Jackson County, one at Pink Hill, the other at Stony Point.”
