Community Matters Aberdeen Village
August 2015
Chaplain’s message: We’re battling giants The story of David and Goliath is one of the best-known stories of the Old Testament. King Saul asked David about his ability to meet the challenge.
The Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton
David explained how God helped him defend his sheep, defeating a bear and a lion. That memory gave David strength and confidence. We too have “giants” to face. An example is Randy Pausch, who had a giant to face in the form of pancreatic cancer as a young 45-year old father and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He learned that he had only a few months to live. How did he face it? He stepped out in faith and agreed to give his last lecture. Here are the lessons that Randy gave us: Always have fun Each of us must make a decision, best captured in A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh characters. Am I a fun-loving Tigger or a sad-sack Eeyore? I won’t let go of the Tigger in me. CHAPLAIN, continued on page 2 CEO, continued on page 4
Cathy Sims
New face enjoys old pastime at Aberdeen Village Cathy Sims is glad to be learning all of the ins and outs of managing a senior living community through her Administrator in Training (A.I.T.) practicum at Aberdeen Village. She’s completing her masters through MidAmerica Nazarene University, and this is her final step before she’s able to secure a position as an assistant administrator or executive director at a senior living community. “I’ll be with PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid America) through the fall, and I’m so glad to be getting hands-on learning here. I agree with the PMMA approach to helping the residents live their own life within our walls,” said Cathy. Cathy is a longtime butterfly enthusiast, and was particularly excited to learn that a Monarch waystation was recently planted at Aberdeen Village. Cathy has had a butterfly habitat at her home for more than 20 years and enjoys the butterflies and hummingbirds it attracts. The Monarch Waystation at Aberdeen Village was planted by Larry Kohler’s daughter, Diana. PASTIME, continued on page 2
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org. Tim Allin, executive director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
“The Monarch plants are doing well. Four out of six tropical milkweeds have buds, and we have seen a couple of butterflies other than Monarchs on the pincushion flowers,” said Diana. “We will plant asters for fall blooms and Monarch attraction and will be putting down mulch soon. Most of the plants are perennials, so the beds will not
reach full maturity until at least the second growing, but we may get breeding Monarchs by next spring. We should be able to officially register the site as a waystation this fall if plants continue to grow well.” We’re happy to have both Cathy and the new Waystation here at Aberdeen Village, and we hope you take a moment to become acquainted with both!
Coming up in Community Matters How has music been important to you? In an upcoming issue of Community Matters we will be focusing on music and its role in making our lives better. If you’ve got a story about what music has meant to you, contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, and your story may be selected for an upcoming Community Matters newsletter. CHAPLAIN, continued from page 1
Dare to take a risk In a virtual-reality course he taught, he encouraged students to attempt hard things and not worry about failing. At the end of the semester, he presented a stuffed penguin—the First Penguin Award—to the team that took the biggest gamble while not meeting its goals. It was a prize for “glorious failure.” Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted, and it can be the most valuable thing you learn. Look for the best in everyone If you wait long enough, people will surprise and impress you. In the end, people will show you their good side. Just wait, it will come. What are the giants you will face before your journey is over? There will always be Goliaths. But remember the words of Paul when faced with giants in the way: We may be afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. God is always on the side of those who admit they need God’s help in standing up to life’s Goliaths. There is no giant that God cannot help us to conquer. Claim the promise and live in peace and joy!
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Community Matters august 2015