Of Times Past

"History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are." ~David C. McCullough

"Our ignorance of history causes us to slander our own times." ~Gustave Flaubert

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Thou turnest man to destruction, And sayest, Return, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night. So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom. (Psalms 90:1-4, 12)


"This has been quite an adventure." ~my almost 7-year old

Upon our visit home to Danville, we ventured out to a field trip familiar to me 25 years ago. Old Fort Harrod was the prized adventure for all. Feeding the baby goats was a highlight as well as climbing the historical Osage orange tree, but we also enjoyed broom making and basket weaving. We took in the sites of the gun holes for shooting the Indian invaders, the natural limestone spring from which came their life spring, and the first school established west of the Allegheny Mountains. I was able to recount to my children that they lived very hard lives in the pioneer and revolutionary days as was seen by the 200 year old gravesite, the humble homesteads, the medicinal herb garden and the hand-wrought tools. There is nothing like watching your school-aged child being almost as interested in the past as you are. We should be so blessed to recount the days of old and be humbled by the multitude of conveniences we have today.