Arkansas City Community Matters October 2016

Commun ty Matters Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor

October 2016

‘What a wonderful world’ Louis Armstrong, with his oneof-a-kind gravely style, could get more out of a song than anyone.

“I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”

That song was a slow stroll through the day. It encouraged pausing to take it all in. The gift of reflection brings to focus the wonder of everyday moments.

It highlights nature’s beauty. The trees are alive in fall colors.

It’s not too hot and not too cold.

I’m determined to take a scenic drive, soak in the beauty and say to myself, “What a wonderful world.”

WONDERFUL, continued on page 2

“Two Geriatric Gents” by Dr. Steve Swaim.

Veterinarian injects art and life with humor Dr. Steve Swaim practiced and taught veterinary medicine for 50 years. When he retired, Dr. Swaim put down his scalpel and picked up woodcarving tools. And animals are still his favorite subjects.

Dr. Swaim’s carving, “Two Geriatric Gents,” will be featured on Art is Ageless notecards by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA). After winning the sculpture/3D category in the Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor competition, his piece was entered at the masterpiece level to compete with works from 16 other PMMA communities.

The two “gents” are actually an old man and his dog, who are both due for their annual checkups. The man has a checklist for each of them, and they’re quite similar – except that he won’t be checked for fleas.

ART, continued on page 3

WONDERFUL, continued from page 1

Happy Birthday!

Verl Conroy Betty McGehan Rosemary Honer

I’m also convinced that Satchmo had it right when he said that even a “hello” among friends is an expression of love.

“The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces of people going by I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do / They’re really saying I love you.”

Human friendship is richer when we are intentionally present in the moment. A smile and a few kind words can make my day. If that is true in the natural, how much more is it true in our spiritual life?

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Experiencing God has much to do with our deliberate purposeful acknowledgement that He is with us. It’s dialoguing with our Father throughout the day and scheduling

time to unite with Him through Scripture reading and prayer. I’m discovering that connecting with God is far richer if I make time to regularly sit and be with Him. Stop and reflect for a few minutes, soak in His presence and enjoy connecting with our Father. May we, like King David of old, seek the one thing that really matters: “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” — Psalm 27:4 New InternationalVersion Gaze on His beauty and you may just find yourself humming, “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

Courtesy of Diane Gunsolley, chaplain at AberdeenVillage, a member of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Family.

is published monthly for residents and friends of Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org.

Sarah Griggs, executive director Tara Clawson, marketing director Lori Peters, activities director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact tclawson@pmma.org.

Telephone: 620-442-8700 Fax: 620-442-8224 Address: 1711 N. Fourth, Arkansas City, KS 67005-1607

Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

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ART, continued from page 1

“One of the guys in my carving club saw it and said, ‘I learned dogs have prostate glands too.’”

Dr. Swaim said cartoon-like scenes are his favorite to dream up, create and paint. “I inherited my humor, and my sons are the same way,” he said, adding one of his favorite sayings: “Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to a car.”

As a professor of veterinary medicine at Auburn University, Dr. Swaim said he peppered his lectures with funny stories and colloquialisms. His colleagues and students urged him to write them down, so he published a book titled “I Wanna See a Veterinarian.”

Dr. Swaim said he entered Art is Ageless for the past couple of years, but this is the first time to be featured in the calendar or cards. Most of the time, he gives his whimsical carvings to veterinary students, family and friends. But they also have another purpose.

One of his favorite causes is the Christian Veterinary Missions organization, which has student chapters at many veterinary colleges. For more than eight years, Dr. Swaim has donated carvings to raffles to raise money for mission trips by veterinary students at Auburn, Oklahoma State, and his alma mater, K-State. Without a doubt, his humorous scenes create lots of laughter, which of course is the best medicine of all.

Don’t be discouraged by obstacles in your path

By Wayne Rector, Arkansas City Presbyterian Manor resident

There is a song entitled, “Reach Out to Jesus,” which says, “is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone? Does the road you travel harbor danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary in the struggle of Wayne Rector it all? Jesus will help you when on His name you call.”

So often in life, it seems, when we set out to do something good, or strive to reach a worthwhile goal, we find obstacles in our path that would discourage us.

The Apostle Paul warns us to “not be weary in well doing.” So if discouragement or weariness in well Like us on Facebook

doing seeks to turn you aside or keep you from doing your best, hang in there, as the saying goes. Work like it all depended on you, and pray like it all depended on God. And, remember, reach out to Jesus, for he is always reaching out to you.

Let’s Pray. Our Father in Heaven, we thank you that you have not put us in the world to struggle alone, but you are “a very present help in time of trouble.” Thank you for the light that guides our paths, and for Jesus who leads us when our way is not clear. In His name we pray. Amen.

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Celebrations & traditions We will focus on celebrations and family traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. What traditions are important to your holiday celebrations? What are your memories of Christmas? What recipes did you only make for these special holidays?

If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Tara Clawson, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.

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