Emporia Community Matters - July 2022

Emporia Presbyterian Manor

Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Greg Schmidt, chaplain at Newton Presbyterian Manor®

JULY 2022

Chaplain’s Corner

By Greg Schmidt

First-time participant wins Art is Ageless Best in Show

®

David Mai had heard about, and even attended, an Art is Ageless® exhibit in the past, but it wasn’t until just recently that he ever considered entering himself.

“I work with some other people, mostly senior citizens, at the Emporia Art Guild and they were talking about it, so I thought I’d just enter too,” said David.

It was a good decision.

July is here…and so is the heat! And what’s the best way to “beat the heat?”

Look for a vacation spot that offers a cooler climate, right?!

Greg Schmidt

When I was a kid—and into my young adulthood—my favorite getaway trip was to church camp in the Rockies. Over the years, I progressed from camper to camp counselor to camp director, and in the latter position, I introduced the Mennonite Brethren church camp world to Noah’s Ark Whitewater Rafting Co.! That added a few “ice cold” stories to all the others!

But what happens when you cannot “escape the heat” of life’s daily battles? How does one find ways to rest or relax in place? You may not like my answer. I believe every one of us desperately needs to allow our hearts and minds to find comfort by taking us away in our thoughts to a place where we’ve experienced the love, grace, forgiveness and peace from God and (Christian) friends

“Cow Gazing at Fence” by David Mai

Art is Ageless® winner – continued

on page 3

Escape the heat – continued on page 2

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Escape the heat – continued from page 1 that have always been there for us. It is never good to stay forever pinned down to our inevitable problems. We must be able to escape. Mental respite is a must!

I’m simply suggesting we ask God to let our minds take us to places we otherwise cannot go. I accomplish that by beginning where Jesus did—in prayer.

When we ask God to help us recall those places, people, and moments when we perceived life as less troubled, less complicated, less corrupted by pain or disease or situations that caused us fear or panic, we discover peace.

Our prayer should then shift to a state of productive meditation, staying in that personal place and allowing God to “heal” my body, spirit, and soul to the degree that my burden or worry is temporarily suspended. Just as our physical body needs at least four hours of deep sleep before it can even begin to be restored and re-energized, our hearts and souls need sustained rest as well.

A break from being bombarded by the challenges of everyday

life, especially when those challenges include dealing with death and dying realities.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.” The Psalmist is figuratively describing an internal need—a

“thirsting after”—the One he believes will replenish his innermost needs. He doesn’t imagine a sip; he wants to drink deep. To do that will take time. It doesn’t happen on the fly or instantaneously.

Why would he make that request?

Because life is pinning him down.

He’s needy. He’s stressed out.

Because the pursuit of those people and situations that set out to do harm or destroy him are bearing down on him. Because sustained rest is the only thing that will restore his life and vision. The image of a deer so at peace with her

surroundings that she can stop and without fear, lower her head to the stream to take a long, needed drink, in complete peace, is inspirational to the Psalmist. So, he sets in place in a cave and meditates on what it would be like if he too, like the deer, could drink deep from the cool, refreshing resources of all that God has to offer.

We desperately need rest, especially when we’re facing “life and death.”

Why? So that we have the resources and strength to fight life’s battles.

Each of our Manors and communities, as well as our Heart & Soul Hospices are about finding rest for our patients and their families. And we get that needed rest when we choose to live and enjoy every moment God gives us rather than giving in to the pain, frustration, and discouragement that disease and discomfort naturally bring.

So, right where you are, ask God to allow your heart and mind to travel to your vacation spot, your resting place. Not only do you need it, you also deserve it! And unlike making a booking with Noah’s Ark Whitewater Rafting Co., it won’t cost you a thing! u

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Community Matters 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6635 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: ataber@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Andraya Taber, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Art is Ageless® – continued from page 1 Not only did David’s piece “174 Acres Dry Land” win Best of Show and first place in the professional sculptural/3-D division, his “Cow Gazing at Fence” won first place in the mixed-media/crafts division and his “Fence Bowl” took home a third-place ribbon in the sculptural/3-D division.

“174 Acres Dry Land”

And it all came as a huge surprise to David.

“I didn’t really know I had won anything until I went to pick up my work,” said David.

Even though he may have been a first-time participant in Art is Ageless, David is hardly a beginner at art. He is a trained ceramics artist who has a Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Montana. In fact, it was art that brought David to Kansas in the first place.

“Forty years ago, I started doing artist in residence positions in Kansas. Once we ended up here in Emporia, I decided I’d get certified to teach because I like working with students,” said David.

As a result, David spent 20 years teaching elementary and high school students in Emporia and continues to teach ceramics at the Emporia Arts Council.

Despite his teaching schedule, David still finds time for his own work and, when asked, was pretty certain that he’ll enter Art is

Ageless again next year.

“Oh yeah, I think so. I’m always creating new work,” said David.

And David would like to encourage other local artists who may be on the fence to consider entering as well.

“I think an important part of art is you’re creating it, but if you don’t show it to anybody it hasn’t really completed its purpose. You have to show it so people can see it and understand what you’re doing and get some inspiration from it,” said David. u

“Fenced bowl”

Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

A few things you probably didn’t know about Independence Day It’s almost July 4th and before you gobble down a hotdog and take in some fireworks, we thought we would share some little-known Independence Day facts that you can use to amaze your family and friends.

First, the Declaration of Independence was not signed on July 4, 1776.

Shocking, right?

Actually, July 4 was the day that Congress approved the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, which was written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. It wasn’t until August 2, 1776 that the document was actually signed.

Next, we all know about John Hancock’s famous, well …

John Hancock. But did you know he was actually the first of the 56 delegates to sign the document?

And how was the first anniversary of Independence Day celebrated? The Virginia Gazette described the celebration in Philadelphia this way: “The evening was closed with the ringing of bells, and at night there was a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2022

commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated. Everything was conducted with the greatest order and decorum, and the face of joy and gladness was universal.”

Here are a few more little-known facts thanks to Almanac.com.

• Congress officially declared July 4th a federal holiday in 1870, but it wasn’t until 1938 until federal employees could take the day off.

• On the back of the Declaration of Independence, the words “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776” is written upside down.

• Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson—signers of the Declaration of Independence who later went on to become president—died on its 50th anniversary.

• According to the weather diary of Thomas Jefferson, the weather on July 4, 1776 was cloudy and 76 degrees. u