Seth and Alta Wilson stories

Here is a link to a website for Seth and Alta Wilson descendants:

https://sites.google.com/site/sethandaltawilsonfamilyhistory/

2018 reunion site (old)

Here is the link to our 202189 Reunion info and registration:

https://sites.google.com/site/sethandaltawilsonfamilyhistory/

Love and mercy - a testimony to myself

It's 6 am on a Sunday. Couldn't sleep so I started listening and curating some audio recordings from Church and came across a testimony I gave in early August. I took the time to listen and was was actually comforted. I struggled with the Church - most recently with Pres Dallin Oaks' notion of balancing law and love. It just seems like bad theology to me and hurtful in countless ways.

I'm also struggling with health issues: eye surgery two weeks ago was a failure - my right eye is nearly totally blind in recovery and I don't have great prospects for restored sight. I worry about how long I'll be able to keep the other eye working since it suffers from the same retinal problem.

My August testimony was a comfort to me that in spite of issues and challenges, I've learned a few things in my life worth holding onto - and can at least stand as happy witness of those things. I am not depressed about Church or health struggles, but sometimes I feel alone. I always feel weak. But I also feel grateful for the good things I have had - and still have - in my life.

The thought that got me out of bed this morning was a reply to Pres Oaks. The Book of Mormon talks about justice and mercy and the tension that exists between them. Maybe Pres Oaks was thinking about that in his talk. But then a thought occurred about John Rawls' thought experiment about justice. In a just world, God will measure our life relative to our circumstances and privileges we have enjoyed. If the vast majority of people coming to earth subsist on low wages, meager resources, and limited education - then how would God seek justice upon people like me? Wouldn't I plead for mercy - that I didn't understand my privilege, was weak and limited even in my blessings and comfort? The very idea of using justice (or "law") as a cudgel against anyone when the beam in my own eye is so obvious - I just see justice and mercy in a new light.

For more on Rawls' notion of justice as it relates to God, Frances Menlove's devotional and this NY Times editorial on reincarnation.

As Brian Wilson (no relation!) said, "Loe and mercy is what we need tonight. Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight!"

My new 4th grade friend

Sharman and I participated in an exchange with fourth graders at Louisville Elementary, where older citizens told about their lives and responded to the kids' questions. We each wrote three responses and then met with the kids and their families this week for a pot luck dinner and talent show at the Rec Center.

 

Here are my responses, compiled into a single report. Warning: It's nearly 30 megs in size:

Brent's story to Javier

It was a lot of work but tons of fun really, trying to put together something that a kid would understand. And so rewarding to see the kids and their affection for us old folks! I think it wouldn't work quite so well with sixth or seventh graders!

Silas and Grampa Brent

Sarah took this picture of me and Silas just a few days old - mid-September. I like the deep look on his face!

Family picture - August

Paul and Shea bought a Prius (first car in their lives really) and drove out to see Seth and Lauren last August before they returned to Thailand. That's Otis and Natalia forefronted - fun time!

Two weeks in Turkey!

Sharman and I spent two weeks in Turkey late June/early July: Three days in Istanbul seeing the impressive big sites, three days in Trabzon at a conference, hosted very kindly by the family of my doc student Aysenur, then another week touring sites in a rental car.

 

Here we are overlooking Trabzon. And here is a nearby monastery, which we visited along with Aysenur's father and brother.

More pics to follow.

Driving in Turkey was a blast! I hesitated after seeing people's raised eyebrows, and the drivers in the narrow Istanbul streets. But everyone was very aware on the roads, with tractors and overloaded hay tracks driving alongside new vehicles going 120 km/hr. Sharman and Garmin were great navigators, and we only rarely got lost!

Money was another adventure - our debit and credit cards seemed to work about half the time, which was enough to get us home safely, but only barely!

The Turkish people were amazing - good solid hard-working people with good family values. It took me 12 days before I found one I didn't like (a restauranteur being mean to his waitress!). We miss you Turkey; hope to get back to visit sometime!