O-H-I-O (7.17.2024)

This past week I was invited to speak and give a benediction at the OVAC Evening with the Stars Dinner at the White Palace in Wheeling, WV.  This is the time when the All-Star Football players from the State of Ohio play against the All-Star Football players of West Virginia.  They also include the All-Star Cheerleaders of each state and the Queen of Queens from each state.  I am not sure, but I thought one of our sons played or was asked to play years ago.  I know one of our daughters was an All-Star Cheerleader and another one of our daughters was a part of the Queen of Queens contest.  I am grateful that for several years Dr. Diana Vargo has asked me to participate, and I always seemed to be out of town on the day they needed me to attend.  It was special for me and my wife to finally get to attend as a guest. 

My challenge is that I have lived in a divided house.  My lovely wife has let me know without a shadow of a doubt that it is going to stay that way.  Understand that for over 30+ years I lived in Ohio. O-H-I-O the cheer goes.  I have been blessed to pastor in Ohio.  I have been blessed to have children born in Ohio.  Some of our children went to school, played sports and graduated from school in Ohio.   I was an Ohioan thru and thru.  Now for the last 30+ years I have lived in West Virginia.  Let’s Go, Mountaineers.  I have been blessed to pastor in West Virginia.  I have been blessed that some of our children have been born in West Virginia.  Some of our children went to school, played sports and graduated from schools in West Virginia.   I would like to think I am a West Virginian thru and thru, but what it really means is, I am old.
My wife on the other hand is West Virginia thru and thru.  Although she was born in Ohio and lived in Ohio for 8 weeks.  She has mainly lived in West Virginia, went to school, played sports, and graduated from West Virginia.  She does not want to hear anything about anything else other than “Country Roads take me home!” 

I guess we are a little like the Odd Couple TV Show, from the 1970’s.  It was about two men, one was known for being neat, the other messy, one was kind, the other consider grouchy, one liked high-class food, the other basic.  The TV show came from a 1968 movie of the same name.  The TV show starred actors Jack Lennon and Walter Matthau, playing Flex Unger and Oscar Madison.  I remember the TV show as a child, it was only on for five years.  It still had a powerful message.  We don’t have to agree on everything in order to get along.  We can disagree without being disagreeable.  We can be two states that play against each other for the championship, but we are all still Americans.

That is why my heart was so sadden at the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump on last Saturday, July 13th, 2024 in Butler, PA. I believe it has been over 40 years, since the last attempt on a president’s life.  We can disagree without wanting to see the person harmed.  Have we gotten to the place that we can not even talk about our differences without being hostile? I know the young 20-year old’s name, but I refuse to use it.  I don’t know his motivation for such a terrible act.  I am confident that no matter what the reason, it is the wrong answer.  Marriages have ended, families have broken up, businesses have been lost, and communities destroyed because of lack of communication. As Rodney King, said years ago, “Why can’t we all get along?” 

On this past Sunday I was made to be so happy for the 2nd Annual Gospel Fest held at Wheeling’s Heritage Port.  I am told there were in between 100 to 150 people in attendance.  I know that is not a large number, maybe the smallest of all the events held at the port.  What I am happy about is that it was so diverse at the event.  Young, old, black, white, rich, poor, democratic, republican, independent, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Methodist, Pentecostal, Apostolic, Ohioans, West Virginians, Pennsylvanian’s and many other differences for sure.  With all our differences we were singing together, clapping together, and smiling together.  To me that sounds like the real American Dream.  By the way, my wife who is a WVU Mountaineer fan has agreed to go to an Ohio State game too!  (smile).  To the All-Stars of WV and Ohio and their coaches, have a great game and play ball!