Coffee Break with the Barista
June/July 2009
Great scholars have said that truth is simple but humans like to complicate matters.
When
I was roughly five years old, I remember drinking from a water fountain
at a Famous Barr department store. While I was sipping, I was thinking
about how all people are related to each other if you look back far
enough in generations. If a five-year-old knows this, what has caused
us to forget this simple truth in our adulthood ? Aren’t we all related?
And
have you ever wondered why adults seem to put the welfare of their own
children above other children? Why are our own children more worthy of
love and happiness than our neighbors’ children?
Both of these
questions lead us to one conclusion—we’re all one people and we’re all
important. Some of us know this, but most of us have forgotten this
simple truth. At Camp Weloki, located just outside of Farmington, Mo.,
Dr. Tim Jordan, pediatrician, is helping kids rediscover this simple
truth—they are important! On page 11, he talks about Camp Weloki and
his efforts to provide not only a traditional camp experience, but to
help kids learn how to effectively deal with life’s challenges. I’m
grateful that people like Jordan are available to help our kids lead
happy, productive lives.
On a lighter note, one of my favorite
St. Louis entertainment venues is Circus Flora. From the first moment I
sat under the big top with my four-year-old son down on Grand Avenue, I
fell in love with this extraordinary circus. That was 10 years ago.
This year, Circus Flora invited me to meet their animal performers and
get a sneak peek of the upcoming performance, called Medrano, at a
picnic in St. Charles where the animals reside. You won’t want to miss
this year’s performance, June 4 through 21. It is smart, exciting and
will captivate you and your children from start to finish. You might
consider making it your family’s June tradition.
Many years ago,
I learned to fly sailplanes, also called gliders. Since I’m afraid of
heights, I wouldn’t have thought that I would be able to not only ride
in a glider, but to solo in one as well. But I did, and it’s nothing
short of thrilling. These motorless airplanes rely on the skill of the
pilot and favorable atmospheric conditions to stay aloft—sometimes for
hours. It’s a thrill to watch and an even greater thrill to go for a
ride! You might consider taking your dad for a ride on Father’s Day.
Read my story on page 7 and see if you think your dad might enjoy a
ride in a glider!
Now for important business! In its third year, Java Journal
has grown from a small coffee shop paper to what it is today—full-color
pages packed with stories and information about personal growth,
positive community awareness, and a whole lot of fun. But some people
still think it’s about coffee. So, in an effort to better reflect what
Java Journal is today, we’re considering changing its name. And we’d
like to have the help of our readers.
If you have a suggestion
for a name that better reflects what it has become, write to us with
your suggestions. Or if you like the name as it is, tell us. Please
email us at production@javajournalonline.com or write to us at 11116
South Towne Square, Suite 102, St. Louis, Mo., 63123. Since you are
important to us, we would like to hear from you.
And don’t forget—I love to get email from our readers! Send me a note and let me know how we’re doing at Java Journal.
Kindly,
Marian Rein