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Donald Cronkite

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Looking Backwards

When we ordain a new elder or deacon at my church, a substantial proportion of the congregation gets into the act. We have the custom of inviting all of the current and former elders and deacons in the congregation to come join in the laying on of hands. Possibly other churches have this tradition, but I had never been in one that did this until I joined this church. Since I was elected elder a number of years ago, I…
Donald Cronkite
August 1, 2005
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New Songs: Two Stories of Ministry

What do I have to do to get an addition put in the Psalms? I have a new song that needs to be in there and isn't, and with Psalms like 96 and 98 practically commanding new additions, I want to contribute. I assume we'd need an ecumenical council to act on it, debate it perhaps for several years, and then--well then this addition would fill a void. Here are two incidents that made me aware of this need. We…
Donald Cronkite
February 1, 2005
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Instruments

I have long noticed a parallel between musicians and scientists. We both use instruments, and I think we both use them for the same purpose: to learn something about nature by interacting with it. For example, a pH meter uses diffusion across a thin glass wall to determine the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. A saxophone uses a vibrating reed on a funny shaped tube to makes possible the exploration of what it's like to have the blues.…
Donald Cronkite
December 16, 2004
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Mouse Under Box in Kitchen

A blue post-it note in my wife's handwriting had appeared on my computer screen during the night. "Mouse under box in kitchen." The cat must have been earning her keep while I slept. When I got downstairs, however, mouse was not under box. The cat had lifted the box sometime after the message was written and now presented me with a dead gift to throw away. Everyone in my house wants mice, spiders, bats, and assorted insects that enter to…
Donald Cronkite
April 16, 2004