Sermon Tone Analysis

John Muir on a place in Yosemite:

Describes the passing of a day in a beautiful place called Hazel Green.

In his wonderful description of the morning, midday and evening, I think about the passing of a life from the earliest days, to the final days.

And Sharon’s wish is that we hear the quips and anecdotes of the Dick that she knew from those earliest days.

First John Muir:

Hazel Green is a good place quietly to camp and study, to get acquainted with the trees and birds, to drink the reviving water and weather, and to watch the changing lights of the big charmed days.

The rose light of the dawn, creeping higher among the stars, changes to daffodil yellow; then come the level enthusiastic sunbeams pouring across the feathery ridges, touching pine after pine, spruce and fir and lordly sequoia, searching every recess, until all are awakened and warmed.

Sharon first met Dick when she began working at JPL in 1962.

Her first impression was “that nerdy engineer who always wore a bow tie and a pocket protector, and rode a motorcycle to work.”

That image didn’t change for several years.(So

she had her eye on him for a while, checking him out, seeing if he was the real deal)

In 1970, when their friendship appeared to be growing, Sharon checked the “secretary pipeline” to see what others thought of him.

(ya know you have to see what the rumor mill is about a guy).

The common theme was that “he is a true gentleman.”

This was true until the day he died.

Dick was logical and a realist.

Dick and Sharon were married December 29, 1970, after Dick convinced her that they could save money on taxes if they married before the end of the year (so there’s romance, but hey who doesn’t want to save money on taxes?).

Road travel was always one of Dick’s passions.

In the mid-60’s he drove his new crew cab pickup to Alaska on the unpaved Alcan Highway.

He and Sharon and their (her) dog Heidi travelled extensively throughout the western US and Canada first in the pickup and camper, then a motorhome, and lastly staying in motels and hotels.

They especially enjoyed visiting the national and state parks.

On their first one-month vacation, he built a platform in the backseat of the truck so Heidi could lie down and watch the scenery.

Heidi wanted no part of this.

She spent the whole month standing on the platform with her head over Dick’s shoulder barking at every roadworker, animal and red bicycle.

This might have contributed to Dick’s hearing loss in later years.

Muir describes how the light dawns and reaches out and touches and revives everything: then come the level enthusiastic sunbeams pouring across the feathery ridges, touching pine after pine, spruce and fir and lordly sequoia, searching every recess, until all are awakened and warmed.

And that makes me think of a man who lived life to the fullest, a life of adventure and travel, appreciating the joy of family and the beauty of God’s creation.

Jesus said in , “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full.”

Muir continues into midday:

In the white noon they (the trees) shine in every splendor, every needle and cell in bole and branch thrilling and tingling with ardent life; and the whole landscape glows with consciousness, like the face of God.

The hours go by uncounted.

Dick was a do-er.

For many years he was President of the Pasadena BMW Motorcycle Club.

He was a Neighborhood Watch Captain for several years.

He was a deacon in the Sierra Madre church.

One of his greatest joys was remodeling this building after it was purchased.

He was also in charge of the maintenance and supervised the updating of the kitchen and dining room in the Education building.

No only remodeling buildings, Dick loved rebuilding cars.

This gave him projects to share with Sharon’s Dad.

They put a Corvette engine in an older Chevy station wagon (definitely sounds like something an engineer would do) and rebuilt a Cadillac limousine.

And when Sharon’s dad moved into an assisted living facility, Dick visited him daily.

Dick was a news junkie and an avid reader.

He was reading “Hamilton” before he died.

He also read all of John McPhee’s geology books.

(Got interested in who this was and started reading, “The Survival of the Bark Canoe.”

He has the complete set of “Calvin and Hobbes” (also a huge fan and have all of these books.

Read them with our boys growing up).

He was a music purist.

He didn’t approve of the fireworks at the end of the 1812 Overture.

He and Sharon were fortunate to have a jazz musician, Geoffrey Clayton as a neighbor.

Geoffrey's orchestra would practice in his home every Saturday morning.

Dick enjoyed the music until they began their improvisation.

(hmm Jazz improv definitely doesn’t jive with the logical sensibilities of an engineer)

Muir says standing in the beautiful Hazel Green, the hours go by uncounted.

That makes me think of a life well lived in service to others and not to self.

Not only seeking pleasureable experiences for self, but using one’s time serving family, the community, the church.

Certainly Dick did all of these.

Jesus said in that even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

And finally Muir turns to the end of the day:

The evening flames purple and gold.

The breeze that has been blowing from the lowlands dies away, and far and near the mighty host of trees baptized in the purple flood stand hushed and thoughtful, awaiting the sun’s blessing and farewell, as impressive a ceremony as if it were never to rise again.

When the daylight fades, the night breeze from the snowy summits begins to blow, and the trees, waving and rustling beneath the stars, breathe free again.

The first summer after he retired, when Sharon left for work, he’d drive to Santa Clarita to help his brother-in-law remodel his kitchen.

When his driver’s license was up for renewal in 2018, Sharon drove him to the DMV office to take the test.

When he walked in and saw the chaos, he told Sharon that he shouldn’t be driving and applied for his ID card instead.

Walking or hiking was something Dick did most days until the past few years.

He walked at work, took a hike most days after he retired, and loved hiking on vacations.

As the years went by, travel became more local with Yosemite and the central coast becoming favorite destinations.

In Yosemite the Barlows graduated from campgrounds to Yosemite Lodge and then the Ahwahnee, especially enjoying the Bracebridge Dinner in December (I had to look that up as well--wow).

This was a topic between Dick and I often on Sundays when I was here.

I would make sure I share my latest Scout adventure with him, and he was always glad to hear it.

Even though he couldn’t hike in his final years, he was always positive about his health, his life, and he always enjoyed sharing one of his former adventures.

When the daylight fades, the night breeze from the snowy summits begins to blow, and the trees, waving and rustling beneath the stars, breathe free again.

Dick never understood why people just didn’t say that “he died.”

Dick died on Friday, October 11, 2019.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.

The one who believes in me will live even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Breathe free again Dick Barlow.

Doug to lead prayer and invite to reception