Mayor Rob Marlowe
I posted a note on my personal facebook page Sunday morning. I referenced Genesis 2:2, where God decided to take a break on the seventh day and take in a Saints game (4pm Sunday on CBS). After the last couple of weeks, I was simply ready to unplug. I’ve been going non-stop at work and I’ve spent more than a little bit of time on city business as well.
I can only go non-stop for so long before I have to call a “time out” and relax. All that stuff at work can just wait.
I made it to church (First United Methodist of New Port Richey) Sunday morning to recharge my spiritual batteries. The quartet that sang today was awesome. It is titled “Whispering Hope” and can be found on the church website: http://www.fumcnpr.com/music/
For the last year or so, I’ve been manning the sound booth at the 8:30am and sometimes the 11:00am services. I’ve got another person to help cover 11:00am, so I’ll be able to join the choir. Editing audio files is something that is different enough from my regular work that it provides a bit of relaxation.
I first sang in a choir at First Methodist when it was in the original sanctuary on the corner of Jefferson and Pennsylvania. The current sanctuary was built over fifty years ago, so you do the math. I sang and toured with the Florida Southern College Concert Chorale back in the early 70’s. I haven’t done much singing lately and my sight-reading skills are more than a tad rusty. We’ll take care of that.
Original Sanctuary – From the West Pasco Historical Society collection
I got a nice nap in Sunday afternoon to help recharge my physical and mental batteries. I was hoping for a NASCAR race. The sound of the cars going around and around will put me to sleep in a heartbeat. There was no race today, but I managed a nap anyway.
Quiet time is important. It gives us the opportunity to clear our minds. I’ve found that “down time” is when I am at my creative best. It is during these breaks that I can listen to some music (the 2Cellos Sunday afternoon) on the phonograph and let my mind wander. It in these quiet times that I consider what our city could be and think of how we might get from here to there.
We have so much potential here in New Port Richey. Make a point of unplugging for a few hours this week or during this coming Labor Day weekend and simply relax and recharge. If we all take a break and dream a little, then we can work together to make those dreams a reality.
Rob Marlowe, Mayor