Milestones and history
Blog vol 4.46. Milestones and history
This weekend our Church, Jerseyville Baptist, is celebrating its 200th Anniversary. The lead-up to the event has been involved: organizing a festive dinner, posting festive signs, lining up speakers, inviting guests, finishing off a 200-year history, making cookbooks, preparing for fireworks, stitching quilts, and countless other details. My wife, Mari-Lou, took on the task of updating and expanding the history written for the 150th anniversary in 1974 by Floris Van Sickle, an all-consuming task.
As we look at a history, you really appreciate the work of historians. Donald Creighton, the renowned Canadian historian, once wrote, “History is the record of an encounter between character and circumstance.” Interesting thought.
I am aware that this is a blog about eyes and eye health and anything to do with light and eye science. After countless blogs, one may correctly conclude that this is a wide-ranging topic: from the Webb telescope’s findings in deep space to nanoanalysis of maple syrup, from bird migrations to the ground-breaking work on fizzled receptors for macular repair. The history of all this is fascinating, and as Creighton suggests, there are resourceful and persistent people who stretch the envelope, ask the questions, and look for answers in their time and place.
The last 200 years at Jerseyville Baptist speak of this reality. Many people who, day to day, persisted in living their lives out, doing the work of the Church, sticking together, and holding onto the bigger picture. There is a prize for sticking it out, for showing up, and it is quite attainable — nothing special, just lots of continued care, every day, over many generations.
We are just getting started at Burlington Eyecare. In 1965, Dr. Ron Watson set up his own practice at Wellington Square. He wanted to provide excellent eye care to the people of Burlington. Dr. Nancy Wilson (Shaver) joined him in 1976 when the practice moved to Fairview Street. As I look back at the history, the common thread has been a commitment to providing excellent care. I speak for Drs. Watson and Wilson as well as the current doctors when I say that we are thankful for the trust that people have put in us over the years. It is truly a gift.
You trust us to provide the best possible care and timely, appropriate treatments, to take each and every person seriously and respectfully, to make excellent products available, and to gladly service any needs. It takes a commitment over a long period to make this all happen. A special shout out to my excellent staff, opticians, and doctors who all have this culture of care in their veins.
As we celebrate our 60th year at Burlington Eyecare, we are thankful and encouraged. It may not be the 200 years of Jerseyville Baptist but to get to 60 years takes a lot of continued care, every day, over many years.
Now I had best go see my next patient...
Til next week,
The good doctor
