Is genealogy just a foolish hobby? I would argue that it is not. I think each of us is linked, in some mysterious dance, with past generations. It helps to know about our past because in each of our histories are stories and events that are deeply inspiring. By knowing our history we see how the values and ideals that our families have fought for are similar or different from our own. Our ancestor's stories of success interconnect with our own lives. We can learn also from the stories of the tragic mistakes, of their dreams gone awry. We can at times even see their mistakes repeated in our own lives. So like the author of Matthew's Gospel, I think that the study of our family history can be much more than just a hobby. Because each of us is the product of our parents and grandparents as we learn more about the people that came before us, we learn more about ourselves. In a constantly changing world the digging for the roots is, in the end, the quest for a stable, core identity. All modern Americans should understand. From: Digging for Roots A Sermon Given by the Reverend Roger Fritts on September 17, 2000 at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, Maryland See Complete transcript of the sermon at: http://www.cedarlane.org/00serms/s000917.html ....Michael Reck <[email protected]> Researching: BAIR-BIRT-BOYD-BRANDON-CURTIS-DAVIDSON-FLETCHER-FRANTZ-HENNING-HOWE-JAYNE -KOHR-LESHER-MILLER-MOYER-MUNCY-PEARSON-RANDOLPH-RECK-REIGLE-ROSE-SHOOK-S TOEVER-URMEY-ZELLER