Still Listening for the Meadowlark's Song

Confronted with the Covid-19 pandemic, James A. Stricker chose to look back over his life and reflect on how his upbringing and experiences impacted his beliefs and how those beliefs subsequently shaped his decisions. Beginning with his early childhood in Kansas City through his school years and on to his work with the State of Iowa Department of Environmental Quality, Jim was shaped not only by his upbringing and faith but also by the impact of the wider social and political circumstances of his youth from the polio vaccine to the insurance business of his parents to experiences in school and meeting his future wife. Jim views his philosophy on how to treat people and conduct himself as a work in progress, constantly shifting but always with the aim of understanding others and their point of view. This philosophy impacted his work as a regulator for the State of Iowa, as a supervisor of employees, as a father, and as a husband. Still Listening for the Meadowlark's Song offers lessons Jim has learned that he hopes to pass along to his children and grandchildren and also provides insight into the way we learn and grow from our life experiences as we go through our lives. Even after seventy-seven years, Jim is still learning.