I will continue my theme of telling of those who have helped me in some way develop myself, encouraged me to do better, or provided some kind of assistance to me in some aspect of life. We tend to think we can do things ourselves, but if we stop and think, we know that others have given to our success…sometimes given a lot.
It’s the same with our Christian faith. We can’t do it on our own. It’s only by the choosing of God to bestow grace and mercy, and provide other people to help and encourage us that make us what we are.
I think of the man who hired me in my first job out of tech school. My first day at work at the TV station where I was hired on as an engineer, Keith (the head engineer) met me in the early morning hours, and we went through the opening of the station and the sign-on process. We were the only ones there, and were responsible for getting the station on the air and operating for the day. The second day, I showed up when I was supposed to, but Keith wasn’t there. I waited a little bit, but determined that he probably wasn’t going to be there in time to get the station up and running. So I did my best to recall everything we did the day before. And the list was a long one. Turning on switches here, punching on the transmitter to warm up in a certain sequence, loading the sign-on slides and film (this was back in the late 1960’s, folks), and pushing the right buttons to get things on the air was no small task. I was nervous as all get-out.
I succeeded in signing on and getting things rolling, and Keith showed up about 30 minutes after sign-on. I can’t recall if he said anything about being late, and whether he knew it or not (or whether his lateness was intentional or not), but by his being late, he made me realize that I could take instruction; I could do things that I had to do; I could function in the world. I’ve never forgotten that morning.
I think of a young woman I met back then who saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. She encouraged me, loved me, and believed in me. We’re still married after all these years. I couldn’t be where I am without her.
I think of Bob out in Goodland when we moved out that way who took me under his wing, so to speak, and taught me a lot about how to work with people, and how NOT to work with people. We also discussed God, faith, and all that goes with that. He was one of the hardest-working preachers I have known. We produced a local weekly fifteen minute television religious television show (I mean we did it all, as I was now an engineer at the TV station in Goodland and we taped the show after hours. I was the engineer/director and Bob was the producer/on-air talent.), and he produced a daily radio announcement in addition to everything else.
That’s enough for now. I’ve only begun. More next time.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
They Believed in Me (Part I)
I was thinking today (yeah, that’s dangerous) as I was riding back from Hutchinson where a friend and I went to a meeting. We had been talking at the meeting (a meeting of ministers) about the grace and love of God. As I pondered the comments made at the meeting, my mind wandered just a bit. I began thinking about times in my life when someone believed in me and helped me in some way. Many times we think that we make our own successes, and we certainly have a lot to do with it; but my guess is that most of us can not say that we have made our success without help from someone, somewhere, some time.
When I think about those times, I think about Mr. Nixon, who invited me to play my tuba solo as a high school junior at a recital at Emporia State University (then it was Kansas State Teachers College). My older brothers attended there as music majors, and I’m sure Mr. Nixon was trying to recruit me. I didn’t attend there, but he gave me a much-needed boost in my self-esteem at the time and prompted me to make some decisions after that I probably would not have made otherwise.
I think about Mr. Davis, the Vice Principal of the high school I attended, who would sign me back into school as excused after an illness or being away helping Dad on the farm just on my word…not requiring a signed note or phone call from my parents (which was the policy to avoid an unexcused absence). I quickly learned what truth, reputation, and dealing straight meant, and carry that lesson with me even today.
I think about Mrs. Groves, my vocal music teacher in grade school, who would place me beside other kids who couldn’t sing quite as well, or in a section that wasn’t doing so well because she knew I could help those around me learn the music and sing the notes correctly. I didn’t understand what she was doing until I was well into the sixth grade (I was rather dense then as well as now). But when I understood what she had been doing for several years, I worked even harder for her.
I think about my Dad the first time he asked me to drive the pickup from one place to another on the farm, and the first time he asked me to take the tractor out to the field and disk about a 20 acre patch. He was taking a chance…and didn’t say anything to me about it…just told me to go do it. But we both knew those events were a milestone in my development.
I also remember when Dad told me to go to the pasture and bring the cattle into the lot. I had never done it by myself before, but had been with him many times when he did it or we did it together. It took me awhile to get ‘em all going the same direction, but I knew that there was one or two “leaders” in the herd, and that I needed to get those leaders going the right direction and find the cattle path they and other herds used to go to the corral. I was successful at that, and when the lead steer found the cattle path, he settled in and led them all to the corral…my taking up the rear. I was so pleased (and relieved).
There were others in my younger years…these are just some. More in a later post.
When I think about those times, I think about Mr. Nixon, who invited me to play my tuba solo as a high school junior at a recital at Emporia State University (then it was Kansas State Teachers College). My older brothers attended there as music majors, and I’m sure Mr. Nixon was trying to recruit me. I didn’t attend there, but he gave me a much-needed boost in my self-esteem at the time and prompted me to make some decisions after that I probably would not have made otherwise.
I think about Mr. Davis, the Vice Principal of the high school I attended, who would sign me back into school as excused after an illness or being away helping Dad on the farm just on my word…not requiring a signed note or phone call from my parents (which was the policy to avoid an unexcused absence). I quickly learned what truth, reputation, and dealing straight meant, and carry that lesson with me even today.
I think about Mrs. Groves, my vocal music teacher in grade school, who would place me beside other kids who couldn’t sing quite as well, or in a section that wasn’t doing so well because she knew I could help those around me learn the music and sing the notes correctly. I didn’t understand what she was doing until I was well into the sixth grade (I was rather dense then as well as now). But when I understood what she had been doing for several years, I worked even harder for her.
I think about my Dad the first time he asked me to drive the pickup from one place to another on the farm, and the first time he asked me to take the tractor out to the field and disk about a 20 acre patch. He was taking a chance…and didn’t say anything to me about it…just told me to go do it. But we both knew those events were a milestone in my development.
I also remember when Dad told me to go to the pasture and bring the cattle into the lot. I had never done it by myself before, but had been with him many times when he did it or we did it together. It took me awhile to get ‘em all going the same direction, but I knew that there was one or two “leaders” in the herd, and that I needed to get those leaders going the right direction and find the cattle path they and other herds used to go to the corral. I was successful at that, and when the lead steer found the cattle path, he settled in and led them all to the corral…my taking up the rear. I was so pleased (and relieved).
There were others in my younger years…these are just some. More in a later post.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Happy LIstening!
Sometimes, I get online and go to YouTube. Many times my reason for going is to hear a song that has been in my mind for awhile, and I’d like to hear it on the speakers in our home. I have my computer audio connected to our audio system, so it’s easy to do. While I sometimes listen to an older song out of the 1960’s or some such, often I turn to the masterpieces such as the Hallelujah Chorus or The Heavens are Telling (the Glory of God). When I do, I often peruse the comments that YouTube allows on the page.
I am struck by the passion with which many of those who are anti-religion talk of a non-god or doing just fine without a god, or some such. And the passion is equal on the other side, with folks glorifying God and giving praise to His glory.
I never enter into such conversations. It’s OK if others want to do so, but those kinds of interactions, it seems, never really accomplish anything and just get folks worked up. I’d much rather people saw a changed life (mine) and made the decision that it was a result of God living in me and my desire to be like Jesus.
And to me, that is much more difficult to do than writing something on YouTube. Living that changed life is impossible without God and difficult at best, at least for me, even with God. As a sort of perfectionist and as one who holds myself to high standards (impossibly high, many would say), I find the concept of grace, acceptance, and forgiveness rather difficult for me to accept when it comes to my own failings.
I’m getting there, however. It’s better than it was. As I mature in years, I think I’m maturing some in other ways as well. And the very idea of grace and forgiveness is such a freeing concept. I wonder why it wasn’t taught with more clarity and with greater emphasis in my earlier years. But the past can’t be relived. The future is uncertain. Only the present can be lived.
So, if you’re in the mood sometime, go to YouTube and take in the Hallelujah Chorus done by a flash mob at Macy’s. Or one of many other gems to be found on that site. I’ve included two or three URL’s here that you can use if you like. Happy listening!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN5BaOGTmGs&feature=related
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2010/11/awesome-pop-up-hallelujah-chorus-at.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2PMMBIPXEY
I am struck by the passion with which many of those who are anti-religion talk of a non-god or doing just fine without a god, or some such. And the passion is equal on the other side, with folks glorifying God and giving praise to His glory.
I never enter into such conversations. It’s OK if others want to do so, but those kinds of interactions, it seems, never really accomplish anything and just get folks worked up. I’d much rather people saw a changed life (mine) and made the decision that it was a result of God living in me and my desire to be like Jesus.
And to me, that is much more difficult to do than writing something on YouTube. Living that changed life is impossible without God and difficult at best, at least for me, even with God. As a sort of perfectionist and as one who holds myself to high standards (impossibly high, many would say), I find the concept of grace, acceptance, and forgiveness rather difficult for me to accept when it comes to my own failings.
I’m getting there, however. It’s better than it was. As I mature in years, I think I’m maturing some in other ways as well. And the very idea of grace and forgiveness is such a freeing concept. I wonder why it wasn’t taught with more clarity and with greater emphasis in my earlier years. But the past can’t be relived. The future is uncertain. Only the present can be lived.
So, if you’re in the mood sometime, go to YouTube and take in the Hallelujah Chorus done by a flash mob at Macy’s. Or one of many other gems to be found on that site. I’ve included two or three URL’s here that you can use if you like. Happy listening!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN5BaOGTmGs&feature=related
http://www.creativeminorityreport.com/2010/11/awesome-pop-up-hallelujah-chorus-at.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2PMMBIPXEY
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Hope
One of the members of our church passed away yesterday. Jim had been chronically ill most of the time we have been here, and we didn’t have the chance to get to know him really well. I did have him in my classes from time to time and know that he appreciated in-depth study in the Bible and enjoyed being with his church family.
Jim passed from this life in peace, with those who loved him and those he loved around and near. The journey was made difficult by his illness, but was anticipated and embraced due to his love of God and Jesus Christ.
I have witnessed many deaths over the years I worked in EMS and in hospitals. Some were young; many were older. Death didn’t seem to care. Some were friends. Some were relatives. Some were folks I didn’t know. Many times I witnessed heroic efforts to save that person’s life. Often, I participated in that effort. Sometimes I was just there as there was no point in taking heroic action, or the person or family asked that it not be done.
Sometimes I arrived on scene after someone already had died. Perhaps it was old age; maybe it was an accident of some kind. More than once it was self-inflicted. Again, it seemed that death wasn’t partial to any one group of humans; young, old, male, female—all were equally touched.
For some folks, an old M.A.S.H. episode may describe their view of death. Major Margaret Houlihan, head nurse on the old television series M.A.S.H., is in the operating room in one episode. Someone she has been caring for has just died. She says, “It never fails to astonish me. You’re alive. You’re dead. No drums. No flashing lights. No fanfare. You’re just dead.”
For others, death is a spiritual experience on the highest order. I am one of those people. There is something about the process, about the emotion, about the finality, about the reality of the experience that is unmatched in any other venue. Something beyond what we can see or know is happening, and we know one day it will happen to us. No matter how often we witness death or how often we comfort and serve, we know no more about the process itself than we did before.
I am grateful beyond words for the hope I have that is in Jesus Christ. And I pray when my time comes I will embrace and hold to that hope as I too make the journey.
Jim passed from this life in peace, with those who loved him and those he loved around and near. The journey was made difficult by his illness, but was anticipated and embraced due to his love of God and Jesus Christ.
I have witnessed many deaths over the years I worked in EMS and in hospitals. Some were young; many were older. Death didn’t seem to care. Some were friends. Some were relatives. Some were folks I didn’t know. Many times I witnessed heroic efforts to save that person’s life. Often, I participated in that effort. Sometimes I was just there as there was no point in taking heroic action, or the person or family asked that it not be done.
Sometimes I arrived on scene after someone already had died. Perhaps it was old age; maybe it was an accident of some kind. More than once it was self-inflicted. Again, it seemed that death wasn’t partial to any one group of humans; young, old, male, female—all were equally touched.
For some folks, an old M.A.S.H. episode may describe their view of death. Major Margaret Houlihan, head nurse on the old television series M.A.S.H., is in the operating room in one episode. Someone she has been caring for has just died. She says, “It never fails to astonish me. You’re alive. You’re dead. No drums. No flashing lights. No fanfare. You’re just dead.”
For others, death is a spiritual experience on the highest order. I am one of those people. There is something about the process, about the emotion, about the finality, about the reality of the experience that is unmatched in any other venue. Something beyond what we can see or know is happening, and we know one day it will happen to us. No matter how often we witness death or how often we comfort and serve, we know no more about the process itself than we did before.
I am grateful beyond words for the hope I have that is in Jesus Christ. And I pray when my time comes I will embrace and hold to that hope as I too make the journey.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
More Tidbits
More tidbits on the universe we live in from the “Instant Egghead Guide…The Universe.”
Fusion in stars is the source of all elements heavier than lithium, number three on the periodic table, they say.
The large, super-cooled magnets in an MRI machine make hydrogen atoms in the body wobble, and consequently emit radio waves which the machine can detect.
A light year is the distance light can travel in one year…5.9 trillion miles. Our national debt is about three light-years-worth of miles.
An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.
Due to the quantum uncertainty principle, alpha particles are able to tunnel out of the nucleus of an atom due to radioactive decay even though they shouldn’t have the energy to break out.
According to quantum physics, a particle behaving in a certain way on one side of the universe determines the behavior of an “entangled” particle on the other side of the universe, with no communication link between them.
In a 2008 experiment, researchers found that if the entanglement principle doesn’t work instantaneously on the two entangled particles, it operates at at least 10,000 times the speed of light.
The human body can withstand inertia of about 16 g forces for about a minute.
Light has momentum. Solar sails are not science fiction.
If you could travel to the earth’s core, you would find zero gravity at the very center of the earth.
Fusion in stars is the source of all elements heavier than lithium, number three on the periodic table, they say.
The large, super-cooled magnets in an MRI machine make hydrogen atoms in the body wobble, and consequently emit radio waves which the machine can detect.
A light year is the distance light can travel in one year…5.9 trillion miles. Our national debt is about three light-years-worth of miles.
An attosecond is a billionth of a billionth of a second.
Due to the quantum uncertainty principle, alpha particles are able to tunnel out of the nucleus of an atom due to radioactive decay even though they shouldn’t have the energy to break out.
According to quantum physics, a particle behaving in a certain way on one side of the universe determines the behavior of an “entangled” particle on the other side of the universe, with no communication link between them.
In a 2008 experiment, researchers found that if the entanglement principle doesn’t work instantaneously on the two entangled particles, it operates at at least 10,000 times the speed of light.
The human body can withstand inertia of about 16 g forces for about a minute.
Light has momentum. Solar sails are not science fiction.
If you could travel to the earth’s core, you would find zero gravity at the very center of the earth.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
The More I See
A week or so ago I ran across the name of a woman we knew while we worked at the girls’ home several years ago. She was the director of the counseling center on campus and did a good job at her profession. I was looking at something on the Internet and happened upon her name. Curious, I Googled her to see if I could find out where she was now and what she was doing, as I knew she was no longer at the girls’ home. (My spellchecker says “Googled” is not a word. I just now added it to the dictionary.)
I quickly found her. She was in the Wichita area and was the director of a maternity home not far from our church. I called the number and left a message. She returned the call a couple of days later and we made arrangements to meet.
A couple of days ago I went to the maternity home and we re-acquanted and visited for an hour or more about her work and the home. I was struck by some things she said.
Many women who come to the home are homeless. Many women who come to the home have some kind of addiction. Many women who come to the home already have one or more children. Many women who come to the home are part of a multi-generational string of such women. Many women who come to the home have no familial, church, or friend support system of any kind.
I quickly determined as I listened that I had absolutely no concept of living in the world that most of these women live in. I cannot fathom being homeless, pregnant, alone, on meth, with few positive societal life skills, and with three kids under the age of six. I found myself in much the same situation as I did several years ago when I confronted the reality of my niece’s eating disorder. I couldn’t relate to that…I cannot relate to this in any meaningful way.
As men are wont to do, I was running through my mind possible ways to “fix” the problem and immediately zoned in on breaking the cycle. I also quickly found out that the “fix” (or any fix, for that matter) isn’t nearly as easy or as black-and-white as it at first appears to be. I was, as I increasingly find myself, dumbfounded, stunned, and stumped. My friend, on the other hand said something to the effect that, “We love ‘em, provide for ‘em and model for them what life should be, and hope something sticks.” Bless you, Julie, for your love and perception.
We constantly hear thirty second sound bytes from presidential candidates, legislators, mayors, religious folks and others who spout fixes for problems such as this as if it’s blatantly obvious and simple to do. The truth is that women in the situation I’ve described above may well be in an intractable position and will never be released from it until they die regardless of the money, counseling, programs, and effort thrown their way.. And they have already assured society that it will have to deal with the situation for at least one more generation by having kids who are now growing up in this same world and will, in all likelihood, end up the same way.
The women who come to this home must agree to adopt the newborn out. The one saving grace in all of this is that the newborn will probably have the best chance possible to break out of the cycle of homelessness, poverty, and despair. Even those babies who have deficits due to Mom having smoked crack or used meth will have a better chance to succeed by being connected to a family who goes into the relationship with that baby with eyes open and decides still to love unconditionally.
The more I see, the less certain I am that I have answers. The more I see, the less I tend to believe anyone who says THEY have answers. The more I see, the more I perceive the brokenness of the creation and the desire of God to redeem it. The more I see, the more I understand that He expects me to be a part of that redemption process. The more I see, the more I can appreciate the overwhelming and all-encompassing work of the Eternal Son of God…redeeming even these pregnant moms…desiring the abundant life for both them and their offspring. Soli Deo Gloria
I quickly found her. She was in the Wichita area and was the director of a maternity home not far from our church. I called the number and left a message. She returned the call a couple of days later and we made arrangements to meet.
A couple of days ago I went to the maternity home and we re-acquanted and visited for an hour or more about her work and the home. I was struck by some things she said.
Many women who come to the home are homeless. Many women who come to the home have some kind of addiction. Many women who come to the home already have one or more children. Many women who come to the home are part of a multi-generational string of such women. Many women who come to the home have no familial, church, or friend support system of any kind.
I quickly determined as I listened that I had absolutely no concept of living in the world that most of these women live in. I cannot fathom being homeless, pregnant, alone, on meth, with few positive societal life skills, and with three kids under the age of six. I found myself in much the same situation as I did several years ago when I confronted the reality of my niece’s eating disorder. I couldn’t relate to that…I cannot relate to this in any meaningful way.
As men are wont to do, I was running through my mind possible ways to “fix” the problem and immediately zoned in on breaking the cycle. I also quickly found out that the “fix” (or any fix, for that matter) isn’t nearly as easy or as black-and-white as it at first appears to be. I was, as I increasingly find myself, dumbfounded, stunned, and stumped. My friend, on the other hand said something to the effect that, “We love ‘em, provide for ‘em and model for them what life should be, and hope something sticks.” Bless you, Julie, for your love and perception.
We constantly hear thirty second sound bytes from presidential candidates, legislators, mayors, religious folks and others who spout fixes for problems such as this as if it’s blatantly obvious and simple to do. The truth is that women in the situation I’ve described above may well be in an intractable position and will never be released from it until they die regardless of the money, counseling, programs, and effort thrown their way.. And they have already assured society that it will have to deal with the situation for at least one more generation by having kids who are now growing up in this same world and will, in all likelihood, end up the same way.
The women who come to this home must agree to adopt the newborn out. The one saving grace in all of this is that the newborn will probably have the best chance possible to break out of the cycle of homelessness, poverty, and despair. Even those babies who have deficits due to Mom having smoked crack or used meth will have a better chance to succeed by being connected to a family who goes into the relationship with that baby with eyes open and decides still to love unconditionally.
The more I see, the less certain I am that I have answers. The more I see, the less I tend to believe anyone who says THEY have answers. The more I see, the more I perceive the brokenness of the creation and the desire of God to redeem it. The more I see, the more I understand that He expects me to be a part of that redemption process. The more I see, the more I can appreciate the overwhelming and all-encompassing work of the Eternal Son of God…redeeming even these pregnant moms…desiring the abundant life for both them and their offspring. Soli Deo Gloria
Monday, January 23, 2012
Universe Tidbits
Interesting (at least to me) information about the universe we live in (Credit Instant Egghead Guide to the Universe by J.R. Minkel). I’ll have more of these tidbits as time goes on.
Electrons are elementary particles. They cannot be broken down into smaller particles. Protons and neutrons, on the other hand, are made up of smaller particles called quarks.
The most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and helium.
You can actually buy samples of most of the elements on line, even some radioactive ones. http://www.elementsales.com is just one place they can be obtained.
A single air molecule at room temperature collides with other molecules more than a billion times per second.
When helium is chilled to nearly -459 degrees F, it loses all viscosity and becomes a superfluid, capable (among other things) of climbing up the sides of a container.
When you stretch a rubber band, it heats up. You convert mechanical energy into heat, which warms the rubber band. Sometimes you can feel the heat by touching the band to your lips after you stretch it.
No one violates the second law of thermodynamics, which is the law of entropy. Simply stated, it says that entropy can never be reversed…that disorder in the universe continues to increase. Even living things don’t violate the law. They (we) are highly-ordered, but we derive our order by creating more disorder around us than we contain within us. (Right now, I’m thinking of Pigpen in the Peanuts comic strips.)
If a hydrogen atom nucleus were the size of a common marble, it’s corresponding electron (hydrogen atoms have only one electron) would lie about 100 yards away. All the rest is empty space.
Neutrons are unstable outside of the nucleus of an atom. Left to themselves, they would decay into protons in about 15 minutes average.
In nuclear fusion (that’s what powers stars), the helium atom created from the fusion of two hydrogen atoms weighs 0.7% less than the original two hydrogen atoms. The missing mass was converted into energy. Einstein was right. Mass does equal energy and energy does equal mass (E = mc2).
Electrons are elementary particles. They cannot be broken down into smaller particles. Protons and neutrons, on the other hand, are made up of smaller particles called quarks.
The most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and helium.
You can actually buy samples of most of the elements on line, even some radioactive ones. http://www.elementsales.com is just one place they can be obtained.
A single air molecule at room temperature collides with other molecules more than a billion times per second.
When helium is chilled to nearly -459 degrees F, it loses all viscosity and becomes a superfluid, capable (among other things) of climbing up the sides of a container.
When you stretch a rubber band, it heats up. You convert mechanical energy into heat, which warms the rubber band. Sometimes you can feel the heat by touching the band to your lips after you stretch it.
No one violates the second law of thermodynamics, which is the law of entropy. Simply stated, it says that entropy can never be reversed…that disorder in the universe continues to increase. Even living things don’t violate the law. They (we) are highly-ordered, but we derive our order by creating more disorder around us than we contain within us. (Right now, I’m thinking of Pigpen in the Peanuts comic strips.)
If a hydrogen atom nucleus were the size of a common marble, it’s corresponding electron (hydrogen atoms have only one electron) would lie about 100 yards away. All the rest is empty space.
Neutrons are unstable outside of the nucleus of an atom. Left to themselves, they would decay into protons in about 15 minutes average.
In nuclear fusion (that’s what powers stars), the helium atom created from the fusion of two hydrogen atoms weighs 0.7% less than the original two hydrogen atoms. The missing mass was converted into energy. Einstein was right. Mass does equal energy and energy does equal mass (E = mc2).
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
You probably don’t know Katie Davis. If you don’t, you need to find out about her. You can find her and what she does at http://www.amazima.org/katiesstory.html
Katie is a 23 year old woman who cares for orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda. She has created an organization, staffed it, and actively works in Uganda with those she cares for. She has adopted thirteen children of her own. She tells this story about one of her girls, an 11 year old.
“I just want to remember,” she says matter-of-factly, and she pulls the covers right back up over her head.
It is well after our 8 o’clock bed time. I have been sunk deep in the couch and in the Word knowing that 13 pairs of feet were tucked snugly in 13 beds. But as I make my way from the couch to my room, something catches my eye and I peek my head in the girls’ bedroom.
There flat on the cold, hard tile floor is my 11 year old with her blanket pulled tightly around herself. It doesn’t look as if she has rolled out of bed; it looks intentional. I nudge her awake. “Honey, what are you doing on the floor?” Why would anyone ever choose to sleep on this, the hardest of surfaces, with a comfortable bed just inches away?
“Remember,” she mumbles sleepily, “I just want to remember. Some people don’t have a bed, mom. I didn’t have a bed, mom. God gave me a bed. And I wanted to remember what it was like to not have one.”
This young girl is wise beyond her years. She has much to teach those of us who have always had a bed; always had food; always had shoes; always had clean water.
I don’t know what it will take for you to remember those who have no bed; no food; no shelter; no shoes; no clean water. Maybe it will take you sleeping on the floor. Maybe you will have to spend a night under a bridge. Or maybe you can just remember and do your part without all of that. I don’t know.
What I do know is that we can’t do everything, but we can do something. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What will I do? What will you do?
Katie is a 23 year old woman who cares for orphaned and vulnerable children in Uganda. She has created an organization, staffed it, and actively works in Uganda with those she cares for. She has adopted thirteen children of her own. She tells this story about one of her girls, an 11 year old.
“I just want to remember,” she says matter-of-factly, and she pulls the covers right back up over her head.
It is well after our 8 o’clock bed time. I have been sunk deep in the couch and in the Word knowing that 13 pairs of feet were tucked snugly in 13 beds. But as I make my way from the couch to my room, something catches my eye and I peek my head in the girls’ bedroom.
There flat on the cold, hard tile floor is my 11 year old with her blanket pulled tightly around herself. It doesn’t look as if she has rolled out of bed; it looks intentional. I nudge her awake. “Honey, what are you doing on the floor?” Why would anyone ever choose to sleep on this, the hardest of surfaces, with a comfortable bed just inches away?
“Remember,” she mumbles sleepily, “I just want to remember. Some people don’t have a bed, mom. I didn’t have a bed, mom. God gave me a bed. And I wanted to remember what it was like to not have one.”
This young girl is wise beyond her years. She has much to teach those of us who have always had a bed; always had food; always had shoes; always had clean water.
I don’t know what it will take for you to remember those who have no bed; no food; no shelter; no shoes; no clean water. Maybe it will take you sleeping on the floor. Maybe you will have to spend a night under a bridge. Or maybe you can just remember and do your part without all of that. I don’t know.
What I do know is that we can’t do everything, but we can do something. I can’t do everything, but I can do something. What will I do? What will you do?
Monday, January 09, 2012
Toys and Games
Saturday we had our grandson’s fourth birthday. Of course, we had the cake, the ice cream, the candles, and the gifts. And since he’s a huge Thomas the Tank Engine fan, pretty much all of the gifts were things having to do with that toy series. He has track, cars, engines…you name it, he’s probably got it right now.
They’ve been doing toy series for many, many years. The big ones I can recall are Barbie and Tonka trucks. You might say that Tinkertoys and Erector sets were series as well since you could buy more pieces for the sets or put sets together. Later on when our boys were small, it was Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
As a kid, I remember Lincoln Logs and something called American Bricks. Both were sets one could build structures with. Lincoln Logs are with us today in some form or another, but I believe the American Bricks became Legos. I don’t know that these were toy series, but the idea is the same as Tinkertoys.
Since I’m in the reminiscing mood, I’ll remember board games…Monopoly, Sorry, and others. Many of those games are still with us in some version or another; others have disappeared. There are a slew of newer games, many of which have the participants answer questions or demonstrate some skill. Some I don’t mind; others I could never play and never miss it.
Games have been part of cultures the world over and in all times and eras. We enjoy being with each other and engaging in diversions to the mundane and routine of life. Some take games more seriously than others, but if taken in context and good spirit, games can be a source of fellowship and community.
I don’t know if you like cards, board games, games of strategy and skill, or games that are more on the mindless side. My bet is that you like something, though, and would miss it if it wasn’t available. Try something new down the road. New games can be fun and who knows? You might just find the next game you just can’t live without.
They’ve been doing toy series for many, many years. The big ones I can recall are Barbie and Tonka trucks. You might say that Tinkertoys and Erector sets were series as well since you could buy more pieces for the sets or put sets together. Later on when our boys were small, it was Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
As a kid, I remember Lincoln Logs and something called American Bricks. Both were sets one could build structures with. Lincoln Logs are with us today in some form or another, but I believe the American Bricks became Legos. I don’t know that these were toy series, but the idea is the same as Tinkertoys.
Since I’m in the reminiscing mood, I’ll remember board games…Monopoly, Sorry, and others. Many of those games are still with us in some version or another; others have disappeared. There are a slew of newer games, many of which have the participants answer questions or demonstrate some skill. Some I don’t mind; others I could never play and never miss it.
Games have been part of cultures the world over and in all times and eras. We enjoy being with each other and engaging in diversions to the mundane and routine of life. Some take games more seriously than others, but if taken in context and good spirit, games can be a source of fellowship and community.
I don’t know if you like cards, board games, games of strategy and skill, or games that are more on the mindless side. My bet is that you like something, though, and would miss it if it wasn’t available. Try something new down the road. New games can be fun and who knows? You might just find the next game you just can’t live without.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
The New Year Rut
The holidays are over and the grind of short daylight hours, cold weather, and holiday bills begins. Some of us will recover nicely from the holidays; some never will. For some the holidays were everything they thought they would be and more; for others, they were yet another time of unfulfilled expectations.
The year-end holiday season is a mixed blessing, it seems. Yes, I know that Christians who celebrate the birth of Jesus during this part of the year truly enjoy this time and deepen their faith and relationship with God. It’s the other part of the holiday season, though, that can be a mixed blessing. Family get-togethers and the expectations of gifting are the mixed blessings, at least in my mind.
Many families can come together and enjoy the company, the visiting and re-connecting, and the fellowship. Other families come together and fuss, fight and fly the fur. Many people give and receive gifts with thanksgiving and gratitude. Others indulge their more greedy and selfish side.
In any event, for those of us who live life in a comfortable rut, we are shaken out of that rut for a couple of weeks and now are only too happy to get back into it as soon as possible. There’s an indescribable comfort in a rut. It’s predictable. It’s satisfying. And it enables folks to tackle the things in life that come unannounced without having to also worry about the routine.
So, 2012 is here and the world gets back to work today. In many ways, things will continue as they always have. The sun will rise; the sun will set. It will rain; it will snow; it will be warm; it will be cold. Spring will come and nature will burst out in bloom and life. There is a continuity in the creation that is predictable and satisfies just as a person’s rut is predictable and is satisfying. Enjoy the year and enjoy your days.
Have a blessed new year.
The year-end holiday season is a mixed blessing, it seems. Yes, I know that Christians who celebrate the birth of Jesus during this part of the year truly enjoy this time and deepen their faith and relationship with God. It’s the other part of the holiday season, though, that can be a mixed blessing. Family get-togethers and the expectations of gifting are the mixed blessings, at least in my mind.
Many families can come together and enjoy the company, the visiting and re-connecting, and the fellowship. Other families come together and fuss, fight and fly the fur. Many people give and receive gifts with thanksgiving and gratitude. Others indulge their more greedy and selfish side.
In any event, for those of us who live life in a comfortable rut, we are shaken out of that rut for a couple of weeks and now are only too happy to get back into it as soon as possible. There’s an indescribable comfort in a rut. It’s predictable. It’s satisfying. And it enables folks to tackle the things in life that come unannounced without having to also worry about the routine.
So, 2012 is here and the world gets back to work today. In many ways, things will continue as they always have. The sun will rise; the sun will set. It will rain; it will snow; it will be warm; it will be cold. Spring will come and nature will burst out in bloom and life. There is a continuity in the creation that is predictable and satisfies just as a person’s rut is predictable and is satisfying. Enjoy the year and enjoy your days.
Have a blessed new year.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
The New Year
I suppose it’s fitting to again write something for the end of one year and the beginning of another. On the one hand, there’s nothing magical about January 1. Our year could just as easily start on October 10 or May 22. We have chosen (or rather someone has chosen for us, and we have not changed it) the stroke of midnight between December 31 and January 1 as the beginning of the New Year.
There is something to be said for the length of the year, however. It approximates the time it takes to travel around the sun on planet earth. And the length of our day is also something that probably should remain as it is as it approximates the time it takes the earth to make one rotation on its axis. But the notion that January 1 should be the start of the new year is an entirely man-made idea.
Not that there’s something bad about that. I suppose the year has to begin some time. I’m not sure it deserves all of the attention it gets, however. It seems to me it’s an excuse for us to spend money, stay up late, and over-indulge.
I’m not really a Grinch, although I am wearing my Oscar the Grouch shirt today. And I’ll gladly be part of the Plank gathering here later tonight. There will be food and drink, games and talk. And we’ll celebrate the New Year, clean up, say good-bye, and head for bed, wondering what this next year has in store for us.
If I can be serious for a moment, I’d like to say what you already know. We haven’t a clue what the new year holds for us, or if we’ll even be around for the entire year. We don’t know what funerals will take place, who will get married, who will have a child. We don’t know the state of the economy, nor do we know what various people in power in the world will do militarily or through terrorism.
What we do know is that there will be enough evil and mayhem in the world this coming year, that we would do well to live at peace with all men insofar as it lies within us; to offer a cup of cold water; to visit those who are sick and in prison; to give a coat, a meal, and a safe place to sleep. We would do well to offer a kind word, encourage a child, pick up someone else’s trash, slow down and drive more civilly, and hold a door or an elevator for someone. We would do well to remember the God who made us; to visit the teachings of Jesus and absorb and practice them. We would do very, very well to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We can’t fix everything; neither do we have to contribute to the mayhem. We can do our part to civilize our sphere of influence. And we can work to make the lives of others better even as we ponder our own frailty and mortality. Have a blessed 2012.
There is something to be said for the length of the year, however. It approximates the time it takes to travel around the sun on planet earth. And the length of our day is also something that probably should remain as it is as it approximates the time it takes the earth to make one rotation on its axis. But the notion that January 1 should be the start of the new year is an entirely man-made idea.
Not that there’s something bad about that. I suppose the year has to begin some time. I’m not sure it deserves all of the attention it gets, however. It seems to me it’s an excuse for us to spend money, stay up late, and over-indulge.
I’m not really a Grinch, although I am wearing my Oscar the Grouch shirt today. And I’ll gladly be part of the Plank gathering here later tonight. There will be food and drink, games and talk. And we’ll celebrate the New Year, clean up, say good-bye, and head for bed, wondering what this next year has in store for us.
If I can be serious for a moment, I’d like to say what you already know. We haven’t a clue what the new year holds for us, or if we’ll even be around for the entire year. We don’t know what funerals will take place, who will get married, who will have a child. We don’t know the state of the economy, nor do we know what various people in power in the world will do militarily or through terrorism.
What we do know is that there will be enough evil and mayhem in the world this coming year, that we would do well to live at peace with all men insofar as it lies within us; to offer a cup of cold water; to visit those who are sick and in prison; to give a coat, a meal, and a safe place to sleep. We would do well to offer a kind word, encourage a child, pick up someone else’s trash, slow down and drive more civilly, and hold a door or an elevator for someone. We would do well to remember the God who made us; to visit the teachings of Jesus and absorb and practice them. We would do very, very well to love our neighbor as ourselves.
We can’t fix everything; neither do we have to contribute to the mayhem. We can do our part to civilize our sphere of influence. And we can work to make the lives of others better even as we ponder our own frailty and mortality. Have a blessed 2012.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
End of Year Musing
Today is Tuesday. Two days after Christmas Day. Hopefully, things “out there” will at least begin to become somewhat more normal so I will feel like I can venture out to the store to pick up a few things we need. I don’t participate in the frenzy of buying and shopping this time of the year, and don’t even like to go pick up the ordinary things (milk, fresh fruit, canned goods, etc) that we need from the supermarket this time of the year. However, it appears I’ll have to go shortly as we’re running low.
I did get several books for Christmas that I’ll enjoy. Also a sweater, portable clip-on light, and the unusual gift of a personal geo-cache. Haven’t found it yet, but am planning to do so later this week. I have an idea where it generally is located and am looking forward to finding it.
The weather promises to be mild and sunny for the next several days, so I’m thinking about taking down the outdoor display on Friday or maybe Saturday of this week. It was kind of fun to put up and enjoy from night to night, but even with good things, there comes a time to put it back into the boxes.
The train is up and running in the garage. Hopefully, there will be some who stop by during the mild weather and run it. The garage tends to heat up in the afternoons when the sun shines on the west doors and it’s downright pleasant in there during that time. I have a propane heater that takes the chill off, but often don’t have to run it because of the solar heating.
These days after Christmas and before the New Year seem to be similar, in many ways, to what we used to call the slow days of summer. Of course it’s cool out and not hot, but these days for those of us who don’t work over the holiday break are gifts of time that at once stretch for a couple of weeks, yet all too quickly seem to come to an end.
I hope your remaining days of 2011 are pleasant and 2012 will be kind and gentle to you and yours.
I did get several books for Christmas that I’ll enjoy. Also a sweater, portable clip-on light, and the unusual gift of a personal geo-cache. Haven’t found it yet, but am planning to do so later this week. I have an idea where it generally is located and am looking forward to finding it.
The weather promises to be mild and sunny for the next several days, so I’m thinking about taking down the outdoor display on Friday or maybe Saturday of this week. It was kind of fun to put up and enjoy from night to night, but even with good things, there comes a time to put it back into the boxes.
The train is up and running in the garage. Hopefully, there will be some who stop by during the mild weather and run it. The garage tends to heat up in the afternoons when the sun shines on the west doors and it’s downright pleasant in there during that time. I have a propane heater that takes the chill off, but often don’t have to run it because of the solar heating.
These days after Christmas and before the New Year seem to be similar, in many ways, to what we used to call the slow days of summer. Of course it’s cool out and not hot, but these days for those of us who don’t work over the holiday break are gifts of time that at once stretch for a couple of weeks, yet all too quickly seem to come to an end.
I hope your remaining days of 2011 are pleasant and 2012 will be kind and gentle to you and yours.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Renewal & Hope
The winter solstice is hard upon us. On December 21 at 11:30pm Central Standard Time, the earth will be tilted at the maximum away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. That means that the days will generally become longer after that date.
I always enjoy it when the winter solstice comes because I know that there is an end to winter, cold, ice and snow. I know that spring is coming and things will again turn green and start growing. I also know that it will be a long haul from the winter solstice to the warm days of late April. There will be plenty more ice and snow storms…times of zero degrees or lower, and almost endless cloudy, dreary days and nights. But the solstice brings hope. Hope of renewal, refreshment, and the beauty of the creation as it grows and flourishes.
And isn’t that really what the hope that Peter describes in his first letter, chapter 3 and verse 15…isn’t that really kind of what that hope is? Not some kind of wishful thinking, but rather a longing and looking forward to, with the assurance of things present that what is hoped for will come to pass.
When the solstice comes this year, rejoice in the hope that is within you as you hope for the warmth and renewal of the spring to come.
I always enjoy it when the winter solstice comes because I know that there is an end to winter, cold, ice and snow. I know that spring is coming and things will again turn green and start growing. I also know that it will be a long haul from the winter solstice to the warm days of late April. There will be plenty more ice and snow storms…times of zero degrees or lower, and almost endless cloudy, dreary days and nights. But the solstice brings hope. Hope of renewal, refreshment, and the beauty of the creation as it grows and flourishes.
And isn’t that really what the hope that Peter describes in his first letter, chapter 3 and verse 15…isn’t that really kind of what that hope is? Not some kind of wishful thinking, but rather a longing and looking forward to, with the assurance of things present that what is hoped for will come to pass.
When the solstice comes this year, rejoice in the hope that is within you as you hope for the warmth and renewal of the spring to come.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Ten Reasons
I’m going to share with you something written on Facebook by one of our young women at our church. She is a freshman in high school and has given me permission to use what she wrote.
I’m sharing this because all too often we look at teenagers as lazy, insolent, undisciplined, uncaring, and selfish. We know they don’t have a clue how real life is lived and have had everything handed to them on a platter. We abhor their driving habits, knowing they are out to intentionally kill and maim. We see them sag in some places and show too much everywhere. We think all they do is thumb texts all day and hook up at night. They eat too much, don’t eat vegetables, live in garbage dump rooms, and leave the bathroom such that we have to don gloves and a mask to enter.
We miss the reality…a lot. Listen to what she has to say about her day. (By the way, I know both this young woman as well as her friend Carrie (name changed), who she mentions in her writing.)
Not a very good day (or week)...at all. But here are ten reasons I'm smiling and thanking God for the blessed life I have:
Wisdom beyond her years, and far beyond anything most people may think in general about teenagers today. I’m tearing up as I write this hoping that some day I will have the maturity to write ten reasons why I should smile and thank God for the blessed life I have, even in the face of a not very good day.
I’m sharing this because all too often we look at teenagers as lazy, insolent, undisciplined, uncaring, and selfish. We know they don’t have a clue how real life is lived and have had everything handed to them on a platter. We abhor their driving habits, knowing they are out to intentionally kill and maim. We see them sag in some places and show too much everywhere. We think all they do is thumb texts all day and hook up at night. They eat too much, don’t eat vegetables, live in garbage dump rooms, and leave the bathroom such that we have to don gloves and a mask to enter.
We miss the reality…a lot. Listen to what she has to say about her day. (By the way, I know both this young woman as well as her friend Carrie (name changed), who she mentions in her writing.)
Not a very good day (or week)...at all. But here are ten reasons I'm smiling and thanking God for the blessed life I have:
1) Spanish, Literature, Music Appreciation, and Math finals are DONE. Only the first three went well though ;)
2) I got a Steelers Terrible Towel today. This alone gave me hope that maybe my week will end better than it started.
3) Yesterday I got to volunteer at Botanica!
4) After I volunteered, my girl scouts and I got to see Botanica's lights for free then grabbed some ice cream at Braums! Yum
5) I talked to one of my ex best friends earlier this week and we agreed to be friends again and out the past behind us. It feels good not to have so much tension!
6) Music. It has kept me awake when I started falling asleep doing homework
7) Kids. They make me smile in every way possible
8) My bestest friend ever (Carrie Austin) came to Wichita this past weekend!!
9) Carrie gave me "12 days before Christmas presents", so each day I open a thoughtful gift and a handwritten note reminding me why I love her and why we are best friends! ♥ you sister!
10) And my final reason I am smiling is because I know all of these things couldn't have been possible without my ever forgiving God. Thank you, God for my wonderful Terrible Towel.
Wisdom beyond her years, and far beyond anything most people may think in general about teenagers today. I’m tearing up as I write this hoping that some day I will have the maturity to write ten reasons why I should smile and thank God for the blessed life I have, even in the face of a not very good day.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
A Greater Appeal
I got to thinking this morning about life several years ago when our boys were still in school. We lived in a small community to the southwest of here then, in the home where I grew up. Life was certainly different from my growing-up years in many ways. We had the Internet, cell phones, and many modern conveniences that we did not have in the 1950’s and 1960’s. But some things didn’t change.
The one thing I was thinking of that hadn’t changed between the 1960’s and the 1990’s was that we never pulled the keys from our vehicles. And we left them parked outside in the drive. We never pulled the keys when we went somewhere, unless it was to Wichita or some other “foreign” place. We never were stung with a stolen vehicle, and to my knowledge, none of our vehicles was ever bothered in any way. Now the keys are pulled religiously.
As a corollary, when we lived in western Kansas a few years ago, we never locked the front door to our house, except at night when we had retired for the night. Even if we left town for a week or more, we wouldn’t lock the front door. And as far as I know, that was never a problem. Now, we keep the doors locked even in the daytime, whether we are home or not. And we live in a “safe” neighborhood in the Wichita area.
So what makes the difference? Is it that as we grow older, we grow more cautious? Is it the environment? Do larger cities mean more danger? Maybe it’s because we have more invested in our vehicles and homes than we used to have. Or maybe it’s because we don’t know our neighbors like we used to. Or is there something else at work here? I don’t really know the answer to that, but suspect it has something to do with all of the above.
Is it better? Well, in many ways it is. There is an element of risk in leaving something unlocked, whether in a small or large town, whether in the 1950’s or the 2000’s. There is an inherent safety factor that’s at play here. But in other ways, it’s a little sad that it has to come to this. It’s sad that I have to mentally note whether I’ve locked a door or not and check it to be sure. It’s unsettling to think that I feel like I have to have a loaded weapon at the ready in my home. It’s unnerving to know that not everyone who comes to the door will be coming for an innocent purpose. And although it was unthinkable some years ago, with the new concealed carry laws on the books, I’ve told more than one person who has visited with me about the subject, “If I had a concealed carry permit and a weapon on me, I wouldn’t tell you.”
I know that this blog may be troubling to some, especially for those who know this Mennonite boy who wants nothing more than to live at peace with everyone. It’s unsettling to know that I have even thought such things, let alone have written them. But that’s the world we seem to live in. And it only makes the new heavens and the new earth even more appealing.
The one thing I was thinking of that hadn’t changed between the 1960’s and the 1990’s was that we never pulled the keys from our vehicles. And we left them parked outside in the drive. We never pulled the keys when we went somewhere, unless it was to Wichita or some other “foreign” place. We never were stung with a stolen vehicle, and to my knowledge, none of our vehicles was ever bothered in any way. Now the keys are pulled religiously.
As a corollary, when we lived in western Kansas a few years ago, we never locked the front door to our house, except at night when we had retired for the night. Even if we left town for a week or more, we wouldn’t lock the front door. And as far as I know, that was never a problem. Now, we keep the doors locked even in the daytime, whether we are home or not. And we live in a “safe” neighborhood in the Wichita area.
So what makes the difference? Is it that as we grow older, we grow more cautious? Is it the environment? Do larger cities mean more danger? Maybe it’s because we have more invested in our vehicles and homes than we used to have. Or maybe it’s because we don’t know our neighbors like we used to. Or is there something else at work here? I don’t really know the answer to that, but suspect it has something to do with all of the above.
Is it better? Well, in many ways it is. There is an element of risk in leaving something unlocked, whether in a small or large town, whether in the 1950’s or the 2000’s. There is an inherent safety factor that’s at play here. But in other ways, it’s a little sad that it has to come to this. It’s sad that I have to mentally note whether I’ve locked a door or not and check it to be sure. It’s unsettling to think that I feel like I have to have a loaded weapon at the ready in my home. It’s unnerving to know that not everyone who comes to the door will be coming for an innocent purpose. And although it was unthinkable some years ago, with the new concealed carry laws on the books, I’ve told more than one person who has visited with me about the subject, “If I had a concealed carry permit and a weapon on me, I wouldn’t tell you.”
I know that this blog may be troubling to some, especially for those who know this Mennonite boy who wants nothing more than to live at peace with everyone. It’s unsettling to know that I have even thought such things, let alone have written them. But that’s the world we seem to live in. And it only makes the new heavens and the new earth even more appealing.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
When?
A few days ago, we again celebrated Pearl Harbor Day. The number of veterans who were there, and the number of WWII veterans in general, are declining at a great rate. In a few short years, there will be no WWII veterans around anymore. It won’t be many more years until the Korean War veterans are gone…then Vietnam…and so on. When that happens, we tend to lose some perspective on what happened in those eras, and we also tend to forget any lessons those experiences may have tried to teach our society and the human race.
I know that all wars are messy, miserable, and result in many people being killed, societies disappearing or forever changing, and other consequences that we may or may not always see right away. The Second World War, however, seems to be a kind of watershed event for the United States, the free world, and the way we see and fight war. Hopefully, we will not as a race of people (human race) rush to forget the horrid, horrid atrocities and the extraordinary sacrifices of ordinary men and women who literally made the world safe for humanity again in WWII. And hopefully, we won't rush to forget the rebuilding of Japan, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Air Lift, and everything else too numerous to mention here.
We didn’t deal with everything perfectly. We committed our share of atrocities and had those in our military who were not the paragons of virtue we’d like to think they were. However, we acquitted ourselves well in the 1940’s and were an example to all nations on many, many fronts. We have nothing to be ashamed of in the great scheme of things when it comes to our collective behavior in the War.
We sacrificed. We worked. We got involved. We learned. And we prevailed. We did what we had to do, and many did more than they thought they were capable of doing. We survived and thrived, and we brought the world back from the brink of total despair and destruction through our rebuilding efforts and our leadership in forming the United Nations, NATO, and other efforts.
As I look at this post, I have to wonder if Washington politics would call the nation to great and lofty expectations, we would positively respond as we did then. Instead of a call to serve, it now seems we're being relegated by Washington to the lowest common denominator of malaise and parasitic living. And that relegating has been going on for much longer than the current administration. On July 9, 2004, President Bush said, “I want the American people to live a normal life. It’s my job to worry about it. It’s your job to go about your business.” That was his call from the very beginning of the war on terror. We didn’t sacrifice as a society. We didn’t pay for the war (All major expenditures were “off-budget” and therefore we borrowed the entire amount). We didn’t have to do anything except continue about our business.
Who is bold enough to issue the call and provide the leadership? Who is brave enough to be honest with the American people? When will we be asked to give, support, and encourage? When will we be part of the solution?
I know that all wars are messy, miserable, and result in many people being killed, societies disappearing or forever changing, and other consequences that we may or may not always see right away. The Second World War, however, seems to be a kind of watershed event for the United States, the free world, and the way we see and fight war. Hopefully, we will not as a race of people (human race) rush to forget the horrid, horrid atrocities and the extraordinary sacrifices of ordinary men and women who literally made the world safe for humanity again in WWII. And hopefully, we won't rush to forget the rebuilding of Japan, the Marshall Plan, the Berlin Air Lift, and everything else too numerous to mention here.
We didn’t deal with everything perfectly. We committed our share of atrocities and had those in our military who were not the paragons of virtue we’d like to think they were. However, we acquitted ourselves well in the 1940’s and were an example to all nations on many, many fronts. We have nothing to be ashamed of in the great scheme of things when it comes to our collective behavior in the War.
We sacrificed. We worked. We got involved. We learned. And we prevailed. We did what we had to do, and many did more than they thought they were capable of doing. We survived and thrived, and we brought the world back from the brink of total despair and destruction through our rebuilding efforts and our leadership in forming the United Nations, NATO, and other efforts.
As I look at this post, I have to wonder if Washington politics would call the nation to great and lofty expectations, we would positively respond as we did then. Instead of a call to serve, it now seems we're being relegated by Washington to the lowest common denominator of malaise and parasitic living. And that relegating has been going on for much longer than the current administration. On July 9, 2004, President Bush said, “I want the American people to live a normal life. It’s my job to worry about it. It’s your job to go about your business.” That was his call from the very beginning of the war on terror. We didn’t sacrifice as a society. We didn’t pay for the war (All major expenditures were “off-budget” and therefore we borrowed the entire amount). We didn’t have to do anything except continue about our business.
Who is bold enough to issue the call and provide the leadership? Who is brave enough to be honest with the American people? When will we be asked to give, support, and encourage? When will we be part of the solution?
Monday, December 05, 2011
Those Who Don't Know Better
Richard C. Hottelet. Marvin Kalb. Robert Trout. Winston Burdett. Eric Sevareid. Charles Collingwood. Howard K. Smith. Douglas Edwards. Robert Pierpoint. Daniel Schorr. Do any of these names sound familiar? No? What about Walter Cronkite? OK, now you have an idea.
These men (yes, they’re all men) are former news correspondents who worked during television’s golden age of news reporting. Most of them worked for CBS News, but not all. Several of them were Murrow’s boys, a phrase that described those who worked for the legendary Edward R. Murrow.
There were more than these, of course. Most of these men were World War II correspondents, and stayed with news reporting into the age of television, and on through the 1960’s and 1970’s. They worked at a time when the news was expected to be a money-loser. They worked when it was thought that the news needed to be independent of the politics of the organization. They worked when news was indeed news and not someone’s opinion masquerading as legitimate news. All have passed on except, as of this writing, Hottelet, who is still active in life.
Sometimes these reporters would give a commentary. When they did, it was clearly labeled as such. Sevareid and Cronkite immediately come to mind as two whose commentary I clearly remember. I’m sure others did the same. We didn’t always agree, but I respected their opinions, and knew they came from a deep and abiding knowledge of the events of the day and a great respect for the journalism profession and the code of ethics that guided them.
It saddens me to think that the likes of some of these men may never be seen again, or that the independence of a news organization from its owner/company may never again be known. It saddens me that it takes great effort to find anything in any kind of news reporting that even comes close to pure news reporting, and not pandering to profit or politics. Those of us who have experienced the golden age of media journalism are understandably turned off by Fox, CNN and the others who have hijacked something that served well the American people and the world and have created a faux world that is nothing at all like it should be.
And what is even sadder is that those who don’t know better think this is the way it should be.
These men (yes, they’re all men) are former news correspondents who worked during television’s golden age of news reporting. Most of them worked for CBS News, but not all. Several of them were Murrow’s boys, a phrase that described those who worked for the legendary Edward R. Murrow.
There were more than these, of course. Most of these men were World War II correspondents, and stayed with news reporting into the age of television, and on through the 1960’s and 1970’s. They worked at a time when the news was expected to be a money-loser. They worked when it was thought that the news needed to be independent of the politics of the organization. They worked when news was indeed news and not someone’s opinion masquerading as legitimate news. All have passed on except, as of this writing, Hottelet, who is still active in life.
Sometimes these reporters would give a commentary. When they did, it was clearly labeled as such. Sevareid and Cronkite immediately come to mind as two whose commentary I clearly remember. I’m sure others did the same. We didn’t always agree, but I respected their opinions, and knew they came from a deep and abiding knowledge of the events of the day and a great respect for the journalism profession and the code of ethics that guided them.
It saddens me to think that the likes of some of these men may never be seen again, or that the independence of a news organization from its owner/company may never again be known. It saddens me that it takes great effort to find anything in any kind of news reporting that even comes close to pure news reporting, and not pandering to profit or politics. Those of us who have experienced the golden age of media journalism are understandably turned off by Fox, CNN and the others who have hijacked something that served well the American people and the world and have created a faux world that is nothing at all like it should be.
And what is even sadder is that those who don’t know better think this is the way it should be.
The Right Thing
You’ve probably seen the ad, or seen one like it. State Farm Insurance this evening, during the OU/OSU game had a commercial where the only sound was a musical score where the singers sang “You wanna go where everybody knows your name,” several times during the 30 second spot. Of course, the song is from the TV show “Cheers.” And the theme of the commercial was that people like to do business where they are called by name.
I’ve noticed many commercials in the last couple of years that have this theme. Not the song from “Cheers” necessarily, but the general theme of the commercial is that you will be somebody besides a number if you do business with us.
It’s sad in a way that commercials even have to have this theme. I know that in this modern world, it’s a little arcane to think that the mom and pop grocery store, the local banker, the hardware store guy, the clothing store women, and the meat market butcher would all be friends and neighbors who know you and you know not only them, but also their spouses, kids, and grandkids.
However, there are ways that we can meet the need for recognition without having to patronize a particular insurance company, supermarket, or bank. A couple of ways that I can think of immediately are to volunteer your time to a worthy organization and to become connected with a loving church community.
Think about it before you dismiss these suggestions out of hand. Someone who volunteers is appreciated just for their willingness to serve. These folks fill needs, provide additional support, and generally make life better and easier for those they serve. And that service is noticed and appreciated, making the volunteer a sort of celebrity, if you will.
And to attach oneself to a loving church community is to inherit a “whole ‘nuther family,’ as it were. Folks are generally glad you are a part of the group and enjoy the time they spend with you. You have additional opportunity to volunteer through the church as well.
You don’t have to attach to a church, if that’s not your thing. Civic groups, non-profit organizations and the like many times are formed around a community structure and would welcome you to the fellowship. I would ask, though, that you seriously consider your Creator, His continuing love for you and your response to that. No, not all churches are loving. No, not all people in the church are committed to the cause. Yes, some are hypocrites. You’ll find that, however, wherever you go because people are imperfect by nature, and so are you. Don’t let those lame excuses keep you from doing the right thing.
I’ve noticed many commercials in the last couple of years that have this theme. Not the song from “Cheers” necessarily, but the general theme of the commercial is that you will be somebody besides a number if you do business with us.
It’s sad in a way that commercials even have to have this theme. I know that in this modern world, it’s a little arcane to think that the mom and pop grocery store, the local banker, the hardware store guy, the clothing store women, and the meat market butcher would all be friends and neighbors who know you and you know not only them, but also their spouses, kids, and grandkids.
However, there are ways that we can meet the need for recognition without having to patronize a particular insurance company, supermarket, or bank. A couple of ways that I can think of immediately are to volunteer your time to a worthy organization and to become connected with a loving church community.
Think about it before you dismiss these suggestions out of hand. Someone who volunteers is appreciated just for their willingness to serve. These folks fill needs, provide additional support, and generally make life better and easier for those they serve. And that service is noticed and appreciated, making the volunteer a sort of celebrity, if you will.
And to attach oneself to a loving church community is to inherit a “whole ‘nuther family,’ as it were. Folks are generally glad you are a part of the group and enjoy the time they spend with you. You have additional opportunity to volunteer through the church as well.
You don’t have to attach to a church, if that’s not your thing. Civic groups, non-profit organizations and the like many times are formed around a community structure and would welcome you to the fellowship. I would ask, though, that you seriously consider your Creator, His continuing love for you and your response to that. No, not all churches are loving. No, not all people in the church are committed to the cause. Yes, some are hypocrites. You’ll find that, however, wherever you go because people are imperfect by nature, and so are you. Don’t let those lame excuses keep you from doing the right thing.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
No Easy Solution
I helped our teens (church youth group) last night as they served an overflow homeless shelter by serving a hot meal to the men that came in for the night. We served sloppy joes, fruit, mac & cheese, cookies, and drinks. The men were grateful and several came to the window to thank us for what we provided for them.
As I looked over the men who were eating during a lull in the serving, I had to wonder about some of them. One of them said he had been a Marine. Another was rather young…looked like age 30 or less. Some looked as if they had been homeless for years; others looked like they came on hard times in just the last few days or weeks. I don’t know if I can rely on looks and brief conversations to draw any particular conclusions, however.
What I did think about was how these men would get out of the situation they were in. How were they going to find jobs, get to and from work, obtain a vocational education, etc?
Think about it. To get a job today requires (usually) a mailing address or permanent address, email, access to a computer, a telephone number, transportation, clean clothing, neat appearance, a way to create a resume, adequate identification, and decent health. Many employers also check one’s credit report, driver records and other such records. Enrolling in and attending school requires much the same resources in addition to a method of paying for the schooling.
So how are these guys going to make the arrangements for these things? How will they get (and pay for) transportation? Where will they wash their clothes? Where are they going to type out a decent resume? What do they do first? Where do they look? Who do they ask?
Now, I’m not turning into a flaming liberal. I know some of these guys have mental and emotional issues that may preclude them from holding down a job. But that begs the question of how they will obtain treatment for their condition, or will they just continue being unbalanced? Other guys have made poor choices in the past that have worked against them to result in their being in the overflow shelter. I get that. We’ve all made poor choices in life. But that also begs the question of how they are going to get out of the hole they’re in, and the truth that “But for the grace of God go I.”
Maybe I also look at this a little differently than some because my wife and I were homeless for a time not that long ago. Except for the generosity of family who took us in and gave us basic support (computer access, an address, washer and dryer, bathroom, warmth & comfort, and would have provided food, transportation, and clothing if needed), and for a church family who helped with continuing medical insurance and provided other support, we too would have had to go to the overflow shelter for an evening meal and place to sleep.
I am not one who thinks government has the solution to all problems of society. Nor do I think that throwing money at a problem necessarily fixes it or makes it better. I do believe, however, that in general we are woefully ignorant of not only these kinds of societal issues, but we are also woefully ignorant of the complexity of many of these issues and the difficulty in finding an adequate solution or solutions.
I don’t pretend to know the answers. I don’t even know what questions to ask. I do know that I’ll be much more cognizant of some of these issues as I go forward in life, and will continue to “do something” even if I can’t “do everything”. I hope you will too.
As I looked over the men who were eating during a lull in the serving, I had to wonder about some of them. One of them said he had been a Marine. Another was rather young…looked like age 30 or less. Some looked as if they had been homeless for years; others looked like they came on hard times in just the last few days or weeks. I don’t know if I can rely on looks and brief conversations to draw any particular conclusions, however.
What I did think about was how these men would get out of the situation they were in. How were they going to find jobs, get to and from work, obtain a vocational education, etc?
Think about it. To get a job today requires (usually) a mailing address or permanent address, email, access to a computer, a telephone number, transportation, clean clothing, neat appearance, a way to create a resume, adequate identification, and decent health. Many employers also check one’s credit report, driver records and other such records. Enrolling in and attending school requires much the same resources in addition to a method of paying for the schooling.
So how are these guys going to make the arrangements for these things? How will they get (and pay for) transportation? Where will they wash their clothes? Where are they going to type out a decent resume? What do they do first? Where do they look? Who do they ask?
Now, I’m not turning into a flaming liberal. I know some of these guys have mental and emotional issues that may preclude them from holding down a job. But that begs the question of how they will obtain treatment for their condition, or will they just continue being unbalanced? Other guys have made poor choices in the past that have worked against them to result in their being in the overflow shelter. I get that. We’ve all made poor choices in life. But that also begs the question of how they are going to get out of the hole they’re in, and the truth that “But for the grace of God go I.”
Maybe I also look at this a little differently than some because my wife and I were homeless for a time not that long ago. Except for the generosity of family who took us in and gave us basic support (computer access, an address, washer and dryer, bathroom, warmth & comfort, and would have provided food, transportation, and clothing if needed), and for a church family who helped with continuing medical insurance and provided other support, we too would have had to go to the overflow shelter for an evening meal and place to sleep.
I am not one who thinks government has the solution to all problems of society. Nor do I think that throwing money at a problem necessarily fixes it or makes it better. I do believe, however, that in general we are woefully ignorant of not only these kinds of societal issues, but we are also woefully ignorant of the complexity of many of these issues and the difficulty in finding an adequate solution or solutions.
I don’t pretend to know the answers. I don’t even know what questions to ask. I do know that I’ll be much more cognizant of some of these issues as I go forward in life, and will continue to “do something” even if I can’t “do everything”. I hope you will too.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thanksgiving
I got up this morning feeling OK, but not “normal”. My gut was growling and my throat was a little ticklish. I wondered if I was coming down with something after this holiday period when I rubbed shoulders with lots of people I don’t normally see very often. Turns out I feel fine now. Maybe it was just something I ate that didn’t quite agree with me and wanted me and my gut wanted me to know it wasn’t happy.
But as I was sitting this morning before church, thinking about my situation, I heard the furnace come on. I didn’t think much about it except to think that I was glad I didn’t have to head out back to the woodpile in this wind and cold to fetch wood for the stove or fireplace…especially feeling the way I was at the time.
A few minutes later, I went into the bathroom and had the occasion to run the water there. Again, I thought that I sure was glad I didn’t have to go out to the well and lower a bucket or pump the pump jack, or walk a mile or so to the nearest stream and carry water back to the house. The thought came to me again regarding hot water. I was glad I didn’t have to heat water over the stove or fireplace to get hot water for a bath.
Then I thought, “How did people survive in the olden days when they got the flu or a serious illness, and didn’t have automatic furnaces, running water, or hot water, or had animals that needed tending to?” Can you imagine yourself with a bad case of the stomach flu and having to chop wood, pump water, or milk the cow anyway? People in those days didn’t always have other family members to help, and had no way to contact someone else (neighbor or friend) to come help them.
And I can certainly imagine someone living by himself who gets really sick, cannot do those daily things that meant survival, and died of cold or dehydration. People of not many generations ago had to do things every day to assure survival for that day.
Nowadays, we don’t have to worry that much about it. The furnace will cycle on and off without our constant attention. The water faucet will run without our having to make it do so. Our waste will be flushed down the sewer and out of sight and mind. And we probably have enough food in the house to last for many, many days. If all else fails, we can call, email, or contact someone to come help us until we can get on our feet. If we have no one else, 911 is always available.
Do we understand the blessings we enjoy and the comfort, security, and safety that comes just by having potable water come out of a faucet whenever we want it? Little House on the Prairie was a feel-good show, and in some ways we’d like to reclaim some of that innocence. But those times were also tough and hard, unforgiving and even merciless toward those who were weak, infirm, or incapacitated in some way. I don’t think we want to go back there.
You don’t have to feel guilty because you have these blessings, and you don’t have to sell everything you have and go live under a bridge somewhere. But I would ask that you stop for just a moment and look around you, and breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for those things that are so routine and part of your life; yet are so vital to your well-being and health. And then I’d like for you to consider sharing this year with some of our number who may not have running water, automatic heat, or weeks worth of groceries. You might just find that you come to appreciate these things even more.
But as I was sitting this morning before church, thinking about my situation, I heard the furnace come on. I didn’t think much about it except to think that I was glad I didn’t have to head out back to the woodpile in this wind and cold to fetch wood for the stove or fireplace…especially feeling the way I was at the time.
A few minutes later, I went into the bathroom and had the occasion to run the water there. Again, I thought that I sure was glad I didn’t have to go out to the well and lower a bucket or pump the pump jack, or walk a mile or so to the nearest stream and carry water back to the house. The thought came to me again regarding hot water. I was glad I didn’t have to heat water over the stove or fireplace to get hot water for a bath.
Then I thought, “How did people survive in the olden days when they got the flu or a serious illness, and didn’t have automatic furnaces, running water, or hot water, or had animals that needed tending to?” Can you imagine yourself with a bad case of the stomach flu and having to chop wood, pump water, or milk the cow anyway? People in those days didn’t always have other family members to help, and had no way to contact someone else (neighbor or friend) to come help them.
And I can certainly imagine someone living by himself who gets really sick, cannot do those daily things that meant survival, and died of cold or dehydration. People of not many generations ago had to do things every day to assure survival for that day.
Nowadays, we don’t have to worry that much about it. The furnace will cycle on and off without our constant attention. The water faucet will run without our having to make it do so. Our waste will be flushed down the sewer and out of sight and mind. And we probably have enough food in the house to last for many, many days. If all else fails, we can call, email, or contact someone to come help us until we can get on our feet. If we have no one else, 911 is always available.
Do we understand the blessings we enjoy and the comfort, security, and safety that comes just by having potable water come out of a faucet whenever we want it? Little House on the Prairie was a feel-good show, and in some ways we’d like to reclaim some of that innocence. But those times were also tough and hard, unforgiving and even merciless toward those who were weak, infirm, or incapacitated in some way. I don’t think we want to go back there.
You don’t have to feel guilty because you have these blessings, and you don’t have to sell everything you have and go live under a bridge somewhere. But I would ask that you stop for just a moment and look around you, and breathe a prayer of thanksgiving for those things that are so routine and part of your life; yet are so vital to your well-being and health. And then I’d like for you to consider sharing this year with some of our number who may not have running water, automatic heat, or weeks worth of groceries. You might just find that you come to appreciate these things even more.
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