Basics

What really matters? To you? To me? If we had to live without something, what would we choose to dump rather than something else? What made us choose that item as opposed to another?

Hopefully we won’t have to make those choices, ever.

I was at a public awards dinner the other night and the strangers at the table asked each other what about their hobbies. I asked what kind of reading do you like?

Everyone seemed to have a hobby and willing to talk about such interests. But several point blank told me they did not have the time to read. So they don’t. Period. I asked if this included news reports, and they answered yes. They get news from radio and TV.

Some younger folks reported they rarely read a newspaper, choosing instead to garner their news from scanning the internet.

Well, I was surprised even though I rarely read newspapers because they are costly, irregular in delivery, and more and more biased. I prefer to scan the internet for news, then pursue leads to more detailed sources and study them in order to understand the issues more completely.

Novels and non-fiction books I read copiously. My table mates did not. Some didn't read any books at all. That made me very uncomfortable. I wondered about their inner-mind chatter or dialogue they have within themselves. What are they learning, what do they do with those ideas and facts, and what are they thinking?

The internet offered this anonymous statement the other day and it sparked my attention:

            “A child who reads will be an adult who thinks.”

My thought exactly!  But what if the child doesn't read? Does that mean an adult will be shaped who doesn't think? How can that be? Of course the adult will think. It is unclear, however, how well the adult thinks if it doesn't have fresh information and logic to challenge idea formation and conclusions. What are the raw resources that adult will use to process their thinking? What discipline will they exert in this process?

In fact this whole scenario scares the hell out of me! If we think we have an educational dilemma regarding children, what must we call the ‘problem’ with adults? Education is for all of us throughout our lives. It doesn't stop with graduation. Graduation is the beginning of using our education and expanding it. That’s why it is called ‘commencement’, the beginning of a new phase of life.

A fresh beginning. New moments of life viewed with open eyes and a background of information to be expanded upon with fresh moments of experience. Reminds me of Dr. Seuss who said:

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

It is the memory that adds up to more memory and life experience. We build our identity from these moments. We construct our person-hood and educational fabric accordingly.

Colliding with life’s realities teaches us. Stark images form. Meaning takes shape.  Nuance of precise meaning forms, too. Think of Chris Rock’s comedic line:

“Don’t be black in Florida. Don’t be a woman in Texas. Don’t be poor in America.”

Funny things to say. Jarring reality as well. Hilarious truth in a special way. But not totally true, either. In that tiny space of logic lies the humor. Serious thought, however, uncovers just how true these statements are. They are in fact a juxtaposition of our American values. These are perversions of our values. That is partly why they are funny. But the reality is sad as well.

How did we get here? How can a state like Arizona legislate laws that creates discrimination against gay people? How can Arizona get religious freedom so wrong? The same for Kansas who tried to enact similar legislation but was saved from some embarrassment by their state senate who refused to pass on the bill.

Little dislocations of logic create these disconnects. We allow distractions to bend our thinking, our perceptions. A little while later we wind up with conclusions that simply are foreign to our basic beliefs.

Does this start with reading or not reading? Does our educational process keep logic central to critical thinking? How do we gather fresh information and then process it? What are the governors in the mind that guide us along these paths?

What are the basics we get right most of the time? How does the process allow so much to go wrong at times?

The basics matter. It matters more what we do with them. And how.

February 28, 2014

Some Theology

I consider myself a spiritual person. I have more than dallied with religion over the decades. It has been a very serious area of my intellectual life at various times. I still am not rid of the chance dalliance in theological thinking! It is a part of me. Full faith in all things religious, however, has seemingly always been absent in my life.  Belief in God has rarely been a problem for me, however. I think I have a good and healthy relationship with God.

Now, all the other stuff related to religion I have trouble with. Divinity of this person and that one, well, I do have qualms about accepting that as specific truth. Education analogies I find useful but I don’t accept them as pure articles of faith. Words of wisdom are like that. They carry their own weight. Their own value. Their own truth.

At times we find faults within those truths, however. They do not always ring true. There are exceptions.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian. Actually, Bonhoeffer was one of the towering theological intellects of his time during Nazi Germany. He believed his faith so unfailingly that he remained in Nazi prison and suffered death at the hands of his tormentors.  Oh, they offered him a way out, a way to be handed over to western European powers, but he preferred to live out his life in his homeland even though it meant certain death. He lived his beliefs to the very end. He is a hero, a martyr to his theology.

He is one of my heroes. For that reason I pass this quote of his on for your consideration:

            “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil; God will not hold us guiltless.

             Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

I have included words like these before in this blog. They echo the theme that if we know something is bad and we do not speak up or take appropriate action, then we are as guilty as those we condemn.  This was the argument during the times of abolitionist outrage over slavery. It is also the argument against Nazi Germany in their days. It is also the argument against discrimination against gay people everywhere – Russia, Africa, Middle East, America.

Religion, freedom, pursuit of happiness, inalienable rights…all these things are basic conditions of human life. They know no state or national boundary. Only neighborhoods of evil in one’s own mind or the minds of others. Such evil ought not have protection of government. World rights have no boundary.

In this sense we are our brother’s keeper. But do we accept the role?

February 27, 2014

Catching Up w/Gay

Things are perking right along with regard to legalizing gay marriage. Eighteen states have now legalized gay marriages in their own state, while even more have recognized gay marriages performed in other states. Illinois passed the legislation before year-end 2013 but made the effective date June 1^st. Cook County is now authorized to perform the weddings before June effective immediately by federal court decree. Soon the other 101 counties in the state will likely follow suit. [Note: Cook County contains Chicago and their combined population is more than 5.25 million.]

This is good news for the LGBT community. Polling throughout the USA confirms that a solid majority of Americans support equal rights and marriage equality for LGBT citizens. This may come as a surprise to many but it shouldn't.

Most of us are familiar with the ‘six degrees of separation’, which posits that we all are related in someway to one another. Taken more broadly, we are probably 4 degrees separated from relatives and friends, perhaps less. Surely we all know at least one gay person within our own family and among our circle of friends.  Knowing these people as people we can better understand why discriminating against them based on their being gay is truly wrong.

The primary reason for this conclusion is: being gay is not a choice.

If it is not a choice then LGBT persons should live out their lives as naturally as possible. It takes deep thinking and self analysis to understand one’s self in the best of times; a gay person has an even tougher task to perform. Once done, however, they need to naturally pursue their happiness as the rest of us are free to do without barrier.

Famed singer and performer Michael Buble has shared this with us:

“My uncle Mike has been with my uncle Frank for 35 years. I grew up never seeing a difference between gay and straight people. [Acceptance] has got to start in the home.”

Rocky and I have many nieces and nephews. They are all young adults and young marrieds these days. They easily accept us unconditionally into their lives. They are supportive and natural with us. Their parents, however, are another tale! But it is OK. We accept their parents as flawed fellow human beings. One day they may catch up with the rest of us, but for now they must be allowed to wander and struggle in this emotional wilderness which confuses them so!

Chely Wright, American Country music artist and gay rights activist, has said:

“I am gay, and I am not seeking to be ‘tolerated.” One tolerates a toothache, rush-hour traffic, an annoying neighbor with a cluttered yard. I am not a negative to be tolerated.”

I have tolerated the occasional toothache and become so inured to it that I was stunned at the freedom from pain once the cause was removed. I hadn't realized how bad I felt until the pain was gone.  Sort of like cooking a frog who remains in the frying pan from cool to full saute!

Eventually, however, the toothache’s cause is removed. And we are aware more fully of the problem. I have never tolerated rush hour traffic unless it has allowed me the pause to think through other matters I would otherwise not pay attention to. Most of the time I wonder why the engineering genius of our nation hasn't actually solved rush hour traffic! Now the cluttered yard I do tolerate. I accept they can’t do anything about it. It is their natural way of living. Just like my gay life! 

And that’s the point.

Don’t tolerate me. Accept me because I am who I am, just like you are the way you are.

Young people get this. The parent gene struggles with this, however. Oh let them be! Just remember that what they believe because they can’t help it ought not be legislated against others because of who they are. That would be wrong and un-American. Just like freedom of religion, no one should get in the way of someone believing or worshiping as they choose. But that does not give them the right to cram their religion down our throats. We have the religious freedom to live and believe our way, too.

Religious freedom works in both directions. The same for gay’s pursuing their happiness.  Best we don’t forget this.

February 26, 2014

Living by Choice

Rocky found this on the internet the other day. I, too, found it beguiling. I share it with you now and then will follow with some comments.

            “I choose…

            To live by choice, not by chance;

            To make changes, not excuses;

            To be motivated, not manipulated;

            To be useful, not used;

            To excel, not compete;

            I choose self-esteem, not self pity;

            I choose to listen to my inner voice, not random opinion of others.

                                    ~rawforbeauty.com

The keyword here is ‘choose’. Intentional thought, word, action and belief. Not random, nor accidental. Purposeful and thought out. I choose to do something or believe something. I choose to share something with others, whether an idea, sentiment, pat on the back, or donation of time, money and talent.

Choosing to live this way, makes opportunities happen. Read material for the information I do not already know, or how to fit it with other things I know but haven’t thought about before. Talk with others about the same thoughts and learn what they think; is it similar to your understanding? Or are there other possibilities, here. Fresh ideas for fresh thinking and creation.

If I find something that needs changing, am I willing to offer help to make the change? Or am I merely willing to offer critique of the situation and lay blame for it? Why not avoid your own excuses and get busy helping with the needed changes?

Do you choose to be motivated and motivate others? Or are you waiting for others to do this for you, and perhaps manipulate you and your resources? Why not take charge of your own resources (time, talent and funds) to make the changes you feel most needed?

Similar to this thought, do you choose to be useful and not used?  When someone asks you to do something, are you sure this is what you want to do? Why not get directly involved and be useful to the cause in the first place. You will understand the issue much better and know for yourself what needs to be done and when. Writing a check is useful; but it does not advance your understanding of the issue first hand. Think about changing this in your life.

Do you choose to excel at something and not compete?  If we focus on competition we are not truly strengthening our inner ability. In fact we are letting other matters dictate our inner agenda and how we spend our energy and time. Excelling at our chosen interest centers means we also use to advantage what others can provide. By not competing but rather collaborating, we accomplish a great deal more. Our joint interests are advanced. We each excel; we each accomplish. The common good of the community is enriched. Together we have made progress. And meanwhile we have not wasted time and energy in competing with others.

And I want to feel good about myself. That is not preening! That is individuality. It is also avoiding self pity. Focus on the positive and the negatives will fade away, maybe even disappear entirely for awhile!

Along the way I begin to notice that my inner voice is working hard and well. And I learn also to trust it. It is often more reliable and accurate than the random thoughts expressed by others. Self control and self reliance. They go hand in hand.

In the final analysis, choosing to live intentionally is a good thing for me, and for you. That’s when the ‘us’, the ‘we’ begins to soar as well.

Good quote to think about today. Choose to be all that you can be this day!

February 25, 2014

Howling

I know for you it is Monday; but it is Friday as I write this posting. February 21^st. The wind is howling at 30 miles an hour with gusts to 45 and more. Snow is being squeezed and pulled from passing clouds so we have a dusting of snow that is swirling all about us. Yesterday’s 50-degree weather, rain, thunder storms and wind, made mush of 2 feet of snow and plow piles of 6 feet. Flood advisories are a constant.

In short this is miserable weather to be out and about in. And so I sit here in a warm kitchen at the keyboard of the computer watching the weather world outside my sliding glass, well insulated patio door. And I remember the days I commuted in this stuff, on foot, on bicycle and on train. Dressed for the Arctic north, too!  Luckily I worked for a University and fashion was rarely an issue, especially when urban guerrilla climate conditions prevailed.

So here I am. Safe. Warm. Indoors.  Retired.

Perhaps I need to stress that last word: r-e-t-i-r-e-d.

It’s not like I have nothing to do. I keep myself pretty busy. But every now and then a golden day of rest magically happens on the calendar. And today is one. Not one thing is on the calendar. No meetings to attend. No public events to cover for the newspaper. No family gatherings to attend. No park board meetings, or chamber of commerce sessions. Not even grocery shopping. No sir. Finished reading a novel yesterday and began a new one this morning. So, get out the garbage for the collectors, sit back and read the book. Take a nap. Contemplate the world and…….

Retired. A time to refresh the body and mind. A time to focus on things put off over the past 50 years. A time to rethink what I want to do. What do I do now? What should I do with my time, energy and accumulated knowledge? 

This is a performance review of sorts. Here is what I've done with my retirement so far during the past 5 years.

• Assessed the state of the arts in town; helped create a volunteer arts organization to educate the public on arts, encourage new artists to emerge, and support established artists in their growth and creative journey. We sponsor exhibits, classes and concerts.
• Continued to support a long-time interest and commitment in the Chamber of Commerce. We help struggling local businesses, and support new business ventures. Overall we endeavor to strengthen our local economies for the public good.
• Joined the board of commissioners of the local Park District. Helped them mature their strategic planning process and focused the district’s efforts on professional development of the district’s services to the taxpayers. The agency recently received an award of excellence for all we do from its professional peers. This indicates we have achieved the pinnacle of success; now we must consider how to best use this strength.
• Co-founded our local newspaper. All volunteer and non-profit. I am a columnist and beat reporter for the paper. I am also the managing editor and supervise 32 volunteers. Rocky and I also distribute the paper to 33 drop off points and to two post offices. Most of our circulation is delivered by post offices.
• Involved with our local church. Sing liturgy, serve as lector and support the occasional gigs of the choir once or twice a year. Serve on the Worship Committee and plan services year round. Support the pastor in stressful times so the small church is all it can be to its parishioners and community.
• Created this blog and write and post nearly every day.
• Read to my granddaughters every Saturday morning.
• Attend AA meetings twice a week and provide support and nurture to fellow members who may be struggling.

There are no competitions or award ceremonies for retirees. Just life. Just the pleasure of doing what you want to do with your time. Oh, and relearning how to live on scare financial resources! And health, of course. Every day we learn how to live on the least. And you know what? It’s pretty luxurious just the way it is. Lush and comfortable. Plenty of food (just not the desired menu!), time to sleep and nap (lots of opportunities!) and good enough health to stand, walk, sit and function properly most of the time.

So what’s to complain about? On a personal basis, nothing. On a national and global basis, plenty!

Yes, that’s the source of my blog. National and global issues are a special interest of mine and so I write about them. I research them and read constantly about the issues. And of course opinions are formed and that’s what I write about. It is a mental health therapy of sorts. Of course my ramblings may just cause others to have their own mental health emergencies, but then that’s their issue to manage. I found a way to manage mine!

And that’s retirement in the year 2014. Not at all bad. Not all good, either, but good enough to make it very worth while.

And before I close, a Huge Happy Birthday to my mother. She is 100 years old this very day!  Cheers, Mom!

February 24, 2014

Thought for the Day

Wise old Abe.  Abraham Lincoln, that is. One of my most favorite people in history.  He gave us these words of wisdom:

            “Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be.”

Take this weekend to ponder his words. See if you are guided in a slightly different direction come Monday morning!

February 22, 2014

Thaws

We have had a hard winter. Not a really terrible one, but in comparison with the past ten years the winter of 2013/14 has been more difficult. We have had long periods of below zero temps. Snow has fallen a total of 68 inches. The Chicago region usually gets 34 inches per year. In recent years we had as few as 18 inches for the season. But the ice, snow, salty mush on roads, and endless tracking into the garage, and from the garage into the house, have frayed our nerves a bit.

Add to this the closing of schools and other public institutions due to severe cold and wind chills; simply unsafe to be outdoors. Yet the commuters continue to march through winter hell to get to and from work.

This morning as I write this blog at 4:30 AM, it is thundering and lightening. Vigorously so. Rain and downpours are forecast today. We recently had two feet of snow piled up from recent storms. Drifted areas and plowed piles have exceed six feet. Yet temps in the past 36 hours have melted the piles. Rain will further erode the telltale signs of Old Man Winter, but wait!  Spring hearkens in our souls. And Mother Nature seems willing to give us more of that promise.

The thunderstorms today, however, will likely drop an inch or two of rain, on top of melting snow piles, on top of ice crust, and frozen earth. The fear today and this weekend is of flooding. The thaw will produce water flows toward streams, creeks and rivers. In turn they will swell. Rain runoff will add to the burden. Will an unpleasant flood of icy waters add to our misery this winter?

We shall see. Meanwhile I recall many past winters in which I drove to business meetings with a real fear of getting stuck, missing the meeting, and getting mired in an endless commute home. More than one evening dinner was postponed for 2 hours or more in those days.

Much of my early work years were spent commuting from the far out suburbs to downtown Chicago. The commute took 4 hours each day: a one mile walk to the train station from home, a 45 minute train ride, a one and a half mile walk to the campus from the downtown train station.  That’s 5 miles walking round trip, and hour and a half train rides counting both directions, and waiting for the train added in. Four hours each day. In all kinds of weather.

The walking kept me active and warm in cold weather. Much better to exert energy, get exercise and maintain proper body weight than stand frozen to the pavement at a bus stop, especially when the bus seemed never to arrive in the worst of weather!  So I walked.  It was good for me. It gave me more time to think and logic out office issues and work challenges.

Funny thing, though. Back in those days (late 1970’s and most of the 1980’s) bad weather was the norm during winter. It was in the 1990’s and first decade of 2000’s that winter softened its impact. Smaller snow storms. Much more moderate temperatures. Very little ice. And when weather was bad, it only lasted a day or so, and then melted.

Back then we thought we had it bad. Today the commuters think they have it bad. Records are being made, don’t you know. Actually, not!  The records were made in the past. That’s why they call them records!

But each new generation must feel they invented the records and survived the ordeals of magnitude. It comes with the journey of life, I suppose. Seemed normal enough to me both then and now.  It’s just funny to think about.

The perspective though still holds its humor. And lesson.

February 21, 2014

Black History Month

John T. Wilson (1914 – 1990) was a storied academic at several institutions but most notably at the University of Chicago. He shared this thought some time back:

“Some ask, ‘Why is there no white history month?’ The answer is that it has all been white history.”

We lose sight of that, don’t we? We wonder why there is a need to pay more attention to one segment of society or another. The reason is that those segments tend to get lost in the overwhelming presence of primary social currents. If many of the newsmakers are men, women become eclipsed. If all we see are Caucasians, whenever do we really see African-Americans and Hispanics? Might these moments of attention on ‘minorities’ be associated with crime reports or social issues in need of national attention? You know, the problems?

In short do we learn of non-Caucasian peoples associated with stories of a positive nature or negative?

An honest answer is obvious. So the attention from time to time is forced to be positive. Thus many years ago Black History Month was created. Since then American society has engaged in programs of recognition for many minorities among us. The oddest one I think is the attention on women’s issue. First of all they are not a minority, but you would think they are when the facts and figures of discrimination are tallied. How hidden from view were women’s issues!  Not as much today, thank God. All men have many women in their lives, significant women; why then did the men allow women’s issues to develop in the first place?

There are many reasons for this, and that is a subject for another day at the blogging keyboard!  For now, let us focus on Black History Month.

Rosa Parks, the first black person to challenge the American South’s discriminatory public bus riding rules, sat in the front of the bus and remained there stubbornly. She was arrested and publicly humiliated. Thus started a major chapter in the American Civil Rights Movement that eventually led to vast success.

Rosa Parks advised all of us with these words:

            “You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.”

Doing what is right is often quite lonely. Mainly because we are not sure it is right. Wondering about that, even worrying about it, slows down our adoption of appropriate action. But then right buoys our resolve and we act. We may be fearful of consequences but we should not be fearful of what we do when we know it is right.

How many others are doing the right things right under our noses without our knowing it?  This anonymous quote pops to mind:

“The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us but those who win battles we know nothing about.”

Private acts of heroism unseen. Practiced charity without fanfare. An anonymous donation. Or simply a helping hand when none is requested but sorely needed. Think of the helpful push out of a snow bank in recent days? Or a neighbor shoveling your walk or driveway when you couldn't do it yourself? How many acts such as these are performed everyday unseen but with telling impact?

We shall never know. But the character of our people are made healthy and whole from such.

Steven Cosgrove is a popular author of children’s books and designer of toys. He has stated:

“Never judge someone by the way he looks or a book by the way it’s covered;  for inside those tattered pages there’s a lot to be discovered.”

Wise words and ones I am delighted are from a children’s author!!  Good to know he is a role model behind the role models!

We know the mongrel dog is as capable of performing heroic feats as the prized pure bred canine, and often is the storied player in human interest stories. There are many more mongrels among us than pure breeds. There are thus many more players of good deeds available among the population. Beauty need not be the result of kennel club purity! There are champions throughout our numbers. And we judge them poorly if we judge them at all. They each have inestimable value.

Back to Black History Month. When I worked at the University of Illinois at Chicago our office was in charge of campus programming for art, culture and entertainment. Black History Month was a huge effort to recognize a segment of our society often ignored and reviled. No more. We pay homage where it is due. And much is owed to our black brothers and sisters. Same for our Hispanic family, Asian-American citizens, and neighbors of every stripe and background.

Ours is a diverse nation. It is the diversity that makes us strong. We ignore it at peril of our future. Welcome and honor Black History Month.

February 20, 2014

At Loose Ends

Still looking for a new home. We find a promising apartment unit but then something arises that eliminates us from consideration – another tenant who pays 5 months in advance at the asking rate, turned down because of our pending bankruptcy, another for poor credit, yet another for our income being too high (!), two times for our income being too low.

The search goes on. The most promising opportunity was a condo owner wishing to rent out her unit while she lives out of state. She accepted our credit situation but demanded her personal belongings remain in the garage we were renting from her! That and no fresh paint and low water pressure she refused to do anything about. She refused us; we refused her as a highly poor landlord risk! This transaction works both ways.

We have other options and my bankruptcy discharge is due in hard copy from the court this week. That will improve our chances but Rocky’s credit is in need of cleaning up via bankruptcy as well.

We did have a co-housing offer in Salt Lake City, Utah but the landlord needed to move forward quickly, of course, and we didn't like the prospect of moving in winter over the high plains and even higher mountains in the dead of February! A challenge at any time of year made perilous by seasonal winter storm threats. So we declined. In addition, Salt Lake may be a wonderful place to live, but it is the capital of the Mormon Church; that’s a challenge for gay people as you no doubt are aware!

So we continue to search. The discipline we have adopted to minimize living costs and analyzing our income and budget has uncovered our ability to afford higher rents. That’s a good thing and we are adjusting our search parameters accordingly.

As it is we are half packed or stored. We have more to do but a lot of our belongings have been weeded out and we are officially downsized! Of course we could slim down further but then we don’t know what will be useful in one home as opposed to another opportunity. Best we wait a little longer before ridding ourselves of things we will not likely replace.

Meanwhile our loose ends loom ever larger: church membership, newspaper duties (all volunteer but meaningful), chamber of commerce duties, and arts community involvement. All these interactions have been important to us. And they continue to be so. But as housing options narrow down further and further and probable sites grow farther and farther away, our favorite haunts and relationships are in peril of being eliminated. That places in question what we will do in the future to maintain a productive focus on life. It also places into question how valued or not our contributions in the past have been. If they can be eliminated with a snap of a finger, just how important were they?  Same if those comfort zones in life are replaceable with a snap of a finger.

Transitory is life. Here one day and gone tomorrow. What is important now is not so in the future. And what we did in the past has less value from today’s perspective.

Always has this been so. It is a truth of our being. It may be a hard lesson to learn, but it is one in need of learning just the same.

I’ll keep you posted on what we learn just as soon as I learn what the lesson is that awaits on our doorstep – whether transitory or not!

Stay tuned for developments. Details at 10 PM!

February 19, 2014

Generations

I want to share this piece we found on the internet the other day.  As marked, it is anonymous. For me that only heightens the pleasure, that someone would write this and share it with the world. It meant something to him; to me, too. Maybe it will speak to you?

CRANKY OLD MAN - Anonymous

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

February 18, 2018

Bump in the Night

The drip started in silence. Deafening in the quiet of night. Drip. Drip. Drip.

He stirred minutely. A rhythm intermittently began to appear. Drip. Drip drip. Drip. Drip drip drip. It took maybe 5 minutes to emerge, or was it 7 or 8 minutes? In the darkness time slowed. In the middle of silent night time seemed to stand still. Besides, who cared?

With that question he was awake. His slight movement in bed made a rustle in the sheets. He became more aware of his surroundings. The drip now became more evident. His consciousness now focused on the drip. It Was Clearly A Drip! In the middle of the night. In his home. His secure nest.

His analysis nerve stirred and he considered the causes of a drip. In the middle of the night. Many occurred to him: a roof leak; a faucet leak; a seeping pipe leaking onto the floor; a window left open and rain seeping in on the sill? Let’s see; is this drip nearby or downstairs?  Was it overhead or below? Possibilities multiplied. With each possibility the source of the drip became more sinister. Had there been a storm in the night? A violent storm? Was the roof intact? Surely the noise of such a storm would have awakened me?

That did it! Time to search for the cause. With a sweep of his arm the sheets and blanket were flung aside, his legs were tossed over the side of the bed and he slowly stood and got his bearings. The air seemed normal; not cool; not hot or unduly humid. Just right for this time of year. No smell was evident either. No; just the drip. No echo, no splink-splunk, no additional sound than a solitary drip. Alone. By itself. Steady, now; but a drip.

Light switch found by deadened finger tips. Light sprang out of darkness. The room seemed perfectly normal. A quick glance to the ceiling found no telltale spot forming around a leak. No; perfectly dry. No drip in this room.

Down the hall to the bathroom. Light switch. Blinding beacon to night blind eyes. Faucet secure. No drip. Bathtub faucet dry, too. Toilet silent. Raise the lid and notice no ripple of the water in the bowl. No internal drip in the water tank. All silent on this front.

Check the bedrooms. Empty now with the kids gone to their own family lives. Ceilings dry; windows sealed. No wet marks on the carpeting. No telltale signs of a leak. Good!

Down the stairs. First floor powder room silent; all normal. No signs of a drip, leak, or ooze.

Living room still as he left it before going up to bed the night before. Windows all closed. No ceiling marks denoting a leak. Floor/carpet/rugs all dry. Hmmmmm! Still nothing disclosing the source of the drip.

With a tentative step he entered the kitchen. Quick examination of the sink. Faucet head dry; so, too, the sink and drain surrounds. No water in evidence leaking. No drip here. On to the window; still sealed against the night air and no evidence of storm or storm seepage. Dishwasher? How could it produce a dripping leak audible all the way upstairs in the middle of the night? Still take a look. Door sealed. Edges all dry. Floor in front of dishwasher is dry; no signs of water anywhere near it. Kitchen seems innocent of a drip!

Next to the laundry room. Water heater, water softener, washing machine. Several water turnoff valves. Dry. All dry. No leak whatsoever. Besides, how would a leak here sound all the way upstairs to my bedroom of silence?

On to the garage. Garage door closed. No wind. No rain beating against it. No evident leaks from the roof. No puddles, just salt stains of the winter past, the rime of evaporated road slush. No ceiling marks of a leak. Nothing evident, either, on the walls.

Out to the front porch. No dripping from the eaves. No water whatever. Dry night. No storm in progress or evidence of an earlier one. Deep silence. Inky blackness; similar, velvety quiet.

On to the back patio; no water; no drip; no eave from which to fall for a drop of water!

Stymied. He was at a loss.

The dripping sound continued. Muffled now. He was farther from its source. Retrace his steps to the stairs, climb each one, turn on the stairway light; inspect each stair tread for evidence of damp. None. Nothing. Continue up the stairs to the upper hallway. Still no damp on the carpeting. Dry. Just as he left it the night before.

Edged back to the side of his bed. The house is now brightly lit. Fully aglow in the middle of the night. The clock reads 3 AM. Stillness looms – except for the solitary drip.

It is fading now. The rhythm is slowly abating. No double drip drip, just a lonely drip! Then again, every 4 seconds, now 5, now 6 seconds. Slowly. Slowly. 10 seconds, 12, 15.

He retraces his steps throughout the house turning off lights. Smelling the air for dampness or mustiness. Nothing.

Back upstairs now. On the bed. Sitting with knees upright. Just the night stand lamp on, now. The house is closing in, the darkness re-enveloping him. Darkness absorbs him as he snaps off the lamp. Pitch black. Night vision emerging to spot the smoke alarm monitor light, the snooze alarm dial of the clock. Tiny sources of light seem as beacons now as his eyes adjust to the blanket of darkness.

He listens intently. The roar of silence pours from his inner ears. Nothing. No drip. No sound but his breathing.

He lies back on the bed, his head snuggling into the pillow. Deep in the pillow. No sound but the rustling of his ears settling into the pillow case.

Deep dark now. Stark silence. Nary a creak from the house. Nor a drip.

Whatever was the drip?

He shall never know.

Nor we!

February 17, 2014 

Thought for the Day

Here’s the quote I hope you will read and think about this weekend:

            “Your attention please:

             No one is coming to save you.

             This life of yours is 100% your responsibility.”

Best we do something on our own to make the best of it, don’t you think? It would be nice to have others to help, and to have company during our journey forward. But still. The responsibility is ours to make the best of it.

That’s why its’ call my life.

February 15, 2014

Valentine’s Day! Humbug?

Pink. Red hearts. Doilies. Sweetness. Candy. Holding hands.

This is the day we Americans set aside to remember sweet relationships with others, presumably significant others. When we were kids, however, we sent valentines to mothers, fathers, lady neighbors, kind persons at church, and every kid in our classroom! 
So how is this about significant others?

Rather it be for all others, so our relationships are nurtured well throughout our lives.

If we do the right thing with those special to us, the significant others will come along quite nicely, thank you!

Valentines Day. A day in February. Just one day. But what do we do with the other 364 days of the year?  Perhaps this quote helps:

            “Before you speak, Think.

             T – is it true?

             H – is it helpful?

             I – is it inspiring?

             N – is it necessary?

             K – is it kind?

                                                ~Anonymous

Interesting terms, don’t you think? Reconsider the Indian 10 Commandments we wrote about on Tuesday.  The terms above parallel the commandment terms closely!  True, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind.  The THINK of life. Not a bad quote to use as a talisman throughout all of our days on earth.

We are taught as little ones to think critically. We often take that to mean defensively. But there is little distance between defense and offense.  Most likely we slip into the offensive quickly without actually realizing it.

Another anonymous quote:

“Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.”

That should go without saying but then, we need reminders, don’t we? Perhaps that is why President Obama offered these words in his 2014 State of the Union Address:

“We believe in the inherent dignity and equality of every human being, regardless of race, religion, creed or sexual orientation.”

He did not say he believes this, he state ‘we’ believe this. It is part of the American creed itself. Our Constitution states ‘inalienable rights’ and ‘the pursuit of happiness’ and then eventually goes on to include the Bill of Rights. We believe in the equality of each other in this land of ours. It is not a variable or something to be re-argued. It is part and parcel of who we are as a people, a society, and a nation.

So, we have work to do. We need to share our hearts with others, not pieces of our opinion, our mind, our differing beliefs. Let us first learn to live together peacefully. Cooperation and collaboration build good things. But first we have to have the respect and peace among us to do that work.

If you find that hard to do – liberals and conservatives, for example – think about the kagillion things we agree on!  Much more than what we disagree on!

Pete Seeger (1919 – 2014) said this about the core of all music:

“Songs are funny things. They can slip across borders. Proliferate in prisons. Penetrate hard shells. I always believed that the right song at the right moment could change history.”

Songs, music, and harmonious sounds have an effect on us. We feel rather than think about these experiences. We instantly shift from anger to peace, from struggle to serenity…in an instant. Feeling, not thinking.

Perhaps the most effective Valentine ‘Card’ is a song of love and caring? Perhaps it is a song of trying and stretching to be the best you can be for the other person’s benefit? Whatever works, try it. As another unknown author has stated:

            “If you don’t fit in, then you’re probably doing the right thing.”

Stretching, trying what we think is right but is uncomfortably new to us, is most likely the right thing anyway. It is part of the “think” reminder at the beginning of this blog. Be true and think. Care for all those around you.

May this be a memorable Valentines Day each and every day of the year!

February 14, 2014

Sharing

Anthony Douglas Williams (Inside the Divine Pattern) has said:

“The earth is large enough for all to share, but mankind’s heart is not large enough to care.”

Gad! Do you suppose this is true?

My mind spins to images of animals wandering the earth in search of food and clannish survival. All seems to be well for the time being, but then the image is disturbed by man stepping into the scene. He has a gun; he hunts the animal; not for food but for pelt and trophy. Man has trod these animal havens for land to develop, minerals to mine, and supplies of water and woods to fell for building materials. World markets to supply, you know. Never mind the animals and their habitat.

Mankind’s heart is not large enough to care. Yes, that seems to be true. But the earth is large enough to share. Yes, that seems to be true as well. So why don’t we share?

Not sharing is a good definition of selfishness.

It doesn't take long, however, if concerted efforts by corporations, industries and even national governments decide to protect large swaths of land and all it contains for their own benefit. We see this behavior on a global basis. British Petroleum believes it’s search for fossil fuels give them license to despoil oceans, lakes, land masses and all else for the sake of their mission – to find energy supplies wherever for whomever. One presupposes the whomever is also ‘whoever will pay our price’!

Think Gulf of Mexico and ocean drilling rigs exploding, and ruptured oil pipelines on the ocean’s floor spewing millions of gallons of toxicity into pristine waters and shorelines. $20 billion of damage and still counting. And still unaddressed. Whole communities livelihoods destroyed and yet uncompensated. Shrimp and other sea life destroyed or sickened for long periods of time, no longer fit for human consumption, at least not yet.

The BP’s of the world are many. Exxon-Mobil is another, General Electric still another, and many more plundering the earth for goods they sell to others for a profit. Yet the land – water and air, too – is left unable to sustain life of plants and animal after their plundering presence has left all behind. There is a price for this lack of sharing. The natural world is not something for others to make use of an discard, never to be used again by anyone else.

They are depleting the earth’s riches and not replacing them. They are despoiling our home planet for their own gain, not for our fruitful purpose.

Anonymous:

“When the rich rob the poor, it’s called business. When the poor fight back, it’s called violence…”

Who is the rich here? Who is the poor? The rich are individuals who practice dominion over others for their own physical and financial reward; so too corporations and nations that practice the same behavior. But the poor? Are they always people? Or might they be of the animal kingdom; perhaps even of the botanical kingdom?

Think predator animals ranging across the land taking lives we think of as innocent when they see them as competitors of their habitat! Think of plundered lands being shorn of trees and other plant life collapsing during monsoon rains and causing massive flooding and mud slides. Or the natural forest fires lit by chance lightening strikes burning millions of acres of water shed growth. These are the natural outcomes of mankind not sharing the planet fairly. There are prices to be paid. But who is paying that price.

Certainly not the markets. More likely it the animal and plant kingdoms paying the price. And the quality of life for the rest of us suffers and we pay that price as well. Not the market. Just the rest of us. The common kind of mankind! The poor. The middle class. The under classes scattered throughout the global community.

I spotted this quote on the internet the other day. I think it is aptly shared here:

“I hope there’s an animal somewhere that nobody has ever seen. And I hope nobody ever sees it.”  ~Author Unknown

To be sure. If that unknown and unseen animal does exist, its very survival depends on its remaining hidden. Man’s greed would surely exploit it out of existence. And Nature’s balance would yet again be threatened.

All by sharing not!

February 13, 2014

Newcomers

The immigration issues facing America have been part of our national history from its beginning. They are not new. Nor are the struggles to accept new people in our lives. The new neighbor – Will they fit in? Will they accept me? Will they be noisy? So many questions and fears of the negative.

Picture a proud American Indian, sitting stoically silent, iron-gaze forward, muttering these words:

“You say a bunch of immigrants are refusing to assimilate to your culture and are threatening your way of life?

            Man, that sucks!”  ~Anonymous

Yesterday’s blog posting talked about the ten commandments of the American Indians. Think of their culture thousands of years before the Europeans came to North America to settle it. They ‘discovered’ the New World without thinking that it was not lost, was not in need of discovering, and was not a blank slate empty of human life. There were others already here. They were the natives. Europeans were the intruders, the immigrants. They did not ask for permission to be here. They assumed the right to be here and to control the future of this place. And they did.

Each swell of incoming population from off shore is a challenge, to the newcomers and to those already here. Accepting one another. Providing space to live. Even more important, providing a procedure that offers smooth infiltration of newcomers to our midst. It is what we ought to do. It should not be fought against. That would be unnatural to the order of things: we benefited from that order; now it is the newcomer’s turn. We are the host of our land; let us be gracious and welcoming!

But no; our history has been and continues to be fraught with the opposite. We may welcome visitors among us, but not newcomers, new citizens. We are gracious to our guests but not when they become permanent. Then it is our nature to expect to define how these people will live among us, maybe even discourage them to live among us.

How rude! How unlike the Indian Commandments. And thousands of years later the commandments of the Torah, the Bible, the Koran.

What even seems more odd to me is this: Asia and Africa and South America – those huge land masses were populated by peoples for long epochs. What about them and their story? How did they treat newcomers? How are they the same or different from Europe and North America? How centrist are we in our thinking? How subtle is our upbringing that produces such self-centered results?

Something to think about. Something to deal with positively.

The American Congress says it will not deal with the immigration issue in 2014. Where do they get this idea that they are in control of this natural issue? Oh sure, they can make edicts and laws, rules and regulations. But they are not the ones who must live with the issue.

No; they do not. We do. You and I.

What should we do about it? What do you think is the right thing to do?

February 12, 2014

Native Born

If you are born in your town you are considered a native of that town. If you are born in this country you are considered a native countryman. But the true native born in America is the Amerindian. Calling the North American continent home for over 11,000 years, they may actually have been in place longer, perhaps 13,000 years or more. Prior to that era earth’s tectonic plates were positioned differently and formed land bridges where oceans now exist.

That’s the theory behind immigration of Mongolian stock people to Arctic regions, who then moved south along the Pacific coast to settle in places currently in Oregon, California and interior mountainous regions.

American Indians have been here far longer than the white man can calculate with any precision. Because of this I have long been interested in Indian philosophy and theology.

I don’t know who ‘Shanti R.’ is but he/she shared these thoughts on the internet the other day:

            “The 10 Indian Commandments

1.      The Earth is our Mother; care for Her.

2.      Honor all your relations.

3.      Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit.

4.      All life is sacred; treat all beings with respect.

5.      Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more.

6.      Do what needs to be done for the good of all.

7.      Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each day.

8.      Speak the truth but only for the good in others.

9.      Follow the rhythms of Nature.

10.  Enjoy life’s journey; but leave no tracks.”

Perhaps it is presumptuous of me to do so, but I feel the need to comment on each of these listed items.

First, in the physical world planet Earth is our home, our natural ‘mother’. We did not come from the air or outer space. We were born on this earthly planet. If we hope to retain the planet as a healthy home we surely need to take care of her. Poisoning her streams, rivers, lakes and oceans certainly kills our water and food supplies; now, or soon, and for certain the long term. Why chance such a calamity?

Some people do because they see a short term advantage, either for themselves (selfish) or their clan-nation (politico-centrist). Either one is selfish and short sighted.

We witness large corporations – some multi-national – seeking rare earth minerals, ores and fossil fuels within the earth. They sell these to others for profit. They reap the profit; others reap use of the products. But at what long term cost? Spoiled forests, oceans, soils, air and water supplies? Yes. We know this is true; either in the long run or short term. Both are unacceptable.

The Indians knew this instinctively, intrinsically. Are we so self-centered that we don’t get this?

Second, honor all your relations. This is the base of getting along with everyone else on the planet. We rely on them. They rely on us. Mutual aid. Back then, Indians populated the land sparsely. They either trusted each other or fell prey to suspicion, distrust and perfidy. Much easier to trust and nurture each other. Like family. Healthy families one hopes! These relations expand outward to include other tribes, the ‘foreign’ world to them at the time.

Third, opening oneself to the Great Spirit – God or higher power, whatever works for you – is the healthy human realization that we cannot control the world by ourselves. We must get out of our lonely existence and seek otherness. The spiritual dimension of this is both natural and healthy. Life is bigger than me. Life is bigger than you or us combined. Let that reality exist; accept it. Live accordingly!

Fourth, all life is sacred; respect it all. We have self respect; why not all other things in creation?  Enough said.

Fifth, take only what you need from the Earth; nothing more. Do not plunder for your own sake. This husbandry ensures supplies for the future, both for your own use as well as for others. Friend or foe, each of us deserves access to what we need to survive. It is just. It is fair. It is right.  Basic truth.

Sixth, doing things that are more than good for you but for many others, establishes right relationships at the very start of things. It is not just a generous thing to do; it is a much needed ingredient in establishing and maintaining the common good of society. If one part of our human family is hurting, we all hurt – either now or eventually. Why chance the negative?

Seventh, give thanks to the Great Spirit each day. This is our reminder to give thanks for that which we freely have. We didn't earn all things; most of it was given – the land, air, life, food, each other – thus we must appreciate it. Call it thanks or not; it amounts to the same thing.  Appreciate that which you have received. You alone are not the focus of the earth or society. You are but one among many.

Eighth, speak the truth; a good thing in and of itself. But this lesson goes further: speak the truth of good in others. Do not speak ill of others. It poisons the minds of self and others about the other person. We have our flaws. Each of us. Speak of the good so the balance shifts away from the bad, the negative. Speak of the good to nurture more of it. In this way we avoid the evil, the temptations that sour and destroy relationships. It is hard work; but speaking good of others is an investment.

Ninth, follow the rhythms of Nature. The seasons, the comings and goings of human life and animal life. Food cycles, nurture and harvest, all are natural and not in our control. We give up personal power to gain the fruits of what Nature provides. We learn to save our crops as food for a later day. We store up the goods we need for the long term, from short term labor. We synchronize our lives with the natural order of things. There is harmony in that. It is externally focused, as well. We are not our own masters. Nature is our master. Humble thyself to accept this reality and prosper accordingly.

Tenth, we are now able to enjoy life’s pathway on this planet. We shall live within the specifications of the journey – what it demands of us and the rewards it provides – without spoiling the planet for others who will surely follow our time on earth. We use today and preserve for tomorrow – for others.

I don’t know about you but these commandments make a great deal of sense to me. They are unselfish. They support all life on the planet. They speak of a just existence.

Not bad. And just think, all before white man, TV and the internet! Something to think about!

February 11, 2014

Centering

So much going on. So many currents of busy roles to play. Connecting here; dropping off something there; picking up a friend over there; taking them on several errands around town. Each movement a role to do and to fulfill.

Called on. Calling on others to do. Interaction of people and their stories.

Coming to know them; coming to know self, too. These happen every day.

And so it goes. Day after day. Year after year. Ticking past us, in us, from us, mostly unseen, unknown and unfelt until something happens to focus our attention.

Do we need to be reminded of renewal? Are we not renewing every day as it is? Or is the reminder to heighten our awareness of what is already happening and thus to appreciate it even more for its value in our lives?

We sat in a meeting at church the other day planning Lenten services. Themes were asked of us. What is the season about? How do we involve attendees to engage in the church season? What is Lent? What does it mean to each of us? What ought it to mean?

I’m not the church person. I have few answers. All I know is my yearning.

Are others doing the same? Or are they more centered than I and do not need this planned centering experience we hope to plan?

What is the purpose of Lent? Traditionally it is a Christian period of preparation for Easter. It is focused on Christ and the events leading up to his death and resurrection. It is a liturgical season of repentance, inner searching and deepening of faith.

For those not steeped in strict tradition – most of us who are mere mortals seeking self and peace – Lent is most likely a period of solemn contemplation.

For me it is a time to center my thinking: who am I? Of what use is my life? How well do I serve others? Where is peace found? What is the ‘well of happiness’? Am I drinking from that well?

That’s what I mean by centering. Coming to grips with myself, my growth of being, my self actualization…my becoming whatever it is that will be. I am not in control of it and that is a good thing! I do need to sense fulfillment and purpose, though. I need to feel good about myself and life, that I am giving as much or more than I am taking.

That’s what Lent means to me. It is fully within the spirit of the church but very much outside of the ordered tradition, I think. Out of kilter with the church, perhaps, but not out of order.

Let me provide a context of meaning.

We need to find a new home. The past needs to be put to rest. The present is only a period of transition. It is the future we are focusing on. A new place to live within. A new envelope. A place that serves as a nest and a launching pad for daily purpose and inspiration.

As we look at homes we are challenged by long flights of stairs, small rooms, cramped bathroom facilities, aged kitchens and facilities that will challenge everyone regardless of their age. But most importantly, these ‘places’ often do not include a sense of wanting to be here.

I look out a window and see another building, a dying tree, a commercial strip, a row of wheels of parked cars, a patch of weeds. I do not see lawn, bushes or trees. I do not see nature, a vignette filled with life and variety. I see struggle and decay and…?

Those sites may be places, but they are not homes.

One must feel ‘at home’. Inspiration at hand. A feeling of belonging. Of being wanted or needed. A place to plug in for more life.

I've had plenty of struggle. I don’t need more. Life will provide plenty of that as the years count down and health subsides toward eternity. I don’t need a daily struggle to motivate past the ugly landscapes so often provided by modern urban settings.  We do not seek a modern day utopia, just the promise to nurture the self day by day.

Sharing the journey of nurture with others is natural and life-giving.

That is the Lenten message wrapped in a small nugget for me – an envelope of nurture for nurture; inward and outward. Renewal in this sense is enabled but grasped and worked outward to envelope others.

Are our surroundings providing that envelope? If not, what must we do to find it, develop it, allow it to be?

Another project for Lent in the future!

February 10, 2014

Thought for the Day

I've been waiting to use this thought for some time. It is perfect to think about over a weekend. So, here it is:

            “’What day is it,?’ asked Pooh.

             ‘It’s today,’ squeaked Piglet.

            ‘My favorite day,’ said Pooh.”    ~ A.A. Milne

Think about it! What makes this a special thought for you?

February 8, 2014

Challenges

Go to a hotel where a large conference is taking place. Sit in the lobby of the hotel and watch people. Watch them go by. Look at their facial expressions. Also observe their posture and gait. Do they stride to their destination – meeting room, lunch appointment, or workshop? Do they stroll leisurely? Are they alert and standing with an erect posture?

Maybe they slouch and appear to drag themselves to their next obligation. Or timidly, tentatively move around the space, looking at others for a hint of what they are to do next?

Or maybe they are doing what you are doing: watching other people.

Why do this at all? For me it is because I sense stories among the mass of people in this one place. We are drawn here for a common purpose, or maybe we are the odd interloper called to a different meeting or purpose. Whatever that goal we sense human stories untold all around us.

What bright ideas repose in the minds of all these people? What lure is needed to uncover those ideas, to make them of use? How would they share their ideas, in writing? By spoken word? Or in some other fashion maybe?

How many here are dealing with a burgeoning personal story – a pending marriage, a birth of a first child, or a divorce? How many among us this moment are balancing a career and personal life story vastly at odds with one another?  And will this balancing act hold up? Will it safeguard both stories until they are ready to be lived and told?

Who is to know? Who will tell the story?

We all have our struggles in life. Many are routine and manageable. Some are of exquisite pleasure and happiness; those struggles are worth the work and make us giddy! Others weigh us down – ill health of a loved one, potential loss of a job, loss of home or other financial catastrophe. The manageable, the tolerable, the happy and the tragic; each struggle a part of our life and history. Then, too, a part of our unique chemistry and character.

How well we weather these ups and downs tell yet another story. We build ‘muscle’ to survive life’s challenges. Experiences themselves require reactions and measured responses. Not always perfectly attuned to the situation, but at least a unique response for that person for that occasion at that time. All the variables shift for each of us. And from moment to moment.

What is it we struggle for?

A heavy question. Do we dare seek the answer? An honest answer? What does the answer say about us, each of us?

I used a quote the other day that I find I need to use again here:

“Sometimes, you find yourself in the middle of nowhere; and sometimes, in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.”  ~Anonymous

‘Nowhere’ can be found in many places at different times. We don’t seek it, that’s why it is a ‘nowhere’. As we become aware of its ‘nowhere-ness’, however, we begin to realize a significance of it.  It is a forced pause in life. Why are we here? Why now? What do I we do with it?

I love driving out west across deserts and mountains and high altitude plains. The sense of aloneness is not the overwhelming sensation. No; the vast emptiness of the space and landscape seems to embrace me. It speaks freedom. No crowds. Simple obligations (keep the car on the road; don’t run into another car; make it to the next leg of the trip safe and sound) that require little drag on the brain. A time to think and ponder. A string of moments in which to stretch the mind.

What is my life about? What have I been doing with my time on earth? What will I do with the time I have left? Is there a plan, a direction, an overwhelming purpose?

Mandy Hale, the author and famed ‘Single Woman’, gives this advice:

“You don’t always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.”

  

Use the ‘nowhere’ moment to take the extra breath. Trust yourself to be honest with the facts of your life. Allow yourself the freedom to imagine what you want to do with your life, and what purpose it will serve. Then let it happen. Let it unfold naturally. In time it will provide the answers unbidden, the ones we often search for but never find.

From an odd source, www.spousegotthehouse.com, comes this gem:

            “The bad news:  there is no key to happiness.

             The good news: it isn't locked.”

Breathe, trust, let go and see what happens. What you want from life is not locked up anywhere but within yourself. Let it be.

February 7, 2014

Opposing Views

This business of dealing with thoughts, beliefs, opinions, and facts is challenging. In the era of computers, cable TV, blogs and a gazillion emails, twitter, YouTube, and other images rapidly disseminated throughout the digital universe, there is a proliferation of material to deal with.

Perhaps the simplest method of dealing with it is ignoring it?

We go to church and hear Biblical lessons read and sermons delivered on those readings. We accept much as truth. We have been conditioned to do so. But not all of it is true. Not really.

For example, Dan Savage, gay American author, pundit, newspaper editor and columnist, shares this thought with us:

“The shortest book in the New Testament is a letter from Paul to a Christian slave owner, about owning his Christian slave.

And Paul doesn't say, “Christians don’t own people.” Paul talks about how Christians own people.

We ignore what the Bible says about slavery because the Bible got slavery wrong.

If the bible got the easiest moral question that humanity has ever faced wrong, what are the odds that the Bible got something as complicated as human sexuality wrong?”

Indeed, slavery was a common thing in Biblical times. That didn't make it right then or now. We accept that as an amended understanding, don’t we? Sort of like the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights? The founding fathers didn't get everything right at the beginning, but they got a lot right, and many things had to be changed, or amended, along the way.  It’s OK for that to happen. But then, to what extent to we blankly accept some of the other contents of the Bible, or the Constitution for that matter.  What did the writers actually intend by their words? In the Bible and in the Constitution?

Good questions. It shakes some of our faith, I guess, but it also allows our brains to be fruitful. We can think on these things and come to different conclusions.

That’s one way opposing views emerge in society. And over time. Lots of time!

Take the political game being made out of the attack on our Libyan consulate in Benghazi. Politicians and news pundits have long tried to make political hay out of this event as a failing of President Obama and then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But consider:

“The next time your crazy, Fox-News-addicted uncle starts ranting about Benghazi, ask him this: why did Congressional Republicans cut Obama’s requests for embassy security by $128 million in 2011 and $331 million in 2012, and then ignore Hillary Clinton’s warnings that the cuts would be ‘detrimental to America’s national security’?”  ~RealAmericanLiberal.blogspot.com

Opposing view or willful misstatement of the facts? Which is it? On the one hand it sound like Senators McCain and Lindsay Graham make a good point in their fault finding; but then we look at the context and facts and another, very different picture takes shape. This is an example of facts being hi-jacked for political gain.

It is important, however, that we understand the facts and the truth. Whether mistakes were made or not, it matters that we understand what happened and why so we can avoid such disastrous results in the future. People of goodwill can do this sort of thing. Opposing politicians evidently cannot. Because the conditions creating the disaster at Benghazi have yet to be fixed. That’s the job of Congress. They need to step up to the plate and make the policy decisions and funding allocations.

Opposing views. Like a president who leads with words of wisdom. Yet followers of those words are not evident because that would take political courage and conviction by people of the opposition party. So nothing gets done. Just arguments tossed back and forth. And then when that same president takes matters in his own hands and speaks of his intention to solve problems by executive order, the opposition calls him a tyrannical monster. Like George W. Bush and Richard Cheney and all of their executive orders?  Remember all of those?

Opposition. Perhaps we need to eliminate opposition parties and design a new system of representation in American government?  How much more damage are we to measure before people of goodwill actually sit down and figure out the right things to do in managing the affairs of our nation?

Evidently the politicians still don’t get this. The people get it. Obama gets it. Why not the republicans and congressional leaders – both house and senate?

Remember the wise words of Thomas Jefferson, who, in 1816 wrote this:

“The end of democracy and the defeat of the American Revolution will occur when government falls into the hands of lending institutions and moneyed incorporations.”

Haven’t we reached this point? I think we have. How then to we correct this horror before it does more damage to the nation? When will voices of calm reason reassert themselves in our halls of government?

Indeed, that is the very real task needing to be done. Opposition is healthy when it informs us of logic and facts. Otherwise it is a barrier to progress needed by the people.

February 6, 2014