I'm blogging from the nation's capitol today...don't know how many times I'll get to say that. Our family drove to Washington D.C. to be part of the Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear (and to spend a few days seeing the sights).
I know some see the rally as a publicity/promotional stunt, saying it was too scripted to be authentic. I'll concede it made for great television and no doubt will increase viewership for both "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report," but the event was more than that, I believe. The crowd was huge (accurate numbers are hard to obtain), and only a small fraction could see or hear what was happening on stage, but that did not seem to dampen spirits.
People were remarkably polite, cheerful and the general mood was that all of us were, quite literally, just happy to be there. Many were getting reports via cell phone from friends who were watching the event on TV, and all of us knew we would be watching replays on YouTube, so the few half-hearted attempts to start a "louder!" protest in my section of the crowd died out in moments with everyone laughing and going back to getting reports from the seven-foot-tall guy behind us who said yes, indeed, that really was Ozzy Osbourne. What?!
Allen had sacrificed his attendance to drop off our daughter Tracy, son-in-law John and me at the National Mall. After having waited in line for over half an hour at the Metro station near where we're staying, we had abandoned our first plan of taking the Metro in....the lines were impossibly long and the trains were packed. Amazingly, at the rally, Tracy ended up seeing the people who were in front of us in line at the Metro. (One of them was in full Uncle Sam costume so that made him a little easier to spot.) It had taken them three hours to make the trip which on a good day (we travelled it on Friday) takes a half-hour. They arrived at the Mall just as the rally was ending.
After Tracy, John and I arived, we started working our way toward the stage, but I turned back after awhile to find Allen and our grandson; they eventually parked our vehicle and took the Metro in. Tracy and John continued on and finally ended up near enough to the front to hear and see what was going on. Call what he said what you want, but we were all inspired by Jon Stewart's words when Tracy relayed them.
The transcript is available online many places. I suggest you find it and read at least the end. Here are the last few lines:
"We hear every damned day about how fragile our country is, on the brink of catastrophe, torn by polarizing hate, and how it's a shame that we can't work together to get things done. The truth is, we do! We work together to get things done every damned day! The only place we don't is here (in Washington) or on cable TV!
"But Americans don't live here, or on cable TV. Where we live, our values and principles form the foundation that sustains us while we get things done--not the barriers that prevent us from getting things done.
"Most Americans don't live their lives solely as Democrats, Republicans, liberals or conservatives. Americans live their lives more as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do. Often something they do not want to do! But they do it. Impossible things, every day, that are only made possible through the little, reasonable compromises we all make."
That's maybe the one main thing I want to remember from this trip. I may get tired of political attack ads and people who don't share my views, but we all DO work together every day, and we DO get things accomplished. We're all in this life together, and maybe sanity (and unity) can be restored after all.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Hold Music
In my position as Executive Director at the Avenue Theatre (our local community theater), I had occasion this week to call a company to order something we're needing, and as I was on hold for several minutes, I was forced to listen to music. The music was obnoxiously loud and sounded like it was coming from an eight-track tape player through a blown speaker. (If you're under 40 or so, ask your parents -- or grandparents -- to describe what that sounds like.) The song playing was an otherwise lovely Christian tune, but, in this case, it was not pleasing to my ears. It was irritating. (Interestingly, while I was calling regarding our lighting system, one of the things this company deals in is sound technology/systems.)
While on hold, and holding the phone away from my ear, I wondered: When was the last time anyone in the company had listened to their hold music? How did something of such poor quality end up as hold music, especially for this business? Why was music necessary at all, since a voice was also making announcements regarding available products and services? (Most of it was unintelligible, but I did hear "vampire costumes," which is neither here nor there, but a little jolting, nonetheless, when heard over the phrase "holy, holy, holy.") I don't know if they chose Christian music because they want to appeal to churches to buy their wares or if someone there thinks it's a good way to "witness to the world." I think it's mostly ineffective on both counts.
The situation did give me a moment for introspection. Does the church world use opportunities to convey the message of Jesus in effective ways, or do we merely sound loud and irritating? Have we really stopped to listen to what is representing us, or do we think any old "religious" thing will do? Are we sending mixed messages, trying to say and do too much all at once?
I would have enjoyed quiet, instrumental music, or even nothing at all, much more than the glaring noise I heard. Perhaps the Body of Christ would do well to stop and think, for a long moment or two, on the concept of peaceful simplicity. (And we also need to make sure we're really listening to our own "hold music.")
While on hold, and holding the phone away from my ear, I wondered: When was the last time anyone in the company had listened to their hold music? How did something of such poor quality end up as hold music, especially for this business? Why was music necessary at all, since a voice was also making announcements regarding available products and services? (Most of it was unintelligible, but I did hear "vampire costumes," which is neither here nor there, but a little jolting, nonetheless, when heard over the phrase "holy, holy, holy.") I don't know if they chose Christian music because they want to appeal to churches to buy their wares or if someone there thinks it's a good way to "witness to the world." I think it's mostly ineffective on both counts.
The situation did give me a moment for introspection. Does the church world use opportunities to convey the message of Jesus in effective ways, or do we merely sound loud and irritating? Have we really stopped to listen to what is representing us, or do we think any old "religious" thing will do? Are we sending mixed messages, trying to say and do too much all at once?
I would have enjoyed quiet, instrumental music, or even nothing at all, much more than the glaring noise I heard. Perhaps the Body of Christ would do well to stop and think, for a long moment or two, on the concept of peaceful simplicity. (And we also need to make sure we're really listening to our own "hold music.")
Sunday, October 17, 2010
A Challenge - Part II
The challenge I issued last week for all of us who watch bad news to give equal time to something inspirational or uplifting was made a bit easier, perhaps, as the whole world has been captivated in recent days with the good news of the rescued miners in Chile. As our family watched the first man emerge to enthusiastic cheers and long embraces, we did not hold back our own tears of relief and joy.
The moment was an epiphany for my seven-year-old grandson who commented, "This is the first time I ever cried from happiness." He identified with the seven-year-old Chilean boy who burst into tears waiting for his father, initially feared dead, who he had not seen for over two months. My grandson shared the emotional pain of a stranger thousands of miles away, putting himself in that other little boy's shoes to realize what it might mean to never be able to see his loved ones again.
As the miners were pulled to safety, one by one, nobody seemed to care that some of them have rather messy personal relationships outside of the mine. In fact, for a few of them, we see conduct which doesn't measure up to the strict moral code which many Christian watchdog groups would like to impose and enforce. In spite of that, thankfully, I haven't heard comments that the mining disaster is God's punishment for anyone; the universal response seems to have been prayers going up on all fronts.
My hope is this is a trend which continues...that we will all view others who are struggling day by day, living in desperation or even with the consequences of poor choices, not as "bad people who deserve whatever they get," but as hurting individuals who need our love, prayers and support.
In light of that, I issue a second challenge this week: To realize those miners are no better and no worse than any of the rest of us. That we should spare no expense, go to every length, to help free others from feeling trapped and hopeless. Let us remove judgment from the equation when we decide who to help, and let's make a decision to love others, unconditionally. If we could accomplish that, in my mind, I imagine Jesus crying tears of happiness, too.
The moment was an epiphany for my seven-year-old grandson who commented, "This is the first time I ever cried from happiness." He identified with the seven-year-old Chilean boy who burst into tears waiting for his father, initially feared dead, who he had not seen for over two months. My grandson shared the emotional pain of a stranger thousands of miles away, putting himself in that other little boy's shoes to realize what it might mean to never be able to see his loved ones again.
As the miners were pulled to safety, one by one, nobody seemed to care that some of them have rather messy personal relationships outside of the mine. In fact, for a few of them, we see conduct which doesn't measure up to the strict moral code which many Christian watchdog groups would like to impose and enforce. In spite of that, thankfully, I haven't heard comments that the mining disaster is God's punishment for anyone; the universal response seems to have been prayers going up on all fronts.
My hope is this is a trend which continues...that we will all view others who are struggling day by day, living in desperation or even with the consequences of poor choices, not as "bad people who deserve whatever they get," but as hurting individuals who need our love, prayers and support.
In light of that, I issue a second challenge this week: To realize those miners are no better and no worse than any of the rest of us. That we should spare no expense, go to every length, to help free others from feeling trapped and hopeless. Let us remove judgment from the equation when we decide who to help, and let's make a decision to love others, unconditionally. If we could accomplish that, in my mind, I imagine Jesus crying tears of happiness, too.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A Challenge
It is baffling, to say the least, the amount of fear and hate emanating from some Christians. Because Jesus was not a promoter of hate or fear, it does not make sense for his followers to spew out that which is unlovely. Perhaps those who do are spending less time studying the teachings of Jesus than they are absorbing news from other sources.
I understand the desire to not be isolated from the outside world (although there are many well-informed, well-adjusted folks who do try to insulate themselves from bad news, and they appear to be functioning just fine). But what is always needed is a willingness to achieve balance in all things, and in this case, a lot less negative and a whole lot more positive is in order. Less secular, more sacred.
As Christians, we are disciples (students) of Jesus. If time is not spent meditating on his goodness and desiring to learn more about and to practice the Way he proclaimed, then there is a great likelihood that, "the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things [will] enter in and choke the word, and it [will] become unfruitful." (Mark 4:19) If we allow only negative points of view into our thoughts day after day, eventually a negative view becomes our focus, and that focus can become an obsession. A follower of Jesus should be obsessed only with Jesus, not what the world or any politician or alleged pundit is doing or saying.
So here is a challenge for us all: For every minute spent listening to/reading bad news and negative opinions, let's spend at least an equal amount of time concentrating on something inspirational (I would particularly recommend the New Testament gospels), or even just fun; it wouldn't hurt any of us to lighten up a little.
And for those who share negative information about politics/politicians/government or religion (any religion), especially via email and on social network sites, try sending an equal number of links and comments which have something good to say, something which might make someone's day better, not worse.
Here's a good piece of advice from scripture: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:19)
I think we all need to step back and ask ourselves: What exactly is the purpose -- what is to be gained -- by concentrating on the negative?
I understand the desire to not be isolated from the outside world (although there are many well-informed, well-adjusted folks who do try to insulate themselves from bad news, and they appear to be functioning just fine). But what is always needed is a willingness to achieve balance in all things, and in this case, a lot less negative and a whole lot more positive is in order. Less secular, more sacred.
As Christians, we are disciples (students) of Jesus. If time is not spent meditating on his goodness and desiring to learn more about and to practice the Way he proclaimed, then there is a great likelihood that, "the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things [will] enter in and choke the word, and it [will] become unfruitful." (Mark 4:19) If we allow only negative points of view into our thoughts day after day, eventually a negative view becomes our focus, and that focus can become an obsession. A follower of Jesus should be obsessed only with Jesus, not what the world or any politician or alleged pundit is doing or saying.
So here is a challenge for us all: For every minute spent listening to/reading bad news and negative opinions, let's spend at least an equal amount of time concentrating on something inspirational (I would particularly recommend the New Testament gospels), or even just fun; it wouldn't hurt any of us to lighten up a little.
And for those who share negative information about politics/politicians/government or religion (any religion), especially via email and on social network sites, try sending an equal number of links and comments which have something good to say, something which might make someone's day better, not worse.
Here's a good piece of advice from scripture: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Philippians 4:19)
I think we all need to step back and ask ourselves: What exactly is the purpose -- what is to be gained -- by concentrating on the negative?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Dilemma
I'll admit I am not familiar with the teachings of Muhammad, nor do I know much about "Shariah" law. However, I know enough to know I am not interested in living in a country which adheres to Islamic rule or which is governed by imams and Muslim clerics. From reading the Old Testament, I am familiar with the teachings of Moses and Judaic law. I am equally certain I do not want the laws of the land to encompass the particulars of the Jewish faith, especially that of the "orthodox" variety. I'll make a big assumption and suppose that the vast majority of readers will agree with me on these two points.
But here's a question to consider: As a country, do we want the teachings of Jesus to be the basis for our laws? Before you answer, consider the scripture in Acts 4:32. The early followers of Christ "were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them." And Acts 2:44-45, "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need."
Those first believers, an example for us, held this attitude as a result of following the teachings of Jesus. One such teaching was when he advised a rich man who came to him seeking answers to ". . . sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor . . ." (Luke 18:22). Ministering to the poor is a prevalent theme in what Jesus taught.
This presents a bit of a dilemma, I would think, to those Christians who decry particular political positions and government programs as "redistribution of wealth," or even socialism, but also desire to "take America back," presumably so it can be a Christian nation. As a proponent of the separation of church and state, I'm not promoting the idea of basing our laws on the New Testament, but I will make the observation that a truly Christian nation would look a lot like what many people seem to be frightened of, and it would look considerably different than the present situation. The rich, especially corporations in America, would have a lot less than they do now (but still plenty), and the poor would have a lot more than they do now (enough to live comfortably).
What is it, exactly, we expect of government? An important question for our country. What is it we should expect from ourselves? An important question for believers.
But here's a question to consider: As a country, do we want the teachings of Jesus to be the basis for our laws? Before you answer, consider the scripture in Acts 4:32. The early followers of Christ "were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them." And Acts 2:44-45, "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need."
Those first believers, an example for us, held this attitude as a result of following the teachings of Jesus. One such teaching was when he advised a rich man who came to him seeking answers to ". . . sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor . . ." (Luke 18:22). Ministering to the poor is a prevalent theme in what Jesus taught.
This presents a bit of a dilemma, I would think, to those Christians who decry particular political positions and government programs as "redistribution of wealth," or even socialism, but also desire to "take America back," presumably so it can be a Christian nation. As a proponent of the separation of church and state, I'm not promoting the idea of basing our laws on the New Testament, but I will make the observation that a truly Christian nation would look a lot like what many people seem to be frightened of, and it would look considerably different than the present situation. The rich, especially corporations in America, would have a lot less than they do now (but still plenty), and the poor would have a lot more than they do now (enough to live comfortably).
What is it, exactly, we expect of government? An important question for our country. What is it we should expect from ourselves? An important question for believers.
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