What Remains of Christmas?

What remains after Christmas has passed? The trappings of the season are already packed away by some tidy folk. Others like to let the decorations stay until after the new year has begun. Beyond the memories of Christmas day what will stay with each of us as the calendar changes? Will the peace and goodwill carry over? Will the spirit of generosity be with us going forward?

A few weeks back, I took a jab at marketing Christmas year-round, with a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the buying season could be extended by designating the 25th day of every month as a day to exchange gifts and boost consumerism. Will the 12 days of Christmas become the 12 months of Christmas? I wondered. While I sincerely hope that scenario does not catch on, I would love to see the idea of sharing and taking care of one another continue on throughout the year. "The least of these," as Jesus called those who are in some way down, disadvantaged or discouraged, need support every day not just during the holidays.

One of my friends who read my "Christmas all year long" post said she had once suggested to her Sunday School class a day of giving on the 25th of each month. Not a time to set up a tree and buy presents for friends and family, but a day of service in the community. She said the plan never really caught on, but what a wonderful idea it is.

Many of the elderly with no family near would enjoy a visit at least once a month. People who are lonely need to feel connected to someone. Local food pantries too often have shelves which are nearly bare. Many young families are struggling to get by and would be grateful for diapers or help with the electric bill or gas money for getting back and forth to work. Some people live in houses which are in need of repair and they lack the funds to fix what’s wrong. 

Generosity should be a way of life. Giving should be as natural as breathing. Not just money, but other resources like time, effort, a joyful attitude and a heart willing to love others, not condemn and judge them. Many people do live day-to-day with an attitude of generosity and they act on their better impulses. Many others would like to be able to give more, but time and money can be in short supply when our lives are often busy with our own families and obligations. 

So, why not start a new tradition of marking the 25th day of each month as a day to do something extra-nice for someone, to volunteer somewhere or otherwise make a real effort to have a positive impact on the community? Doesn’t it seem like the kind of idea which is in line with the message Jesus came to proclaim? Carrying with us the spirit of Christmas all year long, wherever we go, whatever we do, is a gift which truly keeps on giving.

Wading in with the Ducks

If I have a goal with my blogging efforts it is to challenge all of us, most certainly myself, to be and do better, especially in the context of the message of Jesus. My posts are aimed at those of us who strive to follow his teachings, but I welcome all to comment, question and help me with own struggles to understand how Christianity is what it is in the 21st century in this country, in particular.

To that end, I'm putting on my waders to venture into the lake where the Ducks abide. I'll skip over the downright gross comments Phil Robertson made in his now famous GQ interview. Let's get right to a part which has not been so widely quoted. From the article titled "What the Duck" on gq.com (in the entertainment section which should give us a clue about what's going on, by the way):

Drew Magary writes, referring to Robertson, "Then he paraphrases Corinthians: 'Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.'"

First, and this is one thing I can't understand, in general, in certain Christian circles, why pick one thing from the list to completely vilify while ignoring the others? If you're going to boil your spiritual beliefs down to bare, basic rules and requirements, rather than incorporating grace, forgiveness and love, don't you have to go all the way with that line of thinking?

Can we talk about idolatry for a moment? The obsession over the Robertson family causes me to pause. Wanting to look like them, dress in the clothing they market, use every product they offer and be just like them is rampant. The crowds that seek them out are enormous. This is not an indictment of anyone's actions, enjoy their show if you want, but when I see giant, freestanding displays of Duck Dynasty merchandise towering up to the sky in retail stores, I wonder if camoflage is the new gold. It is for the Robertson's, for sure, but think in terms of a golden calf and you might get my meaning. 

For teetotalist fans of DD, did you know they have their own wine label? I certainly have no problem with that because drinking alcohol in moderation is not tantamount to drunkenness, but I would think that could be a problem for some who believe any consumption of alcohol is a sin.

Next, let's discuss greed. I know this is a dicey area because we're all supposed to be on board with capitalism working at its finest. Let's be clear: I do not begrudge the Robertsons their financial success. Good for them for becoming multi-millionaires. 

And they are likely charitable folk, although I did find the following on their website. In response to the "frequently asked question" of "Will you donate to our event?" The answer is, "While we sponsor and contribute to several organizations in our home town and several national charities, we are unable to respond to any requests from individuals or other organizations that we have not already chose." Most successful major corporations have methods to donate at least SOMETHING to charitable organizations for fundraising purposes, even if only autographed photos of a smiling (or not) Phil. I know this from experience in working in the nonprofit sector and organizing fundraising events.

And here's a tidbit. One local man told me last summer that he was paying Willie Robertson $40,000 to stop by his event for a couple of hours. Willie was double-booked that day, so he couldn't stay long. The man said he was fortunate to get Willie for that amount as the arrangements had been made before his fee had gone up. The man had checked into getting Phil and Miss Kay, but they were fetching $100,000 for their speaking engagements and he could not afford that. It is not for me to define greed, but it is difficult for me to reconcile those numbers with what someone might be "getting for their money" by paying the Robertsons that much.

Finally, to Robertson's main cause of outrage: homosexuality. You can trust me on this, there is WAY more fornicating amongst heterosexuals (that's on the list in Corinthians, too, although unmentioned by Robertson) and adulterous sex happening in this country than there is same-sex sexual activity.

Play the percentages. It is estimated that 4 to 5 percent of the population is homosexual. At least some of them are celibate. (No matter your opinion on that issue, the numbers are small when talking about active homosexuality.) So, that leaves a 95 percent heterosexual population. Given the number of unmarried, sexually active individuals and the divorce rate of around 50 percent, often caused by someone fooling around on the side, well, do the math. Of the millions of viewers of Duck Dynasty who are backing Robertson's claim that homosexual sin is "not logical," you can bet there many of them who are not keeping their private-part activity confined to a monogamous marriage situation and yet, are somehow finding logic in their own actions. 

And of course, for me, there is the ongoing issue of how the overall message of Jesus gets lost in the muck. He commanded us to love God and love our neighbors. Sorry, I'm just really not getting it in this case. Maybe some of Robertson's defenders can help me understand how his words are helping to promote peace on earth and goodwill toward all. Because as we are just days away from celebrating the birth of Christ I would hope that might be uppermost in our thoughts and actions.

There are certainly more vulnerable members of our community who are in greater need of being defended than someone who has the means, and the platform, to quite adequately defend himself. Phil is going to be OK, don't you think? I'm saving my outrage for other issues.

The Speck and Plank at Christmas

Religion, as a system, an institution, separated from the better impulses which emanate from our souls, our spirits, will always be lacking. Without compassion applied to the message of Jesus, scripture appears to many to be merely about rules, judgment and justice. Jesus warned often this is not the Way he proclaimed. Feeling the need to constantly point out the faults of others without working on our own shortcomings is a sign of religiosity, not an understanding of Christ's love. Perhaps you've heard the scripture that asks, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" 

Blinded by a plank, especially on many issues of my attitude and interaction with others, that certainly describes me, I readily admit. Specks and planks abound throughout the year in many areas, but a forest seems to have fallen into the eyes of many Christians during the Christmas season in recent years. I posted a link on Dec. 14 on my Facebook page which discusses the invented war on Christmas. It is by Evan Dolive and appeared on sojo.net. Some brief highlights from the article include:

"The real 'war on Christmas' is not when a cashier says 'Happy Holidays'...It is not the cashier’s job to share the church’s story of God coming to the world....The real 'war on Christmas' is when Americans spend $450 billion on Christmas; however, it would take only $20 billion to ensure that all people in the world could have access to clean water for a year..." 

I suggest reading the entire piece. Taken to heart, it would lead many of us to remove several planks from our eyes. Here's the link. http://sojo.net/blogs/2013/12/10/theres-war-christmas-just-not-one-you-think/

A comment my friend Ken Brown made on my Facebook post mentioned above really struck a chord with me. He said, "In my neighborhood, a few signs are up with 'Jesus IS the reason.' I've been trying to think if there ever was a time when 'Jesus WAS the reason.' I've been thinking about my early Christmases -- e.g., 1950s. Sure, there were some nativity scenes, but it was a holiday that did nothing for my spiritual well-being. The first school day after Christmas, it was the same old story -- the more affluent kids seemed to have 'most favored kid' status with Santa. Really, Easter was the religious holiday that resonated with me, and the Christians have let that one be corrupted too."

Honestly, it's only in recent times, as we've been told that there's a war on a holiday which somehow now manages to take up more two months out of the year, that we've been worried about the extent that Christ is in Christmas. 'Happy Holidays' was a perfectly fine greeting when I was a kid. Santa Claus was readily accepted as the driving force of the season, just as he is now, but no one complained. Our church Christmas programs had the obligatory (and always touching, I'll add, I'm not trying to be impudent) reading of the nativity story and everyone went home with a warm and joyful attitude. No one felt compelled to look for the devil in every corner of the tinsel-draped stores or start a ruckus about 'holiday trees,' which is a stupid idea, but harmless in the grand scheme of things. (No one shopped on Thanksgiving, either, but that's another story.)

A huge part of the 'speck and plank problem' is that many people are getting their religious guidance from 'news outlets' rather than straight from the source. If you want to believe what any talking head on television -- on almost ANY televised media outlet -- says is true about what's happening in the world, that's your business. But stop taking the information as the Gospel. It's not. Try Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They'll give you the real scoop on the message of Jesus.

 

Too Many Mugs, Not Enough Friends

A couple of months ago I commented about how there are too many coffee mugs in the world. I wrote, "I think we should halt all manufacturing of coffee mugs and merely recycle the ones that are out there. Go to your local thrift store and pay a quarter each for mugs and give them as Christmas gifts to all of your friends and family. Include an assortment of teabags, homemade hot chocolate mix or favorite coffee."

I didn't flesh out the idea too much at the time because it was part of a post about not sharing "made up facts" on Facebook. (Did I just create a euphemism for lying?) Anyway, my proposal to recycle mugs caught the attention of Rita Lancaster. 

Rita and I, who had been acquaintances for several years, became social network and real-life friends shortly before my mug post when her husband, Dennis Lancaster, issued a "kissing your inner frog" Facebook challenge. Through the process, many of us bared our souls to friends, acquaintances and strangers. I had admitted, among other things, to having a reluctance to form friendships.

When Rita read my post, she seized the opportunity to give me a secondhand mug. It had special meaning to her and came right out of her cabinet. She filled it with an assortment of tea and coffee and wrote a thoughtful, personal and touching note to go with it. When I read the note to my husband, Allen, he said, "That should be the start of a movement."

Rita and I don't know if we'll start a movement, but we decided to start a Facebook page, "Too Many Mugs, Not Enough Friends," which we launched a couple of days ago. Through the page we want to encourage people to pass along secondhand coffee mugs, filled with something useful/practical/fun along with a heartfelt note. Maybe the mug would be special. Maybe the contents have extra meaning. Maybe it's just the thought the counts. It could be the new way donations are given by businesses and organizations to worthy causes....a check in a mug. What starts as a little ripple could turn into a big wave.

The recipient could already be a friend and the note would be personal with why that friend is appreciated. The recipient might be an acquaintance and the giver could congratulate him/her on an achievement or encourage in some way. The recipient might be a stranger, maybe someone in need. There are nearly endless possibilities when you consider it. We're hoping to inspire affordable, thoughtful gift-giving for Christmas and the forming of friendships throughout the year.

We don't want a lot of rules to interfere with the fun, but there is one ABSOLUTE rule. No new mugs, only USED mugs. Most of us have extra ones adding clutter, but if you don't, there are usually scores of them for cheap at thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales. Of course, mug givers don't have to join the Facebook page to use the ideas, but we do hope you'll like the page and invite your friends to like it, too. There are already creative ideas posted there.

 

One way or the other, be sure to let the recipient know you're giving them a recycled mug because of the overabundance of mugs and encourage them to do the same.

 

We would love it if you would mention your gifts – either what you give or what you get – on the page. Post your "mug shots," just the mugs or even better photos of those who are giving/receiving the mugs. Share your mug and friendship adventures to inspire others. Have fun. Recycle mugs. Make new friends because that's the ultimate goal of our project. Friendships have the power to change the world.

Decorations for My Grandson

I put up and decorated the Christmas tree yesterday. Lower ornaments in place have no wire hangers and are not breakable. Rather than try to keep my 18-month-old grandson from taking ornaments off the tree, I've decided to let him have at it. Free rein. Bat those ornaments around. Take them off and play with them. Christmas is meant to be enjoyable and there is so much I find unenjoyable about the hype of the season that I don't want to add one more negative thing by constantly yelling, "No! Don't touch!" We might as well scream, "Christmas!" and spray him with water.

The ornaments are shiny and beautiful and children are drawn to them. So, have fun, Vale. Merry Christmas.

The Christmas Creed

My mostly tongue-in-cheek blog post last Sunday about the twelve months of Christmas prompted some interesting and thoughtful comments and also a couple of phone calls from when it appeared on the religion page of The Quill. Everyone was civil, which is nice.

Now I'm going to flesh out a few concepts which are not tongue in cheek. I'm making wide generalizations here, even though I know there are many who are working to avoid the kind of lifestyle I'm getting ready to describe. If any of what I say applies to you, know that some of it also applies to me. As I commented on another topic recently, we're all hypocrites at some level. I am being critical in this piece, but it's because I hope it will lead us all to want to change even in small ways if not in big ways.

First, I don't really care about the Christmas decorating in homes which started weeks ago. It may irritate some, but it's not the issue. It brings people joy and I have no complaints about that. (Although, at the corporate level, bringing out the decorations so early, does make me suspicious of motives. How about you?)

Here's my beef. We, as a society, are a country with a set of values which is out of whack and wildly different from just a few decades ago. We have an apparently insatiable appetite for cheap, plastic crap from China. We have created a generation of children which doesn't know where anything comes from or at whose expense it was made. Even most adults don't care or want to know. We would rather buy ten toys for $2 each which will be taking up space in a landfill within a matter of weeks than spend $20 for one thing made in the U.S., maybe even by a local craftsman/woman, which will likely be around for a while. Cheap plastic crap is so much more fun, no matter what it's doing to the ecomony.

The orgy of buying at Christmas which starts in earnest this year on Thanksgiving, not even the day after but ON Thanksgiving, is not the whole problem. It's just one piece of the puzzle even though it's a large, vulgar piece. We have taken a season of the year designed to bring together family and friends as a time of expressing gratitude and turned into a time to stress out over not having enough money to buy everything on everyone's "list." The simple pleasure of enjoying each other's company is not enough. Good food and companionship apparently need "enhancement." The sad thing is the kind of enhancing we're getting ready to witness next week will look more like a train wreck.

We have also taken a holiday meant to commemorate the birth of Jesus and given it a "360 makeover," transforming it into something which is not in keeping with the simple message  his birth symbolizes. I believe Jesus meant to usher in a new Way of humility, compassion, peace and love certainly not a glut of consumerism. As I referenced last week but did not expand on, shopping at locally owned businesses during the holidays can be a good way to support friends and neighbors and help the local economy. Exchanging meaningful gifts with friends and family is one thing. Going in debt to do so in a Grinch-like white-hot fury is quite another matter.

My main complaint is that the message for all of us, the lesson our kids learn in the process of how we celebrate the season, is that buying is good, consuming is good. It's the lesson of always wanting more, never having enough stuff, never being satisfied. And that's my question. It's my question for the multi-millionaire CEOs. It's my question for someone replacing his or her perfectly fine 6-month-old smartphone with a slightly updated newer version. It's my question for all of us. When is enough ever going to be enough?

Thus, my 12-months-of-Christmas post. The problem isn't what's wrong with the holidays. It's what's wrong all of the time. There is an ever-increasing greed demonstrated at the highest levels which is eating away at the fabric of what makes a nation great. Our country is succumbing to political and corporate factions which would tell us we should not care for one another at a human level. Everything is reduced to a number, a statistic, a graph or a pie chart. Us regular folks didn't start that fire, but now we are fanning the flames by literally buying into what we're being told is right by those who have no moral compass.

The message surrounding December 25 can and will inspire us year round. Which message will it be? More stuff or more love? We must wake up and stop living a creed of greed.

Christmas All Year Long

Does anyone else think that the 12 days of Christmas might be in danger of turning into the 12 months of Christmas? As a society it seems we have settled into a pattern of inching backward every year on the calendar to earlier and earlier acceptable times for “getting our Christmas on.” I’m reminded of something my dad used to say, “There are only two seasons anymore, Fourth of July and Christmas.” He had a legitimate point, as I’ve seen Christmas supplies for sale as early as August in the last couple of years.

I suppose, at one level, there might not be anything wrong with extending the holiday season. While I’m on the topic, I certainly don’t see why we can’t call it the holiday season. I refuse to stop recognizing Thanksgiving, and it is part of the holidays. New Year’s Day is also part of the season of celebration. If you ever hear me say, “happy holidays,” it’s not because I’m being politically correct, it’s because the word holiday is derived from two words, “holy day” and it means a time of commemoration. It’s not anti-religious. It’s a pro-religious term.

Celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier is a means for retailers, who are often struggling to stay in business, to sell more merchandise. In spite of my current views on consumerism, I’ve owned a retail store and I know how tough it is. Also, many people take great pleasure and comfort in their Christmas decorations. Anything which brings joy can’t be all bad. Maybe I’m just giving up and giving in to the inevitable, but I know that I certainly don’t get up in arms over Christmas mayhem like I have in previous times. 

I remember my very first letter to the editor of The West Plains Daily Quill, going on 40 years ago. At the time, I was livid about the “commercialization” of Christmas. I can’t remember what I thought was so crass about what was going on, but I’m guessing  by today’s standards, whatever was so awful then would be considered quaint now. I do know back then that businesses didn’t feel pressured to be open on Thanksgiving and there weren’t Christmas decorations up before Halloween.

Maybe one day there will be Christmas all year long, with the 25th of every month set aside as a special day for feasting and exchanging gifts. It would be a job creator, for sure, by providing more steady employment for Santa Claus and his elves. In the year 2035, Easter will fall on March 25. That particular day could be a “super holiday,” with perhaps the Easter bunny and Santa Claus giving each other a hand in filling stockings and hiding eggs to relieve stress on the both of them. (The tooth fairy won’t be able to help. She will be too busy from all the teeth falling out due to the extra candy distribution.) We could have the world’s biggest fireworks display to celebrate, once again lighting up the sky over Bethlehem.

I’m not trying to be flippant or cranky. I suppose I’m merely wishing we could all relax a little during the last two months of the year without feeling the pressure to achieve some unattainable level of Christmas perfection. In the midst of settling down, we would likely find more of the peace and goodwill which ideally comes with the commemoration of the birth of Jesus.

Improving on Nature

I know there are proponents of daylight saving time, but I'm wondering if the tide has turned mostly against the idea. Judging from Facebook posts, it would seem the answer is, "End daylight saving time!"

I am not a fan for a variety of reasons. Mostly because daylight saving time is a perfect example of how the level of our human arrogance has increased as civilization has advanced. We have made 'improvements' to things like water by bottling it, farming by using deadly chemicals and our food supply by genetically modifying it. With daylight saving time humankind even has the audacity to think we can improve on something as simple and basic as the rising and the setting of the sun.

There is ample evidence to suggest that these items I mention, and many others I could name, actually are a better way of doing things. Just ask Monsanto. Monkeying around with nature earns this corporate giant $1.5 billion in quarterly profits. Its version of improving on nature certainly seems 'better' to shareholders even if it comes at great cost to our health and to the environment.

There is a rhythm in nature that is simple. A rhythm which is not at odds with life but rather in sync. One way to express this harmony is recorded in the book of Ecclesiastes as:

There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens

I believe it suggests, in the case of daylight saving time, that if we would relax and stop demanding that the rising and the setting of the sun conform to our schedule we might be less stressed and happier. Wouldn't it be better to leave the clocks alone, enjoy the changing of the seasons and adjust our activities accordingly?
 

Life's Direction

I understand why so many people want to hide away from the world and not seek to be aware of the ills of society. There are big problems 'out there,' overwhelming conditions, situations seemingly beyond our control. For most of us -- those who will likely read this post -- home is safe. Home is good. Home is where we don't have to think about how what we do affects those unknown masses around us. We can live in a cocoon of protection. 

I believe it is not apathy or indifference which most often keeps us from trying to do more than we do. Most of us care a great deal about others, about the world. We want to make a difference. My theory is it is more usually a vague fear of not being able to do enough. We think we will do something small and it will be insignificant. Or maybe we'll try to do something big and we'll fall flat. People might even make fun of us for making an attempt.

On days like today, when the leaves are various shades of perfection and the view outside my window is about as heavenly as I can imagine, it's easy to not think about problems, far and near, about the future of our country or our planet. Here and now is enough. Perhaps my family is all I need. I consider sinking into isolation and just being still. But then I think about my daughter and her children and the world they'll be living in when I'm gone. Will it be worse than now? Can it be better?

Not everyone is wired the same way. A quiet life of reflection and living at peace with others is a good life. For some, that is how they change the world. It is not for any of us to judge what is the right course, what is the best way for anyone else. What I know for myself is at this point in my life I can't unknow the things I've discovered. I can't stop thinking about how maybe I can help change things for the better.

So, I suppose what I'm saying is this. I'm not shy about giving advice, but when I sound preachy, when I write about what Jesus would do or what our obligation is to the world, I hope anyone who reads my rambling will frame it in the way which is best for individual circumstances. None of us know what is the best course for others, certainly I don't. Sometimes I don't even know if what I'm doing is the best course for me!

But any hesitation I'm feeling this morning will pass, I'm sure. Be looking for a couple of  announcements which will be coming in the weeks ahead. One thing is something fun a friend and I are thinking about doing and another is something pretty crazy I'm planning to do. It's a big venture, it will require lots of help and I'm hoping maybe some of you will want to go along for the ride.

What Is Right With People?

What is wrong with people? They are loud and obnoxious. Their phone manners are terrible, especially now that cell phones intrude everywhere. Their driving habits are infuriating. They seem determined to be disagreeable and their goal must be to make us unhappy. Sound a little familiar?

Of course in laying out those complaints, the question should be turned around to ask, “What is wrong with ME?” Because when it comes to talking about people, “they” are “us.” (Or "we" to be grammatically correct.) For every behavior by those around us which annoys and irritates, we are inflicting some irksome behavior (maybe several!) on others. Even for the most saintly among us, everyone is likely making someone else’s life less enjoyable than it could be. There is always room for improvement and the improvement lies within the rule called golden, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

We’re all in it together, this imperfect and sometimes downright crazy world. Our lives are intertwined and connected. Sometimes we have a bad day. Sometimes we have a long, rough week. Sometimes life hits a sour stretch with happenings beyond our control. It’s easy enough to make excuses for ourselves, but are we willing to give others the benefit of the doubt?

Only occasionally is someone trying to make us miserable. Most everyone is focused on his or her own concerns. Often there's no time to concentrate on what's going on with everyone else. (Which is sad in itself.) Many are struggling just to get by, wrestling with issues of health or having trouble in relationships. But in spite of that, most everyone is also striving to do better, to be better. 

Maybe the question should be, “What is right with people?” There certainly is always good to be found. For everyone you meet who seems to be unpleasant, remember there is always something you don’t know about him or her. Maybe they’re carrying a heavy burden and their heart is weary. Pain often comes out in ways which seem as though someone is  merely trying to be disagreeable.

And for every truly unpleasant person out there, who really is just not very nice, there are many, many more who are kind, compassionate and helpful. There is a lot wrong with the world, but thankfully, there is an awfully lot which is right. Look for the good and find it.

Proof

I don't ordinarily offer book reviews/recommendations as a blog topic, but I've just finished reading "Proof of Heaven, A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife," by Eben Alexander, M.D. and I found it to be a fascinating read.

In it Alexander recounts his amazing experiences during a week-long coma brought on by a rare for adults (less than one in 10 million annually contract it) E.coli bacterial meningitis. The mortality rate is more than 90 percent and those who do survive are usually in a persistent vegetative state. Yet he not only miraculously survives, but regains all of his faculties.

He begins the prologue with an Albert Einstein quote, "A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be." It's an apt way for him to start to describe how, as a scientist and physician, he had his mind changed in a profound way about the possibility of an afterlife. Spoiler alert: he now strongly believes that physical death is not the end of our human consciousness. Well, given the title, that's probably not much of a surprise.

He also speaks of the existence of the connection of the two realms. From the book:

"To experience thinking outside the brain is to enter a world of instantaneous connections that make ordinary thinking (i.e., those aspects limited by the physical brain and the speed of light) seem like some hopelessly sleepy and plodding event. Our truest, deepest self is completely free. It is not crippled or compromised by past actions or concerned with identity or status. It comprehends that it has no need to fear the earthly world, and therefore, it has no need to build itself up through fame or wealth or conquest."

I believe in the heart, the soul, of every human is a desire to understand what lies beyond, to know bits and pieces about that which has been deemed unknowable. People of faith, men and women of science, believers, skeptics and those who are firmly undecided about the meaning of life or the existence of a realm which comes after, we all are curious about exactly what happens when we die.

I certainly have my own thoughts on the matter. Alexander does too. Like any other book on this topic, there are detractors. But I would suggest his "proof" is not as easily dismissed as some would claim. 

Coffee Mug Moratorium

I'm short on substance today. Long on platitudes: have a great day, pay it forward, smile, be the change you want to see, etc.

But I do have a random observation. Aren't there already enough coffee mugs in the world? I bet there are at least three in existence for every person in the United States. That would be around a billion, which seems about right. I think we should halt all manufacturing of coffee mugs and merely recycle the ones that are out there. Go to your local thrift store and pay a quarter each for mugs and give them as Christmas gifts to all of your friends and family. Include an assortment of teabags, homemade hot chocolate mix or favorite coffee.

That's it. No further observation or deep thought. Well, except that the billion coffee-mugs-out-there figure is totally made up, like probably half (also a figure I just made up) the stuff I've seen on Facebook this week. So, there is that.

 Please be honest. Make an effort to not spread lies and rumors. That's my other platitude for the day. (But I'm serious about recycling mugs.)

This is how it works

One of the things I love about living in the Ozarks is the sense of community and the abundance of generosity. There were so many festivals going on yesterday it was impossible to make the rounds of all of them. Citizens in places like Gainesville, Koshkonong and Goodhope did the hard work of organizing fun gatherings which brought people from miles around to visit with dear friends and make new acquaintances.

Also on Saturday were at least two fundraising events in West Plains. One was for Ozarks Medical Center and one was for Tanner Lager. Tanner is a 12-year-old West Plains boy who was has been battling Ewing's Sarcoma cancer for five years. You can visit the Facebook page set up for his event to find out more: Tanner's Fight Benefit. If you'd like to help, call the organizers or send a message. The money raised is to help with expenses for the family and for Tanner's wish/bucket list. It's difficult to think of a 12-year-old who has come up with a bucket list. It includes things like eating lobster, going to a Ram's game and seeing the Statue of Liberty. 

His mom told me he's a fighter and they're not giving up. They're always waiting for one more experimental study to come his way. The one he just finished failed to shrink his tumors which are now starting to invade his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe. In the meantime he's undergoing yet another round of chemotherapy. Scores of people showed up to buy baked goods and t-shirts, bid on silent and live auction items and purchase raffle tickets.

I think of how we see the example being set by our leaders in Washington of division and strife, of accentuating our differences, which make us weak, rather than our common bonds which show our strength. I guarantee you that those gathered yesterday at the events I've mentioned and many others are of all different religious and political persuasions. And none of that mattered. We all come together to do what we can to make a difference.

The second chapter of the Book of Acts is one of my favorite sections of scripture for a variety of reasons. Verses 42-47 (with the sub-heading "The Ingathering" in my Bible) speak of the hope that comes when we live united, when we live with purpose, when we use our strengths to help make the miraculous happen.

I wish every member of Congress could have been at Tanner's benefit yesterday. I would have told them THIS is how it works. THIS is how we get things done. THIS is what makes a nation great. We work together and we don't care who gets the credit. I would have said to them as Peter preached in Acts 2, repent and ask for forgiveness.

Since the current Congress isn't interested in repenting (changing course), we have to rely on each other to do what we can, like we always have. Pray for the members of Congress. They have, almost without exception, lost their way. They are blind, they are poor in spirit and they don't know what they're missing by not working together. I hope they see the light soon.

Inspiration

Inspiration arises from many sources and situations. It produces varying results. The thought of being inspired likely brings to mind being moved to positive action and productive endeavors. Some might think about the cost or quality of food available in grocery stores and become inspired to take up gardening. Those with artistic tendencies might see the sunrise, be inspired to take up a brush and create a painting on canvas. Others might look through home decor magazines to be inspired to finally repaint their kitchen after 25 years of it being the same color with the same wallpaper border. Which describes my kitchen but I'm lacking the inspiration to renovate and I'm not seeking it. So far, I've successfully managed to stay away from the magazines with splashy photos of beautiful kitchens. 

 

Sometimes people experience circumstances which inspire them in a negative way. They are lied to or hurt and are inspired to be distrustful of everyone. They see pain and suffering in the world and are inspired to turn away because some situations are overwhelming and seem insurmountable. They see Christians behaving badly and are inspired to have nothing to do with Jesus or his teachings.

 

Inspiration from a spiritual point of view can also have different meanings for different people, but one description is that of being led by what is described as a still small voice. In a noisy world filled with distractions and fear, it is often a challenge to seek out the quiet promptings to: do and be better, be encouraged and be an encouragement, forgive and seek forgiveness.

 

We often think of inspiration as something which suddenly hits us when we least expect it and we instantly have a brilliant new plan or we're led on some exciting adventure. That does happen on occasion. More often inspiration comes because we seek it. We look for the good (or the bad) and we are inspired to respond in the way we have been accustomed to reacting. Being hurt inspires some people to hurt others. It inspires some to help.

 

I encourage all of us to seek the inspiration which comes from looking for the best in situations and in other people. Then when we see injustice, pain or need, let the best of what we know be our guide. Be inspired by quiet prompting to be kind, compassionate and loving in a loud world which needs all the peace and calm we can muster.

Pursuing Blessings

It sometimes seems as though anger, fear and discontent have become the norm in our country. Seemingly everywhere are folks who are looking for someone to blame for just about everything imaginable, from personal issues to the current state of the world. Then there’s the complaining about a multitude of issues: the economy, our rights and even mildly hot weather in the middle of August, for example. And what comes along with all of it is the worry which seems to be pervasive.

 

I often consider all of this in light of the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 

Many seem to hold liberty as the most important amongst these three, but witnessing some people who are on a near-daily basis worked up and spouting what amounts to hate about chasing what they perceive to be liberty, I wonder what has happened to the pursuit of happiness. What good is freedom if we’re miserable all of the time? What kind of life is worth living if there’s no time for the appreciation of the beauty around us? Shouldn’t a joyful, hopeful outlook be important too? Of faith, hope and love, love is the greatest, but let's not forget that hope also is meant to endure.

I believe Jesus had a plan for us to seek blessings and happiness for ourselves and for others. In perhaps his most famous sermon, Jesus includes the Beatitudes or “declarations of blessedness.” The Beatitudes contain blessings for us when we at our best being pure, merciful and promoting peace and when times are tough during mourning, poverty of spirit and even persecution. I believe Jesus intended for us to pursue a state of blessedness (which by definition means blissfully happy or content) during good times and bad. Personal happiness is a choice. Admittedly sometimes it's easy to choose happiness and sometimes it's not, but as Abraham Lincoln is famously quoted as saying, "Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Even though there certainly are many situations and circumstances which could be better, I often think how nice it would be if all of us stepped back and took a collective deep breath as a nation and considered the goodness which still exists, rather than everything that’s wrong. I do believe we need to remain vigilant in helping right the wrong which does exist and that there is a certain amount of discontent with the status quo which is necessary to make things better and move forward, but that doesn't mean we have to shout angry, hateful words all of the time. It doesn't mean we have to be disrespectful to our friends and neighbors or elected officials. 

 

Sometimes I think of something my dad would say now and then, and I wish the whole country could hear his calm voice saying, “Just simmer down.”

For followers of Jesus it's time to tone down anger and rhetoric and channel discontent in positive action. Without adding love-based action as an element to our views about society, then all we're doing is setting ourselves and everyone around us up for frustration and unhappiness. Let's count our blessings every day and work hard to be a blessing to others.

Otherness and Unity

I've been considering the recent incident at the Missouri State Fair. I'm sure everyone has heard about it by now. If not, search for "Missouri State Fair Obama Clown," and you'll get an eye-full. Most of the thoughts I have about it have been shared in other places: the state fair is a publicly funded event, not Saturday Night Live; people should have a reasonable expectation of family entertainment at the fair; while politicians have long been the target of satire and punchlines of jokes, this incident crossed a line; etc.

And then there's the matter of racism. Bear with me for a moment, those on both 'sides' of this part of the issue. Let's look at it for a moment.

First, for those who are followers of the teachings of Jesus we simply cannot claim he would approve of racial or ethnic bias. We all agree on that, right? He broke down those barriers by associating with all sorts of folks his Jewish ancestry would have prevented him from doing -- all gentiles, perhaps most notably Samaritans. The New Testament says in Galations 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Jesus did not approve of racial (or any other) bias or means of separating ourselves from one another; unity was one of his most adamant commands.
 
As for the incident in Sedalia, only the people involved directly in the event know their own hearts and whether or not they were racially motivated in their comments or in their reactions. If they say, "Hey, I don't hate black people, I only hate the president," then I'll take their word for it, but anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus needs to take a hard look at that statement and see if it is sound and acceptable. Is it acceptable for Christians to 'hate' those with whom they disagree?

But here's a story about racism which comes to mind as I consider Sedalia. Several years ago my husband and I went on a trip to listen to a well-known Christian speaker. We stayed with a group of people from the church we were attending at the time. In the course of the trip, one member of the group told a joke which was shockingly offensive to me. I have toyed with idea of sharing the punchline so readers will know what I mean, but I just can't do it. The "n" word was not used, but it was entirely inappropriate.

Some in the group laughed more heartily than others, but my husband and I did not laugh and I said, "Don't you think that's racist?"

His reply was flatly, "I'm not a racist." He listed the reasons why he was not: 
- raised in Arkansas and had several 'black friends'
- his mother had 'black friends' 
- a black family had just moved in next door to him and he was glad to have them in the neighborhood

The rest of the trip was uncomfortable. It was the beginning of the end of our association with that church.

I understand the man's defense. He would never partake in activities which are blatantly labeled as racist...no using derogatory terms aimed at another's skin color...no joining of the KKK or endorsing their activities...he even mustered the courage to say he wouldn't 'care' if one of his children married someone of another race, even though he didn't think it would be 'fair' to their children.

But here is what should have been my question to him when he told the joke. "Would you tell that in front of your black neighbors?" 

That's the gist of it for me. I don't know how many people of color were in the stands on the day of the clown incident, but there weren't many we can be certain of that. If the event had been attended by a 'half and half' racial mix, I wonder how many whites would have been uncomfortable egging on the activities and how many blacks would have joined in. Maybe it would have still happened. Probably not to the extent it did, if at all.

The only time I can remember feeling anything close to being set apart in a negative way because of my skin color is when one of my junior high teachers referenced my "swarthy, German skin" in class. He may have been a racist, too, but I just thought he was a jerk and an idiot. (I do have German ancestry -- notice my maiden name -- but probably I have a more complicated ethnic background than I know.)

But for those of us in this country who are 'white,' or in my case like millions of others 'white enough,' we haven't had to live with racial inequality and biases for our whole lives. We approach 'racial sensitivity' from a different perspective. For the crowd at the state fair, racism may have been the furthest thing from their minds because of the context. But would each attendee have cheered as loudly with an African American family sitting next to them?

I hope not, and there's the point. When anyone, of ANY race, feels comfortable talking about 'others' in different ways depending on the color of the skin of those around them, then that is the creeping kind of way we allow differences to affect the way we feel about others. You may not call it racism, but as the gentleman who shared the video about the state fair incident was quoted in The Washington Post as saying, “If you’re a white man in a black mask in a former slaveholding state with a broom lodged in your rectum and you’re playing with your lips, you will be confused with a racist.” 

And the further point is that all of us -- black, white, brown, and everything in between -- we are 'sitting next to each other' in this country. The problems with the economy, with war, with social issues, they affect all of us. If we are to be "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" we must stop allowing our differences to get in the way of working together. 

 

A Correction

I made a mistake yesterday. And I have been reminded of a lesson I thought I had already learned. 

I only discovered the mistake this morning because I was going to blog about something I posted on Facebook yesterday and I was looking for the original link. Why I didn't do this yesterday before posting, I do not know. "I was in a hurry," is the short answer. Not a good answer. 

The article expressed sentiments with which I strongly agree. That is the real answer. The worst possible answer.

Many of us are looking for ways to bolster our beliefs and for ways to share those beliefs with others. I have freely lectured in the past that sharing bogus information is not the way to accomplish those goals. Unless of course we believe sharing half-truths is a good thing, and I hope none of us do believe lying is an acceptable way to make a point. I do not believe in lying to help a cause or spread a message. But negligence is just as bad.

I apologize for not giving due diligence before sharing yesterday. Here is my mistake.

I posted what was purported to be Charley Reese's final column. It was in fact not his final column, but one that he wrote in 1984, then re-worked in 1995. I knew when I posted, I supposed anyway from the context, that the addition at the end of the piece about various taxes would not have been part of his original article, but I did not note that. It was clear to me when I read it that whoever wrote the "introduction" had added that and other information, but I didn't specify that. I had supposed it would be clear to everyone, but that doesn't make my carelessness any more excusable.

The irony is that I had planned to write about how we, as individuals, are responsible for our attitudes and actions, just as Reese describes 545 people — the members of Congress, the president and the nine Supreme Court justices — as being responsible for the U.S.'s domestic problems. Responsibility must infiltrate every corner of what we do and say if we are to be successful, healthy and good citizens.
 
Probably what is worst about the situation, regarding my post yesterday, is that someone monkeyed with Reese's words in the column itself, updating it to make it sound current. Following is a link which reprints (as nearly as I can tell!) the column in question, with a good editor's note which includes:

"The phenomenon [of the column recently making the rounds on Facebook and elsewhere] speaks to the pitfalls of the Internet, but it also speaks to the endurance of the ideas Reese put forth and how strongly they resonate today."

I just flat-out failed to check the facts. Right now I'm sticking a note on my computer monitor with the words "Charley Reese's column," which I hope will serve as a reminder to me for future reference. I want this lesson to be one I learn once and for all.

http://www.gazettenet.com/home/4466081-95/545-column-president-reese

Jesus as Zealot?

I'm finishing up the last couple of days of vacation, a week's worth of staying up late, sleeping in too long and making poor decisions about what I've been eating. My husband and I have worked around the house, I've been checking in on Facebook a little more than usual and have been thinking about what my recent retirement from the Avenue Theatre after 20 years might mean as far as how I spend my "spare" time. I have determined I don't enjoy too much sleep and bad food, so I think I will look for another use of my time. I have a couple of things in mind.  

My anti-social tendencies often lead me to think I might be happiest if I ditched the wired world and real-world social interaction entirely and spent the majority of my free time working on turning our property into the homestead farm Allen and I sometimes discuss. But I also want to be a part of what's best about society and want to do my part to not just complain about what's wrong but attempt to do something about it. I think making small progressive steps toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle while remaining connected to the what's going on around me will be my choice. Striking a balance in all areas of life has long been a goal of mine.

Speaking of balance, during my time off I have had an opportunity to follow the recent flap over Reza Aslan's book “Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth," and the question of balance in thinking about the life of Jesus has been on my mind. I have not had an opportunity to read the book, so I can't claim to know all that the author, who is either incidentally or importantly a Muslim depending on who is expressing an opinion, is trying to convey, but I have seen/read some interviews with Aslan, with the one in the following link being especially enlightening to me: http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2013/08/03/reza-aslan-jesus-zealot/H6cwU1ul2Mk7iUilMBvmVI/story.html

It's short and worth the read, in my opinion. One of the notable exchanges is this:
 
IDEAS: How does your book change our understanding of Jesus or Christianity itself?
ASLAN: I don’t think it does. The core belief of Christianity is that he was both God and man. And if he was also a man, then he must be seen in the context of his time. That doesn’t make him any less a divine figure if you’re a person of faith.

I have no idea if Aslan's views as a (now) Muslim impact his views of Jesus, but his statement here does not present any red flags which I think should be of concern to Christians. 

As for the author's conclusion (from the above referenced interview) that, "We will instead look at Jesus in the world as a deeply political revolutionary figure, radically so, who took on the powers of his time and lost," he is not the first to make such a claim, with Christians numbering among those who have also come to this conclusion. (That statement of his does present a bit more of red flag for me, personally, but it is a concept I have struggled with over the years.)

What I find fascinating is that some -- I'm thinking especially of fundamentalist Christians who are on the right, politically -- who are objecting to Aslan's observations merely because he is a Muslim must surely have arrived, on their own, at the same conclusion he has: Jesus was a deeply political, revolutionary man. What else could explain the use of the name of Jesus to push a political agenda and claim that America is a Christian nation? I think they have some explaining to do if they say don't agree with Aslan on this issue. If they disagree, is it because he is a Muslim and has no "right" to comment on Jesus or is it because they believe Jesus is a peace-loving Savior who cares more about loving others and helping the down-trodden than he does about power and wealth?

Just some thoughts for a Sunday evening....

"What if they're not on our side?"

The Avenue Theatre's summer musical "The King and I" is over. Now is the time for reviewing what went right and wrong and for thinking about lessons learned. One personal observation, and I'm reminded of it every time I work with kids, is I'm glad I'm not a school teacher. It is not a profession I was ever tempted to try and every time I'm around groups of children, I know it's good, for everyone's sake, I did not go down that road. My friends who are educators: God bless you for it. Merely keeping kids corralled for a few minutes at a time is challenge enough for me. That you manage to get them to learn anything at all is fairly astounding, in my opinion.

As a director of community theatre plays and musicals, one of the things I tell my cast members is that the audience is "on their side." When people come to see a community theatre musical typically they either know someone in the cast, they want to enjoy an evening or afternoon of entertainment or perhaps they want to support the arts. In any case, they've spent a few dollars to come see a performance and they want to see the cast do well. If audience members can hear what's going on (something else I continually have to remind casts: project, speak up!) they will most generally leave the theatre happy with the experience.

One evening, I was giving one of my pre-show pep talks prior to a performance. "Remember what I've said before," I told them. "The audience is on your side." One little girl raised her hand. "Yes," I said.

"What if they're not on our side?" she asked. 

I have no idea why she asked it, but I was taken aback by the question. I assured her that, of course, the audience wanted everyone to succeed. But upon reflection I wondered if the sentiment behind it is an undercurrent in society these days. Is that what most of us secretly, or sometimes not so secretly, think? Do we believe individuals as well as whole groups of people are against us? Is that why several of my friends think it's perfectly fine for the federal government to have the capability to listen in on our phone conversations and otherwise invade our privacy? 

Have we been convinced the "whole audience" out there hopes some harm will befall us or that we'll fail? Have labels divided us to a degree so that now we are Americans, but also, somehow, enemies? Democrat/Republican...Christian/Muslim...gay/straight....male/female. Because we are different, we are against each other? No. That is not the case. Jesus did not promote labeling and neither should we. We might have different opinions, but let's not hope for failure for one another. When one of us falls, we are all dragged down a little. Let us find that which unites us and stop focusing on disagreement.

"A Puzzlement"

In Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "The King and I" they imagine the King of Siam 150 years ago trying to figure out what is his best course of action, trying to understand people, why they behave the way they do and who to trust. Here is a section of the lyrics from the song "A Puzzlement."
 
Shall I join with other nations in alliance? 
If allies are weak, am I not best alone? 
If allies are strong with power to protect me 
Might they not protect me out of all I own?
 
Is a danger to be trusting one another
One will seldom want to do what other wishes
But unless someday somebody trust somebody 
There'll be nothing left on earth excepting fishes
 
There are times I almost think
Nobody sure of what he absolutely know
Everybody find confusion 
In conclusion, he concluded long ago
 
And it puzzle me to learn 
That tho' a man may be in doubt of what he know
Very quickly he will fight  
He'll fight to prove that what he does not know is so
 
Oh, sometimes I think that people going mad 
Ah, sometimes I think that people not so bad  
But no matter what I think, I must go on living life...is a puzzlement  

As I listened to the King in our community theatre production of the show sing those words last night, I thought how it's an ages-old puzzlement about why it is so common for people to "fight to prove that what they do not know is so." Problems, wars and, in recent times, an abundance of Facebook unpleasantness abound which come as a result of refusing to learn the facts about a situation before we speak (or post). 

My prayer today: Even though I will always continue to express my opinion, right or wrong, help me to never be a part of spreading falsehoods and wrong information.
                                 

Time to Move Forward

As a nation, isn't it surely time for us to get past the topic of same-sex marriage?  So much time, money and energy have gone into preventing it. And to what avail? Christians, if you believe this is wrong, then I humbly suggest you don't marry someone who is the same sex as you are.

Allowing the estimated five percent of the population which is homosexual to marry, if that is their wish, will cause the other 95 percent which is heterosexual no harm. Then we can all begin to focus on issues which affect 100 percent of us....the national debt, the economy, job creation, education, healthcare, Monsanto ruining our food supply, corporations buying our politicians, reform of drug laws, etc.

In light of all the pain and suffering and real problems in the world, I often wonder: How did same-sex marriage become such an incredibly important issue in the realm of Christianity? If it's because you believe homosexuality is wrong on a personal level, let's remember that Jesus also said divorce and remarriage is wrong and yet many Christians partake in it. Aside from that, he also invites us to find peace in our own existence and concentrate on improving ourselves, rather than judging others.

If you believe it's because we're a "Christian nation" and therefore there are things of which we can't legally "approve" I invite you to read the following:

50 Presidential Quotes In Defense Of Separation Of Church And State

Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/06/24/separation-of-church-and-state-the-presidents-versus-the-christian-right/#ixzz2XiElxD00

I know some readers of my blog will disagree with me, but I believe it is time to move on and let go of the hate which is fomented because of this issue. I hope everyone has a blessed day.