A Passing Generation

My parents' generation and how they viewed the world has been on my mind lately. It's likely because the last sibling of either my mother or father passed away Jan. 5. My Aunt Golma, who had lived in Washington state since before WWII, was the youngest sister of my mother. She had turned 92 on Dec. 24. Mom and Dad and the eight brothers and sisters they had between them are all gone now.

Theirs is the generation born in the decades of the teens and twenties of the 20th century, during or just after WWI. Those of that age group, whether gone or still with us, lived through the Great Depression, suffered loss during WWII and perhaps Korea, and saw Vietnam through eyes the younger generation did not. During ensuing years, came baffling changes in society including those brought about by computers and a new age of technology. Through it all, they maintained an almost universal resolve to do the right thing, even if they sometimes failed.

I've been thinking about what it was like for me growing up. My parents were not non-political and they were certainly not non-religious. They believed in God and they believed the United States was a great nation. The two things were more or less naturally connected for them without the need for grandstanding in either area. Their unstated view, lived out in their everyday lives, was that following the basic teachings of Jesus by displaying kindness toward others and tending to our own business, rather than focusing on the faults of others, also made us good citizens. That's how God and country went together as I was taught by their example.

They didn't agree with everything that every elected official said or did, but it was never with disrespect that they would publicly express disagreement, if at all. Politicians didn't tell them their religion was 'right' or 'wrong' and they didn't have preachers telling them how to vote. That was not the church's job then, and it shouldn't be now. That was how church and state were naturally separated.

Think about how some in the church world talk about this country and how some members of Congress talk with complete disrespect not only to and about each other but to and about the president of the United States. It didn't start in the last six years, but it's grown to epic proportions in less than a decade. Think about how it's filtered down to how so many of us have allowed that same kind of anger, bitterness and strife to enter our own conversations related to religion and politics which sometimes filter down to other topics. To those who are 50 or older, especially, doesn't it seem unbelievable that in less than a generation we've gone from the kind of citizenship displayed by the majority of the “Greatest Generation” to what we have now?

How have we allowed this country to become ruled by people who on a daily basis invent new lows in ways to caustically disagree and who seem to take great joy in letting us know they don't intend to work together or try to reach agreement? How have we allowed ourselves to not only approve of that behavior but to celebrate the division and disgusting turmoil by taking part in it ourselves? I am encouraged by recent conversations about working together to make our local community better. As long as the talk doesn't turn to religion or politics we should be fine, because it's become seemingly impossible to have a civil conversation on those topics with someone who has an opposing viewpoint.

If we want to honor the hard work and sacrifice of the generation who lived in their prime throughout the last century, we need to return to the kind of Christianity and citizenship they displayed. If we refuse to do so, what legacy are we leaving the next generation? God help them if we won't.

Our Part in Solutions

If our respective towns are in danger of losing economic ground, what's next? The discussion on last week's "Rising Tide" post was excellent. Commenters spoke to the heart of issues many communities are facing....attitudes; differing perspectives, goals and opinions about how to (or if we should) move forward; workforce improvement; the need to work together; how can we grow and/or make progress and what do those things even look like? and more.

There are problems which can, and rightfully should, be addressed by members of entities and organizations charged with leadership and governance. I'm not letting them off the hook -- that will be a post for another time -- but what about us? Community members, business owners, employees and citizens. What part do we play?

In regard to West Plains, in a Nov. 28 editorial in The West Plains Quill Frank Martin offered "New ideas needed not new businesses" in response to the city's move to hire a consulting firm to bring in new businesses. Frank makes strong points, but I covered the city council meeting where the decision was made and whether I agree with the decision or not, I can understand why the city made the move. They hear a lot of clamoring by residents for big chain retailers. How can they keep everyone happy? They can't. They're darned if they do, darned if they don't.

Regardless of how we feel about that particular issue -- again, a post for another time -- one of the comments that was made on the Quill's Facebook thread where Frank's editorial was posted made several excellent points. A woman who is relatively new to our community had a story about needing to get a horse trailer painted. She tried three different local businesses who could not accommodate her for various reasons. She continued to ask around to see who could do it. She said, "I ended up driving it to SC Oklahoma. Unless you grow up around here you have no idea where to turn -- the telephone book only covers business with landlines. Most people and businesses are using cell phones now."

Some of the most successful businesses are ones which know about the other businesses in the community, especially ones who offer similar services, and they aren't afraid to send potential customers to their "competition." Losing a particular sale might land a business a long-term customer. That's good customer service and it's good for the local economy. Keep consumers spending their money locally to make it better for everyone.

I see this from the perspective of having covered various Chamber of Commerce "Businesses of the Week" for the past two and a half years for The Quill. The Chamber is working through its list of members to eventually recognize all of them. It's free publicity for those recognized, a chance to say almost anything they want about their business. Some don't want to participate which is confounding (in most cases). But even more perplexing are the business owners/representatives who can barely describe what they do or muster any enthusiasm in telling their stories. I wonder how some of them stay in business. Customer service skills -- which encompass more than just a smiling face and a friendly voice, but I'd like to start there with many businesses! -- need widespread improvement.

And that goes for all of us, not just leaders/business owners, but citizens. We need to consider how our actions/attitudes might be driving people away and decide rather to become advocates for our community. I'm sharing here a prime example of this principle, which my friend Joe Davis posted on a public Facebook page:

The Beginning of DRS in West Plains, MO (1958)

"Below is an article that was sent to my father, Hilliard Davis, in December of 1958. Jim Idol was with the Division of Resources and Development in Jefferson City, Missouri. A note attached the article said, 'Looks Like news gets around, Jim.' The magazine was Management Methods, Practical Solutions to Administrative Problems. The article was on page 25 of magazine. It was placed under 'Sales Builders' and titled, Recruit Everyone as Industry Booster.

"Everyone can serve as a business builder for the community. Take this as a case in point.

"Hilliard Davis is a friendly filling station operator who likes living and working in West Plains, MO. and does not mind saying so. En route for some fishing, President Edward T. McDaniels of Southwest Truck Body, Inc. stopped off at his gas station. Besides good service, he received a bit of boasting about the town. Impressed by the enthusiastic comments, the visitor ventured the thought that he might be interested in moving a factory to such a fine town.

"Business Booster Davis promptly arranged for a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce. End result: Southwest Truck Body leased a $100,000 building there, West Plains has added $500,000 annual payroll, Hilliard Davis has a bigger business and E.T. McDaniels is a lot closer to good fishing. And everyone else is reminded that he can do his share of attracting industry to a community."

Thanks to Joe for posting. These same kinds of things still happen every day. Usually, industry officials looking to locate in a community don't start by contacting city hall or the Chamber of Commerce. They start by sending representatives out to a community, in person (and these days, online) incognito to do some scouting around. 

What if E.T. McDaniels drove through West Plains today? First, I can't think of a gas station in town where the owner has regular day-to-day contact with customers. There are certainly some friendly workers at convenience stores, but is part of their training to engage customers and tell them what a wonderful community we have? Probably not. They don't have time. Most customers pay at the pump anyway. How about us? The next time we're pumping gas and someone with out-of-state plates is there, too, maybe we should strike up a conversation and tell them how great our community is. Who knows how that seed planted might grow?

The point is we all need to be proactive. Progress isn't a magical process; it takes some effort, engagement and involvement. Maybe we can take it upon ourselves to find out why other places are thriving and see if there's something we can model and use in our own communities. Not everything works everywhere, but believing in our community is a good place to start. That includes believing working together is worth the effort. I don't know a better way to say it: Let's be the change we want to see.  

A Rising Tide for All Ships

I'm going to be specific and hit close to home with the following comments. I don't know how other communities are faring, but in West Plains, Missouri, we're navigating through some rough water these days: recent job losses with more on the horizon upon the closing of a local factory, the need for innovation and expansion of technology, West Plains R7 Schools facing decisions about how to accommodate elementary school kids, and Richards School putting a tax-levy issue before voters to build a new high school, just to name a few. We're seeing divisiveness in how to move forward. The situation is not bleak, but realistically, it's tough.

In traveling around in surrounding communities for my job and for other projects, people often ask me, "What's going on over in West Plains? Why can't you get along? What's wrong? You should be growing by leaps and bounds." We're viewed by many as struggling. We're widely seen as cliquish, especially unwilling to be open to outside ideas. Our neighbors point out specific organizations, businesses, individuals and entities and ask, "Why aren't they working together? Why aren't they pooling their resources?"

I see why they ask the questions. I don't know the answers, but as a start, we need to remember that we're all in this together, and it would be helpful if we acted like it. I've seen individuals who are on the same 'side' of particular issues find ways to disagree. There is often suspicion and mistrust even when it's unwarranted. Sometimes it feels like a competition rather than a community.

In some ways it's difficult to pin down exactly what the problem is, but at the heart of it, we're struggling for unity. It's bad enough that in larger circles we often allow our differences in opinions to spark rude comments on social media and even face to face with people who are supposedly our friends. Part of it is that the greater political issues we're facing as a country seem to be affecting attitudes at every level. We're allowing ourselves, as citizens, to be divided along political lines to our detriment.

In the context of the local community, there seems to be a certain kind of jealousy in hoarding ideas, not wanting to share those ideas if proper credit is not given. Rather than recognizing that a rising tide lifts all ships, we seem to be willing to retire to the swamp and sit there. I believe we have fallen into this pattern unintentionally, without realizing our flaws. As a native and lifelong resident of rural West Plains, I love my hometown. We are a generous, caring community with so much going for us. Maybe I'm overstating the problems when there are many positive points to be made, but we need to do better. And I know we can do better. I'm confident we will do better.

It's a rough stretch, but we'll get through it. Together.

Project 25

While the year is fresh and positive change is on the minds of many, now seems like the time to start working on some of the local solutions which are being discussed more and more by many in recent days. As a step forward, I propose a firming up of the “Project 25” idea suggested in December. The concept is to start a tradition of marking the 25th day of each month (or somewhere thereabouts as we might do with the observance of Christmas activities in December) as a day to do something extra-nice for someone, give a gift to someone in need, to volunteer somewhere or otherwise make an effort to have a positive impact on the community. Here are a couple of ideas to start.

After reading the initial post, my friend Michelle Cox who is an educator said, “I am the sponsor for a (school-based) service organization. I will present to the students the idea of doing a service project every month around the 25th. Simple things but hopefully will make a difference.”

My friend Connie Schachel, originally from Wisconsin, now living in Pomona, Mo., offers another idea. “Back 'north' when I was still a (member of a particular service organization), our club, along with the local building trades organizations sponsored Christmas in July. Residents could contact the city's social services department and fill out a request form and from these forms, a dozen projects would be chosen.

“The tradesmen headed each crew and volunteers from my club and other service clubs would spend the day doing service. We built wheel chair ramps, fixed crumbling porches, painted entire homes, replaced windows, even patched roofs. (A local beverage) distributor sent delivery vans around to the project site with soft drinks and (local pizza) delivery drivers brought pizza to feed the crews. It was astonishing what we could accomplish in one day by working together. Eventually we changed the date to April – Christmas in April – simply because it was too hot in July to be out working all day.”

Connie said there is a national organization associated with the concept, originally called “Christmas in April,” now rebuildingtogether.org, and there are several towns across the country which take part in Christmas in April activities. Can our individual communities take on such projects, maybe on a small scale to start? There are certainly many homes in the community where I live which could use some rehab.

I know many of us are busy, but civic and service organizations, church groups, Sunday School classes, business owners, what do you say? Even if we're not part of a group which might take on a bigger project, individually let's challenge ourselves on January 25 to take a few minutes and do something mindfully kind above and beyond what we might ordinarily do for someone else or for the greater good. There are so many possibilities and ways to make a difference. Doesn't it seem like an ongoing way to keep alive the spirit of good will brought to the world by the birth of Jesus?

Community Solutions

I continue to be amazed at the behavior in Washington DC of the 'Christian-values' members of Congress and how some still try to convince me we're a Christian nation. Compassion, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (the fruits of the Spirit to be displayed by followers of Christ) are in short supply in the federal government. I don't even mean in the policies they're promoting, I mean in their everyday interactions with each other. What we see is plenty of hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy which are just some of the things not meant to be practiced by those who hope to "inherit the kingdom of God." (See Galatians chapter 5.) One might presume such deplorable behavior also wouldn't be part of a 'shining city upon a hill' which is the United States' alleged calling card. Christian nation, indeed.

Whatever happens in Washington DC – or doesn't happen – we would do well to recognize that local solutions can help turn our country from the path it's on. We can abandon the example we're seeing in Washington and make our own way forward. Communities working together is ultimately our best and greatest hope.

The second chapter of the book of Acts gives an outline of how this looked in the early Church. “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” (verses 44-46)

What could this kind of community living look like today? Simple steps can get us going in the right direction. “Shopping local,” supporting locally owned businesses could play an integral part. Online shopping via the Internet is convenient, but it's helping to wreck local economies. We need to spend our money where it can be kept circulating in the area economy, providing income for local business owners and their employees. Growing our own food or knowing our growers is another important part of living in community and growing our own businesses, too, creating jobs, manufacturing the things we need and want within the local region when possible. Forming co-ops for farmers and artisans, bartering, sharing and connecting with our neighbors are all just the beginning of how day-to-day living could be improved.

We've been led to believe it's impossible for communities to be more self-sufficient, but not so many years ago that's how we all lived. Local choices exist, more need to be created and those choices are crucial. Local solutions are also about all of us taking responsibility and helping to care for those in need in our own communities while contributing time and resources to build strong families along with more education and job opportunities. Other things to concentrate can include apprenticeships, child-care co-ops, mentoring young people so they can break free from generational cycles of poverty, and much more.

The future of our country is worth working for, but we must face the struggle with respect for others, integrity and a sense of responsibility for doing what is right. Because in the midst of the fight, we must not lose the heart and soul of what made our nation great and how Jesus called us to live. Our so-called leaders need to see a citizenry being civil to one another and working together in spite of differences.

Want to see change? It's time for us to be that change. It's how we can get through these rough times with hope for good things ahead. Have courage. Be kind to others but also question authority and hold those in power accountable for their actions. Just because I believe it's up to individuals to improve their own communities, it doesn't mean I'm ready to let Congress off the hook. They should be ashamed for their behavior, and we should demand better.

What Does Rebellion Look Like?

Two things to start:
1. Speaking out against injustice was at the heart of the message of Jesus.
2. Jesus openly promoted abiding by the law of the land, but subversively he worked to change the rules.

When people are treated unjustly/unfairly because of their station in life, when those who have plenty refuse to share with those who don't have enough and when those who use dishonest means to swindle others or in some way try to obtain personal gain, it is safe to say that Jesus is not pleased.

When he turned over the tables of the moneychangers in the temple and drove them out, it was because they were buying and selling in a place where such activity should not have been going on, and they were cheating those who came to worship. They were charging more to change money (from one currency to another) than the law allowed and they were selling sacrificial animals at more than the going rate. Jesus drove them out, at a basic level, because of greed and injustice.

You might say that Jesus was taking the law into his own hands, thereby giving his followers permission to do the same, but it is the context which is important. The moneychangers were defiling the sanctity of the house of God, and I have read some accounts that indicate the high priest at the temple would have been taking a cut of profits. Jesus is consistently seen to be openly angry throughout the New Testament at the religious people, the 'church people,' of his day, those who said one thing and did another, those who used God as an excuse to promote their own will, those who turned their backs on 'the least of these.'

It was within his authority to deal openly with those matters. Now it is time for all of us who are his disciples to hold houses of worship accountable for what they're doing (or not doing). For example, if churches want to promote politics, that's fine. Let them lose their nonprofit status. The non-charitable activities within the church should not be exempt.

Jesus expressed anger toward religious hypocrites, but his very existence was in opposition to Caesar because Caesar was considered to be divine by, well, mostly Caesar and everyone who wanted to stay alive/unharmed or who wanted to benefit materially from being in his favor.

Jesus lived within the realm of the ruling authorities of the day (Caesar and his representatives). While he was alive, the Jews in Israel were living under Roman occupation. The debt, impoverishment and hunger Jesus addressed in his teachings were a direct result of the policies of Caesar, including his over-taxation of the poor which led to the literal enslavement of many because of their indebtedness. 

What is recorded from the teachings of Jesus would seem to indicate he didn't care so much about the corruption of the Romans -- there was plenty of it -- as he did about the corruption of those who claimed to be religious. Thus came his oft-quoted command to "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." But I believe that was only part of the picture. 

Jesus did not promote open rebellion, but clearly he was a threat to not only the religious leaders, but to the government. (There are many things in the New Testament viewed from our modern thinking which seem passive that are far more subversive than we've been taught in church through the years.) Remember, the Jewish hierarchy and Pontius Pilate representing Rome, teamed up to crucify Jesus. Pilate claims to have washed his hands in the death of Jesus, but he was the only one with real earthly power in the matter, so it would not have happened without his consent. 

Out of his great love for justice for all of humanity, Jesus was a revolutionary. He rebelled against 'the system' (religion, government, society's standards) there's no way to deny it. 

This is a much bigger topic than can be addressed in a short blog and all of it is not to get too deeply into the theology of the matter. It is to say that the kind of rebellion which follows closely to what Jesus taught is for religion to be pure and unadulterated -- without hypocrisy, always acting in love for the betterment of all -- and for believers to work cleverly and peacefully from within the system to change the system. It is the way forward which brings lasting and satisfying success.  

Demonizing any group because of the actions of few, promoting violence or being angry to the point of causing strife which leads to acts of evil are not paths to the kind of change which Jesus was born to bring. Jesus made it clear that we all matter and at the core of our being, we are all the same. When we allow ourselves to be divided into categories and start turning on one another, the spirit of Caesar wins. Working to make sure that doesn't happen should be the ultimate goal of us all.

Carrying Christmas Over

I traditionally leave our Christmas tree up until at least the first weekend of the new year while gradually taking the decorations off on the days leading up to packing it away. No hurry here. I like to think of Christmas decorations as also winter/holiday decorations. Why not let the season linger?

Last December I mentioned in my blog an idea of celebrating the spirit of Christmas year-round as a way to carry over not only the trappings but the goodwill and generosity of the season. Why not continue the idea of sharing and caring for one another throughout the year with special emphasis on the 25th of each month as a reminder? "The least of these," as Jesus called those who are down, disadvantaged or discouraged, need support every day not just during the holidays. Even though 2014 turned out to be a year I devoted to a different "cause," I'm re-proposing a year of giving and hope to help keep the idea alive in 2015.

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 especially 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. Let's find ways to work around our limitations and spread generosity out over the course of the year.

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 or school. Some people live in houses which are in need of repair and they lack the funds or know-how to fix what’s wrong. You get the idea.

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? Let's carry the spirit of new birth with us all year long, wherever we go, whatever we do.