thoughts on the news of the day: mean

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            A Somali born teenager was stopped from blowing up a van full of explosives in Portland, Oregon during a crowded Christmas tree lighting celebration. Federal authorities said that the explosives were duds that were supplied by agents and that the crowd was never really in danger.

            “You, all you’re ever gonna be is mean.  Why you gotta be so mean?” go the lyrics to a song on the new Taylor Swift album titled “Speak Now”.  What compels a person to be hurtful? What motivates a person to want to destroy something just because its there?  Why are some people bullies? 

            When I was leaving Arkansas to go to seminary many years ago, I walked down a hall in my daughter’s elementary school and saw a sign on a blackboard; it was like a farewell gift to take with me on my new journey.  The message read:  “There are many things you will regret in life, but you will never regret having been kind.”           

            We may regret not accomplishing something; we may regret being mean to someone else for no real reason other than we were in a bad mood.  We may regret saying something, or not saying something because it was the right thing to do.  But we will never regret the kindness and mercy we show to another person, no matter what the circumstance.

            We might feel momentary righteousness for revenge on a bully; but kindness? It’s an action we will never regret.

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thoughts on the news of the day: black friday

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            No sooner than we had downed that second piece of pumpkin pie was it time to head out for the Black Friday sales.  It’s a time when stores traditionally take deep discounts to encourage early shopping for the Christmas season.  We had to experience it for ourselves, so my daughter and I ventured out a little before midnight. 

            We hit the outlet mall first. After driving through the parking lot for 40 minutes, we finally found a parking spot and raced to a designer accessory store.  We had quilted fabric duffle bags on our list and a few other choice items.  I stood in line while my daughter scouted out the merchandise.  This was a good idea, because even though the store had only been open for a half hour or so, the line snaked completely around the store. 

            As we waited, a kind of camaraderie developed within the shopper community.  Bottles of water were passed out and conversations began.  We commiserated on the length of the line, where we were going next and then even began to discuss our home towns and families.

            It’s been a long time since I have had the opportunity to get to know someone for no other reason than the circumstance of a long line.  I would like to think that I could share my faith in the same way that I shared my suggestions for other good sales in the area; but it’s different somehow, isn’t it?  It shouldn’t be but it just is.  I am going to work on that this Advent season.  After all, isn’t that what the season is all about, sharing the good news of the birth of the Christ Child?

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thoughts on the news of the day: pardon me

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            “Pardon me”…. That’s what Apple and Cider would have said if they could have spoken to President Obama at the annual pardoning ceremony for two Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House.  Apple and Cider are the names of the two lucky fowl who will live a life of luxury for the rest of their days because the President says so.

            Forgiven is what we all want to be.  We want someone important to say that what we did is not that bad and that it’s OK if we just try harder next time.  Most of the time we have to ask for forgiveness to get it.  And that’s where the rub comes in.  We are usually too proud or too embarrassed to ask to be pardoned for our sins.

            Catholics have a tradition of the sacrament of reconciliation.  The idea is that we confess our sins and receive forgiveness for them.  Usually some sort of penance is required.  Many folks think that only God can really forgive our sins and that an intermediary is not required.  But whether you ask forgiveness through someone else or not, it is always a healing action to take.

            Today is Thanksgiving Day.  It is usually a time when we reflect upon the many blessings we have been given over the past year.  Maybe this year we could be thankful that we are forgiven; that though we are not perfect, we have been eternally pardoned for our imperfections.  All we have to do is ask.

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thoughts on the news of the day: name game

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            The 2010 National Geographic Photo Contest attracts thousands of imaginative and amazing photos from around the world each year.  The entry deadline is November 30 so you still have a few more days to submit your work.  There are three categories that you can submit photos for:  people, places and nature.

            One of the photos submitted this year is called “Salvation: Appreciate Life”; another is titled,”Unsafe Journey”.  Still another is named, “Haunting Glimpse”.  The titles are almost as compelling as I would imagine the photographs are.  Naming things gives them ownership and identity.  Like the characters in the old Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue” we place meaning on the names we give our children, our pets and even inanimate objects like cars. 

            Most of the names in the Bible have meaning. For example, the first name in the book of Genesis, “Adam”, means “earth”.  “Mary” means bitter, “Bethlehem” means house of bread.  Even though I don’t feel very graceful, my name, Nancy, is supposed to mean “grace”.  My daughter’s name, Mary Ellen, is one she has never liked and when she was old enough to speak, she named herself “Mimi” which fits her much better than Mary Ellen ever did. 

            Do we name people mean, selfish, angry, or ignorant?  How about people we don’t even know?  Do we judge them with names before we even meet them?  It’s not really fair.  Maybe we should stop doing that ….

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thoughts on the news of the day: humility

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            Should Pluto be a planet?  That is the question in the news today.  In 2006, Pluto was demoted to a newly created category “dwarf planet” because of the discovery Eris, another icy orb in Pluto’s neighborhood.  Now, through recalculations, Pluto may be back as a planet. If Pluto were a person, right about now, it would probably be filled with humility.  Taking a demotion causes us to rethink who we are and what our place is in the world. Being reinstated is further cause for humility.

            Dr Bob, a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous seemed to have a pretty good handle on humility.  He had a plaque on his desk for many years which read:  "Humility is perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, or irritable, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing that is done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble." Many folks attribute this quote to Dr. Bob, however, the actual author of this prayer is unknown.

            You don’t have to move to the end of the solar system to get it that humble is a pretty good place to be.

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thoughts on the news of the day: heroes

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            Prince William is in the news again.  This time for being part of a team that rescued a man off the highest peak in Wales.  Piloting the helicopter that plucked the heart attack victim off of the mountain side is part of his job as crew member of a search and rescue team for the Royal Air Force.  Prince Williams saved the man’s life. No doubt to him, Prince William is a hero.

            Who is your hero?  Who saves you?  There are dramatic heroes – men and women who put their lives on the line for others.  Then, there are also the everyday heroes, the ones who make our lives worth living.

            My all time greatest hero is Mother Teresa.  Her life of sacrifice for others has always been an inspiration to me.  She gave up everything to help the poorest of the poor and held onto her strident principles and beliefs in the process.  There are thousands of Mother Teresa stories out there and the legend grows daily.  In fact, there is even regular conversation about canonizing her as a saint.

            You can also be your own hero.  You can save yourself.  It takes sticking to your principles, trying your hardest, taking risks and a little bit of luck.   I know someone who lives with horrific headaches on a daily basis.  Somehow he manages to carry on.  Some days are better than others.  But he carries on.  He is his own hero.  He is mine, too.

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thoughts on the news of the day: blue moon

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            It’s a rare occurrence but every so often there are thirteen full moons in one year; or there might be two full moons in one month.  These are called “blue moons” as in “once in a blue moon”.  We are having one tonight.  Now let’s be clear, the moon does not actually turn the color blue.  It’s just called that.   Monks who long ago were in charge of the festival calendar for the year would plan events around the twelve full moons of each year.  When there was a thirteenth moon, a “blue moon”, it upset their schedule. This is how thirteen came to be an unlucky number.

            Luck, kismet, good fortune, chance, providence; do you have it?  Or are you more prone to bad luck?  There’s a saying that goes “If it weren’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any luck at all.”  But maybe we make our own good luck.  Another proverb says “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”   

            I believe that God is in charge.   From our perspective, it may seem like luck, but the truth is that there is a divine presence that watches over all of us that is able to take random acts and make things turn out for good. Good does overcome evil.  One more wise saying:  “All things work of good for those who trust in the Lord.”  We can trust in that. It doesn’t just happen once in a blue moon …

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