thoughts on the news of the day: street people

hmmm…..

            The Occupy Wall Street protests have developed an interesting twist.  Originally formed to speak out against the actions of bankers on Wall Street, they are serving a new and important service.  Protesters have camped out in the downtown areas of many cities and some of them have taken in the homeless people of the streets.  In Portland, Oregon for example, they offer free shelter, food and medical care.  Since the protest has spread over two city blocks there, it has become a symbol not only of protest against corporate greed but of care for those who are the victims of the greed.

            The tent cities are not without problems, though.  Along with the street people comes some problems of fighting and stealing.  When darkness falls, those who are motivated by something other than making a political statement are causing a lot of trouble.  And it is making it hard for the protesters to stay.

            Some people think the Occupy Wall Street protesters are just a bunch of trouble makers.  Others think they are heroes striving to make a difference.  But irregardless of your beliefs, it is hard to argue the care, concern and awareness the protest has inspired on the streets of our major metropolitan cities.  True, not all protest encampments are generous with their time and their supplies.  Some are only about taking care of their own.  But didn’t Jesus ask us to shelter the homeless and feed the hungry? And aren’t the homeless and the hungry hurt the most by corporate greed in America?  Maybe it is worth taking it to the streets.  And I guess that’s something to think about. 

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: intuition

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            My computer has been running slow lately.  And by slow I mean S-L-O-W; as in dismally slow.  Now it is old, I admit that.  I have heard that computers get slow because they are packed full of memory bits and have to sort through tons of information to finally get us where we want to go.  I understand that.  And I wonder if that’s how our brains get after years of filling them up with information.

            I heard a story about Albert Einstein and memory.  He was once asked for a telephone number and he couldn’t remember it.  The requester asked him how he could possibly be so brilliant if he couldn’t remember a simple phone number and he replied that he didn’t waste his brain space with things that he could look up.

            Creative and intuitive thinking are interesting things.  An intuitive thinker can come up with answers days before a logical thinker can.  Those with intuitive minds may not be able to explain why that is the answer, but they nevertheless usually get it right. I am reading a book right now called “Blink” that explores just that concept.  It explains that by intuition we know many things and can correctly make decisions in a very short period of time. 

            Intuition and creativity are very close to spirit and spirit is very close to God.  When we allow our intuition to explore, we are allowing God to come into our lives.  I am pretty sure computers have no spirit; but thank God, we do.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: cruelty

hmmm…..

            A couple in our church have gone down to Texas to be with their daughter who is dying of a particularly vicious form of cancer.  She is in her early fifties, married but no children and has no real church home or spiritual support system. 

            Email is the only immediate way of communicating with these church members.  It is just too hard on them to talk on the phone; besides they are in a remote location so cell service is spotty.  Saying it is hard is not even close to what they are going through.

            What does a pastor say in a situation like this?  I try to be a positive person and looking on the bright side of things is an important part of my ministry.  But there is no real positive side to this.  It would be cruel to say something like “At least she is not suffering.” Or, “Don’t give up yet, God performs miracles every day.”  The patient is not going to get any better.  Saying “She will be in heaven soon” just doesn’t comfort someone who is losing a loved one for this side of forever.

            So I reminded them that they are not alone.  Their church family is there in spirit even though we can’t physically be there.  And God is with them.  God is always with us.  Through the most cruel of circumstances, God is there, holding us in the palm of a big, comforting and forgiving hand. 

            Saying that won’t be enough.  But it might help

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: questions

hmmm…..

            One of the major online newspapers has a feature today that videos celebrities answering questions.  Recently people like Sting, Kyle Chandler and Elizabeth Olsen have been asked five questions like: What are you afraid of? and What is your guilty pleasure? and so on …

            I was thinking about those questions and wondering what five questions I would ask others if I had the chance to interview them and get to know them better.  What would I ask myself if I wanted to get to know me better?   In journalism there are five questions that a reporter should ask and answer in each story.  They are: Who? What? Where? Why? and When? 

            If I had the chance I would ask you those five questions.  I would ask you: Who is your hero?  I think you can learn a lot about a person by learning who they admire and who they emulate.  Then, What do you believe?  Perhaps the answer would be spiritual but it could be more practical.  Where are you going?  To the store?  To heaven?  Or somewhere in between?  When… When did you grow up?  “Growing up’ can mean physically, spiritually or emotionally.  And last but not least:  Why do you love ______?  (fill in the blank).  As in why do you love your spouse, or why do you love chocolate or  why do you love God?

            Who, What, Where? Why? When?  You can learn a lot about a person by asking a few simple questions.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: missed opportunities

hmmm…..

            Sometimes we miss opportunities we didn’t even know we had.  The chance to meet someone, or earn some extra income passes us by and we don’t even realize it.

            That’s what happened to a drummer over 50 years ago in England.  He is probably still bemoaning the fact that he let an audition with the Beatles slip away from him.  Apparently a letter written by Paul McCartney on August 12, 1960 invited an unnamed person to try out for the band.  The catch was that the band was leaving for Germany in a matter of days.  Who knows what became of the offer or the musician.  The letter was discovered by a coin collector who found it in a book at a London yard sale.  Another almost missed opportunity itself, the collector was rewarded for his attention to detail by the potential auction price of somewhere between $11,000 and $14,000. 

            It pays to pay attention.  Many times God may be leading us in a direction we don’t see.  A person we hadn’t thought about for years comes to mind or place we visited long ago.  We follow up on the hunch and a reward awaits us.  I have had that happen at times in my life, but I am sure I have missed some messages, too. 

            Take time today to listen to that voice inside your head and your heart that leads you where you might not have gone.  It may pay off; the letter may arrive…

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: seasons

hmmm…..

            An American engineer stationed on the South Pole has finally been airlifted to Christchurch, New Zealand after suffering a stroke last August.  Weather prohibited planes from flying into the area until now because of bad weather conditions.  In 1999 an Air Force plane flew to that same station to rescue Dr. Jerri Nielsen FitzGerald  who was treating her own breast cancer.  Dr. FitzGerald passed away in 2007 at the age of 57.

            I remember reading an interview with Dr. Fitzgerald in a news magazine.  She discussed her struggles to treat herself for the cancer; but she also talked about the challenges of living in a place where the conditions were always the same.  They had sunlight or darkness for months nonstop and the stress on the crew there was enormous.

            She said that they countered it with celebrations of holidays to mark the passing of time and of seasons.  For example, they dressed up in silly costumes for Halloween and made a big turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.  The base was somewhat of a family because they lived in such close confining quarters, so holidays seemed to break up the long periods of monotony.

            Marking time is important.  In our church’s tradition, we designate the different religious seasons and celebrate them with various services and traditions.  It gives us a sense of time passing and our lives having the continuity of celebrating the same holidays at the same time each year; and that brings joy.

            Celebrate the seasons!  The autumn colors, the kids out trick or treating for candy and the big feast at Thanksgiving; and be grateful for the opportunity to enjoy life and enjoy the change.

            hmmm…..

thoughts on the news of the day: bosses day

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            Card companies love those holidays that they have essentially created out of their own imaginations.  For example, Bosses Day, which is officially today.  It is an outgrowth of the popular holiday (at least at card stores) Secretary’s Day.  It also comes on the heels of Pastor Appreciation Sunday, another holiday designed to sell cards.  Now, I am not saying that bosses, secretaries and pastors don’t deserve our appreciation, they do.  But do they warrant an annual holiday?

            I know of someone else who does.  What about a Big Boss holiday?  It could catch on; only trouble is, the postal workers wouldn’t know where to mail all those cards.  That is because the Big Boss of all of us doesn’t have a physical address. 

            Actually, people have been sending cards and writing letters to God for eons.  Take for example the Psalmist who wrote 150 letters to God.  I like Psalm 138 which in part says:  “I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.”

            Sure, give thanks and appreciation to your boss, your secretary, and your pastor. Buy them a card, send them a gift. They deserve it.  But today and everyday is a great day to show appreciation and  to say thank you to our Big Boss.

            hmmm…..