thoughts on the news of the day: signs

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                Really?  I usually try to stay away from controversial issues, but  I could not back away from  this one.  A woman in Cincinnati, OH who owns a duplex there, posted a sign on the property’s swimming pool that said “whites only”.  Really?  Can you feel my outrage pouring out from my screen to yours?  Would that mean that President Obama and his family could not swim in the pool?  The most powerful leader in the world banned from a pool?  Really?  The rest of the story is that the courts ruled that the sign “ violated the Civil Rights Act” and it was taken down.  Thank God. 

                We think those days of discrimination are over.  And then something crazy like this happens.  Guess we were wrong.  In some parts of the country, apparently discrimination is alive and well.

                But I want to say something about other "parts of the country".  I have never been there, but I know for a fact that Ohio is not all bad.  A good friend of mine who is all about freedom for all people,  lives in Cincinnati. 

                I met two women this week at Austin Seminary who are passionate and compassionate.  They each serve as pastors of churches in tiny towns in Ohio.  My guess is that there is no way they would ever support such nonsense as allowing a “whites only” sign anywhere.   So we can’t condemn Ohio on the grounds of one woman’s stupid sign.  But we can condemn racist behavior anywhere we see it.  It’s the right thing to do.

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thoughts on the news of the day: appreciative inquiry

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                In our seminary classes, this week we are learning about a form of research that is called “appreciative inquiry”.  It’s actually a really good process. It encourages the researcher to focus on the positive aspects of a need, problem or concern.  In other words, instead of asking something like, “Why don’t we have children in our church?”, the researcher asks “What is wonderful about your church?”

                I like to think of myself as a positive person.  An attitude of gratitude has long been a motto of mine and I intend to practice gratitude each day.  I look for the silver lining in a dark cloud and try to trust God that everything will work out.  I think bottom line, that’s probably what most people would like to do most of the time.  Think about movies or television shows.  Virtually all of them have a happy ending.  It is very rare for a movie with a downer ending to be successful at the box office.

                Sometimes, though, putting on a fake smile is a form of denial.  And sometimes insisting that a person who is in pain feign happiness is just plain cruel.  I am not talking about wallowing in grief.  I am not talking about suspending time while you torture yourself with sorrow and sadness.  What I am talking about is honestly facing your fears and your failures, your loves and your losses with courage, bravery and strength.

                That comes from a Source that is bigger than us; if you are in pain, may you find it today.

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thoughts on the news of the day: william carter

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                Here’s an interesting fact you may not know … today is the feast day of Blessed William Carter.  Catholics mark the day in honor of a man who published books for Catholics in 16^th century England  when no Catholics there were allowed to have them.  Some of his printing presses were so small that he could only print one page at a time, and on occasion, he had to resort to copying the books by hand.  He was imprisoned in the London tower and was tortured when Catholic books were found in his possession. Now he is celebrated as a near Saint of the church.

                I have been doing some research in the library at Austin Presbyterian Seminary.  The first thing that hits you when you walk in the library is the dust and the mold from the thousands of books housed in the building.  But once you settle in, the enormity of the collection can overwhelm you.  The catalogue of books can now only be viewed on line because it is so large and all that remains of the old card catalogue is a small bank of drawers left as a testament of days gone by.

                It’s easy to take for granted the freedom we have to read whatever we want to.  At the punch of a button we can download just about anything on our Kindle.  Millions of books are right at our fingertips; and we don’t have to take our life in our hands to read them.  Budding authors can even present their books for reading as if they were best sellers. I have a friend who is doing that with a novel he wrote.

                Today on William Carter’s feast day would be a good time to be grateful for the freedom we have to learn what we want, to read what we like, to share it with friends and family without fear.  Today is a good day.

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thoughts on the news of the day: rural

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                To say that I live in a rural area would definitely be an understatement.  My little town is nestled between two pristine lakes and a lovely river that has some of the best trout fishing in the country.  Oh, sure, we have our own Wal-Mart, grocery store and post office; but barely outside the city limits you will find winding country roads with no shoulders, an occasional deer bouncing in front of your car and very little in between.

                Our church is not so rural.  First of all, we are across the street from the city park, so we get lots of traffic passing by.  Our building is not white clapboard, but red brick and white trim with a lovely uptown courtyard in between the sanctuary and the church offices and classrooms.  More importantly, our congregation is cosmopolitan.  It consists of retirees from northern states with big cities.  So the world view is broad and the experience of our members is vast.

                The county is not the same.  There are cabins in the woods with no electricity and no water.  And folks live in them full time, not just when they are on a deer hunting excursion.  The cultures meet at our local free clinic.  Our members actively volunteer there; some of them retired medical personnel, some just compassionate  caregivers.  They assist diabetics who are too able for Medicaid and too young for Medicare.  They make sure that teeth are repaired to present even further damage.  In between, they offer a friendly smile or a kindly hug. 

                Some people might look at our church and say that there is no mission work being done, but I say, look around town, because we are everywhere.

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thoughts on the news of the day: homesickness

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                It’s like being away at camp.  I have been taking a class in Austin, TX for a graduate program and today marks its second week.  Homesickness has definitely set in.  Seeing my daughter over the weekend helped a lot, but I miss my friends at home.

                It is different now than in year’s past.  When I went to Girl Scout camp, there were no smart phones, internet, facebook or even cheap long distance rates, not mention free long distance on cell phones.  The only mode of communication open to us was letter writing.  I yearned for the letters Mom would write and even though my best friend was usually at camp with me, we both needed that touch of home.

                The communication opportunities of this trip away from home have definitely been different than the days of camp years ago.  This morning I got two welcomed emails from members of my church. They were just chatty notes about things that were happening and people they had seen.  It made me feel a lot closer to them than the hundreds of miles that keep us apart right now.  And then there is my phone.  I can talk to friends and family at the touch of a button and at virtually no cost at all, save the monthly fee that comes regularly.

                All this to say, pick up the phone today, jot off an email or if you are really ambitious, try a card with an actual stamp.  Your friends and family will love it.

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thoughts on the news of the day: danny thomas

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                Remember Danny Thomas? Maybe not, but you probably have heard of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN.  A commemorative “forever” postage stamp is debuting this month in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the hospital which was founded in 1962.   It will feature Danny Thomas in the foreground and the hospital behind him.

                So why do I mention Danny Thomas?  Well, he had the inspiration for the institution and was the major sponsor and fundraiser for its opening.  Danny Thomas was a big entertainer in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  His television show, “Make Room for Danny” won him an Emmy.  But I think the most endearing memory of Danny Thomas is his story of prayer.  Several times during Thomas’ early career, he found himself struggling to make ends meet and support his family.  And each time he went to church and prayed for guidance and help.  He asked St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, “Help me to find my way and I will build you a shrine.”  His prayer was answered on each occasion.   So he decided to make good on his promise.  After consulting with friends and business associates, he began plans to create the incredible foundation and hospital that lives today.

                I remember hearing about Danny Thomas’ prayers when I was in a bad place. While I didn’t pray to St. Jude, I did release my cares to a power greater than myself.  And, sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in not so small ways, my prayers have been answered.  Which affirms to me once again, the great power of prayer.

                hmmm…..