When We Are Strong

life has been hectic in our household for the past two weeks.  my wife's sister and her husband were here visiting the first of those weeks.  we loved being with them, since we only see them once a year.  it was a very active week, going out of town on various activities each day.  by the end of the week, we were exhausted.  we took one day to rest and then launched into the week that has just passed.  during that week, we worked on thoroughly cleaning our house, i assembled a new exercise bike that my wife needs to recuperate from her upcoming knee surgery, i mowed the yard, we traveled about 200 miles round-trip for a couple of doctor appointments, and my wife honored three commitments to play bridge.  by the end of that week, we were again exhausted.

this week my wife has her knee surgery.  we are told that her recovery will be slow and painful, but worth it in the end because she will have so much more agility and an end to the constant knee pain she has endured in that knee.  in about three months, she will have the other knee operated on, and the cycle of recovery will begin again.  i joke with her that she will have bionic knees at the end of all this.  she is worried that having to care for her will be too difficult for me, but i look forward to her being able to be more active and pain-free.  i know that the outcome will be worth the effort involved for both of us.

we can tell that we are aging.  we can't take being on the go in stride as we used to.  we have to stop and rest more frequently.  we fall into bed exhausted.  we are grateful that our bodies allow us to do all that we do.  we see so many people who are younger than us who are forced to use mobility chairs to get around and who have had to give up many activities because of physical limitations.  our bodies are amazing creations.  how many things are there that can take the physical punishment that our bodies take and still continue to function?  our bodies often mend themselves, sometimes with medical intervention, and we take them for granted.  as we sense the aging of our bodies, we marvel at all they do for us.  the very fact that we are mobile and still able to perform the responsibilities of our lives is wonderful.  the opportunity my wife has to replace worn-out knee joints with new ones is something that would have been impossible not so many years ago.

may we rejoice in our continued ability to care for ourselves, our homes, and others.  may we be filled with gratitude that we are human, despite the increasing limitations of old age.  may we care for our bodies as best we can.  may we remember that continuing to be mobile requires us to use our bodies and, at times, to push through discomfort.  may we see each new day as a blessing.  shalom.

Help Us From All Bondage Flee

this past week we learned that the governor of florida had arranged for a group of asylum seekers who had come to our country from venezuela to be flown from texas to massachusetts.  mr. desantis, the florida politician, proclaimed loudly that his intent was to guarantee that such people did not come to his state.  he and his supporters thought it amusing that he had demonstrated what they see as the sham of sanctuary proclamations by cities and states that welcome immigrants, whether documented or undocumented, and promise to care for them and help them become part of american society.

using people who are fleeing deplorable conditions in their own countries to seek protection in this country to score political points is unconscionable.  such tactics and the rhetoric which accompanies them demonstrate the callousness of the anti-immigrant movement.  for them, immigrants are political pawns, rather than people.  they cast those who seek our protection as our enemies, when we know that the vast majority of immigrants want to help our country and add to its prosperity.  as one massachusetts politician said, the economy of his region depends on immigrants who are willing to take jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.  for the most part, those who seek refuge are eager to work, even when the only jobs available are menial ones that pay little.  time and again, we've seen these immigrants who are willing to start at the bottom of the economic ladder climb to prosperous lives through hard work and determination.  we should be applauding and assisting such people rather than using them for political purposes by calling them  enemies of the american people.

may we remember that we are a country of immigrants who descended from those who came here seeking a better life for themselves and their families, unless we are native americans.  may we do what we can to help those who seek asylum here rather than regarding them as our enemies.  may we see how our lives are made better by those who enrich our culture with their cuisine, languages, and traditions.  shalom. 

Thro' Paths Unknown

we have some dear friends with whom we play cards and have dinner once a week.  they have much in common with us, particularly a love for classical music and a liberal political perspective.  there are few people in our community with whom we share those two passions.  our principal point of disagreement is our religious views.  the wife of this couple has conventional christian beliefs, while the husband is torn between christian orthodoxy and their church's conservative political stance.  he finds himself at odds with both his wife, his pastor, and most of the members of their church because politics often enters into pronouncements from the pulpit and discussions in their bible study class.  his wife, who shares his and our, political stance, can ignore the conservative bias of those in their church because their conventional religious beliefs agree with hers.  he cannot shrug off their church's politics, though he agrees with its religious orthodoxy.  they are both troubled by the poor quality of music they hear each Sunday morning and long for more traditional church music.

we find ourselves at odds with them on religious issues.  we would be unable to be part of a group that teaches the necessity of jesus' death on the cross in order to enable God to forgive our sins, nor would we be content to hear politics preached from the pulpit or taught in small group meetings.  the concept of a god who requires such sacrifice is anathema to us.  our view of jesus' life and death is quite different.  we see jesus as a great teacher who taught us that God is filled with love for us and whose mission was to help us find reconciliation with a God who desires that we share love with those around us.  the crucifixion of jesus demonstrates the cruelty of those who wanted others to worship a god of vengeance, a rule-making god whose primary function is to keep records of our shortcomings.  such people seek to control us through fear, and jesus' teachings were viewed as dangerous, since he was leading his followers to reject the control of a repressive government and religious establishment.

we seldom discuss religion with our friends, but the husband in this couple is so unhappy with the situation in their church that he frequently voices his frustration.  we are at a loss as to what to say.  we have encouraged them to attend some other church occasionally so he can escape from time to time the aspects of their church that are frustrating to him, but that doesn't seem to be a solution that appeals to either of them.  we find ourselves displeased by many things in our own church, such as the quality and quantity of music in the worship service and a minister who preaches rambling sermons during which she frequently shouts at the congregation.  since the onset of the covid pandemic, we have stopped attending our church.  i play for another congregation two or three sundays each month and find myself enjoying their service.  i attend the local episcopal church some of the sundays when i don't play and am much more comfortable in that church than in my own.  it is disturbing to us that now, in the last few years of our lives, we find ourselves without a church that we feels like "home."  i suspect that there are many like us:  older folks who find that the worship style of most churches is alien to them and who feel left out of the churches in which they grew up and attended faithfully for many years.

may we find a place where we seem to belong.  may we recognize that it is the people who make up a church, regardless of changing worship styles.  may we love despite our differences.  may we be at peace with ourselves, remaining true to our core beliefs.  if we worship a god, may that God be a God of love, not one of vengeance.  shalom.

Where the Grapes of Wrath Are Stored

a few days ago, president biden made what may be the most important speech of his presidency, as he called for americans to unite in defense of democrary.  he called us to work together, regardless of political party affiliation, to defeat the followers of the former president who are willing to use intimidation, violence, and false narratives about the integrity of our elections to win elections at all costs.  he called out "maga" republicans who sacrifice their integrity to curry favor with trump and his base of supporters.  earlier in the week, the president had referred to these trump loyalists as "semi-fascists," acknowledging their blind fealty to trump for what it is.  president biden has drawn a clear line in the sand, challenging every american to choose which side we are on.

some have called his speech divisive, and indeed it was.  he has said that we can no longer allow the lies and threats of violence to continue unchecked.  we are either supporters of democracy or supporters of the former president.  we cannot be both.  we have seen how trump's minions were willing to question the integrity of the last election, intimidate election workers for doing their jobs, mount an insurrection that threatened the lives of lawmakers and the vice-president as these public servants carried out their constitutional mandate on january 6, and devise plots to put forward illegitimate slates of presidential electors.  even now trump and his base are pushing his big lie, and some who subscribe to it have become the nominees of their state republican parties in the november elections.  if these suborners of elections take office, the elections they oversee cannot be trusted.

in republican-controlled state legislatures, laws have been passed to make it more difficult to vote.  early voting days have been reduced, hours for voting have been shortened, the number of polling places has been made smaller, more stringent voter-id laws have been enacted, absentee voting has been restricted, and measures to make it easier for handicapped voters to cast their ballots, such as drive-in voting, have been outlawed.  in some states, partisan poll watchers will be allowed to monitor voting, thus intimidating some voters.  in others, offering food or water to voters waiting in line to vote has been made illegal.  the trajectory of our election laws prior to the trump era has been to increase access to the polls and to encourage all who are legally qualified to have their voices heard in our elections.  the followers of trump have halted this progress, and it is up to each of us to bend the arc of our history back in the right direction.

may we accept our responsibilities as citizens of this grand experiment that began in a time when some were held in bondage to enable others to live in luxury.  may we continue to move toward greater inclusion and larger recognition of the rights of all people.  may we oppose, in whatever ways we can,  those who would subvert our democracy by following the path of fascism and one-party rule.  may we recognize that our freedoms are indeed in peril and stop those who would take them away.  shalom.

Come, Labor On

there is much I'd like to write about this week.  i thought about discussing my reactions to the former president's ongoing battle with the department of justice, but the topic that has captured my interest is president biden's executive order regarding student debt.  i don't understand the so-called "student loan crisis."  during my years in college, the chief lender to college students was the federal government through the national defense education act.  these low-interest loans made it possible for students who otherwise would have been unable to attend college to earn a degree, making small loan repayments after graduation until the debt was repaid.  graduates who went into the teaching field and worked in schools where many students came from low-income families had their debt excused if they continued teaching for a certain period.

both my wife and i had some of our education financed through this program, and repayment was fairly painless because of the extended time allowed for discharging the debt and the low interest rate of the loan.  this was a very successful program that encouraged many high school graduates to go on to college and have careers that enriched the workforce after earning their degrees.  unfortunately, this program is no longer available to americans.  it seems that there have been several programs that have replaced it over the years, and the drive to privatize many government programs has affected college loan programs.  for a time, it was parents, rather than students, who were responsible for debt repayment.  now, as i understand it, the burden has shifted back to the student.

the rise in college costs has created, staggering amounts of debt for many college graduates.  i know one young man who owes around $100,000 in college loans.  he is the father of five children and works as a teacher in a small college.  i am certain that his salary, even when coupled with that of his wife, is not sufficient to meets his family's needs and pay off such a debt.  this doesn't seem to be an unusual situation.  those who are knowledgable about such things tells us that most of those who will have a part of their debt forgiven earn less than $75,000 per year.  as the cost of attending college has risen, government support for higher education has fallen, causing colleges to raise their fees.  these two factors make it very difficult for many young people to get a college education, and many who are determined to better themselves are forced to borrow the money to finance college.

some have been lured into enrolling in private colleges that promise them lucrative jobs once they have graduated, only to find that those jobs are not available or that they are not qualified for them because the college that made such promises did not have the necessary credentials or that it closed its doors before the students' training was completed.  greedy entrepreneurs have taken advantage of federally guaranteed programs to enrich themselves at the expense of students and taxpayers.  

it doesn't seem unreasonable for the government to forgive a portion of student loans in the current economic situation, especially when such forgiveness is targeted to those with lower earnings.  i worry that such forgiveness may encourage students to take on debt, thinking that, when the time comes for repaying the debt, some or all of it will be forgiven.  it is time to find a way to make college affordable for everyone who wishes to get training that will make the workforce of the country stronger and broaden the minds of our people.  ignorance is the fodder of dictators.  without an educated population, our democracy will not prosper or survive, so it is in our national interest to help our people get the education they need.

may we be more farsighted than we have in the past by providing adequate funding for post-high-school training for our people.  may we use our resources to better advantage, realizing that government has a responsibility to help lift each citizen to a better life.  may we have compassion for those who labor under crippling debt.  shalom.

Of Travel, I've Had My Share

last week, my wife and i made a quick trip to our former hometown for a friend's family celebration.  we had little time to do anything except drive down, enjoy the event, and drive home.  we were exhausted when we got back, but our appetite for travel was kindled.  we're ready for new adventures that were not possible during the height of the covid pandemic.  right now a health problem makes it impossible for my wife to stray too far from home for long.  she has an appointment with a specialist in a couple of weeks, and we're hopeful that this doctor will offer a fix for her health issue so that we can plan a trip.

there are so many places we want to see and favorite destinations we want to visit again.  we know that before many years have passed, old age will prevent us from traveling as we once did.  we have watched as some older friends have planned several trips, only to have to cancel their plans because of illnesses.  that will be true for us in the future, as we can see because of the inability of my wife to travel now.  our wanderlust has taken us far from home, and being able to explore the world around us is one of our chief joys.  we long to be in vermont again in the fall and to see the green of ireland once more.  we've never been to spain, and we'd love to explore madrid, barcelona, and seville.

we know many people who are content to stay in our little town and who complain whenever it is necessary for them to travel an hour or two away on business or to see a medical specialist who is not available here.  we can't understand their lack of curiosity about the world around them, just as they are puzzled by our love of travel.  while we love our home and the town in which we live, it is not enough for us.  when our advancing years confine us to our immediate surroundings, we will learn to adjust.  until then, we will go as far and as often as we can.

may we appreciate the beauty of the world around us.  may we be content with whatever life brings us, accepting what we cannot change.  may we be filled with the desire to learn and explore.  may we continue to grow, even as our bodies fail us.  shalom.

Time, Like an Ever-Rolling Stream

looking around the room in which i sit, i see many pieces that were purchased at antique stores.  my wife and i don't think of ourselves as collectors of antiques, but we seem to have an affinity for older decorative objects.  among our most beloved possessions are a trio of lamps with glass shades that cast a gentle light and seem almost alive in their warmth.  lighting fixtures of this type were once very popular but are difficult to find nowadays and quite expensive compared to more modern lamps.  

as i look at these three lamps, i wonder whose homes they once lit.  i wonder if their former owners loved them as much as we do.  were they struck by the beauty of the glass?  did they feel the delight in their warmth as we do?  did they enjoy the intricacy of the metal work in their bases and in the shades which frame the honey-colored glass?  what were their homes like?  were they prosperous or did they struggle to get by?  could they have imagined that their beautiful lamps would find a home with someone who treasures them?

i think about where they may go after we are gone.  i hope that our two children will take them into their homes and delight in them as we do now.  they may find themselves in an antique store where someone else will see them and fall in love with them.  if some strangers take possession of them, will the new owners enjoy them as we do?  these precious lamps may light the homes of happy couples who have no idea about their history, just as we have no knowledge of the previous owners.  it amazes me that these objects and others that i see around me have stories to tell that we can never know.  they have lives of their own and mean different things to each successive owner, bearing silent witness to the beings whose lives are lived in their presence.

may we see that we are connected to one another across generations, that every object we see and touch connects us to countless others we will never know.  may we honor those lives that went before us, that suffered and rejoiced just as we do.  may we live in hope that those who follow us will not forget us, that we will live on in their memories.  may we have compassion for those who have gone before and those who are yet to be, just as we strive to have compassion for those whose lives we share in this present moment.  shalom.