"Others," Let This My Motto Be

last sunday in the church service, we watched a short film explaining a special offering that is taken up each year for the needs of the world.  in the lead-up to the film, a member of the congregation mentioned the millions of refugees throughout the world and compared their lives to the lives we lead here in our small community where most of us have comfortable homes, nutritious food, and are protected by the rule of law while being surrounded by the beauty of nature.  he urged us, who have so much, to think of the plight of those who have so little.

as he spoke and as i watched the film, i thought about how his words squared up with the hatred we hear being spewed from the white house and from many members of congress and with the cruel chants of "build the wall" we hear at trump rallies.  here in the community the speaker described, the vast majority of people voted for donald trump.  yet, as i visit with them, i don't sense the bigotry and hatred that they voted for.  we forget sometimes that our votes have consequences that we never intended, and, once having voted for a candidate with whom we come to disagree, it's hard to admit that we voted for the wrong person.  at times, we vote against a candidate rather than in favor of the person for whom we voted.  that tactic, too, often yields unintended consequences.

whatever the motives people had for electing mr. trump, he is the face of our country that the rest of the world sees.  i wonder if he ever thinks of the incredible courage and sacrifice those coming to our southern border seeking asylum had to have.  to leave one's home, the country of one's birth, and the comfort of everything familiar to trek hundreds of miles to escape the violence there and to seek a better life for oneself and one's family shows a degree of desperation that most of us never experience.  i wonder if he thinks of those who fled the violence of isis and the syrian civil war and their desperate struggle to reach safety as they headed toward shelter in europe.  the contrast between the compassion of many european countries and their people and the bigotry of our own government and its supporters is stark and embarrassing.

we need open arms, not walls.  jesus taught us to love, not hate, and to pray for our enemies.  there is no equivocation in his words.  he inserted no qualification that we put ourselves first and in fact, told us that whoever would be great must become a servant.  if we follow jesus, we don't put america first, we don't accuse those who come to us in want of being murderers and rapists, we don't refuse to help those who desperately need what we can provide.

may we have empathy for those who are not as fortunate as ourselves.  may we try to put ourselves in their shoes and imagine their great sacrifice and struggle in coming to our borders.  may we not blame them for being in need of our help, but welcome them with the realization that we who have so much are called to share what we have with those who have little.  may our hearts be filled with compassion, not fear and hatred.  shalom.

When Liberty's Form Stands in View

my wife and i watched mr. trump's state of the union address to congress with interest.  we hoped that we would hear words that sought to unify the country and conciliatory words for his political opponents, and we did hear some of those.  on the whole, though, we heard a message that vilified those who were coming to our borders suffering and that used half-truths and outright lies to try and frighten the american people.  we heard a man who bragged about the so-called accomplishments of his administration, exaggerating economic figures, refusing to give credit to the past administration for the recovery that was well under way before trump took office.  there certainly was no mention of the scandals that have plagued his presidency, of the wrongdoing that has forced several of his cabinet appointees to resign, of the resignations of competent members of the executive branch that were prompted by his arrogance in matters of foreign policy.

he did address the investigations that swirl around him with a sophomoric rhyme that sought to tie war, peace, and successful legislative progress to the ending of those investigations.  it seemed that we were seeing a man who sees the walls closing in around him, one who knows that, despite his bluster, the skirting of the law by him and his associates is about to catch up with him.  the image of nixon in the final months of his presidency pop into one's mind, the primary difference between trump's regime and nixon's is the so-far unwavering support of the majority of republicans in congress.  it will be interesting to see if that support continues as the evidence against trump and his cronies accumulates.  the desire of republicans to cling to power by supporting someone as corrupt and inept as trump is frightening.

as i listened to his speech, i tried to summon some compassion for the man, and i continue in that effort.  how sad it must be to be the captive of a heart filled with so much hate, to have so little respect for those who disagree with your position, to see the world as being filled with those who are either friends of this country or its enemies with none in between.  what is there to redeem a man who puts his own personal wealth ahead of the well-being of the country he was elected to lead and who bases his decisions on his own ill-informed instincts?  one wonders if there will be a day of reckoning for mr. trump that will bring the change of heart that we have seen in his former lawyer, mr. cohen, and if we will see others who served trump blindly turn against him as they come to realize the harm their loyalty to him has done to their own lives and to the country.

may we soon see an end to the charade of the trump presidency and to the policies of that presidency.  may we be a country that honors the rule of law and that engages in civil discourse with those with whom we disagree.  may we have compassion for those who reach our borders hungering for safety and freedom.  may we once again look to the statue of liberty in new york harbor as our emblem, not to a giant fence on our southern boundary.  may compassion, lovingkindness, and respect for others rule the day again.  shalom.

Show Us What We Yet May Do

we've been on a long trip, so i was unable to post to my blog.   we've been back at home for almost a week and have rested up from our trip.

a few days after returning from our trip, my wife and i went with another couple to a nearby town that we had not visited before just to look around and to eat at a restaurant that has gotten rave reviews.  as we stopped at various points in the town, all of us were curious about what we would find as we stepped from the car, except for the husband of the other couple.  each time he remained in the car fiddling with his cell phone as the rest of us explored.  we had a great meal at the restaurant which all four of us enjoyed and each of us seemed to find the drive over and back worthwhile, as we gazed at the beautiful rolling hills outside our car windows.

when my wife and i returned to our own home, we were both struck by our male traveling companion's lack of curiosity.  while we were excited to leave the car and explore, he had no interest in what was beyond what could be seen from his seat.  the only time he left the car was to go into the restaurant to eat.  otherwise, he was pleasant company and had no objection to any of the stops we made, never complaining about how long he was left sitting alone.  i am puzzled that he is content to view the world from a distance.  if his solitary exploration of what he finds on his phone makes him happy, who am i to criticize?  yet, there seems to be something lacking when one finds little pleasure in sharing discoveries with others with whom we are in company.

i follow a good many blogs written by solo travelers, extolling the joys of exploring alone, and i sometimes try to imagine what it would be like to see new sights as a lone traveler.  it seems less pleasurable than having my favorite companion, my wife, with me and being able to share what we find together.  when we return from a trip, we love talking about what we found and our reactions to the experiences we had with one another.  i can't believe that i would have as much fun alone as i would with a congenial companion.

while i find times of solitude like the one i'm experiencing now as i sit and write necessary to my well-being, i'm equally dependent on spending time with others to round out my life.  what is life if one cannot share it with others, especially those we love?  i don't want to be with other people all the time.  in fact, i become quite stressed if i can't get enough time alone, but the opportunity to share life's experiences with others is as essential as my time to myself.  i'm curious about the world around me and the people who are a part of it.  traveling and seeing how other people live helps me to understand that, while our languages, cultures, ethnicities, and religions may be different, we are all very much alike.  being able to explore with a companion with whom i can share my reactions and discoveries makes the trip all the more worthwhile.

may we each find balance in our lives, taking time to be with the person we know best: ourselves.  may we find amiable companions to share our lives with.  may we understand our kinship to each other and relish those relationships.  may we be curious and eager to explore what we don't know or understand.  may we be filled with lovingkindness and respect for each person we encounter.  shalom.

When Sorrows Like Sea Billows Roll

for the past several days, my wife and i have both had upper respiratory problems.  we are coughing, sniffling, and are achy and lethargic.  most likely, the cause is allergies, but the persistence of our symptoms has been aggravating.  it has been a long time since i have had such problems, but my wife has had the same sort of illness several times since we've moved here.  those who have lived here for many years tells us that what we're experiencing isn't unusual and that these allergies will go away after we've adjusted to the climate and vegetation here.  i hope they're right!

our difficulties in recovering and returning to our usual good health has gotten me to thinking about the process of aging.  aches and pains are our normal sensations now.  we're not able to work as hard or for as long as we used to.  it's harder for us to bounce back when we are sick.  on the one hand, i don't want to give in to being an older person.  my inclination is to deny my age and all that goes along with me and to pretend that i'm "only as young as i feel" so i must act as if i feel young.  on the other hand, it's not healthy to resist this natural process of growing old.  there are more years behind me than there are ahead, and it is wrong to refuse to accept my aging.

i've earned the wrinkles in my brow and the gray hairs on my head.  i worked hard when i was younger so that i wouldn't have to work hard in my retirement years.  i look back over a life filled with wonderful adventures, and, even in my advanced years, i still am healthy enough to have more of them.  despite this latest setback, i probably have many more years left, but i have to accept the fact that the end of life is inevitable.  it may come sooner than i would wish for.  one of my responsibilities now is to be prepared for the inevitable whenever it comes and to come to terms with the certainty that death comes to us all.  i can choose whether i continue blindly through life, ignoring that certainty and living as if i will go on forever, or i can face what is certain to come and be prepared for it.  i can live with gratitude for all that i have enjoyed in this life and for each new day that comes to me or i can pretend that, unlike others, i will never experience the suffering of aging and dying.

it's far better to face the suffering that old age brings and to meditate on that suffering than it is to act as if it doesn't exist.  on the whole, my life has been a wonderful one, and, if the grim reaper comes knocking at my door today or tomorrow, i leave a legacy of good memories behind in the minds and hearts of those dearest to me.  i've known far less suffering than many and can count myself fortunate to have lived where i've lived in the midst of a loving family and with the resources i need for a pleasant life.  while there are some regrets--things i could have handled better, lessons i wish i had learned earlier in life--there are far more joys in my memory.  yes, i am very grateful to have been given this life, and i hope that rebirth is a possibility.  i would be happy to have another chance to make a better life in another body.  i'll have to see what's on the other side of the curtain when the time comes.

may each of find our hearts filled with gratitude.  may we face our sufferings rather than pretending that they're not there.  may we see that suffering is the common lot of us all and that it's far better to come to terms with suffering than to try to deaden ourselves to suffering in one way or another.  may we count our blessings, along with our hurts.  may we find peace in our hearts and minds.  shalom.

Not Like Kingdoms of the World

jesus speaks of "the kingdom of God."  referring to God as "king" suggests that God is an absolute ruler, a dictator who controls our lives and everything in the universe, perhaps a benevolent despot, but a despot none the less.  in jesus' world, the idea of such a ruler wouldn't be thought of as remarkable.  all lives were in the hands of such a monarch, so why would it be different for the greatest of kings, the one who created everything and continues to rule over creation.

yet, to our modern eyes, seeing God as a king and those who believe in God as subjects is not a comfortable point-of-view.  if we have faith in democracy, we think that the combined wisdom of all is preferable to the vision of one person to which everyone else must conform.  in referring to the kingdom of God, perhaps jesus had no other terminology that would be understandable to those who heard him.  jesus might have been painting a picture of a different sort of kingdom, one in which the ruler's only concern was the well-being of that ruler's subjects, one in which unconditional love was extended to all.  this was a marked contrast to the earthly kings that those who heard jesus knew.  their kings and the distant emperor in rome weighed them down with taxes and were more concerned with maintaining their own power and wealth than with the good of their subjects.  in the kingdom of which jesus spoke, things were quite different.  in this kingdom, the greatest served the least, those who were first became last, and the teacher washed the feet of the pupils.

jesus refers to God in a different way, too: as a father.  this heavenly father is kind to his children just as a good earthly parents are kind to their children.  this is not the god of the past, the vengeful god who orders the destruction of towns and everyone in them so that his "chosen people" can take possession of the promised land, but a loving God who wishes only good for all humankind and for all of creation.  this is no tyrant but a God who is the source of all that is good, not a God who acts on whim but one who calls his creation to be filled with lovingkindness and to act responsibly toward all of creation.  not a king but a father, not a kingdom but a community--this is the teaching of jesus about God and God's relationship to creation.

may we love without condition.  may we see each person as being like us in the most fundamental ways.  may we care for creation as if our lives depended on it.  may we consider ourselves as part of a larger family where each member depends on the others.  shalom.

The Right Prevail

a few days ago my brother was given a facebook portal by his son.   he was excited to try it out and texted me to see if he, my sister, and i could visit with each other using it.  i was out on an errand at the time, so the next day we decided to try engaging in a video chat.  i was reluctant to participate because i dislike video calls, but he was so excited about his new toy that i didn't want to disappoint him.  being unfamiliar with the technology, we were not successful and had a conventional visit on the telephone.  later, his son told us what was needed on my end of the potential video visit, and i suppose we'll try it again soon.

as i thought about the portal and similar technologies, like amazon's and google's personal assistants, i was reminded of the telescreen of orwell's 1984.  we have so little privacy in our lives anymore, and these new devices seem to have the potential to diminish our privacy still further.  we are tracked everywhere we go on the internet unless we take steps to mask our wanderings, and, even then, the means we use to insure our anonymity are not secure should government or business want to exert their power to discover our use of the technology.  i have friends who keep the cameras on their computers covered and refuse to use search engines like google because of security concerns, and i've always thought these tactics a bit extreme.  as i ponder the increasing invasion of our privacy i'm not so sure anymore.

given the power of a government with donald trump at its head, i'm wary of the potential for abuse of our individual rights.  when the head of government is convinced that he alone can solve our problems and that he is an expert in most every field, from finance to military strategy, and when most others members of his party seem to be willing to give him carte blanche, it would be all too easy to use these new devices to spy on those who oppose him and his policies.  orwell's vision doesn't seem so farfetched anymore.  one thinks of nixon's enemies list on steroids in the hands of someone like trump.

i used to wonder how someone like hitler could have come to power and think that could never happen in the usa.  as i've watched trump's rise, i can see how a free society can allow someone so obviously evil and corrupt to assume the mantle of power.  when his own party wants power so much that its members refuse to speak out against his abuses and lies and are willing to go along for the sake of maintaining their hold on the reins of government, there are few ways to stop someone of trump's ilk in the short term.  one fears that too much damage will be done before the next election has the potential to vote someone like trump and his supporters out of office.  as we see the restriction of voting rights and the gerrymandering of legislative districts at the hands of republican state legislatures, the willingness of these elected bodies to thwart the will of the people in states like michigan and wisconsin,  and the makeover of the judiciary into a more right-wing institution, even the power of the ballot has less likelihood of success.

perhaps the results of the last election that sent a majority of democrats to the house of representatives is a harbinger of things to come in 2020.  one can only hope that the country can hold on until this next election and that the voters will see the grave peril we are in if trump and his supporters are not stopped.  we have a great responsibility to protect our constitutional rights and to become a champion of freedom and of the rule of law to the rest of the world once more.  i'm not sure we can restore our position with our allies now that the world has seen the damage that one person like trump can do and our willingness to allow him to take the helm of our government but we must try.

may we not be complacent in these perilous times.  may we work to rid our government of trump and his ilk in any legitimate way we can.  may we return to our core values and may the arc of the moral universe bend in the direction of justice.  may lovingkindness triumph over hatred, fear, and the desire for revenge.  shalom.

That's What Living Is For

another year on the calendar has passed.  yet that doesn't seem as significant as it once did.  january 1 is just another day, a day to be lived as fully as possible, just as each day calls us to live more fully.  though it is a cliché, each day is a gift.  as i say at the beginning of each day, "today i am fortunate to have awakened, i have a precious human life, may i not waste it."  so, the question is: how do i avoid wasting this precious human life.  what are the things that i can do to make my life more productive, more mindful, more meaningful?

i have a wonderful partner who works hard to create a home that is pleasant and beautiful.  one of the things that i can do, and try to do, each day is be a help to her.  often i don't want to engage in one of her projects to keep our home running in an orderly, beneficial way, but i remind myself that being helpful is not always fun.  in the end helping her benefits me as well.  once i get going with my part of the project, i discover that it's more enjoyable than sitting in my easy chair surfing the web or watching tv.  the sense of accomplishment that we both feel in the evening as we look back on the day that has passed is worth the effort that we spent together.

the time i spend in meditation each morning sets me up for a day that is full of new insights and heightened awareness of what's going on around me.  it is gratifying to sense the happiness that being alive brings me, and i wish that i had begun my practice years ago.  my life would have been lived quite differently had this been the case.  i would have been a better husband, a better father, a better teacher, a better person, but i am thankful that a little book filled with insights from the dalai lama--the art of happiness by the dalai lama and howard cutler-- changed the way i think of life and how i live it.

the abandonment of religious superstition has helped me see the core values of the religion in which i was raised.  the conflation of the essential teachings of jesus with the folderol of fairy tales about him obscured what he was about for so long.  that realization has helped me to live more fully.  not worrying about heaven and hell or feeling compelled to take part in meaningless rituals lifted a great weight from my shoulders, freeing me to experience life without the encumbrances of a religion that is far from the truths that jesus taught.  reminding myself of what is important and what is not enables me to live in a new and more vibrant way.

may each of our lives be filled with joy.  may we remind ourselves that each new day is a gift to be experienced as fully as we can.  may we know that in serving others we benefit ourselves as much as we benefit those we serve.  may we accept nothing mindlessly.  may our happiness be deep and abiding, beyond the incidental trials that life brings.  shalom.