A Glorious Day

Tuesday was an exciting day for me. I watched as the new President took the oath of office and was moved and overwhelmed at the historical significance of the day. Having an interest in history I could not help but reflect upon the meaning of Barack Obama’s presidency for so many Americans as well as people all around the world.

I was also reflective upon the gift that my parents gave my brothers and myself as we were growing up of believing that all people were equal in every aspect. Living in a small town in Ohio, with nearly no minorities during the sixties and seventies, I did not have many opportunities to meet people who where of different ethnic backgrounds but that did not stop my parents from instilling in me the importance of the messages that Dr. King and the civil rights movement were bringing forth during that time.

I remember watching the marches, the speeches, the riots and wondering what it was all about. I was taught that there were many people who did not have the same rights and privileges that “white” Americans did and that they were struggling to gain these freedoms and to be treated the same as those people with whom I grew up with and attended church with. My dad borrowed from the library the documentary “Eyes on the Prize” at a time when you hade to have a projector to see it to teach us about the Civil Rights movement and the events and hardships that those active in the struggle had to endure. (Yes, there was a time before DVD’s and Videos that made it more difficult to see movies!”) That made an impression on me then and it continues to guide my actions and believes today.

I will always be grateful that I was able to see such change in attitudes and people in my life time. I am glad to see someone from my generation leading the country. It is a bit strange for me to realize that the new President is the same age as one of my brothers and that for the first time I am older then the President!

Tuesday was an important day for me and my family as well as so many people in the United States. Where we go from here is, as it has been suggested, up to the people to do our part in making our country and our world a better place to raise our children and our grandchildren. Politics aside, I know I will continue to hold the leaders of this country Republican and Democrat alike in to the light, praying for honesty, compassion and wisdom for all as they do the work that needs to be done.

Getting ready for change

Here in the States the big news is of course the changing of the governing powers. I am glad to be seeing a change in the administration. The excitement is building as we get nearer to the Inauguration next week. I must admit I am pretty excited about the new President and am hopeful that his words will be followed by actions that confirm the rhetoric from his campaign. I will pray for the President and the members of his administration, much like I prayed for the Bush administration.

Now I do not feel much sadness at the change, in fact I am glad that the Bush administration is “out” of power, but I do feel great sadness at the opportunities that were lost over the last eight years for real positive change to have taken place. I have to ask is the world safer then it was? Are we more secure then we were do to any of the actions taken? Are people in this country and around the world closer to achieving peace and understanding? My answer is unfortunately a big NO.

Do I think that one person can make that much of a difference in the lives of so many? Yes is my answer! I am hopeful that my new President will be able to bridge many of the gulfs that surround us here in the US but also those around the world. I am hopeful that people will find a renewed commitment to making a difference in the lives of those around them, in a positive way and yes I am hoping for a kinder, gentler world in which to live.

Will all of this be done by the actions of one man? No, it takes all of us to commit to change and to be willing to work harder and longer to make change happen. I am. For the first time in a very long time, hopeful that people will be able to work together a bit better, listen actively, and keep an open mind to what others are saying. We do not have to agree, but we do need to be willing to find common ground in which we can live, work, and play. I pray that we can find those places and that our actions, thoughts, words and deeds can reflect a new sense of purpose and that the Spirit will move among us, guiding us as we work for peace.

It snowed here over night, not a lot, but enough to make a nice covering. Something I have always appreciated about snowfall it the quiet it brings. As I sit and ponder what to write today, I can not help but think about how in many parts of the world the noise is overwhelming; bombs exploding, gun fire, screams of the wounded and dying, the cries of the hungry and homeless. I am grateful for the quiet I am privileged to experience day in and day out for I have not had to “hear” the world in the ways that so many others have had to endure. Yet many times the quiet of my home is broken by the laughter of family, the racing of our cats up and down the stairs, birds in the tree outside my window, the occasional car that drives by. I am humbled enough by the silence I experience to ask for forgiveness for any complaining I might do under these circumstances when so many would relish that type of noise.

Following the blog of the Christian Peacemaker Team currently in the Middle East, I am reminded that just hoping for peace and wanting peace does little to achieve peace. I know that my role is limited; I can only do what I can for today to achieve peace in my home, community and country. However, I can pray with the conviction that if there is an overwhelming cry from everyday people around the world that a small amount of peace may be achieved and from that the “mustard seed” a mighty movement in the Spirit will convince people that Peace can be attained for all people.

Renewed intrest in poetry

In the last few weeks I have realized that I need to do some additional reading. Now, I do read a lot, novels, history, science fiction and lots of other things, but one area thathas been lacking in attention is poetry. I have always enjoyed reading poetry and I guess that goes back to my childhood. My mother is a big fan of poetry and as kids she was always reading or writing her own poems and reading them to us.

I’m not sure when I lost sight of poetry in my everyday life. I have a number of collections that I enjoy. I am always listening to the Poet’s Corner on or local Public Radio Station, but I cannot remember when I last read a poem. Actually that is not quite right; I have read a number of the poetic verses found in Psalms on a fairly regular basis. But to read a poem by Robert Frost or Emily Dickinson, I can’t remember when I last opened a book to take in the prose and poetry they offer.

It is funny that all of a sudden I find that I have a great need to delve into the world of poetry once again. I wonder if I am searching for words to describe my feelings in a way that only poetry can do? There is something in the very nature of poetry that touches the soul, I can’t really explain it, but I do feel it.

So if I was going to make a resolution for 2009 I would have to say that it is “to read more poetry”. What about you?

Here is a poem I would like to share:

Peace Everywhere

Peace, everywhere, peace today!
Peace in lands of scruffy trees and pine,
Peace in lands of olives and wine,
Peace in lands where peaks are white,
Peace in lands where fields are bright.
Peace in lands of oasis and sand,
Peace in lands where people band,
Peace in lands where children play,
Peace in lands where people pray,
Peace in lands in the thick of the fight,
Peace in lands ruled by force and might.

Everywhere, everywhere, peace this day!
Pray that all world leaders lead the way,
Encouraging moral people to stand proud and tall,
No government too great, no nation too small.

Joseph T. Renaldi

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/peace-everywhere/

Well we are a wild and wacky group! We had this photo taken when we celebrated mom & Dad’s 50th Anniversary in 2007. Clarence and I, my brother & Sister in law Tom and Patti, and of course our brother Tim. I have a photo of the three of us when Tom was still in high school and we were goofy even then. Some things just don’t change! Poor, Patti & Clarence to have married into such a family. Ah well, at least we are able to have a good time, laugh and not take ourselves too seriously (well…except Tom maybe).

I have been thinking a lot about my family the last 6 months or so. Mom & Dad really have had a difficult time with numerous medical issues. So many in fact that Tim moved back to Ohio after almost 30 years of living in the Southwest, Texas & New Mexico. Tom, Patti and the kids will be leaving for Germany in June, so we won’t be seeing them for quite a while. Usually Tom is stationed at his assignment for at least three years. While that does not sound like a very long time at first, when you think about how much the kids will change during that time, it takes on a new meaning.

Balance in research

I visited a new web site today and found it to be interesting. http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

I try to research different sites when I am learning about an area of interest. Often here in the US we are unable to really obtain a "whole" view of an issue covered by the media outlets. I would not go so far to say that our media is controlled (but I do wonder about that) however I do feel that I have a responsibility to find other sources. I find the BBC to be pretty good in it's coverage and explanations on topics, but as with many things it too has a bias.

I know the excitement I often feel when I begin to research information on an event or topic on the web is due to the realization that there is a large number of places I can go. I can seek out places beyond the bounds of my life, to discover people and ideas that are vastly different from what I am in contact with in my daily experiences. Yet there is a hesitation that creeps in as I do "surf". I want to believe what I am reading, I want to embrace the ideas of others but that doubt of what is true under lies my quest. I guess being cautious in accepting everything as being"true" is not a bad thing, but it does bother me.

So I will continue to tread carefully and attempt to obtain a balanced perspective of events and issues as I venture out into the world.

Prayers for Peace

I do not make any claims to understand the dynamics of the conflict in the Middle East, all I know is innocent men women and children are dying on all sides. All I have are questions that never seem to be answered. How is this accomplishing anything; bombing each other taking military action, or cutting off the resources for the people in the area? Where is this leading the region? Will anyone win?

In the face of all the wars going on in the area-Iran, Iraq-Afghanistan- Israel- Palestine-Darfur- Congo as well as too many other places to even count, what is being accomplished? Is there anyone who can tell me what good will come from all the conflicts, murder and horror that people are inflicting on others? How does this provide any security for either side? Why do so many have to suffer for what seems to be an endless trail of violence that is fed by hate, greed and history?

As someone to d deeply believes that non-violence is the only way to accomplish peace in the world, I struggle to remember to pray for those inflicting such pain on others. I do pray for the victims, especially the innocent, but those who carry out the bombings, the attacks, the political maneuvering, it’s harder for me to pray for them. I want someone to blame for the suffering of so many, and it would be much easier to fall into the trap of creating “devils” out of certain groups or individuals, but I am reminded that I am to pray for everyone.

Matthew 5:43
The Message (MSG)

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of
prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created
selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to
nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all
you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you
simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any
run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

Matthew 5:42-44 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)

So today and every day I will pray for all sides; victims and aggressors, soldiers and politicians, terrorists and freedom fighters, children, women and men caught up in the violence around them. My prayer is for the peaceful resolution of the conflicts, for justice for all people and an end to the greed that spurs humans to engage in war.

Searching

2009- Hard to believe it has begun. Of course I think this every year at this time and for some reason I am surprised at just how quickly a year has gone by. Perhaps it is because I am too aware of time. If I paid less attention to the amount of time and more attention to the quality of the time it might not bother me so much. Now, I don’t think that I am obsessed with the passing of time exactly, but I do tend to focus more on what I have missed, what I did not get done or what I think I should have accomplished. I have realized that this is less productive and prevents me from seeing the positive things in my life.

Friends often tell me how surprised they are at all the things I do, volunteer work at the theater, family, ministry, working 40 hours a week, tending to the house hold chores; reading, relaxing, gardening, and from time to time taking classes. I tend to shrug off the idea that I am doing much. I have to remember that it is often in the smallest things that a real impact can be made. Sure, I wish I could accomplish something that would make a big difference in the world-bring peace to the world; write the greatest novel that would impact generations to come but I don’t see that happening.

How did I get this idea that there is no meaning in the everyday, small choices? What is it that I am really looking for and why is it that I think I need to have more? Sometimes I think being a history major has gotten in my way. It is pretty egocentric to think that I could/should be leaving a mark on history in some way, or is it? Maybe it is the history of a individual that I will leave a mark on-my children, nephews and niece, perhaps someday even grandchildren.

I think I will be spending some time this year looking at this, contemplating my role in the lives of those around me and searching for meaning in all areas of my life. I might just be surprised at what I discover!