I am tired and the last three weeks have been weighty so I thought you might enjoy a "Droopy" cartoon. Tex Avery just cracks me up!
No morals or lessons in this story - just fun.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Droopy Dog-Deputy Droopy
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Great America Series: Rally Around the Flag
I wanted to write something inspiring in honor of September 11th. But somehow, the memory of that dreadful day when three thousand Americans lost their lives through a coordinated series of despicable acts, just leaves me cold and empty.What followed, however, was inspiring. And that brings me to what I want to post tonight. The Great America Series is a recurring series of posts that involve single words or small phrases that describe this wonderful miracle of a nation that we enjoy. Previous posts have centered on American know-how, rugged individualism and the Judeo-Christian work ethic.
This one is about how we rally together in times of crisis.
I had a teacher in the eighth grade, I think her name was Mrs. Wiggins. She taught American History and her passion about the 1940's inspired me. So much so that to this day, I cannot get enough information about that WWII era.
When I was in the eighth grade at that Junior High School in the small town of LaFayette, Georgia, the Vietnam War had just ended. In fact, I believe it was that same year that the last Americans pulled out, leaving that country to a bloodthirsty enemy bent on vengeance.
Mrs. Wiggins told us that one reason there was such turmoil in our country over that war was that we were not directly attacked. She said that if anyone ever attacked this nation, the people would always rally together. And she pointed to Pearl Harbor and December 7, 1941 as her example. I remember how she talked about everyone joining in to help with the war effort during that time.
That's what Americans do. In crisis, we rally around the flag. Like some dysfunctional families, we may be at one anothers throats most of the time. But you let some outsider come in and harm our sibling and -dysfunctional or not- there will be a scrap!
A little while back, I entered into an in depth discussion with my brother-in-law and my father-in-law. We talked about religion and we talked about politics. Then my father-in-law asked us if we remembered what things were like on those few days after the September 11th attack in 2001. I don't think either of us said anything, but we knew... there were several days in which you just wanted to plaster flags everywhere in defiance of those that had attacked us. Communities were coming together for prayer services; people from down here in the southland were loading up in trucks and vans to go up and help out that bunch of yankees in New York City; people looked other people in the eyes and asked - "are you doing okay?" - and they really meant it!
People were freely talking about God and praying for each other - even congressmen "crossed the aisle" to sing "God Bless America" on the Capitol steps.
It was really, amazingly - neat!
That's what my brother-in-law and I were thinking and my father-in-law's eyes glimmered as he said, "that's just the way in used to be - all the time".
It didn't just happen during acts of war. How many hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters have brought people together in this country? Hurricane Katrina was such a politicized tragedy but in her aftermath, how many people loaded up there tools and went to help? When refugees were coming to our state, healthcare workers, churches and volunteers met them at Welcome Centers and took care of them.
But I think that's always been the case... whether it was barn-raising in the Amish country, or joining together to bring in the cotton crop in the deep south- Americans count on other Americans in a pinch.
I don't suppose anyone captures that spirit of America any better than my favorite movie director, Frank Capra. One of the hallmarks of his movies is big crowds, often rallying together in order to come to someone's aid. Remember Jimmy Stewart and that crowded living room during the closing scene of "It's a Wonderful Life!" - that was America, and Frank Capra found a way to put that into most all of his movies.
In this clip from the last scene of "Meet John Doe" another Frank Capra movie, Barbara Stanwyck tries to convince Gary Cooper ("John Doe") not to jump off that building at midnight on Christmas eve. Well, you need to see the movie to understand it, but what you will see is a lot of people gathering together at a time of crisis.
So what happened to that "rally around the flag" attitude?
Well, the last time -as I recall - it was an election. Some time around the 2004 campaign, political parties decided that a united front just wasn't worth the loss of power. So it became popular for elected officials to speak out against the President and his policies -even during times of war...even sometimes on foreign soil.
Can we get it back? Perhaps.
But first I think we have to talk to people that really remember what "coming together for a common purpose" was like.
The real tragedy of 9/11 may not have been the senseless death of so many... it may be that we didn't come together and stay together when we had the chance.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Truth about Consequences
A little over twenty years ago, my older brother and I took on an entrepreneurial quest. It was an experience that left a deep impression (read "scar") on me and probably changed my thinking in a variety of ways.
My brother did - and still does - enjoy the great benefit of being self-employed which our free-market economy affords. So our joint venture was just another episode for him; for me it was a very singular event, I wanted to carve out a niche for myself and stay there. I was investing a lot of hope in this deal.
Though I have doubted it in retrospect, I thought at the time, that the idea of us partnering was inspired by God.
My brother and I had been spending a good bit of time together and I knew that he had an opportunity to buy a little retail business. At the same time, my work seemed to be at a dead end: I was selling life insurance except that the "selling" part never had kicked in. I was not a "fit" for that job and my performance (or lack thereof) was obvious. One day I had just left a meeting with my Sales Manager in which he had pointed out to me that very fact.
As I was riding in my car, muttering and pontificating to myself and to God in one of those half-rant, half-prayer conversations, when an idea occurred to me. I thought about it a few minutes and then ran home to call my brother (no cell phones in those days) and share it with him.
He needed capital and I had a little retirement account in which I was now fully vested. I could take that and invest it in his venture. We could purchase the retail business and I could run it. I had always liked retail.
And so it began.
We had a blast! My relationship with my brother grew and we were almost inseparable. We had "inside jokes" and shared stories. We worked days and into the nights. We learned new things, sometimes we argued.
But the short of it is that we were way underfunded and during something of an economic downturn, bankers didn't want to keep renewing our notes or adding more to our debt load.
Many of our accounts were on C.O.D. (cash on delivery - in other words they didn't really trust us). And finally, in less than three years, we had closed the doors.
We did not technically bankrupt but we spent quite a long time, settling with people we owed and paying off bills. I had gotten married during that time and it was very disheartening to get those "collection" phone calls in front of my wife. The entire episode took it's toll on my relationship with my brother; it started cracks in the foundation my brand new marriage; and it did damage to the way that I looked at myself and how I thought others viewed me.
The fact is, in my late twenties and early thirties I was fairly convinced that I had all but messed up my life. But there were lessons in there for me to learn. I think my brother learned some also. Those details may be a subject for another day except to say that I have learned first-hand that the borrower is slave to the lender.
That time in my life somehow propelled me into returning to college a couple years later. Some time after that, R. and I were able to enjoy a restoration of our marriage.
I said all that to point something out. I don't know if God orchestrated the events that resulted in turmoil, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't always walking lock-step with His plan. But He was able to take that mess and weave it into my life and bring something good out of it. He was able to use the consequences of my mistakes to teach me.
Consequences are one of God's teaching tools.
Now, let me tell you about something. This week, I had the opportunity to help out - through my philanthropy - a couple that was going through their own set of consequences because of doing goofy things. Oh don't be so surprised; you helped them out also.
Maybe you've heard their names recently. At the risk of embarrassing them for their utter simplicity - I will share their names with you: Fannie-Mae and Freddie Mac.
Yes, when congress bails someone out - make no mistake about it- it is you and I that are doing all the bailing. Congress just takes the credit.
For all of its talk and bluster the U.S. Congress has never once turned a profit. They do not make anything. They just take from us, send it out somewhere else and then take the credit.
But by bailing out troubled institutions, congress has circumvented the lessons of bearing one's consequences.
That's why they keep having to bail out institutions - because they will not allow them to learn. During the Savings and Loan scandals of the 90's, congress bailed out the S & L's. Earlier this year there were more bailouts and now the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
In Numbers 12 there is a story about Moses' sister, Miriam. This took place during the nation of Israel's wilderness travels. Miriam had some derogatory remarks about Moses' choice for a wife, and God heard it.
I think God saw that there was more to Miriam's complaint than just the expression of her opinion. She was possibly jealous of Moses - felt as if she should play a more important role in the organization.
It seems in those days, that God's punishment-of-choice was leprosy. Miriam caught a bad case of it.
Moses cried and prayed. Aaron cried and prayed (cause he had been doing a little trash-talking too).
And God said she would get better...after seven days. So they stopped traveling and camped in that spot, waiting for Miriam to endure her punishment.
She needed that time of enduring the consequences of her actions. She came out of that episode cleaner, wiser and with the right frame of mind.
When we were deep in debt, if someone had come along and offered to just bail us out completely - I probably would have jumped at the opportunity.
I'm glad they didn't.
My brother did - and still does - enjoy the great benefit of being self-employed which our free-market economy affords. So our joint venture was just another episode for him; for me it was a very singular event, I wanted to carve out a niche for myself and stay there. I was investing a lot of hope in this deal.
Though I have doubted it in retrospect, I thought at the time, that the idea of us partnering was inspired by God.
My brother and I had been spending a good bit of time together and I knew that he had an opportunity to buy a little retail business. At the same time, my work seemed to be at a dead end: I was selling life insurance except that the "selling" part never had kicked in. I was not a "fit" for that job and my performance (or lack thereof) was obvious. One day I had just left a meeting with my Sales Manager in which he had pointed out to me that very fact.
As I was riding in my car, muttering and pontificating to myself and to God in one of those half-rant, half-prayer conversations, when an idea occurred to me. I thought about it a few minutes and then ran home to call my brother (no cell phones in those days) and share it with him.
He needed capital and I had a little retirement account in which I was now fully vested. I could take that and invest it in his venture. We could purchase the retail business and I could run it. I had always liked retail.
And so it began.
We had a blast! My relationship with my brother grew and we were almost inseparable. We had "inside jokes" and shared stories. We worked days and into the nights. We learned new things, sometimes we argued.
But the short of it is that we were way underfunded and during something of an economic downturn, bankers didn't want to keep renewing our notes or adding more to our debt load.
Many of our accounts were on C.O.D. (cash on delivery - in other words they didn't really trust us). And finally, in less than three years, we had closed the doors.
We did not technically bankrupt but we spent quite a long time, settling with people we owed and paying off bills. I had gotten married during that time and it was very disheartening to get those "collection" phone calls in front of my wife. The entire episode took it's toll on my relationship with my brother; it started cracks in the foundation my brand new marriage; and it did damage to the way that I looked at myself and how I thought others viewed me.
The fact is, in my late twenties and early thirties I was fairly convinced that I had all but messed up my life. But there were lessons in there for me to learn. I think my brother learned some also. Those details may be a subject for another day except to say that I have learned first-hand that the borrower is slave to the lender.
That time in my life somehow propelled me into returning to college a couple years later. Some time after that, R. and I were able to enjoy a restoration of our marriage.
I said all that to point something out. I don't know if God orchestrated the events that resulted in turmoil, and I'm pretty sure I wasn't always walking lock-step with His plan. But He was able to take that mess and weave it into my life and bring something good out of it. He was able to use the consequences of my mistakes to teach me.
Consequences are one of God's teaching tools.
Now, let me tell you about something. This week, I had the opportunity to help out - through my philanthropy - a couple that was going through their own set of consequences because of doing goofy things. Oh don't be so surprised; you helped them out also.
Maybe you've heard their names recently. At the risk of embarrassing them for their utter simplicity - I will share their names with you: Fannie-Mae and Freddie Mac.
Yes, when congress bails someone out - make no mistake about it- it is you and I that are doing all the bailing. Congress just takes the credit.
For all of its talk and bluster the U.S. Congress has never once turned a profit. They do not make anything. They just take from us, send it out somewhere else and then take the credit.
But by bailing out troubled institutions, congress has circumvented the lessons of bearing one's consequences.
That's why they keep having to bail out institutions - because they will not allow them to learn. During the Savings and Loan scandals of the 90's, congress bailed out the S & L's. Earlier this year there were more bailouts and now the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
In Numbers 12 there is a story about Moses' sister, Miriam. This took place during the nation of Israel's wilderness travels. Miriam had some derogatory remarks about Moses' choice for a wife, and God heard it.
I think God saw that there was more to Miriam's complaint than just the expression of her opinion. She was possibly jealous of Moses - felt as if she should play a more important role in the organization.
It seems in those days, that God's punishment-of-choice was leprosy. Miriam caught a bad case of it.
Moses cried and prayed. Aaron cried and prayed (cause he had been doing a little trash-talking too).
And God said she would get better...after seven days. So they stopped traveling and camped in that spot, waiting for Miriam to endure her punishment.
She needed that time of enduring the consequences of her actions. She came out of that episode cleaner, wiser and with the right frame of mind.
When we were deep in debt, if someone had come along and offered to just bail us out completely - I probably would have jumped at the opportunity.
I'm glad they didn't.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Songs in the Night
I like music. I really think that I can find something about most every style of music that appeals to me. Okay there may be some esoteric styles that stretch beyond my abilities to appreciate... but most stuff, I like.
I sing, too. Sometimes it is just white noise to fill the empty spaces, other times it might be an unconscious defense mechanism - like whistling in the dark, sometimes I sing simply for the joy of annoying other people.
Some tunes can motivate me, others can make me smile or contemplate.
Last night as I walked away from the hospital where we had had a somewhat troubling visit with my Dad in the ICU, a song popped into my head and before long, it was coming out of my mouth...
It was our last visit of the day, and since I had returned to work that day, it was my first visit of the day. We had been happy to learn that morning that Dad was waking up after about two days under sedation.
When I saw him, I was pleased with the improvement, but he could barely speak above a whisper and his eyes were closed most of the time. A couple of times he began coughing - a weak gurgling cough. I think that was fairly normal, but it bothered me. I cringed a little as I watched Dad grimace when the nurse tried to suction his throat a little.
It just troubled me. It troubled me more than I revealed to my family.
As we parted ways in the parking lot and I walked away alone in the dark silence of my thoughts, this song seeped into my mind:
Rest in the arms
of the everlasting One,
Rest in the arms
of Jesus Christ, His Son;
When all you can do
Has al-ready been done.
Rest in the arms of God....
That seemed to be what I needed to hear.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
Jesus said -"...I will give you rest."
I enjoyed the sweetness of that song most of my drive home.
Just before you complete the "Sainthood Nomination" form with all my vital statistics, I should tell you that somewhere on Dean Street, I launched into singing the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter".
I sing, too. Sometimes it is just white noise to fill the empty spaces, other times it might be an unconscious defense mechanism - like whistling in the dark, sometimes I sing simply for the joy of annoying other people.
Some tunes can motivate me, others can make me smile or contemplate.
Last night as I walked away from the hospital where we had had a somewhat troubling visit with my Dad in the ICU, a song popped into my head and before long, it was coming out of my mouth...
It was our last visit of the day, and since I had returned to work that day, it was my first visit of the day. We had been happy to learn that morning that Dad was waking up after about two days under sedation.
When I saw him, I was pleased with the improvement, but he could barely speak above a whisper and his eyes were closed most of the time. A couple of times he began coughing - a weak gurgling cough. I think that was fairly normal, but it bothered me. I cringed a little as I watched Dad grimace when the nurse tried to suction his throat a little.
It just troubled me. It troubled me more than I revealed to my family.
As we parted ways in the parking lot and I walked away alone in the dark silence of my thoughts, this song seeped into my mind:
Rest in the arms
of the everlasting One,
Rest in the arms
of Jesus Christ, His Son;
When all you can do
Has al-ready been done.
Rest in the arms of God....
That seemed to be what I needed to hear.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
Jesus said -"...I will give you rest."
I enjoyed the sweetness of that song most of my drive home.
Just before you complete the "Sainthood Nomination" form with all my vital statistics, I should tell you that somewhere on Dean Street, I launched into singing the theme to "Welcome Back, Kotter".
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I think that sometimes God uses people as His "unconscious agents" to serve as answers to prayer.
"Touched by an Angel" was a popular TV series about angels that inserted themselves into the lives of people who were experiencing various melodramas; sort of a vertical "Route 66". And while I believe that we sometimes do entertain "angels unaware" and sometimes God uses these "ministering spirits"- as He calls them- to intervene in situations. I think a lot of times He just uses natural means and ordinary people to do His bidding.
Yesterday, I think I encountered just such an instance.
My Dad is recuperating from open-heart surgery and yesterday was still sedated and in ICU. Our visits with him were limited to 4 thirty minute sessions, so I was driving my Mom and aunt around between visiting hours.
My whole family has had a stressful few days and we were all tired. As we jumped in the car to make another trek to the hospital to be there in time for the 5:00 visitation - the car battery died. We quickly grabbed another available ride and left, determined to deal with this problem later.
Now I freely admit that I am not mechanically inclined. I can reason - I have opposable thumbs - but when it comes to mechanics, I am all thumbs and not the opposable kind! My Dad could always fix things, but they may not work exactly the same as they did before. He has always been a big fan of "straight-wiring".
If you have an electronic device that is straight-wired, when you plug it in it's on. If you want to turn it off, you unplug it.
Dad "fixed" quite a few electronic devices and appliances that way.
I tend to be like Dad, but without the finesse.
There are a few mechanical tasks that I have completed... I have installed several flush-kits, I can change my own oil, I built a tree house for the kids a couple years ago - let's just leave it at that.
Because I recognize my deficiency in this area ("a man's GOT to know his limitations!" -Clint Eastwood), I have always tried to make up the difference by praying- a lot... about every repair job.
Yesterday, when we returned from the hospital, it became apparent that I needed to "be the little man of the house" since Dad was laying up there in ICU. So I took matters into my own hands, I jumped off my Mom's car while she and my Aunt tried their best to "help".
Then I took the car for a drive in hopes of better charging up the battery. Upon my return, I turned off the ignition and tried to crank the car again. Barely - just barely it cranked and even in my mechanically-challenged mind I knew that the battery was dead.
Sometimes, when backed into a corner, people will react with uncharacteristic flair. The adrenals began pumping and I flew into action... okay I didn't "fly into action" ... there was movement of sorts...
I called Walmart.
The guy in the service department seemed quite competent. They were to close in about half an hour, but he felt that if I could get their in ten minutes, his crew would have enough time to fix me right up before leaving for the day.
Then I realized that I had not called the Walmart just down the road; I had called the Walmart on the other side of town.
After hanging up, I quickly called the closer Walmart - using precious time - and discovered that they were not terribly busy and it was worth a try.
I raced out of the house and down the - okay I didn't race but I went at a pace that was slightly faster than my normal trudge.
Then I inserted my "mechanical-deficit-reduction-act" - I prayed. I prayed that I would get there in time to get the new battery in, I think I prayed for favor with selecting the correct one, I am pretty sure I prayed for that upcoming traffic light to stay green long enough for me to get through it!
I drove to the garage area at Walmart and found the place swept and clean, the doors were open but I saw no one.
I left the car running (for fear that if I had to leave it might not crank again), and who should meet me at the door but Billy - the answer to my prayer!!
I have known Billy for about twenty years, he goes to my church and he's been retired for quite awhile. He recently took a part-time job there because "being retired is no fun when you are alone". I could've kissed him on the forehead! I knew Billy would not leave me in my hour of need.
He was surrounded by three unseemly-looking characters. . . they had obviously been in the oil business all day. They all were coated with a generous layer of petro-perspiration.
I got the feeling that in another setting, these guys could have been mean.
But they were not mean yesterday - they might just as well have been three little pudgy cherabims flying around - cause they were the answer to my desperate prayer.
One guy left, Billy got my paperwork done and the other two cherubims just replaced my battery finishing up with about two minutes to spare.
It was confirmed to me that God was in this thing when another car drove up as they were getting mine finished. Out jumped a very attractive young lady with a nice tan and a flashing smile. She bounced up to "Gabriel "and his buddy and asked, "can I get my oil changed?".
"Not today," "Gabriel" replied " it's too late."
Now I ask you, under normal circumstances would these guys have said that? No, I think they would have said "-forget about 'mama's-boy' here and let's help this nice young lady!"
But they didn't. And I looked them in the eye and thanked them.
Then on my way back I thanked God.
It may be a commodity that is sometimes hard to find at Walmart these days; we call it good customer service. But it raises that practice to a new level when we think of it as "becoming the answer to a prayer".
"Touched by an Angel" was a popular TV series about angels that inserted themselves into the lives of people who were experiencing various melodramas; sort of a vertical "Route 66". And while I believe that we sometimes do entertain "angels unaware" and sometimes God uses these "ministering spirits"- as He calls them- to intervene in situations. I think a lot of times He just uses natural means and ordinary people to do His bidding.
Yesterday, I think I encountered just such an instance.
My Dad is recuperating from open-heart surgery and yesterday was still sedated and in ICU. Our visits with him were limited to 4 thirty minute sessions, so I was driving my Mom and aunt around between visiting hours.
My whole family has had a stressful few days and we were all tired. As we jumped in the car to make another trek to the hospital to be there in time for the 5:00 visitation - the car battery died. We quickly grabbed another available ride and left, determined to deal with this problem later.
Now I freely admit that I am not mechanically inclined. I can reason - I have opposable thumbs - but when it comes to mechanics, I am all thumbs and not the opposable kind! My Dad could always fix things, but they may not work exactly the same as they did before. He has always been a big fan of "straight-wiring".
If you have an electronic device that is straight-wired, when you plug it in it's on. If you want to turn it off, you unplug it.
Dad "fixed" quite a few electronic devices and appliances that way.
I tend to be like Dad, but without the finesse.
There are a few mechanical tasks that I have completed... I have installed several flush-kits, I can change my own oil, I built a tree house for the kids a couple years ago - let's just leave it at that.
Because I recognize my deficiency in this area ("a man's GOT to know his limitations!" -Clint Eastwood), I have always tried to make up the difference by praying- a lot... about every repair job.
Yesterday, when we returned from the hospital, it became apparent that I needed to "be the little man of the house" since Dad was laying up there in ICU. So I took matters into my own hands, I jumped off my Mom's car while she and my Aunt tried their best to "help".
Then I took the car for a drive in hopes of better charging up the battery. Upon my return, I turned off the ignition and tried to crank the car again. Barely - just barely it cranked and even in my mechanically-challenged mind I knew that the battery was dead.
Sometimes, when backed into a corner, people will react with uncharacteristic flair. The adrenals began pumping and I flew into action... okay I didn't "fly into action" ... there was movement of sorts...
I called Walmart.
The guy in the service department seemed quite competent. They were to close in about half an hour, but he felt that if I could get their in ten minutes, his crew would have enough time to fix me right up before leaving for the day.
Then I realized that I had not called the Walmart just down the road; I had called the Walmart on the other side of town.
After hanging up, I quickly called the closer Walmart - using precious time - and discovered that they were not terribly busy and it was worth a try.
I raced out of the house and down the - okay I didn't race but I went at a pace that was slightly faster than my normal trudge.
Then I inserted my "mechanical-deficit-reduction-act" - I prayed. I prayed that I would get there in time to get the new battery in, I think I prayed for favor with selecting the correct one, I am pretty sure I prayed for that upcoming traffic light to stay green long enough for me to get through it!
I drove to the garage area at Walmart and found the place swept and clean, the doors were open but I saw no one.
I left the car running (for fear that if I had to leave it might not crank again), and who should meet me at the door but Billy - the answer to my prayer!!
I have known Billy for about twenty years, he goes to my church and he's been retired for quite awhile. He recently took a part-time job there because "being retired is no fun when you are alone". I could've kissed him on the forehead! I knew Billy would not leave me in my hour of need.
He was surrounded by three unseemly-looking characters. . . they had obviously been in the oil business all day. They all were coated with a generous layer of petro-perspiration.
I got the feeling that in another setting, these guys could have been mean.
But they were not mean yesterday - they might just as well have been three little pudgy cherabims flying around - cause they were the answer to my desperate prayer.
One guy left, Billy got my paperwork done and the other two cherubims just replaced my battery finishing up with about two minutes to spare.
It was confirmed to me that God was in this thing when another car drove up as they were getting mine finished. Out jumped a very attractive young lady with a nice tan and a flashing smile. She bounced up to "Gabriel "and his buddy and asked, "can I get my oil changed?".
"Not today," "Gabriel" replied " it's too late."
Now I ask you, under normal circumstances would these guys have said that? No, I think they would have said "-forget about 'mama's-boy' here and let's help this nice young lady!"
But they didn't. And I looked them in the eye and thanked them.
Then on my way back I thanked God.
It may be a commodity that is sometimes hard to find at Walmart these days; we call it good customer service. But it raises that practice to a new level when we think of it as "becoming the answer to a prayer".
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Opposable Thumbs.
Tonight I was explaining to AA how that Grandaddy had had open heart surgery today...I told him about how they opened his chest cavity; I told him about how used a part of a cow's heart to replace Grandaddy's valve.
"OOH!" he interrupted,"will he still have an opposable thumb?"
"'cause cows don't have an opposable thumb and if he has a cow's heart will he still have an opposable thumb?"
It was a good question. And one which I totally deserve.
I have simplified the "missing-link" down to the fact that the biggest factor separating humans from apes is the opposable thumb.
What is an opposable thumb, you might ask?
My understanding is that we humans are the only animals with the ability to reach across our palms with our thumbs - at least our thumbs can reach farther than other animals with thumbs. This gives us the ability to efficiently utilize tools and to reason and therefore is the seat of our authority. This opposable thumb is - in my thinking - the symbol of our authority on the earth.
Now before proceeding with my explanation - I should point out that I am strictly a "Creationist"... I do not believe that we -by chance -evolved from other life forms. I do believe people can evolve spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually but that is an inner evolution and has more to do with the effect of the Creator than the survival of the fittest.
Anyway, I have often pictured mischevious people in the ape exhibit at some zoo - taunting and teasing the baboons by gesturing with their thumbs moving back and forth across their palms.
"Hey Mighty-Joe... can you do this? Oh you can't?! I guess that's why I'm out here and you are in there! Look at this, Joe [still gesturing wildly] 'you know what this means? I can R-E-A-S-O-N... Can you Re-e-e-eason, Joe?"
I think I have shared that illustration with my kids a time or two.
It's also why AA once remarked something to the effect that he would hate to be a dog because he wouldn't have an opposable thumb and couldn't go to heaven.
"OOH!" he interrupted,"will he still have an opposable thumb?"
"'cause cows don't have an opposable thumb and if he has a cow's heart will he still have an opposable thumb?"
It was a good question. And one which I totally deserve.
I have simplified the "missing-link" down to the fact that the biggest factor separating humans from apes is the opposable thumb.
What is an opposable thumb, you might ask?
My understanding is that we humans are the only animals with the ability to reach across our palms with our thumbs - at least our thumbs can reach farther than other animals with thumbs. This gives us the ability to efficiently utilize tools and to reason and therefore is the seat of our authority. This opposable thumb is - in my thinking - the symbol of our authority on the earth.
Now before proceeding with my explanation - I should point out that I am strictly a "Creationist"... I do not believe that we -by chance -evolved from other life forms. I do believe people can evolve spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually but that is an inner evolution and has more to do with the effect of the Creator than the survival of the fittest.
Anyway, I have often pictured mischevious people in the ape exhibit at some zoo - taunting and teasing the baboons by gesturing with their thumbs moving back and forth across their palms.
"Hey Mighty-Joe... can you do this? Oh you can't?! I guess that's why I'm out here and you are in there! Look at this, Joe [still gesturing wildly] 'you know what this means? I can R-E-A-S-O-N... Can you Re-e-e-eason, Joe?"
I think I have shared that illustration with my kids a time or two.
It's also why AA once remarked something to the effect that he would hate to be a dog because he wouldn't have an opposable thumb and couldn't go to heaven.
Monday, September 1, 2008
The GRX Candidate
[I am feeling real sarcastic this morning so readers beware]
In viewing the field of candidates for the presidential election and in particular Barack Obama, I was thinking of great quotes of previous presidents and how he might fit into that fraternity:
Teddy Roosevelt gave us "Speak softly and carry a big stick"
From FDR we got, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"
JFK said, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country!"
.... Barack Obama challenged us with the admonition to "Check our tire pressure!" ....Among his other soon to be quotable favorites was his statement at a fundraiser, in which he attempted to explain the bitterness of those who "cling to their guns, religion and xenophobia..."
It is that morsel of inspired rhetoric on which I would like to focus this morning.
Okay, I'm not really sure what xenophobia means - is that like - a fear of Olivia Newton-John Disco movies? Oh, you're right - that would be "Xanadu-phobia".
Anyway, I don't think Mr. Obama actually said "Xenophobia", I guess the news reporters just summarized his remarks and categorized them as xenophobia.
I think it is possible that John McCain - calculating political strategist that he is - watched the reaction to this statement and found himself a constituency!
I figure McCain's mind began clicking and he thought: "Hey, there are quite a few folks out there that are kinda' religious ...
and I know some folks that like guns ...
I don't really know what "clinging to xenophobia" is - but it's probably illegal in several states...
And hey! come to think of it - I've noticed a lot of those four-wheel drive pick up trucks with gun racks, "Honk if you love Jesus" stickers and low air pressure in their tires!
And Mr. Obama is dissing all these people -WOO! this could be BIG!"
So what did he do? He performed a major political power-play, that's what he did. He reached down among the masses and pulled out a gem of a VP candidate - a woman of the people! One that would properly represent this new found constituency.
Sarah Palin is the Guns, Religion and Xenophobia candidate -or GRX Candidate for short!
My Dad has been in the hospital this weekend awaiting heart surgery and he has conducted an extremely informal poll. With nearly every visitor that came in, he would get around to asking - "What do you think of McCain's pick for a running mate?" Most all responses that I have heard have been favorable - but my uncle from South Georgia had the best, he said: "I think she is somewhere between pretty and bad pretty!"
My uncle didn't seem very bitter but I think he does cling to religion at times. And I don't know if he owns any guns, but he has been known to fish and that's got to be just one step away from owning an assault weapon. He's probably your typical GRX constituent.
You can bet Sarah Palin owns a gun! It's not recommended that you hunt grizzly bears or moose without one. Hunting was a regular past time for her growing up in Alaska. In fact, her parents were on their way to their hunting cabin when they got the call about her big announcement last week.
She is definitely a "gun-clinger".
And that same uncle told me that he had heard that she attended the Assembly of God church... speaking as a fellow charismatic-pentecostal, I can say that that fills the bill for "religion" .
So Sarah Palin answers at least two-thirds of the GRX triangle. But if I am to uncover McCain's devious and cunning political play, I must look up xenophobia to see if Sarah is a match for that leg of the constituency group.
According to Merriam Webster's Online Dictionary, Xenophobia is fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign.
That one nearly had me stumped but then I remembered that corrupt politicians - they're strangers of sorts, are they not? I read where Sara developed a real dislike for them... maybe she's a xenophobe too!
There you have it: Sarah Palin - clinger of guns and religion and xenophobe-extraordinaire!
She's the Total GRX Package!
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