Sunday, November 29, 2009
I Don't Understand You
I have a hard time understanding people. I do not do well when I try to anticipate what someone will do or try to find the hidden meaning in what they say or do. I have tried to get better at this and to spend time analyzing their actions and to be able to anticipate their next action or to determine how they feel about something or to perhaps even read their mind. What I end up with instead are guesses that are based on preconceived notions that have a very low probability of being right. I do not understand why you do what you do and I will not be able to know what you will do next.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Art Among Us
This morning a friend of mine and I went for a walk along the Augusta Canal. We walked from the pavillian to the water works and back. Along the way we saw lots of birds, enjoyed a nice walk through the woods, and watched the sun shine on another day. At the water works park was a CSX rail bridge. Below are some photos from it.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
It is good!
This week, Bishop Woodie White has an article in the United Methodist Reporter titled REFLECTIONS: Focus on good news! In it, Bishop White urges us to remember that there is not only bad in the world, but also good. He recalls as a child a news commentator who would begin with “There’s good news tonight!” Should we not remember this mantra today?
He comments that to some, bad news is the only desirable news there is. Any good news must be twisted into a way that reflects poorly on someone or something. Some do this for political reasons. Listen to any political commentator and you will hear this. A politician from the opposite side of the aisle could come up with a cure for cancer, end world hunger, and bring world peace and the political commentator will find someway to change it into bad news. Others do this for money. Listen to an advertisement for gold and you will think that the total destruction of any form of government was imminent. Still others do it just because they have a negative attitude about life.
We needn't ignore the bad in the world. Bishop White tells us "To be sure, it is important to be informed of the events that reveal flaws of leaders, nations and individuals. These must be addressed forcefully and effectively. Our desired end is the common good, freedom, justice and fairness for all. We must correct all that would dehumanize or seek to destroy our common humanity and desire for community." We have much work to do. God gives us this as our challenge. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help the imprisoned, give water to the thirsty, cure the sick, fight for justice, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. But we must not ignore the good that God is doing. "But it is the good in people and the good of people that makes the world a better place. To overlook or minimize this good, as evidenced in deeds or works, is to forget who we are as a people and the children of a God. Not a bad God, but a good God!" Indeed, the very message of salvation, the Gospel, is Good News.
What good is going on in your life?
He comments that to some, bad news is the only desirable news there is. Any good news must be twisted into a way that reflects poorly on someone or something. Some do this for political reasons. Listen to any political commentator and you will hear this. A politician from the opposite side of the aisle could come up with a cure for cancer, end world hunger, and bring world peace and the political commentator will find someway to change it into bad news. Others do this for money. Listen to an advertisement for gold and you will think that the total destruction of any form of government was imminent. Still others do it just because they have a negative attitude about life.
We needn't ignore the bad in the world. Bishop White tells us "To be sure, it is important to be informed of the events that reveal flaws of leaders, nations and individuals. These must be addressed forcefully and effectively. Our desired end is the common good, freedom, justice and fairness for all. We must correct all that would dehumanize or seek to destroy our common humanity and desire for community." We have much work to do. God gives us this as our challenge. We are to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help the imprisoned, give water to the thirsty, cure the sick, fight for justice, take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. But we must not ignore the good that God is doing. "But it is the good in people and the good of people that makes the world a better place. To overlook or minimize this good, as evidenced in deeds or works, is to forget who we are as a people and the children of a God. Not a bad God, but a good God!" Indeed, the very message of salvation, the Gospel, is Good News.
What good is going on in your life?
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Wall was Torn Down
20 years ago the Berlin Wall fell. I remember seeing it on the news, probably one of my earliest recollections of an international event.
It marked the end of the Cold War, and ushered in what was thought to be a new era of peace. One that was soon interrupted by activity in the Middle East when Saddam Hussein rolled his tanks into Kuwait. And in the Middle East our attention has been since.
What better way to remember the end of the Cold War that a German anti-Cold War song, Nena's 99 Luftballons!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
History Repeats
Recently, I have had several posts that have been repeats of previous posts. Today is no different. Yesterday I was riding in my truck with a friend listening to Jack Johnson's Sleep Through the Static.
He asked about the song and I told him my interpretation of it being an anti-Iraq war song. While discussing the song, I mentioned that I felt it was a much better anti-war song than John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change. I wrote about that song almost a year ago. You can read my thoughts here.
Coincidentally, these repeats have all been about a year after the original post. This has not been because I looked up what was happening a year ago, but because history repeats itself. I now have a way of looking into my past. Now if only I make the correct choice this time around.
He asked about the song and I told him my interpretation of it being an anti-Iraq war song. While discussing the song, I mentioned that I felt it was a much better anti-war song than John Mayer's Waiting on the World to Change. I wrote about that song almost a year ago. You can read my thoughts here.
Coincidentally, these repeats have all been about a year after the original post. This has not been because I looked up what was happening a year ago, but because history repeats itself. I now have a way of looking into my past. Now if only I make the correct choice this time around.
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