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Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The Right To...

The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.  ~9th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

There are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. ~ John 20:25

A man hears what he want to hear and disregards the rest. ~ Paul Simon

Amidst the cacophony surrounding certain "rights" given in our constitution's Bill of Rights, I decided to pick up my pocket copy of the constitution and actually read it. My first reminder was that we tend to "cherry pick" those parts that serve our vested interests and emphasize those over others. Our selectivity even goes so far as to focus on short phrases without keeping them in the complete sentences and thoughts of which they a part.

Our selectivity is nothing new or unique. We approach our holy texts in the same way. We also choose literature, music, art, recreation, religion, and so many other things in our lives according to our needs and desires, often reframing them as "rights" or "truth."

The 9th amendment in the Bill of Rights comes at the end to remind, or warn, us that the previously stated rights are not exhaustive.  The final verse in the Gospel of John does the same. What we know from scripture about Jesus, his life, and teachings is not exhaustive.

The beauty and truth of much law, art, and religion is that within their particular perspectives and prescriptions lies an expansiveness that extends beyond individual needs and desires. They reveal rights, beliefs, and values held by all people that embrace the fullness of human dignity. In order to know this we must be open to this expansiveness and not "hear what we want to hear and disregard the rest."

Perhaps a simple way to say all of this is that even though individuals have needs and desires, true "rights" extend to all people.

I may need or desire to say something harmful, own an assault weapon, and make exclusive religious claims, while disregarding others' needs and desires, but is it really my right to do so?

Maybe the only true "God given right" we have is the last breath we took in. 


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

A Wrinkle In (Our) Time

We shall not cease from exploration, 
and the end of all our exploring 
will be to arrive where we started 
and know the place for the first time.  ~ T. S. Eliot

Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man, That he didn't, didn't already have... ~ Dewey Bunnell (America)

All time travel whether real or imagined is about discovering where you already are.  Our church book group just finished reading and discussing the classic tale of time travel, A Wrinkle In Time.
Even though the book was written more for adolescent readers its themes are universal:  overcoming fear and darkness with love and light, succumbing to and resisting the temptation of comfortable conformity, and discovering one's true identity and self-worth.

Because the story is universal, it is also relevant today as individuals, nations, and humanity struggle with who we are and how we are to live. Dark forces have come into prominence through "populist" movements obsessed with security and conformity. Leaders motivated by greed for wealth and power and led by amoral values exploit the insecurity and fear of the masses through propagandized media that also amass wealth and power.

Predictably enough, just as the resistance of Meg in A Wrinkle in Time overcomes the darkness (IT),  the youth of our country and the world are taking to the streets against the darkness of our day! Unfortunately, many of my generation have forgotten the passion, hope, truth, justice, and love that took us into the streets of our youth. Too many, like Charles Wallace, have been hypnotized by the IT of our time.

Perhaps the call of today's youth to the "adults" of the world is again a "wrinkle in time" to what really matters in this life - love!

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
   the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
   and a little child shall lead them.      ~ Isaiah 11:6

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Integrity

" Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one"
~ Jesus

"Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean." ~ Don Miguel Ruiz


The word and concept of "integrity" comes from the latin word "integer" which means "intact." Integrity is the same regardless of perspective. Without placing any moral or ethical value on integrity it simply means "what you see is what you get."

Common understandings of integrity include moral and ethical values like honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, etc. However, someone could theoretically have integrity in dishonesty and shiftlessness as well. If a scoundrel is truly a scoundrel, they have integrity.

The problem with labeling someone else's integrity is that we never know another person's inner life and intent. However, one way to assume intent is by consistency. If a person is consistent in their words and actions this gives us a glimpse at their integrity.  As Jesus said, we will know them "by their fruit."

The only integrity we can ever truly know and affect is our own. Are my words and actions true to who I really am? Do I act from my true identity and core values?  What is the fruit of my life?

Do I have integrity?









Wednesday, March 7, 2018

The Slippery Slope

There really is a slippery slope. It's not just something our parents, teachers, coaches, and other made up to keep us from doing stupid things.

You can't undo the past or return to it. Once a decision is made and action taken on that decision the consequences create new reality that leads to more decisions that are usually based on previous ones and the next thing you know you're sliding along wondering, "How did I get here?"

Notice in the previous paragraph there is no value on the decision made, even though my guess is that most of us automatically associate the slippery slope with bad decisions.  What if you make "good" decisions grounded in positive values? If so, the "here" of "How did I get here?" is a much more rewarding slide.

Maybe life itself is the slippery slope. Where we land ultimately depends on the choices we make.