End of the first half of 2023

 

July 1, 2023

                Hard to believe that half of the year is over. So far, what a year it has been. So much has happened and the US has set some interesting firsts. But before that, war continued throughout the world. It seems that war has been a constant for almost all this century and most of the last. The latest is the Ukraine and Russia. There appears no end in sight to the loss of untold people on both sides and the amount of economic costs beyond measuring. I’m not sure what can be down to find some accord and peace regarding this situation. I also wonder what it would take to maybe have a decade of peace in the world and especially here at home.

                Let’s turn to the number of firsts here in the US. I must preface this with a sermon my pastor gave last Sunday. It was on the topic of judgment. I realize that I am judgmental and can become obsessed about what I will be talking about. There is a balance between being judgmental and desiring for justice. So as I write, I hope that this is more than a rant but more about seeking justice and peace. So here goes.

                The first thing is that we have set a new record for mass shootings. The last time I checked there were over 300 mass shootings. One may ask what mass shootings are. According to the FBI, mass shootings are when 6 or more people are shot at one time. This is different than mass murder. Not everyone is killed but wounded. Indeed, some have died. In almost all cases, there was the use of semi-automatic weapons. This is here in our country that is not at war or are we. The shooters for the most part have been extremists. They have had access to AR15 or other weapons within a day or two before their attacks. I am not opposed to responsible gun ownership which a majority of gun owners are. What bothers me is that those who commit these heinous acts seem to be able to purchase weapons legally or to take them from parents who are negligent in securing their weapons. I know that many feel such people are mentally ill. I would feel that to fire into a gathering of people who one might have problems with would have to be mentally unfit. I, also, know that many people say that guns don’t kill people, but people do. I suggest that there may be some truth regarding that, those who would say that forget that there is a common denominator which is guns. How many more people who gather together can do so with being relatively free of fear. I am also not against the 2^nd amendment no matter how changed it has been since the founding fathers. What I want to know what about my 1^st amendment rights to gather peacefully. My question is how many more people need to be shot and/or killed before the powers that be do something about this. Somehow, justice depends on both prayers and action.

                Another record has been the warming of the world. Lately, that has been a record heat wave in the South, extreme weather events here and abroad, and droughts. I am concerned that there are those governments that continue to deny, and rather vehemently, that climate warming is a myth. I wonder what the costs of this will be for the future, especially for our children’s children. Recently, the pollution from fires in Canada have affected the air quality throughout the US even in my hometown of Omaha. The pictures from NYC paint a picture of what can happen if we don’t listen to the scientists and not fringe opinions.

                The last of my rant deals not with just record setting, but with the lack of civility. I may disagree with someone’s opinion, but it does not mean that I need to belittle them or call them names. This seems a lost art at all levels of our society. One sees this at neighborhood level, cities, states, and our country. One can even see this in social institutions such as churches and other social groups. Social media is rampant with this lack of civility. One can also see this in the news media, especially a certain “news” station. A good study would be how this lack of civility affects the above concerns and the milieu of our nation.

                I realize that much of what I have written goes to a minority of people. So my next entry to my blog, I will work to focus on what is healthy and good about who we are. Stay tuned.

Shalom

               

May 6 2023

 

                My oldest granddaughter was wondering why I haven’t updated my blog for some time. The truth was I didn’t think anyone was reading it. Apparently, she and a friend have been. So, I need to try to be more diligent about writing.

                Looking at my journal, I realized that I had been spending so much time focusing on what is wrong with the world, that I haven’t spent more time thinking about what is right. I have been as bad as the media and the nightly news. Yet, hope is close at hand and is all around us. There are numerous acts of mercy that often go unnoticed. And very few are celebrated. Rarely, they make the front page or opening sound byte of the news. But they do happen. I know that the church that Nancy and I are members of participate in numerous projects both locally and internationally. The church, though in an affluent part of Omaha, reaches out in ways to be the Matthew 25 type of church. I also know of other churches that are equally committed to acts of mercy and of justice.

                What is amazing about our church is that despite differences in one’s political views, we have learned to reach understanding. We can dialog with one another with respect. I feel that we are living out John Wesley’s statement that there be unity in the essentials and diversity in all else.  So, what is essential not just for us but for everyone. Micah 6:8 says, “But he’s already made it plain how to live and what to do, what God is looking for in us. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbors, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don’t take yourself too seriously- take God seriously. (The Message Micah 6:8).

                So, who are our neighbors? Jesus answered that question in the gospel of Luke in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Essentially, all are our neighbors. Jesus also stated that two most important (hence essential) are to Love God with everything we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is what Wesley preached and talked about. Why do we feel that we need to make more complicated than that?

                Can one imagine what the world would look like if we would live this out? How this might effect the way we choose to relate to one another. Would politics take one more concern for others? This does not mean that we all have to agree on what we need to do, but it could lead to discussion rather than denigrate those who disagree with us. Stephen Covey in his book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People”, points out that one should first seek to understand the other and then to express our views.

                Keeping in mind Micah 6:8 and Jesus’ command, all I can say is wow. The rub is that I would need to work on myself and be willing to listen to others that I might disagree with and be willing to change. That is the challenge for me and for the reader.