As some of you may have
noticed, I didn’t post a week ago Monday. I feel guilty when I don’t and then I
remind myself that this is something I do for pleasure. I’m not going to
receive a grade or win a prize—a free trip to the Caribbean?—or have my name
put on a brass plaque because I write a blog.
Nonetheless there is some
promise I make to myself and to all of you, who so kindly read Life Opening Up
that I will turn up with something to think about or laugh about on Monday mornings. I regret
breaking that promise.
The problem has been the
election. It is all consuming, isn’t it? Or maybe some of you escape the drama
and, more sensible than I, spare yourselves the morning and evening news.
Backing up a bit. In church
last Sunday, the thoughtful and creative Reverend Laura Whitmore led the
Pastoral Prayer. She began by eloquently
thanking God for all the blessings of our lives and also for life itself. Then
she said, “Still, Lord, we weep” and my bowed head popped up.
I thought. That’s it! I weep! My insides are weeping. I am not writing because I am made speechless by
weeping.
I weep for our country caught
up in the outrageous bombastic, uncivil turmoil of this election time. I weep
for the inflated egos of our politicians who are too power-hungry and self
absorbed to cooperate, compromise and lead. I weep that most have become
professional politicians, more interested in their political future and
re-election than in serving the country. (Maybe a term time limit would be a
good thing?)
I weep that it is rare to
hear a politician disagree with an opponent without some personal insult. I
yearn to read about a politician saying to an opponent from the other side of
the aisle, “Let’s find a way.”
I remember dignified elections,
even when they were tight and tense. In 1948, Truman defeated Dewey and the Chicago
Tribune had already published an early “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline. Total
upset. No rancor. None.
And now I weep for Belgium,
unexpectedly blasted at a major airport and metro station. Thirty-one people
killed and two hundred and seventy injured.
For those of the Christian
faith, Easter is upon us: a time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus
who willingly died an excruciating death on the cross.
Why did he have to die? Simply put, because nobody really got what he was saying about the brotherhood
of all human beings: about the need to love one another, to care for one
another, to care for the poor, and to forgive and to make every effort to understand one
another. Whatever you believe about the
We are immensely challenged
to love our enemies, especially in these days of terrorism, but “love” them we
must: understand them we must, seek to know their fears and desires we must.
Most of all we must find ways to talk with
them if we are ever to create peace in this world.
How many millions must die
before we get this?
I weep.
***
FYI: "Koobface" is a scam. I was taken. Expensive lesson learned.
