Maybe it’s because these new hearing aids really do their job, but I’ve noticed how loud we’ve become as a country and a culture. I’m not just talking about used politicians. Rather, I am referring to all the gizmos and gadgets that are now part of our landscaping arsenals. Take this fall season when the autumn leaves drift by our windows, those autumn leaves of red and gold forming some kind of unwanted nuisance on our yards and driveways. Such a season invites us to sit on our patios and porches to enjoy nature showing off her multi-colored tapestries. Suddenly, […]
Those Gallant Ghosts of Gettysburg
This Thursday past marked the date [in 1863] of Lincoln’s most poignant address in memory of all those soldiers who gave the last full measure of their devotion on that particular and decisive field of battle. More than just another fall day on that sacred place, that day’s memorial service represented the hopes and fears of a nation still hurting from the ravages of death and destruction that broke the very fabric of our faith in each other. This beleaguered yet resilient country is now a band of wandering pilgrims on our way to celebrate its annual Thanksgiving in quite […]
Losing Our Religion
Over the past few months, I have come as near as I ever have to losing what was left of my religion. This pandemic is beginning to wear thin, and the recent election was thick with thieves full of all sorts of chicanery, negative ads and stonewalling the outcomes. Good news has come: we just might have a vaccine before we can say the Apostles’ Creed, and the voters have made their choice for a new President crystal clear. There is a God! A lot of people have lost their religion over a lot of things, but have you ever […]
What Counts the Most?
A lot counting has been going on over the past few days as this country elected its 46th President. Democracy is built upon counting the ballots of its citizens and the whole notion that each vote counts. The race for the White House became a cliffhanger and a nailbiter over the past few days while five states seemed to take their everloving time in the counting process. In the political struggle leading up to the election some of the rhetoric became dicy and desperate. Forget that old campaign vision of a “kinder and gentler” democracy where all voters are respected […]
God’s Reputation Is on the Line, Again
Piety and pride can do terrible harm, but they can also create enormous messes when combined with politics. The looming elections have us all in tail tizzies, but once again the hard core Christians seem to have it all under control with their god. Back in the 2008 presidential elections, I was especially intrigued by what happened during that campaign at a rally in Davenport, Iowa, when Rev. Arnold Conrad offered this invocation: I would also pray Lord, that your reputation is involved in all that happens between now and November, because there are millions of people around this world […]