Troubling it is – this latest rancor coming from the Christian right. It saddens me to hear our president labeled as anti-American for sending an apology to President Karzai about the burning of Korans that has led to such violence. To the contrary, his apology was at least partly for the sake of protecting American lives in Afghanistan. Referencing a somewhat similar incident for which President George Bush apologized to the president of Iraq, White House spokesman Jay Carney explained, "…that's appropriate for the same reason, because our concern -- this president's concern, as was surely the case with President Bush, is the safety and security of our men and women in uniform, as well as our civilians in Afghanistan. …one of the reasons that it's appropriate to express our sincere apologies for this incident is that the kind of reaction that it can cause risks putting our men and women in harm's way, or in further risk than they already are. So I think that precedent is a useful one to look at."
Besides closely following the precedent established by past administrations, this apology is also in line with the foreign policy changes promised by President Obama. His plan to repair U.S. relations with the rest of the world was one of the things that first impressed me about him and is one area where he has, in my opinion, followed through with reason, wisdom and sensitivity.
Much of the ill will toward America from the rest of the world can be linked to the perception that we are arrogant and insensitive bullies. Recent presidents including Ronald Reagan and George Bush have seen the wisdom for some measure of humility and compassion and have both issued apologies to other countries for unfortunate events that happened on their watch. It would seem that some of the candidates currently battling for the high office would prefer to go back to a path of brash power that leaves no room for apology or sensitivity. I admit that that path is very scary to me.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tribute to a mentor - David Mays
David Mays was an inspiration to me and an example of several of the characteristics that I have tried to emulate as a mobilizer. After learning that Dave died this week, I am realizing how much of an example he was for me.
Pass the good stuff along
Dave was the one who introduced me to the idea of book notes as a tool that I could employ in my life. I had been inspired by lots of writers and bloggers who write fascinating book reviews and have wished that I could be so creative, but never took the time to develop the habit. Something about Dave’s book notes made it seem more do-able; I didn’t need to take time or energy to come up with something to say about a particular book but could simply highlight actually quotes & lines from the text. Let the author speak for himself or herself. It’s simpler that way, cleaner, & free from my interpretation or bias. I’ve been dabbling with book notes for several years now, but had just this week been sensing an urgency to aggressively build my own collection of book notes.
I appreciate the simplicity and the power of the idea of book notes. It is the perfect way to maximize truth and wisdom that has been collected and composed by the greats and to pass it along, to disseminate it to others who can benefit from it. It is a classic example of open-handed living – opening my hands to receive blessing and then opening them yet again to share it with others.
By all means
Perhaps my main theme as a mobilizer has been to try to employ all means possible to motivate and equip others to become what they were created to be. David Mays was an example of someone who was creative in using all means to get the job done – by putting on conferences and recruiting people to attend them, by serving in organizations, by coming up with innovative tools and by writing books of his own. His example has inspired me to be creative in coming up whatever I could find to help people.
Get out of the way
Recently I have been mulling over the phrase “connecting greatness with greatness” – to describe one aspect of the privilege of being a mobilizer. I don’t have to be something special or great or awesome, but I can rub shoulders with the greats – whether in real life or through their writings – and can learn from their vast wisdom and example. On the other hand, I can also watch for potential greatness in those in my sphere of influence – and connect them with each other. Dave Mays was a pro at connecting greatness with greatness. He didn’t project self-importance; instead he seemed to thoroughly enjoy pointing others to the resources they needed but without having to be noticed or appreciated. I can learn from that.
Life lessons
As I’ve typed up the ways that David Mays has been an example for me, I realize that these are not only true for my mobilizing work, but for all of life. This list can help me in pretty much every area of life: pass the good stuff along – sharing with others, look for creative solutions in unlikely places, and stay out of the way as I connect greatness with greatness.
Pass the good stuff along
Dave was the one who introduced me to the idea of book notes as a tool that I could employ in my life. I had been inspired by lots of writers and bloggers who write fascinating book reviews and have wished that I could be so creative, but never took the time to develop the habit. Something about Dave’s book notes made it seem more do-able; I didn’t need to take time or energy to come up with something to say about a particular book but could simply highlight actually quotes & lines from the text. Let the author speak for himself or herself. It’s simpler that way, cleaner, & free from my interpretation or bias. I’ve been dabbling with book notes for several years now, but had just this week been sensing an urgency to aggressively build my own collection of book notes.
I appreciate the simplicity and the power of the idea of book notes. It is the perfect way to maximize truth and wisdom that has been collected and composed by the greats and to pass it along, to disseminate it to others who can benefit from it. It is a classic example of open-handed living – opening my hands to receive blessing and then opening them yet again to share it with others.
By all means
Perhaps my main theme as a mobilizer has been to try to employ all means possible to motivate and equip others to become what they were created to be. David Mays was an example of someone who was creative in using all means to get the job done – by putting on conferences and recruiting people to attend them, by serving in organizations, by coming up with innovative tools and by writing books of his own. His example has inspired me to be creative in coming up whatever I could find to help people.
Get out of the way
Recently I have been mulling over the phrase “connecting greatness with greatness” – to describe one aspect of the privilege of being a mobilizer. I don’t have to be something special or great or awesome, but I can rub shoulders with the greats – whether in real life or through their writings – and can learn from their vast wisdom and example. On the other hand, I can also watch for potential greatness in those in my sphere of influence – and connect them with each other. Dave Mays was a pro at connecting greatness with greatness. He didn’t project self-importance; instead he seemed to thoroughly enjoy pointing others to the resources they needed but without having to be noticed or appreciated. I can learn from that.
Life lessons
As I’ve typed up the ways that David Mays has been an example for me, I realize that these are not only true for my mobilizing work, but for all of life. This list can help me in pretty much every area of life: pass the good stuff along – sharing with others, look for creative solutions in unlikely places, and stay out of the way as I connect greatness with greatness.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Which is it? Do or try?
Sometimes we get conflicting advice. That has been the case for me on the question of whether to do or to try.
Quite a few years ago someone pointed out to me the silliness of saying that I'm going to try to do certain things - probably referring to something like I'm going to try to eat less or to try to be more active. This person talked about the fact that as long as we keep saying that we're going to try, we'll probably never actually do. He pointed out that we don't usually say that we are going to try to go to the store. Nope. We just decide to go to the store & then we do the things we need to do to get there. We grab our keys, we get in the car, we start the engine & put it in gear. We turn out of the driveway in the direction of the store... The challenge was that sometimes I just need to decide that I'm going to do whatever it is that I've been trying to do.
Yoda summed up that line of reasoning quite succinctly:
Do or do not; there is no try.
Then again... on the other hand... maybe sometimes we just have to try. Jon Acuff wrote an article about the secret word* that changes the world.
So which is it? Do I just have to try? Or do I need to quit trying and making excuses? Do I need to go ahead & make a decision and then figure out the steps to get 'er done?
Quite a few years ago someone pointed out to me the silliness of saying that I'm going to try to do certain things - probably referring to something like I'm going to try to eat less or to try to be more active. This person talked about the fact that as long as we keep saying that we're going to try, we'll probably never actually do. He pointed out that we don't usually say that we are going to try to go to the store. Nope. We just decide to go to the store & then we do the things we need to do to get there. We grab our keys, we get in the car, we start the engine & put it in gear. We turn out of the driveway in the direction of the store... The challenge was that sometimes I just need to decide that I'm going to do whatever it is that I've been trying to do.
Yoda summed up that line of reasoning quite succinctly:
Do or do not; there is no try.
Then again... on the other hand... maybe sometimes we just have to try. Jon Acuff wrote an article about the secret word* that changes the world.
Try.
That’s it. If you’re going to change the world, all you have to do is try. Fear will tell you it’s more complicated than that. Doubt will tell you it’s not that easy. Worry will tell you that you’re not qualified. But they’re all wrong.
All you have to do is try.
So which is it? Do I just have to try? Or do I need to quit trying and making excuses? Do I need to go ahead & make a decision and then figure out the steps to get 'er done?
Saturday, December 31, 2011
losing my religion, finding my faith
This has been yet another year of transition. I don't suppose that I would have guessed that I would still be changing and transitioning at this stage of life. The last few years have involved our transition out of organized religion and into the post-evangelical wilderness - out of the Empire and hopefully into a clearer understanding of the kingdom of Jesus.
I've been sorting through pretty much everything that I ever believed. I found rules that are good, but not necessarily biblical and I've discovered that some things I learned in church actually stand in opposition to the Gospel of Jesus. My own personal list of rules to live by has taken quite a beating - as I finally realized that it encouraged me to be legalistic and self-righteous.
When I first noticed myself discarding so many of the old laws and beliefs, I wanted to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. More recently I've been noticing other things as well. As I look back over this year, I guess I could say that I've been gradually losing my religion and finding my faith. One day maybe I'll explain more of what I mean by that.
I've been sorting through pretty much everything that I ever believed. I found rules that are good, but not necessarily biblical and I've discovered that some things I learned in church actually stand in opposition to the Gospel of Jesus. My own personal list of rules to live by has taken quite a beating - as I finally realized that it encouraged me to be legalistic and self-righteous.
When I first noticed myself discarding so many of the old laws and beliefs, I wanted to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. More recently I've been noticing other things as well. As I look back over this year, I guess I could say that I've been gradually losing my religion and finding my faith. One day maybe I'll explain more of what I mean by that.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
War on Christmas? Bah Humbug!
Can I just say it?
Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be known as a Christian - & especially when it’s something Christmas-related. I LOVE Christmas & I may even think that it is the most wonderful time of the year. AND I might find myself reading that last sentence in a lilting sing-song voice.
There are so, so many wonderful things to love about Christmas & to celebrate – especially as Christians. It is after all “our” story – the story of the Incarnation that is so integral to our faith – and one that we are to share with others.
But instead of celebrating the glory of the story, I’m afraid that we too often forget the story; at least we sound like we’ve forgotten. And I’m not even talking about the commercialism of Christmas – although whenever I hear some “preacher” (from the pulpit or from their Facebook page) admonishing the rest of us to “keep Christ in Christmas!” I pretty much always remember something that my friend presented one Sunday morning many Christmases ago. She stepped to the microphone & started her own personal rant about keeping Christ in Christmas. She told us that it just wasn’t possible because He kept breaking out of that one single day and insisted on spilling over into the rest of the calendar. She told story after story of how neighbors did Christmas-y things on any old day of the year. Her conclusion: we shouldn’t try to keep Christ in Christmas, but instead we should let His spirit flow through us and affect how we live every single day.
But I got sidetracked there for a bit…
What was it that I was feeling grinchy about?
Oh, yes, it was about how we seem to have forgotten the best themes of the Christmas story – like peace on earth, good will to men and that we’ve been given good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Instead of celebrating, we’ve turned to complaining - and about the silliest things! What kind of person, I ask you, would be upset because someone uses the wrong words to extend good wishes? This is most perplexing to me – that Christians would get mad because someone wishes them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”! Unbelievable. And that we would jump on some wild crazy conspiracy story & have big arguments about what a decorated tree should be called! Oh, Tannenbaum, you sacred thing. Wait; tannenbaum actually means fir tree, so maybe we should get upset when someone uses a spruce tree or a pine tree or some other species of evergreen. No, siree; it must be a fir tree.
Yah, yah… now I’m just being downright silly.
But I keep distracting myself. I was starting to talk about that horrible evil of saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". May I confess something? I am guilty & have been for many years now. I think I remember when I first started the practice. Maybe I was feeling extra sentimental & celebratory & generous as I was getting my Christmas cards ready to go out. I must have been thinking that I wanted my wishes of good will to be more expansive than just about Christmas – so I began to write Happy Holidays on my cards & letters. *gasp* Another year I was feeling nicely sensitive as I noticed that several of our friends were going through rough times so it felt really flippant to say “Merry, merry Christmas” when I knew that their Christmas would be anything but merry. Little did I know that I would be guilty of participating in the war on Christmas by offering an alternate wording instead of the “sacred” greeting!
As my world expanded, I also began to realize that there are some people who don’t celebrate Christmas & it was my great privilege & honor to count some of them as friends. It didn’t really make sense to wish them Merry Christmas, but maybe I could learn about what kinds of holidays they do celebrate & could wish them well some other more pertinent way. Had I taken another step toward the slippery slope of tolerance & mutual respect?
Okay; maybe I’ve stepped over the snarky line, but yes, I think it is silly to be upset if someone wishes me greetings of the season, but not in the exact words that I want them to use. It’s sort of like being invited to a party, but complaining that the invitation is written with the wrong color of ink. They didn’t have to invite me to the party, you know! Just like people don’t have to wish me any greetings at all! Hello!
Besides shouldn’t we who call ourselves Christians be the ones to take the lead in expressing good tidings of great joy? Why would we expect the pagans to do it?
Bah humbug!
Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be known as a Christian - & especially when it’s something Christmas-related. I LOVE Christmas & I may even think that it is the most wonderful time of the year. AND I might find myself reading that last sentence in a lilting sing-song voice.
There are so, so many wonderful things to love about Christmas & to celebrate – especially as Christians. It is after all “our” story – the story of the Incarnation that is so integral to our faith – and one that we are to share with others.
But instead of celebrating the glory of the story, I’m afraid that we too often forget the story; at least we sound like we’ve forgotten. And I’m not even talking about the commercialism of Christmas – although whenever I hear some “preacher” (from the pulpit or from their Facebook page) admonishing the rest of us to “keep Christ in Christmas!” I pretty much always remember something that my friend presented one Sunday morning many Christmases ago. She stepped to the microphone & started her own personal rant about keeping Christ in Christmas. She told us that it just wasn’t possible because He kept breaking out of that one single day and insisted on spilling over into the rest of the calendar. She told story after story of how neighbors did Christmas-y things on any old day of the year. Her conclusion: we shouldn’t try to keep Christ in Christmas, but instead we should let His spirit flow through us and affect how we live every single day.
But I got sidetracked there for a bit…
What was it that I was feeling grinchy about?
Oh, yes, it was about how we seem to have forgotten the best themes of the Christmas story – like peace on earth, good will to men and that we’ve been given good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Instead of celebrating, we’ve turned to complaining - and about the silliest things! What kind of person, I ask you, would be upset because someone uses the wrong words to extend good wishes? This is most perplexing to me – that Christians would get mad because someone wishes them “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”! Unbelievable. And that we would jump on some wild crazy conspiracy story & have big arguments about what a decorated tree should be called! Oh, Tannenbaum, you sacred thing. Wait; tannenbaum actually means fir tree, so maybe we should get upset when someone uses a spruce tree or a pine tree or some other species of evergreen. No, siree; it must be a fir tree.
Yah, yah… now I’m just being downright silly.
But I keep distracting myself. I was starting to talk about that horrible evil of saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". May I confess something? I am guilty & have been for many years now. I think I remember when I first started the practice. Maybe I was feeling extra sentimental & celebratory & generous as I was getting my Christmas cards ready to go out. I must have been thinking that I wanted my wishes of good will to be more expansive than just about Christmas – so I began to write Happy Holidays on my cards & letters. *gasp* Another year I was feeling nicely sensitive as I noticed that several of our friends were going through rough times so it felt really flippant to say “Merry, merry Christmas” when I knew that their Christmas would be anything but merry. Little did I know that I would be guilty of participating in the war on Christmas by offering an alternate wording instead of the “sacred” greeting!
As my world expanded, I also began to realize that there are some people who don’t celebrate Christmas & it was my great privilege & honor to count some of them as friends. It didn’t really make sense to wish them Merry Christmas, but maybe I could learn about what kinds of holidays they do celebrate & could wish them well some other more pertinent way. Had I taken another step toward the slippery slope of tolerance & mutual respect?
Okay; maybe I’ve stepped over the snarky line, but yes, I think it is silly to be upset if someone wishes me greetings of the season, but not in the exact words that I want them to use. It’s sort of like being invited to a party, but complaining that the invitation is written with the wrong color of ink. They didn’t have to invite me to the party, you know! Just like people don’t have to wish me any greetings at all! Hello!
Besides shouldn’t we who call ourselves Christians be the ones to take the lead in expressing good tidings of great joy? Why would we expect the pagans to do it?
Bah humbug!
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