Expectations Too High?

It seems to be happening again. We are caught in the trap of expectations that may be unrealistic. I am not just talking about political issues, though certainly we have a scenario developing there that tends to confirm past history—no matter how honest you try to be your efforts can be scuttled by old time politics as usual.

Maybe this article IS just about politics! I sure am disgusted and saddened by a lot of what is happening in Washington, DC. I think there is enough criticism to cover all aspects of our political problem. For example:

THE PRESS s always ready to pounce on the slightest indication that someone or something is off course, or maybe will become off course, or they suppose it is possible for someone to get off course. So, of course, they start the pot boiling. The stew that is cooking depends on what network you get your news from. At different periods I have tended to get most of my news from one network, that is, my views tended to be more in line with one than others. This changes from time to time because my own views change. Bottom line: Take the news—from whatever source—with a grain of salt. They all have their ratings axes to grind.

CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS just don’t get it! They never have, at least in my lifetime span of nearly 75 years, and it doesn’t look like they will. It is not simply a matter of each party having a different philosophical base. There really are differences, particularly on economic policy and foreign policy (what else is there?). The last election seemed to clearly voice the public’s determination as to which side of the philosophical coin they preferred. I am all for each party holding to their basic philosophy because that allows for choice. The winner leads the process from that point on. For the losing party to simply provide an obstructionist role will never result in anything truly practical and efficient getting done. Compromise is an important tool in negotiation as it brings out the most important aspects of each party’s philosophy. But, there comes a time to vote, to arrive at an answer and to begin a course of action. Bottom line: Get over it and get moving!

THE PRESIDENT had a clear vision of what he wanted to accomplish and has made an effort to reach across the aisle to involve the Republicans in the process. I am not sure that Congress and the advisors around him have given him the support and kind of advice he needs. If the President is willing to work with all parties where is the honest cooperation? He has never said he had the ONLY answer. It is too bad that an idealist and pragmatic President has to try to deal with the minority whose philosophy has been thoroughly demonstrated as catastrophic.

FINALLY, Mr. Former Vice-President Cheney, SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP! You are not driving any longer. Do us all a favor and disappear! And take your grumpy, negative cohorts with you.

On The Occasion Following the Inauguration of Barack Obama As President of the United States of America

This is very difficult for me to write about. It is now more than a week since the inauguration. I have waited to post this article in order to be certain I wanted to voice these concerns. On the day after the inauguration of Barack Obama, I was basking in the sense of hope and the realization of accomplishment that we have risen above the bigotry and racial separation that has long limited our full flowering as a people and as a nation. As I rode this wave of enthusiasm about the opportunities now open to us I was brought down to earth with a thud as I realized once again that not everyone feels the same as I do. For some this was still just another election. Still just politics. Still based in self-interest. I guess I am naïve after all. I guess it is too much to hope for that humanity could grasp the real potential for change that is before us. I realized that my path in life had perhaps prepared me to view life differently than many others.

Barack Obama stated in his address that 60 years ago his father would not have been served in a restaurant in the town where he, Barack, now stood taking the oath of office for President. I was so sad because I now realized and remembered what it was like those 60 years ago. I remember the hardship and deprivation and segregation. I did not experience it at that time. As a white person my whole culture and world offered a different set of opportunities and advantages that were taken for granted.

As a child growing up in Portland, Oregon I thought nothing about racial bigotry. I didn’t have any problems thinking about equality or non-equality. As far as I am aware my family exhibited none of the characteristics of racial bigotry. I was raised to respect the individual regardless of heritage or ethnicity. We had a black population and I had no problem with that. Today, I remember that one of the reasons I had no problem with segregation was because that black population was conveniently gathered in their own community. I did not see a black child in grade school. I did not see a black child in high school.

In the late 60s, as a faculty member at seminary, it became quite clear to me that two different worlds co-existed and not in harmony. The school had hired an imposing black man as an adjunct faculty member whose job it was to help bring awareness to our organization of ways we needed to face our white-based operations and open ourselves as Christians to the integration of ideas, cultures and persons within minority communities. It was a tense time of confrontation and it was not easy for many in the white community to understand what all the fuss was about. White people were guilty for the segregationist views that kept minorities in their place. White people often denied they had anything to do with such attitudes. They did not personally hold back minorities from progress.

This naiveté was brought clearly to my attention one day as I conversed with John, the black faculty member. I had asked why there was a general anger against all white people whether they were segregationist or people who never had any encounters with the black community. He said that because I was white I was guilty. It did no good to protest that I felt I had never acted in a way that harmed a black person. He made the point that as part of the white culture I was part of the limitation the black culture had to endure.

It is not my intention here to go into the subsequent details that helped me realize it is not enough to have not personally held segregationist ideas. One must begin a proactive intention to understand the issues and consciously change the cultural position in one’s thinking and acting. To the best of my ability I did that. Being able to attempt these changes among many other attitudinal changes I have made through the years brought me to a point where I tended more toward seeing the likenesses in others rather than the differences. I do not imply that I have perfected this process, but I do know that I have come a long way toward accepting others for who they are rather than requiring them to embody my expectations.

So, again, I have been given the opportunity to see that not everyone thinks as I do. Surprise, surprise! There is still work to do. No, not work to convince others to be what they are not. The work is to be clear about who I am and what I believe. As I make the effort to live what I believe and to share my thoughts and beliefs as clearly as I am able, perhaps others will find something that intrigues them to ask “Why does he believe that?” That, my friends, can be the beginning of openness to new possibilities.

I admit to times of deep discouragement and disappointment in my fellow human beings. That so many hang on to threads of thought that have never produced anything but disappointment is a mystery to me. My conclusion about that to this point is that we have given up our sense of personal responsibility for so long that now we believe it really is someone else’s job to take care of us. While we blame government and politicians for acting without regard for our well being, we at the same time tell them to stay out of our lives. A real community does not work that way. A live community, a successful community, calls on all members to participate in every way they are able. For that positive participation the community prospers and grows and all are served in harmony and satisfaction.

Something more is going on here than concerns about racism. There are major concerns about whether we can rise above politics as usual. It is time to ask ourselves in the context of personal responsibility and what we expect of each other and our government: “What do I believe and why do I believe it? Are my beliefs a positive contribution to my society?”

Yes!

As I sat before the television from very early this morning through the inaugural ceremonies and the swearing in of President Barack Obama I found myself voicing over and over again, “Yes! Yes!” A singular moment in our history as a nation was occurring and I am alive to see it! I think I may have filled a bucket with my tears of joy if one had been close by. As it is, my whole face is puffed up and red from wiping those tears from my eyes.

Thankfully, I found my focus, not upon the days behind us and the acrimony around the misadventures of the last eight years. Rather, I truly took hold of the words of promise and hope spoken to us by our President.

As the President and Vice President and their wives bade farewell to George Bush and his family I wondered, how can I give voice to my emotions now? What can I say? I want to share, as do people all over the world, what it means to me to have witnessed this day and this incredible event. Finally, I realized I could not find the words. I could say only those that began this article. “Yes! Yes!” Then, the silence and a sense of composure embraced me. All is well now. All is well!

The road ahead will be extremely difficult. Many of us will join in making the sacrifices necessary in order for the country to regain its secure footing. The President acknowledged,

“. . . the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America—they will be met.

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

I say again, without naiveté, but with confidence, "All is well! All is well!”

The Adventure Begins!



On January 20, 2009 we inaugurate President Elect Barack Obama to office and America begins the long road toward restoring integrity and pride to government. As human beings we are all somewhat imperfect on the Divine scale of things, but there are those whose humility and desire to express the best that is within them stands out for all to see. We have entered a time where we all hope that the best and brightest have been chosen to serve and lead for the next period of our precarious progress.

There is so much to be done that it staggers the imagination of most of us who daily simply seek to stay ahead of the “reaper” who has already taken from many of us most of our resources and leaves us but paces ahead of total collapse. We have been in the long tunnel of despair for too long. Many have reached a point of desperation from which it might seem impossible to recover. Yet there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is an opening into new hope and new certainty about our survival. Even if hope is all you have, hold fast. Stand firm. You will survive!

In the great sigh of relief that has swept the nation since the election we have begun to feel the shift in direction. This is an adventure destined to include all of us, if only we bring our openness and commitment to expressing the highest and best that is within us. Anyone can sit on the sidelines and criticize what others are attempting. We are not asked to blindly follow anyone or any policy. However, hopefully we will give bold new ideas an opportunity to be nurtured long enough to fully flower before us.

Let the adventure begin!

(Photo by 3quarksdaily.blog)

Beginning Again!

The calendar turns again. A new 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, or 8760 hours lie before us to shape as we will. It may seem, after the preceding year, that we have little to do with shaping our days, but of course you know I am going to tell you that we do!

One of the things that last year should have taught us is that we need to pay more particular attention to the details of our lives rather than leaving them to others and trusting they will take care of us. The immense financial melt down, egregious scandals and evidence of corporate and personal greed have battered not only the nation, but each of us individually. The top one percent of those who hold 80-95% of the nation’s wealth may be just fine. The rest of us have probably taken significant hits to our financial well-being. I don’t need to recount the details here. I can’t imagine you are not fully aware of how you have been affected.

I think it may be that we discovered how bad things were because more of us than ever before in history DID begin to take charge of our decisions. I believe we did this because we finally saw a LEADER emerging who declared he was willing to lead if we would all agree to do our part. President elect, Barack Obama, has demonstrated how he will lead by demonstrating his strong sense of self-confidence. He reached out to surround himself with the most qualified persons he could find who will challenge him to think and act courageously in bringing about the change he promised.

Now comes our part in the process. Beyond communicating our ideas (he says he will encourage the millions of folks on his campaign email list to share their concerns and suggestions with him) we must recognize our need to maintain a positive outlook. It is time to do more than simply think positive. It is time to act.

An email I received the other day included an article by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D, Author of the best seller, Women Who Run with the Wolves. Part of what she had to say is:

Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of
stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.

Ms. Estes recognizes that we get depressed and discouraged, but urges us to not faint in our effort to be part of the positive change that we will accomplish together. Any effort we individually make will make a difference. No act is insignificant, because none of us is insignificant. Take a deep breath and acknowledge that in a spirit of joy and certainty you act not alone! Hold to the vision of possibility. Keep on keeping on!

A New Dawn

The other day I was having lunch with a friend and we were talking about the election (like almost everyone else) and my friend mentioned how it looked like we had a real opportunity to restore a positive image of our country in the world. I reflected that I found myself feeling really happy for a change, like a heavy malaise had been lifted. Thinking about this discussion later it seemed like a new dawn had begun.

Like so many millions of others following the election I was deeply moved by the sense of promise that had been awakened across not only our country, but also around the world. This morning as I read the paper I came across Paul Krugman’s editorial. The Nobel Prize winning economist began by saying, “Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, is a date that will live in fame forever. If the election of our first African-American president didn’t stir you, if it didn’t leave you teary-eyed and proud of your country, there’s something wrong with you.”

That is exactly how I felt. I am so proud of our fellow Americans that we could see through the haze of despondency and fear and elect a person as president who has the calm, thoughtful demeanor to set us on a new path toward personal and social reconstruction. We may not all have voted for President Barack Obama, but he is now the president for us all. He is the one faced with the task of setting our course for at least the next four years. He will need all the help he can get. So far, it seems to me he is doing a pretty good job of surrounding himself with the wise, energetic and positive people necessary to getting that job done.

It’s a new dawn! I for one am going to enjoy basking in the sunlight of that dawn and the promise of the new day it portends.