I saw in the paper the other day, the news about another march. This time I said "Hoorah!" They were marching for the awareness or homelessness and hunger. I think that is a worthy cause. It goes beyond our selfishness to see the needs of others. Do I see a need to march to get others to become aware? Well...
I used to frequent a park that had become a refuge of sorts to homeless people. I used to think that they were all drunks or druggies who had brought this onto themselves and were a menace to society. I considered them lazy, scary, and dirty.
Then I met some homeless people. And some alcoholics. And some drug addicts. And some mental patients. I heard their stories. I saw their pain and their struggles.
I realized that these were regular people at one point in their lives. They had a family of some kind or another...they had at least one friend. They had potential. The had talents and gifts and abilities. And then...
SOMETHING HAPPENED! Sometmes it was early in their lives...children, even. Perhaps it was molestation, or beatings, or verbal assault of their very being. Perhaps it was as a young person with dreams and goals. A rape. A bad relationship that led to poor decisions. A mistake socially, or financially. A family rejection because of differences or decisions. Whatever happened, no one planned to become an addict. No child has that as their goal. And though their addictions began in most cases with a decision, they did not plan to be overtaken by this illness. And, as hard as it is to accept sometimes, it IS an illness. It is an illness of spirit and soul, of emotions and then of body as well.
A good friend of mine ended up homeless once. She was not an addict. Unless you, perhaps correctly, define being a smoker as being an addict. Yet, the pain of life and past abuse took its toll on her emotionally and physically, causing her to be unable to provide for herself. She was sleeping in her vehicle until she found a shelter to take her in. And that is all it was, a shelter...not much more. A bed, a small box for a "drawer", and a lamp. Food was available and they were able to help her get some assistance for medical attention. But she was not a typical addict, nor a mental patient, nor scary, nor dirty. Yet she was homeless!
I worked with a few churches in the past decade in poorer areas of town. I held in my lap little children with runny noses and dirt on their faces. They were hungry...for love and attention as well as for food. Some people, even church workers were reluctant to cuddle these kids for fear of getting some disease. I always thought people like that already had a disease...of their heart. While I am not advocating taking unnecessary risks, a simple hug and smile and a moment or two on a lap is not likely to give anyone an incurable disease!
Yes, let us march for homelessness and hunger awareness. Those are honest causes for compassion and anger and ACTION. I am not trying to belittle those who march for rights or for freedom to "marry" outside the norm. But I wonder how much thought they would give to their rights if they were homeless or hungry!
Here in my state, we voted also, for marriage to be defined as one man and one woman. I see no problem with that. No one was trying to undo gay relationships, the voters were just saying that the word marriage does not fit them. One campaign ad stated that marriage is for passing life to the next generation. I like that. I am not trying to comment on any gay couple's abiblity to parent children. I certainly question the abilities of MANY heterosexuals in that boat. But, to define "marriage" as the means to pass life from one generation to the next to me does not seem to apply in their relationships. Now, I realize that marriage is more than that and that many heterosexual couples choose not to bear children. There are legal advantages of marriage. However, I had a nephew whose wife came from an entirely different culture and who did not want the typical marriage yet all the benefits. It cost them a lot of money, but they were able to arrange legal papers to cover nearly all, if not all, legal benefits for their union. They had a ceremony that embraced both cultures and was honored by all. So, "marriage" as defined by the recent politics does not have to interfere with relationships of commitment.
As far as the tax benefits, well those can quickly change anyway. My husband and I file taxes separtely for financial reasons. One has to realize that there are tradeoffs in every culture and political arena.
So, let us march to make others aware of the plight of those whose lives are endangered. Yeah, right on! March on!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Back on Here for the parts more secret!
There are plenty of things that I would like to blog about. Not complaints, really, but rather interesting challenges and antics of life. But now more of my friends read my other blog and they know my children...and some know me too well! Anyway, I have chosen to resume this blog for the purposes of rambling about things that I otherwise might not want ALL of my friends and acquaintance to read. So, if you have been given this site by myself then consider yourself privileged in my book. If you have stumbled into it, then I hope you enjoy...and do not know my children.
I choose not to use any blog site to express my political opinions. At this point in the American culture, I do not want to identify with any side, even if there were octagons to choose from. I think the mere political realm is so messed up and so far from what it was intended by those who led our great nation generations ago, that it is hardly worth analyzing. But I do so anyway. I could become optomistic, pessimistic, depressed, or afraid. I could focus on the self-centeredness of the culture in which we live. But that WOULD depress me. It is very difficult to teach my grandchildren to share, love, respect, and prefer others above themselves when everyone around them seems to teach by their behaviors, something entirely different. People no longer automatically hold open doors for others, including women and children, nor do they acknowledge it when someone does it for them. People complain about disabled people taking too much time in restrooms, yet park in the spaces designated for the disabled without giving a thought to the inconvience they may have caused. If they get ticketed for abusing or ignoring a law, they complain about the law or the enforcer. Or blame someone else. They march on our city streets for equal rights to sin or live without conscience. They cite evils done by those who live more "normal" lives as reasons why "normal" should no longer be defined by anyone. If "they" can do "it", so should anyone! I personally find a lot of controversy and idiocrisy in that philosophy.
I could focus on the injustices in this world. No, not the ones those people are marching about, but the REAL injustices. Like children having to bear abuse and exploitation at the hands of adults...for the purposes of "pleasure" or money. Like women STILL being told they are less than men, and only have worth if they "belong" to some man or bear many children. Or, as in the case of many other countries, not even being able to be educated, or seen in public. Like children going hungry or fighting AIDES just because they were born non-American. OR even American children being born on drugs, or with environmentally induced illnesses and challenges. Or children having the feet bound to keep them small because of a cultural impression of beauty. I cannot justify wasting time, and especially money, in this economically trying time, flaunting the right to love someone of the same gender, or protesting perceived prejudice about orientations and choices...when we have starving children and abused women and kids, unemployed men and women, all trying to survive. Why not spend your money on them???? And march to forward their cause? Draw attention to something significant and of value, not just the selfish choices you would like to have acknowledged or legalized.
I could focus on the fear I hear contiually rising in the hearts of Americans. Fear of "losing their shirt" financially. Fear of not having the choices they would like. Fear of not being able to collect Social Security so they can do what they want in their latter years. I am among those with those concerns soon to be face. And yet, I ask myself, and others, "Why am I concerned about Social Security checks?" I am much more concerned about the security of our nation. We ARE being attacked. We can fight the enemies of our land that have armies and navies and weapons of war. We can negotiate with governments to assist with financial crisis. But can we fight the REAL enemies of our nation? SELFCENTEREDNESS! COMPLACENCY! Personally, it scares me to think that we would become a depressed people over not having money to buy our usual Christmas gifts, or drive to places we desire, or go out to eat frequently. I share some of the disappointments of these things, but let's face it, they are NOT real crises. If I am breathing, able to get around, and thinking, then I am OK! If I have a roof over my head and food in my tummy for today...then I am fine! If I have gas to drive my car and a job to drive it to, then I am blessed! These things are NOT rights! They are blessings!
I think it should be required that every American who makes a decent living should have to visit a country or an area of this country that is not so fortunate. We should have to get our hands dirty helping others survive. We should have to hold hungry, crying children and comfort war brides and orphans who have to live in the scars of their bombed out land. We should have to disperse medicine to victims of AIDES and malaria and smallpox in lands where there seems to be no hope. We should have to eat small amounts of things we don't even know the name of...just because that is all that is available...and not complain.
If we could adopt a world view, or rather, world vision, I think our fears would lessen and our self-focus reduce to the point where we would no longer be depressed over not being acknowledged in our "rights" and "choices" made to make our lives more convenient and easier. Let's get real and understand that LOVE has nothing to do with Orientation or legal status.
I choose not to use any blog site to express my political opinions. At this point in the American culture, I do not want to identify with any side, even if there were octagons to choose from. I think the mere political realm is so messed up and so far from what it was intended by those who led our great nation generations ago, that it is hardly worth analyzing. But I do so anyway. I could become optomistic, pessimistic, depressed, or afraid. I could focus on the self-centeredness of the culture in which we live. But that WOULD depress me. It is very difficult to teach my grandchildren to share, love, respect, and prefer others above themselves when everyone around them seems to teach by their behaviors, something entirely different. People no longer automatically hold open doors for others, including women and children, nor do they acknowledge it when someone does it for them. People complain about disabled people taking too much time in restrooms, yet park in the spaces designated for the disabled without giving a thought to the inconvience they may have caused. If they get ticketed for abusing or ignoring a law, they complain about the law or the enforcer. Or blame someone else. They march on our city streets for equal rights to sin or live without conscience. They cite evils done by those who live more "normal" lives as reasons why "normal" should no longer be defined by anyone. If "they" can do "it", so should anyone! I personally find a lot of controversy and idiocrisy in that philosophy.
I could focus on the injustices in this world. No, not the ones those people are marching about, but the REAL injustices. Like children having to bear abuse and exploitation at the hands of adults...for the purposes of "pleasure" or money. Like women STILL being told they are less than men, and only have worth if they "belong" to some man or bear many children. Or, as in the case of many other countries, not even being able to be educated, or seen in public. Like children going hungry or fighting AIDES just because they were born non-American. OR even American children being born on drugs, or with environmentally induced illnesses and challenges. Or children having the feet bound to keep them small because of a cultural impression of beauty. I cannot justify wasting time, and especially money, in this economically trying time, flaunting the right to love someone of the same gender, or protesting perceived prejudice about orientations and choices...when we have starving children and abused women and kids, unemployed men and women, all trying to survive. Why not spend your money on them???? And march to forward their cause? Draw attention to something significant and of value, not just the selfish choices you would like to have acknowledged or legalized.
I could focus on the fear I hear contiually rising in the hearts of Americans. Fear of "losing their shirt" financially. Fear of not having the choices they would like. Fear of not being able to collect Social Security so they can do what they want in their latter years. I am among those with those concerns soon to be face. And yet, I ask myself, and others, "Why am I concerned about Social Security checks?" I am much more concerned about the security of our nation. We ARE being attacked. We can fight the enemies of our land that have armies and navies and weapons of war. We can negotiate with governments to assist with financial crisis. But can we fight the REAL enemies of our nation? SELFCENTEREDNESS! COMPLACENCY! Personally, it scares me to think that we would become a depressed people over not having money to buy our usual Christmas gifts, or drive to places we desire, or go out to eat frequently. I share some of the disappointments of these things, but let's face it, they are NOT real crises. If I am breathing, able to get around, and thinking, then I am OK! If I have a roof over my head and food in my tummy for today...then I am fine! If I have gas to drive my car and a job to drive it to, then I am blessed! These things are NOT rights! They are blessings!
I think it should be required that every American who makes a decent living should have to visit a country or an area of this country that is not so fortunate. We should have to get our hands dirty helping others survive. We should have to hold hungry, crying children and comfort war brides and orphans who have to live in the scars of their bombed out land. We should have to disperse medicine to victims of AIDES and malaria and smallpox in lands where there seems to be no hope. We should have to eat small amounts of things we don't even know the name of...just because that is all that is available...and not complain.
If we could adopt a world view, or rather, world vision, I think our fears would lessen and our self-focus reduce to the point where we would no longer be depressed over not being acknowledged in our "rights" and "choices" made to make our lives more convenient and easier. Let's get real and understand that LOVE has nothing to do with Orientation or legal status.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Charli writes again
hello! I am not sure if this blog is going to end up being anything more than my own journal. I have another blog I use for detailing my day as a homeschooling grandma and nanny of three. I also use it for links for info regarding Cystic Fibrosis, as my grandson is afflicted with it.
THIS blog, however, I want to reserve for topics and thoughts related to writing and journaling through life.
It is interesting to me that when professionals refer to the act of living, they sometimes call it a "journey". Perhaps that started way back with John Bunyan in "Pilgrim's Progress". Anyway, now they tell us to "journal" about the things that interest or bother us.
I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting up with a friend with whom I went to high school. Now, that is too many years ago to reveal, but let's just say, we have matured somewhat. At least in the physical realm. I must admit, that though I gabbed and yacked as though there was no tomorrow, and laughed and had fun, so as to convince my friend I haven't changed much, the reality is, I have. Perhaps my journey has taken me through some detours in life. Things like getting a divorce after 27 years of marriage. Especially since I don't really believe in divorce. Things like meeting and marrying another man with a not-so-good past, but a wonderful present! And an even better future! I never thought I would do that! Things like kids with "issues"...the "normal" challenges of life!
Yes, my road has not been a "straight and narrow" as they say, even though I was trying to find that. The "narrow" part might fit, but it has had its curves and detours along the way. I thought I knew the roadmap and understood the way to go. But living at high-speed can cause one to loose control on those curves! I've crashed and burned a few times. I have had at least one roll-over. But I learned how to slow down and pay attention. I learned how to let God control my path. I've learned that I do not have to see what is ahead all the time, I just have to trust and obey.
Nobody likes that word "obey" any more. Yet, we "obey" the traffic laws, and the police officers. We "obey" the laws of nature. We "obey" our doctors. Or not. Some of us don't like that word "trust" either. It means we have to become vulnerable to pain again. We have to accept things we cannot control or change. We have to believe in something and Someone bigger than ourselves, often without any proof.
I did not choose to live at high-speed. It came with my inborn personality. I used to dislike that personality. But I have discovered, as I have learned to slow down, that there is need for personalities like mine. My curves were winding and hairpin style...in slower motion, I would never have been able to get moving again. Would I still have crashed and burned, though? Well, I think I probably would have just glided over a cliff, oblivious to my fate. I would have rolled over and stayed down, hidden by the bushes of life, lost in some river or valley somewhere. There is need for slower personalities, but only God knows what is ahead for each of us. He knows we learn from our errors. He knows which people need which personality and which road they must follow. The key is letting Him drive and taking pit-stops along the way to discard the processed garbage of life, and stretch oneself and be refreshed by the scenery of the aging process.
I do feel a little older, and sometimes a little slower...but I WILL keep moving on!
THIS blog, however, I want to reserve for topics and thoughts related to writing and journaling through life.
It is interesting to me that when professionals refer to the act of living, they sometimes call it a "journey". Perhaps that started way back with John Bunyan in "Pilgrim's Progress". Anyway, now they tell us to "journal" about the things that interest or bother us.
I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting up with a friend with whom I went to high school. Now, that is too many years ago to reveal, but let's just say, we have matured somewhat. At least in the physical realm. I must admit, that though I gabbed and yacked as though there was no tomorrow, and laughed and had fun, so as to convince my friend I haven't changed much, the reality is, I have. Perhaps my journey has taken me through some detours in life. Things like getting a divorce after 27 years of marriage. Especially since I don't really believe in divorce. Things like meeting and marrying another man with a not-so-good past, but a wonderful present! And an even better future! I never thought I would do that! Things like kids with "issues"...the "normal" challenges of life!
Yes, my road has not been a "straight and narrow" as they say, even though I was trying to find that. The "narrow" part might fit, but it has had its curves and detours along the way. I thought I knew the roadmap and understood the way to go. But living at high-speed can cause one to loose control on those curves! I've crashed and burned a few times. I have had at least one roll-over. But I learned how to slow down and pay attention. I learned how to let God control my path. I've learned that I do not have to see what is ahead all the time, I just have to trust and obey.
Nobody likes that word "obey" any more. Yet, we "obey" the traffic laws, and the police officers. We "obey" the laws of nature. We "obey" our doctors. Or not. Some of us don't like that word "trust" either. It means we have to become vulnerable to pain again. We have to accept things we cannot control or change. We have to believe in something and Someone bigger than ourselves, often without any proof.
I did not choose to live at high-speed. It came with my inborn personality. I used to dislike that personality. But I have discovered, as I have learned to slow down, that there is need for personalities like mine. My curves were winding and hairpin style...in slower motion, I would never have been able to get moving again. Would I still have crashed and burned, though? Well, I think I probably would have just glided over a cliff, oblivious to my fate. I would have rolled over and stayed down, hidden by the bushes of life, lost in some river or valley somewhere. There is need for slower personalities, but only God knows what is ahead for each of us. He knows we learn from our errors. He knows which people need which personality and which road they must follow. The key is letting Him drive and taking pit-stops along the way to discard the processed garbage of life, and stretch oneself and be refreshed by the scenery of the aging process.
I do feel a little older, and sometimes a little slower...but I WILL keep moving on!
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