A Small and Simple Thing

Have you noticed how plugged in we have become? We've got mini computers with instant internet access, in our hands. We've got smart phones, tablet computers, notebook computers laptop computers, and desktop computers in our pockets, in our homes, or available at public libraries. We've got hundreds of television channels competing for our attention at all hours of the day and night. We've got radio over the airwaves and through satellite. If there's still nothing that suits your fancy, you can go the "old fashioned" route and buy music to play on a CD player, an MP3 player or one of the afore mentioned devices. We can literally fill every waking and sleeping moment with news or entertainment. Even if we're not really paying attention, we've become accustomed to having something as background noise.

There's just one question I'd like to ask, "Why?" Why do we feel the need to muffle out silence with noise? Are we so uncomfortable with the quiet inside our own minds that we must block it out? What are we afraid of?

What would have happened if Mozart had blocked out the music in his mind in exchange for the quickly produced work of a lesser artist? Would he have still been the inspired composer he was? Just try to imagine George Fredric Handel wearing ear buds while writing the Messiah. Could he have finished the entire score for choir and orchestra in 24 grueling days with the constant background noise we've come to expect? What would our world be like if Edison or Tesla had become prey to some of the very inventions they were instrumental in creating? What about all the great works of literature? Would they have been possible if their authors had been as bombarded as we with the "creative" ideas of others? Are we diminishing our own potential by staying plugged in?

This week is an excellent time to take a little time for a small change. It's something simple, really, just unplug for a few minutes every day and listen. Become aware of the sounds around you. Become aware of your thoughts, your own thoughts, not those poured in by others. Take a little time to practice pondering questions or ideas that are important to you. Perhaps, you will unlock a bit of overlooked greatness in yourself.

 

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."

Of Great Worth

I'm a newspaper comic strip reader.  The day is not quite complete without the daily dose of vitamin "Comic."I'm usually reading for the light-hearted humor. Sometimes there are precious little nuggets of truth tucked within the newsprint pixels on the comics page. I found a wonderful one today. I'm not a regular reader of the Doonesbury comic strip but every once in a while I read it. I'm glad I didn't miss today's submission.

Two disabled military veterans, B. D. and Toggle, are talking together.  Toggle is a newlywed who's awed by married life and the way his wife has been able to adapt to his disability. He's determined to stay worthy of her love.  B. D. is caught off guard as he realizes how much his own wife does to make his day better. It's more eloquently said in the strip than I can relay in a couple of sentences.  A picture really is worth a thousand words.

The strip has me thinking about what it means to be worthy.  Worthy means having merit or value or to be revered. I think of phrases like "worth your salt" or "not worth a tinker's dam." (By the way, I looked that last one up just to know what a" tinker's dam" is. I feel a little more educated about metal working now.)  Being worthy of respect is one thing, but to be worthy of another's compassion and love is another. It's a humbling thought.

Proverbs 31:10-11

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

¹¹ The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Today is Veteran's Day 2012.  I send my love and appreciation to my family, friends and ancestors who've sacrificed to help defend our freedoms at home and abroad.

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Back Up and Punt

It's been a back-up-and-punt kind of week.  You know the kind of week I'm talking about. You get things running smoothly and then something happens that throws the whole plan off.  It's not typically something over which you have control.  It's your attitude and response that makes the big difference if the final outcome.  This week there have been several events happen that required me and our family to take a step back and make a new plan.

First, one of my children got sick. It wasn't just a case of sniffles. All of a sudden he looked like he'd been awake for 2 days straight.  Within 24 hours he had a temperature of 105 degrees and was sitting in a tub of cool water. Ah, the contingency plans.  What do I need to do if the fever doesn't break? Where should I go and how soon to I make that decision? With basic treatment of symptoms and observation he was better within 48 hours, but that was 48 hours put on hold. I'm better prepared for the next time someone's ill.

Then there were a couple of situations that came up with extended family members that were upsetting.  These weren't situations I could personally go and fix.  What I could do is offer comfort and support. Offering a hug, a prayer and a listening ear from a distance feels a little hollow.

Finally, plans for the end of the week were completely upended when I offered to help support one of our local organizations teach a class three hours away.  I had about 20 hours to study for the presentation, pack up and get moving. It worked out that it allowed me to help support a family member in person. 

Over all, it's been a positive week.  Sure there have been setbacks but there have been positive opportunities that have come as a result.

The news this has been filled with news about hurricane Sandy as it slowly drenched the east coast from the Carolinas to Maine.  It's been a tremendous setback for the people of Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.  It's been awe inspiring to watch.  It's been like watching a disaster in slow motion in a movie knowing what the outcome is bound to be.  This storm converged with another cold weather system on a full moon during a high tide over land that is at or barely above sea level.  It's been awful for people in a huge area.  If they didn't have the flood of the century, they had 24 or more hours of hurricane force winds.  Many people had both. Over in the Appalachians there was snow from the storm. it wasn't just a little, pleasant dusting, there was a healthy 2-4 feet of snow.

The really sad and disturbing thing is that many, many people  were extremely ill prepared for the situation.  It's not the government's fault.  There was over a week's worth of warnings  and advisories.  They were hard to miss unless you didn't hear a radio, see a television, see a newspaper or listen to anyone talking about the news.  I've heard recordings of emergency calls with people begging for the most basic needs. What went wrong? Did they miss the news? Did they think the warnings were overblown media hype? Are they incapable of making emergency preparations? Are they without a support system of family or friends? The recovery is barely beginning and the same area is expecting another storm system to come through in a few days.  I feel for those folks. I am willing to help but I believe in personal responsibility as well. It's time to reassess my own emergency plans and preparations and to learn from the mistakes and successes of others.

We're in the midst of the final days of a presidential election campaign.  The candidates have had to adjust their campaign schedules because of the extreme weather.  They even did the unheard of and suspended their campaigns for a day. The sitting president went into leadership mode and made sure he looked calm and presidential while his emergency management programs worked furiously behind the screens. The prominent opponent organized truck loads of necessary supplies to sent into the affected areas. It was a presidential campaign truce for a day. They had to step back and adjust their carefully laid plans. There were more important needs that demanded immediate action.

This coming Tuesday is Election Day.  I've listened to people talk about this election for two years.  They supported one candidate or another.  Some lost their favorites early in the Primary campaign process.  Some people simply re-evaluated the remaining candidates and chose a new best choice.  Others have decided to forgo supporting any candidate if their favorite was eliminated.  These are the people who I don't understand.

Voting for our leadership is a privilege.  Let me say that again. voting for our leadership is a privilege.  If we do not fulfill our responsibility as adults in a free nation, we will find  our privileges being eroded and eliminated including the right to vote.  An apathetic citizenry is one of the historic causes of the collapse of the great civilizations throughout history.

I plan to vote Tuesday.  I will carefully consider my choices. I will stand in line. I will show an ID. I will do whatever it takes to be there. Will you?