Remember

When we were children we feared being forgotten. I feared being left behind at church. The entire "Left Behind" series thrives on the fear of us being left alone. That people leave and we are in a familiar place in an unfamiliar climate - unremembered.

Yet the fear and trepidation we have as children, never leaves. We all fear being left alone with nobody remembering who we are or what we did. In our world there are too many we forget because our social consciousness has a selective memory.

We gloss over those who struggle to find a drop of water. Something we all take granted. We forget to remember them in our prayers, our giving, and our hopes and dreams. The liquid we chug after running or when we need to swallow some medicine they need for life. Never mind their hunger, without water they have no chance.

Those that fight our battles. Those that sacrifice their lives for a war politicians claim to be just or needed. We forget they have families. They are a brother, sister, mother, father, sons, or daughters. They are people that die for a cause they barely touch, and one they will never see come to fruition. They are our neighbors. They are my classmates from high school. They don't choose the wars; they just march to them.

We forget those that have gone before. For their good decisions or bad decisions, they paved a road for us all. Sometimes it's a rocky road that needs repaving. Sometimes it's smooth. Whatever the case may be, they worked and lived and died all for the sake of something beyond themselves.

That might be what we all strive to live for. We strive for a life beyond this one. Not the pearly gates or roads paved with gold, but the future. We live for a world where peace reigns and the forgotten are remembered. We strive for a world that loves the resident alien.

I strive for a world where we live for today and work for tomorrow. The days are bright, and the nights dark, but in the twilight hope glistens. In the twilight we gain a glimpse of what today was and tomorrow will be.

And, in the twilight, the forgotten shine as the brightest stars in the sky. In the twilight, we find that it is all worth the pain and agony. That words like love, hope, trust, and peace are possible realities. We simply must not let them become a victim of our selective memory. They must not become the Forgotten.

Beating a Dead Horse: Wasted Energy

Well, here we go again.

South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson (R) faces a House Resolution of disapproval. Now, that's stiff. Even after the President accepted his apology, even after Nancy Pelosi wanted to move on and focus on Health Reform, we are wasting time on a resolution of disapproval. That's our Congress.

Granted, Rep. Wilson's outburst was uncalled for, and rude. However, Rep. Wilson has apologized and the apology has been accepted. Why beat a dead horse? Makes about much sense as hanging an elephant! Seriously.

Is this the problem of our political machine? We have republicans that raise signs and shout during a Presidential Address. Then we have Democrats that pursue a resolution of disapproval while we need reform on health care and financial regulations. Where do we as Americans draw the line? Seems that one problem is that many representatives and senators have their own agenda. Very few congresspeople seem affected by our disapproval or concern.

Joe Wilson apologized. Sincere or not, he apologized and attempted to make it right. So, throw the resolution of disapproval out the window, and get to work congress!

There will soon be a United States of America Resolution of Disapproval passed from those you represent. You are slowly becoming a circus that no one cares to watch. You are becoming what we all fear becoming: pointless. You don't like this? Well show us you are worth voting for. We don't need your campaign pitches, we need your congress progress.

Get back to supporting us, working hard, and demonstrating that what you do is your prime passion and desire.

We will be waiting to see if you work hard, or debate a resolution about an action that has already been apologized for. Just please, don't beat a dead horse.

Witness

On September 17th Jared C. Monti will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions. Monti, killed during a firefight in Afghanistan was nominated by a fellow soldier. This soldier recognized that Monti’s attempt to rescue a injured soldier three times was indeed worth the highest honor. Monti died during his attempt, mortally wounded by a direct RPG hit. You may read more here.

The soldier nominating Monti was a witness. As many say and will say, being a witness is difficult. We see the worst and best, and a story remains to share. If we don’t pass on the story no one will learn or grow from what we have seen and told.

This is the answer Ralph Abernathy gives for why he was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. the day he was shot. He stood by King when he was shot. He says that since that time he as been trying to figure why he was there. What was his purpose? He concludes that every crucifixion needs a witness. That somehow we are meant to pass along these stories.

When something horrible happens we go to those who were present in the chaos. When someone near dies we go to those closest and ask them for the story of the person’s life. We seek witnesses.

And, we need good witnesses. We need those willing to stand up and tell a story of hope, struggle, oppression, or redemption. We as people, all across the globe, need to hear the stories of lives. Story after story we might soon find out that we aren’t so different. We all struggle, we all share joy, fear, and triumph.

Or greatest witness is not that we were timid, but that in the darkness, in the middle of chaos when there was no hope, we heard each other. We heard, and we acted. We didn't wait, but knew that the story was no longer a tale, but a call for action. Remember, that when we cannot speak there is a witness telling our story.

Who will tell your story? Who’s story are you proclaiming?

There are children, women, and men in your community needing a witness. There’s a mother needing a witness. There’s a person staring you in the mirror that needs a witness.

Our stories necessitate proclamation, not silence.

Our stories inspire others to speak.

Our stories bring alive hope we called dead.

How are you a witness and how will you witness?

Because when I cross the great divide, landing where only God knows, I want a witness to proclaim that I loved as much as I could love.

I helped when I could help.

I cried when I needed.

I failed, I hurt, I rejoiced, and I helped make this world one worth witnessing.

Lay Down Your Burdens, I Am

"I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside
Down by the riverside down by the riverside
Oh I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside
Ain't gonna study war no more
Well I ain't gonna study war no more ain't gonna study war no more
Ain't gonna study war no more
I ain't gonna study war..."

I get a bit weary sometimes. I grow weary of all the fighting, ignorance, and pain in clear view all around me. I hear the voice of chauvinism and racism whispering, and then sometimes, the voice hurts my ears. And, sometimes, my brain hurts from all the ignorance. Many times they simply ignore the facts and spout what they feel like saying. Yes, we all know it.

I get a bit weary sometimes. I hear a president who desires to encourage young people to stay in school and work hard. Our parents and mentors told us this, but when the leader of the free world says it, I'll bet it carries more weight. The voices of extremism speak loud. Though these are values we can all believe in, people will disagree because he doesn't belong to their party. Yes, we all know it.

I get a bit weary sometimes. I watch a press conference calling for the resignation of a local District Attorney. He makes racists comments and seemingly acts on them. I grow tired of a justice system that has such flaws. Lady Justice doesn't use blindfold anymore to cover her eyes, she uses it to wipe the tears away. The tears created from the Dam of Injustice that holds back the waters we long to soak in: the Water of Justice. Yes, we all know it.

I get a bit weary sometimes. I comfort a person who has been sexually abused. I can't do anything about it. I can only hold him while he cries and wonders. He wonders what do I do now? He wonders why me? He only asks the questions we all wonder. Why do we do the things we do? Why do bad things happen to good people? Yes, we all know it.

But, I'm walking down to the water, friends. I walking steady and sure. No one is going to stop me because I'm a bit weary. My steps are heavy and my soul longs to be cleansed. On my back are the worries of the world. No more will I seek to violate people or participate. No more will I curse those that hate, but I will "pray for mine enemies." My shield of indifference, I'll lay it down. My sword of power will be broken in half and stuck in the sandy mud.

I'm taking burdens to the riverside and I'm going to put on my starry crown. The crown that shows that I will silence the voices of hate and bigotry. I will line the jewel shine that will shows I will fight systems of retribution and build up those systems proclaiming redemption.

Won't you join me? Won't you bring your sword and shield? Won't you put on your crown? Won't you walk with me just for a little while and soak up those waters of justice? I think it's safe to say we're all just a little weary and a cool bath in the waters of justice could do us all a little good.

It's Labor Day! Get to Work!

Yes, it's Labor Day, a day for which we all long and pine. Yet, this year my Labor Day has changed. I don't get Labor Day off. My institution does not allow Faculty & Students the day off. Staff, however, do receive the day free of work obligations. Am I disappointed? No. Thankful? Perhaps.

Yes, institutions have had classes before, still do, and will as far as the eye can see. Does this necessitate a bad thing? Some will undoubtedly say, "Yes!!" We all want the coveted three-day weekend. We all want to take some time, prop our feet up, and relax.

If we hearken back to the roots of Labor Day, we will find day-long celebrations and parties celebrating their work. Yes, we still find some cities that on Labor Day Eve still have celebrations. Though we don't actually like big celebrations. We prefer to use the day to run out, run errands, eat a free sandwhich from Chick-fil-a, and not worry about work.

I wager that therein lies the problem: forgetting about work. It hurts our general caring and need for one another. There are those without work and those who can't work, yet those of us who do work simply want an escape.

What if we embraced our jobs? What if on Labor Day we 'worked out' instead of playing couch potato? Within our communities there are those who because they have no job cannot make appropriate repairs on their houses. Some simply can't pay to have a lawn mower, so their yard looks ratty.

What if on the day that many of us don't have to work, chose to work?

What if we chose to get out, get active, and spread some Labor Day goodwill. We realize that the days that many have to serve are difficult to find, but on Labor Day you don't have a choice. You don't have to call in sick or call a babysitter, bring the family along.

The days of being self-serving and relaxing from the jobs we complain about need to cease. There are too many that live in anxiety and fear. They can't pay the bills or provide for their families.

In the future, the work-free days we have should be filled with servitude to those around us that so desperately need our helpful hands.

Small Town Roots

I grew up in a small town. We had more than one stoplight. By comparison to most towns in Kentucky, Owensboro is a decent sized city. But, growing up it never felt like that. Always felt that it was a day late and a dollar short.

Justin Moore sings the song "Small Town USA." This song speaks to his small town, the people, and the community. He speaks to the story of hardworking folks that make small amounts of money. He thinks back to the people who supported him and knew him well. Most of us think that because it's country it is a southern phenomenon. But, I think if we all look back upon our childhood days, and maybe if our present time, we have had communities like this.

My uncle once sent me a note as I graduated college. As I opened the only thing penned were the words, "Don't forget your roots." For the first time, I thought about my roots. The church community I grew up in, the teachers, friends, local grocery, and those experiences which helped form me. I don't always agree with the mindset of my hometown, and I highly doubt I'll ever live there. But, I love them.

You can identify even if you grew up in a big city. You had those places, those families, those schools that you think back on and realize how much they changed you. There are people in those communities seen and unseen they formed you into who you are.

Now, think about those folks. As Barack Obama proceeds to give a more direct plan of action for health care reform [September 9] think about those folks. Think about those folks that have changed you for the better. Think about those who live without health insurance. Health care reform is not about the whole, it is about the hamlets and small communities that we know and love.

Health care reform is about looking into those who have motivated and inspired us and giving back. I support health care reform not because I'm a liberal, a bleeding heart, or a socialist. I'm support health care reform because there are people in my hometown; there are people that I call my roots; there are people that have made me a better human that live without health insurance. They live in pain and suffer. They live in fear that they will become sick and die because they couldn't pain the cost of care.

Small town USA - we all know it. We all come from a community where people suffer. I don't know what will happen with health care reform. Obama wants reform by the end of 2009. Will happen? God only knows. But for our roots' sake, let's hope so.

They gave us healthy hearts, souls, and aspirations - let's give them a healthy body.

Lazy Bums: Parents

Now might I, just for a minute, address a distressing and overwhelming situation: sex and violence on television. OK, perhaps it isn't as overwhelming situation as I thought it might have been. But, a new report from the FCC has found that, "...no single parental control technology works across all the media platforms, such as over-the-air, cable and satellite television; wireless services and the Internet." Well, that's just a shame.

Or is it?

I have found, in my limited time on this globe, that Americans are fantastic when it comes to deferring responsibility. Television is a relatively new technology. We are still grappling with how television can be used in different facets, from advertising to education. Our problem with television seems to be with entertainment. Which is important to identify. We know television isn't entirely a bad thing, in fact it has been demonstrated as a useful tool.

However, many parents take issue with the display of sex and violence. As demonstrated by the FCC, we haven't found a parent control technology that actually works. Notice I am only speaking on behalf of television. The FCC's report concerns all media platforms. So, what I am about to present to you is a revolutionary idea. One that will make the heavens open and the angels sing. An idea that is so radical it will make Joel Osteen's Globe spin off its hinges. One SO amazing that Benny Hinn will stop stealing money from people and give Jerusalem Candlesticks for free.

Proposition: Parents demonstrate some personal responsibility. We rely quite heavily on software to insure that our children don't venture where we don't want them. But, these programs, that seemingly don't work, only lessen the load for parents. A novel idea such as restricting how much television a child can watch or surf the Internet might work. Or give your children work outside. Simply put: provide creative and inventive ways to stretch and grow a child's mind.

This issue with personal responsibility applies not only to parents, but a sizable percentage of the American population. We are content to let someone else do our work or not do it at all. When we refuse to take responsibility for our existence we gloss over how we change and effect the world in which we live. When it comes to responsibility the question is not Why? but How? we live. Our meaning is wrapped up in our ethics, morals, and pragmatic activities.

Yeah, it might be deep, but with each choice someone is affected. Parents, you do have the power to control what your children watch. Instead of viewing it as censorship, provide positive alternatives that will instruct and build a way of life that informs a positive lifestyle and improves our world. And for the rest of us, take hold of the opportunities we have. Take hold of how we can make not our world better at once, but our communities.

Don't be a lazy bum, take hold of what is yours: your life.