She was a beautiful New Year's Day baby born in 2008. Her parents named her Hannah Grace, reflecting both a biblical name and God's love. In December of this year, Hannah Grace and her father were found dead in a burned out truck along a road in Sweet Home, Arkansas. What had happened to this child between her birth and her almost two short years of life?
As the investigation into these homicides begins, the back story of Hannah Grace begins sadly to emerge. Evidently, she was placed in protective custody a while back because Hannah's mother allegedly burned her with a cigarette. Pictures from her time in a foster parents' home reveal a seemingly happy, beautiful, and smiling child. Unfortunately, a new social worker was assigned to the case. Hannah was placed back into custody with her father.
Who knows the circumstances that Hannah had to deal with on an everyday basis? What should have been a carefree, happy time for her--playing with her dolls, stuffed animals, and toys could, and probably was, a nightmare. Before she even got a voice, her voice was snuffed out in flames. We can only hope that her death was quick since authorities are not releasing the exact cause of death yet.
Unfortunately, more and more of our nation's children are being abused, neglected, and killed every day. In 2010 on New Year's Day, there will be no birthday celebration for Hannah Grace. What a tragedy . . . .
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
A Christmas Poem
The most famous poem of all times regarding the Wise Men is that of T. S. Elliot's "The Journey of the Magi." Its beauty and hidden meanings are unsurpassed in my opinion. Yet this year I feel I must offer my interpretation also of this key event. I believe that all of us are on a similar journey in life. We start life in the East symbolically with our births and travel toward the West as our lives progress. We seek the answers constantly to life's big cosmic questions, "Why are we here? What is our purpose?" For those of us who are Christians, we realize the answers were there all along: at the crib of Christ:
A Prophet, A Star, and A Person
Trudging wearily through the snow during winter solstice,
The men keep their arms wrapped tightly, close to their bodies,
Under their woolen garments, clutching their gifts,
And asking themselves often, “Could the prophet’s words be true?”
Embarking from the East, and many miles from the warm comfort of home,
They are following a dream, a dream to discover the Messiah.
Prophet Amos, hundreds of years ago, had pledged, “For out of you (Judah) shall come a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Guiding them faithfully, the star moves ever so steadily before them,
Twinkling silently at long last over a young Child in the little town of Bethlehem.
Rejoicing with exceedingly great joy, they enter the house to see the Child with Mary, his Mother.
Falling down before the Person in the tiny crib, they worship Him,
Opening their pouches to reveal gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Departing soon thereafter from Bethlehem, they return home a different Way, giving King Herod no chance to harm the newborn Savior.
Following the same path as the Magi, we followers today at Christmas
Trudge slowly through the circumstances of our lives seeking also
A Word, A Sign, and A Savior.
As we move into His presence at this sacred season,
We humble ourselves, fall at His feet, and worship Him.
We present Him the gifts of ourselves: time, treasure, and talent.
A Prophet, A Star, and A Person
Trudging wearily through the snow during winter solstice,
The men keep their arms wrapped tightly, close to their bodies,
Under their woolen garments, clutching their gifts,
And asking themselves often, “Could the prophet’s words be true?”
Embarking from the East, and many miles from the warm comfort of home,
They are following a dream, a dream to discover the Messiah.
Prophet Amos, hundreds of years ago, had pledged, “For out of you (Judah) shall come a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.”
Guiding them faithfully, the star moves ever so steadily before them,
Twinkling silently at long last over a young Child in the little town of Bethlehem.
Rejoicing with exceedingly great joy, they enter the house to see the Child with Mary, his Mother.
Falling down before the Person in the tiny crib, they worship Him,
Opening their pouches to reveal gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Departing soon thereafter from Bethlehem, they return home a different Way, giving King Herod no chance to harm the newborn Savior.
Following the same path as the Magi, we followers today at Christmas
Trudge slowly through the circumstances of our lives seeking also
A Word, A Sign, and A Savior.
As we move into His presence at this sacred season,
We humble ourselves, fall at His feet, and worship Him.
We present Him the gifts of ourselves: time, treasure, and talent.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Modern Day Jobs
The continuing problem of a jobless economic recovery in America is plaguing us. One of the differences between this recession and several others that I have lived through in my sixty-five years is that many of the unemployed have done everything right in their lives up to this point. In the past many being counted in the job lines were not educated beyond high school. As I matured, however, I was virtually assured as I rose from my underclass background that a good education would be a panacea of protection from unemployment. Today that assurance has failed us.
Just as Job in the Old Testament had done nothing wrong and yet a series of catastrophes befell him, many in the U. S. are also reporting similar problems. A few examples will suffice from my family. Our daughter, who had worked tirelessly for ten years for Microsoft with a master's degree from the University of Southern California was downsized in March of this year, our niece who has a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in Psychology was downsized, and my brother-in-law who had worked for Boeing Aircraft Company for over twenty years was downsized a few years before retirement. The list goes on and on.
Downsizing obviously has a top down effect because house payments can no longer be made, houses generally cannot be sold due to the flood of them on the market already, and foreclosures seem imminent. Yes, unemployment does put food on the table and keeps the new rental apartments heated, but it cannot be stretched enough to buy health insurance at spiraling rates and clothes for growing children.
We as Americans are caught up in a downward cycle. Where are the thinkers who can provide answers for us? We need jobs, and we need to develop an economy not based primarily on consumer spending. It is not our choice as families to be modern day jobs.
Just as Job in the Old Testament had done nothing wrong and yet a series of catastrophes befell him, many in the U. S. are also reporting similar problems. A few examples will suffice from my family. Our daughter, who had worked tirelessly for ten years for Microsoft with a master's degree from the University of Southern California was downsized in March of this year, our niece who has a bachelor's degree from Wichita State University in Psychology was downsized, and my brother-in-law who had worked for Boeing Aircraft Company for over twenty years was downsized a few years before retirement. The list goes on and on.
Downsizing obviously has a top down effect because house payments can no longer be made, houses generally cannot be sold due to the flood of them on the market already, and foreclosures seem imminent. Yes, unemployment does put food on the table and keeps the new rental apartments heated, but it cannot be stretched enough to buy health insurance at spiraling rates and clothes for growing children.
We as Americans are caught up in a downward cycle. Where are the thinkers who can provide answers for us? We need jobs, and we need to develop an economy not based primarily on consumer spending. It is not our choice as families to be modern day jobs.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Advent--Of Secularism and Skepticism
My husband and I drove through a monsoon of rain yesterday morning in order to attend the first Christmas program ever for the lower school at Episcopal Collegiate School where our grandchildren attend. We settled into our seats, anxiously awaiting the appearance of our kindergartner who in past programs as a preschooler would sometimes look anxious or perhaps not sing with his classmates. This year his confidence had grown, and he marched onto the stage smiling while dressed as one of the cattle surrounding Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. His granddad and I were proud. Our granddaughter, on the other hand, has always been vivacious and out-going, trying out for any possible part, always yearning we think for the part of Mary but never receiving it. In this program, since she was in the oldest grade represented--fifth, she had several speaking roles as narrator and as an angel. Again, we were proud.
I think back, however, to a recent class I attended at church to celebrate the beginning of the Advent season. I was looking forward to hearing the story of Christ's coming and subsequent birth from an adult point of view. After all, isn't this why we attend church? We want to be reminded why we are believers. In the lesson the story of Mary's annunciation was treated as pure myth and legend with statements like, "Fairy dust was sprinkled, and poof, you're pregnant." The idea of the census during the time of King Herod, the arrival of the wise men, and all elements of the traditional story were systematically debunked.
Yes, I know that theologians who are liberal disagree over the historical evidence of Christ's birth, and even the idea that baby Jesus was the Christ child from the time of His birth. Some prefer to believe that God adopted Jesus at the point of his baptism when the dove flew into the sky. Conservative theologians believe in the birth of Jesus as written since they believe the Bible must be read as a literal and historical text. Since I come from years of teaching in a conservative church, I cannot surrender my belief in the latter interpretation. I believe one can find ample evidence from the scholars to support a literal interpretation if they leave their skepticism at the door of the stable.
Yes, the Enlightenment did much to persuade the educated of the day that religion was simply for the masses who were not capable of seeing, touching, and knowing the truth. Logic overtook belief with questions raised like, "Now, did you ever know anyone who was impregnated by a spirit?" As for me though, I--like Virginia--still choose to believe in tradition and truth as written in our authority, the Bible.
I think back, however, to a recent class I attended at church to celebrate the beginning of the Advent season. I was looking forward to hearing the story of Christ's coming and subsequent birth from an adult point of view. After all, isn't this why we attend church? We want to be reminded why we are believers. In the lesson the story of Mary's annunciation was treated as pure myth and legend with statements like, "Fairy dust was sprinkled, and poof, you're pregnant." The idea of the census during the time of King Herod, the arrival of the wise men, and all elements of the traditional story were systematically debunked.
Yes, I know that theologians who are liberal disagree over the historical evidence of Christ's birth, and even the idea that baby Jesus was the Christ child from the time of His birth. Some prefer to believe that God adopted Jesus at the point of his baptism when the dove flew into the sky. Conservative theologians believe in the birth of Jesus as written since they believe the Bible must be read as a literal and historical text. Since I come from years of teaching in a conservative church, I cannot surrender my belief in the latter interpretation. I believe one can find ample evidence from the scholars to support a literal interpretation if they leave their skepticism at the door of the stable.
Yes, the Enlightenment did much to persuade the educated of the day that religion was simply for the masses who were not capable of seeing, touching, and knowing the truth. Logic overtook belief with questions raised like, "Now, did you ever know anyone who was impregnated by a spirit?" As for me though, I--like Virginia--still choose to believe in tradition and truth as written in our authority, the Bible.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saving Big Mike and Precious
I waited anxiously for two new films to reach Little Rock this past week: The Blind Side and Precious. Both did not disappoint. Though the Sandra Bullock movie was a bit flashier, both contained similar stories of two young people, Big Mike and Precious, who struggled to be successful in life. Both were the product of violent absentee fathers, single mothers in poverty, and ghetto influences with the temptation to do nothing. Yet both of these young people are successful by the end of the movies. What has made the difference for them but not for hundreds, or thousands, of others?
Once again the answer seems rooted in having an adult role model, or savior if you will, to care about these high risk students. In the Sandra Bullock film, Leigh Anne Touhy is the Anglo mother who takes the almost eighteen year old, Big Mike, into her upper class home. She becomes his legal guardian, pays for tutoring, and loves him unconditionally. The same happens for Precious who is a student in an alternative school in New York. Her teacher does this for her as well. By the conclusion of the movies, the viewer is hopeful that these students will be successful.
One of the articles in Newsweek regarding the film Precious lamented the fact that, for the one who might be saved from circumstances such as Precious and Big Mike found themselves in, many more were not saved. That should not be an excuse, however, in my opinion for failing to save just one if possible.
Once again the answer seems rooted in having an adult role model, or savior if you will, to care about these high risk students. In the Sandra Bullock film, Leigh Anne Touhy is the Anglo mother who takes the almost eighteen year old, Big Mike, into her upper class home. She becomes his legal guardian, pays for tutoring, and loves him unconditionally. The same happens for Precious who is a student in an alternative school in New York. Her teacher does this for her as well. By the conclusion of the movies, the viewer is hopeful that these students will be successful.
One of the articles in Newsweek regarding the film Precious lamented the fact that, for the one who might be saved from circumstances such as Precious and Big Mike found themselves in, many more were not saved. That should not be an excuse, however, in my opinion for failing to save just one if possible.
Monday, November 23, 2009
In the Absence of Power and Light
On Wednesday morning my Christian book club has been reading and discussing Barbara Brown Taylor's book An Altar in the World. One of the chapters I have been thinking about this week focuses on a personal time in Taylor's life where she and her husband lived several days in their rural home without power and light due to an ice storm. Many of us have had this experience through the years, but her spiritual insight is interesting.
Since we equate Christianity (even Christ Himself) with the idea of power and light, she raised the question as to what happens when we are without them. For her, she realized that the absence of power and light for a few days caused her to move from being self-centered to other-centered. She had an epiphany that she had to be even more responsible for not only herself but also her animals, in this case, dogs, cats, and horses. She found herself breaking up the ice which formed in their water several times a day, keeping them extra warm with kerosene heaters, and making sure they were dry and well fed. How could this analogy apply to current day church theology?
Many believe, and have described it in their books, that we are living now in a post-Christian world. To them, the old theology of the past seems to be failing the average believer. Some even question the inerrant nature of the Bible and its historical record. They see the Bible's authority eroding in our modern age. They suggest that, in the absence of traditional power and light, we replace old views of the past with community and fellowship of believers instead. After all, isn't that what happened after Jesus' Resurrection. When He was no longer able to be with them physically, and before Pentecost, the disciples had to form small groups and develop closeness to keep the ideas of Christ's teaching alive.
I have found it difficult as a conservative believer for the majority of my life not to believe in the divine Truth of Scripture. Yes, I have modified my belief somewhat and moved away from a very literal interpretation of the Word to a more metaphorical and symbolic interpretation. Even with these changes, I cannot move into the idea that we fallible humans can provide the authority once held through the Bible. We are simply too human to do so. If we begin to place our faith in fellowship, we are sure to be disappointed.
Since we equate Christianity (even Christ Himself) with the idea of power and light, she raised the question as to what happens when we are without them. For her, she realized that the absence of power and light for a few days caused her to move from being self-centered to other-centered. She had an epiphany that she had to be even more responsible for not only herself but also her animals, in this case, dogs, cats, and horses. She found herself breaking up the ice which formed in their water several times a day, keeping them extra warm with kerosene heaters, and making sure they were dry and well fed. How could this analogy apply to current day church theology?
Many believe, and have described it in their books, that we are living now in a post-Christian world. To them, the old theology of the past seems to be failing the average believer. Some even question the inerrant nature of the Bible and its historical record. They see the Bible's authority eroding in our modern age. They suggest that, in the absence of traditional power and light, we replace old views of the past with community and fellowship of believers instead. After all, isn't that what happened after Jesus' Resurrection. When He was no longer able to be with them physically, and before Pentecost, the disciples had to form small groups and develop closeness to keep the ideas of Christ's teaching alive.
I have found it difficult as a conservative believer for the majority of my life not to believe in the divine Truth of Scripture. Yes, I have modified my belief somewhat and moved away from a very literal interpretation of the Word to a more metaphorical and symbolic interpretation. Even with these changes, I cannot move into the idea that we fallible humans can provide the authority once held through the Bible. We are simply too human to do so. If we begin to place our faith in fellowship, we are sure to be disappointed.
Friday, October 30, 2009
The Latest In Out Group
One of the most interesting topics I have heard recently centers on the plight of the homeless. As we Americans know, we are quite involved in protecting the rights of minorities in our country. After all, it's in our genes as immigrants removed by several generations ourselves. My own heritage is Scotch-Irish and goes back to the eighteenth century when my ancestors came over from the Old Country in order to make a better life for themselves in the rural South. As a group we were largely uneducated, but yet hard workers with an optimistic belief that life could be good by applying a diligent work ethic to the tasks ahead.
A review of our Southern history for the past one hundred or so years reveals first the freedom of the slaves, followed by the vote and equal rights for women, followed by civil rights legislation, and followed by laws protecting gays. The new in out group now appears to be those who are homeless since hate crimes against this group have evidently proliferated in recent years.
A recent NPR program discussed this subject in detail. I also attended a political discussion group this past Monday night in which homeless needs of both adults and children were presented. The problem is certainly not a new one (we remember that Jesus spoke about it some two thousand years ago by saying, "For you have the poor with you always" - Matthew 26:11). The emphasis today, I believe, comes from an epiphany many of us have had in the most recent recession. Because the financial and job losses have impacted all classes of society, I believe we are now developing more of a sense that homelessness can possibly be one paycheck away from all of us. My short experience in working with the poor and homeless as a volunteer is that they often defy the stereotypes we have placed upon them in the past, i. e. they are drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally challenged, and so on. Many today are well dressed and embarrassed to be in a position of dire need.
I applaud the idea that the homeless will now be an area for focus in our society. They deserve all the assistance we can provide of our time, our money, and our talents to enable them to move back into mainstream society. In America it's only right.
A review of our Southern history for the past one hundred or so years reveals first the freedom of the slaves, followed by the vote and equal rights for women, followed by civil rights legislation, and followed by laws protecting gays. The new in out group now appears to be those who are homeless since hate crimes against this group have evidently proliferated in recent years.
A recent NPR program discussed this subject in detail. I also attended a political discussion group this past Monday night in which homeless needs of both adults and children were presented. The problem is certainly not a new one (we remember that Jesus spoke about it some two thousand years ago by saying, "For you have the poor with you always" - Matthew 26:11). The emphasis today, I believe, comes from an epiphany many of us have had in the most recent recession. Because the financial and job losses have impacted all classes of society, I believe we are now developing more of a sense that homelessness can possibly be one paycheck away from all of us. My short experience in working with the poor and homeless as a volunteer is that they often defy the stereotypes we have placed upon them in the past, i. e. they are drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally challenged, and so on. Many today are well dressed and embarrassed to be in a position of dire need.
I applaud the idea that the homeless will now be an area for focus in our society. They deserve all the assistance we can provide of our time, our money, and our talents to enable them to move back into mainstream society. In America it's only right.
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