April 16, 2008 @ 9:03 am | Category: Pot Luck, existential questions
Here is a New York Times article about how some people are growing up on prescribed mood altering drugs. This is creating a whole generation of people who don’t know who they are without them. The article doesn’t seem to understand the pervasiveness of this beyond those who “really need it.” Modern society has convinced us that we have a right to feel upbeat all the time. What gets lost is the understanding that emotional struggle is part of being a human being. We have no sense that emotions are value judgments that can serve us well, and maybe even save our lives. Grief lasting more than a few days is considered excessive. This of course doesn’t negate the fact that there are people who suffer from severe long term mental disorders. We and the medical establishment seem not to be able to tell the difference between the blues, which may be good for us, and destructive mental disorders.
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January 4, 2008 @ 2:04 pm | Category: Pot Luck
Here is a link for a book review in First Things now online.
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April 25, 2007 @ 7:41 pm | Category: spirituality/religion, Pot Luck
I don’t know about you, but I feel we are living in a topsy-turvy world straight out of a Tom Pynchon novel (like his latest Against the Day, which is indecipherable). In religion, politics, business, and the arts it feels like we are living with twentieth century values, programs, and leaders in a twenty-first century world. The difference in politics comes down to the basic goodness of those who espouse any particular view. Work needs re-engineering because it has become home to many and while for some home is too much work. Former ideas about life cycles, family patterns, and the meaning of a career no longer hold up. It’s too early for us to make sense of where we are or how to navigate the world; a world where up is down, time seems to go backwards, and multiple ideas compete for dominance. Our leaders were trained for the cold war, big business, mass religion, and the triumph of the CD. The world is different from even five years ago with only fragments of the former remaining. Human nature is basically the same. Is the world flat, smaller, bigger, or just upside down? Is the crowd wise or mad? I think this accounts for so much of the dissonance many of us are feeling.
During this time, attentive observation, lots of silence, and the cultivation of rootedness will do us good. We don’t need more facts, information or analysis. Experts can’t help us now. The people we need are sages–wisdom people who can see in the shadows and help us navigate in the turbulence. Be forewarned you will not likely find them on a stage, or making the media rounds. A sage may be closer to you than you realize. In your workplace, neighborhood, or church. Otherwise, you may need to be one of the sages the world needs to heal its dissonance. In the end, the wisdom borne by sages who follow Jesus, the Wisdom of God, will trump knowledge and right a topsy-turvy world.
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December 31, 2006 @ 6:18 pm | Category: Pot Luck
I ‘m happy to start the new year with this newly designed website. Hope you enjoy it. I will continue to write on the issues that make me think, laugh or simply annoy me. Looking forward to seeing your comments. Have a great 2007!
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December 24, 2006 @ 11:16 am | Category: spirituality/religion, Pot Luck
MAY THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND MAY IT BEGIN WITH US. PEACE TO YOU THIS CHRISTMAS.
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December 15, 2006 @ 8:34 am | Category: Pot Luck
I just got an e-mail from my son’s high school that they are banning cocaine from the campus. I hope so! Cocaine Energy drink that is. A souped up high caffeine drink that advertises itself as the “legal alternative”. When the product was launched in September it was presented as a drink for party goers. It has now trickled down to kids. The kids are drinking the stuff like regular pop making them super-hyper and disruptive in the classroom. I would say it’s like training wheels for future drug abusers. It also blurs the lines between legal and illegal and between wholesome and destructive. This along with pop flavor liquor products with harmless sounding names like Mike’s Lemonade it makes you wonder if there is such a thing as corporate morality in a capitalist market. Oh, sorry I forgot. It’s about making money for their shareholders.
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November 23, 2006 @ 10:47 am | Category: Pot Luck
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This year it’s changing. With my father gone and my mother not well it’s time to create new traditions. Not sure what that will be. But what will remain the same is my thankfulness to God for my family, my friends, my health and a mind that keeps me busy. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.
Thankfulness for the harvest from the book of common prayer:
O ALMIGHTY God and heavenly Father, we glorify thee that we are once more permitted to enjoy the fulfilment of thy gracious promise, that, while the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest shall not fail. Blessed be thou, who hast given us the fruits of the earth in their season. Teach us to remember that it is not by bread alone that man doth live; but grant that we may feed on him who is the true bread which cometh down from heaven even Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour; to whom with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
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October 31, 2006 @ 7:19 am | Category: media, Pot Luck, Pop Culture
Oprah Winfrey, the prophet (or is it profit?) of materialism continues to spread her message of salvation through material gain. This is a more blatant version of the prosperity gospel where we all aspire to acquire cashmere sweaters to soothe our shaking self-esteem. This time it appears so worthwhile when wrapped in the plight of the needy. She’s giving $1000 debit cards to 300 of her audience to be used for charitable purposes. According to Winfrey,“Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000.” We all know that money can solve many problems but lack of love is not one them.
Is it any wonder that in a society that equates money with love that we have such high consumer debt? Feeling unloved? Go shopping! That’s why we believe that poverty is only the lack of money. If only it was that simple. Poverty and human suffering require a much more radical solution than a debit card.
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February 28, 2006 @ 9:34 pm | Category: Pot Luck
At the sidebar under “current readings” you will see the things I am reading or have read recently. From time to time I will comment on some of these. I am especially excited to read Nussbaum’s book. It’s a great illustration of the exciting things that happen in the world of ideas when women are part of the conversation.
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