the molecularity of being

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A few years ago I began to notice people debating about saying Merry Christmas during the winter holidays. Well actually it was about not saying it. So I’ve been thinking and trying to figure out my feelings about it. This year, when Dad said he was afraid to say it in case he would offend someone, well it got me to thinking-- why are we allowing ourselves to be bullied into not openly practicing one of  the most joyous Christian days of the year?

After three years of saying “Happy Holidays!” I am fed up with hiding my faith and began to consider this at the beginning of Advent. What if someone came up to me and said “Happy Kwanzaa!”? My first instinct would be to say “Happy Kwanzaa!” right back because I want to share in that person’s moment of joy; it would be a blessing that they wanted me to be a part of their happiness. While we may be content and sometimes happy, moments of joy are rare and very dear. Why would I want to ruin that for me, or for the person wanting me to enjoy a celebration? So I decided I am not going to let what others might think, stop me from openly practicing my faith.

This year I came back out of the closet and began saying “Merry Christmas!” I said it to the bell ringers at first because I knew they were safe. Then I said it to my friends and family because they know I’m a Christian, so that was okay too. Then I stepped out and began to say it to everyone.

It was interesting. Most said “Happy Holidays!” and one person said “Thanks!” I hoped  that I hadn’t offended her.  But it was at the 99cent store where I was buying gift bags and while the manager was ringing me up something happened which really took me by complete surprise. And it led to deeper and much different feelings about my Yuletide Joy.  

As she totaled my order and handed me my purchases I bravely said my, “Merry Christmas!”

She looked around for a moment and then leaned in very close to me. I thought NOW I was going to get told off;  this was going to be my come uppance for running around all Advent wishing people a "Merry Christmas!" As I braced myself with a deep breath and a small tremble, she looked me squarely in the eye with such intensity and then with a knowing nod, whispered, Merry Christmas. 

A feeling crept over me and a glimmer of an understanding rose in my mind...this must be a bit what it is like to live in a country where the freedom to worship is limited by its society.

Devotion

This is what my family works on, and before the ideologues jump on this, here is their mission statement: "We value the rights of each individual and respect the freedom to choose one’s own beliefs and to direct one’s own life course. We do not impose religious values or beliefs on the children or families that we serve. We hold our own personal values and beliefs as precious and honor the values and beliefs of others that respect human life and seek to maintain the dignity of the individual."

My cousin is the lady in the purple burka near the end. You can see her through out if you watch again. Her and her husband paid out of their own pocket to go to Afghanistan and to help rebuild it. She is a nurse and her husband is a lay minister.

Nope you won't see this in the media because they do not deem the ChildLight Foundation for Afghan Children news worthy.

Isn't it STUPID that I have to justify the good works of my family because some people take delight in mocking and stigmatizing Christians?

What are you doing to fight the Global War on Terrorism?

Your mission: get Chat, Matt, and Rob to their twelve o'clock meeting without dying ...




I know a couple of readers who might enjoy this little time waster. Warning: Content is highly addictive!

Via: The Anchoress

I think the Tarmac Taskforce could take a few ideas from these dudes.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for your sacrifices and for serving our country in a time of need. You are my hero!

Love always
-me

Dear you,

Thanks for being a wonderful and caring daughter. The families of those who served sacrificed through separations and frequent moves to unwanted destinations and at times when it meant leaving dear friends behind. So in a way we all "served" our country. I pray that it is a better country for all that we went through.

Love,
Dad

This. I went through this during the Vietnam War, but never at the hands of a teacher. I was slammed up against a locker, had my stockings pulled down and spit in my ear about how my dad was a baby killer, but I *never* suffered the open humiliation in front of my peers at the hands of a teacher at any of the 16 public schools I attended.

Update:
This teacher works in Fayetteville, NC. Home of the Brave 82nd Airborne, and Special Forces. You may contact the school via the following:



School Board:
http://www.communications.ccs.k12.…

The school:
http://www.mmes.ccs.k12.nc.us/facu…

America has had the great privilege of two opportunities and we have chosen. I am filled with pride and tears watching my African American brothers and sisters rejoice in the streets. I am absolutely thrilled over this historic milestone. It is a moving moment to understand that old men and old women, grandsons and granddaughters of slaves and slaveholders, will look to an African-American as President. As someone who counseled, at a great personal cost, the black women in my college and saw first hand the shacks they were striving to pull themselves up from, I am so proud of our nation.

The quiet contrast at the grocery store today was unsettling, the guy whistling while he stocked potato chips seemed out of place. It’s more of a sadness that our State Senator John McCain did not win than anything else. Teddy Roosevelt wrote:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

Now allow me to speak on behalf of my culture and heritage. My sincerest and deepest hope is that the Democrats will find a way to bring our troops home with honor and dignity. Unfortunately I believe that to ask for victory is too much and a word many would choke on. If they do not, then we will see a new generation of homeless vets on the streets of America who trust neither the government, nor the American people.

I am praying for Obama to have wisdom and peace, there is no doubt I will be opposing many of his social policy issues. I will strive to do so civilly, sacrificially if necessary and within the context of my afforded rights. It is my hope to do so with the balance of grace and truth in my heart.

Devotion

An update on Andy for those who have asked. He is recovering exceedingly well. Walking 30 mintes three times a day and making happy plans to return to his new home in FL and get things squared away for back to school in January. For that we have all been truly blessed by the sincerity of your prayers and well wishes. Thank you.

My apologies for the recent hiatus, I am avoiding LJ and E2 like....well, something that should be avoided and I'll continue to do so, until the election is over and for a while after--for my own sanity.

The politics are turning some people into jerks and I'm unimpressed with the anger and disrespect - and in some cases, out right hatred. How America is run should be a concern to all of us. Voting for whom I think will best run our country is more than a right, it's a duty and obligation for me. I don't think, however, that stigmatizing others over it is ever, ever acceptable.

Today we got closer to the bottom, but we don't know when we will hit it so I employed my Google-fu and studied my banks. All are on solid ground except for GMAC, a subsidiary of General Motors, now less than 4 bucks a share. Yesterday Standard & Poor's Ratings Services "put General Motors Corp. and its 49 percent-owned finance affiliate GMAC LLC on negative credit watch." ack! we moved our Money Market out of there and decided to redistribute what small assets we have.
We are thinking about buying some gold or silver maybe or investing in a precious metals mutual fund. We advised our sons to get a few hundred out and set it aside, pay off their debts and start saving.

I went to Wallie- Mart and bought a small safe to put some cash in just in case the President declares an "economic emergency" and closes the banks while they sort out this mess. They already do this when they take over banks. Close them on Fridays and open them on Mondays. With so many banks ready to fail though it occurred to us that they might have to close them for more than a weekend just to catch up on the red tape. Need groceries; need cash. It's a relief.



Right now my disability check seems worth a lot more because at least it's guaranteed income.

In March, after overcoming disastrous medical bills, a job loss, a demotion, the rise and fall of the value of our home we were finally able to retire all of our debt with the exception of our mortgage and start saving for our retirement. Today as I watch the US Congress struggle with the bail out bill and the stock markets plummets in an attempt to get their credit fix, I can’t help but feel outraged at them and the people making a living off of debt; all of who obviously graduated high school with a passing grade in economics.

Make no bones about it, it’s not “the government” who is bailing out Wall Street, it’s the tax payers. It’s the tax payers who are buying bank assets only we may not see any return on our money. Oh sure they’ll put it in the “government coffers” for programs we aren’t eligible for. Why? Because we have done our part in being fiscally responsible. Sure we could have run up a lot of debt and have nice things like a new kitchen and baths, floors, a pool, landscaping and nice cars. Sort of like the banks with their fancy buildings full of granite accoutrements tiled floors and the latest designer colors sitting on every corner, as well as a lot of my neighbors in our neighborhood, some of whom are compulsive debtors. They’re both going to get a free ride on the sweat off our backs.