I am amazed at the overall feeling of hope being displayed in America during the week before tomorrow's inauguration. I was wondering how this week would be going if it were McCain about to take the Oath of the President of the United States. I seriously doubt it would be causing any blips on blogs, in the media, or in people's hearts. Bono? I think, no! HBO? No way! If anything, AARP probably would have hosted a party in his honor, but Rock Star status? Never! Obama is a frickin' Rock Star!! His speeches are heartfelt and seemingly unrehearsed. He doesn't need rehearsal because he believes what he is saying and he probably wrote it himself. I have heard only one better speaker...Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks. The master communicator, Howard is able to paint a picture with words that you can see, feel, and get behind. Obama has that same quality...speaking eloquently and truthfully with no crossed fingers behind his back.
President Obama has galvanized a nation before he has even spent one day in office! He will get the entire west coast up at 6 am to watch this magical day unfold. It feels as if the world is changing, and we are all in the front row to watch it. Better yet, we can help drive it. Will he get everything done? Nope, not even close...but his true victory has already happened...he has re-energized a nation with hope about its future. We already believe the world can change...we are ready to serve when asked.
Okay, this would be expected coming from a Millennial, but heck, I am a Boomer! And better (worse?) yet, a dyed-in-the-wool Republican Boomer! I was one of those converts as soon as Obama announced his candidacy. I was worried when he went up against the Hilary political machine, but somehow justice prevailed. Quick shift in subject...what would this inauguration be like if Hilary had won? I don't think there would be that same feeling of hope, but a whole generation of young women would feel empowered to change their world, and a bunch of us old guys would be pissed off. That polarizing effect was her downfall.
So I am going to bed early so I can get up and watch the spectacle live...no Tivo for this Boomer! Like Michelle says, I am proud again to be an American! You white people just don't get it! Ha ha!
Chow!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Is Sadness Underrated?
Yesterday Pastor Brad continued his weekly series on how to find ourselves...if you are Christian, you know the drill...to truly find yourself, you must lose yourself, etc. I have heard many, many sermons on this subject and thought I had a good understanding of the concept until yesterday. He has been picking specific words to talk about, and yesterday's word was, "compassion". As he was defining it, he said something that caused me to pause, and wonder about, so I will share it here. That word was, "sadness".
We spend our lives trying to avoid being sad. We actively seek happiness; we don't want any problems, we try not to cry, we avoid situations that cause us to think about hardship, death, etc. It is a word and emotion that we avoid. We believe the answer to living our lives actually is to seek the opposite of sadness. Here is the rub that is causing me to think more about it. Without feeling sadness for others' situations, we may never get involved, and without involvement we cannot show true compassion. That word is defined by our actions to help and change situations for others. Sadness as a feeling is such an underrated emotion.
What would we be like if we actually sought out sadness? To actively seek the suffering of others, recognize it, understand it, and be moved into action by it. How much more could we grow and mature if we did? What if we embrace our sadness and have it motivate us to action?
Why is God so attracted by our sadness? I think it is because it is at that point where we realize we can't control what is happening in our lives; that we are losing something (or even someone) we have put an immeasurable amount of value in. God wants to fill that void, he wants us to see and seek him at that point. Maybe we become the essence of God when we react to others' sadness. The root of compassion is empathy put into action.
Chow!
We spend our lives trying to avoid being sad. We actively seek happiness; we don't want any problems, we try not to cry, we avoid situations that cause us to think about hardship, death, etc. It is a word and emotion that we avoid. We believe the answer to living our lives actually is to seek the opposite of sadness. Here is the rub that is causing me to think more about it. Without feeling sadness for others' situations, we may never get involved, and without involvement we cannot show true compassion. That word is defined by our actions to help and change situations for others. Sadness as a feeling is such an underrated emotion.
What would we be like if we actually sought out sadness? To actively seek the suffering of others, recognize it, understand it, and be moved into action by it. How much more could we grow and mature if we did? What if we embrace our sadness and have it motivate us to action?
Why is God so attracted by our sadness? I think it is because it is at that point where we realize we can't control what is happening in our lives; that we are losing something (or even someone) we have put an immeasurable amount of value in. God wants to fill that void, he wants us to see and seek him at that point. Maybe we become the essence of God when we react to others' sadness. The root of compassion is empathy put into action.
Chow!
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