ANOTHER FAIRY TALE?

Early in September, a 17-year-old Billings, Montana high school student's quiet reaction to a speech by the President of the United States of America caught the attention of people through out the country.

The student's face was caught by news cameras as he reacted to what the President was saying.  The story and photo appeared in newspapers and on social media as "The Plaid Shirt Guy."

It reminded me of the Fairy Tale about the Parade for the King who wanted to show off his new diamond encrusted robes. People, young and old alike filled the streets for the parade.  There were crowds everywhere until someone yelled, "Look! He is not wearing any clothes!"

And than the streets were empty.
                           

FALL 2018: TIME FOR REFLECTION & RENEWAL?

Weather on the calendar or in our faith, we seem to sense this is a period to reflect and examine the pattern of our life.

We may not be as astute as Mother Nature who provides trees with the ability to turn leaves or  who creates  nervousness  in Animals and  birds as they sense another season or storm coming but we feel it.

 Whatever faith or custom or ritual we have, or don't have, it is a time of renewal.  We feel a need to better understand our self sometimes through memory alone.

Our children begin school.  Our family moves farther away or comes closer.  We warm to challenges.

We don't seem as wary of different faces. We are strong with a universal sense of purpose.

We prepare for autumn while knowing it will be followed by winter's chill finally followed by spring.  We measure our responsibility toward this planet, the place we call home.

In stillness, we are called upon to reflect on our actions.   We are pledged to behave as warriors to protect all that we know is right.  We will do so through our votes and the laws of this great nation!

May the time ahead be good to all of us and to all those we hold dear.

HAVE WE LOST TRUST OF EACH OTHER?

We learned of the death of Senator John McCain just before Labor Day.  We watched his funeral.

 We saw the Senator's family. We heard about his sense of humor, his capacity to understand his own failings  and the strength he showed in adversity.  We wondered have we as a people lost a sense of honesty and trust which had been so much a part of what we remembered of him?

We live in a time of great change.  Drastic changes happen to our planet each day. We are told there is no climate change!  Guns are used to kill innocent people!  We buy more guns and do little to vote for candidates who will enforce Federal gun laws.

We were told to do away with health plans because of misleading information by insurance and political interests!  Senator McCain voted with a simple "thumbs down" to stop the rhetoric.

We are told about injustices suffered by people who are different!  We know this violates the meaning of equal and fair justice for people yet we discourage advocates for these very same ideals.

We are told some religions are better than others! Then we watched  Senator McCain's family walk past the Vietnam Memorial Wall inscribed with the names of people of all faiths and cultures.

We watched the people lining the streets of Washington, DC,  and those who stopped to watch the funeral pass by.  We listened to "Oh Danny Boy" and "Amazing Grace." We saw an untapped strength of character and trust in people that we may not have seen before.

After watching the funeral of Senator  McCain I  know we will survive the changes we need to make! We will do so with a  renewed  sense of respect for this country's Laws and with the strength  of trust we have for each other.