Bah, bah, bah....humbug

Living in a tourist destination city, I have plenty of time to be stuck in traffic. That means I listen to a lot of talk radio. What I have discerned is that the common person is expected to be a good little lamb. We are to just go along with anything because tolerance has been touted as a must need virtue. When I complained to the condo authorities that I found it repulsive that spring breakers left stool and urine in the elevators, I was told we were to overlook and tolerate them because the city needs their money. When I try to get on the elevators with my kids, I am supposed to overlook the drunken, foul mouthed punks waiting on the elevator. And when I notice graffiti on the doors of the stairwell, one of the smiling suits told me it was "innocent", even though one clearly resembles graffiti attributed to the Crips.

Why do we as Americans tolerate stuff like this? I did a little research and found the combined Democrat and Republican Presidential race in 2012 cost more than $1.7 BILLION. Really? Could at least half of that moey been spent to do something, anything productive? But that would mean these wealthy contributors taking care of actual people and not their own special interests.

Why do Christians just sit and take the dung flung at them? Is it really a "turn the other cheek" activity or is it fear? Are we as Christians not supposed to rock the boat? Are we not to be confrontational? I was accused the other day of being too confrontational because I held drunken college students accountable for their language in front of my kids...at my house!

A few years ago, everyone wore WWJD bracelets. For some reason, people think Jesus was a wimp and was always passive. On the contrary, he was quite radical and confrontational. Ask the money changers he threw out of the Temple. Ask the religious leaders he challenged every day.

Our rights are being challenged daily in a country founded on freedom. Facts and opinions are twisted and torqued to fit the whim of whatever political side is trying to exploit it. Politicians, most of which have never had a real job,  make decions that fit THEIR agenda. The politicians do not care and cannot relate to a normal person.

We, sadly, are like sheep. We follow mindlessly and no one comes up with real solutions. Common sense escaped years ago. Some of us are readily willing to allow illegal behavior and actually rally to show support of ILLEGAL activity.

WWJD? Yes, he would love all people. No, he would not love all behaviors, in fact, he called out certain behaviors. Again, ask the religious leaders if he called them out on certain behaviors and actions.

I just don't get it. I put a post on Facebook telling how almost $2 billion was spent on the Presidential election. That is a travesty. Could one of those busy body supporters have given money to fund the White House tours? I just don't get it, but I plan on being the one sheep bucking the idea of going into the pen. Who is with me?

Happens on my watch

MATTHEW 18:18 CEV. “I promise you that God in heaven will allow whatever you
allow on earth, but he will not allow anything you don't allow”.

Wow. I know that I have read that scripture before but today it provoked quite a bit of thought and self appraisal. It is amusing how “self-appraisal” always makes me say “ouch”. My mind raced as I went through my “issues roladex” tagging all the things that I allow to happen or exist in my life. These things happen on MY watch. These items, some small and some large, infiltrate my life at every turn. I “allow” myself to work in a job that deeply frustrates me at many levels. I have been a professional nurse since the mid 1980s and the health care culture as well as the business culture has changed into something that devalues and employee and respect has been fossilized. But, I go to work every day and “allow” myself to be treated in ways I prefer not to be treated. I “allow” myself to overeat and compromise my personal health. I “allow“worry to enter my mind and steal my joy, sleep and peace of mind. And, sadly and possibly most profoundly, I allow fear to dictate and control my life as I sit submissively by and watch the gift of life pass. I allow myself to “live” in fear although doing this resembles dying more than living. I allow my mind to rationalize my fear-enriched thoughts to convince myself that the status quo is OK and acceptable.

This is a big mind, spirit and even a little bit of a heart issue. My mind holds on to my insecurities with a firm grip. Rarely are situations and tasks as bad as my mind makes them out to be. Spiritually, I really should KNOW better because God’s word and Jesus’ teachings are full of hope and success. Doubt and fear ruin my witness and slow down the growth. And, deep down in my heart I must begin to feel that I am worthy. But, I am figuring out that if I give out with sincerity what I want to receive, I will in fact receive what will make my heart heal. One of my favorite authors, Tim Ferriss wrote, “Pure hell forces action, but anything less can be endured with enough clever
rationalization.” So, Ferriss and Matthew are on the same page yet centuries apart. If I allow bad, then I am in control of that and if I change the situation and work to allow good, then good will happen. Got to love God, don’t you?