Team spirit

We could at least start with name tags; I hate name tags.

But I suppose I might be persuaded to wear one if everyone else did.

I was thinking tonight about pulling together instead of ripping apart.

The President's reference to uniformed soldiers got me to thinking, maybe we should all wear uniforms.

But my friend went to North Korea and that's what they do there and it creeped her out. So, never mind. But.

What if we wore name tags, so we at least could be known by name to one another? Would that help? Am I grasping at straws? I just want us to pull together. To get in the mindset that we need to find common ground. To all pitch in and work in some semblance of cooperation.

Not in lockstep, like the North Koreans. No!

But can we find a way? Calling one another names, calling one another stupid --- what does that accomplish?

My friend, Carole, pastors a blue collar congregation near Chicago. Its members used to work in manufacturing. Now, 9 - 15 new families per week are showing up at the church's food pantry.

We have a lot of hard work to do. If we all wore boy scout or girl scout uniforms, or football uniforms or cheerleader uniforms or streetsweeper uniforms, would we feel more united?

We sure need to do something.

If I Hate You Will You Just Go Away?

Or do I have to kill you to make my point?


I am not by nature an alarmist. I take chances. I generally assume the best of people.

But I am seriously concerned.

The hateful rhetoric in this country has been racheted up to a frightening degree. There is too much hate.

NEWS FLASH FOLKS: Barack Obama is a Christian, JUST LIKE ME. Barack Obama is a capitalist, JUST LIKE ME. Barack Obama is a generous and kind human being who is undeserving of the horrid rhetoric that circulates around the internet and shows up on talk shows and even by presidential candidates in their debates.

These attempts to dehumanize "the enemy" are the first on a slippery slope that goes nowhere but down. Down, Down, Down. For you too. You are what you hate. It's opposite, but the same.

Please, stop. Think. It grieves my heart that you circulate this hateful tripe. It is without basis, it is mean, it is dangerous.

As the recipient of a potentially deadly attack motivated by baseless hysteria, I speak with some authority. It is far too close from Hate to Action. Don't be among those who stir up the lunatics to outrageous behavior. They are waiting to know you sanction their acts. Don't do it.

I am so grateful for my parents who taught me tolerance. They weren't perfect but they taught me that people around the world are the same, only different. That no one deserves to be hated and no one deserves the kind of vitriol we hear now.

You are Christians, just like your President. Please rise to the standard of your call in Christ; as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in him.

Peace and grace to you all!

Colorado Dreamin'

a dream deferred is a dream denied

___Lorraine Hansbury


Today we are all about dreaming. Specific dreaming. "I have a dream today..."

We are so far from fulfilling that dream.

It is hard not to lose heart, become apathetic, depressed.
I confess to all the above.

Is there something we can do? Always. Always. Big, little, stupendous, simple.

What can you do?

For starters, listen or watch the Tavis Smiley special on Poverty tonight, tomorrow, and Wednesday on PBS. It is a sparkling, fire-cracker, stunning conversation between Cornel West, Suze Ormann -- that's right, a Suze Ormann like you've never heard her before! Barbara Ehrenreich, Roger Clay,
Roger Moore and others. Very profound discussion.

What else can you do? It's a beautiful day for dreaming.

First of all, it's "pundit," right?

We spent the evening, pre-bubbles, wondering what a pundent was.

Great speller, am I not? What is a pundent? Someone should create one.


But the real question for today is, "Why is there air?"

"To blow up volleyballs with."
___Bill Cosby


I like simplicity. I like it a lot. But life is not simple. Complexity is a gift.

Cosby's humor may remind us that there are a lot of answers, some quite simple, some simplistic, to life's biggest questions. Or to our most urgent questions.

I'm wrestling with a few big ones. And simple answers would be wonderful. But they all ring false. Perhaps there are true, simple answers to some important questions. But the most of the time, we have work to do.

Questions don't beget answers; they give birth to other questions.

As you walk, run, plunge, waddle or scoot into this new year, what questions do you need to ask, to guide you to where you may be going?