Another week comes to a close. Being in the mortgage industry I follow financial issues, economic information, etc. It can get pretty depressing lately. The amount of business that I have (pretty much zero) is pretty depressing too, actually. To help get extra income I am doing some contract work in foreclosure/loss mitigation counseling for a local non-profit that I have worked for in the past. That can be pretty draining, but more about that part at another time.
This mornings news is not pleasant either. Job losses are high, all the major domestic auto companies are suffering huge losses, and it is pretty evident that many more people will lose their jobs as continuing layoffs occur. So all in all it's really just one big mess, huh?
Well, not neccessarily. In His world He always gives us things to help us understand that He is constantly around. I don't know where you live, but here in Atlanta (actually Roswell, GA) today it is most beautiful. The trees are gorgeous, the falling leaves gently swirling their way to the gound in a myriad of beautiful colors. The sky is a serene blue with very few, if any, clouds. The temperature is wonderful. If I just stand outside, be quiet, and take in the wonder that is His creation I can clearly see His presence. That gives me peace in the moment.
Where you are it may be raining, cold, somewhat ugly, and not very pleasant. Certainly there are many days like that here as well. But even in that setting, if you look and listen, you will hear Him and see Him. If you know Him, even that type of setting can bring you a quiet peace.
I know that things in this world aren't great. Believe me, I know. I will as time goes on try to share on this space some of the things that I have experienced in life, both good and bad. There are many, many people hurting. In many ways. All over this world. But I can also tell you that I know, I truly know, that He is always here.
I heard a story one time that I treasure and repeat to this day. A man was standing thinking about all that was/is happening in the world. Wars, economic recessions and depressions, starvation, hurricanes, violence, and much, much more. He turned his gaze toward heaven and asked "God, oh God, can't you see all the hurt, pain, and agony in this world!? Why don't you send help!?"
And He responded to him "I did. I sent YOU."
Enjoy the world around you today. He is there......see if you can find someone to help.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Moving On
The election is over, the votes have been tallied and we have a new President. It is certainly a history making election. We will have the first black President of the United States. I believe that this says volumes about this country and it's people. We have come a long way from when I was a young boy and the civil rights movement was in full swing.
I grew up in northern Illinois and now live in Atlanta, the home of Martin Luther King, Jr. I have seen both the north and the south. While people would lead you to believe that the major racial issues were in the south don't let them fool you. There has always been just as much prejudice in the north, sometimes and someplaces even more. I grew up in a small farming town of 12,000 people, Kewanee, and it was the largest town in the county. As such we had 100% of all the black population in the county. There was a nearby small town that still had a law on the books that a black person could not be seen on the streets of the town after dark.
My mother had a great faith in God and taught my sister, brother, and I that you should treat each person as just that, an individual person. That in God's eyes we are all equal, all His children, and that He certainly loves us equally whether we want to look at each other that way or not. In reality she taught us to "Judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin" long before Dr. King made that statement. To this day I believe that statement sums up the whole issue very neatly, and was the most important statement he made.
I was very fortunate to have a significant number of black friends growing up and still do to this day. One very close and dear one who I count as true brother to this day. I can still very vividly remember the day that Dr. King was shot and killed. We were in high school. I remember the anguish, the emotional pain, and the terrible hurt that my friend, my brother, went through. I shared that feeling with him in that I truly understood what a horrible, tragic, event it was. To know that we were a country of so much hatred was so troubling and depressing. I have always thought it so terribly sad that there are so many people who feel so badly about themselves that they have to have that kind of hate against other people to make themselves feel better.
I don't agree with President elect Obama's policies. I did not vote for him, not because of the color of his skin, but because I don't agree with the content of his character, and the things that I hear him say he wants to do. I am very realistic in the fact that President Bush has made mistakes. But the vitriol and hatred that has been directed his way is really beyond my understanding. Fortunately he has big shoulders. I think, I hope, that someday he will be judged by the content of his character, which I believe is very strong and grounded in faith, during the difficult times he has faced.
While I don't agree with President elect Obama's politics, he is now our president, my president. And I will stand behind him, pray for him, pray for this country, and this world. We face very difficult times ahead. This country and it's people have always been very resiliant, very strong. Now is the time for all of us to come together, work together, as one nation, to solve and work through the issues that face us. I will be doing what I can, where I can, and thanking God every day that he allowed me to be born in the greatest country on the planet.
I grew up in northern Illinois and now live in Atlanta, the home of Martin Luther King, Jr. I have seen both the north and the south. While people would lead you to believe that the major racial issues were in the south don't let them fool you. There has always been just as much prejudice in the north, sometimes and someplaces even more. I grew up in a small farming town of 12,000 people, Kewanee, and it was the largest town in the county. As such we had 100% of all the black population in the county. There was a nearby small town that still had a law on the books that a black person could not be seen on the streets of the town after dark.
My mother had a great faith in God and taught my sister, brother, and I that you should treat each person as just that, an individual person. That in God's eyes we are all equal, all His children, and that He certainly loves us equally whether we want to look at each other that way or not. In reality she taught us to "Judge people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin" long before Dr. King made that statement. To this day I believe that statement sums up the whole issue very neatly, and was the most important statement he made.
I was very fortunate to have a significant number of black friends growing up and still do to this day. One very close and dear one who I count as true brother to this day. I can still very vividly remember the day that Dr. King was shot and killed. We were in high school. I remember the anguish, the emotional pain, and the terrible hurt that my friend, my brother, went through. I shared that feeling with him in that I truly understood what a horrible, tragic, event it was. To know that we were a country of so much hatred was so troubling and depressing. I have always thought it so terribly sad that there are so many people who feel so badly about themselves that they have to have that kind of hate against other people to make themselves feel better.
I don't agree with President elect Obama's policies. I did not vote for him, not because of the color of his skin, but because I don't agree with the content of his character, and the things that I hear him say he wants to do. I am very realistic in the fact that President Bush has made mistakes. But the vitriol and hatred that has been directed his way is really beyond my understanding. Fortunately he has big shoulders. I think, I hope, that someday he will be judged by the content of his character, which I believe is very strong and grounded in faith, during the difficult times he has faced.
While I don't agree with President elect Obama's politics, he is now our president, my president. And I will stand behind him, pray for him, pray for this country, and this world. We face very difficult times ahead. This country and it's people have always been very resiliant, very strong. Now is the time for all of us to come together, work together, as one nation, to solve and work through the issues that face us. I will be doing what I can, where I can, and thanking God every day that he allowed me to be born in the greatest country on the planet.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A Historical Day
I think putting things on here and figuring this out is going to be kind of fun. We will see. Of course at the moment it is just for me, playing around with it, but that's o.k.
Today is a special day. An election is being held that will make history. The first African American will be elected President or the first female will be elected Vice-President. It is the end to a VERY long campaign season which has been, in most cases, politics as usual. Name calling, untruths, mud splattered everywhere. In reality we listen to what the candidates tell us and make a decision, but what is actually done when they get into office is very often entirely different than what they told us they would do. Part of that is because the President doesn't have ultimate power, and thank God for that. The checks and balances were put in place by the founders of this country for a reason.
But if a President is elected that also has a Congress dominated by his own party, and much of that party has the same ideology as the President, then a lot of things can change. My hope is that no matter who is elected, both as President and as members of Congress, will keep in mind that they are there to SERVE, not to command. The country at this point is in trouble, not only at home, but within the world at large. We all have to come together for the SURVIVAL of this country as we know it. The survival of freedom and ideals that have always made this country the stongest on earth. The one that people want to come to.
I hope that everyone that is eligible votes. I hope and pray that we will all get through the difficult times that face us, not only in the economy, but in the war on terror and the emerging issues of Iran, Russia, the African continent, and the global issues that we all face. While we have been mesmerized by the election process have we noticed that Russia is re-establishing their ties and support for Cuba as well as joining in military excercises and weapons sales to Venezuela?
We do truly need to get beyond this election and get to the business of addressing the issues that face us. We are a very resiliant people and when faced with adversity we have always overcome it. We need to start that process now, because much adversity is staring us in the face.
Today is a special day. An election is being held that will make history. The first African American will be elected President or the first female will be elected Vice-President. It is the end to a VERY long campaign season which has been, in most cases, politics as usual. Name calling, untruths, mud splattered everywhere. In reality we listen to what the candidates tell us and make a decision, but what is actually done when they get into office is very often entirely different than what they told us they would do. Part of that is because the President doesn't have ultimate power, and thank God for that. The checks and balances were put in place by the founders of this country for a reason.
But if a President is elected that also has a Congress dominated by his own party, and much of that party has the same ideology as the President, then a lot of things can change. My hope is that no matter who is elected, both as President and as members of Congress, will keep in mind that they are there to SERVE, not to command. The country at this point is in trouble, not only at home, but within the world at large. We all have to come together for the SURVIVAL of this country as we know it. The survival of freedom and ideals that have always made this country the stongest on earth. The one that people want to come to.
I hope that everyone that is eligible votes. I hope and pray that we will all get through the difficult times that face us, not only in the economy, but in the war on terror and the emerging issues of Iran, Russia, the African continent, and the global issues that we all face. While we have been mesmerized by the election process have we noticed that Russia is re-establishing their ties and support for Cuba as well as joining in military excercises and weapons sales to Venezuela?
We do truly need to get beyond this election and get to the business of addressing the issues that face us. We are a very resiliant people and when faced with adversity we have always overcome it. We need to start that process now, because much adversity is staring us in the face.
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