Morning Reading . . .
I returned from holiday deeper into Bruce Springsteen’s book, Born to Run, appreciating his raw honesty, and having a better understanding of the backdrop of how he creates the lyrics of his music. The cruise this year was more like the Enterprise, a community of people who share something in common, but whose religious ritual practices, or not, were private. In years past, Christian and Jewish holy days were publicly recognized, but that is during Passover or Holy Week. The retired Catholic priest onboard was not very visible. The Ash Wednesday service was early in the morning and primarily for the crew. No mention of the beginning of Lent. No ash smudge on foreheads. The sea pass card is the important identifier as well as what area of the ship you spent your days and nights.
Much of the cruise industry has embraced the need of being tethered to our devices. Passengers could pay $249 for unlimited time on the seven day cruise. Actually, that’s a deal when one considers that 24hrs of access was $36 and an hour $18. Of course, the speed of the internet depends on the position of the ship, the satellite, and the weather. The same is true for the TV in the cabin. I tried this year to untether from my devices (phone and laptop), but alas I did check email a couple of times. The afternoon of Feb 14, the news of the school shooting made it to our cabin via the TV. The BBC World reported the facts as they were known at the time. MSNBC, Fox, and CNN reported facts and, as their shtick requires, embellished on politics, intent and reaction. There was some talk between persons that I could overhear at dinner tables and in passing persons in hallways around the ship about the shooting. Our table discussed it, not at length, but as we could even though we were like minded about assault weapons in our society. There is no holiday from my vocation.
Social media has programmed those that use it, and are used by it, to respond otherwise appear to be insensitive, unattached, or uninformed though there is so much misinformation in social media. Likes. Tweets and Retweets. Stories. Timelines. I don’t imbibe when I’m angry or sad. I don’t effuse on social media when I’m angry or sad, at least I try not. If I could only apply this discipline to TCU football and the Cubs. Better to go to an empty place and howl at the moon. Social media is not an empty space. Of these shootings, again, my “thoughts and prayers” are focused on the politicians with the power to act that choose to do nothing or are too afraid to try, anything, something that makes sense. Assault weapons are made for killing people. They are not made for hunting game or sport shooting. They are made to kill or injure with extreme prejudice and do not belong in civil society. AR-15’s and other weapons like it are military weapons for a time when diplomacy fails. Each day military weapons are allowed into the hands of our citizens democracy is not defended. It is diminished. We return to the “old west” and that was such a good time?
Our core values are among our greatest assets. What are some of my values?
The Daily Question, Gratefulness.org (Feb 22, 2018)
If Our Leaders Won’t Lead, Our Children Will
Jim Wallis, Sojo.net (Feb 22, 2018)
What ‘Black Panther’ Means for Christians
Esau McCaulley, ChristianityToday.com (Feb 20, 2018)
Billy Graham’s Legacy Is Conflating White Christianity And Patriotism
Lyz Lenz, Huffpost Opinion (Feb 22, 2018)
Billy Graham’s legacy for Christians, evangelical and otherwise
Grant Wacker, ChristianCentury.org (Feb 21, 2018)
March For Our Lives
marchforourlives.com
Is tech dividing America?
Nancy Scola, “The Agenda,” Politico.com (Feb 7, 2018)