Use What You Got

My son used to look way younger than he was.  It caused some issues with his career.  For years he was compared to Doogie Houser.  But, like Doogie, he was good at what he did.

About 15 years ago, he went to South Florida to consult with a large retail store about how they could increase sales.  He took his family with him.

Early in the day he took his baby for a walk - and then decided he'd go by this store.

So in walks this guy, wearing a front facing, occupied Baby Bjorn,  baggy jeans and tee shirt.    He's in his early 30s but looks like a dorky, bad decision making, 16 year old.  He goes directly to the baby department to look at cribs and other big ticket baby items.  But the sales people would not give him the time of day.

That afternoon, properly dressed, he had his meeting with this store's executives.  And, of course, he shared his shopping experience that took place earlier in the day.

I remember this story today because I think it's a lesson for us at this time to be proactive in our care for others.  For us older and (hopefully) wiser folks who've survived our share of tragedies, we need to first, stay home, but be calm and kind, even if we seem weird, when the people around us are freaking out and doing crazy stuff.

In other words, use what we got!

Did I say that my son was "wearing" his baby?


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Love and Bravery in the Time of Coronavirus

A couple of days ago, I  got out my Rosie the Riveter jigsaw puzzle.  It's one of my favorites and something to do these days while I'm listening to NPR.

During World War II Rosie was a cultural icon symbolizing women across the country who replaced our men who went off to the war by working in factories across the nation, producing tanks, ships, planes, etc.

Yesterday I asked my soon to be 16 year old granddaughter if she'd ever heard of Rosie.  She had not.  But we know that bad times bring out the best in many of us.  It's helping me, everyday, to read and hear about our current heroes.  Mostly medical folks, of course, but so many others who are doing their best to keep us safe.  Hard, scary times help us figure out who we are and who we want to be.

That's a great reason in itself for those of us who can't do much to at least behave ourselves - and do the best we can to help others in small ways.  It all counts.

After the war, the Rosies pretended they didn't know how build airplanes and returned to their former lives as homemakers and become what we later referred to as "50's Housewives."

And that is how all you boomers got here.


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Is God Punishing Us?

Seems like mostly caring and concerned folk all over the world are trying to help us rid ourselves of the coronavirus.    But I continue to see things everyday that suggest God is punishing us.  This happens whenever there is a significant tragedy.  Like hurricanes, and other natural disasters, they suggest God is out to get us.  Our current situation dovetails into this kind of pronouncement.

It's hard for us to handle the fact that our relationship with a higher power  is shrouded in mystery, as this cartoon from this week's New Yorker suggests.

So my question to you and to myself is, "Did God give us the virus?"  Is that how God operates?  Is this the nature of God?

A few of our religious leaders around world are suggesting that God gave us this virus.  And some of our television evangelists are trying to sell us (the chosen few) expensive elixirs that will supposedly keep us safe.

 Here's my take.  No.  I don't believe that's the way the God of the universe operates.  Many if not most of the catastrophes in the world are cause by us - not God.  In my eyes the only questionable thing he did was to give us free will.  So we bumble along making messes in our personal lives and beyond.  

But, on the other hand, we've scored major accomplishments for the good of humanity.

Here's what I continue to believe: God is not fear.  God is love.  God empowers us to do good.  And we see this good playing out in new and powerful ways every single day.

I hope that when this crisis is over we'll be able to step back and evaluate what was botched and what was done well.  That's the nature of problem solving.  Placing blame is not the most important thing.  And placing blame on God is ridiculous.

But I firmly believe that God has given US the knowledge and power to make life on this planet  sweet.  So here's a big thanks to all of you who are "Running to the Fire" in ways we would not have even dreamed of a week ago.


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Sack Lunch Bunch

Do you know who tells the truth?  Drunks and children - John Mulaney

I love watching comedian John Mulaney.   His stand up act is comprised primarily of intricately composed vignettes, some of them about children who intimidate him and his firm stance on wanting kids.

So why did he do this special for Netflix?   Is it ironic as one kid suggests?  It's kind of like a kids variety show like Sesame Street.  But is it for kids?   It's full of existential anxieties and fears and some of it's R rated.

David Byrne and friend

But the kids are fine.  It's the adults who are messed up.  Here are a few of my favorite parts:

 * The song, "Grandma Has a Boyfriend and his name is Paul," Of course you understand why I like it.)

 * This is followed by a story titled "Sasha's Dad Does Drag."  (It's sad but not for the reason you think.)

 *  74 year old Broadway musical performer Andre De Shields (with eye patch)  and kids, do a bang up job of singing and dancing in a skit that has De Shields, as a math tutor, explaining how he lost his eye.  The explanation makes no sense but it's highly entertaining.

Jake Gyllenhaal, A K A
Mr. Music

 * Another one has David Byrne (that guy who performs in a grey suit but no shoes) and one of the girls telling adults to put their phones down and pay attention the their kids.

 * Richard Kind tells the kids his favorite movie is "Witness for the Prosecution."  Don't know why this was so funny to me.  Maybe it's just ironic.

 * Then there's a song in the rain where a kid helps a grown up woman, played by Annaleigh Ashford, who can't stop crying.

 * The very last song is done by totally inept and manic Jake Gyllenhaal, as Mr. Music, telling these super talented children how to make music.  Isn't this ironic?  What a great finish.

  So if you're interested in a variety show with super talented kids and adults who might help you pay more attention, check out John Mulaney and The Sack Lunch Bunch on Netflix.


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Sensory Overload

While my health continues to get better,  I still have a variety of symptoms.  One of them is sensory overload.   I belong to an international group of Meniere's suffers and, awhile back, we were asked to describe what sensory overload feels like.  Here are a few responses:

It's like when your computer freezes because there are too many tasks open or a task is stuck.


Do you remember the movie "Bruce Almighty"?  He was receiving prayer requests by hearing them in his head as they occurred, hundreds at a time.  They became jumbled, and he became frustrated and couldn't make sense of any of them.  Sensory overload is like that.  Everything is coming at me at once, but it seems I'm the only one noticing.    -  Meredith

Jenalyn


Background noise often causes sensory overload between me and whoever is talking to me.  It takes intense concentration to get through the multiple barriers.  It's exhausting and eventually causes tremendous stress, like I'm having a heart attack.  -  Cess


As I walked on stage it sounded like a jet engine going on.  It's literally a noise.  It's cacophony.

- Huey

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A Being and Doing Reminder

One of my favorite quotes from one of my favorite books is:

If  you know who you are you'll know what to do.

My time in church yesterday morning was an exciting reminder of both concepts - Being and Doing.

Dr. Jean Raffa

First  in Forum, our speaker was Jean Raffa.  Jean is an expert on getting to know and understand ourselves.  (Look up her website.)  Jean is a "Jungian."  Carl Jung and Sigmund Fraud were pals but differed a bit on what makes us - us!  Jung believed what we think we know about ourselves (our ego) is only a small part of who we are compared to our unconscious selves.  So I should spend some time getting to know the current me.  (Jung was big on dream interpretations.)

As you know, I'm not a big woo-woo person but I think Jean and Carl are right on.

After Forum I met up with our minister, David, and he introduced me to this unpretentious man who was to be our speaker in worship.  I recognized him but couldn't put my finger on who he was.

It was Dr. Gary Mason.  He's a United Methodist Minister but so much more.  Like he's a global peace maker.  Most notably in Ireland but also has been part of the Israel, Palestine crisis and many others.  Much of his involvement is quiet.  (Therefore it requires a mature ego.)  He heads up an organization called "Rethinking Conflict."  (Look up his website.)

Dr. Gary Mason

Here's a quote from yesterday's sermon:  Leadership is NOT about being popular.  It's about doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

In other words, If you know who you are you'll know what to do.



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