Friends

The older I get, the more I appreciate the intangible over the tangible. I defintely don't need any more "stuff" and realize that the "valuables" in my life are the friends that add the color, comfort, and comedy to a life that, at times, may be stretched to its limits.

Old friends don't need any explanations. They have watched it happen and just a word or two brings them up to date. New friends encourage me to look beyond and venture out. There is no history so I don't have to make excuses or explain. But I love it when new friends slide into that comfort zone of familiarity and the camaraderie is easy as our lives meld together. Then all that is necessary is a nod, a look, a touch on the hand. Thank you, my friend.

Scott Brown

Don't you love it when something seemingly impossible happens? The election this week proved that "change" is not all about the Democrats. Voters are paying attention. I don't live in Massachusetts and really didn't pay much attention to the race until it got tight. As a conservative, the sting of the Obama policies for the last year have been very disheartening. It's easy to get discouraged and hopeless, even as we bombard our elected officials with calls, letters, emails and faxes with little affect. But that all changed on Tuesday. The ancient verse, "Without a vision, the people perish" reminds me that we need to get out there and speak up, have ideas, look for answers. Our children and grandchildren are worth the effort.

The Blind Side

I love it when a good, heartwarming movie does well. The Blind Side has been on my to-do list for several weeks but with Christmas and travel, I couldn't find a day to go. Finally, today, I took Mark with me and we squeezed into the filled theater to watch it. My soggy kleenex is testimony to the fact it was a heart tugger. But, I appreciated even more the story of a family's willingness to go the extra mile and show love to someone of a different color and background. Michael Oher had nothing to offer and little hope but with the love and encouragement of the Tuohy family, his life turned around and his future is bright. I encourage you to check it out this weekend. It's a great way to start the New Year.

Ready to Discredit

I read several blogs, news sites, and commentary each day. I notice that Sarah Palin's book, Going Rogue, has barely hit the book stores and many in the liberal press already have an opinion or her veracity and political viability. My order of her book has not yet hit my mailbox so I can only comment on the few excerpts I have read online but I would encourage all of us to read the whole story rather than bits and pieces. The negative bias toward her is palpable but which book is at the top of the best seller's list? Ordinary folks love Sarah even if they don't agree with all that she says or does but despise the unfair and often, ugly, treatment that she endures.

Teddy

I watched the mass of Christian burial for Ted Kennedy this morning, not as a fan but more out of curiosity. I haven't attended many funerals and not being Catholic, I was fascinated by the process as much as anything else. It struck me as I listened to the comments by the presiding priest that he had confused some of the Biblical passages. He mentioned that during his life, Senator Kennedy had sought to alleviate the plight of the poor, oppressed and downtrodden as taught by the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. I wondered if we were reading the same books of the Bible since I just finished reading Isaiah and almost through Jeremiah. The people of Israel were reaping the consequences for their bad behavior as reported in these books. Their death and destruction was only as a last resort after God had offered them relief if they would only turn away from their sins and worship of idols. But, they refused. Their stubbornness resulted in widespread slaughter in order to cleanse the land of evil and filthy practices. He said again and again that He alone would bind up the wounded and restore the land and prosperity to the nation of Israel. We can't do it and in fact are told to leave it alone. There are other references throughout the Bible about taking care of those in need but the prophets mentioned had other instructions. Making verses fit political situations is a dangerous undertaking.