WIDESPEAD PANIC

WE'VE GOT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE POPULATION OUT IN RIGHT-WING LA-LA LAND, WONDERING WHO THEY CAN SCREW NEXT. THEY AIN'T GOT A CLUE. THEY LISTEN TO POLITICIANS WHO WILL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE THEMSELVES RICHER AND THE REST OF US POORER. BUT THEY HOOT AND HOLLER FOR THEM AND WAVE THE FLAG AND SING THE SONG. IT'S AMAZING HOW FAR ROBOTICS HAS COME. ANOTHER THIRD OF THE POPULATION REALLY DON'T GIVE A SHIT. THEY ARE BEAT DOWN. THEY GAVE UP LONG AGO. THEY'RE SCREWED AND THEY KNOW IT. THEY CAN'T EVEN GET IT UP FOR A FIGHT. THEY'RE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. OH, THEY WILL BITCH AND MOAN AT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, BUT THEY WON'T TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THE TV TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ARE PERMANENTLY DEPRESSED AND SATISFIED TAKING ANTI-DEPRESSANTS. THAT LEAVES ABOUT A THIRD OF US TO DO THE WORK REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A DEMOCRACY. I GET SO MANY REQUESTS FOR TIME AND MONEY THAT I CAN'T POSSIBLY KEEP UP. SOME DAYS IT GETS OVERWHELMING, BUT I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT I, OR RATHER WE, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

JUSTICE

JUSTICE. ONE OF LIFE'S FINER PURCHASES. FINE WINE. SUPER-SIZED HOMES. A LEXUS. ROLEX WATCH. THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS COLLEGES. EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.

CHEAP LABOR

CHEAP LABOR. CORPORATIONS LOVE IT. CAPITALISM LOVES IT. BUT I REPEAT MYSELF. MINIMUM NOTHING ADDS UP TO NOTHING. CEO's SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT. IN BIGGER HOMES. FANCY CARS. EXOTIC EXPLOITATION.

PEEVER LAW #26

NO MATTER WHAT YOUR STATUS IN LIFE, KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO TELL THEM TO KISS YOUR ASS.

BENEDICTION

I’VE WALKED OUT THESE DOORS A LOT OF TIMES.

I’VE ALWAYS COME BACK, SEARCHING, LONGING, WONDERING.

STILL, IT ALLUDES ME.

AS I WALK OUT THE DOOR, IS TODAY THE DAY?

DID IT FINALLY SINK IN THAT IT IS ME WHO HAS TO CHANGE, NOT THE WORLD.

SUNDAY MORNING HYMN: Marc Broussard - Edge of Heaven

SUNDAY MORNING SERMON: I CAME BACK HAUNTED

It was 18 yrs. ago I had a heart attack. It wasn't bad, but did require open heart surgery. No problem until 10 weeks later. A massive sternal staph infection. They called my family in twice, thinking I was about to die. But I came back haunted.

• After being out for 8 days with a 105.8 degree temperature, no one was for sure if my brain hadn't been fried. As luck would have it, I'm the same left handed, left leaning goofball I was, minus a bit of memory. Unfortunately, I can still remember all my failings. Just the luck.
• You get to wondering why you were spared? I haven't come up with really a whole lot. I haven't turned over any new leaves, to speak of. I did decide to finish 18 hrs of credit in seminary to finish a theology degree I started in 1971. My first course was hard. I forgot how demanding and time consuming graduate courses can be. My professor took it really seriously. More serious than I was hoping. Still, I managed an A. Actually, it was credit with distinction. No letter grades. First time I've ever done anything with distinction. It felt pretty good. Course number 2 was a writing course: creative nonfiction. This is useful for ministers, what with sermons, prayers, bulletins. It was great, but again, hard. I did learn a lot. After two courses, I'm  currently resting. Four to go.
• I am trying to use my time in a more useful and effective way. I volunteer on Tuesday and Thursday at the food bank in Hot Springs. I mainly load food as providers come in to pick it up. The work can be a little heavy, but so far I've managed. I enjoy meeting all the providers of service. Sure a lot of good people. I'm thinking of changing one day, or adding one day, to serving meals at the Salvation Army. I miss the contact with people receiving services. It makes me feel uncomfortable seeing so many people in need, which I prefer over getting naive' and comfortable with the status quo. I feel more useful and in touch with the community when I'm right there.
• I am, unfortunately, getting less and less tolerant with all the right-wing nonsense going on. It all seems pretty hateful and racist oriented to me. I channel my frustration into writing, which helps. Where these people are coming from is a place I have never been, thank God. I'm glad I came back haunted. Not only am I haunted about what might happen when you die, I am haunted about what might happen when you live.

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER

You are the God who feeds and nourishes.
You are the God who assures that we have more than enough,
  and we do not doubt that
  you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Even in such an assurance, however,
   we scramble for more food,
   After we have filled all our baskets
               with manna,
   we seek a surplus---
       enough education to plan ahead,
       enough power to protect our supply,
       enough oil to assure that protection.

And in the midst of that
        comes your word,
      that we share bread and feed the hungry,
         even to the least and so to you.
We mostly keep our bread for ourselves,
                                                our neighbors,
                                                and our friends.

It does not occur to us often,
        to feel our enemies,
        to share your bounty with
                    those who threaten us.

We do not often remember to break vicious cycles
      of hostility
           by free bread,
           by free water,
           by free wine,
           by free milk.
Until we remember that you are the giver of all good gifts,
                                                 ours to enjoy,
                                                  ours to share.

Stir us by your spirit beyond fearful accumulation
         toward outrageous generosity,
      that giving bread to others
              makes for peace,
      that giving drink to others
               makes for justice,
      that giving and sharing opens the world
               and assures abundance for all.

We pray this even as we ponder the gift of your Son,
    whom we ingest as bread and wine,
         and tasting, find ourselves
               forgiven and renewed.
    Feed us till we want no more!

Prayers for a Privileged People, Walter Brueggemann