​Please tickle my heart and my mind
 
Early this morning a friend texted me something which he knew would challenge some of my political views. Other friends frequently challenge me to think outside of my tiny box of thoughts.   
 
Also, this morning I listened for the third time to the October 11, 2018 conversation between Krista Tippett, host of On Being, Erick Erickson and Sally Kohn.  Mr. Erickson is “editor of the conservative blog, The Resurgent, He’s the author of Before You Wake:  Life Lesson from a Father to His Children.”   Ms. Kohn “is a progressive columnist and political commentator for CNN…. She hosts the podcast, State of Resistance.  She’s the author of The Opposite of Hate:  A Field Guide to Repairing Our Humanity.”
 
I listened to this particular conversation for the third time because:
 

• The first time I listen I mainly hear the words and the chatter in my head.
• The second time I begin to hear or read beneath the words and the chatter in my head.
• The third time I begin to like and appreciate the person who is talking or writing which increases the chances of “hearing” them.

 
I urge the reader to listen and then to listen again to this conversation.  I will warn the listener to be careful as they might like these three people. Indeed, there is much to like and even admire about all three of them.   I am not surprised that I do since I have long experienced liking and respecting many of those who believe that the road to healing in this country; the road to spiritual growth is a much different than the one I often envision.
 
A part of me takes great comfort in the illusion of being right or knowing the moral/ethical path to take.   For example, I cannot imagine taking the life of another person and, yet, as I read again of the millions of people being killed – of the genocides – during WWII I am hard pressed to articulate a response which did not require or involve stopping those doing the mass killings and other forms of abuse with violence.  I know, of course, this may be limited vision on my part. I can easily, from the perspective of this distance, identify preceding behavior of all the parties which could have been kinder, more just and much less arrogant.  Yet, once one reaches the point of the gas chambers can non-violence really work?
 
I have many passionate opinions, hopes and some would say illusions and delusions.  I desperately need to believe that all of us are better than our worst behavior.  I need to believe that there is a kernel of solid goodness beneath the fear which underpins much of the behavior that I find unkind or even unacceptable.   Yet, I am not arrogant enough to believe that I alone have been chosen to bring the absolute truths to those others who may think that they have been chosen to bring absolute truth.   Knowing this, I can still get trapped in my opinions and beliefs and in my need to be right- to believe I know what is right!
 
Perhaps when we tickle each other minds from a place of love we can each come closer to creating a place which is kinder, more accepting of differences and similarities, and see a way to take the next step of this journey together. 
 
Please, everyone, keep tickling my mind and heart. I will also promise to tickle yours.
 
Written October 18, 2018
 

​Education
 
I have been thinking a lot about the purpose of educating children in a system which requires most of them to be in a classroom setting for many hours a day.  Schools in the United States address multiple needs of the students including:
 

• Child care – even for those children who grow up in a home with two healthy parents often both parents work outside of the home.  
• Nutrition – It seems as if more schools are feeding the children a minimum of two meals a day. There is also a greater awareness of the need for healthy food and not just calories.
• Learning basic skills which can be used to manage one’s personal and work life.
• More recently, as an effort to reduce addictive behavior later in life, some schools are teaching problem solving skills.
• Identify and refer for treatment mental health and learning disabilities issues.
• An introduction to and at times intensive opportunities to explore creative expression – music, art, drama, debate and writing.
• Teach skills for functioning as part of a team while maintaining individuality although sometimes we may be teaching that winning at any cost is important.
• Skills such as welding, automobile mechanics, wood working and the culinary arts.
• Parenting skills – some school have a nursey for the children of the students and strive to teach parenting skills.
• Keeping children physically safe.

 
Obviously, we are expecting our schools to do a lot of jobs; often with a minimum amount of money and other resources.   It is common knowledge the amount of money and other resources available will vary with the source of founding and the relative wealth of the neighborhood or area in which the schools are located. 
 
Given the breath of the mission of the school systems, one might think that children are well prepared to integrate into the larger society when they leave school.  Yet, addiction to alcohol and other drugs, mental illness, and a general dissatisfaction with life seems to be more prevalent.  We must ask ourselves what we are missing.  Surely we cannot ask the schools to do more than they are already doing.   Staff are often grossly underpaid and live with a tenuous commitment that they will have access to quality health care and retirement benefits.   Obviously access to quality health care, the ability to retire and have access to basic necessities are a concern for the majority of people in the United States – all those who are not part of the one percent or who do not live in an intentional community where individuals take care of each other.
 
Individuals in many countries, including the United States, are living longer, many of whom will require assisted living facilities or nursing home care. The cost of such care is well beyond the reach of the average person.  If one is poor enough that care might be covered by public insurance such as Medicaid, but states are already struggling with meeting the cost of those program.
 
How do we as a community – as a country – began to reexamine the purpose of our educational system?
 
What are the questions we need to be asking ourselves?   What are the questions to which our children crave the answers?  I suspect that the children are already telling us is we are listening carefully.  These questions include:
 

• What is the purpose of this life journey? Is there more to life than making money, having a family, paying bills, doing chores and taking temporary breaks with drugs, alcohol, video games, hobbies, or other activity?
• Why do so many of us feel so disconnected even when we spend a lot of our school or work day with many other people.
• What values are important?  How do we know what is right and wrong?
• Why are so many adults who have “good” educations and good jobs so busy and seemingly unhappy?
• How do we help children and adults explore values if they are not adopting a fixed set from some religious group?

 
In other words, education makes a difference when we are learning how to design and live a more purposeful, fun and fulfilling life.
 
 
Written October 17, 2018
 
 
 
 
 

​The grand pretense
 
Who does not know that approximately one is five people in the United States experiences mental illness in a given year?  Who does not know that at least one is twenty-five people in the United States lives with a serious mental illness?  Who does not know that at least 20 % of those in state and local jails live with a mental illness?  (This figure is probably much higher if all are accurately diagnosed.)    Who did not know that at least 26% of the homeless live with a mental illness?   (for a full list of 2015 estimates check out Nami figures on their website)
 
Who did not know that pornography is a multi-billion-dollar industry?  Who did not know that according to safefamilies.org more that 70% of male internet users aged 18-34 visit a porn sign in a month?  Who did not know that some studies indicate that as many as 4% of adult males admit to visiting a child porn site?
 
Who did not know that as of 2016 there were over 800,000 registered sex offenders in the United States?
 
Who did not know that children and adults are sexual beings? The sexual drive of individuals may vary, but most humans have a drive to be sexual?
 
Who did not know that most humans crave/need physical intimacy even if that intimacy is with a stranger?
 
All of these figures may be approximations, but if one searches a variety of resources one will find that these figures are well within the estimates of professionals who track and study these questions.
 
My point is that we, as a society in the United States and around the world, need to ask why there is such a disparity between the rules/mores or laws of communities and the actual behavior of a great many of humans no matter what our education, roles, or religious beliefs. We know that telling individuals not to be mentally ill, not to experiment with recreational drugs, not to act out sexually, not to engage in sexual behavior which various communities define as deviant does not work.  We know that telling those with compulsive desires to act out sexually does not work.
 
We also know that pointing fingers, labeling a large group of people as criminals and locking them up and/or spending millions to track them does not curtail behavior which is defined as deviant or criminal.  Yet, the reaction to the latest revelations about the sexual activity of Catholic priests, the outing of many of those whose behavior is now considered sexual harassment, abuse or at the very least inappropriate would lead one to think that one did not know of this disparity.    
 
I have often suggested that we are all complicit in pretending that we, as a culture, are doing a good job of dealing with the reality of who we are in terms of mental illness, substance abuse, and sexuality.
 
We can pretend as if most of us obey the stated rules for sexual activity or are more mentally healthy than we are.  We can pretend as if it is only Catholic priests who struggle with their sexual feelings/urges or addictive disorders.  We can continue to pretend as if we have designed a culture which results in optimal mental health
 
I am suggesting that we all take responsibility for our complicity in creating the current illusions about who we are as a society, resolve to quit feeding the illusions and begin to explore how we can create a society which is more conducive to mental health and honoring such issues as our sexuality.  Obviously, we are not going to create a perfect society, but I do believe we can do better and that better starts with honesty about who we are and what we know.   We can, I believe, reduce and better treat mental illness. We can reduce sexual abuse and harassment.  We can better protect our children.  Our current approach to all of these important concerns is not working.
 
Written October 16, 2018
 
 
 

​The next right thing
 
One of the core rules for life which I think I learned as child was that one did the next right thing because it was the right thing to do.  I also seemed to have learned:
 

• Good people often disagree about what is right or wrong, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical.
• The only thing one owns is one’s integrity. It cannot be taken away from one, but one can choose to give it away.
• One must decide what is right, moral or ethical while staying open to new information which could affect one’s opinion.
• Life is very brief.  Do all with love.
• Always give thanks to animals and plants for providing substance. 
• Only take what you need and leave the rest for others.
• All human life is sacred.
• Lead by example
• Two wrongs do not make a right.
• Do unto other what you would have them do unto you.

 
I am hard pressed to say which of these adopted truths came from my parents, teachers, other relatives, authors I read, pastors/theologians or others. I just know that at an early age I seemed to have strong feelings and opinions about what behavior was right and what was wrong.  I have, for example, previously written about my first experience in using racism to avoid punishment for something I did at age 5.  I immediately “knew” I had done something very wrong.   Guilt and shame pressed down on me for many years.
 
Although I was a member of the United States Navy for 4 years and am today very grateful for veteran health benefits, I never did understand why killing was a moral or effective way to stop killing.  As a mental health provider, I certainly, as an adult, understand that it is necessary to restrain those whose minds are incapable (temporarily or permanently) of considering the needs of others.  The restrain has to be done with love and respect.
 
I am reading Georgia Hunter’s novel We Were the Lucky Ones which is based on the experiences of a real family during the horrible atrocities committed during WWII. It is not difficult to justify the use of violence to stop the extermination of millions of people merely because they were deemed to be of a certain religion, sexual orientation, mental status, possessed of a certain intelligence or otherwise undesirable characteristics or history.   Historians such a Vera Brittan remind one that if one wants to truly understand WWII one must look at post WWI behavior of the Allies and if one wants to understand WWI one must study history prior to that war.
 
I would like to believe that humans can figure out a way to live together which honors the sacredness of all of life while accepting and dealing with the strengths and limitations of all of us. Although it may seem as if humans have made no progress in that direction, statistical evidence is that worldwide violence has greatly decreased in recent decades.  We can, I believe, do even better.
 
Fortunately, we live in a time when we have ways to stop violence without resorting to the use of weapons which are usually lethal.  (Even stunt guns can, on occasion, result in death but far less often then bullets designed to kill.)  Unfortunately, we have yet to quit justifying the use of lethal force.   We have not, as a race of people agreed that there are alternative to violence, that there are no evil people or that punishment negatively affects all of us and does nothing to create a more just, safer community.  We have also not accepted that short term gratification or benefits   do not outweigh the benefits of doing the next right thing because it is the next right thing to do.
 
If one allows for option A often one might not think of or discover option B.  Two recent example are:
 

• President Trump stating that no matter what the leaders of Saudi Arabia are doing in Yemen or might have done with a journalist who was critical of the Saudi regime, the United States cannot afford to give up the manufacturing jobs created as a result of selling arms to the Saudi Arabia government. See Alexander Bolton’s article of 10/13/18 entitled “Trump Defends 110 Billion U. S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia” (thehill.com)
• The decision by some states and school districts to arm trained teachers in the public schools.

 
It would seem that the ethical or moral rule de jour is:
 

• If one is providing enough employment the product is immaterial. Could this argument be used to support drug cartels, child pornography, or other products for which we now kill or imprison people.   Clearly there are many business enterprises which employ a number of individuals.
• If a person or persons are in danger or believe that they are in danger, then it is okay to use lethal force.    The same argument seems to be used by legitimate and rogue government officials. Both may believe that they are called by the God of their understanding to kill the bad person. 

 
It is not my intention in this brief blog to state what is moral, just or the right thing to do.  It is my intention to suggest that these sorts of debates or discussions should be taking place at every level of education.  We need to give children the tools they need to ask and debate the really tough questions which face humans every day.  We need to know or decide if there are any behaviors which are right, moral, ethical and just for all of us?   Is there any behavior which is right just because it is right?


Written October 15, 2018

Sunday Musings – October 14, 2018
 
On this brisk, cool fall morning here in West Virginia one might think that all is right with the world.  In many respect, all is right with my little corner of the world.  I have a safe, warm home with a fully stocked refrigerator, a body which is healthy enough to take care of my home and myself, loving friends close by and the luxury of time, energy and conditions to contemplate what it might mean to be a contributing, ethical person.   Whether or not I attend a religious service it is incumbent to review how I spent my time and energy this past week and what changes I could make this week to come closer to living a life which is consistent with my ethical or spiritual beliefs or what I say are my beliefs.  
 
It will come as no surprise to any reader it is much easier and comfortable to take the moral and spiritual inventory of “those other people” who fall short of living a responsible, compassionate life.      I just read an article in the local newspaper about the effort of the local police department to do a more effective job of getting the drunk drivers off the road by arresting them.   This is in addition to the attempt to reduce the impaired driving or other behavior related to addiction to drugs other than alcohol.   I think that surely we do not need more people in our jails and prisons.  Surely we do not need to continue to judge and punish those with an addictive disorder or even those who misjudge the amount of alcohol or other drugs the non-addicted person can inject and still safely get behind the wheel of a car.   After all, I managed to drive home late from Pittsburgh unimpaired by alcohol or other drug use.   Of course, I was tired and, if truth, be told, it would have been much safer to have ridden a train or some other public transportation.   I could also have refrained from attending an evening event in Pittsburgh or stayed with friends in Pittsburgh.  My self-centeredness, however, wanted to both attend a play production with a friend, sleep in my own bed and follow my normal Sunday routine.  
 
It seems every day I make decisions which do not always feel self-centered, but which potentially affect many other people. Yet, it is much easier for me to observe and pronounce judgment on others.  Just the other day I was remarking on the decision of the United States to sell arms to Saudi Arabia because it is good for the economy of the United States.   I could cite numerous instances of being able to catalog the “sins” of my near and far neighbors.  
 
Obviously, as a citizen, I do need to make decisions about who to vote for and what policies to question or support.  I must confess to no shortage of opinions on a wide variety of issues.  I frequently talk and act as if my answers or opinions are far superior to those of “others”.  Perhaps I could approach these decisions with bit more humility?
 
The primary moral dilemma for me, when I slow down enough to be thoughtful, is how to be an active member of my community, while staying open to listening and learning.   How do I speak out for what I think is just and not be judgmental or self-righteous? 
 
I was thinking of these questions while enjoying a delightful production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice last evening at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre.   It would be easy to judge the mother in the play whose primary goal is to locate suitable husbands for her daughters while also enlarging the coffers of she and her husband.  Thank goodness that practice is less common today. In some places, more woman have the option of choosing a career of their choice.   Yet, in many respects to a more or lesser degree in various parts of the world, we continue to treat women and others as second class citizens.   I am sure I was not alone in thinking that much progress has been made since the time depicted in Ms. Austen’s novel.  Yet, to what extent to I, as a white, privileged male in the United States, continue to directly and indirectly support policies which devalue women and all “those others” in our community.
 
Last, but not least, can I continue to take a very personal moral inventory without making a spectacle of myself clothed, as I am, appropriately in sackcloth and ashes.  The challenge of the play last evening was perhaps how to turn up the lights as we look at ways we devalue each other and do so with love and a sense of humor.  Can we laugh with each other while being serious about making changes?  Am I willing to do this?  Thanks to Kate Hamill for her adaptation of Jane Austen’ novel.
 
 
Written October 14, 2018
​

​Is it fun yet?
 
Often when doing some boring, tedious task, membesr of a group will jokingly ask each other, “Is it fun yet?”  Depending on their mood, others might respond with an equally sardonic or sarcastic tone.  The question may morph into, “When do I begin to have fun or when does this activity become fun?”  if we are very lucky, as children and young people, we learn the value of working hard until we can experience the joy of attaining a goal.   Whether it is the result of endless hours of screeching on the violin, pitching thousands of baseballs which refuse to follow the path we intended, writing the first terrible 20 drafts of a poem or story, or any number of other tasks, it often seems as if one will never, ever, reach one’s goal.    Yet, if one is persistent one day one picks up the bow and the violin, plays those first notes and are amazed to hear music for the first time. Once someone experiences this magic, one becomes a believer and will endure any amount of future screeching to experience music.
 
In the 12-step program, one hears a similar reminder, “Don’t give up just before the miracle.”
Often if one is working on recovery from active addiction it seems as if the obsession to use or engage in other addictive behavior will never end. Yet, if one hangs in there, one day one gets up and at some point, notices that they are not obsessing.  The miracle has arrived.
 
Anyone who has gotten proficient at a skill knows that one has to challenge oneself to reach a new level of proficiency.   If one does not, one finds oneself losing the proficiency one had gained.   Whether the skill is carpentry, writing, playing a musical instrument, cooking or some other one can easily be reminded that one has to “use it or lose it”. 
 
Some of us, if not careful, allow our fear of failure to prevent us from taking the next step toward another level of skill or growth.    Even if we have lived a long time and achieved many goals, we probably will become anxious and, if not careful, will allow the anxiety to take charge.
We may begin to play the “what if” game and think of all that could go wrong.  
 
I listen to writers, actors and other creative people who were successful only after learning the fine art of dealing with rejection.  I smiled this morning when listening to the author Chaya Bhuvaneswar when talking with the host of the podcast Giant Panda, Jamie Pickett, state that in order to be published one has to submit material to publishers.   Many authors are able to paper their entire living room with rejection letters before some publisher takes the risk of publishing their material.  It can be easy to convince oneself that one rejection letter, one bad review, one harsh critique, or a dozen failed attempts to achieve that new goal  is a reason to stop trying or give up on a dream.   Whether one is 18, 30, 50 or 90 if we stop setting and working towards new goals we will die. We may or may not be technically alive but our spirit  will be dead and just waiting for the official death certificate.
 
My experience is that no matter how many risks we take it never gets easy or comfortable to set and work toward a new goal. The anxiety may still feel just as fresh as it was when we, as an infant, took that first step. Yet, we first learned to crawl, then walk, and finally to run.  We can do it.  The only real failure is to allow the fear of rejection or failure to keep us from setting and achieving that new goal.  We are all much stronger than our fear.  The miracles are just ahead.  We might as well have fun on the road to the miracle.
 
Written August 13, 2018
 
 

​The inconvenience of relationships!
 
Again, today I was acutely reminded that relationship with myself, children, partners, other family members, co-workers, or that stranger who is just in need of a kind word are freqjently not convenient. After all, relationships take away time from those tasks which I have decided are important.  Cleaning, doing the job which brings in income, cooking, riding my bicycle, working out, writing my daily (almost daily) blog, seeing a movie, reading a book, or any one of a number of other tasks are not going to get done if I keep taking time out to nurture others or myself.
 
Occasionally, some of us refuse to make a choice and decide we will multi-task. Perhaps we will read the newspapers while listing to our partner share their day. Perhaps we will keep cleaning the kitchen when our children or partner want our undivided attention.  The result is usually that the task does not get done well and the loved one does not feel listened to.  Of course, there is the option of visiting while sharing a task such as fixing dinner for the family or cleaning the house.  My friend Becky stays very clear about her priorities.  Often, she will email me that she started out changing the bed or doing some other task and was “interrupted” by a phone call or even by the cats.  She is clear that if someone needs to talk or the cats need attention that takes precedence over getting the bed changed in a timely manner.  Of course, the fact that some of the time her schedule is a bit more flexible than it used to be helps, but even when she had a full time professional job which demanded a lot she always made time if someone needed to talk. Obviously, one might need to negotiate a different time or even day when one is in the midst of honoring a prior commitment to another person(s).
 
Not only do important relationships interrupt our very important schedule, they also interrupt our need to prove that we are right, that we are in charge or we are important.     The other person may just need to know that we are listening; we take their opinions or concerns seriously. They often do not need us to problem solve, tell them the right thing to do or remind them of their past mistakes or “sins”.  In other words, we may need to put our feelings, needs or agenda aside to be quietly present.   Naturally, there will be times when our behavior does not feel validating to the concerns or needs of the other person.    Recently, a friend needed to choose between doing something which would make his current partner feel as if he was listening to her and the needs of his child from a previous relationship. He took the time to listen to her concerns, but he still needed to make a decision with which she disagreed.
 
It is easy for me to say that I am putting relationships at the top of my priority list when it is convenient or feels good.   It is sometimes uncomfortable being with myself in an open, honest manner.  It also may not be convenient because the honestly leads to other decisions.  I find that when my “important” schedule gets interrupted by long phone calls from friends or clients who just need to talk I have to be very intentional about reminding myself to breathe and be present instead of silently wishing the phone call would end soon so I could get back to writing, cleaning or other important tasks.  Not infrequently the task I want to get done is also intended to be nurturing to others and, yet, I have an opportunity to be nurturing right that moment.  I then have to ask myself if I truly want the inconvenience of relationships or I merely want others to think that I am nurturing!  Goodness that level of honesty might be very inconvenient!  Oh well!
 
Written October 12, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 

​The question of an afterlife – eternity
 
I am quite aware that there are those who are convinced that some part of us – the soul – continues to live for all of eternity. There are also those who believe that how we or our souls spend eternity is determined by our actions during our time in this life journey.   Then there are those who argue that it is our energy that lives on and which may be absorbed or attached to energy which has taken on other forms.  I doubt that any of us can deny all our actions affect other people, things and events for all eternity.  The affect may seem relatively minor or fairly significant at this point in time.  Long-term what now seems insignificant now could be very significant.  Action A affects object or event B which in term affects C, D and E.   Event or object E determines the outcome of F which determines the direction of G who becomes the supreme leader of a country or organization.   That this is true seems axiomatic to me.  Yet, this outcome is not what many envision as eternal life.
 
There are those who believe that actions of this life journey are contained within some finite time period.   They may literally believe the funeral officiant that we came dust and we are returning to dust.
 
Mark Twain in the book Letters from Earth as collated by Bernard DeVoto expressed great confusion about the fact that many humans envision an eternity- heaven – which leaves out all the things and events which most of we humans find pleasurable in this life journey.  
 
I am sure that theologians, philosophers and scientists will continue to debate the question of what happens after we end this earthly life journey.  I am equally sure that the passion of the debate will affect the extent of this life journey for many.  There is no limit to the creativity we humans seem to be able to employ to silence the earthy opinions of those who dare to offer an opposing view of heaven, hell, or the eternal void.   
 
It does often seem as those who are most concerned about how the rest of us spend our eternity are the most willing to insure that our time in this life journey is pure “hell”.
 
Personally, I find that it seems much simpler for me to focus on being very international about how my actions affect other people, places and events today and in the immediate future. If I treat myself and all other energy or life forms with enormous respect I am doing the best I can for today.   I may, of course, learn what I thought was a positive or even benign affect has a very negative long-term affect.  Since that possibility always exists, I must be humbly open to observing and learning.
 
Perhaps later today I will be required to entertain a visitor from another universe or alternate reality who will disprove all I have believed.  Until, then, however, I trust my words will help keep our focus on being just a bit kinder in the space between this and the next blink of an eye.
 
Written October 10, 2018

​Constructing god or the gods
 
From what we know from the recordings of human history there has always been an attempt to make sense of our relationship with the rest of the universe. Often a god or gods are posited as creators or supreme beings who need to be placated or pleased.   Sometimes, as often with the Greek gods, they were given very human characteristics.    They could be angry, passionate, jealous, and playful.   At times the god or gods which were posited were wise teachers, stern parent figures or cruel, jealous despots.   At times, they were spirit gods who might arrive in the form of animals.   
 
Whatever god or gods were posited, they often were thought to be the true god or gods.  It became important for other tribes or groups of people to adopt a belief in the same Gods or forever be the outsider. The outsider might then become the enemy of the one true go or gods.  Since it was difficult for we human to imagine or accept that this brief life journey was all there was the idea of an afterlife or eternal life was added to the story many humans told themselves. Then, some posited the concept of heaven and hell.  Heaven became a first-class hotel which provided white robes, harps and the absence of the noise of which us humans are capable. Hell became the eternal, damming abode of the slum lord for those who had displeased the god or gods.
 
(Already those whose career and passion are religious history or theology are shaking their heads and bemoaning my overly simplistic comments.)
 
Religion also became the framework for attempts to articulate some rules for how humans could best live together.  Clearly if everyone obeyed the same rules all would be orderly.  Yet, humans being humans, there was always the knowledge that there would be those humans who would disrupt the smooth operation of the community by breaking the rules or in other ways making god or the gods angry.  As far as we know animals do not posit a concept of God. They are very clear about the need to protect their food supply, their relatives and their territory.  The rules of the animals are both complicated and very simple.  Unlike humans their list of rules would not need a high capacity flash drive or other storage unit.
 
The founders of AA came from a very Christian background, but they attempted to create a program which was welcoming to anyone struggling with addiction.  God was still a part of the program but it was broadened to become either the god of one’s understanding or something outside of oneself.  Many in the 12-step program encourage the newcomer to make “good, orderly direction” the god of their understanding.  Sometime those in the 12-step program conceptualize the god of their understanding as the group coming together to support each other in recovery.
 
Perhaps whatever one’s religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs one might entertain the possibility that a religious framework is not to be confused with “the god” or ‘gods’. Perhaps it is enough that we know that none of us truly act in isolation. Whether my behavior is self-centered, generous, kind, mean or seemingly benign our every breath, our every action affects the rest of the universe.   For better or worse humans do not have the luxury of acting as if our herd or other grouping can act in isolation.  Having said that I cannot deny that we can and do indeed act as if one need not be concerned with anyone but ourselves.  Yet, I strongly suspect that all of us know at some deep level that we affect and need each other.  How we explain that need will continue to be debated, fought over, and used as a weapon of mass destruction.
 
The truth, as I understand it, is that any concept of god or the gods which any of us posits is something we construct as a way of explaining who we are and what gives this brief journey meaning.   Our construct is not right or wrong but it is just ours.  Others may agree or disagree in whole or in part.  That is okay.  My construct does not need to compete with your construct.  The god of my understanding is not in early recovery from delusional self-centeredness. The god of my understanding has an expansive sense of humor and can embrace many constructs.  He, she, or it is inclusive, not jealous, or does not need to be the gold robed center of attention.
 
 
Written October 9, 2018

​Punishment and healing
 
A proposed amendment to the state of Ohio (USA) constitution would prohibit jail time as a sentence for obtaining, possessing, or using such drugs until an individual’s third offense within 24 months. It would mandate that the individual participate in rehabilitation, work or educational programing.  From my perspective, as a licensed counselor and a certified addiction counselor the amendment, if passed, could be the beginning of a change of approach to treating illness.  For many years, we in the United States have often criminalized those with a primary diagnosis of addiction or other mental illness who commit illegal acts.  Although I have known of some very gifted, empathetic and talented treatment staff inside of prisons these, in my experience are few.  Prisons are, by design, a place to punish those who are considered less than or “bad” people.  The prevailing belief has been that those who are unable, for whatever reason, to consider the effect of their behavior on others deserve punishment.   Many in the United States sincerely believe that punishment is an effective approach to those who are convicted of breaking the law.  It is, of course, a well-known fact that race, status, and money can often determine whether one is labeled a criminal and required to spend time in jails.  We also know that imprisoning people costs a lot of money for staff, facilities, and equipment. Additionally, the long-term consequences of living or working in prisons are economically very high.
 
In an editorial published on October 8, 2018 of The Intelligencer in Wheeling, West Virginia, in opposing the passage of the amendment to the constitution of Ohio maintains that “The tough love of a few months or years in prison, away from the easy access to drugs, often is the catalyst that leads addicts to seek treatment.”
 
My experience in working in jails and in working with individuals who have spent time in various jails leads me to believe:
 

• Some people are able to use jail time as a wakeup call.
• Some people such as, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King who are very spiritually healthy are able to use the time in jail as a continuation of their spiritual growth.
• Many addicts have used the threat of jail time as an opportunity to enter a treatment program.   Some get well or better in spite of the determination to just use treatment time as a way to avoid jail.
• Addiction is a chronic illness. The percentage of individuals who remain in long term recovery following one or two times in treatment is still fairly low.  One has to expect relapses.
• Long term incarceration can and often does lead to institutionalization- an inability to function outside of the structured setting of jails.
• Treatment is much cheaper short and long term than prison although treatment programs can vary in cost and are available in first class accommodations.

 
The recidivism rate in the United States is very high.  Various studies from 2005 – the latest year for which comprehensive statistics seem be available - indicate that the for state prisons the recidivism rate is between 75% to 78% and for federal prisons the rate is around 44%.   The Bureau of Justice published an update on May 23, 2018 for the period 2005-2014 from a 9 year follow up study which found that 5 our 6 state prisoners were arrested within 9 years of their release.
 
Clearly Federal prisons whose overall population is different than most state prisons are either more effective or less destructive depending on how one views the statistics.   Neither federal or state prisons are effective in preventing future crime. The fact that most federal prisoners state that they are better treated and have more treatment and educational programs available than state prisons might have some bearing on the return rate.  It is also my understanding that most employees of federal prisons report higher salaries and benefits than those of state prisons although those figures vary a lot from state to state.   Even then, correction officer of both state and federal prisons report working conditions are stressful for them and ultimately for their families.
 
The bottom line is that I can find no evidence that incarcerating those with mental illness including addiction is an effective treatment approach.  It does not benefit the individual, his or her family or the larger community.   It is also true that mental illness, including addiction, are chronic illnesses which require lifelong treatment.  Mental health including addiction treatment programs have much to learn about providing ongoing, holistic, effective treatment.  It seems clear that our experiment in punishing those with mental illness, including addiction, has not been effective despite the fact that some incarcerated people get better in jails.  The question is what percentage of those few who do get better in jail would have healed just as well or better in a less punitive and less expensive program.
 
Written October 8, 2018