​The Beatitudes - The poor in spirit
 
While listening to a conversation between Krista Tippett and the poet Michael Longley on the NPR program “On Being” I heard Mr. Longley refer to Jesus “as a proto-socialist. And the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, are as good a system to live by as any that I can think of.”   Of course, I thought.  I have long believed that Jesus was advocating a shared approach to using resources and taking care of each other.  This led to my decision to revisit the Beatitudes.  Yesterday, since I had recently been writing on the dynamics between the bully and the bullied I wrote on “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”  Today I want to turn my attention to “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 
 
There seems to be a lot of disagreement about the message which Jesus intended others to hear in this simple sentence. Many biblical scholars have understood the use of the Greek word ptòchos to mean humble.  If this is true that the sentence now reads, “Blessed are the humble for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Certainly this could be consistent with the overall message of Jesus – that of the sacredness and equality of all of we humans.  When we are truly humble, we are making a sincere attempt to understand and accept that we are and do not need to be more or less than our neighbor. Each of us has special gifts and talents which are valuable to the whole of the community.  My friend K who has a brother who is mentally challenged, is grateful for the simplicity of his brother’s faith. K has been blessed with a mind which is wonderful for problem solving, but that very fine mind also can easily complicate issues which his brother finds simple.  His brother, S, simply loves unconditionally.  If someone makes him unhappy or he does not like something S will let the person know but a second later he is reminding the person that he loves them.   K’s mind is more likely to obsess and analyze the behavior of  the person who may have seemed unkind.  
 
The humble person is certainly able to love more completely and unconditionally. They have nothing to prove. It is enough to be human.  This definition certainly works with the overall understanding of the beliefs of man who is called Jesus.   Humility makes loving and being loved possible.
 
If we now look at the second important word in this sentence, penuma which can be translated as wind, breath or spirit, the term humble still works.  Breath (or pulse) is, after all, what we attempt to detect when we need to determine if someone is still living.  When I think of breath I think of life and the essence of the person who is my friend, neighbor, lover, child, co-worker or stranger.   When that person is present with humility and when I am willing to be truly present, with humility, we can create miracles together. 
 
I certainly do not want to discount the possibility that Jesus was talking about those who are humbly present.  My mind, however, goes to those who suffer from a mental illness, a deep grief, or some other condition which has sapped their life force.  Depression, including the depression of deep grief, leaves one unable to see the colors – the positives.  It also leaves one unable to have a sense of time.  Not only is the world dark and without positives it has always been that way and will always be that way in the future. Thus, there is no movement. One is in this dark space forever.   Every breath is an effort and a curse.  One does not feel as if one can go on or that there is any purpose for going on.   Yet, many with severe mental illness struggle to continue to care for others and to give much to their neighbors.  One has only to think of famous people who live or lived with mental illness – people such as Abraham Lincoln, Buzz Aldrin, Beethoven, Judy Collins, Calvin Coolidge, and a host of others.  This morning I was listening to an NPR program about how addiction kidnaps and creates misery for not only the addicted individuals but all who lives are touched by the addiction.
 
One can easily imagine Jesus reaching out to those who life essence is being sucked out of them by conditions which affect their ability to live and love.   Thus, the poor in spirit become those whose spirit is not present; whose spirit has been stolen by depression or other conditions of the brain.  This Beatitude would remind us that we need to offer compassion and comfort to the poor in spirit – to the mentally ill and those with other disorders which limit, at best, their ability to have a quality life.  This reminder of Jesus would dictate that we immediately get the mentally ill out of prisons and jails and into treatment facilities where they are treated as the sacred human beings that they are.  This Beatitude would remind us of the millions who are homeless because of mental illness, addiction or other diseases. This Beatitude would remind us that if we are truly humble we know that our ability to function today is very fragile and we could be homeless, the one in jail for an illness,  the one who is feared and avoided. This Beatitude would remind us that quality health care is a right and not a privilege to be determined by the amount of money we have so as to feed the addiction of insurance companies or pharmaceutical companies  staff – addiction to power and money.
 
This Beatitude reminds us that indeed we are our brothers (and sisters) keeper.   If the poet Michael Longley is right than Jesus is indeed a proto-socialist.
 
Written November 6, 2016

​The Beatitudes - “The meek shall inherit the earth.”
 
Yesterday while listening to a conversation between Krista Tippett and the poet Michael Longley on the NPR program “On Being” I heard Mr. Longley refer to Jesus “as a proto-socialist. And the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, are as good a system to live by as any that I am think of.”   Of course, I thought.  I have long believed that Jesus was advocating a shared approach to using resources and taking care of each other. I did need to refresh my memory about the Greek word prötos which is generally translated as first. Then I reread the Beatitudes. 
As most readers will recall, the first Beatitude says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
 After reading this one could be easily forgiven if one immediately thought, “Why would being passive be a good thing.”  In fact, the Greek work, πραΰς  or praus is generally translated as meek.  Meek is understood, by Biblical scholars to mean mild and gentle.  These scholars do not consider the word meek to indicate weakness or passivity.  Indeed, when I think of meek I think of an often very strong, humble person who does not allow himself or herself to just react but is one is able to hold on to their own core values no matter what the other person is doing. Most often the behavior of Jesus, as depicted most often in the Gospels, could be seen as gentle but very strong. Whether he is being criticized for talking to the prostitute without requiring her to be contrite, or he is greeting Judas with a hug and a kiss, Jesus is clearly behaving in a way which is consistent with his core beliefs.  He does not apologize for his behavior but neither does he criticize those who find fault with his behavior.    Of course, there are times when his human temper seems to briefly takeover such as with the money changers.   
 Indeed, the meek are the strongest – the ones who cannot be swayed to react with hate, judge, be negative or attempt to control another with violence. Matthew in chapter 5, versus 38 and 39, Jesus is reported as having said, “ 38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek,turn to him the other also;”
 In this same chapter of Matthew, Jesus is reported to have said, “…43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
 It is interesting that the teaching of the Buddha embodies the same wisdom.  What many may see as weakness is taught by the Buddha as a strength.  Refraining from judging oneself or others is taught as a higher spiritual goal which, in the long run will help one attain enlightenment or become a person of whom one can be proud.  It takes a very strong person to not react with angry, judgmental works and, yet, without withdrawing love and support. 
 I think of this first of the Beatitudes as a very powerful way of holding on to oneself – of staying intact.  It seems to be that every time one gives someone else the power to get one to behave in a way which is inconsistent with one’s core values then one has given away a part of oneself.  If one continues to give away a part of oneself than at the end of this life journey there is nothing of oneself left to “inherit the earth.”  I understand the phrase “inherit the earth” to mean that legacy which one leaves behind when one ends this life journey.  For some there is a belief in a more literal “inheriting of the earth.”  For others there is the promise of the next life journey with the potential of graduate school if one has made progress in holding on to oneself.
 Most of we parents seem to understand the concept well when we are teaching our children.  We say to our children, “You do X. I don’t care if all the other children are doing Y. You know the right thing to do.”  Yet as adults it is very easy to fall into the trap of blaming other people, places or events for our behavior.
…43You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love yourenemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Living this beatitude is not even close to being easy.  It is tough to not allow the behavior of others to dictate our reaction and consequent behavior.  It is indeed a process of being honest, non-judgmental and unconditionally accepting of where we are in putting on the coat of many colors which will give us the strength of meekness.
 
Written November 5, 2016

​What was I thinking?
 
As is true for all of us, there have been many pivotal points in my life. One of these was the decision to enlist in the U.S. Navy when I graduated from high school.   On the surface this decision was not consistent with my goals or what I wanted to achieve.  Yet, this was also a time in my life when it seemed as if life happened to me.
 
Although I did well academically in high school I do not recall any teacher or family member suggesting that a way could be found for me to go to college. Everyone seemed to assume that I would work or join the military service.  Although I had some female relatives on the paternal side of the family who had professional careers, no one in my immediate family had gone to college or talked about college.  As it turned out I had cousins on my maternal side of the family who would go to college, but we weren’t emotionally or geographically close.  
 
It was also a time in my life when I very much wanted to please my father which I did not feel as if I had done up to that point.  My father was a brilliant, creative man who was always designing and making something. As the oldest male I was often his assigned helper. It seems as if this physically diminutive young man –me -  whose daydreaming mind was not often present constantly failed to be the helper my father wanted or needed.
 
Signing up for the military service seemed to be the only available option.  I enlisted in the U. S. Navy and then embarked on a diet of bananas and other food which would ensure that I could gain the pounds needed to meet the minimal weight. By September I was off to San Diego for basic training.  We arrived in the middle of the night and some sadistic person decided that we would fill out forms, have our buck naked bodies examined in places no self-respecting digits should have gone and after an hour or so of sleep were marched to a mess hall which smelled as if someone had mistaken the compost for the food.  Obviously, I did not belong there, but what was I was to do except endure the colorful language of the platoon leader who assured us that our position relative to the feces of dogs rated, at best, the compost pile or worse.
 
What in the world had I been thinking?  What kept me from exploring college options on my own? I knew I wanted to attend and, yet, it did not occur to me to explore options.  Certainly there was no internet to connect me to people who could have assured me that a way could be found.
 
Yet, that decision would take me on a journey which would leave a trail of blessings which included a marriage, an amazing son, college degrees including two graduate degrees, kind, wise people who would lead me on a dance to discover the magic of art, music, and, not seven wonders, but thousands of wonders which the combination of the human heart and mind can spawn.  
 
When I think of this journey I am reminded that in a magical, mysterious way, “all things work together for good.” Indeed, all decisions are exactly the right decisions except when the decisions lead to pain to causing pain to others. Still, here I am exactly where I need to be.
 
Written November 13, 2016
 
Words  588

​The Beatitudes:  Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. (5:7)
  I am continuing to act on my inspiration from Michael Longley who in a conversation with Krista Tippett  on the NPR program “On Being” referred to Jesus “as a proto-socialist.”  He went on to say, “And the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, are as good a system to live by as any that I am think of.”  
 Because of that inspiration I have been revisiting the Beatitudes. Today I want to focus on “Blessed are the merciful; for they will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7)
 
If one googles the word mercy one gets 15,500,000 hits as of 1:00 p.m. on November 8, 2016.  One can find references to the use of  the term as it is used in legal situations in the United States and other countries.  One can also find references to the use of terms in everyday non-legal dealings between individuals and groups. One can find the use of the term in all religions.  It can be used as synonymous with words such as compassion or forbearance shown to someone over whom one has power.
 
The word, as Jesus uses it,  may stem from the Greek word for mercy – eleos – which the divinemercy.orgsite authors suggest can be translated as kindness or tender compassion.   This same author reminds one that the word eleos comes from a root word meaning oil that is poured out. “Thus, when the church sings in her liturgy the Greek words Kyrie Eleison and Christie Eleison, she is praying that the merciful love of God will be poured out upon her children, like holy oil from above.”
 
Some distinguish between the terms grace and mercy by suggesting that “Grace is what one receives that they do not deserve while mercy is what one receives when they do not get what they deserve.” (quoted in Wikipedia)
 
The same article in Wikipedia states that in Islam the title “Most Merciful” (al-Rahman) is one of the names of Allah and Compassionate (al-Rahim), is the most common name occurring in the Quran….As a form of mercy, the giving of alms (zakat) is the fourth of the Five Pillars of Islam and one of the requirement of the faithful.”
 
The site purifymind.com reminds one that Quan-Yin is the Goddess of Compassion and Mercy. 
 
The point is that when conceptualizing the best of who we can be, wise men and women have posited God or Gods  or Goddesses who can, at times, be merciful and those that can be very angry and punishing.  
 
We cannot credit Jesus or Buddha  as being the first to recognize that in showing mercy, kindness, or forgiveness to others we are, in essence, showing it to ourselves  Others are but a mirror of us even though the particulars of our need for compassion and forgiveness may be unique to us (not really although it may seem that way).
 
Jesus does not seem to need volumes to pontificate on mercy or the merciful.  He is not, after all, a learned theologian who needs to earn his PhD by sounding erudite and impressing the learned colleagues who will  decide whether to aware him a title of doctor.  He is, after all, this simple shepherd  who brings the simplicity of a child to what has become known as the Beatitudes. 
 
Very simply he says “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”  Blessed are those that are able to look into the mirror, embrace and show tender compassion to those who are themselves.” The mercy that we are “shown” when we are merciful is the instant reward of mercy – of coming home to ourselves – of bringing the pieces which make us whole. Thus calling Jesus as the proto-socialist as does the poet, Michael Longley, makes sense.  In all that he says and shows by example is the celebration of our oneness. 
 
Blessed are the merciful” for they will be shown mercy. 
 
Written November 8, 2016

​The Beatitudes:  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they will see God. (5:8)
 
 I am continuing to act on my inspiration from Michael Longley who in a conversation with Krista Tippett on the NPR program “On Being” referred to Jesus “as a proto-socialist.”  He went on to say, “And the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, are as good a system to live by as any that I am think of.”   Because of that inspiration I have been revisiting the Beatitudes. Today I want to focus on:  Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
 
In some ways I have always thought of this the simplest of the Beatitudes and, yet, upon reflection it may be the most confusing.  All of them are worded such that the goal is unattainable but yet, I get the sense that Jesus never forget that we are human and, thus, can only approximate the goals.  This one seems even less attainable that the others.  All of us know from personal experience that it is impossible for humans to be pure in heart.  The Greek work used here is katharòs which can also be translated as without admixture or we could say the absence of impurity.  Which one of us can say that our hearts are completely without any unkind, impatient, lustful, jealous,  or other negative thoughts?   Certainly we can grow into a spiritual space which is more intentional about being the person which Jesus herein describes.  Yet, we will not approach the purity with we attribute to our concept of God.   We know the heart is the symbolic spiritual center of our being.  The Greek work is kardia which is seen as the center of life for all animals.  If we want to know if someone is dead, we do our best to determine if there is any sign of a pulse.  If not,  we determine that the person is dead or else the pulse is so weak that death is imminent.  As such the heart becomes the symbol for our willingness to, in humility, love. We talk of opening our heart to allow ourselves to be loved as well as allowing ourselves to love.  My understanding is that the Buddha would say that to be pure of heart requires that we open our hearts to unconditionally loving and accepting our own humanness including how that humanness is reflected in others.  Opening our hearts is not a destination but a process which is never ending.  
 
The third part of this Beatitude talks of seeing God.   In the Old Testament in Exodus 33.20 and then again in John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 one reads “No one has seen God at any time.”   Prophet Muhammad was reported to have said when asked if he saw God on his journey, “There was only light, how could I see Him?”
 
Yet, here in this sermon Jesus tells us that the pure in heart will see God. Does He mean that the pure in heart will see God when they finish with this earthly journey or is he merely restating that it is impossible for us in this life journey to see God because we will not attain purity of heart?
 
Perhaps Jesus is simply reminding us that it is only in the complete purity that we can fully experience the light which the Prophet Muhammad talks about.  If God is indeed light in this journey we will only approximate the purity of the light - the heart of what is the essence of the part of us which is divine.
 
Perhaps I and other theologians read much too much into this simple statement.  Pope Francis during his visit to Sweden on All Saints Day 2016 proposed the following informal modern rendition of the Beatitudes.
 
1. "Blessed are those who remain faithful while enduring evils inflicted on them by others and forgive them from their heart."
2. "Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalized and show them their closeness.”
3. "Blessed are those who see God in every person and strive to make others also discover him."
4. "Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home."
5. "Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others."
6. "Blessed are those who pray and work for full communion between Christians."
 
These seem very attainable and more in keeping with how Jesus is reported to have treated people.   At times the disciples did not understand why he would be treating other “obvious” sinners with such unconditional love even though it was not apparent that they had renounced their sinful way. 
 
Surely all of us can envision opening our hearts just a tiny bit more each day; can accept in all humility our own humanness and, thus, the humanness of all others. In this way we inch closer to purity of heart and the light which is God.
 
Written November 10, 2016

​The Beatitudes – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
 I am continuing to act on my inspiration from Michael Longley who in a conversation with Krista Tippett  on the NPR program “On Being” referred to Jesus “as a proto-socialist.”  He went on to say, “And the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, are as good a system to live by as any that I am think of.”  
 Because of that inspiration I have been revisiting the Beatitudes. Today I want to focus on “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6).
 The first thing I noticed is that Jesus does not say, “Blessed are those who are righteous.” That would have been out of character for him.   In all the words which are attributed to him it is almost always obvious that he is careful to distinguish those with whom he is speaking from a being which has achieved perfection.  He is acutely aware, as is the Buddha, that life is indeed a journey. It is not expected that any of us humans will achieve righteousness.   We are in fact going to stumble, fall, have moments when it may seem as if we are self-centered, teenage acting,  unkind people. Often we are more like this in our head than in our actions.  We may severely berate ourselves while Jesus and Buddha just smile and notice our humanness.  Our behavior is not a surprise.  Jesus merely says, “Get right back to your desire  - your hunger and your thirst – to be righteous.”  Paradoxically the less energy we waste on obsessing about our inability to stay focused on our goal to be righteous, the more energy we have to tap into the part of us which deeply longs to be worthy of love and respect.
 The second thing I notice in this beatitude is the concept of righteousness.  What on earth could it mean?  Many claim to be righteous.  In most political campaigns anywhere in the world all the candidates claim to be the most deserving of one’s trust.  They will be honest and motivated by love, a thirst for justice and a hunger  to work toward a stable, good life for all who are good and rightful citizens. Most clergy persons are only too happy to lecture the congregation about the “wages of sin” or to promise that the truly righteous will be rewarded in this life or the next.
 Yet, here is Jesus promising that those who “merely” hunger and thirst for “righteousness” will be filled.  He does not talk about being rewarded with wealth or awards nor does he promise rewards in “heaven.”   He merely says, “Fervently hunger and thirst for righteousness and you will be filled.”
 What is this word righteousness? The Greek word is dikaiosune and is frequently translated as just or justice.  Thayer’s Greek lexicon says, “…in the broad sense, the state of him who is such as he ought to be…the condition acceptable to God.”  One could go back to the endless debate about what constitutes justice as I have done in previous blogs.    At least in this sermon Jesus has kept it simple.  
 
In the Old Testament often righteousness is equated to obeying the law of Moses or “ethical conduct.”
Three examples from the Qur’an are:
 
“We will give the home of the Hereafter to those who do not want arrogance or mischief on earth; and the end is best for the righteous.”
— Qur’an, Sura 28 (Al-Qasas) Verse 83
“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).”
— Qur'an Surah 49: Verse 13
“Righteousness is not that you turn your faces to the east and the west [in prayer]. But righteous is the one who believes in God, the Last Day, the Angels, the Scripture and the Prophets; who gives his wealth in spite of love for it to kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the wayfarer, to those who ask and to set slaves free. And (righteous are) those who pray, pay alms, honor their agreements, and are patient in (times of) poverty, ailment and during conflict. Such are the people of truth. And they are the God-Fearing.”
— Al-Quran Surah 2:Verse 177(Al-Baqarah)
 
All religious traditions make an attempt to clarify or delineate what it means to be a righteous or a worthy person.   It is all an attempt to figure our role or purpose in the universe. Unlike other animals, as far as we can determine, we are not satisfied to just follow our instinct or just be. We have the ability to question and endlessly analyze our role.
 
Then along comes the Buddha, Jesus, and even a professed “non-believer” such as the poet Michael Longley who suggest that it may be pretty simple.  Again in this simple statement Jesus says, “Those who have the willingness to keep it simple and merely hunger and thirst to be the kindest, most sharing, person they can be in any given moment will feel whole – be connected with themselves.”  He seems to be saying if we own our nature to be a village – to take care of each other we will be full  - we will be fulfilled.  Over and over again, as an early addiction therapist, Jesus, suggests that we do not need to escape with alcohol, drugs or mind-altering behavior.   Nor do we need to prove our worth with money, power, eternal youth or other things.  We merely need to be who we are – members of a village – who strive to be intentional about claiming our connection with each other and, thus, with the universe or, as some would say, the God of our understanding.
 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they will be filled.
 
Written  November 7, 2016

​The Beatitudes – Blessed are those who mourn
 
This is the third day that I have chosen to write on one of the Beatitudes which in my mind are consistent with the teachings of Buddha and other wise teachers.  Again I want to give credit to Michael Longley, the poet, who in a November 2016 conversation with Krista Tippett on On Being, referred to Jesus as the “proto-socialist.”  This prompted me to revisit and meditate on the Beatitudes.  Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted is my focus today.
 
Of all the Beatitudes this seems to me the one least open to misinterpretation or confusion.   Certainly all of us understand the concept of mourning   The Greek word is pentheò – to mourn or lament.  It can also mean to feel guilt Some scholars remind us that we could be grieving a personal relationship that ends because of death or for other reasons; we could be grieving the loss of a dream/hope,  a possession or a faculty.   As we are aging we might mourn the change in hair distribution, the ability to easily move about, or the ability to recall words, events or other information.  Humans, being human, often deeply feel the loss of something or someone. Some losses one never survives – the death of a child, the death of a soul mate, or the death of that person to whom he did not make amends – that person from whom he did not beg forgiveness.   As noted above the Greek word used here is pentheò: to mourn or to lament.  The word lament is intended to imply a passionate expression.  Although not as comprehensive as the Greek word thrénéo, the word does suggest weeping and wailing.
 
The implication here is that the person mourning has found the strength to mourn and has not just given up or escaped into a catatonic state.  They carry on as best as possible. despite the fact that it may feel impossible to imagine a life without that which has gone.   Coming to term with the fact that life does not move backwards; that we cannot correct the wrong we have caused someone; we cannot have one last moment to make amends or undo the foolish action we have done; we cannot have one more attempt to save that adored child. 
 
No, mourning implies that we will, in all our pain, move forward – perhaps inch by inch, but we will move forward and attempt to do whatever we are here to do.
 
Jesus does not imply any restrictions on how long they will be comforted.  He does not say, “Well, we will comfort those who mourn as long as they do not make us uncomfortable.  We will comfort those who mourn as long as they do so privately or only for the time which humans decide is permitted.”   No, he simply says, “Blessed are they who mourn, but they will be comforted.”
 
I was also thinking that Jesus does not imply that comfort should be withheld from those who “merely” mourn the loss of their illusions.  For example, there are still those who mourn the loss of innocence over mistreatment of certain groups; who mourn the loss of assurance that, in fact,  one can be on a spiritual path and still think that some are less worthy because of race, age, sexual orientation, religious framework, or other socially constructed labels.  This person, Jesus, seems to often carry his beliefs to the extremes. He apparently forgets that some are more deserving than others; that we can measure the “sin points” of each other and assure ourselves that person X is more sinful than person Y.   Jesus would, as would Buddha, make a terrible presidential candidate.  He would find it difficult or impossible to judge the other candidates. He would be restricted to focusing on positive suggestions for how we share resources equally among all of us.  He would not use words like lazy, shiftless, disgusting, deplorable, or others descriptions of those underserving souls who are opponents.
 
Some have suggested that the pain of those who will lose certain jobs or career paths is their own fault; have suggested that we do not need to mourn with them.  Some suggest that to mourn with them is to tell them lies such as “We can go backwards. We can pretend that black lung does not have an equivalent for the environment.”   We can pretend that we will again have a civilized society in which we ignore racism and other  isms. We can pretend that the often the wealth of those who are such generous benefactors was gotten on the backs of many others.”  
 
No, the love which Jesus, Buddha and others advocate is not patronizing. Respect demands truth and not lies.  Yet, it also demands comfort for all who mourn their loss.
 
Blessed are they who mourn for they will be comforted.
 
Written November 6, 2016

​Grandma says:  “This too shall pass.”
 
In my memory which may or may not correspond to a reality experienced by anyone else, I clearly remember my paternal grandparents gathering with friends and relatives to argue and, occasionally debate, a political campaign or the latest brilliant or absolutely stupid decision of some political figure. This might be the President; the President elect or some local office holder.  Depending on the outcome of the election one might hear them loudly lamenting the end of civilization as we knew it. It was, at times, a time for weeping and wailing over the loss of hope for a country or locality which had fallen prey to such insanity as to elect so and so.  Of course, this reaction was balanced by those who were sure that the newly elected person would indeed finally show the idiots now in power how to properly run a country or some part of the country.   There was no lack of passion about politics.   Yet, I cannot recall ever being aware of anyone saying nasty or derogatory about the person with whom they might be having a very passionate disagreement.  I also do not recall the voices of the women being any less vocal or opinionated than that of the men.   This family was clearly matriarchal.  It was also inclusive as far as the Native Americans since they were also family.  I do not recall any racist statement. In fact, my paternal grandfather’s brother, Harold had married a full blooded Cherokee Indian – a member of the Self family who is alleged to have participated in the Underground Railroad.   In fact, this extended family neglected to fit into any of the tiny boxes which rural, Oklahoma families were put.  On the other hand, my material grandparents who lived in Chicago where I was born seemed less vocal in their political and social opinions unless it was to show the racism they had unconsciously internalized.   Yet, even in this family, there were some powerful woman who consistently defied the gender rules.
 
Certainly in both families, but especially in that of my paternal grandparents, there was a strength of perspective combined with their passion which was clearly grounded in the belief that “this too shall pass”.   Less a child or adult fell into the trap of believing or acting as if the all hope was lost no matter what the situation, one of the wise, older folks – usually my Grandmother Fannie or her sister Beulah would proclaim “this too will pass”.   Passing might be assisted by more active political work or in the case of Aunt Beulah, a more fervent call to pay attention to the teaching of Jesus from the pulpit of the church of which she was a minister, but I do not recall any sense that this most recent event would justify giving up or saying anything which would convey the belief that anyone other than the universe or the God of one’s understanding might be retiring. No matter what, this most recent event was just a blip since the time of the last ice age. 
 
I do think that those powerful men and women, but particularly the women would have threated to have a little “coming to Jesus” or “let’s take trip to the woodshed” talk with both Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton.   They would have made it very clear that the personal attacks, the predictions of doom and the discounting of the sacredness of those supporting their opponent would not be questioned. They also would have loudly insisted that each candidate tell the truth about past misdeeds or out and out stupidity, but yet, they would have done so with enormous love and appreciation for how easy it was to get sucked into reacting instead of acting.    Certainly they would have appreciated that this was not the first time that political candidates had taken leave of their senses and acted like hormonal teenagers whose brain regularly took a vacation, but their insistence that the behavior would stop now would not be misunderstood. The candidates would be directed to go to their room and search high and low for the “senses’ which they had obviously dropped or misplaced.   Then they would have been told to “get out in the ring and fight fair”.  Enough said.
 
This morning my early emails – some sent in the middle of the night – transmitted shouts of hope or despair. There did not seem much in between.  Few expressed a belief that ‘this too shall pass”.
 
Grandmother Pickett and the other wise women in the family would also “suggest” that those who were unhappy with the results do a little soul searching to uncover what they needed to learn from these results.  I stopped typing after this last sentence because it was time to shut down the computer in preparation for my flight to Atlanta and subsequent flight to Tulsa.  While traveling to Atlanta I completed the poet, Donald Hall’s book, Essays After Eighty, which just happened to be next on my Kindle to complete.  From the distance of Mr. Hall’s 9th decade I gleamed some support in my attempt to view the election results from a more distant perspective. Then I began to read the next book on my Kindle which had been waiting for me for goodness knows how long. I have no idea of when I downloaded it or how long the words therein have been waiting to visit and stretch my thoughts. This book, Repentance: The Meaning and Practice of Teshuvah by Dr. Louis Hall speaks in more detail to “This too shall pass.”.   In the forward to Dr. Hall’s book, Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis writes:
 
“But the Hebrew Bible and the Rabbinic commentary insist that human sin is neither original nor omnipotent. “Sin couches at the door; its urge is toward you, yet you can be its master (Genesis 4:7).  This “Yet” is the promise of teshuvah, the faith in the human possibility to re-create, rebirth, and realize the potential in the divine image buried within the human being. Nature, human and non-human, is now understood to be imperfect. Still, “wheat can ground, the lupine soaked, the bitter herbs sweetened, and the human being perfected.” (Midrash Tanhumah, Tazri’ah) –perfected, but not perfect.  Without the “Yet” of human mastery the human being is caught beneath the grinding wheels of inertia and fate.”
 
In his preface Dr. Hall write, “We can choose to focus on the negative or the positive.  Choice becomes the greatest positive we have.  We can choose to interpret challenging moments-some the results of our having made bad choices –as if we are the victims of conspiracies to cause our downfall. Or, we can see them as lessons which have shown us our inner strength, our resolve to aspire and preserve, our power to choose differently next time and affect a different outcome. . . We must believe in the human power for change.”
 
Thanks to Dr. Hall I am again reminded that I have a choice. The caveat to “This too shall pass.” Am I willing to accept responsibility for my part in bringing us as a nation to this historic moment and reminding myself and others that we can make new choices today? Later in the preface Dr. Hall talks about his decision to combine his academic understanding of teshuvah and his personal experience with a 12 step recovery program which demands self-examination and making amends.  He does not allow himself the luxury of the distance of merely academic exploration of teshuvah.  He demands of himself to look at his own participation or non-participation in the Yetzer (creative force of the universe).  This is the challenge all of us must accept.   If indeed President Elect Trump has put his finger on the pulse of discontent, fear and pain, it is up to all of us to address that discontent, fear and pain in a positive, creative way. In repenting we open new doors to our thought process and give new meaning to “This too shall pass.”
 
Written November 9, 2016
 
 
 
 

​School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 1 – week 13
Making up – making amends
 
I so look forward to meeting with the scholarly first graders every week.  They do keep my brain and heart engaged.  The assignment for this week unless someone has a more pressing concern is:  Talk about how we make up after an argument and saying mean things to each other. When some people run for office they say mean things about each other and then have to learn to work together.   Well, as we all know that was a gross understatement on my part. To be fair, however, not all the political candidates across the nation allowed themselves to get caught in the trap of saying mean and unkind things about their opponents.  Many candidates for office kept the focus on suggestions for solving problems with which their constituents are concerned.  Sadly, this was not true for the presidential candidates in these United States. 
 
I am eager to hear how the first grade scholars and their families approached this issue.   Here come the scholars now.
 
Me:  Good morning class.
 
Class:  Good morning Mr. Jim   Cookies!
 
Me:  Yes, we have cookies.  Ahmes and Sam would you pass out one cookie to everyone please.
 
Sam and Ahmes:  Yes.
 
They pass them out and in a nanosecond the cookies are consumed!
 
Me: The assignment was to talk about how we make up after we have said mean things to each other.   We had been talking about the political candidates, but, of course, we all say and do mean things sometimes. We say or do mean things to a classmate,  a family member or someone else we will have to see again.  How do we go about making up?  Who wants to go first?
 
Sam:  In our family when Paul and I were younger we just had to say we were sorry. Sometimes we would say sorry in a mean way and then we would have to keep doing it until we could say it nice.  I used to practice with my doll Queen E.  I hated it.
 
Me:  That was when you were little. What happens now Sam?
 
Sam:  We have to say why we are sorry and what we are going to do differently to not get angry like that. That is really hard because I cannot just blame Paul.
 
Me:  So you are saying that no one else makes you say mean things. You have to accept responsibility for what you and do?
 
Sam:  Yes!
 
Me:  Thanks Sam.  I am impressed that you can say that.  Who else wants to share what they do to make up?
 
Tara:  In our family if we have a difficult time saying something we can use the puppets. Sometimes they have an easier time. My favorite is the German bunny puppet.
 
Me:  Oh I know that puppet. It is the Steiff bunny.   I love that bunny.
 
Tara:  Yes.  My uncle brought it back from Germany.  
 
Me: What does the bunny say to make up?
 
Tara:  Well, it is like Sam said. If I try to say one of my brothers or sisters made me angry  I have to think some more and come back with another answer! I hate that when it is me but if one of my brothers or sisters has to do that I like it.
 
Me: That is very honest Tara.   What I am hearing both you and Sam say is:
 
·      We are responsible for our behavior and cannot blame someone else.
·      Our apology has to mean we are trying to change our behavior for the future.
·      We have to be willing to be honest.
 
(I write these on the white board.)
 
How about others?  How is making up handled in your family?
 
Tommy:  I am good at drawing cartoons.  I am allowed to let the cartoon characters talk. That is easier for me.  Mom says, “My bad.” and dad says, “I was wrong. I don’t like it when others treat me that way and I do not want anyone in this family to think it is okay to be mean.”
 
Me: That is great Tommy.  What about the rest of you?  How should the political candidates make up?
 
Susie: Can’t we make them go to their room until they learn how to play nice?  That is what my dad says to my siblings and me.
 
Me:  How would we make adults do that Susie?
 
Susie: Everyone would have to agree as we do in our family. 
 
Steve: What happens if they do not agree?
 
Susie: That is what is happening now.
 
Ahmes: Don’t adults have any rules? In our family the adults and children have the same rules.
 
Me:  You are suggesting that there have to be some rules which are the same for everyone.
 
Ahmes:  How else can it work?
 
Me: Indeed.
 
Sue: The reason we pretended to be candidates last week was to remind us that we can change the rules in the future.
 
Me: Very good Sue. Thanks for reminding us.
 
Sofia:  Mr. Jim are you sure you are an adult?
 
Me: (smiling) Why do you ask Sofia?
 
Sofia: You treat us differently than other adults.
 
Me:  Say more about that Sofia.
 
Sofia:  Well you seem to care what we have to say. Most people, except our families,  think we are just kids. What we say does not count.
 
Me:  Thank you Sofia. I think sometimes all of you are wiser than many of we adults. Sometimes it seems as if we adults get stupid when we grow up.
 
Sam:  Last week in church, the minister was talking about Jesus telling people to become as little children.  Is this what they meant Uncle Jim?
 
Me:  I think perhaps it is.
 
Steve:  Will we get dumb as we grow up?
 
Me:  If you forget the things we are learning about how to treat each other you will.  Sometimes we get older and then we think we are through learning. Then we quit listening and we get really dumb.
 
Steve:  Is that why the candidates cannot learn to play nice?
 
Me: Great observation Steve.  Goodness, the time has again passed very quickly.   These classes go so quickly.   Susie and Tommy would you pass out another cookie to everyone please?
 
They do so.
 
Me:  All of you have talked about getting together as families to deal with issues and solve problems. Not many families do that. I am impressed that you and your families do so. Next week could we talk about rules for meeting as a family.  Does your family have them? What are they?  I have written these questions now. 
Sue would you please hand one to each of your classmates as they leave?
 
Sue:  Yes, Mr. Jim.
 
Ring!  Ring! Ring!
 
Me: Have a great week.
 
Written November 8, 2016

​ 
School Bells – Current Affairs – Grade 8 – week 13
High cost of medication in the United States
 
Last week the class decided to talk about the electoral college. We had a most interesting discussion,  This week we agreed to talk about the topic we had originally agreed to explore last week – the high cost of medications.  Although it is election day the school is not a polling site and school is in session.  Since it is election day I am aware that the students may want to talk about some subject related to the election although my guess is that they are as tired talking about it as are most adults.
 
I have, as promised, brought homemade chocolate chip cookies.
 
Here comes the class now.
 
Me:  Good morning class.
 
Students:  Good morning Mr.  Jim.  Cookies?
 
Me:  Yes.  I brought cookies.  Abdul and Susie will you pass them out please.
 
They do so.
 
Students:  Thanks Mr. Jim!
 
Me:  You are welcome.  Unless someone has an issue they want to discuss, I am eager to hear what you and your families think are the reasons for the high cost of medications/prescription drugs in the United States.
 
None of the students raise their hands.
 
Me:  Okay.  What came out of the discussion and research with family members?
 
Tom:  Mr. Jim.  When we goggled “High cost of mediation in the United States” we got 2,540,000 hits.  There is a lot of interest in this topic.
 
Me.  I got the same.  Why did your family limit the search to the United States?
 
Tom:  That was the assignment, but also my mother said that the cost in the United States is much higher than other countries.
 
Me:  That is true.  How did all of you limit research and what were some of the answers you found?
 
Ann:  Our family found that drug companies claim one thing and others claimed other reasons. It was tough to know how to know who was telling the truth.
 
John:  It was also difficult because profit of companies is usually after all expenses listing salaries. Some CEOs and other staff are being paid millions of dollars.
 
Susie: According to www1.salary.com some of the salaries at Mylan who recently raised the cost of Epipens to hundreds of dollars are:
 
 
MYLAN INC.
Compensation by Company
For its 2013 fiscal year, MYLAN INC., listed the following executives on its annual proxy statement to the SE
Name/Title
Total Cash
Equity
Other
 

Rajiv Malik
President
$2,404,385
$2,978,138
$2,384,328
 

Heather Bresch
Chief Executive Officer
$3,280,769
$4,955,218
$471,971
 

John D. Sheehan
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
$1,690,000
$1,626,700
$216,469
 

Me:  I have put those on the whiteboard.  Also notice the following on the board:
Center for public integrity – 2014
 
Almost all of the publicly traded health insurers reported big increases in revenue and profits last year. The big winners have been the top executives of those companies, led by Mark Bertolini, CEO of Aetna, the nation’s third largest health insurer. Bertolini’s total compensation of $30.7 million in 2013 was 131 percent higher than in 2012.
 
Will:  Our family found the profit margin for health insurance companies was much less than that for pharmaceuticals,  but the articles we read did not mention salaries and stock prices.  We also were very confused.
 
Paul: A lot of the drug companies said the high cost was the research, but we knew that was not true Uncle Jim.  The Epipen has been around for a long time and cost very little to make .   We have a relative who has had AIDS for a long time. The first drug he was on was AZT which had been originally researched for some other illness but when they found it worked for HIV they charged a lot and blamed it on the high cost of research.
 
Amena:  How do we know who is telling the truth?  I found an article by Sidney Lupkin in Kaiser Health News of August 23, 2016 which reviewed a study on this subject published in the Journal of American Medical Association.  They reviewed studies published from January 2005 through July 2016 and then listed five reasons why prescription drug prices are so high in the United states.
 
Me:  That is great.  Did you make a note of the five reasons? Paul will you write them on the board.
 
Amena:  Yes Mr. Jim. They are:
 
1.           Medicare is not legally allowed to negotiate drug prices.  Medicaid legally must cover all drugs approved by FDA even if a cheaper drug is available. Private insurers rarely negotiate prices because third party pharmacy benefits managers administer prescriptions. 
2.          The law allows drug manufactures to maintain their patent for 20 years or more and they can increase that by making slight changes such as pill coatings.
3.         There are apparently some state and federal laws which limit ability to keep prices of generic drugs down.
4.         It is not research and development. Most of the cost of research is funded by venture capital or the National Institute of Health via federal grants.
5.          Drug companies in U. S. set their own prices.
 
 
Me:  Wow!  That is a lot of information.  Thanks Amena.
 
Did anyone else find any more information which they think was helpful to learn.
 
Will:  Our family thought that this was interesting.  Can I put it on the board?
 
Me:  Certainly Will.
 
Will put the following on the board:
 
 
Forbes, Dec 21, 2015
Liyan Chen reports:  The Most Profitable Industries in the US
 
 
Here are the top 10 most profitable industries according to Factset:
Industry
Net Margin in 2016

Pharma: Generic
 30%

Investment Managers
29.1%

Tobacco
27.2%

Pharma:major
25.5%

Internet Software/Services
25%

Biotechnology
24.6%

Savings Banks
24%

IT Services
23%

Regional Banks
23%

Major Banks
22.9%

 
 
 
 

 
 
Me:  All of you have done an amazing job of finding out how complicated this issue is.   Can someone in the class remind me of the primary goal of this class?
 
Susie:  To learn to think critically.
 
Me: Thanks Susie.  Can someone explain what that means?
 
John:  To learn to look at all sides of an issue and see if the information tells us anything.
 
Me:  Very good John.
Me:  Are there any common themes in all this information?
 
Amena: The goal seems to be to make money.
 
Paul:  Yes, everyone seems to think that the only reason to make drugs is to make a big salary.
 
Susie: The stocks are another way to make money.
 
Me:  What do the drug companies and the insurance companies tell us their goal is?
 
Ann: To help us be healthy.
 
Me:  Do they do that?
 
Tom:  We are overall healthier than we were many years ago aren’t we?
 
Me:  Yes, many people are living and have more quality of life because of the health care industry.
 
Paul:  Is it different in other countries Uncle Jim?
 
Amena:  We read that some other countries are even healthier and health care is not as expensive.
 
Me:  Why do you think profit is so important in this country?
 
Ann:  Is this the same as we have been talking about Mr. Jim?  Does money make us feel important?
 
Me: Certainly that seems to be the case. One CEO – I don’t recall who – told an interviewer it is not about the money but an indication of how important one is considered.
 
Tom:  But don’t all the people making a big profit have relatives who do not? 
Me: Good point Tom.  It is interesting that does not seem to play a big role in changing the system.
 
Will:  My mother says it is a spiritual issue. She says that until we find some other way of feeling important then nothing will change.
 
Me: What do you think we can do to reduce the cost of drugs?  Is this something the class wants to discuss next week?
 
Susie: That is a big question but the election will be over by then.  Can we write a letter to our new elected members of Congress after we talk about this Mr. Jim?
 
Me: I think that is a great idea Susie. I will print out the assignment and the information we put on the board for you to share with your families.
 
Great job!
 
Class: Cookie
 
Me:  Yes, the bell is about to ring. How about picking up your cookie on the way out?
 
Have a great week.
 
Ring!  Ring! Ring!
 
The kids pick up a cookie and leave.
 
Class: Thanks Mr. Jim.
 
Me: You are welcome.
 
Written November 7, 2016