“I think I can.”
On this day set aside to honor past presidents of the United States such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln I am thinking of Watty Piper, Soren Kierkegaard, Jesus, the Dali Lama, Maya Angelou , Bill W, Dr. Bob and Dr. P. J. Palmer and others. I am also thinking of those who first dreamt of a sending our voices over a wire, harnessing energy to light lights and a host of other individuals and groups who thought they could.
It seems that here in the United States and many other countries in the world there is a tension between individuals and groups which cannot be broken or eased until one side gives in or destroys the other side. In the United States and elsewhere the one percent hold a great share of the wealth. Pharmaceutical companies appear to be charge of the health of many. Other health care professionals wring their hands and refuse to see many Medicaid patients; refugees depend on the generosity of churches and other aid organizations. I am reminded, once again, of the opening words of the confession in the Christian Book of Common Prayer:
“Almighty and most merciful father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended again they holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us….”
Every religious has some version of this prayer. If we stropped with these words of confession we would simply give up. Yet many who pray some version of this prayer do not give up. Dr. P J Palmer on Colfax Avenue in Denver Colorado heads up a for profit clinic which serves mainly Medicaid patients and pours some of the profit into “Mango House which houses program to feed and clothe the poor, and after school program, English classes, churches, dentist, legal help, Mental health and scout groups.” Yet Dr. Palmer does not starve or require staff to starve. He operates a for profit clinic (Ted talk: How Doctor can help low-income patients (and still make a profit.)) Soren Kierkegaard talked of the power of qualitative leap or a leap of faith. In Pittsburgh Pa there is a for profit medical clinic which serves the needs of the LBTG community. The late Maya Angelou rose up from the depths of abuse and despair. Sonia Sotomayor traveled from the projects in New York to the Supreme Court of the United States. Dr. Bob and Bill W crafted a recovery program which has been used by billions to reclaim a life of which they and their community can be proud.
Just when we think that no engine can make it up the Mountain the little engine does by one inch at a time proclaiming “I think I can. I think I can.”
This nation of humans who has enslaved and bullied others from its inception; this nation which has helped to create some of the poverty and violence in all the Americas and many other countries; this nation which puts arms sales profit above the death of dissidents; this nation which label s those fleeing violence as criminals; this nation which has created the gods of addiction – money, drugs, alcohol, sex, food, power, stuff, self-righteousness; this nation which imprisons more than any other developed nation has the soul – the seeds – of redemptive power.
We can be the nation which is of the people, for the people and by the people. We can be a nation which knows no stranger. We can be a nation which lets no one do without medical care, housing, education, food and hope. Above all we can be a nation of hope.
I think we can. I think we can.
February 18, 2019
Jimmy F. Pickett
Coachpickett.org
On this day set aside to honor past presidents of the United States such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln I am thinking of Watty Piper, Soren Kierkegaard, Jesus, the Dali Lama, Maya Angelou , Bill W, Dr. Bob and Dr. P. J. Palmer and others. I am also thinking of those who first dreamt of a sending our voices over a wire, harnessing energy to light lights and a host of other individuals and groups who thought they could.
It seems that here in the United States and many other countries in the world there is a tension between individuals and groups which cannot be broken or eased until one side gives in or destroys the other side. In the United States and elsewhere the one percent hold a great share of the wealth. Pharmaceutical companies appear to be charge of the health of many. Other health care professionals wring their hands and refuse to see many Medicaid patients; refugees depend on the generosity of churches and other aid organizations. I am reminded, once again, of the opening words of the confession in the Christian Book of Common Prayer:
“Almighty and most merciful father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended again they holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us….”
Every religious has some version of this prayer. If we stropped with these words of confession we would simply give up. Yet many who pray some version of this prayer do not give up. Dr. P J Palmer on Colfax Avenue in Denver Colorado heads up a for profit clinic which serves mainly Medicaid patients and pours some of the profit into “Mango House which houses program to feed and clothe the poor, and after school program, English classes, churches, dentist, legal help, Mental health and scout groups.” Yet Dr. Palmer does not starve or require staff to starve. He operates a for profit clinic (Ted talk: How Doctor can help low-income patients (and still make a profit.)) Soren Kierkegaard talked of the power of qualitative leap or a leap of faith. In Pittsburgh Pa there is a for profit medical clinic which serves the needs of the LBTG community. The late Maya Angelou rose up from the depths of abuse and despair. Sonia Sotomayor traveled from the projects in New York to the Supreme Court of the United States. Dr. Bob and Bill W crafted a recovery program which has been used by billions to reclaim a life of which they and their community can be proud.
Just when we think that no engine can make it up the Mountain the little engine does by one inch at a time proclaiming “I think I can. I think I can.”
This nation of humans who has enslaved and bullied others from its inception; this nation which has helped to create some of the poverty and violence in all the Americas and many other countries; this nation which puts arms sales profit above the death of dissidents; this nation which label s those fleeing violence as criminals; this nation which has created the gods of addiction – money, drugs, alcohol, sex, food, power, stuff, self-righteousness; this nation which imprisons more than any other developed nation has the soul – the seeds – of redemptive power.
We can be the nation which is of the people, for the people and by the people. We can be a nation which knows no stranger. We can be a nation which lets no one do without medical care, housing, education, food and hope. Above all we can be a nation of hope.
I think we can. I think we can.
February 18, 2019
Jimmy F. Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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