Sunday Musings – February 19, 2017
It has been a spring-like weekend here in the Ohio Valley and in many other parts of the country. While I am not deluded into thinking that winter is over, even the intensity and length of daylight reminds me that the seasons of life come and go no matter what we humans do or do not do. Having said that I must add that it is not my intention to mitigate the negative consequences of us humans acting as if we exist in a vacuum instead of within a total, interactive system.
At any rate, just as the seasons come and go, I and many others I know are confronted with the fact that we are in the final section of our life journey. Friends who used to be much younger than I am are now in their sixties. Other friends are welcoming their eighth and even ninth decades. Despite some needing body parts repaired or replaced and unwelcome guests such as cataracts banished, many of us are able to live a much more active life than did our ancestors who worked much harder physically than most of us and who had less access to health care.
I am acutely aware of the luxury of living in the Ohio Valley. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the poet laurate of West Virginia, a dear friend who is celebrating her 80th, a young playwright, a friend who treated me to dinner and a very credible production of a Shakespeare play (As You Like It), clients who allow me to share their healing journeys and the slow dance of consummating my relationship with my new home greatly enriched my life this week. I am very grateful.
I was also aware of both the adoration of our new president and the discordance of fear which many of his behaviors cause. Even in a state which overwhelmingly voted for him and which, on the whole are pleased with his behavior, there are pockets of dissent such as the small group advocating for Wheeling to become a sanctuary city.
I am also aware of the fact that there are a significant number of people who believe that justice should be dictated by our disapproval and anger. I read with sadness of a proposed bill in the West Virginia legislature which would significantly increase prison time for those whose abusive behavior results in the death of a child. The proposed bill would set the minimum sentence at 20 years and the maximum at 80 years. The bill would also increase the sentencing range for sexual abuse or other abuse which does not result in death. Is the purpose of this bill to punish, protect other children or to provide an outlet for anger? Certainly, any parent or anyone who has an ability to love a child hates it when a child is abused. When that child dies, we are likely to be especially sad, frustrated and, at some level, feeling as if we should have done more to protect that child. Yet, does harsher punishment of people who abuse children prevent child abuse? Does it make it easier for the parents who need temporary help with parenting because their addiction, mental illness or other condition? Is the person who spends many years in prison more or less likely to be healed of the condition which results in their behavior? Are we truly aware that this reaction to our anger costs a lot of money which we pay?
As a country, many are supportive of policies which punished the individual and the family who are here illegally regardless of why they are here. Many are also supportive of policies which spend a lot of money attempting to identify and punish those who take advantage of programs such as Medicaid. Does the spending justify the savings or the stress the policies cause those who need help?
On this Sunday, I am acutely aware that if I am silent I am complicit in policies which I think are not only ineffective but often immoral. On the other hand, if I just react with anger I am acting as if my anger has a firmer moral base then others whose anger triggers their response. Once again, on this Sunday morning I am reminded that:
· As Bigger Thomas would say, “You cannot do anything to me besides kill me and that ain’t nothin’. All I really own is my integrity which no one can take from me.”
· There is much for which to be grateful.
· Anger and hating the fact that I am not an all-powerful God who cannot prevent all hurt and injustice is not a sufficient basis for action which is designed to punish.
· The anger of others is based in fear or pain. I must ask myself how I want to respond to the fear and pain of others.
· Not acting is acting. Not acting may be dangerous and may be the kindest possible action.
· Only when I stop and breathe am I open to the possibility of perspective.
Written February 19, 2017
It has been a spring-like weekend here in the Ohio Valley and in many other parts of the country. While I am not deluded into thinking that winter is over, even the intensity and length of daylight reminds me that the seasons of life come and go no matter what we humans do or do not do. Having said that I must add that it is not my intention to mitigate the negative consequences of us humans acting as if we exist in a vacuum instead of within a total, interactive system.
At any rate, just as the seasons come and go, I and many others I know are confronted with the fact that we are in the final section of our life journey. Friends who used to be much younger than I am are now in their sixties. Other friends are welcoming their eighth and even ninth decades. Despite some needing body parts repaired or replaced and unwelcome guests such as cataracts banished, many of us are able to live a much more active life than did our ancestors who worked much harder physically than most of us and who had less access to health care.
I am acutely aware of the luxury of living in the Ohio Valley. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the poet laurate of West Virginia, a dear friend who is celebrating her 80th, a young playwright, a friend who treated me to dinner and a very credible production of a Shakespeare play (As You Like It), clients who allow me to share their healing journeys and the slow dance of consummating my relationship with my new home greatly enriched my life this week. I am very grateful.
I was also aware of both the adoration of our new president and the discordance of fear which many of his behaviors cause. Even in a state which overwhelmingly voted for him and which, on the whole are pleased with his behavior, there are pockets of dissent such as the small group advocating for Wheeling to become a sanctuary city.
I am also aware of the fact that there are a significant number of people who believe that justice should be dictated by our disapproval and anger. I read with sadness of a proposed bill in the West Virginia legislature which would significantly increase prison time for those whose abusive behavior results in the death of a child. The proposed bill would set the minimum sentence at 20 years and the maximum at 80 years. The bill would also increase the sentencing range for sexual abuse or other abuse which does not result in death. Is the purpose of this bill to punish, protect other children or to provide an outlet for anger? Certainly, any parent or anyone who has an ability to love a child hates it when a child is abused. When that child dies, we are likely to be especially sad, frustrated and, at some level, feeling as if we should have done more to protect that child. Yet, does harsher punishment of people who abuse children prevent child abuse? Does it make it easier for the parents who need temporary help with parenting because their addiction, mental illness or other condition? Is the person who spends many years in prison more or less likely to be healed of the condition which results in their behavior? Are we truly aware that this reaction to our anger costs a lot of money which we pay?
As a country, many are supportive of policies which punished the individual and the family who are here illegally regardless of why they are here. Many are also supportive of policies which spend a lot of money attempting to identify and punish those who take advantage of programs such as Medicaid. Does the spending justify the savings or the stress the policies cause those who need help?
On this Sunday, I am acutely aware that if I am silent I am complicit in policies which I think are not only ineffective but often immoral. On the other hand, if I just react with anger I am acting as if my anger has a firmer moral base then others whose anger triggers their response. Once again, on this Sunday morning I am reminded that:
· As Bigger Thomas would say, “You cannot do anything to me besides kill me and that ain’t nothin’. All I really own is my integrity which no one can take from me.”
· There is much for which to be grateful.
· Anger and hating the fact that I am not an all-powerful God who cannot prevent all hurt and injustice is not a sufficient basis for action which is designed to punish.
· The anger of others is based in fear or pain. I must ask myself how I want to respond to the fear and pain of others.
· Not acting is acting. Not acting may be dangerous and may be the kindest possible action.
· Only when I stop and breathe am I open to the possibility of perspective.
Written February 19, 2017
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