The Unpopularity of Facts and Truth

Substance vs. style; passion vs wisdom; celebrity vs leadership; feelings vs faith...

Could Americans be any more reactive right now? What we WANT to believe, we believe...no matter if our beliefs are based on fact or truth or any kind of reality. It's a scary time, but an interesting one no doubt.

Apparently, if it can be reported on, talked about ad nausea on TV/Radio, put on a bumper sticker and held up on an ugly poster, then we can count it as truth. It's the NEW REALITY. It's just easier to react and emote and vent, right?

What's difficult? Waiting to react until the truth has been determined; refusing to ridicule those I don't agree with just because of that...disagreement...and that only.

We are emotional wrecks! We are argumentative! We are ready to shout; pout; whine; and emote at any and all times someone disagrees.

AND...if we are Christians: then SURELY we all have the same opinions and attitudes about the government; celebrities; issues; etc. In fact, we are so sure of that we don't even stop to ask if another Christian might be offended by our off-color jokes or sarcasm, because of course, WE ALL THINK ALIKE!!!

It's a bummer of a time for me, and so incredibly discouraging. It takes so much effort and energy to combat the craziness and not play into it. Cause here's the thing, I'm as bad as the people I'm calling out...I HATE to admit that, but I am. When they start to scream, I want to scream harder and louder...when they get all wonky about something, I want to make fun of them and ridicule them...YIKES...I so wish I could just judge and then not worry about my own behavior! SADLY, I cannot!

Redemption...2nd chances...new starts

These are hallmark to my faith...cannot imagine what it would be like to live without them. 'Cannot imagine what it would be like for some of my very best friends and family to live without them either. The older I get in both age and maturity (questionable on most days!) I am convinced the only way we can exist on earth is that we all get the chance to learn and grow. That sort of pre-supposes that we fail, make mistakes, do things that are even life-altering...for ourselves and subsequently for others.

To embrace this idea of redemption for myself though, means that I equally apply it to others. My biggest hope is that others would apply it to me too. What does that look like? Word pictures?...Here's a few:

Forgiveness

Restoration

Refusal to regurgitate past mistakes

Gentle Acceptance

Hopefulness

Healing

I know of no one who is perfect. My friends and family are flawed...I am flawed. My sweetest relationships are those where the flaws aren't hidden; forgiveness has been extended and accepted; and new starts have grown into deeper realities.

Re-demp-tion...the best 3 syllables I can think of!

Sherry's "shush" list

a/k/a..."people who need to shut their mouths"

1. Dick Cheney: please be quiet, seriously...I beg of you...shut your mouth. You didn't say hardly anything in 8 years of office, and now you are just saying the most idiotic things. STOP it...really...STOP IT.

2. Michael Steele: could you say anymore ridiculous stuff? Don't answer...of course you can, you seriously cannot help yourself...the more you talk, the worse it gets...

3. Joe Lieberman: you change like a chameleon, reflecting the closest color to you...pick a stance and stick with it...until then: SHUSH!

4. Howard Dean: could you just for one minute "let it go" and quit talking...you aren't helping the cause of health care and you are just making it worse. BE QUIET!!!

5. The "Tiger Woods" mistress club: shut your mouths. Quit talking about any/all of it. You look stupid...zip your lips

6. Rush Limbaugh: Glad the health care system works for you...highly insured with lots of dough. Why do you think that applies to everyone? STOP talking

OK, that's it...now I'm going to be quiet myself!

2010: A "JESUS year"...

I'm wanting me a "JESUS year"...I really don't want anything else. There are a lot of resolutions I should/could make: all very worthy, arguably needed for sure! I quickly realized I couldn't settle on one or two things, cause I just want to be more in step with Jesus than I ever have been in my entire life. Actually, I was pretty excited that it meant not having the D word on my resolution list (Diet...which I think is interesting that the first 3 letters of the word spell DIE!!!)...I'm just hungry for Him and for His word...the word of life, and not religion in/of itself. That just kills any of my desire, passion, etc. actually!

Here's a pretty good verse that boils it down to REAL SIMPLE

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1 Corinthians 2:2

I communicate better with writing than the spoken word, and usually I find lyrics that really can much more eloquently express my thoughts...so here's one by Meredith Andrews that I really am liking right now...

For your nearness Lord, I hunger
For your nearness Lord, I wait
Hold me ever closer Father
With such a love I can't escape

For your nearness I am hoping
For your nearness Lord, I long
I have no need of any other
I have found where I belong
Yes, I have found where I belong

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

In your nearness there is healing
what was broken - now made whole
restoration in it's fullness
Lasting home for all who come

In your nearness I take shelter
Where you are is where I'm home
I have need of only one thing
to be here before your throne
to be here before your throne

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

And keep me here
keep me here
there's no where else I'd rather be
So keep me here
keep me here
there's no where else I'd rather be
there's no where else I'd rather be

So draw me nearer Lord
Never let me go
Closer to your heart
Draw me nearer Lord
Draw me nearer Lord

I really admire SMART Women...

This morning I was watching a news show and got to see Cokie Roberts, very intelligently in my opinion, speak about healthcare and other "hot topics. She is measured and wise, and thinks about things before reacting. She applies history, current context, and looks to the long term ramifications of challenges, and not the "here-and-now" only.

I like Olympia Snow: she's her own person, and she's a hard worker and listens to her constituents. She takes the time and effort to learn what she needs to know and reacts as she sees fit. She doesn't do that based on popularity or polls. She's just "good stock"

I am partial to Peggie Noonan...don't always agree with her, but like her thought process and how she presents herself.

I enjoy having a very smart and centered 1st lady in Michelle Obama.

I think Laura Ingram, Sara Palin, Michelle Bachman (I think that's her name: it's the crazy lady who really just holds rallies and hates everything and everyone pretty much!) are silly. I think they have settled. It's not just enough to work hard, try to understand, disseminate good information with commentary, they have really bought into the whole "look good, sensationalism, rant and rave, media world. They pontificate and rail against everything and everyone pretty much. Think about it: it's easy, and safe! When everyone and everything is pretty much WRONG you've can have easy targets everywhere, and feel good about yourself and all of your "fights" you are fighting. It's a place of passion and quick sound bites...

It takes a lot of maturity and wisdom to not go that easy route. So thanks...to Cokie, Olympia, Peggie and Michelle...thanks for being strong and steady women...may we have more and more of you...and LESS AND LESS of the other...it's exhausting and frankly, depressing!

Certain things consistently arrive in our lives...Christmas time is one of those things. For me, it's a time to reconnect with my faith in a more simple way. It's also a time I enjoy "loving on" my family and friends. The two things are inexplicably linked in my mind, and I can't separate one from the other. So what's comforting at Christmas about these three things (faith, family, and friends)?

Faith = Back to the basics: the God of the entire universe figures out the perfect way to connect to his creation...he comes as a baby! Could he have made himself any more vulnerable? Now that's an action I can be impressed by! Who could've come up with a better plan, story..."way to start a relationship"? How completely cool is it? How could I NOT want to get to know that kind of God?

Family = remembering where I came from: the family I was destined to be in was the one hand-picked for me...not perfect by all means, but just right for a crazy, impetuous, passionate gal who desperately needs unconditional love, and LOTS and LOTS of forgiveness and grace...and people willing to laugh at her (keeps one humble) and with her (keeps one affirmed)...

Friends = special gifts that keep on giving: I have these amazing gifts that have been given to me in the form of people. Each one is such a HUGE,GINORMOUS blessing....were I to unwrap my passel of gifts right now I'd find": laughter, challenge, grace, forgiveness, double-dog dares, stimulating conversation, comfort, peace, joy, helpfulness, tear-sharers, memories, etc. etc.

This has been a really hard year, so the comforts of Christmas mean more than ever!

REALLY?...or things that make me go "hmmm...."

1. The funeral home on Broad Ripple Avenue is opening it's doors for little ones to "Trick or Treat": Really? Who takes their kid to a funeral home for candy?

2. The Hubler commercial jingle is to the tune of "Are you Sleeping?": Really? How inane is that?

3. Speaking of which, does Terry Lee really think I want to build a relationship with him over a Honda? Really? Why would he think this is a good sales strategy? (TLC = The Terry Lee Commitment...Maybe it should be TLSBC: Terry Lee should be committed)

4. Starbucks double espresso plus energy shots are great to get you through a deadline. Really? Yes, really, but then you can't stop talking in a rapid, high pitched voice and you laugh A LOT at yourself and people start backing away...I'm just sayin'

5. There's a guy in the park who points out squirrels to his dog to chase. Really? I must be a bad dog owner, but I kinda think that's my dog's responsibility. How will he learn if I never let him have the chance to break out, try new things, fail, try again?

6. Wouldn't it be cool for all the really cute marketing mascots to get together and make a movie, or a video? Really? Seriously, the Geiko gekko, the AFLAC duck, what about the toe fungus dudes. Someone's gonna take my idea, run with it, and make a fortune: you'll see!

7. Since we are now all coughing into our elbows, I think we need to have special anti-bacterial interior arm patches. They could come in different colors and textures. Really? YES, really, it's a good idea and you wish you would have thought of it by now!

8. We are finally getting sidewalks in my section of Broad Ripple. Really? Yes...it's only been about 20 years of waiting...we have hit THE BIG TIME. I think we should have a side walk party...kind of like Carmel having a round about ribbon cutting. The only thing is that you can do more thematically with a round about party than a sidewalk celebration. For example: you could serve all round food: pizzas, bagels, donuts, etc. What can you serve at a sidewalk celebration? Strips of bacon? Twizzlers?

9. Some of the people who were railing against government and that "awful, nasty, dangerous" flu vaccine are now mad because they can't get it. Really? We are a crazy group, we Americans!

10. Michael Jackson, in the news EVERY SINGE DAY! Really? What is that all about? What about some of the TRUE hero's and talented peeps in the world who don't do freaky things to themselves or others? Could we give a little attention to them?