Random Thoughts

November 1, 2006

As I write prior to the mid-term elections on Nov. 7 I am wondering what changes they will bring. Surely we need to change something in this country. I have always been of the opinion that one party controlling the WH and Hill is not a good thing. It seems likely that at least the House will change hands, but probably not the Senate. If that happens, the administration will have to be more accountable than it has for the past 6 years. And, hopefully, our strategy in Iraq will change. Strategy? As Lou Dobbs asked some retired generals recently on CNN, “I cannot see a strategy, can you?” They, of course, supported their friends in the military but blasted the Secretary of Defense for not allowing them to do their job. Oh well, perhaps things will improve soon. If not, it looks like chaos is about to reign in Iraq, if it is not already.

Speaking of elections; I have been following the Tennessee senatorial race between Bob Corker and Harold Ford, Jr. Unfortunately race is playing a part in the election. Corker (Caucasian Republican) has said that some ads put out by the RNC are inappropriate. They still run, however. Ford (African-American Democrat) seeks to become the first black senator from the south since reconstruction. I have mixed feelings about this particular race. I know Ford and have worked with him on a number of issues. But unfortunately he has moved very much to the right in his public pronouncements and positions. It seems to me he is doing this to get elected. They say one must be in the center to be elected. Too bad. It seems to me it would be better to be who one is and live and die with that.

Katherine Jefforts Shori is being invested as the new Presiding Bishop on November 4 at the National Cathedral. I had wanted to attend but just did not have the time to get away. I will, however, meet with her in Chicago on November 16-18 as all of the standing commissions of ECUSA gather there for the purpose of meeting with her and beginning our business for this new triennium.

I have just begun a novel by John Updike, Terrorist, which is about a home-grown terrorist from New Jersey. It looks like it is going to be a good book. We’ll see.

It is hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching Advent. For most of the people in our country that means Christmas shopping and Christmas parties. My hope is that I can invite the people of St. Luke’s to actually live into Advent, preparing for the coming of Christ into their lives in possibly a new way, rather than being so much a part of the “world” that they too jump right into Christmas. We’ll see how that goes.

I’ve just finished reading most of the October 31 issue of “The Christian Century”, a left-leaning biweekly publication that helps keep me abreast of what is going on in the world of religion, politics, etc. The cover story in this issue is about the right-leaning (being kind here) Christians who idolize the United States rather than God. Have you ever thought about that? Listen to the spokespersons for the religious right and hear what they have to say.

Boy, that last bullet is what gets me into trouble. See, one could say that I am not a patriot. Actually, I like living in this country and would not want to be anywhere else, except maybe one day to live in Jerusalem. But I do not idolize our country. I think the role of the church is to be a prophetic voice and speak the truth as we understand it to our government, not be a member of one of the political parties. So that is what I try to do. And it generally gets me into trouble.

May I gloat a minute? Thanks for the opportunity. I’ve been a St. Louis Cardinal fan my entire life. World Champs! You gotta love it!