“The office of the scholar is to cheer, to raise, and to guide men by showing them facts amidst appearances…In the long period of his preparation he must betray often an ignorance and shiftlessness in popular arts, incurring the disdain of the able who shoulder him aside. Long must he stammer in his speech, often … Continue reading Stammering Speech, Wisdom, Solitude and Poverty.
As the 2020 presidential campaign draws to a conclusion (hopefully), I think it would be good to pause for a moment and consider how the current vitriol and divisiveness challenges the strengths of our union. Although some might argue this is nothing new in American politics; what is novel about these election cycles are the … Continue reading Recovering discourse in a divisive day.
Because of the quirkinesses of geography and circumstance my television shows me Cleveland Browns professional football games on Sunday, even though I live in Oklahoma. Presumably I get to watch Cleveland's inconsistencies on the grid iron due to the fact that their quarterback Baker Mayfield was a collegiate star at the University of Oklahoma. The … Continue reading This fool’s motley
Election day is upon us. Aren't you thankful for the right to vote? Remember as you go to the polls that those voting differently than you aren't evil. They are simply convinced that solving our collective problems is best achieved by a different means than what you believe. Democrats and Republicans aren't evil and neither … Continue reading Vote. And even if you don’t you’re still an American.
Former First lady, Michelle Obama, encourages us, “…don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” Such courage and hope is highlighted in the lives of working people who leveraged their religious faith to bring about … Continue reading Hope takes on a life of its own
William James in his classic work The Varieties of Religious Experience argues that the religious life and vision exclusively pursued tends to make a person eccentric and exceptional. This quote resonates with me on so many levels. On more than one occasion I've had people comment "You're an odd person." So I suppose I've got the eccentric part … Continue reading Reflections of inconsistencies
The thoughts associated with a thousand events compete for space in my mind. Past, present, and future have a way of shouting for attention interrupting the quiet moments of solitude that I seek. The oasis that I actively cultivate to escape the cavalcade parading by is indeed but a mirage. There is no oasis. There … Continue reading Long ago and far, far away
President Trump is once again attempting to exploit his relationship to Evangelicals who contributed in large measure to his election in 2016. Over this past weekend he attended church in Nevada where he was praised by the Pastor and blessed by parishioners. A picture captured by the New York Times photojournalist Doug Mills captures the … Continue reading Political preference or Trump worship?
As the annual Columbus Day holiday once again comes and goes, I went back and combined some notes from two helpful books that I read in the past few years that continue to challenge and shape my thinking on these issues. I recommend them both to those of you wanting to educate yourself on these … Continue reading Examining Columbus and the hateful legacies of Whiteness
“What if my whole life has been wrong?” I’m haunted by this line from Tolstoy’s classic work The Death of Ivan Ilych. As Ivan’s life of pleasantry pursuits is overtaken by disease and pain he comes to the realization that perhaps his life has been nothing but shallow and futile. Echoing Christ on the cross he … Continue reading Avoiding death bed epiphanies
