Things observed:
1. So, spinach now has E. Coli in it. I tried to tell my mom that spinach was bad when I was a kid, but some parents never listen. Of course, I said the same thing about beans, squash, and cucumbers, so…
2. The pope got into trouble making statements about radical Islam and, in a historic move, has had to apologize. Here’s another sign of the global culture–anybody, anywhere, can tick anyone off anytime. We live in a world where the extremists get the most press–be it in religion, politics, or any other public sphere. Offer a critique and you’ll be branded an enemy, and this goes to all sides of any ideological conflict. Our world takes itself too seriously and religion has become more about being powerful than being human. Whatever happened to grace?
3. A parishioner gave me an article cut from the Wall Street Journal back in February that talked about the state of Army basic training. In an effort to make the transition easier for people to join a recruit-starved military, trainees are no longer subject to profanity-laced tirades from drill sergeants, are given 8 hours of sleep a night, are allowed more "personal time" and can even have seconds on dessert. The goal, according to the article, was to allow the recruits more time to train on their jobs and basic combat skills.
Okay, as one who went through basic training in 1982, I have to admit that this sounds like a military gone soft. The real value of basic training, for me at least, was the realization that when I was pushed to the limits in terms of physical and emotional stress, I learned that there was always a little bit more that I could take. Just when I was on the verge of quitting, I found out that I could take just a bit more…until I found that any limits I had were largely self-imposed. I left feeling more confident and realized that quitting was never an option.
There are few consequences for quitting in our culture. People quit school, quit church, quit commitments at the drop of a hat when things get uncomfortable. They self-impose limits and, when they meet them, that’s the end of it. It’s a shame to see that that attitude has, in effect, come into the military–which is one place where you really can’t quit or the consequences for everyone around you are serious. Rather than simply lower stress, you have to learn to deal with it.
If we never push our limits, we’ll never grow. It’s true in the Army and it’s true in the church as well. I’m sure there’s a larger sermon in all that somewhere…
4. Today is "Talk Like a Pirate Day." Bet ye didn’t know that, ye scurvy dog! It was started by a couple of guys who were goofing off on a racquetball court one day (go figure) and then became a national phenomenon when Dave Barry picked it up in his column. Now if I could just find a plank…
