Posts

Posted on

brothers

Pick your passion.  Go ahead.  Pick it.

 

What’s the issue that drives you?  … that you are totally passionate about?  … that you have such a strong opinion on that you are certain that no one — absolutely no one — could convince you otherwise?  You know this topic.  You feel strongly — incredibly strongly.  In fact, you feel so strongly, you believe you are incapable of having any aspect or perspective that is skewed — that is — dare I suggest — even, possibly, partially, wrong?

 

What is it?  What’s your driving passion?

 

… abortion… adoption… gay marriage… the defense of marriage… mandated healthcare… mandated prayer… mandated anything… responsible economics… environmental responsibility… individual responsibility… freedom of religion… freedom from religion… freedom… birth control… government-provided birth control… income inequality… education inequality… any perceived inequality… cloning… hate crimes… gun control… gun rights… securing our borders… securing the rights of illegals… racial discrimination… gender discrimination… religious discrimination… sexual preference discrimination… social justice… administering justice… drug abuse… disabilities… parenting… parenting teenagers… gray hair removal…

 

(… sorry, but after listing all those passions, for some strange reason, my growing gray hair came to mind…)

 

On Sunday — if we were paying attention to more than the food and the football — the estimated 108.4 million of us who watched the Ravens prove victorious over the 49ers, were treated to a wise lesson modeled by the brothers Harbaugh.

 

John coaches the Baltimore Ravens.  Jim leads the 49ers out of San Francisco.

 

The game was excellent.  After a soaring start by the Ravens, tamed seemingly only by an odd electric outage, the game was both competitive and close.  With less than 2 minutes to go and trailing by less than a touchdown, the 49ers had opportunity to finally forge ahead.  3 chances.  No touchdowns.  1 chance arguably remained.  On this fourth and final opportunity, the 49ers threw a fade into the end zone.  All eyes watched as a play of several seconds seemed executed in undoubtedly, slow, slow-motion…

 

Incomplete.

The ball fell to the ground.  Incomplete.  The Ravens could then hold out for the win.

 

But on that final 49ers play, the physical contact was significant.  Did the receiver push off?  Did the defense interfere?  Jim Harbaugh, the San Fran coach, screamed at the refs, throwing his hat in disgust, clamoring for defensive holding.  John Harbaugh, the soon-to-be-victorious coach, felt just as strongly that no defensive penalty was in order.  The 2 men disagreed.  No one seemed capable of changing either of their equally, incredibly passionate opinions.

 

The 2 men — the 2 brothers — disagreed passionately on the call.  Regardless of extent their passion, one good man won.  The other one lost.

 

The winner did not gloat in his accomplishment.  Even though he won the absolute, pinnacle game of his career, there was no public utterance of arrogance, of how he was better, how his team was better, nor what a big [bleeping] deal this was.  The “winning” brother was continually mindful that his circumstances still meant someone else’s loss; someone else he cared about passionately disagreed with what led to his success.

 

Don’t let the outcome also cause us to conclude that Jim Harbaugh (the Super Bowl’s losing coach) suddenly changed his opinion, acted as if it was no big deal, nor simply suggested he was happy for his brother.  Jim declined immediate post-game interviews.  When he did speak, he was very clear that he passionately disagreed with the call.  However, Jim Harbaugh was able to disagree without reverting to disrespect.

 

No gloating by John; no assuming he knows best.  No pouting by Jim; no assuming he is a victim.  The two men won and lost, while continuing to remember that people they cared about believed and felt differently.

 

Somehow we miss that…  We feel so emboldened in our “wins” and our “losses” that we seem to actually forget those we care about.  We forget that those who feel differently are not always evil, not always disrespectful, and (God forbid, probably) not always wrong.

We forget that we are brothers.

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

‘super’ bowl

A “super” day…

 

If we compare to last year, 111.3 million of us will sit down in front of the television at some point this evening and turn on Super Bowl XLVII.  The San Francisco 49ers — led by Coach J. Harbaugh — will face the Baltimore Ravens — led by Coach J. Harbaugh.

 

We will watch the obviously super brothers, and… we will eat…

 

In fact, we will eat a lot…

 

Some of us will grill.  Regardless of snow covering half the country, Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest grilling day of the year — the first being the Fourth of July.

 

We’ll eat chips; an estimated 11 million pounds of potato chips will be consumed.

 

(… uh, not a ton of health food…)

 

Pizza will be served in plethoras.  It is, no doubt, the busiest day of the year for pizza restaurants, with major chains supposed to sell double what they do on a regular day.

 

Not to be out done, however, by wings and rings and even more things, as 1.23 billion chicken wings are expected to be consumed, accompanied by 49.2 million cases of beer.

 

Second only to Thanksgiving, Americans are expected to double their food consumption to 33 million pounds of snacks.

 

So we should be satisfied physically, enjoying the creativity of newly aired commercials and thus money exchanging hands…

 

CBS is charging advertisers an estimated $3.7 to $3.8 million dollars per 30-second spot.  30 seconds.  3.8 billion.  That equates to $125,000 per second.

 

(…I could do a lot with $125,000 per second…)

 

How about betting?  Is the Super Bowl the number one gambling day of the year?

 

Probably.  According to “Business Week” magazine, “No one knows for sure since the huge majority of the money changes hands under the table.  Last year, Nevada’s 184 sports books wrote $93.9 million worth of bets.  The NCAA men’s basketball tournament, aka March Madness, recently surpassed the Super Bowl’s handle (the total amount wagered) in the state with roughly $100 million in bets, but that’s over 67 games.  According to the American Gaming Association, a gambling lobby in Washington, the Super Bowl is still the biggest for illegal wagers.  The AMA says the Nevada handle accounts for only 1.5 percent of the Super Bowl total, which would make for more than $6 billion nationwide.  March Madness, the lobby says, citing the FBI, is a $2.5 billion betting event.  But Pregame.com founder R.J. Bell estimated in ‘USA Today’ that March Madness topped the Super Bowl last year, $12 billion to $10 billion.  Again, nobody really knows.”

 

So allow me to get this straight…

 

Tons of money exchanges hands…

Money that could arguably be more wisely spent is gambled away…

We will eat and drink lavishly, ‘stuffingly’, unhealthily…

And upon completion, the winners will call it the ‘best day of their lives’…

… the losers will articulate the utter agony of defeat.

 

All for what is best described as a “game.”

 

A “super” game, no less — but still just a “game.”

 

Yep, our country is sure messed up sometimes…

But can’t wait to watch…  love those brothers Harbaugh…

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

hating politics

I hate politics.  Ok, so really… that’s kind of a lie.  Sorry, I attempt to be transparent.  I’m also very human.  While several of you consider yourselves among that camp (a camp that includes my very respected spouse), I do not hate politics.  If, however, there were ever days when the Intramuralist was most tempted, Monday and Tuesday were two.

 

From this semi-humble vantage point, politics is a tool that is best used as an ethical, responsible means to govern and assist people.  When I come to the proverbial breaking point where the thought of “hate” creeps into my head, it’s typically prompted by a distortion of that responsible means — typically, too, made manifest via the perception of either arrogance or self-servingness.  It’s a point where what’s best for the country seems secondary to some other motive — a motive which may or may not be able to be discerned with certainty.

 

Afford me first the grace to offer both caveat and confession…

All parties and all people are capable of arrogance.  All parties and people are capable of self-servingness.  I am equally capable.  Note:  neither Democrats nor Republicans are overwhelmingly noted for their outstanding ethics; neither is known to consistently put what’s best for the country first.

 

Hence, follow the sequence of events leading to Monday and Tuesday…

 

Both Pres. Bush and Pres. Obama promised to enact immigration reform.  Bush promised it within term 2; Obama promised it within year 1 of term 1.  Neither prioritized such as promised.  With arguably up to 12 million persons living in this country illegally — impacting our workplace, healthcare system, etc. — this is an issue that undoubtedly has bipartisan appeal (hence, the promises)… hence, also, why the Intramuralist believes this is not a partisan issue.

 

Consistent with that thinking, on Monday, a group of 8 leading senatorial voices (which included Dick Durbin, John McCain, Marco Rubio, and Chuck Schumer) excitedly and incredibly respectfully announced the bipartisan agreement they crafted in order to deal with this challenge well.  Look at the polls.  Citizens have no desire for “liberal rule,” “conservative rule,” or anyone’s dictatorship; they want — we want — effective, bipartisan agreement.  American citizens do not seem to believe that one party has the complete and always correct way.  Hence, Monday’s bipartisan agreement — where both Democrats and Republicans had to “give” on something and were still excited about it — seemed a potential, effective solution.

 

That solution may still exist.  It may not.

 

On Tuesday, the President decided it was necessary to announce his immigration proposal.  He flew to Las Vegas and back to D.C. solely to deliver this address (note:  such a trip costs taxpayers an estimated $1.6 million).  While commending the senators for their announced actions, Obama added that the Senate must move fast, saying, “If Congress is unable to move forward in a timely fashion, I will send up a bill based on my proposal and insist that they vote on it right away.”  The President’s proposal seemingly differs from the mixed group of senators in that it does not require border security prior to offering free legal status.

 

As a person who (does not) hate politics — and questions this of all parties — I question the motive of the President’s speech.  Was the proposed bipartisan solution not enough?  Was the senators’ joint excitement not ample to keep the momentum rolling toward achieving what’s best for our country?  Or does there exist some secondary motive — something that true, we cannot discern with certainty?

 

In the White House Press Secretary’s daily Monday briefing, Jay Carney added the following:  “I think it’s important before we let the moment pass to acknowledge that the progress we’re seeing embodied in the principles put forward by this bipartisan group is happening for a reason: I think it’s happening because consensus is developing in the country, a bipartisan consensus, and it’s happening because the President has demonstrated significant leadership on this issue.”  [emphasis mine]

 

“Because the President.”  President Bush?  President Obama?  My sense is that who is responsible pales in comparison to actual solution.

 

Wait.  Allow me one more significant tangent prior to this post’s end…

If you find yourself excessively irritated or joyfully ‘amen-ing’ at today’s dialogue, please be aware of the prodigious potential for naiveté on each of our parts.  Know that persons from both parties have secondary motives, and also know that no politician is exempt from hidden motive, regardless of how much of our admiration they tend to attract.

 

Ok, ok… enough…  I don’t really hate politics.  It’s just that sometimes both parties really tempt me.

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

whoa whoa whoa feelings

Sunday morning the pastor took a quick poll in morning worship:  “How many of you had a leisurely, relaxing morning, and everything went smoothly on the way here?”

 

That was quickly followed by:  “How many of you have had a stressful morn so far?”

 

I swiftly raised my hand to the second of those 2 Q’s (… love the freedom and grace to be authentic on Sunday mornings…).  My morning stunk.  My youngest son had a major meltdown.

 

When I refer to a major meltdown, I mean major.  It was ugly and loud and nothing I’d want noticed when focused too much on Impression Management 101.  It didn’t make either my son nor me look good.  He was a mess.  So was I.

 

Not only was Josh a mess, but he was disobedient and disrespectful.  He was tired and cranky and such evolved into obstinacy and arrogance.  Like I said, it was ugly.

 

Every now and then, I find one of those rare moments of parenting when everything within me seems to converge, and I humbly realize this is a huge teaching moment.  My sense is that such probably occurs a whole lot more often than I realize; but far too frequently I am too impatient, too busy, or too self-focused to recognize the meaning of the moment.  I am too distracted by daily life to teach the lessons that will serve my kids for all their life.

 

Not last Sunday morning.

 

As my son’s temper turned to tears and his disrespect morphed not-so-calmly into regret, I simply sat beside him — silently but not ostensibly nor overtly compassionate.  Truth be told, my heart welled will enormous compassion — recognizing the potential teaching of the time.

 

Josh’s body, which previously shook in accordance with all tears, was calm now.  The tears, though, continued to quietly, abundantly flow.  After a few more pregnant pauses, Josh drudgingly but deliberately raised his eyes to meet mine.  “I’m sorry.”  The sincere admission prompted even more tears, but now he was listening.  Now he could hear me.  Now was the time my words were most important, carrying the most significant of weight.

 

“Josh, you have to choose to be obedient no matter how you feel.  You still have to choose what’s right.”

 

Therein lay my ‘a-ha’ for the week; my words to this precious, teachable young man were words so much of the rest of the world has so obviously, so quickly, and so seemingly, callously discounted.  We aren’t even always so young.  And certainly, we are not always nor even consistently teachable.  Of course, the Intramuralist often wonders as to why.  I suppose we’re too often too impatient, busy, or self-focused; we’re distracted by daily life.  Arguably instead, we are distracted by emotion.  Our emotion tends to trump what is right.

 

Instead of choosing what’s right no matter how we feel, my strong sense is that the rest of the watching world is more likely to actually change what they previously perceived as right.  Instead of consistently doing the right thing, we allow our emotions to justify what we once knew to be wrong; we allow our emotions to actually change what the right thing is…

 

“Because I feel this way, it must be right…”

 

Perhaps we’re too emboldened by our self-serving practice of Impression Management; perhaps we are so emboldened that we don’t actually articulate the practice aloud, although the bottom line point remains the same…

 

We aren’t always as teachable as my precious, young Joshua.

 

True, Josh has much to learn.  So do we.  Hopefully, none of us will continue to be so distracted.

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

fact as opposed to rhetoric

Every now and then a story strikes me as so significant that my sense is we need to discuss and highlight such amidst these postings.  The depth of the news deserves our attention.  Today is such a day.

 

Allow me to initially note that this account is very current; that being so, details are evolving daily.  I would encourage you to pay attention to those details.  Hence, take note of the following name:  Saeed Abedini.

 

Abedini is a 32 year old American citizen.  He is originally from Iran.  Abedini has a wife and 2 small children.  His extended family remains in Iran.

 

Abedini returns regularly to the Arab country in order to both visit his extended family and oversee a humanitarian effort he began years ago to build an orphanage; he has been arrested multiple times upon his return.   What has Abedini been arrested for?

 

Abedini is a pastor.  He is an American Christian pastor.  Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity.  As we logically wrestle with fact as opposed to rhetoric, know that any Muslim who apostatizes — literally “regresses” — or specifically goes on to at some point, somehow reject the Islamic faith — commits an offense which may be punishable by death.  Islamic scholars disagree on this assessment; the reality exists, however, that a sizable number of scholars believe execution is the appropriate consequence.  Under Shariah law, a Muslim who converts to Christianity is on par with someone waging war against Islam.

 

In mid-December without initial notice of any formal charges, Abedini was again imprisoned.  As he remained incarcerated, the Iranian government ambiguously charged him with compromising national security, omitting the specifics of the compromising actions.  The government also announced the American would go on trial for this offense.  According to his attorneys, Abedini is scheduled to appear before an Iranian judge known as the “hanging judge,” a man identified by the European Union in 2011 as an individual actually subject to sanctions for human rights violations.  Judge Pir-Abassi has reportedly presided over a number of cases against human rights activists, often handing down long prison sentences and even several death penalties.

 

One more seemingly significant detail:  at the time of this writing, Abedini’s whereabouts are also ambiguous.  When his family went to visit him in Iranian prison last Wednesday, they were told he was not there.  Then yesterday, they were told he had been moved within the prison yet they were not permitted to see him.

 

A couple more related notes:  Abedini’s family reports that he has been repeatedly interrogated and beaten within prison walls.  He has also experienced injury and pain as a result of these beatings and may be in need of medical treatment.  His attorney and family seem to know few more specifics.

 

Allow me one more rather relevant detail…

 

While the American government often calls for the fair and humane treatment of its citizens — in fact, our government often simply calls for the fair and humane treatment of all people regardless of citizenship — for months the American government has said nothing.

 

Finally, this week — only after approximately 250,000 online signatures, significant negative publicity, and public appeals by 50 U.S. House Representatives — the U.S. State Department called for Abedini’s release.  As Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) stated, “Every U.S. citizen should have the assurance that the U.S. government will come vigorously to their defense in a time of need, especially when they are unjustly tried in a foreign country.”  For months, there was not only no vigorous defense; there was no defense.

 

Why would we allow an innocent man to persevere alone?  Did his religion affect our response?

 

Ensuring that we wrestle with fact as opposed to rhetoric, the Intramuralist can only concerningly, definitely offer, “I don’t know.”

 

Respectfully,

AR

[Note:  This morning, Jan. 27th, Abedini was sentenced to 8 years in prison for attempting to undermine the Iranian government.  His attorney was apparently shut out from some of the judicial proceedings.  What will now be the response of governments around the world?]

Posted on

minority status

Let’s push the envelope a bit today, shall we?  In fact, it’s quite possible that today’s post may be our most controversial.  Maybe it will ruffle the most figurative feathers.  Please know that’s not my intent; ruffling feathers — regardless as to how figurative — but ruffling for the sole sake of ruffling seems a futile exercise indeed.  My goal has always been to wisely and correctly handle words of truth.

 

Yet in the seemingly continual, digressing state of society — where discouraging words are too often heard and far more than deer and antelope play — big is considered better; more is always best; and the majority is irrefutably wise.

 

The Intramuralist does not agree.  Big is not always better.  More is not always best.  And often it is the minority which offers the most prudent message.  Yes, the minority often possesses the greatest strength and keenest insight.  Granted (and such is said with an undeniable, sober sigh), the minority often face unfathomable, dire challenge; also true, no less, is that the existence of the challenge has the power and potential to strengthen the person and thus prompt that incredible insight.  In other words, the minority often possess the greatest blessing.  And yet, my ruffling sense is that the minority too often give that blessing away.

 

Reflect upon the minority for a moment…

 

A minority marked by race, religion, gender, or geographics…

A minority marked by ambition, achievement, or athletic competition…

A minority marked by perspective, potential, or political position…

A minority marked by intelligence, institution, or physical impairment…

A minority marked by skin color, school, or social standing…

 

Regardless of what distinguishes the group, the minority is the smaller number — by some part lesser than half the whole.

 

Regardless of being “lesser,” within that minority still, we find incredible insights, values, and places of personal and corporate growth…

 

Among them, perhaps?  … humility… perseverance and pride…  work ethic and wisdom… faith and self-awareness…  (… did I mention humility?)

 

The majority, however, is instead too often marked by an unattractive arrogance —  possessing no perceived desire nor even believed need to persevere.  Far too often the majority even replaces faith and self-awareness with an over emphasis on self.

 

So what happens when minorities grow?  … in number?  … in power?  … in significance?  What happens when their numbers evolve into that bigger half of the whole?

 

My prudent hope would be that we/they would remember where we came from… that if we were ever once in the minority we would not forget the values learned nor the blessing gained that evolve when meeting challenges wisely…

 

Too often, though, I think we fall prey to simply adapting and absorbing the unattractive traits observed in many of the majority…

 

Humility is zapped for arrogance…  Faith and self-awareness are replaced with that over importance of self.

 

Regardless of what marks one as a minority — by race, gender, or Senate standing — by not making the playoffs or by a lower GPA — regardless of what distinguishes us and places us within any lesser or bigger half of the whole — may we hold on to the humility that propelled us to persevere.  May we hold onto the blessing.

 

P.S.  Blessing is good.

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

inaugural

A subjective review of history suggests that most second term inaugural speeches error a bit on the boring side.  While each of us can discern for ourselves whether such was true of Pres. Obama’s address yesterday, one second term speech stands out with certainty… written in 1865…  penned by Pres. Abraham Lincoln.  With the end of the Civil War and slavery in sight, Lincoln still spoke not of great hope nor previous promises.  Lincoln spoke of sadness… and of what binds us together…

 

“Fellow-Countrymen:  At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

 

[Still acknowledging conflict, Lincoln widely recognized what so many forget — that more can often be said with fewer actual words…]

 

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came.

 

One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was somehow the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union even by war, while the Government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war the magnitude or the duration which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with or even before the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces, but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered. That of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. ‘Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh.’ If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

 

[Wow… in an address that audiences would attend to for years, Lincoln not only acknowledges the reality of God but also a submission to God…]

 

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

 

With just over 700 words and a remarkable reliance upon the divine, the revered Lincoln soberly recognized the depth of division within our country.  There’s a focus on unity, a call for healing, and a humble commitment to heal the wounds together; there is also a respect for all people regardless of position or politics.  Yes, today, we have much to learn.

 

41 days after this address was delivered, Pres. Lincoln was assassinated.  Let’s face it:  the brave call to unification and reconciliation is not popular.  It is a far easier route not to unify and not to heal.  As we face the next 4 years together, I pray for the braver, more humble, more difficult route.

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

executive orders… round 2

In recent days, there has been much conversation about the appropriateness and legality of bypassing the legislative process via executive order.  The Intramuralist is certainly no expert, yet as Pres. Obama averred his presumed certain authority to exert specific decrees, my mind wandered (albeit fairly facetiously) as to what decrees I would declare, should I perceive such authority…

 

… I hereby declare that all young men under the age of 23 must pull up their pants, with underwear waistlines fully covered…

 

… I hereby declare that no texting, Facebook, Twitter, or alternative social media shall substitute for authentic dialogue…

 

… I hereby declare that Congress and the White House must work together and actually listen to one another…

 

… I hereby declare that Congress cannot simply, solely arrogantly obstruct the desires of the White House…

 

… I hereby declare that the White House cannot simply, solely arrogantly decide what is wisest and what is not…

 

… I hereby declare that Pres. Obama must discontinue use of the self-focused phrase “I won”…

 

… I hereby declare that the government can no longer spend more money than it takes in…

 

… I hereby declare that again…

 

… and again…

 

… I hereby declare that the Constitution must be adhered to…

 

… I hereby declare that term limits be imposed immediately…

 

… I hereby declare that radio stations must quit over-playing “Gangnam Style”…

 

… I hereby declare that “Keeping Up the Kardashians” is not reality…

 

… I hereby declare that most all reality shows are not reality…

 

… I hereby declare that we will no longer borrow money from China…

 

… I hereby declare that we will no longer borrow money from anyone…

 

… I hereby declare that we will not print money in order to make money, thus decreasing the American dollar in value…

 

… I hereby declare that no one is allowed to scare people via the inexact science of global warming or climate change…

 

… I hereby declare that no one is allowed to scare the elderly via inflammatory rhetoric so that they will be more prone to vote a certain way…

 

… I hereby declare that politicians will not and cannot lie… ever…

 

… I hereby declare that I will not and cannot lie… ever…

 

… I hereby declare that no politician will overlook what is good or right or true in order to advance their own political agenda…

 

… I hereby declare that no more executive “actions” or orders will be allowed.

 

By this I stand.

 

This is enough.

 

… albeit even facetiously…

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

falling from grace

Today is the day.  According to multiple news outlets, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the world’s most infamous and (previously seemingly) successful cyclist, Lance Armstrong, has admitted to intentionally using performance-enhancing drugs.  The interview is scheduled to be aired today on Oprah’s OWN network.

 

The significance of the admission is obvious:

 

  1. Armstrong has been incredibly successful; his career has included 7 Tour de France victories (albeit titles of which he has since been stripped).  And,
  2. Armstrong has vehemently denied drug usage for years; his denials have also, often, arguably, publicly defamed other people…

 

When fellow Tour winner (and fellow Tour-title-stripped winner), Floyd Landis, implicated Armstrong, Armstrong publicly declared Landis “desperate for attention and money.”

 

When the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency was investigating, Armstrong called the head of the quasi-government agency, Travis Tygart, “obsessed” with “getting” him, boldly proclaiming that Tygart was executing an “unconstitutional witch hunt.”

 

With today finally being the day, we now know that all of the above were lies.  We also know that all of the denials of truth telling around him were intentional efforts to discredit others instead of deal with self.  (We like to do that sometimes… discredit others instead of deal with self… but alas, I digress…)

 

Once more, the infamous has fallen from grace.

 

Some fall hard, friends… well, at least initially… Marv Albert, Jim Bakker, Kobe Bryant, John Edwards, Tonya Harding, Marion Jones, Richard Nixon, Sandi Patty, David Petraeus, OJ Simpson, Michael Vick, Tiger Woods… persons supposedly at the “top of their game,” widely admired, yet those who fell a long, long way down.

 

My mind wanders…

 

Did they ever deserve to initially be so admired?  Did we allow their words, athleticism, or success to substitute for a wrongful impression of sound character?

 

Did their immoral act simply unveil their true character — a character that was previously well hidden under the surface of celebrity?  That’s fascinating to me, especially as I see many of the above seem to pay only the penance of time, flying intentionally below the media radar for a specified period — and then ease back into a comparable, original role, undoubtedly hoping few will mention the reason for their fall.

 

Still, are they each capable of redemption?  I mean, most of us observed what happened at Penn State last fall — and the extent of the passion directed not only at the perpetrator but also at all associated with him.  Was/is Jerry Sandusky even capable of redemption?  What if we ever falter? … are we capable?

 

Finally — thinking again of Armstrong’s admission — how should we feel about the “good” Armstrong has previously done?  Lance Armstrong’s “Live Strong Foundation” has provided significant support and inspiration to cancer survivors for years.  Now that Armstrong’s unethical acts are evident, how are we to think about the past good he has done?  Was it all just a facade?  Can the efforts and actions now even be considered good?

 

Once again I’m humbly reminded as to how consistently through history, broken people are used for a greater good.  Warts and all — many who have at one time (or more) engaged in unethical acts — can still contribute to the good.

 

I wonder then what the future holds for Lance Armstrong.  Is he capable of redemption?

The better question, however, is will he be humble enough to actually seek that redemption and thus be used for the greater good.

 

We shall wonder.  Some shall pray.  Praying, too, that no other broken person feels so confident of throwing that first stone…

 

Respectfully,

AR

Posted on

blessing in the bad

Every now and then, the Intramuralist semi-gracefully stumbles upon a truth which is so counter-cultural — an ideal or behavior that seemingly opposes all prudence.  In other words, there exist areas of wisdom that the world completely fails to comprehend…  where society thinks one way… often fairly adamantly… often obliviously… often, unfortunately, at its own peril.

 

Lately, the Intramuralist has been observing society’s reaction toward suffering.  Let’s face it; there’s been a lot of “bad stuff” happening…

 

… people out of work… government bickering… Sandy Hook… Hurricane Sandy…

… death… divorce… distance between friends…

… not enough money… not enough time… sickness…

… sick children… fighting… debt… more debt…

… friends losing houses… families losing jobs… neighbors not knowing how to put food on the table each night…

 

Trials and temptations, negative circumstances, scenarios which are simply incredibly difficult to endure.  There’s been a lot of “bad stuff.”

 

Most of us — maybe, possibly, most all of us — perceive the “bad stuff” as exactly that:   bad.  Hence, we work tirelessly to alleviate the “badness” — to eradicate any situation in which suffering exists.

 

There’s only one, glaring glitch embedded within that pursuit.  If we eradicate all the “bad,” my sense is that we miss the surprising, bountiful blessing within…

 

  • Blessed are those who are poor… who are thus more likely to realize their need for God — and not allow arrogance to get in the way…
  • Blessed are those who are grieving… who are thus more likely to seek out lasting comfort — and not fall prey to numbing themselves via merely temporary means…
  • Blessed are those who don’t succeed… who thus have opportunity to learn to genuinely celebrate the success of another…
  • Blessed are those whose best laid plans have completely fallen through… who are less likely to struggle with their need to dominate or control…
  • Blessed are those who must sacrifice… who are then more likely to comprehend what is valuable and what is not…
  • Blessed are those who cannot care for themselves… who are thus more likely to appreciate the authenticity of selfless service — and in turn encourage service in others…
  • Blessed are those who have tragically lost a loved one… who are far more likely to long for something more eternal than this planet…
  • Blessed are those whose children have disappointed them… who have intensified opportunity to recognize what’s most important to teach — and surrender that which is minimal…
  • Blessed are those who cry… for they have learned the beauty of empathy…
  • Blessed are those who have less… for they are less likely to take life for granted…

 

Friends, we work to eradicate negative circumstances.  And while I would wish such specific circumstances on no one, I am concerned at the bountiful blessings society seems to simply ignore — that it completely fails to comprehend.  It’s almost as if in our perceived pursuit of rights, fairness, and entitlement — each which possesses some value — we forget that there exists blessing in the “bad.”  Joy lies ahead even amidst the trial.  Hence, if we eradicate what is arduous, if we abolish the “bad” — no matter how adamantly — we may also eradicate the blessing…

 

… and the waning wisdom of society.

 

Respectfully,

AR