AR – Page 83 – intramuralist ™

01/15/201701/15/2017

being there, father mulcahy, & going first

“Why are you being so rude?”
“Because he was rude first.”

“Why won’t you listen?”
“Because he stopped listening to me first.”

“Why are you so insulting, and justifying all the name calling?”
“Because he did it first.”

He did it… she did it… they did it… The bottom line is that someone else did it; someone else did it first; and their doing it first now allows me to do it, too. Friends, I’m concerned how significantly this line of thinking has permeated pop culture. We are justifying foolish behavior.

In search of something more positive on the net last week, I came across a great, inspiring post by New York Times bestselling author, Marcus Brotherton. With all the justified, poor and polarizing behavior, we need some inspiring posts.

It was entitled: “3 Things We Can Learn from Father Mulcahy,” a man identified by Brotherton as a “1st Lieutenant and later a Captain, a Catholic priest sent to minister to soldiers of all faiths at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean Conflict of 1950-1953”.

Father Mulcahy was cleverly portrayed by William Christopher for 11 seasons of “M*A*S*H”. Christopher passed away two weeks ago. Here, no less, is much of what we could learn — replacing some of our current behaviors:

“You were a good man, Father Mulcahy…

1. Your words were few, but your presence loomed large.

As a chaplain you were tasked with caring for others. Yet you seldom dispensed advice, you never moralized, and your words were few. Instead, your presence did the real talking…
In the rough-and-tumble of your friend’s life, you were simply ‘there.’

2. You wrestled with the complexities of life, and we wrestled along with you.

Your actions invited us to weigh in on a complex question — at least in our minds — because in our real world every day we wrestle with right and wrong.

3. You fulfilled your purpose by immersing yourself in a messy world and offering hope.

As a priest, you were a regular guy, Father. You were an amateur boxer. You played cards. You threw back a drink every now and then with the gang.
We identified with your jokes. Your earthiness. Your homespun demeanor.
We liked how you played the piano, how you wore your Loyola sweatshirt. How Colonel Potter called you by his own affectionate nickname for you — ‘Padre’ — and how you lightheartedly referred to your one sibling, Kathy, a nun, as ‘my sister the Sister.’
We liked how, in your priestly quest for righteousness, you never tried to separate yourself from the people around you. You were never standoffish. Instead, you went where people needed you most — even when it wasn’t safe.”

Even in environments which we sense as something less than safe, the foolish behavior isn’t helping. We can “be there” for others — whether or not we agree on all things. We can weigh the complex questions together — respectfully — as there is both right and wrong in this world.

And yes, this world is messy. But hope still exists.

We can do this. We can stop the foolish behavior.

It doesn’t even matter who goes first.

Respectfully…
AR

01/12/2017

an unpopular conversation

Friends, to quote one I respect, “none of this is easy.”

Eight years ago, one man was elected that many felt justified in vilifying. Approximately eight weeks ago, it happened again. I can sense the immediate sighs and spine bristles. It’s ok. I am not here to invalidate nor be callous with any opinion. We don’t all share the same opinion; and one of the growth steps in life is recognizing that if there are 360° in a circle, there exists far more than “my” right angle through which to view. It’s just that most of us are challenged to acknowledge the validity of other angles.

What I wish to say today is not very popular. I’m sorry; it’s ok. I mean no disrespect, but popularity has never been this blog’s aim. In fact, when the Intramuralist was in its infancy, I was told not to expect more than two to read consistently. I was thus pleased when my mother promised to read.

Back, no less, to my unpopular thought…

I am uncomfortable with the vilifying vitriol directed at our nation’s leaders. Even with my own, genuine frustration with certain attitudes, outcomes, and ideologies (on all sides), I am disappointed in the plethora of demeaning, rhetorical rants — even my sometimes own — as it’s my sincere desire to refrain from the disparaging fray. But that’s it, isn’t it? We are the justifier of our rants. We can only see that single angle. And then our very comfortable, likeminded audience offers generous insulation, spurring on any insolence.

We quickly add a “big but”… “But he/she did…” “But he/she didn’t…” “But he/she is…” “But he/she isn’t…” and then we justify completely denigrating another human being. After all, “but he/she” should have known it comes with the territory.

Call me naive. Call me wrong. Feel free to call me seriously misguided. I’m ok with that assertion. What I’m not ok with, however, is the complete, justified denigration of another human being. We can disagree without being disrespectful. We can have serious, deep concerns without being cruel. And we can passionately, ideologically oppose another without being odious. Our self-justified, vicious vitriol has been awful… and it’s been awful for a long time.

Have we lost our way? … a way that knew refraining from judgment and condemnation was wise? … a way that surrendered the need to denigrate? Or are we now a more united state of America, united by those who justify the judgment — regardless after eight years or weeks ago?

Said by one leader I respect this week:

“… None of this is easy. For too many of us, it’s become safer to retreat into our own bubbles, whether in our neighborhoods or college campuses or places of worship or our social media feeds, surrounded by people who look like us and share the same political outlook and never challenge our assumptions. The rise of naked partisanship, increasing economic and regional stratification, the splintering of our media into a channel for every taste – all this makes this great sorting seem natural, even inevitable. And increasingly, we become so secure in our bubbles that we accept only information, whether true or not, that fits our opinions, instead of basing our opinions on the evidence that’s out there.

This trend represents a third threat to our democracy. Politics is a battle of ideas; in the course of a healthy debate, we’ll prioritize different goals, and the different means of reaching them. But without some common baseline of facts; without a willingness to admit new information, and concede that your opponent is making a fair point, and that science and reason matter, we’ll keep talking past each other, making common ground and compromise impossible…”

Science and reason matter. People matter. Why the divine put us on this planet — and gave us science, reason, and other people — matters. But we’re so secure in our likeminded bubbles — in our bubbles that justify disrespect — that we no longer seem able to see all that matters.

I want more. I know. It may be unpopular, but I want to not only reach across the aisle per se, but I want to sit down, have coffee, and work diligently to understand why another feels the way they do. I want to be able to hear the fair point of one of those 359 other angles than my own. But the vitriol, even among the intelligent, has impeded all healthy debate.

We need to sit, listen, respecting all others.

I know. That’s not popular. It’s not easy either.

Respectfully…
AR

01/10/2017

components of respectful dialogue

Knowing it’s a priority of the Intramuralist, recently someone asked me exactly what “respectful dialogue” means. Allow me to begin by professing that I am no expert. The thoughts shared below are a compilation of priorities I’ve embraced from the insights and wisdom of Dr. Marilee Adams, Steven M. Covey, Carol Kent, Catherine Marshall, M. Scott Peck, Marshall Rosenberg, scripture, and more. Some words are my own; some are not. But this is how I think. I believe it is only through respectful dialogue that we can consistently, continually communicate.

So let’s first identify some terms. Some are positive; some are not. Positive terms include evaluate, opine, assess, probe, and critique (or “constructively criticize”). Negative terms include judge, bash, insult, denigrate, and criticize. [A couple notes… #1: the difference between “critique” and “criticism” is the motive… #2: the meaning of “criticism/critical” has changed through the years — moving from a sense of analysis to more a place of judgment.]

In order to be sharpened by meaningful discussion, we need to communicate in respectful ways. I’ve included key components of respectful dialogue. Granted, this list is not exhaustive — but it would help us communicate incredibly better, if we could each…

1. Encourage 1st person pronoun usage. Utilize expressions based on personal experience, including phrases such as “in my opinion” or “as I understand the facts.” As Rosenberg advises, instead of saying, “The indisputable truth is,” a person offers “I believe it to be true that.” This recognizes the fact that others may have a different perception, information, or sense of truth.

2. Refrain from accusatory language. Avoid rhetorical slams such as, “you are wrong” or “he doesn’t know the facts.” Such accusations typically prompt more defensiveness than pave any progress toward respectful, productive dialogue.

3. Avoid assertions about others’ motives. This refers to conclusions such as “I will assume your silence means” or “you must say that because.” Rarely can we fully know the motivation of another — especially in social media. This also typically prompts defensiveness.

4. Offer generous affirmation and empathy — offer it even first. This helps people know that we care more about them than wanting to shout our own opinions, be right, or drown out any varied thinking.

5. Avoid vulgarity. Geesh… I can’t say this enough. This is no attempt to insert any sort of “morality police.” It’s more because it’s disrespectful and rarely makes any among the intelligent look so wise. Let me offer, however, a brief caveat, aware that many of us resort to this at some point in time. If expressed, the vulgarity should be indirect (i.e. using “holy sh*t” as opposed to “that piece of sh*t”… granted, it is a very rare occasion that such sh*t is actually “holy”).

6. Avoid mass labeling and/or stereotypes. The notion that “all liberals,” “all conservatives,” “all Pantsuit Nation members,” “all Trump supporters,” “all white people,” “all black people,” “all religious,” etc. can be identified as “all anything” is simply inaccurate. Such shows a lack of discernment on the articulator’s behalf, and thus causes the articulator to lose credibility.

7. Avoid venting. Most every conversation that begins with “I just had to say” or “I’m just going to put this out there” or “I have to get this off my chest” ignores that reality that the subject of each is self. Venting is better shared in counseling, close friendships, and accountability relationships.

8. Honor all emotions, especially deeply negative or positive passions. After the expression, it’s helpful to echo back what we heard and engage in reflective listening, utilizing such phrases as, “It sounds like you feel very [blank]” or “yes, this can be very emotional.” We are honoring the person by validating their passion — not necessarily by agreeing with the perspective.

9. Ask questions of another. I can’t say this enough. Consistent with Covey’s Habit #5 — “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” — this is undoubtedly one of the hardest things for current culture to consistently do, especially via social media. Most of us are most comfortable stating our own, full opinion first, as opposed to taking the time and effort to truly understand another. Instead of evaluating (positive term), we judge (negative term). Instead of probing (positive term), we ask questions from our own frame of reference (self focus). Each of these obstruct understanding.

And 10. Remember there is always something we don’t know. That reality keeps us humble, keeps us asking more questions, and keeps us focusing on others more than self.

Here’s to respectful dialogue… always.

Respectfully…
AR

01/08/2017

warmer days

It’s pretty cold in my hometown these days. At the time of this writing, my seemingly temperamental thermometer is registering a whole 11°.

Driving in the cold yesterday, I was about to turn into a small shopping center when I noticed an older van blocking the entrance. So I finagled my vehicle via the exit route instead, backed up, and positioned my car directly in front of the van. Here I noticed a middle-aged woman, obviously struggling, and I could tell that her phone was frustrating her somehow, also.

So I got out of my car in the windchill that made the temps even colder.

“Ma’am, are you ok? Do you need help?”

She opened her door, and in a bit of understandable distress, responded, “My car just died. It just died in the middle of the road! And my phone won’t work either.”

I then asked that she come with me, sit in my car — a bit of a warmth oasis from the outside chills — and use my phone instead.

“Jennifer” was her name. Warming up a bit inside and out, I quickly sensed a very kind, meek woman. So meek, in fact, when I held out my phone for her to call the emergency auto service, she began to press the buttons shyly while I still held the phone.

  “It’s ok. You take it.”

Together we spoke to the road service, identifying the location, issue, etc. She needed some assistance with that.

Part of the assistance was affirming in spite of the onlookers. Here in my car sat one caucasian and one African-American. We were now both blocking the entrance, in what is a fairly busy locale. But sure enough, consistent with some of the perceived societal digression, we witnessed not so much a division in the onlookers — more a unity. All sorts of persons drove by, attempting to enter but unable; there were all sorts of ethnicities, demographics, you-name-it. And they were unified…

… in their impatience.

The audacity of the number who felt need to honk at us was a little incredulous, to say the least.

Jennifer was bothered; I was moved by her genuine desire not to be a burden to anyone. I smiled and said to her, “No worries. I’m always amazed at how impatient people can be when they don’t have all the information. They simply don’t understand. And they don’t know what they don’t take the time to understand.”

She sweetly returned my smile.

After 20 minutes or so, we felt the situation was under control, and Jennifer went back to her car with the tow truck’s imminent arrival. She thanked me multiple times, especially for stopping in the cold.

It wasn’t much. I said, “You know, I believe one of the reasons God put us here was to learn to love him by helping one another. Thanks for allowing me to help you.”

And with that, we said our sincere goodbyes.

It’s pretty cold in my hometown these days. But some days are a little warmer.

Respectfully…
AR

01/05/2017

can correctness go too far?

In our seemingly frequent, politically correct culture, I heard someone recently ask what the problem actually is with political correctness. Great question. And one we should talk about.

Perhaps we should first define what it is…

Political correctness (or colloquially “PC”) equates to “the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against” (per Oxford Dictionaries).

The goal is to avoid potential, personal offense.

While the Intramuralist would never intend to offend, there exists a sensitive recognition that some things are harder for each of us to hear. Hard to hear, however, does not automatically prompt need for political correctness. Case in point: “Dear Future Mom”…

Earlier in 2016, Down Syndrome International released a video to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day. DSi and its American affiliates are organizations precious to this parent’s heart. Their two minute commercial, no less, featured a soon-to-be mother asking “what kind of life” her future child might have. Young people from all over the world — with Down syndrome — answer her with a poignant, contagious purity in their expression.

Said one articulate teen:

“Don’t be afraid. Your child will be able to do many things. He’ll be able to hug you; he’ll be able to run towards you; he’ll be able to speak, and tell you he loves you; he’ll be able to go to school like everybody…”

Then said the narrator, near the end:

“Sometimes, it will be difficult; very difficult; almost impossible — but isn’t it like that for all mothers? Dear future mom, your child can be happy, just like I am — and you’ll be happy, too.”

The commercial ends with sweet shots of the kids hugging their parents… lots of smiles… lots of joy. Said one commentator: “It’s a profound and incredible tribute to the love that parents have for their special needs children.”

As the parent of a son with Down syndrome, I can attest that such expressions are consistent with my personal experience.

However, in France, the ad was prohibited. In fact — flying well below the holiday radar (with the season of merriment serving as an expedient time to release controversial rulings or contentious news), the ban was recently upheld by the French State Council, claiming the commercial is unfit for television because it’s “likely to disturb the conscience of women who had lawfully made different personal life choices.”

In other words, the commercial was prohibited on French television because of the possibility that women who aborted their children due to a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome may be offended; they may feel uncomfortable if exposed to such a message.

So let me be clear. And let me be equally honest and sensitive. There is no intentional shame via the Intramuralist. There is also no avoidance of the truth.

The truth is that the quality of life of a person with Down syndrome does not have to be any lesser; any perception that it is somehow worse, is more in our preconceived minds than in their reality. Just like the rest of us, persons with Down’s have the potential to thrive, grow, and find great, great joy. That is the truth.

However, in our efforts to offend no one, it seems we often choose to avoid or offend someone. We aren’t always good at wrestling with the truth.

Respectfully…
AR

01/03/201701/03/2017

here’s to moving forward in 2017

Each year seems marked by its uniqueness…

’41 was the attack on Pearl Harbor, the escalation of WWII and the USA’s involvement…
’63 was when a nation mourned the death of its sitting President, stilled by the poignancy of his young son’s salute…
’97 saw the deaths of two of history’s most beloved, benevolent contributors in Princess Diana and Mother Teresa…

It makes me wonder how 2016 will be historically remembered, as there was division manifest in far too many arenas. How do we move forward? … through the masses? … how do we do so wisely?

Allow me to return to my family’s unique experience a year ago. We found ourselves in the middle of Times Square as the ball and confetti dropped at midnight on New Year’s Eve. We had never done that before — “a bucket lister,” said one enthusiastic son. And so with an approximate 999,995 others, we did our best packed sardines imitation — albeit mostly without the odor and oil.

Picture the most crowded place you can imagine — a stadium, a massive conference room… people everywhere… with little room to do anything more than raise arms with your smart phone, in order to capture the next snapshot, chat, whatever. But unlike such typical scenarios, where a crowd of massive size would be aware of varied interests and individual wants, needs, opinions, emotions, etc., we were all focused on the same thing…

We were all excited about the same thing.

We were all looking in the same direction — eyes focused — waiting and wanting for the big ball to drop.

Without a doubt, there is something inherently beautiful laced in the meaning accompanying the dropping of that New Year’s ball…

Instead of focusing on our differences and maximizing what we don’t have in common — noting that in an actual, estimated crowd of one million people, countless significant differences exist — we shared something greater. Indeed, it was far greater… so great, in fact, our individual differences did not matter…

Our individual differences were also not watered-down. They did not have to be ignored or removed in order for the celebration to ensue. We were each excited about a celebration greater than self.

Hence, after the uniqueness of 2016, I’m wondering if the way forward is to find a way to focus on the same thing. What could that be? What could be that good?

I’m reminded of the interaction between my youngest son and an older New Yorker that night. Josh, that incredible kid who has never been disabled by his special needs, said ‘hello’ to an elderly New Yorker. Note that previous to our trip, we had (sadly) cautioned him in regard to taming some of his typically more overt, overly friendly interactions in Manhattan. But after a brief, positive acknowledgement from the gentleman, Josh was encouraged. He meekly continued, “Hey… want to be friends?” The man was first taken by surprise; there was a slight pause. And then he lit up with a humongous grin, articulating a hearty, warm Italian response, and said, “You just made my whole night!”

Here was a man and my son who from most first glances had little in common. The individual differences were obvious. But they did not matter. Their focus on the same thing brought them great joy — and helped them navigate through the masses (and sardines) in a beautiful, God-honoring way.

Here’s to the start of 2017, friends… as we wrestle with our individual differences, may we always do so respectfully.

Respectfully…
AR

01/01/2017

one year. one word.

So with the new year and accompanying plethora of “Yada-Yada-Yada’s of the Year” proclamations, I found myself somewhat amused by Merriam-Webster’s announcement that “surreal” was its word of the year for 2016. Defined as something that has been “marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream,” the company’s “official” statement read:

“ ‘Surreal’ is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year because it was looked up significantly more frequently by users in 2016 than it was in previous years, and because there were multiple occasions on which this word was the one clearly driving people to their dictionary.”

Surreal’s selection was based upon volume, as the company analyzes “perennial words that are looked up day-in and day-out, and words that spike because of news events, politics, pop culture, or sports.” Close runner ups included “revenant,” “icon,” and “in omnia paratus” — a Latin term meaning “ready for all things.”

So it got me thinking…
… about the year to come…

Perhaps you’ve seen the encouragement… Pick a word. Any word. What’s your one word for the year ahead?

“Change is possible, but focus is required,” suggests MyOneWord.org, meaning that if we were to focus solely on one thing — just one thing — one word, that is — that change would be more probable and likely; it wouldn’t seem like such a daunting task. Our word could be…

… resilient… belief… patient… disciplined… grateful… peace loving… healthy… consistent… positive… brave…

It matters not if the word is an adjective, verb, or any other particular part of speech. But it should have great meaning to you. That’s it: you. It matters not what it may mean to another; it matters what it means to you.

“My One Word” authors Mike Ashcraft and Rachel Olsen contend that: “Our resolutions seldom work because they are based on the type of person we’re tired of being rather than who God wants us to become. Plus, resolutions can be ‘broken,’ leaving no room for the process of growth. What if our hopes for the year ahead centered instead on who God wants us to become, and the transformation process?

It’s okay to want to be a better you, and the New Year is a natural time to start. The question is, how? My One Word replaces broken promises with a vision for real change. When you choose a single word, you have a clarity and focus. You are moving toward the future rather than swearing off the past.”

They thus outline the following steps:

Step one: determine the kind of person you want to become. Think about December of 2017, the end of next year. Who do you want to be by then?

Step two: identify the characteristics of that person. Visualize them. What are they like? What are the specific qualities of the person you want to become?

And step three: Pick a word. “There might be fifteen things that you want to change, but you must resist the temptation to promise you will do them all. Instead, simply commit to ONE WORD.”

What I appreciate about this exercise is that it makes change and growth possible. It makes it practical; it makes it noticeable. It doesn’t take a divine lightning bolt from the sky, nor is it merely some rhetorically-pleasing resolution that we’ll be defeatedly chucking in a matter of months. This is real growth… real change. If we are going to become the people God has called each of us individually to be, then we need to grow and change… each year. That process is nothing short of, well, surreal.

Join me, friends. Pick a word. Any word. Just one.

Respectfully…
AR

12/29/2016

who they are

She was the first princess I ever truly desired to imitate.
His transcendence beyond boxing amazed me.
Her Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece was the first novel I ever loved.
His brilliance on the High Court was striking, as noted by one of his besties, the ideologically opposite Ginsberg.
She was simply the best at what she did — that is, before Geno’s Huskies.
And then there were those three who made me sing — from “Freedom” to “Desperado” — to even luring me repeatedly to the dance floor with “Little Red Corvette” and more.

Carrie Fisher…
Muhammad Ali…
Harper Lee…
Antonin Scalia…
Pat Summitt…
And George Michael, Glen Frey, and the ever talented, musical mastermind, Prince.

Each passed away in 2016.

They weren’t alone… David Bowie… Fidel Castro… Leonard Cohen… Patty Duke… Zsa Zsa Gabor… John Glenn… Merle Haggard… Henry Heimlich… Florence Henderson… Gordie Howe… Gwen Ifill… Arnold Palmer… Shimon Peres… Nancy Reagan… Janet Reno… Morley Safer… Craig Sager… Phyllis Schlafly… Alan Thicke… Abe Vigoda… Elie Wiesel… Gene Wilder…

… and more.

It makes me ponder two questions…

One… what will we say about them?

… that they performed well? … that they had a great hit? … that they led or acted or won or lost or ruled or governed or did something really outstanding, notable, awful, or good?

In other words, will we speak of what they did? … or… about who they are?

Which leads, therefore, to my second question…

What will we want them one day to say about us?

Will we want people to talk about what we did?

… or…

Will we want them to note our character? … who we are?

Let’s honor Fisher and Frey and Haggard and Heimlich, etal. by talking less about what they did… and more about who they are.

Respectfully…
AR

12/27/2016

after christmas

Just a few words this day…

As the decorations are dismantled and all hung with care keeps coming down, my thoughts turn to the reality after Christmas.

I paused the other evening, as I, too, sat seemingly amidst a sea of crumpled wrapping paper and contented kids, hearing that iconic pop singer, George Michael, passed away. As choruses of “Freedom” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” quickly danced in my head, I was again reminded of reality.

Immediately, many lamented the challenges and pain of the year behind…

… the deaths… division… and undesired outcomes…

All of the above existed in 2015. They will be again exist in 2017.

But depending on who are the deaths, where is the division, and what are the undesired outcomes, the reality affects different people to different degrees. Reality affects us differently.

And so I immediately think back to the bells heard on Christmas Day… the messages of hope, proclamations of peace, and the depth of a great, great joy.

What is beautiful about that hope, peace, and joy is that it lasts for far more than a day; it’s available more than a single day each year; and it has the power and potential to transcend the pain within any of our realities.

As the Intramuralist continues to reflect on the end of the year, we wish you great blessing… including that hope, peace, and joy… always…

Respectfully…
AR

12/24/201612/24/2016

what it’s about

Sometimes the most powerful messages are shared in the simplest ways, such as 51 years ago, in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Near the animated special’s end, a discouraged Charlie Brown mutters the following:

“I guess you were right, Linus. I shouldn’t have picked this little tree. Everything I do turns into a disaster. I guess I really don’t know what Christmas is all about.

[shouting in desperation]

Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?!”

And then Linus van Pelt — Charlie’s best friend, Lucy’s younger brother, and the show’s seemingly calming philosopher however insecure — chimes right in…

“Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

Lights, please. [a spotlight shines on Linus]

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not:

[Linus drops his security blanket on purpose]

For behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’

[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]

That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

That’s what it’s about… peace on earth, glory to someone bigger than self, good will toward others, and a joy-filled confidence and hope that allows for the intentional dropping of all that qualifies as our security blanket.

Blessings, friends. For all those celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or neither this day, the Intramuralist wishes you peace, hope, harmony, and joy. Always.

May we each love all people well.

Respectfully (… with a few extra ho-ho-ho’s this day)…
AR