July 27, 2017

Can healing come without listening to those we differ with?

My efficacy and usefulness as a pastor and caregiver (and as a decent member of humanity), is predicated on knowing how people’s hearts work, the way they think, how they respond to fear, what motivates and hurts them. Understanding human beings is my life’s work. It is the work of every one of us striving for empathy regardless of profession or placement.

There are times though, when people’s actions are so profoundly damaging to others, that asking why isn’t the most pressing question; moments when to belabor that question would be irresponsible to those at risk.

http://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/07/18/dont-care-still-support-president/

I get his point and it certainly resonates, and I agree that our first priority has to be those who are bullied. But how can we be "ambassadors of reconciliation" or turn our brothers and sisters from sin without also having conversations? After all the root word of conversation and conversion are the same.

July 3, 2017

Are we underestimating Boss Tweet?

Does anyone besides me find themselves getting sucked into the tweeting scandals and obsessively reading reactions? I've been down that rabbit hole for several days this week alone.

I ran across this article on Politico, and was shocked to find some of the many things I'd missed while distracted. politico.com/agenda/story/2017/06/30/trump-policy-change-labor-workers-000469

One Obama-era EPA rule is in the process of being repealed but has 30 days for public comment.

In May, 2015, the Obama administration issued the Waters of the United States rule—colloquially known as WOTUS—a far-reaching and long-awaited plan to limit pollution in America’s wetlands. The culmination of years of work, WOTUS was hailed by environmentalists as a marquee moment in America’s commitment to cleaning up its polluted waters.

But two years later, WOTUS is on the verge of defeat. Twenty seven states sued the Obama administration over the rule, arguing that the EPA exceeded its authority to regulate small streams and tributaries. A judge blocked the rule last year, so it hasn’t taken effect, and on Tuesday, the EPA, along with the Army Corps of Engineers, took the first step towards killing it, issuing a 52-page proposed rule to repeal WOTUS. The agencies are accepting comments for 30 days. Soon after, they will issue a final rule.

What else are we overlooking - or at least not focusing on enough to take sustained, effective action on?

Twitler is a master distractor, even though a lot of times the distractions seem to be self-inflicted wounds - but then even that somehow gets me off track.

Do any of you have strategies that help you stay effective? I used to be on a number of political action lists, but my inbox blew up to the extent that it was hard to find personal email, and eventually I shut down that email address.