Trying to get my head around it

Since nobody reads this blog it is freeing to know that I am not required to be concerned about critiques or sounding like the idiot some village lost.  I can be my own village idiot, but that is as far as it goes.

Some questions are now arising in my pea brain now that I have sobered up from the total high of the 2012 Election outcome.  These questions have always been around, it's true.  They are not new. Questions such as:  Why do they call social safety net programs "Entitlement"?  Is that careful word-crafting to create the illusion that recipients want something for nothing?  They are social safety nets, plain and simple.

God, what would America look like without social safety nets?  Definitely, She would not be as socially stable as She is today.  We would have a much larger class of people in dire need.  People in medical crisis, people with no hope ... where would they in order to survive?  

And yet, as the House Republicans gird their loins to protect the super-wealthy tax breaks I cannot get my head around why the tax benefits to the super wealthy are not called "Entitlement" Programs.  These "creators" or "makers" create jobs alright ... just not here in the USofA.  THEN, after they have shipped off the jobs of American workers, they hide their huge profits offshore.  They use every resource the law offers to protect them from contributing to America's stability and prosperity for all, but resent paying their percentage.

Just can't get my head around it ...

The Third Day After "The Rip Tide" (or when the most diverse possible coalition of Americans stood up and said ENOUGH!)

Maya Angelou wrote on Facebook today:  "I was grateful to see President Obama’s victory speech. I was over the moon to see the audience. There were about 60 percent white voters the other 40 percent were African Americans, Asian, Spanish speaking etc. I wept at that spectacle, it told me that the pundits that continue in our country to try to polarize us, to keep us apart, are not succeeding. Americans are waking up not only to the truth, but the truth in each other. Hallelujah!"

I agree deeply and completely. In my mind this election turned out to be about long neglected and demonized social issues, not business and the economy.  It turned out that we who voted for Obama were the rip-tide that swept away the oppressive power base of the extreme right wing.  

Rip Tide?  You don't see a rip tide until it is too late.  One thinks they are in calm safe waters until the strong undercurrent of the rip tide drags one out to sea.  That is what happened to the GOP. The beauty is that WE never knew how strong and united a coalition that we were.  Against all hope (if you watched the polls and pundits) we voted anyway, encouraged voters being suppressed to "hold the line" through Twitter and Facebook and stood up for all of us.  Divergent yet United.  And until the Night of Novemeber 6, 2012 never realizing how many of us there were.  I am in total awe.

Reflections of Christmas

A friend from a support group sent this to me in 2006. I read it at least once a year. God Bless you Jeanne.

Christmas 2006 Reflection

I’ve had it all upside down. I always thought Christmas was about happy families gathered round a bountiful table, sharing faith at midnight mass, anticipating the perfect gift waiting under the most exquisite tree. No one was absent, everyone was healthy and happy, and all were surrounded by an aura of absolute contentment.

But I’ve been thinking lately about Incarnation, and about the Christmas story we repeat each December. It doesn’t fit the ideal of peace and joy I’ve come to expect and worked to achieve for years.

The story centers on a frightened, teenage, unwed mother, far from home, about to go into labor, without the support of her mother. No one planned ahead. There’s no decent place to stay, and she’s about to deliver. She’s scared. Her mother’s at home worried sick, wondering why this had to happen to her daughter. It wasn’t at all how she planned it.

Then there’s the confused “father”, wondering if it was such a good idea to take this young pregnant girl into his life, knowing how people talk. How difficult will it be to raise a child who is not really his? Maybe this was a mistake. His brothers and sisters can’t believe he’s done this. It’s brought such shame and heartache to the family. They’re done with him! After all, he brought it on himself.

And we have a bunch of dirty, cold shepherds dreaming only of a warm bed, and hot meal, who see something scary in the sky. Just what they needed to make an already precarious life even more challenging! And then there are the voices telling them to walk away from their job; leave the sheep and go see a baby? Listening to voices in the night will really make people uncomfortable!

And as always the story includes some very smart men. They are part of a foreign culture, but highly respected for their intellects. They’ve seen something in the night sky that just might be what they’ve been searching for. But then again, it could be a hoax. How stupid would it be to drop everything, put logic and reason aside, and go in search of something or someone that might be a fabrication; opium for a suffering people to make them feel better? It could be a wild goose chase, or at very least, a career ender.

I'm beginning to see that the Christmas story is not at all about having it together. It’s about people wondering how they got where they are, overwhelmed by the moment, and worried around what will happen next? It’s about needing to trust when it looks pretty hopeless and unlikely. It’s about being worried, and unsure.

I just hadn’t been paying attention! Probably too distracted by trying to create the ideal Christmas and being disappointed every time! Christmas is about God taking skin, and entering a world that is disordered and terrifying at times. It’s about a God dwelling among us and experiencing all the pain and heartache that we feel.

I’ve had it all upside down. Though the media would have us believe otherwise, Christmas isn’t a holiday for the happy, and healthy and wise! It’s for the anxious, and broken and confused.

“God with us” is grounds for celebration for the mother dying of cancer, the sister with bipolar disorder, the brother addicted to heroin, the alcoholic father, the grandfather with Alzheimer's, the frightened soldier, the lonely widow, the worried parent, the recovering friend, the divorcee, the mentally ill cousin, the eating disordered son, the otherwise sad. They are the people for whom Christmas happened. They are the people December found lost. Yet in the December darkness God broke through and joined them in the messiness and brokenness of life, and brought light. Halleluiah!

I’ve had it all wrong. The child we celebrate came into the midst of the troubled, the questioning, the disappointed…and He dwelt among us.

Glory to God in the highest, and lowest and even the upside down!

Christmas 2006 Reflection

I’ve had it all upside down. I always thought Christmas was about happy families gathered round a bountiful table, sharing faith at midnight mass, anticipating the perfect gift waiting under the most exquisite tree. No one was absent, everyone was healthy and happy, and all were surrounded by an aura of absolute contentment.

But I’ve been thinking lately about Incarnation, and about the Christmas story we repeat each December. It doesn’t fit the ideal of peace and joy I’ve come to expect and worked to achieve for years.

The story centers on a frightened, teenage, unwed mother, far from home, about to go into labor, without the support of her mother. No one planned ahead. There’s no decent place to stay, and she’s about to deliver. She’s scared. Her mother’s at home worried sick, wondering why this had to happen to her daughter. It wasn’t at all how she planned it.

Then there’s the confused “father”, wondering if it was such a good idea to take this young pregnant girl into his life, knowing how people talk. How difficult will it be to raise a child who is not really his? Maybe this was a mistake. His brothers and sisters can’t believe he’s done this. It’s brought such shame and heartache to the family. They’re done with him! After all, he brought it on himself.

And we have a bunch of dirty, cold shepherds dreaming only of a warm bed, and hot meal, who see something scary in the sky. Just what they needed to make an already precarious life even more challenging! And then there are the voices telling them to walk away from their job; leave the sheep and go see a baby? Listening to voices in the night will really make people uncomfortable!

And as always the story includes some very smart men. They are part of a foreign culture, but highly respected for their intellects. They’ve seen something in the night sky that just might be what they’ve been searching for. But then again, it could be a hoax. How stupid would it be to drop everything, put logic and reason aside, and go in search of something or someone that might be a fabrication; opium for a suffering people to make them feel better? It could be a wild goose chase, or at very least, a career ender.

I'm beginning to see that the Christmas story is not at all about having it together. It’s about people wondering how they got where they are, overwhelmed by the moment, and worried around what will happen next? It’s about needing to trust when it looks pretty hopeless and unlikely. It’s about being worried, and unsure.

I just hadn’t been paying attention! Probably too distracted by trying to create the ideal Christmas and being disappointed every time! Christmas is about God taking skin, and entering a world that is disordered and terrifying at times. It’s about a God dwelling among us and experiencing all the pain and heartache that we feel.

I’ve had it all upside down. Though the media would have us believe otherwise, Christmas isn’t a holiday for the happy, and healthy and wise! It’s for the anxious, and broken and confused.

“God with us” is grounds for celebration for the mother dying of cancer, the sister with bipolar disorder, the brother addicted to heroin, the alcoholic father, the grandfather with Alzheimer's, the frightened soldier, the lonely widow, the worried parent, the recovering friend, the divorcee, the mentally ill cousin, the eating disordered son, the otherwise sad. They are the people for whom Christmas happened. They are the people December found lost. Yet in the December darkness God broke through and joined them in the messiness and brokenness of life, and brought light. Halleluiah!

I’ve had it all wrong. The child we celebrate came into the midst of the troubled, the questioning, the disappointed…and He dwelt among us.

Glory to God in the highest, and lowest and even the upside down!

ristmas 2006 Reflection

I’ve had it all upside down. I always thought Christmas was about happy families gathered round a bountiful table, sharing faith at midnight mass, anticipating the perfect gift waiting under the most exquisite tree. No one was absent, everyone was healthy and happy, and all were surrounded by an aura of absolute contentment.

But I’ve been thinking lately about Incarnation, and about the Christmas story we repeat each December. It doesn’t fit the ideal of peace and joy I’ve come to expect and worked to achieve for years.

The story centers on a frightened, teenage, unwed mother, far from home, about to go into labor, without the support of her mother. No one planned ahead. There’s no decent place to stay, and she’s about to deliver. She’s scared. Her mother’s at home worried sick, wondering why this had to happen to her daughter. It wasn’t at all how she planned it.

Then there’s the confused “father”, wondering if it was such a good idea to take this young pregnant girl into his life, knowing how people talk. How difficult will it be to raise a child who is not really his? Maybe this was a mistake. His brothers and sisters can’t believe he’s done this. It’s brought such shame and heartache to the family. They’re done with him! After all, he brought it on himself.

And we have a bunch of dirty, cold shepherds dreaming only of a warm bed, and hot meal, who see something scary in the sky. Just what they needed to make an already precarious life even more challenging! And then there are the voices telling them to walk away from their job; leave the sheep and go see a baby? Listening to voices in the night will really make people uncomfortable!

And as always the story includes some very smart men. They are part of a foreign culture, but highly respected for their intellects. They’ve seen something in the night sky that just might be what they’ve been searching for. But then again, it could be a hoax. How stupid would it be to drop everything, put logic and reason aside, and go in search of something or someone that might be a fabrication; opium for a suffering people to make them feel better? It could be a wild goose chase, or at very least, a career ender.

I'm beginning to see that the Christmas story is not at all about having it together. It’s about people wondering how they got where they are, overwhelmed by the moment, and worried around what will happen next? It’s about needing to trust when it looks pretty hopeless and unlikely. It’s about being worried, and unsure.

I just hadn’t been paying attention! Probably too distracted by trying to create the ideal Christmas and being disappointed every time! Christmas is about God taking skin, and entering a world that is disordered and terrifying at times. It’s about a God dwelling among us and experiencing all the pain and heartache that we feel.

I’ve had it all upside down. Though the media would have us believe otherwise, Christmas isn’t a holiday for the happy, and healthy and wise! It’s for the anxious, and broken and confused.

“God with us” is grounds for celebration for the mother dying of cancer, the sister with bipolar disorder, the brother addicted to heroin, the alcoholic father, the grandfather with Alzheimer's, the frightened soldier, the lonely widow, the worried parent, the recovering friend, the divorcee, the mentally ill cousin, the eating disordered son, the otherwise sad. They are the people for whom Christmas happened. They are the people December found lost. Yet in the December darkness God broke through and joined them in the messiness and brokenness of life, and brought light. Halleluiah!

I’ve had it all wrong. The child we celebrate came into the midst of the troubled, the questioning, the disappointed…and He dwelt among us.

Glory to God in the highest, and lowest and even the upside down!

Tetralogy of Fallot Repair 04/14/2010

Kenyon had his full Tetralogy of Fallot repair on 04/14/2010. As of this date, 04/25/10 he is at home with his mother and me, and has begun his recovery phase. He has had to be seen by his Cardiologist once since his release for some complications, but we are watching him closely and hope he regains some ground this week.

We are totally blessed that this child with a broken heart now has a Happy Heart. Thank you for your prayers and love.

I have uploaded some film I took at UVA. The first ones are early in the morning on the 14th in the pre-op area, waiting for him to go into surgery. The next series are post-op, the last ones being his first outing after surgery to the hospital cafeteria. Hope everyone can view these.

Grandson with Tetralogy of Fallot

Dear Friend,

I am claiming a miracle. I am reaching out believing that you may be part of a miracle to give my grandchild, Kenyon Gabriel Greer, a chance to live and thrive.

In an attempt to help my 5 month old grandson I am appealing to you through the idea of internet networking. If you will forward this to those in your address book you think may consider lending a helping hand we will work the miracle. I believe that if this email can reach many, and they respond with a small donation of $5.00 - $20.00, we will get to our goal of $2,000.00. The email network means that whoever receives this email will know the person who sent it and will be able to trace back and verify that it is not some scam or scheme. Even if you cannot contribute you may be part of this miracle if you forward this to someone who is able.

My grandson, Kenyon Gabriel Greer, was born a preemie (11.5 weeks early) with a serious congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot. Kenyon is a true little fighter, and he has survived tremendous odds with the help of the amazing doctors and staff at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA. He is a fighter with the smile of an angel. He wasn't expected to survive for long, and yet he is still here, still fighting, with a life still full of possibilities!

Kenyon has already had one open heart surgery to implant a shunt. He has now outgrown the shunt and will have his second open heart surgery on Wednesday, September 24th at UVA. He is very ill and the surgery just can't come too soon. Donations are needed to help his mother stay in Charlottesville to help him through his recovery of a month to 6 weeks. When she is not there he is more agitated, less restful and his oxygen saturation levels stay very low. When she is with him he improves and stays strong enough to be ready for his upcoming surgery. His recovery will be easier with her by his side. These little ones know when their family is not with them, and they tell us at UVA that family presence has a direct correlation to recovery success.

This appeal is to finance 6 weeks of living and travel expenses for Kenyon's mother, Deva. We have exhausted all funds to keep going, and she has had to come home until we can raise more money to get her back up there. Even if I take her, a round trip is $100.00 in gas. She also must sometimes come back and forth for her own medical appointments so the gas adds up.

No donation is too small. Even a dollar will help. These are hard times for everyone I know. I would be grateful for even forwarding this email to a friend, church or civic group. I want every chance for this little boy and having his mother with him will increase his odds tremendously.

Donations can be sent to my email address at PayPal OR to a donation account at my bank: Kenyon Gabriel Greer Fund, c/o Branch Banking and Trust, Christiansburg, VA 24073

If you would feel more comfortable with references, please email me and I will gladly provide them. Below are pictures of my little grandson at about a month old at 4 pounds and then as an almost 10 pound baby taken on September 16. He is little yet, but he was born at just 2 pounds, and they tell us heart babies don't grow well until they have his upcoming surgical repair.

And yes, if the Good Lord decides to take him home instead of letting him recover we don't want him to be alone.

Thank you and have a Blessed Day.

Carmen Greer
Christiansburg, VA