I AM NOT A SHEEP

 

The Good Shepherd, mosaic in Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna,
1st half of 5th century

The Good Shepherd metaphor no longer works all that well for me, though at one time, it did, for I loved the idea that the Lord was my shepherd.  The Good Shepherd is not the problem, but I no longer relate to being a sheep.  Though sheep are not dumb animals, as is widely believed, they do tend to herd, and my inclination is more toward being a loner than a member of a herd.  I'd be the sheep who strays away, and the Good Shepherd would have to leave the other 99 to come to look for me.  After a while, I'm sure even the Good Shepherd, the Best Shepherd of all, would be annoyed by my behavior.  Mind you, I have not thought through the theological implications of not wanting to be a sheep.  What I've written is sort of an extended thought for the day, about which I could change my mind once I consider further the consequences of not being a sheep.

I should add that I love the looks of Scottish Blackface sheep.

The mosaic pictured above is lovely, isn't it?

Image from Wikimedia Commons.

HOPE FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR GUN SALES?

 

Adolphus Busch IV, heir to the Busch family brewing fortune, resigned his lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association on Thursday, writing in a letter to NRA President David Keene, "I fail to see how the NRA can disregard the overwhelming will of its members who see background checks as reasonable." (My emphasis)
....

"The NRA I see today has undermined the values upon which it was established," wrote Busch. "Your current strategic focus clearly places priority on the needs of gun and ammunition manufacturers while disregarding the opinions of your 4 million individual members."

How much more insane commentary will the members have to hear from Wayne LaPierre before there is a stampede out of the National Rifle Association?  How many more cowardly retreats from voting for background checks by members of Congress before they awaken to the fact that 90% of the citizens of the US favor background checks?  For whom do the craven Congress critters work?  The citizens or the NRA?  I think we know. 

NASA: THREE YEARS OF SUN IN THREE MINUTES

In the three years since it first provided images of the sun in the spring of 2010, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has had virtually unbroken coverage of the sun's rise toward solar maximum, the peak of solar activity in its regular 11-year cycle. This video shows those three years of the sun at a pace of two images per day.

Amazing and beautiful.  The musical accompaniment is "A Lady's Errand of Love" by Martin Lass.

Thanks to Paul (A.).

FEAR ITSELF

MICHELANGELO Buonarroti
Last Judgment (detail)
Fresco
Cappella Sistina, Vatican

Fear Itself

Fear itself …
that is the thing explaining
why bombers bomb
why we cannot control guns
why the Pope suppresses nuns
speaking “radical” humanist words
why “real men” loathe nerds
and arm themselves against
delusions of apocalypse.
Fear is the power of coercion
trumping all notions
of civility, compassion “fittest” assumed to mean
the ruthlessness of nihilists
protecting their own small niche
at the expense of all “soft” targets
“not my problem”
“take care of our own”
dismissing the thoughtful
the adaptive, the truly strong
who mean it when they say
life itself is sacred.
Fear is the tool of men
protesting too much, claiming
to be defenders of liberty
when what they are protecting
is their consumption of advantage
their right to shoot, to profit
to procreate any way they choose
but not you, not you
you must be frightened into
compliance with their rule
their privilege, their proprietary
fist enforcing the lie of superiority
“emotion” labeled “girly” “useless”
except when it is “manly anger”
an excuse to pretend the violence
is just … but it is just their fear
their adrenaline addiction
raging, tolerated, “just the way it is”
not inevitable
just the way things will be
until the greater we
says no
passes the laws that prevent
paranoid bullies from expecting
and getting
our cooperation in their death industry
fear itself.

(Marthe G. Walsh)

Image from the Web Gallery of Art.

EARTH DAY - APRIL 22, 2013

Amen. Thanks to Ellie on Facebook.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT SEVEN AFRICAN VIOLET PLANTS?

 

 

Confession: The two in the pictures are the prettiest, but with better tending loving care, all the plants could be as pretty.

The African violets sit on top of my sewing machine in the only suitable spot with proper exposure, which means I must move all seven plants in order to sew.  Also, in the interest of full disclosure, two of the plants need repotting, because the roots have grown above the soil.  

THE BABIES

Last week was tough all around the world, but sometimes you have to take a laugh break.  

A woman who is three months pregnant falls into a deep coma.

Six months later, she awakens and asks the doctor to see her baby.

The doctor: You had twins, a boy and a girl. Luckily, your brother named them for you.

The Woman: Oh, no! Not my brother! He's an idiot. What did he name the girl??

Doctor: Denise.

Woman: Well it isn't so bad, and what did he call the boy?

Doctor: Denephew.

CHECHEN ROCK GROUP GTOWN SING THE BLUES BROTHERS "NEW ORLEANS"

Another view of Chechens.  New Orleens (sic) is my home town. I was just reflecting that there are those who have already widened their circle of ethnic groups who must be feared to include Chechens. Alas…

Thanks to Juan Cole for sharing the video. 

A WEDDING IN THE FAMILY

 

My son and his girlfriend of several years are getting married today.  Please pray that Patrick and Marlet have many happy years together.  The wedding will take place at Patrick's house with family and a few close friends as guests.

O gracious and everlasting God, look mercifully upon Patrick and Marlet who come to you seeking your blessing, and assist them with your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep the promises and vows they make; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

A song for Patrick and Marlet.



Leonard Cohen's great song "Dance Me to the End of Love" by The Civil Wars, a new musical duo I've recently discovered, whom I enjoy very much.

SHAMEFUL STATISTICS

 

Click on the chart for the larger view.

We're not first, but surely the richest country in the world has the wherewithal to do better than second highest in child poverty ratings.  A quarter of our children living in poverty is unacceptable, but we accept it.

Lord, have mercy.