e-Soundings

NO on Propositions 94, 95, 96, 97

Once in a great while I feel called to comment on some of our ballot propositions.
     In a few weeks we will be voting on an issue that I feel very strongly about: Gambling.

     I have studied and lived with this issue for many decades and the more I see the effects of “recreational gambling,” the more I conclude that its negative consequences far outweigh any positive benefit that may come from it.

     First of all, in order for anyone to “win,” millions of people must lose.

     And most often, those who lose have little to begin with in the first place.  Grocery money, rent money, school supply money and other “local business” money all gets spent at the cost of children and families.

     Gambling also encourages a “something for (almost) nothing” attitude.

     People begin to rely on “chance,” “luck” or

Worldwide Disasters - One common response

And now yet another disaster follows on the heels of all the rest. After the 225,000 dead from the Tsunami, the 1,200 dead from Katrina and Rita, comes the 41,000+ dead in South Asia.
We stand in stunned silence before the power of nature.

It’s hard to imagine the widespread destruction and the loss of life and what it will all mean to the local areas effected as well as the “global village” we have become.
And we have a new common thread: fear.

With 9/11, we joined the world in fighting random bombings and acts of willful destruction. With Katrina and Rita, we have joined the world in facing tremendous natural disasters as well.

It’s been said that disasters do not so much forge character as reveal it. Our dark side becomes as evident as our heroic side.

Our nation is now faced with a deep and abiding challenge that will reveal our true character. These events and how we respond to them will mark this generation in the history books. Will our future be filled with fear? ...or hope?

Wars of the last century were defined by troops and territory. We will be defined by our efforts at rescue and recovery.

One idea is to have a “National Relief and Recovery Corps,” structured like the National Guard and trained like the Peace corps. “Reservists” would be willing to respond worldwide on 24 hours notice to large and small disasters.
Such a Corps of people would bring a message of relief and hope around the world and give a new face to the compassion of the American people.

And it’s not up to our leaders anymore. We’ve learned that only a groundswell of interest and action will bring about such bold ideas.

It’s all up to all of us to take our prayer life seriously and use it as a way to listen to God’s deepest longings.
God’s Holy desires are calling us to be compassionate, reconciling and willing to lend a hand in rebuilding lives.

The future can be defined by such offering of help. The relations of peoples and nations can be changed.

Christ challenges us to move beyond our comfort zone and to “love God” and “love others as we love ourselves” more than we have ever loved before.

Are we willing? There has never been a better time. What ideas has God given you to change the world? Are you ready to leave behind fear and move into love?