Happy New Year

What would make it a Happy New Year for you?
For the Health Care Reform to pass?
For it to be defeated? - For the onerous taxes it brings to bear to "go away"? For the impending Socialism of government-controlled health care to be repelled, and Freedom be allowed to ring out once again? For the congressmen and women to actually listen to the will of the electorate, and change their course?
God still welcomes requests. Get yours in, and soon; He's listening... waiting... to hear from you.

Sunday Thoughts

One of the things I believe is that God exists. I credit Him with all the things we take for granted, like blue skies, sunshine, and green grass, as well as the odd-ball unexpected things like good friends coming to your rescue at just the right moment, and black holes in space.
On Sundays I especially reflect on what I consider His mercies and provisions; things like having survived and awakened, still breathing, every single day of my life. Then there are also the disappointments that turned out to be blessings, like girls I thought I wanted to marry, but didn't, who would have interfered with my marrying my wonderful wife, the Joy of my life.
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Balance

A wise friend frequently gave me a one-word admonishment, delivered kindly and gently: Balance.
I suppose he saw my tendency to immoderation, just as my father did before him. My father would say (not quite as gently), "Don't be a fanatic!"
My father and my friend have both passed on, now, but in my mind I still hear The Word. Balance...
Balance of Self Interest and 'Other' interest; of Work and Play; of Spiritual and Material concerns. Capital and Labor. Justice and Mercy. Right and Left.
When I maintain balance, I experience my best, most positive and productive days. It could be that way with Government as well, if it could regain balance.

Polar Views

Sitting on the North Pole, no matter how far up the Pole you go, you still can't see the South Pole. No wonder there is so little meeting of the minds between Conservatives and Liberals. One of the most precious things we can learn is to take a flight of fancy, soaring high above the tumult of the day, out beyond the clouds and smoke, into the vacuum of space, to look back at the World in perspective... where we can see both North and South... and stay there long enough to see at least one full revolution of the globe so we do not miss any important details of the Truth.
True, there is a lot of danger in it. It may rob us of preconceived notions, and the sense of security we feel with them. Not such a bad trade-off, do you think?