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“A Perilous Time”
We are survivors, we seniors. And we relish the privilege of growing older. However, aging has its downside too. One thing that happens to us men is that hair begins to grow out of our ears. That just runs my sweet-heart nuts! I can't leave the house anymore without having to undergo an ear inspection. I told her that I don't want to cut those hairs. I have some little creatures trapped in there that I don't want to let out. She replied, “No darling,' there's nothing in there!” I take that as an exhortation to greater modesty in my proclamations. Still, you know me. I'm never without an opinion and I'm in a serious mood today--maybe a little preachy.
I was talking to my dear friend, Dr. George Hunter, this week about this strange season of rage being directed by some of our citizens toward our nation's government and especially the proposed health care reforms. This also includes ferocious attacks on government programs such as Social Security and Medicare. “Chuck” told me about a conversation he had when he was personally getting squared away with the Social Security Administration for his coming retirement years. The telephone interviewer told him about a recent interview she had with a man doing the same thing. She asked the man one of the required questions. “In what state was your former wife born?” The fellow replied, “I would say she was born in a state of anger.”
I've known some folk who have a deep reservoir of what seems to be congenital anger. I don't know enough about psychology to know if it is a genetic thing. I tend to think things like this are learned rather than innate. So I'm left to wonder what can have happened to teach a person to hate his or her government for whom so many have shed their blood and sacrificed their lives? It is disheartening when some people immerse themselves in the rhetoric of violence against constitutional, democratically elected national leadership. Ours is developing into a perilous time.
This, at least, points up the need for deep spirituality, broad historical knowledge, personal emotional stability, fierce intellectual integrity, and genuine American citizenship that trumps political ambition. I have tried in my life and ministry to cultivate what I call a “fellowship of controversy.” By this I mean, people of good will can differ and engage in spirited debate about the most vital issues we face. But those people of good will maintain their respect, even their affection, for each other. It is the ultimate expression of our defeat when we try to destroy those whom we cannot persuade.
A growing number of our citizens appear to be flirting with anarchy these days. It's a seductive process. Anger morphs into hate speech too easily. And hate speech provides the climate in which violence is encouraged. This is a time for us to pray that we will live out of our greater and not our lesser selves. May God help us.
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