Tuesday; July 3

Last week I took my first opportunity to visit Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland.  Fort McHenry played an important role if the War of 1812, but it is probably best known for being the focus of Francis Scott Key’s song “The Star Spangled Banner”, which became our National Anthem.  While the events of 1814 might be the highlight of the fort’s history, it played several roles in the decades (and wars) to come.  As I walked around the fort I appreciated the way it was interpreted.  In a time when it is easy to pick sides that promote social perspectives, the guardians of the fort captured the uneasiness surrounding the fort’s occupants throughout the years, especially during the Civil War.  Less than a half century following a glowing defense of the Americans from the British it became a part of a war that pitted “brothers against brothers”.  Less than a hundred miles from our nation’s capital – and in a state that was a hotbed of opinions in the 1860s – the fort stands as a symbol of our national struggle.  At one point it was the stronghold in one battle of freedom, at another time it housed people who were imprisoned for expressing their freedom.  As I walked over the grounds I was touched by how it captured the many layers of angst felt by our nation.
          Fort McHenry got me to thinking about us.  In this modern era it may be fashionable to blast people who are struggling with an ideology that is different than ours, but does this hardline do anything positive for anyone?  It is easy to ask the question, “How can you believe that?”, but when we belittle the opinions of others, we alienate people who might benefit our help and our guidance.  Just as our nation has struggled with ideals, so do individuals.  Often, they want to do what is right, but they may not have arrived at their maturity.  We can deride their place in life or we can help them along their journey.  Life can be a struggle – are we hampering or helping?
          Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more