A close friend recently moved to our 50th state. A move I am jealous of but we will not go into that here. In the meantime we have stayed in touch by a number of methods, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, text messaging, and even an old fashion phone call.
It has been very pleasing to remain in touch, at times almost instantly over an incredible distance and several time zones. I have watched as pictures are posted of outings and new apartments and as new friends have come into her life.
However, in reviewing the quality of our correspondence I have noted a remarked decline. We very seldom talk about how we are feeling, the text message does not reflect the inclination of the voice, and as much as I believe in the power of the written word, it has left me feeling that something is missing.
For all of our advances in communication, we are loosing our intimacy. There is not a Facebook application for wiping tears, there is a hug app, but does it really replace the feeling of a good squeeze now and then? You can't tell whether "doing fine" is a literal statement or an avoidance of letting feelings out when you can not hear the reflection of the voice.
There will never be a replacement for a good long sit on the porch steps, or a walk in the park, or a shared dinner. We can never replace the importance of human contact.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A Day of Hope
Today is a day of hope, as many who are watching the inauguration just as I, are feeling. For today we are watching as a man whom can only be described as a hero becomes our next president. It strikes me that we have been waiting for several years now for a reason to have hope and the events of the day and the last few months give us hope. It seems that there has been nothing but bad news for the last few years and then a man steps in who encourages change, even demands change, steps to the podium and asks us to believe.
I watched as my grammar school was integrated, I watched as the first black teachers came to my school, I watched as two Kennedys and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated and wondered what it meant. Today I watch as another square in the quilt of history is sewn and I do know what this means.
I remember a conversation with a friend earlier in the summer when we were discussing the presidential candidates and who we were going to support. The question was asked, “Can a black man be elected president?”
I replied, “I don’t know.”
But from that moment on a change came on me, a willingness to hope, that regardless of a man’s color, regardless of his religion, a person could be elected on his ideals. That day I became a believer. With that belief came hope.
It is my hope today that we remember it is up to us, the ones that put this man into office to continue to work, to continue to hope and to believe. It is a time for us to continue in action. The man we have elected has more responsibility than I can imagine. But we have a responsibility also, to continue to work; for a united America, for a world of peace, for a world that loves and believes.
I watched as my grammar school was integrated, I watched as the first black teachers came to my school, I watched as two Kennedys and Martin Luther King, Jr. were assassinated and wondered what it meant. Today I watch as another square in the quilt of history is sewn and I do know what this means.
I remember a conversation with a friend earlier in the summer when we were discussing the presidential candidates and who we were going to support. The question was asked, “Can a black man be elected president?”
I replied, “I don’t know.”
But from that moment on a change came on me, a willingness to hope, that regardless of a man’s color, regardless of his religion, a person could be elected on his ideals. That day I became a believer. With that belief came hope.
It is my hope today that we remember it is up to us, the ones that put this man into office to continue to work, to continue to hope and to believe. It is a time for us to continue in action. The man we have elected has more responsibility than I can imagine. But we have a responsibility also, to continue to work; for a united America, for a world of peace, for a world that loves and believes.
Monday, January 19, 2009
I am overjoyed to be living in America on this day. It is fitting that the inauguration tomorrow follows today, Martin Luther King Day.
Today I had lunch with a group of people and our general topic of discussion was our joy at being able to experience this day in history. Several discussed their experience of seeing the schools integrated and what they felt then and now. One related the story of his father, who was a U.S. Marshal during the time of riots. His Father's neck was broken during one in Louisiana and he related how he regretted his Father had not lived to see this day. Another told of growing up in rural Tennessee and his father proudly predicting that during his son's lifetime he would see a black president. He went further and said he had not believed his Dad's prediction. The group was all white and I find it exhilarating that this group of white southerners would be celebrating the election of a black president.
We also talked about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work. One made the statement that sometimes people have to die so that others might enjoy freedom. A saddening and grim fact, but true regardless.
We are living in an era that will go down in history and become as studied, as revered as any time in our history and I for one am honored to be a part of it.
Today I had lunch with a group of people and our general topic of discussion was our joy at being able to experience this day in history. Several discussed their experience of seeing the schools integrated and what they felt then and now. One related the story of his father, who was a U.S. Marshal during the time of riots. His Father's neck was broken during one in Louisiana and he related how he regretted his Father had not lived to see this day. Another told of growing up in rural Tennessee and his father proudly predicting that during his son's lifetime he would see a black president. He went further and said he had not believed his Dad's prediction. The group was all white and I find it exhilarating that this group of white southerners would be celebrating the election of a black president.
We also talked about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his work. One made the statement that sometimes people have to die so that others might enjoy freedom. A saddening and grim fact, but true regardless.
We are living in an era that will go down in history and become as studied, as revered as any time in our history and I for one am honored to be a part of it.
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