All in the Family

Have you ever just wanted to be "one of the boys" or part of the crowd? Now, some crowds aren't worth being part of, but most of us have a need to belong, to be part of a group.We just want to fit in and be accepted for who we are. I guess it gives some feeling of worth. Yes, it would be nice if we were self-confident enough to not have such needs, but it seems that our lives have that much more meaning when we can share life with others... giving to... and taking from... others. (I wonder if this is one reason why a family is such a necessary part of society?)

Well, that appears to have been the case last night for one member of our family.

My wife and oldest daughter... well, my only daughter... were watching a Christmas movie last night. Well, it was a movie that had been given as a Christmas gift, that is. Anyway, as is their custom, they were all wrapped up in their blankets, very engaged in the film. Sadie, the family beagle, left her perch on a new Christmas pillow and tried to sneak under one of the blankets with the other women in the family. Apparently there wasn't room for her.

However, not to be dissuaded, Sadie ran into the office. You see, in the office we keep a nice blanket where she sleeps on cold winter nights. Smart dog. Sadie nudged her way under the blanket and then returned to the family room... blanket in tow, hooked on the brow of her head. Yes, Sadie got herself all wrapped up in her blanket, just like all the other ladies of the house. I suppose Sadie just wanted to be part of the family.

Now, I may have not even noticed this event if I hadn't recently seen "Marley and Me," a movie about a couple, a dog, and a growing family. Marley (a very rambunctious yellow lab) became as much a part of the family as anyone else. The Grogan family would not have been the same if it hadn't been for Marley. You could say the same for us.

As a New Year dawns upon us, and the troubles of life grow beyond measure, it will be tough to tread life's path alone. We're all going to need to belong to something or with someone. Maybe that something or someone can be a family. In most cases, it's hard to replace a family. So, like Sadie, get yourself a blanket, get all wrapped up in it, and join the others in the family room!

"Bleeding Heart Tightwad" or Cheerful Giver?

Well, it's finally here... Christmas is tomorrow. It's interesting how the season slowly builds up for weeks and then sadly abruptly ends. I love the season... always have... but it's turning more and more into a deja vu experience each year. Like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day! Fortunately there is a way to keep Christmas all year long. That is to follow the "giving" way of the Savior of the world... the One born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem... the One whose birth we celebrate every December 25th.

In an interesting article by Nicholas D. Kristof, a self-professed liberal, it appears that the most giving political idealists are conservatives (see "Bleeding Heart Tightwads," NY Times). Ole Nick was very surprised and disappointed to find that those who share his political idealism lag far behind in charitable giving. Well, I know I'm just a basicguy, but I don't share Nick's surprise.

Liberals that I know tend to be more secular and less religious. God is less important than the "village" and church is less important than the state. In this environment, you pay your taxes to the government and they then take care of the people in the village, both here and abroad. It's pretty convenient... you never have to actually confront people in need or see them or talk to them... the government just takes care of it.

On the other hand, conservatives tend to be active Christians (think Religious Right) and as such feel the need to learn of, and live like, the icon of Christianity... Jesus Christ. The scriptures record that Jesus "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38) and most often this good was of a very personal sort... one on one... person to person.

Each of us can "keep" this Christmas... make it last a little longer and keep it from abruptly ending... by following the "giving" way of the Christ. Spend some quiet time in the scriptures and learn how to be a more personal giver. It helps while reading to ask the question posed by Saul, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" (NKJV Acts 9:6.) I've found that keeping Christmas in this way, tends to make me a cheerful giver instead of a "bleeding heart tightwad." This year of all years, when so many are in trouble and hurting, let's make it so.

Merry Christmas!

The Only Bail Out I Like

Is anyone else out there getting just a little fed up with the increasing bail out talk? How many bail outs can the US taxpayer cover? I guess the answer to that is how many future generations of Americans you include in your calculation. From Wall Street to Main Street and all those in between (even states are asking for a bail out!), the numbers are staggering. Of course, to a basicguy like me, I was more than staggered at the initial $700 billion.

Like many normal people out there, I opposed all of the bail outs. Practices like financial planning, an organized budget, and living within your means are apparently too old school for the financial wiz kids that supposedly know much more than me. I hoped that congress and the offending financial institutions would come to their senses and begin to show some restraint. But I guess that was a bit too much to ask.

Why? Because we have a president-elect (you know, the one whose going to change the world for the better?) who is planning yet another bail out. You heard me, another bail out. And this one offends me more than them all. Obama's transition team is calling for "dramatic policy reversals on abortion, including $1 billion in taxpayer money for international abortion groups like Planned Parenthood. The report, titled 'Advancing Reproductive Rights and Health in a New Administration,' also calls for a 133-percent increase in funding for the Title X program, which funds Planned Parenthood clinics across the country."

So much for change, huh? Not only am I opposed to bail outs in general, but I am also opposed to abortion, particularly those performed for casual reasons. How can we even consider bailing out an industry that encourages the demise of 1.4 million people. That's right, I said people. Most aborted babies would grow up to be living breathing, productive Americans... future generations that could help us grow our population and income potential as a nation. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

It seems to me that maybe I am in favor of bail outs after all. If America was a plane, it might be helpful if some of our worst offending members of society bailed out without a chute! Maybe then, saner minds would prevail and our country could be set back onto a more financial secure path. However, I am only a basicguy.

Black Friday was Actually a Bright Spot

Well we survived it. Black Friday is now a distant memory. It was shockingly colored by two seriously disturbing events, but people still shopped in large numbers. There were enough "numbers" that a Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death. There was also a gun battle at a Toys-R-Us. So it's hard to challenge that people weren't passionate this year about the season. Fortunately, most places were just normally busy with frantic, but law abiding shoppers.

However, with all of the good news that shopping was a little better than last year, there was also the bad news. You see, there was one significant change from previous years. Reporters were hard-pressed to explain the phenomenon, but eagerly reported this serious threat to our economy. It turns out that people were indeed shopping at a very brisk pace, but they were only shopping for others... they weren't buying for themselves!

Oh, my gosh. The world is coming to an end. I can't believe that it has come to this. People are setting aside personal needs to think of others during this Christmas season? Well, it was fun while it lasted.

I know, it's over the top tongue-in-cheek stuff there... I couldn't help myself. I don't know about you, but for me, it's sort of natural to think of others at Christmas time. It's the season to be jolly and to live in a way that reminds us of Jesus Christ... whose birth we actually celebrate at this time of year. We should be shedding the "what's in it for me" attitude and doing our best to put someone else first... and for many people, to put someone else first for a change. For example, Blagojevich, the now disenfranchised Governor of Illinois, apparently didn't know what time of year it was as he tried to enrich himself by selling an appointment for senator. Unreal.

Well, enough said. The times are what they are. Money is tight. The economy struggles from day to day. Jobs are more scarce. Companies are closing their doors. It is what it is. Still, I actually find it refreshing that people, even in these tough times, are thinking of others instead of themselves while Christmas shopping. As one born in a lowly manger, Jesus Christ, in His poverty, gave all that He had to others. It somehow seems fitting that American's are shopping... and not for themselves.