Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my readers.  You bless my life more than you can imagine…and I’m thankful for every one of you.  May 2012 bring us all joy, health, happiness, and prosperity in every way!

A Culture of Cover-ups

The story unfolding about how there was a known child rapist on the coaching staff of Penn State University for 42 years grows more disgusting by the minute. Jerry Sandusky was arrested on 40 counts related to allegations of sexual abuse and rape of young boys over a 15-year period, some of the abuse happening in the Penn State locker room.  The Grand Jury report is very detailed and nauseating.

One of the rapes was actually WITNESSED by a graduate assistant who walked in on it happening in a shower of the locker room.  A janitor WITNESSED Sandusky performing oral sex on a young boy in the shower of the locker room.  Another WITNESSED Sandusky leaving the showers with a wet young boy, holding his hand.  These are just the worst incidences; more are listed in the report.

Again, these alleged abuses happened over a 15 year period, and were reported to supervisors, Athletic Director Tim Curley, Senior Vice President for Finance & Business Gary Schultz, and Head Coach Joe Paterno.  The Penn State University Police apparently investigated a complaint from the mother of one of the victims, only for the case to be closed…even after Sandusky ADMITTED to showering naked with the young boy!  After the university brass learned of claim upon claim against this guy, they washed their hands of it by merely telling him not to use their facilities. Not even “Stop it.”, just, ”Take it off campus.”

At the time of each incident, not once was external law enforcement called.  Not once did anybody take the initiative to beat the hell out of Jerry Sandusky for perpetrating such horrid abuses on young boys.  Why?  It wasn’t their problem, it wasn’t their priority.

Sadly, we have come to the point in our culture where power and prestige have been put so highly on a pedestal that protecting an institution’s reputation is more important than protecting the innocent lives of young children.  An ESPN reporter’s concern with the story was how it might affect the Penn State athletic program’s recruiting!  Another was bummed out because “Penn State is such a national brand, so when something like this happens, it’s terrible.”  Even tonight, there is actually a march in support of Joe Paterno — a man who brushed under the rug the fact that his long-time associate was raping young boys; a man who stated that he didn’t believe Sandusky had done ”anything all that bad”; a man so arrogant that instead of showing concern for the possible victims, he went to football practice today.  A hero?  No, he is a coward.

I read a comment today on an ABC affiliate’s Facebook page where Paterno was defended, saying that perhaps he should have gone to the cops, but we apparent ignoramuses have to understand the “pecking orders” and “protocols” of a university campus.  Why, he might have lost his job had he gone to the police!  Oh, poor Paterno. We should put ourselves in Paterno’s shoes.

Right.  Because you know, God forbid an institution might lose a few donors if they did the right thing.  God forbid a man’s standing in a game might be tarnished if he did the right thing.

America, this was not a matter of covering up a player cheating on a test or plagiarizing a book report.  This was not a mere “internal” issue at the university.  This was covering up a staff member committing one of the most heinous of felonies just short of murder.  A perpetrator used his place of power and authority to take advantage of many who were not as strong as him.  Lives were affected forever. The shame felt by these young boys and the torment of the memories for these men who are now in their 20s can never be undone.

I wouldn’t give it a second thought, I would lose my job, I would bring down an entire program in order to protect even just one 10-year-old boy from being molested and traumatized for life.

This is beyond sports, Penn State fans.  Just remember that no matter how much you support your coach and your team, this weekend you will be cheering on an athletic program that stood by and let a child rapist go unpunished for over a decade.

Jerry Sandusky clearly did not want psychological or spiritual help for his depravity, and the leadership at Penn State did not want to bother with providing psychological or spiritual help for his victims.  We have become a culture of cover-ups, but a Wise Man once said, “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; nothing hid that shall not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have whispered behind closed doors shall be proclaimed from the rooftops.”  Or the front page.  Either way, they deserve the shame they are now experiencing a thousand-fold compared to the horror they’ve carried out.

Standing in a Line

Two and a half years ago, I found myself in a weary place and I wrote a post about 10 things not to say to your unemployed friends. I pondered how we were in a much different place in our society and economy than we were in years past. How there was a time when you could get hired on with a company and there would be a mutual loyalty for an entire career. It worked for my father, so I honestly thought in the beginning of my career back in 1990 that I would follow the same path: get on with a company and remain there until I retired or started my own business. I also believed that if I worked as hard as my Daddy did, I too might be able to have a modest home, car, and be able to afford to take a vacation to see my family once a year.

My Daddy did not have a college degree, but he worked very hard and at 44 years of age was a successful businessman. I, on the other hand, have a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree from one of the best colleges in the nation, I have worked very hard and at 44 years of age…I am unemployed after a second layoff and struggling to keep from losing everything me and my daughter have.

The simple fact of these drastic changes in economic trends has found a large portion of our population hurting both economically and spiritually. It doesn’t take an economist or a theologian to see it. Just watch the news and you’ll see that people worldwide are frustrated and discouraged by what’s happened between the time of their parents’ generation and ours.

People are hurting and need encouragement. ENCOURAGEMENT. I have been one of those people and so has my young daughter. One hopes they will find support when they turn to those who especially profess a life of spirituality and/or following the teachings of Jesus. Especially those who profess it quite loudly and publicly. I mean, after all, Jesus was a beautiful example of meeting human need while at the same time feeding the spirit and soul.

And while I have some of the most kind-hearted, gracious friends a girl could ask for, when I have opened my Facebook news feed in the past few weeks, here is an example of what I have been reading…

“I am 1% of the 99% that decided hard work and sacrifice were more prudent than complaining about how life is too hard and I’m not getting any free handouts.”

“You don’t have a job?
Betcha you got a grandma or a neighbor or someone who could use your help.
I’m advocating “Occupy Work At Something – And Sweat A Little.”

“I am not the 99%, and whether or not you are is YOUR decision.”

“People are not monkeys locked in a cage. They can go elsewhere if another employer will pay them more. They can go back to school to increase their earning power. They can even start their own business.”

“Don’t blame Wall Street. Don’t blame the big banks. If you don’t have a job and you’re not rich, blame yourself.”

If I was to actually buy into the above train of thought, then I would believe there are 14 MILLION people in this country who are all lazy, do not want to work for what they have, and want free handouts.

Really? Really?

To the people who believe or have posted comments like the above: I know of at least 5,000 people who live in the Middle Tennessee area that you owe an apology to. Including me.

Yesterday, I and over 5,000 others sweated and stood in line for over 7 hours to get a chance to be considered for a job at Nissan. There were people from all walks of life standing in that line. People dressed in suits and people in jeans, people with college educations and people who served our country in the military in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other posts. There were men, women, young, old, married, single, parents, and grandparents. Those who have been unemployed and underemployed, all standing in line for hopes of regaining their dignity in life. A job.

Two weeks ago, I traveled to Lebanon, Tennessee for a job fair for Amazon.com only to be turned away because they could not handle the crowds of applicants who had shown up. There have been countless other such job fairs with overwhelming turnouts.

So, don’t you dare say those of us who are struggling do not want to work hard and want handouts.

I have attempted to correct those who believe the above (if you posted it, you believe it), only to be accused of insulting the Church (that I love) because I pointed out that their words do not corroborate with their profession of faith. Rebuked for calling them out publicly when they publicly insulted an entire group of less fortunate people. And I am always told, “But Ginger, we don’t mean you. We mean all of the people who are trying to take advantage of the system.”

Really?

That comeback no longer holds weight with me. Not only because in not clarifying the context of your post — before being called out on it — you have lumped us all together, but also because the heartlessness and lack of compassion you are promoting in your posts is hurtful and harmful to ALL who see it. My pastor used the word “diabolical” and I concur.

The right thing to do would be to offer a few words of encouragement for those so downtrodden they feel the need to camp out in the elements to protest in hopes somebody will hear them. The right thing to do would be to — instead of posting divisive, politically-driven insults — perhaps just stay quiet (read: shut up) and pray for those who are so dishonest they have taken advantage of the system (because they have issues, too, and there but for the grace of God go YOU), and thank God you have been blessed with good fortune. The right thing to do would be to grab some friends, go buy some cases of water, go down to a job line and pass it out while blessing each soul in the name of Jesus. The right thing to do would be what this business did:

So to those of you who believe the point of view I quoted above: I, along with many others, will no longer quietly accept your smug, self-righteous, know-it-all remarks. Enough is enough and I am tired of YOU harming the ministry of Christ with your misguided, ignorant, and insulting posts…because the world is watching you and they are not impressed. You have not walked in our shoes. Stop opining on what you do not know. Am I angry? Yes. Perhaps bitter? You betcha. But it isn’t because of the hardships I have faced in the past decade; it is because of YOU.

Romans 14:13: Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us pay attention to one another in the encouragement of love and of good works.

I Corinthians 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 10:23, “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”–but not everything is constructive.

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Twenty Years On…

Daddy, it’s been 20 years today since I heard your voice. Twenty years since I’ve seen your face. I miss your advice, your hugs, your love. The pain of losing you much too soon and so tragically still feels like a stabbing ache inside. I will never stop missing you. I love you, Daddy.

Ten Years On…

It has been 10 years.  As I have watched the endless loops of footage from the 9/11 attacks, a part of me has not wanted to relive the horrific events of that day.  The cynical side of me has wanted to dismiss all of the TV coverage as capitalizing on the tragedy. Then I found myself paralyzed as I watched the footage, once again, of people jumping to their deaths from the top floors of the World Trade Center, the emergency responders who ran toward those buildings rather than away – it being the last time they would ever see daylight – hearing the recordings of conversations of doomed flight attendants and heroes from Flight 93, and stories told from survivors of the Pentagon attack that I had never heard before.  I came to realize that I have no business being cynical. Thousands have given their lives fighting a war we never wanted to fight.  They are still dying.

I went back through this blog and re-read each post from 9/11 I have written since 2006.  I still think about Wade Brian Green…and pray for his family.  Many are asking “Where were you that day?”…so I am posting a few paragraphs sharing where I was and how I felt as that terrible day unfolded, as well as the amazing monologue by David Letterman from his first night back on television after the attacks.

I hope we never get jaded or cynical about remembering the events of that day…and may we never take for granted the freedom we have.  God Bless America.

On the morning of 9/11/01, I will never forget the radio alarm going off, and the dj saying, “Folks, you need to turn on your tv right now and see what is happening at the World Trade Center in NY.” As soon as I turned the tv on, the second plane hit. I woke my husband up and made him sit up and see what was going on. It was obviously an attack. I decided to get my toddler dressed and ready to go to Mothers Day Out at church, just thinking that it was probably something that they might be able to eventually get control of. I thought it didn’t affect me, so life would go on. By the time we left for the church, all radio stations had stopped regular programming and were broadcasting from their sister network newsfeeds (CNN, etc.) . As we were driving, word that the Pentagon had been bombed hit the news. At that point, I was like, “ok, we are at war!”. Our drive was along the landing path for Nashville International Airport. It was an eery feeling watching jets landing 2 by 2 about 1 minute apart. On the radio, it was announced that we were closing down US airspace, and that was why I was seeing this strangeness in the sky. By the time we got to church, people were sitting in the sanctuary, a minister was playing at the piano, and it was clear that were in a major national crisis. Then somebody who had a TV on said there were rumors of a bombing at the state department, the crash in Pennsylvania, and basically that all hell had broken loose on our country. At that point, I decided that I wasn’t leaving Amanda anywhere. We were coming back home so she could be safe with me. Not at a very large and prominent church that could possibly become a target. By the time we got home, one of the towers had fallen. I sat there in disbelief at what I was seeing. Then, I will never forget Peter Jennings asking one of his colleagues if what he was seeing was real…that the second building was falling, too. At first it was thought that up to 50,000 may have died in those buildings; thankfully, it was significantly less, but their value and who they were was no less important. I won’t forget the scrolling at the bottom of the screen of what high rise buildings in Nashville were being evacuated. Wow, that was hitting so close to home. The closing of high rise buildings in cities all over the country was sobering. How many more were out there that could possibly do this?

I will never forget being glued to the TV the rest of that day, night, and the next day. Finding out about the Pentagon, learning of what happened on Flight 93. The search for survivors, and then finally resigning to the fact that anything now would be recovery of bodies…if bodies still existed. The makeshift boards on which family members & friends posted missing persons flyers on the slim chance that their loved one had possibly survived and made it to a hospital somehow or were even roaming the streets with amnesia.

And now, here’s Dave to sum it up…

Never forget.

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man
my son!

– Rudyard Kipling

The Road Ahead…

The service is over, the flowers wilting, and everybody’s gone home.  Life goes on just as it did a few days ago and reality is slowly setting in.

Our friend has gone to the Other Side and we are left here with memories, pictures, songs.  He was such a vital part of our lives and losing him has left a gaping hole in our hearts. I realize that I am a blessed person for knowing him.  Doubly blessed that our last conversation ended with “I love you.” and a hug.

Not only did multitudes love him for the gifts he unselfishly shared with the world, many depended on him because of those talents. He was supposed to play an integral role in some big plans…weddings, mission trips, recording sessions, concert tours, spiritual counseling sessions at the Nipper’s Corner Starbucks where he was “The Bishop”, and helping our Pastor continue to lead the church.  Now, others will have to step up and follow in Maurice’s footsteps.  We have been given a great example to pattern after, even though the road ahead is unsure.  For as we have learned, nothing is guaranteed; not even our next breath.

At the hospital where I work, we have a Serenity Garden; a place of peace and solitude to reflect, mediate, pray, renew.  I happened to be walking by the entrance to the garden the other day and saw a card with the following prayer written on it.  It meant so much to me because it is where I am right now, and I wanted to share it with you…

The Road Ahead

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think
I am following your will
does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
Does, in fact, please You.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I
am doing.
I hope I will never do anything apart from
that desire.
And I know that if I do this You will lead me
down the right road
though I may know
nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust You always though I
may seem to be lost and in the shadow of
death.
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and You will never leave me to face my
perils alone.

–Thomas Merton,
“Thoughts in Solitude”

Yes, life does — and will — go on…that is both a cruel and merciful truth.  Each day my faith is growing stronger that even though good and bad things happen, all things will work together for good — even if I do not know what lies on the road ahead.

“Blessings” while mourning the loss of a Friend…

This song was played at church this morning during the video montage of our choir team’s trip to Japan, of which my & Amanda’s dear friend Maurice Carter was a part. Maurice passed away this weekend. We are all in shock and do not understand…but some things in life are not for us to understand. I guess that’s where faith that everything happens for a reason comes in.  These lyrics touched me so much…and are so appropriate at this time. ♥

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plead
And long that we’d have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

The Rapture, The End of the World, and What I Want To Say About It…

I have been watching with so much interest and amusement the reaction to Harold Camping’s prediction that May 21st, 2011 would be the day Christ returns .  I remember back in September of 1988 when we were also supposed to be raptured up to Heaven.  We heard about it through TV news and newspapers, but we all went on about our daily lives. With the internet, I have been reading reactions not only from people I associate with, but from around the world, in real time.

The creativity of  some folks has been incredible.  A comedian in New York started a Twitter stream @RaptureHelpDesk that has kept me entertained all day long…as well as few thought provoking tweets from @TweetJeebus like, “I have returned … in the form of the poor, the stranger, the sick, and the suffering. How you react is your Final Judgement. Good luck.”

The many “rapture jokes” have cracked me up.  Regardless of the cynicism and humor, I think it is fantastic that the world is talking about Jesus and His return. I believe the Bible, in its entirety, is true and that there will be a day when Jesus does return.  The Bible is clear that there will come a time that the world as we know it will cease to be.  However, “No one knows the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father God.”

So what is the point of trying to pinpoint a date?  Silly people.  They are dismissing the very words they are supposed to believe in with all of their heart, mind, and soul.  However, at least it got people talking about it. Having dialog about faith and spirituality is important, so why not?

So, since this is at the forefront of our minds this weekend, what better time to examine our own personal faith.  For many, life is so busy and filled up with sensory overload that we simply push our spirituality to the back burner.  (On the flip side, some are so eat up with church-going that it’s become more of a social club for people of the same kind!  Let’s find our balance again.  Jesus said to go out in to all the world…not consume yourself within the walls of your church with only people who are alike.)

Finally, I want to say to all of my friends and readers who have gotten burned out or disillusioned with the hypocrisy and lack of love of some church people…please don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.  Pick up a Bible and read it for yourself…as the Apostle Paul said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (i.e., take it seriously).”  I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what you find…the unconditional and transforming love of God.

For All Mothers…

Osama’s Dead!