Christimas Greetings

Luke 2:10-11

Saint of the Day

It's been a while since I wrote about one of the saints.

December is so consumed with the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations that the saints honored at this time of year are almost completely forgotten.

Not that they mind, of course. After all, they're saints. They're not concerned with being noticed.

Most of us are familiar with St. Stephen's Day, December 26, either from the carol about King Wenceslas and/or the post-Christmas holiday of Boxing Day, which is celebrated in several countries. But outside of the Marian feast on December 8, the Immaculate Conception, who knows much about December saints?

So with this week being the home stretch of Advent, I decided to look up today's "Saint of the Day," and I learned something. I had never heard of St. Nemesius before, but I won't forget him. Poor guy. That was one rough end he endured. There's not much information about it, but how much do you need if someone was burned alive? You can stop right there for me, thanks.

December 19, feast of St. Nemesius. I'll remember.

Chambers, Branches--Whatever!

 

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Image: CO2islife

The new darling of the left seems to be the amusingly idiotic Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  Her $21 trillion "Pentagon accounting errors" that would fund "Medicare for All" are actually defense spending transactions by our government.

Oops. I think maybe another source besides the left-wing magazine The Nation is in order. But prior to benefiting from additional homework, it's necessary to comprehend that you're wrong. In Ocasio-Cortez's case, that might take considerable effort.

Although newly elected, Ocasio-Cortez appears to be unfazed by factual challenges. Consider this jaw-dropping statement:

"If we work our butts off to make sure that we take back all three chambers of Congress—uh, rather, all three chambers of government: the presidency, the Senate, and the House."

She doesn't realize it, but Ocasio-Cortez is quite fortunate that she is not required to take a US citizenship exam to serve in Congress. Last year I helped a coworker study for the citizenship test, and it's no piece of cake. Those pesky government structure questions come up with dependable frequency. Any naturalized US citizen could have explained to Ocasio-Cortez that the government has three branches, not "chambers." And she got all three "chambers" wrong, anyway. It's not "the presidency, the Senate, and the House"--it's the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. That's enough to flunk the citizenship exam right there. Double--or is that triple?--Oops. The new congress woman from the Bronx is woefully uninformed, yet blissfully unconcerned.

But, of course, being a loyal lefty, she gets a quickly glossed-over pass from the media. I wonder what would have happened to Sarah Palin had she made these outrageously stupid remarks. Well, I don't really wonder. Can you imagine the cacophony of ridicule and criticism Palin would have suffered? Her gaffes would have filled at least a couple of 24-hour news cycles.

One of Ocasio-Cortez's goals is to be president. This week she went off on an incoherent tangent about the US Constitution saying "he cannot run unless he’s 35," when actually the text reads "person," not "he." Evidently the Constitution represents more required reading for this wondrous new gift to our "chamber of Congress."

Ocasio-Cortez doesn't have a clue about the three branches of government, but she does successfully complete the three sections of stupidity: ignorant, egotistical, and unaware.

Well Done...

...good and faithful servant. ~ Matthew 25:23

George H. W. Bush, 41st President of the USA - Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Giving Tuesday, Going Broke

I like the concept of Giving Tuesday. Truly, I do. Charitable giving has been part of my budget for many years, a specific sum I have committed to donate each month to a worthy organization. I have a small, trusted, set of charities that I support in a revolving manner. For example, I contribute to military organizations in May and November (Memorial Day, Veterans Day); food-centric charities in November (Thanksgiving); toy drives in December (Christmas). There's a margin built into the budget for unexpected disasters such as wildfires, tsunamis, and earthquakes.

I provide this painstaking personal detail to emphasize that, 1) I firmly believe in consistent support of charitable causes, and 2) almsgiving is an integral part of my value system and lifestyle. With all that said--I am bone weary of Giving Tuesday.

In a perfect world, all charitable organizations would be as meticulous in disbursing their donations as they are in maintaining contact databases. Every stray charity I have ever donated a dime to has been hounding me for weeks via every communication means available. I've been bombarded with email pleas, telephone solicitations, snail mail letters and donation forms. Even my workplace has, for the past several days, sent lengthy email entreaties to all employees for donations to "the Foundation." (Wait, I'm at work--aren't you supposed to give me money?)

My college wants money, too, and they have been especially persistent. In fact, this year they've been so annoying that I'm considering cutting them off permanently. My charity allocation for the month of June (graduation season) always goes to my alma mater, but evidently that's completely insufficient when Giving Tuesday rolls around. I'll think twice next June.

The accounting slates seem to be wiped clean of any remaining balances, and the hapless giver is accosted by an insistent army of demanding, self-entitled charities. If I gave even a modest amount to each and every request I've received this month, I'd have to tap my retirement savings to buy groceries next week. Is that the goal?

Come on, nonprofit organization people, back off. You don't have to explain this to me--or to most Americans. Do you realize that in 2017, Americans gave more than $410 billion to charity? Yes, I know--we're fortunate in this country, we're blessed with riches most of the world can only dream of, and we should give back to those in need. But I don't need a special day of the year to remind me to do it. For Giving Tuesday, I'd like you to give me a break.

After the Fires

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The destruction left in the wake of California's November wildfires is mind-numbing in its enormity. Both Northern and Southern California face massive rebuilding efforts. But the town of Paradise in the Chico area, destroyed by the Camp Fire, faces especially daunting, discouraging challenges--it has been essentially obliterated by the flames.

How does a community go about rebuilding in the face of such vast devastation? I'm reminded of the old saying about how to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. But even going one step at a time, the cleanup, recovery, and rebuilding of Paradise will take years. Our northern neighbors will literally begin at the ground, sweeping away ashes and beginning again. It takes courage, faith, determination--and a great deal of financial support and resources--to undertake such an overwhelming task. 

This week was Thanksgiving, a uniquely American holiday dedicated to being grateful for our many blessings. It's a good time to remember our neighbors who have lost loved ones, homes and all their possessions. The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, and many religious charities are among the many organizations assisting the fire victims in their time of need. All safe-and-sound Americans would do well to pause and make a donation, however modest, now that the fires have been extinguished and life begins to move on with its customary swiftness.

Give Thanks

Riga's Goodbye

How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.        ~ A.A. Milne

Riga - 2004 - age 1

Last night I euthanized my 15-year-old Labrador Retriever, Riga. It was a hard decision, because she wasn't critically ill. She was, however, impaired by many pains, limitations, and indignities of old age.

Since summer, I have observed my old friend closely as one by one, Riga's favorite activities moved beyond her reach. She could no longer enjoy her daily walks. Twice each day, for so many years, we had walked together. We spent thousands of hours covering uncounted miles. Now, although she wanted to walk, she was physically incapable. I kept shortening the distance to adjust, but one day she fell. Riga looked up with pleading eyes, wanting me to fix things so we could keep going.

Riga - 2018 - age 15

But some things can't be fixed, only ended.

Riga lost her appetite and, with it, many pounds. I cooked chicken or beef to coax her, mixed soft food with her kibble, topped it with treats. But all my efforts were met with mediocre results and lots of leftovers. Towards summer's end, she sometimes couldn't get through her doggy door in time. Riga would hang her head in humiliation. Not a fun life for a proud old girl who never had "an accident" since the age of three months.

Most evenings she would pull out her favorite toy since puppy days. But instead of playing, she'd drop it on the floor and wander away. The last few nights, I carried her upstairs at bedtime to spare her the brave, step-by-step struggle.

In past years I've put two dogs down, and both times it was during a medical crisis. That leaves you with an emergency rush to the vet's office and a sick dog dying on a cold steel table, without time for family to say a proper goodbye. I didn't want that ending for Riga.

All of her blood work was good. She didn't have cancer or any other disease--and she won't. Last week I called a veterinary service that comes to your home to euthanize your pet and made an appointment. I spent the week just enjoying time with Riga, my longtime friend and companion. My son and his wife visited the night before Riga left us to bid this special family member farewell.

Riga and I had been through so much together. We both loved Pete; we both lost and grieved him. We found comfort in each other's company as we walked on through the years, together. We watched the kids get married; we welcomed grandchildren. It was so hard for me to say goodbye.

But this decision had to be best for Riga. She deserved a peaceful end; it was the last thing I could do for her. My house is lonely now, and I'm not done crying. But I'm grateful that I found the strength to let her go.

Run free, my good girl. I'll always miss you.

One Hundred Years Ago Today

Deterrence prevents war.
~ Victor Davis Hanson 

On the 11th day of the 11th month of the year 1918, at 11:00 in the morning, the Armistice ending what was called "The Great War" was signed into place. Nearly 20 million people, military and civilian, had perished in the conflict.

Victor Davis Hanson's article presents in clear and simple terms why The Great War was succeeded in a mere two decades by a far bloodier worldwide conflict. He also cites some ominous conditions in the current state of international relations, and notes that "It is also always unwise to underestimate a peaceful America."

Winston Churchill wrote of the "gathering storm," in observing the factors contributing to the second World War. Students of history would do well to study his writings today. We should all be tuned in to the current global weather forecast, and that's not a reference to climate change.

Words for a Dark Day