A Prickly Situation…

 

I read a news report on what one professional football player had to say about celebrations surrounding Bin Laden’s death. In the long run the sports piece was a simple political piece, but it did make me think about one thing.

I am sure you have seen the mass amounts of reaction on Facebook, twitter, etc. around the days when the operation was revealed. Many people posted melancholy reminders that they would never be happy someone was dead, delivering the tidbit as if lowering the moral character of all those who reacted positively. While some seemed to take the celebration in the wrong direction completely.

It is hard in such a difficult situation to decide what exactly is the correct response, and yet something stood close to my heart. The news media and many, many cushy sudo “world aware”  individuals have always come down hard on the military. I really would not expect this to be different. And while I could bring up Biblical example and precept, the question that really comes to mind is; If we cannot celebrate with the victory of those who sacrifice their lives for us, and struggle with them through their defeats, how will we continue. The answer seems obvious to me… We can not… Not as a nation, culture, or people.

We must learn that rejoicing in death itself is morbid and misdirected, but if a man can not rejoice in justice, then he must conduct a seriously inventory of his own character.

Love which refuses to rejoice in the greater good of those unable to protect themselves, however sad the consequences of that justice… doesn’t love.

 

Now I do not write this to indicate that all should hold or attend parties on ever Bin Laden death anniversary, nor that we should chant and shout as if attending a sporting event. Rather I find that we must be able to rejoice with justice, to promote a focus on the good and positive over the sad of a wasted life now lost. There is always time to mourn the ravages of sin, but the worker his due his wages, and a soldier needs the support of those he serves and protects, this includes laughing when they laugh and crying when they cry.

 

To add image to title, these certainly represent the prickly situation at hand…

 

 

 

Working For Who?

 

Today was a rough day at work. I got injured a couple of weeks ago moving an item at the store. Ever since people have treated me differently, badly. It is really starting to get on my nerves. I still do far more than most anyone else in the department, I just can not lift, push, or pull more than 20 pounds of weight or risk further injury.

 

Today was particularly frustrating because my boss keeps asking me to do things which will include lifting or pushing and pulling considerably more than 20lbs. Not only was it asking me to ignore my injury, it was pulling me off the sales floor where I could no longer make sales (the only way I get paid). I made one comment about it and I find out later from another co-worker that people I thought of as friends are talking bad about me behind my back because I am apparently just lazy and do not want to do anything. Again, I was running around doing things and they were sitting on their butts….

 

It just really upset me… and I was explaining it all to Jenny when she asked why I do so much more than everyone else. Including other’s work. All I could answer was that when I start thinking about simply refusing like the others I hear one question in my head. “Who are you serving?”

Even if it is not required I always try and do better and more because its right, because it is what I want my character to be…

I know I should do everything without complaining, but I am not there yet.

Anyway, as I came home I went into the room with my computer and sat for a moment or two in the dark when Jenny came in… I came to my computer because I wanted to be calm, quiet, and alone. Strangely I didn’t mind her being there… or not so strangely. I am blessed to have such a wonderful wife that I find such a great comfort.

 

And so I wanted to share a picture of her, Sammy, and her Granny.

 

Hard Tripping…

 

Samuel got to take a tour of the eastern US. We went to see Jenny’s family and to go to her graduation. It was an extremely encouraging trip, other than the many hard hours on the road. That being said, it is taking a while to recover from the trip so tonight’s post is going to be very short.

The following image was actually taken in our ‘back yard’. I have been told it is an Egret, feel free to let me know if I have heard wrong.