Sometimes

Sometimes you can’t do things you would like to do, things others think you should do, but you can’t tell others why you aren’t doing them.

Then there are times when you do things you would rather not do, things others think you should not do, but you can’t tell others why you are doing them.

These are times that test relationships and trust. Do others know us to the point where they trust us even though they don’t understand an action or inaction? Can they sense the agony of soul and respect that agony even while not understanding the actions or circumstances? We can forgive others if they cannot trust when appearances challenge their trust, we are but human. But how refreshing and comforting when others will extend trust and encouragement to us even when they don’t understand our action or inaction; how encouraging when someone says, “I know you and there must be a reason. If you cannot share that reason I will respect that. I am here for you.”

The Mail

Yesterday’s mail:

The Discover Card wants me to go into debt – if I don’t they won’t make money. They are going to give me 0% intro APR – I think Solomon warned about this kind of thing, I don’t think I’ll open the envelope.

Capital One must have been watching the Discover Card people – they want me to go into debt too. They also promise 0% intro. They point out that they are the “Official Bank and Credit Card of the NCAA.” Now what exactly am I to think of that? I can’t recall anything about the NCAA caring about anything but money – certainly it doesn’t care about what are supposed to be “student – athletes” or it would put education before profit. Maybe being the official bank of the NCAA is a warning to me? How nice of Capital One to warn me. I don’t think I’ll open this envelope either.

Here’s another envelope from Capital One – this one wants me to open a savings account. I’m confused. How can I do into debt with Capital One if I put my money into a savings account with Capital One? How can I save with Capital One if I go into debt with Capital One? Maybe they should have staggered these mailings? I’d better pass on opening this envelope – too much to think about.

American Home Shield wants me to purchase a repair policy on our home – no point opening this one because we had a poor experience with them – the outside of the envelope tells me “Important Information Enclosed” but I don’t believe them.

ADT is sending me an “Exclusive Limited-Time Offer” – I wonder how exclusive it is? I’ll save you additional commentary – into the trash.

The ASPCA wants me to join – it’s even sent me a membership card that I didn’t ask for. I opened this one, it’s a heart thing. We aren’t going to join, and I wonder how much the organization spends on fundraising, but still, we would probably join if our resources were greater – right now we’re focused on feeding people, especially with sustainable programs like Heifer International.

My alma mater wants money – I wonder how much it spends on fundraising? I opened this one too just to see if it has changed its pitch. I am concerned about some of the school’s direction – when you try to become too relevant you can become irrelevant. I am also concerned that it doesn’t “listen”. It sent me an online survey that I took the time to fill out and make comments on, assuring me that it would be reviewed – but I didn’t receive a response. I think this is the second time this has happened. What’s the point? It wants my checks but not my thoughts.

I have two pieces of mail left – one from Costco and one from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The one from Costco is a food recall; the problem is that it is recalling food we’ve already eaten – we seem to be ok. I did open this one just to make sure I knew what the food was – the food was actually pretty good; there was potential listeria contamination the notice tells me.

One piece of mail left, from the Billy Graham group…I’ll reflect on that tomorrow. 

Choose Life – Selectively?

Are you the person driving the van on route 288 yesterday morning with the “Choose Life” slogan on your license plates? The one who was weaving in and out of traffic at excessive speeds?

Can you explain to me what “Choose Life” means? Is it more a political agenda than a way of life? Have you thought through what it means to “Choose Life”? Does it affect your view of economics? Of foreign policy? Of health care? Of the purchase of weapons – both the type available and the qualifications (if any) of persons allowed to purchase weapons? Of housing? Of workplace safety both here and abroad? Of the distribution of food?

I realize that “Choose Life” doesn’t affect the way you drive on a crowded highway, I was just wondering if it actually affected anything else in your life.