Time to Pull Together

Tea: Mandarin Green

Music: U2, "Scarlet"

Time: Night.

By now, everything having to do with the Inauguration has been hashed, rehashed, sliced, diced and julienne fried.

Yes, it's historic. Yes, it's meaningful. Yes, it's the Mountaintop Experience.

But you know what?

None of it means squat if we don't all get up tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, and put in the work required to make this country (and the world at large) better.

That means doing good for people who can't do anything for us in return, for no other reason than that it's the right thing to do. It means looking at each other as human beings worthy of respect, regardless of our differences. It means giving up what we think we deserve sometimes, so others can have their basic needs met from day to day..

I'd like to think we can do it. I think we have the potential. After thousands of years of humanity getting in its own way, though, I wouldn't exactly say we have history on our side.

For all that, I'm not cynical. I'm hopeful, and I know I'm not alone. The question is whether we still have the strength as a people to forge that hope into action.

The only way to find out is to try.

Bring Your Own Raven

Tea: Chocolate Orange

Music: King Crimson, "Indoor Games"

Time: Night.

Heavyish posts the last couple of days. With the inauguration tomorrow and MLK Day today, the blogosphere is already serious enough.

(Not that that's a bad thing.)

But tonight, I'm in the mood for something lighter. I am in the mood for ...

Edgar Allan Poe. It's his birthday, you know. The big 2-0-0.

So, I'm going to log off and read for a bit. I have a book with all of his stories and poems. You should, too.

But in case you don't, here's a bit of bedtime reading from the master:

MS Found in a Bottle

For of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven

Tea: Stomach Soother

Music: Pink Floyd, "Learning to Fly"

Time: Night.

Christians, of which I am (or at the least aspire to be) one, are told we should have childlike faith.

Then we're told to shut up, listen and accept, because that's what good kids do.

This is what's known, or should be known, as an Epic Theology Fail.

Have you been around real children? They ask questions. Over and over. About everything.

What's that? What does that word mean? Why did that man do that? Why? Why? Why?

Children throw themselves into their interests. When I was in grade school, I read everything I could find on ghosts, dinosaurs and Bigfoot. (Yeah, I was a weird kid.) I couldn't get enough, even if I did have trouble sleeping sometimes.

And when they see something wrong, they'll let you know about it -- and they know what needs to be done.

You won't hear, That lady looks hungry. Let's tell him he's going to hell if he doesn't accept Jesus right now! or Look, she fell down and she's bleeding. Let's go hand her a tract and ask her if she has found God yet! from a four-year-old.

Here's what you'll hear:

That man's cold. We should give him a coat.

That woman's lonely. Someone should go sit by her.

That little boy is crying. Let's help him.

That's the faith of a child: Open to joy and quick to offer solace in sorrow, quick to make a new friend or forgive an old one, voraciously seeking knowledge and unafraid to ask the hard questions in order to get it.

Does that mean maturity is somehow bad? Absolutely not. There's a world of difference between childlike and childish. But wonder, fairness and curiosity don't inhibit growth. They foster it.

Were I a preacher, there might be a sermon in that.

From the "We Wonders, Precious" File

Tea: Vanilla Lapsang

Music: Rush, "Subdivisions"

Time: Night.

Here's my question chain of the day:

What constitutes true forgiveness? Does it mean forgetting the wrong done? If so, how is it possible to forget -- not file away, not set aside, but lose all memory of -- something which leaves a scar? Isn't the scar itself a reminder?

I don't have answers. I have hopes, and I have desires, and I have aspirations.

But I don't have answers.

Good Night, Christina

Tea: Jasmine Vanilla

Music: Newsboys, "Entertaining Angels"

Time: Night.

Andrew Wyeth died today.

I do believe, as a friend says, that "One death is all deaths." But for me, the meaning of that statement changes when an artist dies.

The work lives on, of course (and often shoots up in price, which makes collectors happy). And it's not that artists are more intrinsically valuable than other people. But the unique vision behind the art is gone -- and that can be neither reproduced nor replaced.

Bugged

Tea: Mixed Berry Green

Music: The Doobie Brothers, "Black Water"

Time: Night.

Sometimes, I picture cold and flu bugs at a convention. The keynote speaker starts his/her/its PowerPoint, and my picture comes up over the words: "Find the Easy Target."

Last night and today, a fresh contingent of conventioneers threw a party in my chest and tried to take it to my ears and throat as well. I called in the Green Tea Guard, and I'm about to deploy the Salt Water/Baking Soda Gargle Riot Squad.

No more Mr. Easy Target. They have awakened a sleeping giant. At least, I hope I'll be sleeping better tonight ...

For your viewing (and giggling) pleasure ...

Tea: Vanilla Lapsang

Music: INXS, "The One Thing"

Time: Night.

I'm making an early(ish) night of it. It's cold outside, the house is drafty and the idea of wrapping myself in blankets, making a mug of something hot and reading for a while sounds especially appealing.

But before I go, I'll leave you with this. Even if words aren't your life, it's still pretty darn funny.