This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Save the taxpayers

Three taxpayers swam 100 feet off shore and could not get back to land. A tea party member came by and threw out a 50-foot rope and said to man No. 1, “with just a little effort on your part you can make it” and then he left to picket the local welfare office, feeling good about himself. The first man drowns.

An Occupy Wall Street activist arrives and throws out a 200-foot rope to man No. 2. But, the activist heard cries from someone else in need further down on the shore, so he dropped the line and left to help, feeling good about himself. The second man drowns.

A pragmatist came by, threw out a 100-foot rope and pulled the third taxpayer safely to the shore. He did not feel good, because he was unable to save the other two taxpayers.

Our national politics has become like this story. Our two parties are in siloes, seeing only their concerns and nothing else. Ever since Newt Gingrich began his crusade in the 1990s to end civility in Congress, we have been on a collision course. Very little has been accomplished in Washington.

We are all on the boat named the U.S.A. Both parties are railing against each other while our boat is sinking, as evidenced by the failure of either party to adequately address the cyber attack by Russia on our elections, the foundation of democracy.

Cedar Ridge Cemetery

Recently I was in Macon for my 60th high school reunion. While there I took the opportunity to visit Cedar Ridge Cemetery, an old cemetery next to Evergreen Cemetery in South Macon. My grandparents are buried there in a section that has no perpetual care.

When I lived in Georgia, I tried to get by occasionally with rake and clippers to clean the area. But I live 500 miles away now. On my last visit to Cedar Ridge a few years ago, I was sad to see that the weeds were so high that you could hardly see the tombstones. The whole area was disgraceful.

I was amazed last week to see the Cedar Ridge area lovingly cleared. Even some headstones had been cleaned and repaired. It was a joy to see the change. I would love to know who is responsible for this huge undertaking so I could offer my thanks and appreciation. Perhaps some of your readers will let me know. (I think it would be newsworthy to publish an article on the caring folks who are responsible for this unselfish act of kindness.

Wesleyan revelations

Wesleyan College’s Class of 1960 wish to speak in response to the article in Sunday’s paper, and in support of Wesleyan’s president, Ruth Austin Knox. We wish to praise her for all she has done to enhance programs, increase diversity, and revise and update the mission statement of the college. When we were students at Wesleyan (1956-1960) there existed the tradition of “Rat Week,” with hazing of the freshmen class by the sophomore class. We were told this was a practice which would bring out leadership and bind the class together. Some thought it was fun, others were not so sure. In recent years, the college has done away with “Rat Week” replacing it with a positive “Sisterhood Week.”

We alumnae love Wesleyan and are grateful both for the education we received and the love and care given us by faculty, administration and staff. The college has outstanding graduates of different races who have distinguished themselves and been recognized for their contributions to their professions, their communities, their churches, and their college. To disparage the reputation of Wesleyan College because of a yearbook published 104 years ago seems to us unfair.

Face-to-face metaphor

I wish to thank Will Daniels for recommending Bill Cummings’ book, “The Checkered Church: A World of Conflicts, Confusion and Controversies” in order to clarify some questions I had concerning Cummings’ belief system. Will did an excellent job in summarizing the book. Like Will, I came away from the reading with greater empathy for this man who has suffered much at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church and with a better understanding of what has shaped his philosophy of religion. Although I do not agree with his theories, I do appreciate the disillusionment and betrayal he must feel at the hands of those purporting to be Christian. Unfortunately, God got blamed for the actions of men.

I also would like to clarify a statement I made in my last letter that has led to some misunderstanding. I used the metaphor, “face-to-face,” in trying to explain the experience that was life-changing for me.

Since an early age, Jesus has been my friend and confidant, but God the Father I saw as judge and the Holy Spirit was a scary unknown who caused people to do crazy things. (I must quickly say that my early beliefs did not come from my immediate family nor the Methodist Church that we attended, but from statements made by members of my extended family.)

In my mid-twenties because of two very deep and painful personal losses and because of circumstances I could not control, I began to question the existence of God. He seemed far away and unconcerned about my situation. I reached a point where I cried out, “If you are real, I’ve got to know it; and if you are not, I’ll stop wasting my time.” I did not see an actual face or bright light, nor did I hear an audible voice or choir of singing angels (I do not doubt those who have); but I did become aware of a presence. The best way I can describe it is as a warm hug and an overwhelming realization that I was greatly loved by my heavenly Father. After that day I no longer doubted the existence of a loving God. I began to see that the Holy Spirit was the spirit of Jesus and as such had my best interest at heart. He became my teacher, my comforter and my guide.

All of us who live for any length of time on this earth will experience disappointment, pain and loss. No one is exempt. How we react to that suffering determines the course of our daily walk. We can blame God for those things we cannot control and become angry and bitter, or we can run to God knowing he alone understands and can ease the pain. A third option is to declare God is disinterested, neither to blame, nor to comfort, simply disengaged from his creation. Only one of those choices brings true peace, joy and contentment. For me, this belief is summed up in the words of the song, “In Christ Alone.” Google it and be blessed by the words and music.

This story was originally published June 27, 2017 at 3:50 PM with the headline "This is Viewpoints for Wednesday, June 28, 2017."