Elections and Baptisms

After visiting Columbus, Ohio for the baptism of our grandson, Geert Willem Fischer, I have decided to vote for the Republican ticket. Do I love the candidates? Not particularly. Do I hate Mr. Obama? Not particularly. Frankly, I think both tickets are greatly flawed. In the end, however, I will vote my conscience, and my Christian, Calvinistic, mid-western, middle class, female conscience says that I will vote for the candidates and party platform which most closely aligns with my Biblical beliefs and ethical worldview.
So what does baptism have to do with elections? Just this, that a baby is infinitely precious to his family and to God. The thought that the Democratic party supports abortion as a policy is repugnant to me. Mr. Obama himself assents to abortion and even to allow the destruction of a child who survives abortion because, he says, it is the law of the land. That only makes sense to the mind of a Harvard lawyer who has no personal ethic, who cannot think morally, and who is so politically centered, that he cannot rise above the "law" to think about the ethic and moral implications of the law. There is civil law and there are moral laws and they often conflict.
Will he have the vision and courage to distinguish between the two?
I can't understand why some voters, especially Christians, can bypass this issue. I have been told that I shouldn't be a "one-issue" voter" as though one issue couldn't mean that much. I resent people looking down their erudite noses at me as though I am too ignorant to think logically, or too old to have wisdom, or too emotional to make the best objective decision. If I told you that Mr. Obama favors limiting the number of dogs born in America by strangling them or crushing their heads before they are born, then cutting them up into pieces before they are removed from the mother, most people would be so disgusted that they would dismiss him as a candidate without discussion. But this is exactly what he supports, not of dogs but of infants--children!
Strip all of life down to its essentials and you will find that there is no real value in money, or houses, or bank accounts (literally!), in position, in politics, in the media, in opinion, in power, etc.
The only essential that has value for now and eternity is God and his Word and our relationship to both, especially within the family dynamic. If you believe God's Word to be true and have absolute value, you will want to follow God's laws and promote it, even when or if it differs from the civil law under which you may live. This may be a difficult position; you may be mocked; you may be ostracized; you may suffer. But that's what we do; we suffer. Whether for good or evil, we suffer. I would prefer to suffer for good, wouldn't you?
Obviously, this is an issue much larger than the abortion issue alone.
You may be saying, you can't expect your politicians to have the same values as you have. You are right. But that doesn't mean I have to vote for them. I will vote for the party and the platform that comes closest to Biblical precepts that guide my life. Will they be perfect candidates? Heavens, NO. Are you perfect? Am I perfect? But I know that our country is at a moral crossroads, and this is no time to forget our Christian principles and vote for the wrong person for the wrong reason.
Geert Willem is a precious child. I teach precious children every day. No one has the right to allow, and certainly not to promote the killing of precious children like them. No one.

Surprises

I love the Wall Street Journal. I don't really care about the financial section, because I don't understand finances except as they apply to me--NOW or to my belief system and world view. But the rest of the WSJ is filled with the most fascinating perspectives on life and culture. Occasionally the various ideas I read from here and there and everywhere come crashing together and then my tiny brain has a revelation which seems to have significance, if only for me. The problem is gathering all of it together in a meaningful way--for you as well as for me. So here goes my feeble effort.
On Friday (9/19/08) I read an adaptation of a commencement address by David Foster Wallace given by him to the class of 2005 at Kenyon College. I was drawn to the article, not because I knew of Wallace's life or works, but because I didn't, and because I had heard that he committed suicide the previous week.


What would someone say about life or death or the future when within three years he will be dead? What is he doing right now? Why were his words so significant that he had been hailed as an up and coming, authentic voice of post-modernism? What I found was that his words from the grave were dangerously close to the truth and very appropriate for today's world. Pity he didn't see the financial crash of last week strengthen his argument, which goes something like this.
1. The most important realities are often the ones that are the hardest to see and talk about. (this assumes that there are realities)

2. Most of what we believe turns out to be wrong and deluded and the greatest delusion is " that I am the absolute center of the universe, the realest, most vivid and important person in existence." He calls this our "default system, hard-wired into our boards at birth."

3. "Twenty years after my own graduation, I have come gradually to understand that the liberal-arts cliche about "Learning how to think" really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience." Eerily, he says that most suicides are actually dead before they pull the trigger.
The value of your liberal-arts education is "How to keep from going through your comfortable, prosperous, respectable adult life dead, unconscious, a slave to your head and to your natural default-setting of being uniquely, completely imperially alone, day in and day out."

We take a deep breath and go on. He then takes a brilliant walk through what the phrase "day in and day out" means. It's his view of the rat race and the reaction choices one can make. You must read this yourself--priceless.
4. "If you have really learned how to think, it will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, loud, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful but sacred, on fire with the same force that lit the stars--compassion, love, the sub-surface unity of all things. The only thing that's capital T-True is that you get to decide how you're going to try to see it. . . You get to decide what to worship. . .

5. "There is actually no such thing as atheism. There is no such thing as not worshiping. Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship."

6. "The world will not discourage you from operating on your default-settings, because the world of men and money and power hums along quite nicely on the fuel of fear and contempt and frustration and craving and the worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom to be lords of our own tiny skull-sized kingdom, alone at the center of all creation.

7. "The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day."

This speech blew me away. Sometimes the capital-T Truth is more clearly spoken by those on the other side of the philosophical fence than by those on our own. Just ten years ago, as I was finishing up a Masters in Education, we were warned that the school of liberal arts was in its death pangs and would not be resurrected. I don't believe that, because thinking about Truth needs a social institution or construct in which to function. I am not sure of the form it will take, but Truth will continue to exist no matter what we do, and there will always be those who seek it, and there will be those who keep it safe and distribute it to those who are awake and aware.
As Wallace concludes, "The capital-T Truth is about life before death. It is about making it to 30, or maybe 50, without wanting to shoot yourself in the head. It is about simple awareness--awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, . . . It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive, day in and day out."
What a tragedy, to be so close to the capital-T Truth and not to have really known it fully. As a Christian I would counter that not only is it hard to do this, it is impossible without the Holy
Spirit counseling and encouraging and renewing our minds constantly. Jonathan Edwards described our position as sliding down a steep incline with the inevitable outcome of Hell catching us at the end of the fall. The only way of salvation is for the hand of God to reach down and lift us up--not just to stop the fall, but to lift us up and put our feet on the solid ground of absolute Truth.
The other element of surprise for me was how this view into the mind of David Wallace reinforced what I have been studying by way of "Living Beyond Yourself" by Beth Moore.
What Wallace refers to as "Living by default" corresponds to the Biblical concept of " living by the flesh" in Galatians 5 and 6; we are by nature inclined to live within ourselves, slaves to sin and pride. Christian belief is not an intellectual assent to a religious construct and a desire to be better than we are, or even "religulous" as Bill Maher might call it; it is, in contrast, the sure knowledge that in ourselves, we hold no power of wisdom or knowledge that amount to anything of value. The Capital-T Truth is that I was as blind to the truth as David Wallace, and the reason I can live in hope instead of despair is because the Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to see spiritual Truth in spiritual Words. It has nothing to do with what I do to reach beyond my default option, it is all about how God has reached down to me and given me the Holy Spirit to show me the Truth. I don't know why He did that for me; I don't know why He didn't do that for David. My only response is to praise and worship God. What else can I do?

On the facing page of this article is a little one by Molly Hemingway, "Look Who's Irrational Now" an answer to "comedian"and atheist Bill Maher's claim that "You can't be a rational person six days of the week, . . .and on one day of the week go to a building and think you're drinking the blood of a 2,000 year old space god." She uses strong emperical evidence to prove that it is actually the irreligious that tend to be more superstitious and "irrational." But most interesting to the discussion is her concluding quote from G.D. Chesterton's Father Brown character that all atheists, secularists, humanists, and rationalists are susceptible to superstition: "It's the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense, and can't see things as they are."
"Good" education teaches students to understand that the most essential realities exist outside of our senses and that they can only be" seen and heard" and understood by the power of the God who created them.

Womenists Reign

The presidential election, for which I could arouse no interest, much less passion, has taken an amazing twist, changed the political landscape, and hooked me with its surprises. I've been wondering why this is true, and why I feel a sense of release and freedom because of the inclusion of Sarah Palin into the mix.
First, my age gave me a distinct advantage as to perspective. Feminism as a political force was gaining speed during and after my college years. It rose from the 60's, the bra burners, the yellow Volkswagen vans painted with flowers and reeking with marijuana. It seemed to offer women freedom from the male oppression they had in many cases suffered in the past. It had profound effects on society--a few good but many bad. Personally, I was not one of their followers, not so much because I disagreed with their plan at the time, but because I was repulsed by being a member of any group that socially controlled me--not the social top of the heap (not that they would have wanted me)--not the loners--not the druggies--not the cheerleaders. This was no noble characteristic of mine, it was just the outcome of some factors in my life that I had not chosen but God had providentially placed there. I was born and raised in middle America, with small town values, strong Christian teaching and living, a value for loving and caring all people. My parents taught, they did not indoctrinate. They modeled, they didn't preach. They cared and served others,they didn't feel they deserved to be cared for. They worked long and hard and faithfully and treated each other with the respect you give someone who works equally with you for a common goal.
The Feminists' agenda opposed all of that and sneered at those elements of my life. Being a college student, and prone to stupidity and naivete, their ideas seemed attractive; you don't need men, you should not be forced to bear children, your life must not be given for the sake of others, you have the freedom to control your own body, money, health, and profession. Finally, independence for women was at hand. The social implications and fall-out were huge and immediate, and few were, in my opinion, positive. The assumptions grew that marrying and being faithful was giving in to old domination, that having children should be optional and that abortion was a right, that childcare should be a shared burden, and that it should never intrude on your rights and freedoms. Men and marriage were necessary evils and could be shed at will. In all fairness, women were given new professional freedom in a variety of areas--a benefit we still enjoy, although we are still waiting for equal pay for equal work!
There were shocking effects: the emasculation of a generation of men: a rising divorce rate: a rising abortion rate: the end of breast-feeding for many women: smaller families and broken families. It would be unfair to credit the Feminists for all this, but their radical views appealed to many, and their agenda was accomplished. The original leaders are nearly gone, but those who have taken their places are even more radical and hateful and now have the benefit of the media and the schools to carry out their agenda.
So, what does this have to do with Sarah Palin? She isn't Hillary Clinton. Hillary was the last great hope of the Feminists to achieve the highest politial office in the land. She seemed to be a shoe-in at first. Then came Obama. And even though they each had about 18 million votes, she was "let go" by the Democratic power faction. Then, she was ignored as a VP candidate as well.
Unbelievable! She represented far more than a woman candidate--she was a Feminist candidate. That's why the fact that Palin is a woman who has succeeded as a politician and as a wife and mother and a Christian means nothing to them. In fact, she is anathema to them. I am sorry for Hillary--she got a bum deal. But I am also sorry for Sarah, because she will have to suffer the wrath of many angry women. I am glad that the shake-up has taken place and that the good-old-girls club is powerless, at least for the moment.

Labor Day Weekend

Looking about for something interesting to do on this holiday weekend, we (Bill and I, Sara and Andrew, Emma and Lucy) all took off for Omaha for an adventure. We still feel surprised to be living in Kansas, and now we are vacationing in Nebraska? Whatever . . . We were even more surprised that Omaha was a cool and interesting place to visit. We went to the zoo first because it was the only thing we knew about, and it was fabulous, besides the weather was perfect and it was delightful just to walk around. The exhibits were unique and the animals exotic. Notice the river swarming with Koi--incredible sight.
Later, there was shopping in Old Town, dinner together at the Spaghetti Works, swimming in the pool.
Today (Sunday) we separated and did our own things. A highlight for me was to visit the Prairie Lane Christian Reformed Church where I had worked on a SWIM team (Summer Workshop in Missions) 45 years ago. At that time there were about 30 people in the church, so we canvassed the area and ran some VBS programs to help grow the church. At that time there was no church building, but since then, they built one church in the 70's and a new one just last year, and they now have about 50 families as members and about 130 people attending weekly.
We also toured the Joslyn Art Museum, which was surprisingly well done with a collection which was not wide but deep with quality artists represented.
Finally, we searched for the spot where Lewis and Clark stood on the bluffs in Council Bluffs, Iowa overlooking the Missouri River. We finally found it and were rewarded with a beautiful view of the entire area, despite the misty haze.
All in all, it was a fun and interesting weekend.

A Great Day!

This is a great day for me! Last week I signed onto a new job as an Instructional Assistant in the Shawnee Mission School District. Although the pay is not great, this job offers what I have been pursuing and failing to get--health insurance! Yippee! I have been trying to get insurance for myself for the past few months, but have been refused by all the major companies. Meanwhile, I have COBRA insurance which will run out in February, and it costs $650 a month + $150 meds for my "condition." This was a hefty amount for us, but we would have kept paying it, if it was available. By getting this new job, I now have FREE Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance + life insurance + dental + vision + disability! Unbelievable! Praise God!
I am not teaching high school English or college composition--no, 4 yr 0lds! These are four year olds with learning disabilities or ESL kids who are in need of some help to get ready for Kindergarten. What a switch from my usual fall fare. No stress- no difficult work- no homework!
I took a job this summer at a day care and cared for 1's and 2's (see my little ones in photo above and my friend Safa who worked with me). This was such hard work, I thought I would die, but I stayed on for a month before the new job was offered. It was great training for me, and I loved the dear little kids. It opened my eyes to the day care system and how it runs, but it also showed me how God knew what I needed, even before I knew (you would think that I was old enough to understand that by now!) I also see now, how people's lives are affected by the health insurance problem in America for good or for ill. This is a huge issue, and hopefully our candidates for president have a plan that will improve the situation. Anyway, I am celebrating tonight and I am very thankful.

The Grandkids Visit

The end of June meant the long-awaited visit of the Michigan grandkids. They were here for a week while their mom and dad went off to San Antonio for a conference. We started out with a bang, going swimming, to the farm, playing with the Kansas grandkids, Lucy and Emma. Then, without warning, they each tumbled to the flu--one at a time, but overlapping. Then Pop-pop also caught it, and Lucy, and Sara and then Lynn, when she returned from the trip! Everyone was throwing up for about 24 hours. Thankfully, I was the only one left standing, so that I could care for them. Even though I was exhausted and tired of cleaning up the messes, I found that there isn't a better way to bond with kids than to care for them when they are ill! All in all, it was a marvelous week, and I hope this becomes a traditional summer thing to do--to visit Oma and Pop-Pop, not to get sick!

Food Features

We were looking forward to the great food in Florence until we started studying Italian and could interpret some of the names of the typical foods. Since Bill hates cooked vegetables, we were already off to a bad start, but when we heard about the favorite food, tripe (the intestines of a cow) we were really freaked and decided to be careful about what we ordered. (We saw people eating tripe in the outdoor market as it was dredged out of a pot of meat juice and fat, and slapped on to a sandwich of boiled beef.) It looked like white sausage casing and extremely gross!
We are really just talking about dinners now, since the hotel provided the breakfast and lunch gratis.
Our first dinners were fixed price meals, where all of the courses are included in the price. Keeping in mind that the dollar was worth 60 cents, a typical dinner (as in the picture of an outdoor cafe) will run 10-15 euros ($14-21). It may have a pasta, some chicken, and a salad--pedestrian at best. A meal on the run might be pizza or a stuffed sandwich with a cup of warm coke for perhaps 8 euros ($11). The only way to get really good food--the food you have read about and drooled over is to go to a really good restaurant and plan to pay--a lot! We did that for our last night there. We had seen a restaurant in the Rick Steves book that looked really good, so off we set to find it. It was raining occasionally, and we seemed to walk for miles, when we came to the street in question. We shared the narrow street with some vagabonds (to put it nicely) and a few garbage cans, but then, in the distance, we saw some people waiting to get into a door, and sure enough, it was our restaurant. Normally, they wouldn't take you without reservations, but it was not a very busy night, so they kindly took us in.
The service was sooo slow, until we realized that the waiter did nothing until we directed him to do so. Finally we ordered the three courses. I had a tasty onion soup that was bold but not overpowering, a cheese and pear over greens salad that was outstanding, and veal with potatoes for the main course. Bill had a tortellini soup, shared my salad, and steak (from a breed of steer unique to Tuscany). It was a memorable meal, with each part being very tasty and wonderful. The eat and wait and discussion and wait, meant that the meal took 2 1/2 to 3 hours, which is typical. This is a Florentine evening activity, evidently, so you are not only buying a meal, but you are renting a seat! We added bottle of wine (should have had red, but we don't like red, so we had white) and a bottle of water, for a grand total of $180 ! And we were cheap! Needless to say, once was all that we could afford.
But the best food in Florence was the Gelato--the wonderful ice cream, custard, of a million flavors. We had it nearly every day, and normally that would be disastrous for the waist line, but we walked 10 hours a day, so we didn't gain weight. It is the best ice cream anywhere.
We ate in a McDonald's one night, and it was great to taste American food and coffee far from home.