THE WW’S GAME

“What cha doin’ Paw?” asked Lamont.

“Playing,” Replied Paw.

“What are you playing?” chimed in Patch.

“WW’s” exclaimed Paw.

“Never heard of it. What is the WW’s game?” asked Lamont.

“Well,” explained Paw, “you see these shinny things here in the whale on the coffee table?”

“Yep,” responded Patch.

“If you stick you paw into the whale and work at it, you can finagle a little ww out of it and then you can whack them around all over the place. They’re great,” Paw described. “They are like little mini hockey pucks. Lot’s of fun to play with.” Then she smacked a wee ww over to Lamont.

“Wait a minute,” intoned Lamont. “This isn’t a ww it’s a mm.”

“No, dummy,” meowed Paw from the other side of the shinny object, “it’s a ww, it says so right on top of it.”

“It says MM,” yowled Lamont.

“WW!” hissed Paw.

“MM!!” yelled Lamont.

WW!!” snarled Paw.

“Let me see,” said Patch as she walked about the shinny pill like object. “I do believe you’re right.”

“Who’s right,” inquired Paw, “Me or ol Lamont?”

“You both are,” said Patch, “It just depends on your point of view.”

Paw and Lamont looked at each other and Patch quizzically then all together, Paw, Patch and Lamont began batting the MM around vigorously…or is a WW?

Does a Larger World Create a Smaller Vision?

When the founding fathers (and unnamed mothers) were about the business of creating our democracy the world was smaller; not geographically obviously, but in terms of population and intimacy, for lack of a better word. Thirteen colonies were less than 50 states. These early leaders knew each other on a personal basis and were in regular contact with each other. They were up on the latest world concepts and ideas, the creative thinkers of their day. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson knew the Enlightenment thinkers. They were versed in the works of John Locke, Newton, Immanuel Kant, Frances Bacon, Thomas Hobbes, Galileo, Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu and the like.

Though their world was relatively small in comparison to our own, their ideas and vision was huge. They had big ideas and big dreams. They envisioned a democracy like the world had never seen. They saw the value of an educated populace, and equal opportunities for all citizens. These people, some of who had been in this country for five generations numbered between 300,000 and 400,000.

Today we have 50 states, our population is about 320 million. Significant differences. Our worlds were and are much different.

It is my premise here that the smaller world made it more possible to have a larger vision and in contrast today’s larger world tends to produce smaller world views and visions.

We have accomplished much in this country. Our growth has been incredible and astounds the world. We have transportation, educational, business, social systems that are amazing. I believe that parents today are far and away better than any parents seen in our nation’s history. Part of why that is true, I think, is because the big issues of today seem so large and unapproachable, we sink our teeth into smaller issues such as parenting. I may have limited voice in today’s government, but my voice can be large and important in my family. I may not know how to deal with today’s mammoth infrastructures but I can deal with my family’s relationships.

Today we can better related to being big frogs in small family ponds, but are flummoxed at being puny little frogs in the large nation pond. How can I possibly understand all of the national issues of today? How can I possibly vote intelligently? But I think I can manage and be important in my family and perhaps smaller communities.

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Because of this alienation from the larger society, we engage less in the larger issues and have a condition that is ripe for oligarchists picking. Decisions such as Citizens United that give equal and in all likelihood, greater voice to corporations and special interest groups open the doors to leadership by the unrepresentative few. Our civil liberties decrease as we cede more and more to the select few.

It may be more difficult to think big today but that does not mean we should give up. It may be harder to see the big picture when we have to deal with a lot of little issues, but we need to try. Today it should be easier to study and understand the great thinkers of history as we have better access to information. Our visions need to expand to fit our large world. Is it hard? Yes, but not impossible.

Blogging Resumed

I see my last entry for this blog was September of last year. Hmmm. I seem to have taken a rather lengthy hiatus.

I’m not sure why I quit writing. Perhaps I got tired of listening to my own complaints. Perhaps I just needed some time off. Perhaps I got bored with politics and shooting the same old political and religious cows over and over. A more likely reason was that my writing outlet found a new outlet in resuming preaching at an area church.

Since last September and a bit before I started preaching at the First Congregational Church (a.k.a. Congo) in Winona, Minnesota. It a way it was the perfect preaching gig. All I had to do was preach. Lay folk did everything else. They got so used to me they gave me a title, “acting pastor.” Congo is a wonderful congregation and contrary to popular wisdom they wisely decided to go with supply preachers rather than an interim pastor. It worked. It worked because of extremely strong lay leadership, which led the church. In the process I believe they learned a lot about themselves and just how capable they were and are. Not every church can pull this off but they did and they did it well.

This also was and is very appreciative of pastoral efforts. I received so many affirmations and approval for my homiletic efforts. Every pastor needs congregations like that in their work. I have been blessed with more than my share of affirming congregations, for which, I am truly thankful. This congregation even clapped at the end of a sermon and the final Sunday gave me a standing O after my final sermon. Perhaps they were just glad to have me end the sermon, but I think it was more reflective of the generous nature.

The idea of a pastor(s) for a church may well be a historical oddity of our age. A more common model in history, I believe, were lay lead churches where specialists we called in for special activities. The African churches model this well today. Pastor’s come for special instruction, baptisms, communion and the like while the day-to-day operations of the church is handled by local lay folk. It works well there as well with well-trained and motivated local leaders.

At any rate, Congo has called a new pastor, and I am footloose and fancy free again and can turn back to writing about religion, politics and cats once more. I can only hope that old readers will find the blog again and read as comment as in the past.

Now the cat writers need to swing into action.

Where Have the Humans Servants Gone?

“The servants packed up some bags and left yesterday,” said Lamont.

“Yes,” responded Patchtricia, “and they did not return.”

“I wonder what on earth has happened to them,“ said Pawline? “This is most distressing.”

Days pass…

“Where oh where have they gone?” cried Lamont. “Where can the be so long?”

“I don’t have a clue,” said Paw. “Surely they cannot have abandoned us?”

“How could they,” mewed Patch. “They rescued us, and have been very good servants giving us good food and brushing and petting us. It doesn’t make any sense they would just pack up and leave us alone.”

Days pass…

“I’m don’t know what to do,” cried Lamont. “They have been gone so long, and here we are all alone. It makes no sense to me.”

“Well,” said Paw, “we’re not entirely alone. That lady from next door comes and feeds us and gives us water. I think she would like for us to come out and say hi to her.”

“I’m sure she would too,” replied Patch, “but our feral heritage makes that extremely difficult. It took a long long time before we got used to our servants and to care for them. These attachments just don’t happen over night.

Each cat nods it head and grooms itself or each other.

Days pass…

“Did you hear the garage door open,” said Lamont with his ears twitching in all directions?

“I think you’re right,” said Patch. “Could it be that our servants Meugh and Mewreen have returned?” as she jumped up and stood at the top of the stairs with her liter mates.

“The key is turning in the front door,” exclaimed Paw. “I think, I do think, the servants have returned. Could be.”

All three cats listen as luggage is hauled into the house, the slowly one by one the creep down stairs and peek as the servants come into the house.

“Oh glory be. They here,” exclaimed Lamont! “They are home at last.”

“Oh yes,” said Patch, “who would have thought we would have become so attached to these human critters. I’m very glad they are home.”

“I think I feel a purr coming on,” said Paw. “I hate to admit it but we’ve grown to love these human servants. We love the brushing, the treats, the petting and the like they give us. They are good servants indeed.”

“Indeed,” said Lamont and Patch together. “Amen.”

Days pass…

“Lamont,” said Patch, “aren’t you going a little overboard with this affection thing? First you started sitting by Mewreen’s legs and rubbing against them. And now you have become a lap cat. I have even seen you sit like that with Meugh when Mewreen is not around. And what’s with the drooling?”

“You’re find one to speak,” replied Lamont. “You run to Meugh at not the usual hours and hop on his chair for treats even when it is not treat time. But I notice he usually does hand out treats. One for you in his lap, one he feeds to me and I take it out of his hand, and one he drops on the floor for Paw. But good job, we are all getting more treats than ever.”

“Yes,” added Paw. “I think they missed us as much as we missed them. There seems to be more brushing, petting and treats since they have returned from wherever they went. I gather it was some type of cruise, whatever that was, they took with Meugh’s liter mate and his wife.”

“Life is good again,” explained Lamont.

“Yes indeed, life is good again,” Paw added.

“Amen and amen to that,” said Patch.