Rick Wagoner should hold his head high. He's a good man, and quality leader who gave 30 years of his life to GM. News of his "resignation" yesterday is a joke. He has been sacrificed by Obama.
First, realize that there is not a person alive who could have made anything better for GM at this point in history. Worse, yes (if they could be any worse off), but not better.
In very simple terms, the past has finally caught up with GM. There was serious action that needed to be taken, back about the time Wagoner started with the company. This was during GM's highpoint. But even then they could see many threats on the horizon: fuel shortages, health care costs, globalization of manufacturing, fickle consumers, and skyrocketing pension liability, just to name the biggies. But there were thousands of heads in the sand. Management, labor, board members, and shareholders were all committed to protecting their own pile of gold, as if it could never run out. They saw these threats, but if there were any enlightened leaders among them who were prepared to talk about sacrifice for the future, they were quickly shouted down. It's a classic case of short-sighted greed by everyone one of these pillars that hold the company up.
GM was at the tipping point, finally, in 2008, and all it took was this latest recession to bring it all down. Make no mistake, it had to happen. It was only a matter of time, and GM had just about run out of time anyway.
So here we are, and for right or wrong, the government appears to want to prop GM up. Keep them on life support. No one knows for how long. But it's throwing good money after bad if there aren't drastic changes there. And Rick Wagoner isn't what I'm talking about. That's just more Obama symbolism. More fluff which he is so good at. It accomplishes nothing. He just needs to show how tough he is, especially after his AIG fiasco. And he needs to pacify his labor friends at the UAW.
Basically the company needs to shrink in all areas to match it's market share and sales. The trendy word is "right-sizing". The only thing it should have is Chevy, Cadillac and GMC truck. The basic platforms needed to cover the market from an entry level Cobalt to an ultra-luxury Cadillac XLR. And you must have trucks of course, so give it all to the GMC brand.
Next you need to cut dealer locations by 60% or 70% percent. That would put them on par with Toyota, who still sells more cars out of that number of outlets.
Hourly labor needs to be capped at about $20/hr. Entry level is $12.
Health care needs to be slashed to basic levels only. HMO style. Anything additional is totally up to a direct employee contribution basis. No retirement health care at all.
Pension and retirement plans need to also be slashed. Present and future. Not 10%. More like 75%.
Management bonuses gone. Salaries brought into line. And this needs to be focused on the Director-level, where there are way too many $250K per year jobs. Of course, the deletion of 6 or 7 brands will make this much easier.
That's the basics in my opinion. Any less, and Obama's throwing money down a hole, and putting off an inevitable liquidation.
This is what years of neglect have driven GM to. The work would have been so much easier and less painful had it started in the 1970's, with just a little bite at a time. But back then, the American consumer wanted GM around, and if that's not true anymore, than there's nothing worth saving. Ultimately, it's really up to them, isn't it?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
I Wonder
I took another opportunity to watch a flyover of the International Space Station tonight. Of course the Space Shuttle is currently docked with it, but you can't tell that by watching that bright point of light making it's slow, steady crawl across the twilight sky.
At the home of The Mole Hole, we are sort of in the flyway of two major airports; O'Hare and Midway. They keep the night sky fairly populated with little flashing lights of white and red, mostly on the same paths night after night. But the ISS and Shuttle are different. A very bright, steady glow that is not generated by some little strobe light, but by the sun reflecting off the ships themselves. At a height 250 miles, that's the only way you're going to see it.
To a geek like me, this is a real treat. A tremendous amount of pride and still some wonder at the very idea of people up there, and the fantastic science that makes it happen. Mostly American too.
I wonder how many of the six or seven million people in Chicagoland were looking up at the same thing I was, when there are so many little lights in the sky all of the time? Probably only a few, although maybe I'd be surprised. I'd like to think that there is still some interest in this incredible accomplishment. Maybe it's just that you had to have lived before there was any space program, or in my case, when there had only been a Russian pooch and a couple of chimps.
I guess it's just the natural order to have "wonder" surpassed by mundane. It happens with so many things in life. Too bad. The world could use a lot more wonder.
At the home of The Mole Hole, we are sort of in the flyway of two major airports; O'Hare and Midway. They keep the night sky fairly populated with little flashing lights of white and red, mostly on the same paths night after night. But the ISS and Shuttle are different. A very bright, steady glow that is not generated by some little strobe light, but by the sun reflecting off the ships themselves. At a height 250 miles, that's the only way you're going to see it.
To a geek like me, this is a real treat. A tremendous amount of pride and still some wonder at the very idea of people up there, and the fantastic science that makes it happen. Mostly American too.
I wonder how many of the six or seven million people in Chicagoland were looking up at the same thing I was, when there are so many little lights in the sky all of the time? Probably only a few, although maybe I'd be surprised. I'd like to think that there is still some interest in this incredible accomplishment. Maybe it's just that you had to have lived before there was any space program, or in my case, when there had only been a Russian pooch and a couple of chimps.
I guess it's just the natural order to have "wonder" surpassed by mundane. It happens with so many things in life. Too bad. The world could use a lot more wonder.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Buses To Nowhere - Part II
Found this interesting little tidbit today, which I think is a sad affirmation of the "class war" permiating the liberal agenda these days, and which I wrote about in "Buses to Nowhere" (March 21).
BUTTE, Mont. (AP) - Three California families headed to a retreat for the ultrarich were among the 14 victims of a plane crash in Montana.
This is how the outrageously liberal AP news wire organization chose to open the story of the families killed in that plane crash. I saw nothing else like it from any other of the major headlines.
I know, I know; I'm being hyper-sensitive and overly critical. But seriously, how is the fact that they were headed to a rather exclusive resort, for the "ultrarich", pertinent to this tragedy in any way? Sorry, but if it was anybody other than the AP....
Makes you start to think that the "ultrarich" almost deserve this kind of thing for gally-vantin' around the country in private airplanes. At least if you work at the AP.
BUTTE, Mont. (AP) - Three California families headed to a retreat for the ultrarich were among the 14 victims of a plane crash in Montana.
This is how the outrageously liberal AP news wire organization chose to open the story of the families killed in that plane crash. I saw nothing else like it from any other of the major headlines.
I know, I know; I'm being hyper-sensitive and overly critical. But seriously, how is the fact that they were headed to a rather exclusive resort, for the "ultrarich", pertinent to this tragedy in any way? Sorry, but if it was anybody other than the AP....
Makes you start to think that the "ultrarich" almost deserve this kind of thing for gally-vantin' around the country in private airplanes. At least if you work at the AP.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Buses To Nowhere
There is a sick perversion going on across the country that is building on the basis that success = evil. Perhaps this is a normal symptom of the economy in general, when so many are hurting and where there are others who have somehow been relatively unaffected by the downturn, or have so much that they can absorb the losses and still live "large".
This sickness may be a normal reaction at some level, but is now being fed and growing, due in large part to the liberals in congress and the head socialist himself who are really promoting this kind of thought through their words and deeds.
This past weekend some of the more highly infectious sickos actually took buses out to several homes of AIG executives to protest in their driveways about bonuses they were paid. These nuts have totally lost sight of the fact that most of this was authorized as "retention" money for employees of the failing AIG. 95% of failing companies use this kind of thing to try and keep the people they need to restore and rebuild. And what wasn't specifically authorized, was done by people running the company who were given millions with no strings attached by our liberal friends (mostly) in Washington. So why protest against someone who took the money, when any of these protesters would have done exactly the same thing had they been offered it? Why not go protest in front of Chris Dodd's mansion? Or Harry Reid's?
I'll tell you what it is. I've written it before. It's the old idea that if I can't have success or wealth, I don't want anyone else to have it either. Never mind whether or not I'm smart enough, or worked hard enough, or otherwise deserve it in any way. It's really sick.
As a faithful Christian, I do understand what the bible says about wealth, and the corruption of it. When it neglects the needy. The "eye of the needle" and all of that. But that's between the wealthy and God. It's not my business, and what the wealthy have is not mine. And all of these "redistribution" fanatics in our current government and their twisted followers need to understand that same thing. He's got it, and you don't....for whatever reason. Pray that he does right with it, but if all you can do is covet and empower others to try and take it from him, than you are no better.
There's are very high probability that no one on any of those buses are going to go on and start a successful small business, or help run a large public corporation someday. And if in the end, we decide to punish and deride those that do that kind of thing, (otherwise known as Capitalists), then lights out America...pure and simple.
This sickness may be a normal reaction at some level, but is now being fed and growing, due in large part to the liberals in congress and the head socialist himself who are really promoting this kind of thought through their words and deeds.
This past weekend some of the more highly infectious sickos actually took buses out to several homes of AIG executives to protest in their driveways about bonuses they were paid. These nuts have totally lost sight of the fact that most of this was authorized as "retention" money for employees of the failing AIG. 95% of failing companies use this kind of thing to try and keep the people they need to restore and rebuild. And what wasn't specifically authorized, was done by people running the company who were given millions with no strings attached by our liberal friends (mostly) in Washington. So why protest against someone who took the money, when any of these protesters would have done exactly the same thing had they been offered it? Why not go protest in front of Chris Dodd's mansion? Or Harry Reid's?
I'll tell you what it is. I've written it before. It's the old idea that if I can't have success or wealth, I don't want anyone else to have it either. Never mind whether or not I'm smart enough, or worked hard enough, or otherwise deserve it in any way. It's really sick.
As a faithful Christian, I do understand what the bible says about wealth, and the corruption of it. When it neglects the needy. The "eye of the needle" and all of that. But that's between the wealthy and God. It's not my business, and what the wealthy have is not mine. And all of these "redistribution" fanatics in our current government and their twisted followers need to understand that same thing. He's got it, and you don't....for whatever reason. Pray that he does right with it, but if all you can do is covet and empower others to try and take it from him, than you are no better.
There's are very high probability that no one on any of those buses are going to go on and start a successful small business, or help run a large public corporation someday. And if in the end, we decide to punish and deride those that do that kind of thing, (otherwise known as Capitalists), then lights out America...pure and simple.
Nice Try
Well Mr. Obama, I guess your idea about reaching out to Iran with some unilateral gibberish about the great Iranian people didn't work so well. The depth and breadth of your adoring flock is apparently not quite global.
What's up with that Ayatollah Khamenei anyway? Didn't he see you on Leno? How could he not want to sit down and chat after that hilarity? How could he possibly not have more respect for the leader of the free world, appearing right there between Jay's monologue and some other Hollywood "filler" Thursday night?
And why would he doubt that you do stand for real change? Can't he see that you're in process of basically undoing every aspect of the American leadership culture? I mean the last time he saw this kind of government was Jimmy Carter, and he certainly know's how to deal with that!
Well of course he can see all of this.
Here's the deal: He sees weakness in you. He knows you hate rejection. He sees desperation. He sees your blind ambition. He sees the lack of core belief. He sees that there is little loyalty in you for current American policies and allegiances.
Thus he sees someone who can be manipulated. He has now gained the upper hand, because he knows that you'll be back with something serious to offer next time. All he has to do is wait you out.
What's up with that Ayatollah Khamenei anyway? Didn't he see you on Leno? How could he not want to sit down and chat after that hilarity? How could he possibly not have more respect for the leader of the free world, appearing right there between Jay's monologue and some other Hollywood "filler" Thursday night?
And why would he doubt that you do stand for real change? Can't he see that you're in process of basically undoing every aspect of the American leadership culture? I mean the last time he saw this kind of government was Jimmy Carter, and he certainly know's how to deal with that!
Well of course he can see all of this.
Here's the deal: He sees weakness in you. He knows you hate rejection. He sees desperation. He sees your blind ambition. He sees the lack of core belief. He sees that there is little loyalty in you for current American policies and allegiances.
Thus he sees someone who can be manipulated. He has now gained the upper hand, because he knows that you'll be back with something serious to offer next time. All he has to do is wait you out.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Something Everyone Should See
Check out the following link. I couldn't believe that this congresswoman:
a. Could be elected.
b. Could graduate from the University of Florida with a Masters degree in public speaking.
c. Could be given even this much time of total waste on the floor of the U.S. House.
And I don't even want to think about the embarrassment she is to anything else of official government nature that she is involved in. This is a U.S. lawmaker working on the side of the majority party and the president. She's part of the democrat's mission to enlarge government's role in our lives. She may even be working to manage your health care someday, and if that doesn't scare you, nothing will.
http://www.redstate.com/jeff_emanuel/2009/03/18/i-dont-know-how-much-overlap-there-is-in-a-venn-diagram-of-florida-grads-and-corrine-brown-d-fl-voters-but/
a. Could be elected.
b. Could graduate from the University of Florida with a Masters degree in public speaking.
c. Could be given even this much time of total waste on the floor of the U.S. House.
And I don't even want to think about the embarrassment she is to anything else of official government nature that she is involved in. This is a U.S. lawmaker working on the side of the majority party and the president. She's part of the democrat's mission to enlarge government's role in our lives. She may even be working to manage your health care someday, and if that doesn't scare you, nothing will.
http://www.redstate.com/jeff_emanuel/2009/03/18/i-dont-know-how-much-overlap-there-is-in-a-venn-diagram-of-florida-grads-and-corrine-brown-d-fl-voters-but/
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Where's The Love?
There are a few interesting tidbits coming out of this "snub" by Obama to the journalists society Gridiron Club event in Washington. Not since newly-elected Grover Cleveland found something more important to do, has a new President not attended this exclusive gathering of editors, columnists and TV producers and execs.
If you look up "Mainstream Media" in the dictionary, this is the crowd that's pictured there, so I'll start by saying that this is the first thing Obama's done since elected that I would agree with. Honoring these guys with my presence as President, would be the last thing on my list also. It's not real clear yet as to why Obama won't show, but if it was me, I'd have a conflict with say, cleaning the "First Cat's" litter box, or something equally as important.
The bankrupt rag from Obama's hometown, had an interesting comment on this. The "Trib" stated that the President's no-show has "left people uncommonly saddened, miffed and burned. Awwwwww! Gee, the guy they elected won't even party with them. Boo-hoo. C'mon guys, you've doing nothing but talk about "Change" for a year now. Well, here it is! Like you've said ad naseum, this is going to be a different President. So how's that taste?
The Trib also said "I don't think he understands the implications of not coming to the club in the first year. It's not your ordinary state dinner. I think it would be helpful for him and his relations with the Washington establishment to come to the club."
Almost sounds like a threat, doesn't it? What are these "implications"? That he just might not continue to get the sympathy or the preferential treatment that he's accustomed to? God forbid, if these guys should just revert to genuine neutrality on him. It's still a hell of a lot better that a Republican would get.
It's definitely fun listening to these guys cry when they don't get what they paid for.
If you look up "Mainstream Media" in the dictionary, this is the crowd that's pictured there, so I'll start by saying that this is the first thing Obama's done since elected that I would agree with. Honoring these guys with my presence as President, would be the last thing on my list also. It's not real clear yet as to why Obama won't show, but if it was me, I'd have a conflict with say, cleaning the "First Cat's" litter box, or something equally as important.
The bankrupt rag from Obama's hometown, had an interesting comment on this. The "Trib" stated that the President's no-show has "left people uncommonly saddened, miffed and burned. Awwwwww! Gee, the guy they elected won't even party with them. Boo-hoo. C'mon guys, you've doing nothing but talk about "Change" for a year now. Well, here it is! Like you've said ad naseum, this is going to be a different President. So how's that taste?
The Trib also said "I don't think he understands the implications of not coming to the club in the first year. It's not your ordinary state dinner. I think it would be helpful for him and his relations with the Washington establishment to come to the club."
Almost sounds like a threat, doesn't it? What are these "implications"? That he just might not continue to get the sympathy or the preferential treatment that he's accustomed to? God forbid, if these guys should just revert to genuine neutrality on him. It's still a hell of a lot better that a Republican would get.
It's definitely fun listening to these guys cry when they don't get what they paid for.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Name Game
A lot of folks here in Chicagoland are getting sideways over the re-naming of the famous "Sears" Tower. An icon of sky-scraping architecture in America.
Now, some new British investors with a company called the Willis Group, are buying up three entire floors of the building and have negotiated a nice deal that includes the right to re-name the structure as prime tenants and majority share-holders.
So after 36 years, the name is no longer Sears. Now it's the "Willis" Tower. Sounds respectable at least. Much better than the more annoying habit of choosing some brand-name kind of thing, like they did with "Comerica Field" back in Detroit, or "Fed-Ex" stadium in D.C.. But wait a minute....isn't "Sears"a brand name? Or how about "Wrigley Field" also here in Chicago? They're all brand names. It's been going on for a hundred years. So I suggest we get over it and remember the Golden Rule; "those with the gold, rule!" And if you can buy the building, or the arena, or whatever, then you have the right to name it.
Sounds OK to me.
Except, I wonder if I'll feel the same, when Candlestick Park becomes Shenkua Power Stadium or Boston Gardens becomes Dongfeng Arena? I think we'll all look back on the Willis Tower and think that wasn't so bad.
Now, some new British investors with a company called the Willis Group, are buying up three entire floors of the building and have negotiated a nice deal that includes the right to re-name the structure as prime tenants and majority share-holders.
So after 36 years, the name is no longer Sears. Now it's the "Willis" Tower. Sounds respectable at least. Much better than the more annoying habit of choosing some brand-name kind of thing, like they did with "Comerica Field" back in Detroit, or "Fed-Ex" stadium in D.C.. But wait a minute....isn't "Sears"a brand name? Or how about "Wrigley Field" also here in Chicago? They're all brand names. It's been going on for a hundred years. So I suggest we get over it and remember the Golden Rule; "those with the gold, rule!" And if you can buy the building, or the arena, or whatever, then you have the right to name it.
Sounds OK to me.
Except, I wonder if I'll feel the same, when Candlestick Park becomes Shenkua Power Stadium or Boston Gardens becomes Dongfeng Arena? I think we'll all look back on the Willis Tower and think that wasn't so bad.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
All He Needs is a Blind Man
"By lifting the executive ban on federal funding for stem cell research, President Obama has given hope, and potentially health, to millions. ... President Obama has also restored science to its rightful place in our national debates." --House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
I, I, and More I
"There are a lot of people out there who are desperate. There's a lot of desperation out there. Today I want them and the people like them across this country to know that I have not forgotten them." --the Almighty Barack Hussein Obama
Words of Wisdom
"We have rights, as individuals, to give as much of our own money as we please to charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so to appropriate a dollar of public money." --American hunter, frontiersman, soldier and politician Davy Crockett (1786-1836)
On The Rocks
So the bartender from the original "Cheers" in Boston has just been laid-off. Wow, this economy is bad! Talk about a real economic indicator.
Now somehow, I feel a little better about my situation. Not only for the "misery loves company thing", but if a guy like that can be cut after a few decades of workin' the bar, and just before the biggest drinking day of the year, (especially in Boston), then I guess things really are in the tank. (Sorry!)
He's got to be up there a bit in years. Maybe there was some age discrimination there? On TV at least, almost all of the bartenders are young, good-lookers. Maybe that's what they need more of at Cheers. He should get a lawyer. Come to think of it, maybe that's what I should do?
Naw. Too young and too good looking. Guess it is the economy thing after all.
Now somehow, I feel a little better about my situation. Not only for the "misery loves company thing", but if a guy like that can be cut after a few decades of workin' the bar, and just before the biggest drinking day of the year, (especially in Boston), then I guess things really are in the tank. (Sorry!)
He's got to be up there a bit in years. Maybe there was some age discrimination there? On TV at least, almost all of the bartenders are young, good-lookers. Maybe that's what they need more of at Cheers. He should get a lawyer. Come to think of it, maybe that's what I should do?
Naw. Too young and too good looking. Guess it is the economy thing after all.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Bending Steele
I guess I'm behind the curve a little bit on the latest workings inside the Republican Party. I'm just picking up on this controversy surrounding RNC Chairman Michael Steele and his negative commentary about Rush Limbaugh. I don't know the man, but he's just demonstrated some very flawed judgement in my opinion. (And in his also, I guess, since he has just apologized for it.)
First of all, I don't consider Rush to be an entertainer, which is a common lib label, and now has been echoed by Steele. He also used words like "incendiary" and "ugly" when describing Rush's stern opinions. Right off the bat, I'm very concerned about Steele not even being smart enough to recognize when he's being played by the media into saying exactly what they want to hear.
Steele needs to understand this: A year ago, we had nothing but a bunch of weak-kneed Republican candidates (especially McCain) who wanted to run the campaign like a pillow fight. Many of us conservatives kept waiting on these guys to get serious about winning. And until Sarah Palin arrived on the scene, Rush Limbaugh was about the only major conservative voice out there to be declaring the truth about Obama. I listened to Rush most of the summer, and except for Hannity and a few other radio talk guys, there was nothing coming from the party. All of those Republicans, including Steele, were content to let Rush do the dirty work they were too afraid to do, and in the end, it cost them and the country.
So Mr. Steele, maybe it's time to step aside and allow someone who really "gets it" to take the helm of the party. If you're more interested in media-pleasing Rush-bashing, than you are in calling out this socialist administration, then you are no friend of conservatives. And if you really are the new voice of the Republican party, then we really are in trouble.
First of all, I don't consider Rush to be an entertainer, which is a common lib label, and now has been echoed by Steele. He also used words like "incendiary" and "ugly" when describing Rush's stern opinions. Right off the bat, I'm very concerned about Steele not even being smart enough to recognize when he's being played by the media into saying exactly what they want to hear.
Steele needs to understand this: A year ago, we had nothing but a bunch of weak-kneed Republican candidates (especially McCain) who wanted to run the campaign like a pillow fight. Many of us conservatives kept waiting on these guys to get serious about winning. And until Sarah Palin arrived on the scene, Rush Limbaugh was about the only major conservative voice out there to be declaring the truth about Obama. I listened to Rush most of the summer, and except for Hannity and a few other radio talk guys, there was nothing coming from the party. All of those Republicans, including Steele, were content to let Rush do the dirty work they were too afraid to do, and in the end, it cost them and the country.
So Mr. Steele, maybe it's time to step aside and allow someone who really "gets it" to take the helm of the party. If you're more interested in media-pleasing Rush-bashing, than you are in calling out this socialist administration, then you are no friend of conservatives. And if you really are the new voice of the Republican party, then we really are in trouble.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Price of Freedoms
The headline reads "Obama To Release Secret Bush Anti-Terror Files". These are the documents from the Bush administration created right after 9/11. They deal with how the President and the C.I.A. might use new and extensive powers to help foil another such attack. As expected, those on the left in this country fear that somehow this will trample civil liberties and result in the C.I.A. taking them away in the middle of the night and then "waterboarding" them because they once visited Egypt on their senior-class trip!
When I read headlines like this, I really shudder at exactly who it is that we've put in the White House. Not that it's surprising. But once again, it proves that Obama cannot appreciate that we are at war. Because if he did, then he might go back in history and review what his heroes FDR of Lincoln did to civil liberties in time of war. Things that make George Bush look like a ACLU booster!
Or maybe he fears for some of his friends who really are enemies of the U.S.. People like William Ayers, who in FDR's time, likely would have been hung.
It is a beautiful and treasured thing to have the kind of freedoms and rights that we enjoy in this country. But in time of war, the enemy can and will use those same liberties to do us harm. And if Obama really subscribes to the limitations he is espousing on wiretaps, warrants and such, then he is putting us in a position to loose more than just some civil liberty to make a phone call to Saudi Arabia in privacy. He is endangering our right to security and safety. Apparently we need another 9/11 in order for this administration and his wacko counterparts in Congress to understand that we are at war. And when that happens there may be several thousand who lose the most fundamental right of all: life.
The fact is, that the socialistic policies of this administration will end up taking a heck of a lot more freedom away from us then they will ever restore. Count on it.
When I read headlines like this, I really shudder at exactly who it is that we've put in the White House. Not that it's surprising. But once again, it proves that Obama cannot appreciate that we are at war. Because if he did, then he might go back in history and review what his heroes FDR of Lincoln did to civil liberties in time of war. Things that make George Bush look like a ACLU booster!
Or maybe he fears for some of his friends who really are enemies of the U.S.. People like William Ayers, who in FDR's time, likely would have been hung.
It is a beautiful and treasured thing to have the kind of freedoms and rights that we enjoy in this country. But in time of war, the enemy can and will use those same liberties to do us harm. And if Obama really subscribes to the limitations he is espousing on wiretaps, warrants and such, then he is putting us in a position to loose more than just some civil liberty to make a phone call to Saudi Arabia in privacy. He is endangering our right to security and safety. Apparently we need another 9/11 in order for this administration and his wacko counterparts in Congress to understand that we are at war. And when that happens there may be several thousand who lose the most fundamental right of all: life.
The fact is, that the socialistic policies of this administration will end up taking a heck of a lot more freedom away from us then they will ever restore. Count on it.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
A Timely Test
The season of Lent has arrived this week. A time for reflection which can be used to re-ground ourselves, if we mentally follow Jesus into the wilderness and contemplate our life and faith.
Our Sunday sermon in this first week was precisely about that. And the baptismal font, normally sparkling with the water of life, was filled with dry sand today. A powerful symbol of the desert wilderness into which Jesus was sent.
Wonderfully affirming when it happens, this sermon spoke directly to me. This past Friday, I became unemployed for the second time in a year. In my mind, I’m cast again into a sort of wilderness. Not at all alone; my family walks there with me, thank God.
But I do see so many parallels with our new situation and what the Church instructs us to do at this time. Self-examination. Prayer. Denial, (although hardly self-imposed). All these things will be part of Lent for us the year.
We will face devils and angels on the road ahead. There will be choices. Maybe hard choices. Forty days worth? Hopefully not, although very possibly that, and more.
I don’t mean to elevate something as temporal as a job situation to the same place as contemplating our faith. I truly don’t do it, because a job is just a job after all, and “this too shall pass”. But it is precisely my faith that allows me to think that way. So I (we) are about to be tested and it just happens to be at a time when we are taught to think about Him and how he was tested. So as always, He will be my guide and my answer. Welcome to the wilderness.
Our Sunday sermon in this first week was precisely about that. And the baptismal font, normally sparkling with the water of life, was filled with dry sand today. A powerful symbol of the desert wilderness into which Jesus was sent.
Wonderfully affirming when it happens, this sermon spoke directly to me. This past Friday, I became unemployed for the second time in a year. In my mind, I’m cast again into a sort of wilderness. Not at all alone; my family walks there with me, thank God.
But I do see so many parallels with our new situation and what the Church instructs us to do at this time. Self-examination. Prayer. Denial, (although hardly self-imposed). All these things will be part of Lent for us the year.
We will face devils and angels on the road ahead. There will be choices. Maybe hard choices. Forty days worth? Hopefully not, although very possibly that, and more.
I don’t mean to elevate something as temporal as a job situation to the same place as contemplating our faith. I truly don’t do it, because a job is just a job after all, and “this too shall pass”. But it is precisely my faith that allows me to think that way. So I (we) are about to be tested and it just happens to be at a time when we are taught to think about Him and how he was tested. So as always, He will be my guide and my answer. Welcome to the wilderness.
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