Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The List Made For Us

We make lists to remind us of what we need to buy and things we need to do.  Some days, the list just does not get completed.  We run out of time or get distracted; sometimes we set unrealistic goals for ourselves and expect too much out of the time we are given.  We have a few choices in these cases.  We can pick that list up tomorrow and finish it.  We can prioritize to make sure the most important things are done.  Or, we can get frustrated, crumble that list up in a ball, and curse at it while we throw it away.  My experience with lists have at one time or another taken each of these routes.  My favorite list is my grocery list.  I am completely food motivated, so I enjoy writing out all the items and checking them off when they reach my shopping cart.  Not all lists are this easy to complete, and the hardest are the lists we do no write for ourselves.

I believe in God.  A higher power that while allowing us to have free will to make our own decisions still has total control over what is going to happen every minute of our lives.  This Presence brings me peace and reminds me that we each have a list that is written for us.  Everyone has a list of things they are to accomplish while they are here.  When their list is complete, God does not crumple them up and toss them away.  He smiles and says, "Awesome!  I finished another one!"  Some people have very long lists that may take 99 years to finish.  Others, although not as lengthy, have important things to do in the short amount of time they are here.  We are so used to making our own lists and figuring out how long it will take to complete all our tasks.  What we forget is that the list made for us is a secret:  we do not always know what is on it or how long we have to complete it.

It may seem unfair to think we have a, "secret list," to do.  How can we know how to complete it when we do not even know what is on it?  That is when it is important to prioritize.  The list made for us is written by God, so it is not that hard to figure out what might be on our, "To Do," list:
  1. Love and respect your parents
  2. Make your siblings your friends
  3. Teach your children #1 and #2
  4. Forgive others
  5. Be kind to people and make them smile
  6. Bring people together in the name of love, family, prayer, and laughter
Most of the time, we make lists of the things we have not yet accomplished in our lives.  Maybe you want to make sure you climb a mountain, run a marathon, or skydive before your time is up.  The goals on the list made for us may not seem as exciting.  They may not bring prestige or place a medal around our neck.  But, what good are those types of accomplishments if there is no one cheering for you?  Prioritize the things that are truly important because those are the ones that God is checking off your list. 

This week, two people I know passed away.  I do not know if they could have been any more different.  One was a 99 year-old woman whom had played the role of wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse, and matriarch to an amazing family.  She was respected and loved, and I have no doubt her loved ones will make sure her memory lives on.  The second was a 45 year-old man whom had played the role of husband, father, brother, son, friend, and free spirit.  He had the most amazing smile (which he got from his mom) and that little devilish glimmer in his eye (which came from his dad).  Both of these people, although so different, had finished their lists.  God was so happy to be able to mark off their lists knowing they had accomplished what they were supposed to do.  Each had loved, laughed, taught their children the importance of family, and with their passing, will once again bring others together in the name of love, family, prayer, and laughter.  Do not feel sad about the things they did not get to accomplish.  Be joyous in knowing they did all they were supposed to do.



Dedicated to Agnes Reese and Jim Mandabach.  May you meet in heaven and smile upon those whom still love you.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Racism - it's not just for breakfast anymore (Rated R for language and adult situations)

It takes a lot to shock me.  I've been around the block many, many times, but the human race seems to find a way to occasionally make me say, "What the Fuck?"  I was reading my morning cyber news while drinking a cup of coffee and eating my egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.  There is a story about a new television advertisement for Cheerios.  Cheerios is a part of nearly every one's childhood.  It was one of the most popular snacks for my children when the were toddlers.  Put some of those crunchy O's in a snack cup, and you have a happy toddler for any two-hour car ride.  I ate Cheerios for breakfast when I was a kid.  My mom even put them in her homemade Chex Party Mix (as I still do today).  What could anyone have against Cheerios?  Even the name sounds happy.  Well, as I said at the beginning of this post, here came my, "What the Fuck," moment.  Watch this commercial:

 
 
Are you wondering what all the fuss is about?  This commercial got so many hateful, racial posts on YouTube that they had to disable the comments area for this this clip.  Really?  Really?!  There is an adorable, articulate child in a lovely home with both her parents discussing healthy nutrition, and this beautiful example of a loving family was turned into a platform to rant about the evils of interracial relationships.  Well, now I am turning it into my platform to rant about acceptance and tolerance and love.
 
I applaud the General Mills company (who makes those tasty O's) because they have no intention of pulling the commercial from their advertising rotation.  I hope they push the envelope and have a little boy talking to his, "two moms," over a bowl of Cheerios.  Maybe they will have a black man and a white man feeding Cheerios to their adopted Chinese daughter.   I hope more companies take a broader look at examples of, "normal family life."  People need to remember that just because it's not your normal doesn't make it wrong.  I know their are people out there that are already quoting Bible verses to make their point.  I know Catholics usually do not quote Scripture, but here is Matthew 22:35-40:


  • 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
    37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Time is sometimes the only tool that can teach tolerance.  The unfortunate side to that is that it does not happen quickly.  It is a terribly slow procedure that usually takes generations to learn.  How can you speed up the process?  Start with yourself.  Allow your heart to accept differences in others, and the next generation will do the same at a much faster pace.  Be aware of what your are against, and make sure you are disagreeing with someone for the correct reason.  My example of this goes back over 20 years ago.  Back when we were much younger, a friend of mine, who I had known since kindergarten, started dating guys of a different race.  Her parents were totally against it, and she expressed to me how much this upset her.  I told her I did not care whom she dated, but I was not going to support her dating anyone who treated her like shit.  She was choosing guys with no jobs, no cars, and no respect for her.  Who cared what color their skin was??  She was being used and hurt.  I had friends who dated guys the same ethnicity as them, and when those guys were acting like douche bags, they got the same advice from me:  If that man has no future, no respect, and no responsibility for his actions, he does not deserve a place in your life. 

There are all sorts of different Cheerios:  original, honey nut, peanut butter, apple cinnamon, banana nut, frosted, fruity, and yogurt covered.  General Mills knows that even though they are all different on the outside, on the inside they are all the same...just like people.

I think the next Cheerios commercial should show someone pouring the plain Cheerios and the chocolate Cheerios in the same bowl....scandalous.