Stripping it down in Nature

I attended a retreat yesterday called "Meeting God in the Rawness of Nature" with Richard Rohr, OFM. The day was held in Lakewood Forest Preserve, Wauconda, IL.  As with any good retreat experience it has taken a little time for the revelations of the day to clarify in my mind.

 

One of the reflection opportunities was to find a quiet place in the nature preserve and to reflect on the connection we have to what we found.  While I don't like to let my blindness be a controlling factor in my choices, I decided to keep things simple and not go too deep into the forest. I found ample opportunity to reflect at the place I was drawn to.

 

After settling myself I stood and absorbed the various textures, sounds, and smells of my surroundings. The reflection instructions asked us to identify a single object to reflect on but nothing called out to me. Instead I found myself reflecting on how the textures, sounds and smells of the nature preserve appeared to be a single monolith of input. As I paid closer attention I was drawn to the fact each element of this environment was a seemingly insignificant part of the whole. Instead of embracing the message of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 I found myself thinking quite the opposite.

 

I saw the sense of order we often prescribe to our natural environment is just a way to simply put order to a very complex system. I had to question my assumption everything has a 'purpose" in nature. By making this assumption I can infer I must have a purpose in the universe. I realized I could not assume everything has a purpose nor could I infer I have a purpose in the universe. Instead I realized each plant, bird and insect was simply doing what they do.

 

This revelation left me struggling to see where my place in the universe resides. It would be comforting to know there was a plan for me and I am merely a passenger on a ride designed by someone else. While the passenger idea has a lot of merit I've never really embraced the idea.

 

My reflection drew me to the conclusion I am an active participant in the mystery of the universe. A much harder, but far more exciting, view of the world. While this revelation is not new or novel, it reinforces my beliefs and experience. I am regularly amazed at the gifts in my life. I am also regularly surprised at how easily the gifts in my life compliment or are supplemented by the environment I'm a part of.

 

I found myself left with a need to regularly reflect on my own gifts and how I can be gift to others. While this revelation is not significant it is also not something I purposefully do on a regular basis.

 

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

She kissed a girl

One of the nice things about Facebook is the opportunity to keep up to date with the people I've gotten to know over the years but don't have frequent contact with. Jean is one of those people. We served on a Board together for a number of years. Our paths cross occasionally but infrequently. I enjoy reading her FB updates and I send her a copy of the newsletter I write.

 

The other day Jean posted a link to a disturbing story about the Atlanta police harassing a group of bar patrons for no other reason than they happened to be gay. I'm happy Jean posted the link because we all need to be vigilant when it comes to civil/human rights abuses.

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-alvear/stonewall-2009-police-rai_b_286649.html

 

Jean has posted a number of links related to issues facing gay people. Some have been serious, some funny and some I've ignored. Out of curiosity I took a look at Jean's profile. Jean is in a relationship and she's gay. The world is now different and I'm not sure how to deal with this new information.

 

acknowledge or ignore: that is the question. To acknowledge Jean 's sexuality is filled with all sorts of presumptuous pitfalls. I don't want to seem  like I'm showing some sort of approval: indicating approval for someone's sexuality is kind of like indicating approval of someone's racial background: "Hey I just realized you're Asian and I want you to know I'm OK with that". Showing some sort of solidarity seems like a noble thing to do but I can't imagine being part of one of the very few groups who are openly (and legally) discriminated against so that would be a hollow gesture. Pointing out the dangers of living together out of wedlock might be useful if it weren't for the institutionalized discrimination thing.

 

I guess I'm stuck. I'll shoot Jean a copy of this blog post and hope she continues to share tidbits from her life in whatever ways our paths cross.

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

The Insurance Industry fears free-market capitalism

Susan Pisano of the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) trade group stresses two major points about health insurance plans:

 

1. The health insurance industry does not believe they could compete with a government operated insurance plan.

2. Only one percent of health care premiums go toward profits.

 

Two generally accepted points regarding health insurance administrative costs are:

 

1. For-profit health insurance have administrative costs of 15 - 30%.

2. Medicare has administrative costs under 5%.

 

When we put the position of AHIP together with what is accepted about administrative costs it is hard to see AHIP's concern over the competition a government administrated plan would provide. True, for-profit insurance plans would have to bring their administrative costs under control but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Once AHIP members brought their administrative costs under control the one percent difference (profits) would be insignificant and a free market would determine if they were deserved.

 

AHIP appears to fear free-market capitalism more than anything else.

 

____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros are all that

In going through my e-mail yesterday morning I found a very welcome surprise. The group "Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros" was going to be in town for a show tonight. They would be appearing at Club Garibaldi, a small venue, for the nominal cost of $10 per ticket. This seemed like a chance that might never come again. My plan to see the show came together better-than-expected. Unfortunately, the show itself turned out to be quite a disappointment.

 

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is a Los Angeles-based band led by Alex Ebert. the group plays a mix of folk, world music and acoustic music, delivered with an enthusiasm reminiscent of a tent show revival.

 

I've been following Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros through various Internet radio stations across the country.  I've heard them live in concert a number of times over the Internet.  I had put them on my (very short) list of groups to see regardless of the ticket price.  This opportunity appeared to be too good to be true and in unexpected ways it was.

 

Jeremiah Nelson (of Madison, Wisconsin) opened the night with a set of original songs.  Nelson was accompanied by a violin player and they put on a good set. A number of times Nelson noted they would do a couple more songs and then   Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros would be out. After the second time nelson said this I began to wonder if they weren't getting the stretch signal from off-stage.

 

When Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros finally did come out it was clear this was not going to be their best performance.  It became all too obvious Alex Ebert, the group's leader was performing while impaired.  My wife told me later all of the band members and the sound person were drinking quite heavily throughout the performance. 

 

By the end of the night my initial concern this opportunity to see Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros might be a one-time thing was confirmed. I had assumed the group was on a path which might leave "small markets" such as Milwaukee behind.  I never imagined the group might implode in a fog of substance abuse.

 

 

Some links to the music:

 

http://www.myspace.com/jeremiahnelsonmusic

 

 

<http://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/

 

_____________________

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

 

Helen and Dan on Relevant Radio

As a follow up to the article "

Couple begins every day with wedding vows"

published in the August 6th Catholic Herald  we were asked to do an interview with  Sean Herriot of Relevant Radio.

 

The interview was great fun and we had a chance to share a little bit of how we have kept our love alive for these past twenty years.

 

An archive of the interview can be found about 45 minutes into hour three of the 9/3 program:

http://www.relevantradio.com/Page.aspx?pid=1380&cid=17&ceid=3392&cerid=0&cdt=9%2f2%2f2009

 

The Catholic Herald article can be found at:

http://www.chnonline.org/

 

 

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

Grace in the dangerous part of town

I took the bus down to meet my  Big Brothers/Big sisters "Little" this morning.  It was a nightmare.  The connections were lousy and it just took forever to get there and back.  The more I think of it though, the more I realize the trip was the high point of the day. 

 

I met Dennis on 27th and Wisconsin Ave.  Dennis introduced himself to me and I immediately assumed he was a pan-handler and wanted my money.  it turned out Dennis is a sweet gentleman who is known by many people in the area.  I listened to an older woman (who knew Dennis) talking on the bus about places she's worked and volunteered.  I don't get the feeling she's been invited to any fancy events lately yet she is the type of person I admire for their giving spirit.

 

It turned out the bus driver didn't hear me when I told her where I wanted to get off the bus.  I ended up going beyond my stop and having to catch a bus back south to meet my Little.  As I was getting ready to cross the road I heard a gentleman say "Cousin, help this man across the street.".  A woman took my arm and helped me across.  I could have crossed myself but thought it better not to refuse such a kind heart.  When we got across she told me we were in front of the barber shop.  She gave me the name of the owner and told me I should let him know if I needed anything.  I didn't but it was lovely to think I could go in to a place I've never been before and know I was recommended to the owner by one of the members of the community.

 

All of these very nice encounters took place in an area of town many people are afraid to go to because of the imminent danger lurking at every street corner.  I'm grateful for the bad luck that brought me face-to-face with these people.  I can only hope they would be treated as graciously in my neighborhood.

 

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>

 

The Pirate Paradox

The President has made a commitment to keeping American shipping crews safe from pirates wherever they travel in the world.  This seems a reasonable response to the recent hostage situation off the shores of Somalia.  The commitment is also a contradiction to Obama's commitment to supporting American job growth through environmentally responsible policies.

 

A major problem with using U.S. forces to protect American shipping crews as they travel in dangerous waters is the cost of the goods being protected is dramatically increased but not reported.  The cost of U.S. Navy patrols gets lost in the massive Defense Department budget and simply becomes a part of the cost of running the U.S. government.  The cost of the goods being shipped then becomes a combination of the materials, transport and marketing plus and unknown (and un reported) cost of protection.  When we, the consumer, buy these goods we pay for only part of the cost of the goods.  The other cost for these goods is paid by general tax revenues and deficit spending. 

 

An alternative to providing U.S. navy protection to private shipping interests is to let the shippers decide how they want to protect their crews and the goods they transport.  They can employ private security or pay the ransoms associated with operating in an area controlled my pirates.  In either case the costs are passed along to the buying public through higher product prices.  These higher prices reflect the true cost of the products. 

 

When faced with the true costs of products on store shelves consumers might find themselves making different decisions.  They may find themselves seeking out products produced in safer parts of the world.  Local producers may find they are able to compete with products shipped from the other side of the world once the true costs of the products are reflected in their price.

 

U.S. naval protection of private shippers provides a subsidy to the  shipping companies and to the companies bringing materials from across the world.  At a time when we need more jobs in America and have huge budget deficits we would be better served by letting shipping companies take responsibility for their own security costs.  The free market would reward companies that didn't have the cost of dealing with pirates built into their cost structure.

 

<http://www.DanLococo.com/>