No compassion for the border

The United States has needed new immigration laws for decades. Congress came very close to passing new laws this week. And then they choked.

This is a classic example of partisan politics taking priority over the good of the country. In news reports I have seen thousands of people crossing the Rio Grande. They face razor wire and red tape. The current rules are not working for them. 

Then there are border cities flooded with needy families. These cities can't adequately house or feed these folks. The current rules are not working for these American cities either.

Meanwhile Congress plays politics with the lives of suffering people. Shame on them. Shame on us for keeping them in power.

Absolute Power

Our country was designed to avoid consolidation of power. That's why we have three branches of government. 

If we were to allow any branch to act with no accountability, we would soon live under tyranny. Every politician should be held accountable, even criminally as appropriate.

Our leaders need to stand up for the rule of law, especially with those in positions of power. It takes courage to stand for truth, especially in the face of peer pressure.

Our country depends on it.

Escalation

We are at war with Houthis who are financed by Iran. They attacked a US base in Jordan and killed three American soldiers. We responded by attacking 87 targets in Iraq and Syria. Then they attacked again. We are vowing to retaliate again.

Where does this end?

The United States has interfered in so many other countries for so long that we have made millions of enemies. Just look at the anti-US demonstrations in various countries around the world.

Nations keep trying to solve issues with brute force. Military action has seemed to win the day a lot. But so often the conclusion of a war just sets up history for the next war.

Right now it looks like another world war could break out. 

There has to be a better way.

Egg count

I recently complained that my chickens were lazy, not laying enough eggs. I have about a dozen hens who could lay. Some are older than others, and less likely to lay, but seven of the ladies are less than a year old. Seems like they could step up.

I thought I owed them this word of encouragement.

I have now collected four eggs every day for the last four days. Yay! The days are getting longer, and the extra daylight is supposed to help them lay. 

I do try to treat my chickens well. I see them every day and make sure they have all the food, water, treats, and space they need. They are all free range with a moveable fence to keep them safe from predators. I want them to enjoy life.

And I also want them to contribute to my breakfast.

Maybe they will start reading my blog, too.

Dreams

We all need to have dreams. I have a plaque in my cabin that says, "If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough!"

Some people are all dream and no action. But some dreamers seem to inspire everybody they encounter. 

We like to imagine good things in the future, things that we can pursue, things that we can work toward. Dreams can move us ahead and give us hope. Some dreams are never realized, but still have value. Norman Vincent Peale famously said, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars." 

Here are some suggestions for realizing your dreams.

Turn your imagination loose on your dream. Take your idea to the extremes, just to see what you come up with. Your far-fetched ideas can lead you to something else that can really work. 

Identify your hurdles and obstacles. Figure out who or what can help you work around them.

Find somebody to dream with you. This might be the hardest thing to do. When you put your dream into words and share it with a trusted friend, it seems more real. And you might find someone who can cheer you on.

Let your dream unfold. When some pieces begin to fall into place, and some don't, you can retool the dream to fit reality.

I'm not an expert at fulfilling dreams, but I like to think big. Dreaming and imagining are key elements of creativity. When we create, we are reflecting the image of God. And that's what we are made for.

Say it now

Tonight a friend shared a dream she had about a mutual acquaintance. He is now deceased. In her dream she saw him before his death and wanted to tell him how to address his health concerns. Then he would not die prematurely. But, alas, she restrained herself, not wanting to mess with the space/time continuum. So she just gave him a big hug.

Indeed love is the universal language. A hug says more than we can possibly communicate with words. 

But words are important, too. There are probably many important things I need to say to various people. I don't want to miss the right time to say the right things. I need to tune in to the Holy Spirit, and trust his leadership in speaking my heart. 

I can communicate love with words and hugs. Mostly, I want to share my heart with those who are close to me.

A time to hack and cut

I hate kudzu. You know how it takes over. You see it swallowing trees all along the highway. It has been swallowing trees on my farm for decades. I've been working for years to get rid of it, and I attacked a section of it this week. With a weed eater, a knife, clippers, and a chainsaw I tore into the jungle. It revealed beauty that I never realized was there. It's going to look like a park in the spring.

I had obviously known it was there, but I had never really gone after it. If I had known how good it would look, I would have done this years ago.

And so it is with life. Many things in life need my attention. I barely notice them. But when I finally put forth the effort to make a change, I'm amazed at the results. I'm ready to hack away at more kudzu, and I'm noticing where I can uncover the hidden beauty. 

This is the season for removing kudzu. It's dormant, its roots and vines are easier to find and cut. When the time is right, I need to go for it.

I need to notice when the time is right for dealing with life's issues: financial, relational, organizational, and spiritual. Who knows what beauty I can uncover?