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Thursday, May 02, 2002 ( 10:29 PM ) Chris Shanley ArrestedGood. May he enjoy a long, miserable life in prison. # Monday, April 29, 2002 ( 10:23 PM ) Chris ridge's warningThe terror threat is permanent. I guess I knew that, but I didn't want to think about it. But then I saw this quote: "Now for the hard truth. Despite the best efforts of so much of the world, the next terrorist attack -- it's not a question of if, it's a question of when." That's from CIA Deputy Director for Operation James Pavitt. The story in which Pavitt is quoted is on the Yahoo News site...for Singapore. I guess I knew that, but I didn't want to think about it, either. So Ridge is right. And if this guy Pavitt is right, there's not a whole hell of a lot we can do about it. I don't know how to process that. You're socialized to believe that you take care of the risks to your family, even if it means moving. But where do you move if the bad guys are trying to use a nuclear bomb or smallpox? The unsettling truth is that I can't protect my kids against this. Their world is fundamentally different than mine was. It's not a comforting thought after you get done with the day and you're lying in bed waiting for sleep to come. # Sunday, April 28, 2002 ( 9:25 PM ) Chris church brings out the best and worstI've spent the last four months working at my church. For a guy like me, a Christian, it would seem to be a dream job. After all, a chance to use my God-given skills to further the church's ministries. What could be better? The staff told me that I'd make it through the initial disillusionment with no problem and I did. After all, people are still people, even if they work in church. They still have bad days, and they react the same way as everyone else. Especially when their church is the center of a problem, or when one of the priests leaves to go on a leave of absence (not related to the scandal). Recently, events have conspired to show the side that transcends the "they're human too" aspect of the job. It's remarkable how intractable people can be when they think they are on a mission from God. Compromise becomes a bad word, because you can't compromise for God. And when you're just trying to do your job, that lack of compromise make for some long days. And it probably comes across to others as lack of a willingness to compromise. It's a much, much, much smaller version of some of the evil we see going on in the world today. After all, if you're killing people because you think God said to, what is there to stop you? But I've also met some of the best people I've had the pleasure to know. I met a woman who lost a child when she was much younger and now runs a very effective ministry for people who have lost loved ones. If anyone has the right to be angry and bitter, it's her. Bus she's not. Not even a bit. I met another woman who found out that I'd had a hard day trying to negotiate with some of our fellow parishioners. She checked a number of times to see whether everything went well. I've met men who have gotten up every Saturday before the birds to try to become better men. And I've met men who have given up the prospect of family life to pursue a calling they take very seriously. A kick in the teeth gets your attention more than a hug or pat on the back. We're notice that there are a lot of teeth getting kicked in the world just now. But there are also a lot of hugs and backs being patted. Both the good and bad are important and we should always remember both. # |
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