Dianne Feinstein

 We will miss her persistent voice!  Senator Dianne Feinstein died in her sleep Friday night, just a few hours after casting her vote on the Senate floor to prevent a government shutdown. She was a woman of great intelligence and integrity. She was a "first" in so many ways. She worked, always collaboratively, across part lines to ban assault weapons, was the first woman to chair the Senate Intelligence Committee and served on the Judicial Committee. What a fierce leader. What a kind colleague.  We will miss you, Dianne!

A Dangerous Man

 The former president on Jan 6, 2021, supported the chants from the insurrection crowd: "Hang Mike Pence" saying his vice president deserved it.  Over the last weekend the former president continued his death comments by insinuating that outgoing head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mark Milley, should be executed. This is politics of violence

Anyone who opposes this dangerous man is living in fear if they speak out. Trump refuses to participate in the debate of Republican candidates for the presidency. The candidates are told they need to say they will vote for Trump if he is the 2024 candidate. Calls for security guards are way up. It is time for us to work to reverse this violent environment in order to save our democracy.

Ministry in Daily Life

 Ministry in Daily Life!  Burton and I had our hair cut last week. The woman who cut our hair remembered how she had cut it last time. Not only did she know our hair, but she knew us.  She knew our names and asked about our families. That would be "standard" hair-cutting conversation.  But she also remembered that our granddaughter had serious health problems and asked how the treatment had gone  this summer. She knew our occupations, but she also inquired about how our vocations were going. She knew details, was genuinely interested and had even looked up some information on the internet to understand us more deeply. This woman was skilled in her job, but was also truly a minister in her daily life. 

President Biden in Hanoi

 What an astounding image of our U.S. President Biden holding a news conference in Hanoi, 
Vietnam.  That was a long war which ended 50 years ago. President Biden spoke as he ended his important 5-day trip to the G-20 and other countries.  He is so knowledgable and knows how to engage other world leaders. In Hanoi he spoke of stabilization, healthy communication among nations, and working together on the Climate Crisis. 

Today is the 22nd anniversary of 9/11. What image does that bring to mind?  How do we remember and learn from these images?

Age and Competency are Not the Same Thing

 Recent news reports of health issues among older Americans serving in government have raised issues of people being too old to serve. However, age does not directly relate to incompetency. People can and do have health problems at any age. The issue is not gerontocracy, but capacity to do one's job. We need to ask what skills does one have? What wisdom? What gifts, what knowledge, what integrity? I contracted a complex chronic disease/disability at the age of 44. I continued to teach graduate school students for 34 more years and still teach, write, speak and mentor. I give thanks for the intellectually challenged person who is a greeter at a large store. 

Here is a picture of three generations in my family. Jackson is now 17, Joel 56 and Burton 86. All are so capable in their occupations.