it really is an audacity of hope

There is something audacious about being hopeful in politics isn’t there? When it comes to politics the glass always seems to be half-empty. When we look to Washington or to our own state capital for leadership we end up with a lot of let-downs and are left unfulfilled. Politics always seem to be influenced by money not rights, power not needs, and that guy looming behind the scenes.

So, when I read Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope I was pleasantly surprised by what else – hope. Unfortunately, I’m not certain it is a hope that everyone sees. Obama talks of health care for everyone, quality of education that is available for everyone and not just to those who can afford it. It seems strange to say that everyone doesn’t want such things as health care and education for everyone, but it is true. To make those things available to everyone it may take sacrifices from the haves to the have-nots. And what Americans hate the most is giving their hard-earned change to people who are poor (aka work less hard). How do you bring hope to the hopeless and appease the rich?

In the first half of Obama’s book he talks mostly of his platform and ideas that he stood by (and stands by) before he became president. The second half of the book is not about his platform directly, it is more about him. The chapters are based on faith, race, and his family. The faith chapter is probably the most intriguing in the book. Obama describes his faith story as a kid who grew up surrounded by a family of pluralistic ideas and faith. Eventually, during Obama’s time in Chicago as a community organizer he sees a different kind of Christianity. It is a Christianity that helps the poor, one that seeks justice, and one that fights for those rights. He finally embraces the religion on the streets of Chicago.

Obama also talks much about his struggles as a Christian and as a democratic politician. What over the years now has become the standard for Christians is to be republican and to uphold prolife rights no matter what other issues they may stand for. In reading this book, Obama describes wrestling with himself in debates and with voters wondering how they can be anti-life. You can tell that Barack is struggling with being pro-choice. Yet, probably on the same streets of Chicago where he found his faith, he probably saw the injustices of back-alley abortions, the history of racism of the inner-city that set the cornerstone for those abortions, and systemic racism that sets the laws in place today that keeps women from continuing to go to those allies. It is probably ironic for many people to see that Obama wants the same education for young people (including abstinence) to help stop abortions, but he holds the same value of life as pro-lifers.

In the book you can see the joys and adversities of a politician; the money that it takes to be a senator, the miles of driving and flying and being away from family. With adversity comes joy like when a law is put into place, or when a factory is re-opened. Hope is in the midst of a failing economy, a failing health-care program for all, and the possibility of quality education for all.

ghosts of communications failed

[Some exciting news for the day. For the first time I have a guest blogger. Without further ado here is Jess.]

I’ve recently seen several films dealing with relationships. More specifically, relationships in trouble. This past weekend, we went to see the new Matthew McConaughey film, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. The primary reason for seeing this film was because the chapel where we were married (the Martha Mary Chapel in Sudbury, MA) is featured during the wedding scene. While it was really a kick to see our wedding location on the big screen, the plot was somewhat disturbing.

The main character, Connor Mead, uses women to escape himself. By going through relationship after relationship (most not lasting more than a day or two), he finds a way to avoid having to invest in another human being. So he drowns in himself. Drowns himself in his lust, desire to be wanted, and seeming inability to connect with a woman. The root of this problem stems from a middle school dance, where he couldn’t get up the nerve to ask his best friend, Jenny, to dance. Instead, another boy beats him to it. This disappointment, coupled with a seemingly unending stream of bad advice from his beloved uncle, set Connor on his path to self-destruction. Connor’s uncle teaches him how to coerce women, how to convince them they are worthy of attention (albeit physical) only to leave them moments later, and basically how to “get out” before getting hurt.

The second movie we watched was The Break-Up with Vince Vaughan and Jennifer Aniston. It pretty much about what you would expect – a horrific break-up between two people who used to be so much in love. As the movie plays out, you find out that Vince’s character – Gary – is so used to getting his own way, and doing what he wants to do that he’s never bothered to make room for the needs of the people that he interacts with (which includes his best friend, brother and ex-girlfriend). Almost the entire movie passes (filled with some serious fighting, cheap attempts at getting attention, and jealous antics) before Jennifer’s character – Brooke- and Gary finally have the conversation they should have had after their first month of dating. She finally tells him that she feels like she carries the whole relationship, makes all the plans, does all of the arranging of details, and makes her life bend to what he wants. She’s empty – she has no energy left to put into the relationship because she hasn’t been cared for.

In both of these movies I shook my head and wondered what was wrong with the characters. In Ghosts… I couldn’t figure out what drove so many women to convince themselves that they weren’t worth more than a one-night-stand with Connor Mead. In The Break-Up it was just beyond me how people could be together, in a seemingly close relationship, without having honest conversations with each other. And how they could be surprised when it fell apart. It all points to brokenness and human frailty.

We are all broken. There’s no getting around that. And knowing that brings incredible freedom and significant responsibility. We are free to accept the fact that we are broken, get over ourselves, and do the best we can with what we have. You could also take advantage of this brokenness by reveling in being broken, deciding that attempts to summon yourself from the depths are in vain, and taking people down with you. Those are your two choices. Various characters in these movies exhibited the weaker option in obvious ways.

So, I suggest that you see these movies. And then think about your relationships. Don’t wait until you are a few years into a relationship to talk about the difficult stuff – start right now. When you learn to talk honestly with each other, you learn how to better support and nourish the other person. You learn how to listen. We all have room for improvement in this department. Be inspired by these movies to do a better job at loving your family, friends, and spouse.

~Jess

cubs in april

Baseball seems a bit cold in April doesn’t it? I can contest that it does. Jess was able to score some cheap tickets to a Cubs/Reds game. So we walked to the El and got to see a great game at Wrigley. We were two out of 38,000+ people at the cold rainy ball park on a random Tuesday night game. The Reds who are usually a powder-puff team are actually doing well this season. Although the rain did seem to hold off for most of the game it did get considerably chilly. The Cubbies ended up winning the game 7-2 with some great pitching by Rich Harden (8 strikeouts) and some great hitting by Micah Hoffpauir and Aramis Ramirez. The funniest part of the evening was when a cat got loose on the field and ran about the outfield.

now, but not yet

I had a friend say the other week that “it is hard to live life in the present when you are thinking about the future.” As a population in general we seem to have a hard time with this. When we have a vacation coming up all we can think about is the vacation in two months. When someone is graduating soon all they think about is the day they graduate and not about the exam the next day. When a transition is happening good or bad it is hard to keep track of the here and now.

Living in the Kingdom of God is much the same idea. In Christianity this can be seen just about everywhere in every situation. “Who cares about the stewardship of the earth when someday I will be in heaven?” There is so much thought about the future that the present is forgotten about. And as N.T. Wright points out to us, as Christians we plain and simply don’t live out the theology of heaven and resurrection correctly.

But when graduation, a new job, or a new baby is coming how do we live in the now and not the future? The answer doesn’t seem to be black and white. It is as grey as living in the Kingdom of God - now, but not yet. It is much more than just heaven or just earth. Life is much more than perusing a new job and mucking the present. Life is more. Life is living out the kingdom of God now, but not yet.