How Long?

Who woulda thought that this blogging would turn out to be almost as hard as writing a sermon?--first a subject must be selected, thoughts organized, and the post written.  I'm now sure this will not be an everyday event, but I will try to come up with some words of wisdom--or at least some words--several times a week.

Today is Martin Luther King Day.  It's also, I believer, the anniversary of JFK's innaugural "Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country" speech.  How appropraite that both fall on the same day this year.  Two great leaders, both assasinatated for what they believed; both of who changed the world for the better.  The Tuscon shooting was not a new event, nor is the vitriotic speech that surrounds it.  How sad  that 150 years after Lincoln, 50 years after Kennedy, 40 some years after King, and 2000 years after Jesus, we still haven't learned to disagree peacefully.  That there will always be disagreements is a given: that we must resort to violence to solve them is only a sign of our weakness.  One of my favorite quotations is from "The Foundation Trilogy" by Assimov: "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."  I wonder when the human race will develop competence?  Even the protests in Tunisia that ousted a dictator have turned to riots and looting.

Yesterday in worship we sang "Lead On O King Eternal."  I especially appreciate the line:
"For not with swords loud clashing, nor roll of stirring drums;
with deeds of love and mercy, the heavenly kingdom comes."

How long will it be before the kingdom comes?  How long before schools have plenty of money and the Air Force holds a bake sale to buy a bomber?  How long before our tanks are forged into tractors?  How long before we finally learn (in the words of POGO) "We have met the enemy, and it is us."

Peace and blessings
ChaplainDann