We live in a world gone mad, I tell ya. 

I've been largely gone from here for the past couple of weeks due to my son's episode, a broken toe, a car accident that put me in the emergencey room for a possible broken neck, and a recent mini-vacation that was less than perfectly relaxing.  But in that time, I have made some observations, some new, some revisted, that I feel deserve some attention.

First of all, our world moves too fast.  There is too much going on for most of ust to effectively take in on a daily basis.  From every direction, we are hit with some new fact or view point or piece of entertainment.  There's just too much out there to really make sense of it all, unless we slow down.  Most of us are far too busy to really even come close to it all.  Health is falling, stress is rising, apapthy is setting in.  Why?  I think its just too much for most people to really handle.  We can all try, and we all must try really, but for much of the populace they lose interest and then go by what feels good.  Reason is dispensed for expediency and apathy: there's too much to really consider it all so just go with what feels right.  This is a shame, and it is dangerous.

In terms of debate, what are we left with but sounbites?  In terms of entertainment, what are we left with besides quick scenes either showing sex, something blowing up, or some usually crude or simple humor?  Everywhere you look, things are made to make life quicker and easier.  From quick dinners to quick oil changes, to buying your dream home now to buying that gum to make your breath better now, we are inundated with now.  "Vote for me and you will see relief now" is a common theme among politicians.  It wins elections.  The war in Iraq will take years, hence its problems now.  The war on terror will take longer, we are losing interest.  Get rid of illegal aliens now, or grant them amnesty, now.  Give me better education for my kids now.  Give me more money now.  Now.  Now.  Now.  This is a shame, and it is dangerous.

Everywhere, the madness thrives.  To make a buck trumps anything else.  Insurance companies want their money, above all else.  Who cares about the health of their subject?  Existing condition?  Denied.  Service levels at any location, it seems?  Speed is more important than service.  Ever drive through DC during rush hour?  Patience is gone and is replaced with a fight to the death to turn right first.  This is a world gone mad.

But it is not just in our impatience or desire for speed, it is in many of the ideas presented.  It is OK to kill an unborn baby but it is OK for terrorists to kill our own servicemen?  It is OK to kill an unborn child for the advancement of science when there are better and more fruitful ways to reach the same conclusions?  It is OK to take my hard earned money to fund something I vehemently disagree with?  I have to allow the public schools to take my role as parent?  I have to pay those schools if I don't send my child to them?  I could go on, but, indeed, this is a world gone mad.

We live in a society that is in a downfall, clearly.  I write this not as a scare piece.  There is hope out there, but we all need to slow down and enjoy what we have.  Let me share a story of the kind of thing we all should do: 

This Memorial Day weekend, my wife and two kids (remember the older is just 23 months) went down to Harrisonburg, VA.  We stopped by a book sale, the Green Valley Book Fair, and had to feed the younger and give the older a snack.  It was hot, and we had to do so outside.  James, the elder, got very hot very quickly, as we were not expecting the heat, but nonetheless, being two, he ran and played and was having a great time, only getting hotter.  When we were getting ready to leave, Gus, our younger at 8 months now, fell out of his car seat when we were trying to put him in (he is terribly active and does not like going in it) and cut himself a bit.  They were having a bake sale right there, so I went to get some ice and some napkins and such.  The ladies happily gave me some, but then one came over with some more ice and put it on James neck, and held it there while I held him and Amy held Gus.  She stayed for about fifteen minutes, and was very reassuring.  She took the time, and had the courtesy, to give us some help.  What reassurance that was! 

I am very appreciative of this woman, whose name I do not know.  She obviously appreciates the concept of slowing down, something I know but struggle with.  It is near impossible in suburban DC, and most palces.  I think we all could do well to follow this simple and easy example, and slow down to help.  Consideration goes a long way, and even more so in a world gone mad.  It does not take much, only a desire to really appreciate what life throws at us, otherwise the world gone mad causes us to miss so much.

I was watching House on Fox (never seen it before) this evening, since it follows American Idle (I admit, I'm hooked this go round), and a line in there struck me.  The scene, which I wasn't following much anyway, but a woman was deriding Dr. House for not showing emotion or something...

This got me thinking that this society as we have now seems overly intent on solving emotion.  Emotion is behind it all, isn't it?  At least that is what the counselors, movie stars, teachers, and far too many politicians would have us think.  Emotion: have a heart, men need to get a grasp of their emotion and "share", we all need to live happilly ever after.

But what is the big deal?  I ask this because when looking at times past, men were men, and were not required to show "emotion".  As such, they directed their efforts into creating bigger and better things, to furthering science and making life better for all.  Emotion was not their primary goal.  Their primary goal was being a man: creating, building, bettering, challenging, competition.  No man wanted to be the bottom of the pack-- this was part of his badge of honor.  It still is true.

Now, this whole idea is considered bad for our souls, men and women.  Women, though, are OK with this, by and large.  No single defintion fits all, but take the majoruity of men and women, this fits.  But men with hidden feelings are considered dangerous, while those that freely cry out are considered the most healthy.  Let me pause here and say that any unhealthy and stored emotion cannot be good, for anyone.  However, and this is a big however, if men can direct this emotion into something positive, then they should be encouraged.  They need not show it and verbalize it as is expected today, as well, women typically do.  Men need to be able to be men. 

I mentioned competition earlier, and this is key, isn't it?  Men want and enjoy competition.  Being the best is great.  Being the worst hurts, no matter the scenario.  We are now told to "enjoy the game".  Be happy with who we are.  Yes, but no.  We should strive to be the best.  We should push that drive forward, and not get lost in the emotion.  Emotion is a distraction in many cases.  Is it important, yes.  Should we keep in check, yes.  but we must push forward to be the best we can be-- at homes, at work, at church, wherever.  Anything less is not fair to the women (and other men) we love.

Emotion.  Acknowledge it , move past it.  Its a part of life, but to deny our drive as men is to deny who we are.

I'll spare the details, but yesterday my younger son, 7 months old, was rushed to the ER.  He's fine now, and likely will be going forward (prayers are still good :) ).  He was, though, kept overnight for review and monitoring.

So, I had the wonderful and thrilling experience of staying in the ER for several hours and in the pediatric overflow area the rest of the day and night.  It was amazing to see how quickly life can change for people.  This is not a bad thing, always, though often in a hospital, that's what you see most.  It is a startling reminder of how God is in control, and how quickly he can make things happen.

Now, I know that perhaps many conditions have existed for a long while, but when in a pediatric center, not many of these could be very old.  What a sobering thought; but what a wonderful thought to know God is there with you, no matter what.  Through the stress of our own child's condition was ever present, somehow it was comforting to know that he was there with us, happy and playing.  Walking by some rooms with children listless and parents sedate, it is hard to find anything positve there.  And it is tough: how could God allow for it?  I don't always know, but I know He's there.  There's something in it for all circumstances.

But God's presence was seen in the nurses rushing to our room when Gus's numbers went ascew.  He was seen watching all nurses on duty rushing to a room to help with an emergency.  He was there with the emergency workers, the firemen and policemen and the medical staff, bringing in children hurt outside.  He was with the nurses who made the children smile, and the parents smile watching their kids get some laughs in.  He was with them in their care.  He was with the doctors, making difficult decisions by the minute about how to treat illnesses they may not know much about.  God is there.  God was there with the mother, who had a child, and with the child, in the middle of the hallway as I walked my older son outside to play. 

In an instant, God can change life's course.  In an instant, life is altered.  This is overwhelming, but it is wonderful when you know God is there.  When Gus went pale and listless, God was with him, and with us.  I know that.  I love that.  In an instant, God could have taken our little boy.  But He didn't.  Gus is here, happy, healthy, wonderful.  Why?  Don't know, but I know I am blessed to have my little boys, whom I love, like my Father loves me and my wife.  I want the best for them; God has something in store for them, I think.  Great things. 

In an instant, so much became clear to me.  In an instant, God works in all of us everyday.  Are we always listening?  I'm not.  But I want to be.  I want to try harder.  And all it takes is an instant to grow leaps and bounds.  Just an instant.

This is not mine, but I received this email and thought it interesting.... 

A Sad Parallel...

I bought a bird feeder. I hung it on my back porch and filled it with seed. Within a week we had hundreds of birds taking advantage of the continuous flow of free and easily accessible food.   But then the birds started building nests in the boards of the patio, above the table, and next to the barbecue. Then came the poop. It was everywhere: on the patio tile, the chairs, the table...everywhere. Then some of the birds turned mean: They would dive bomb me and try to peck me even though I had fed them out of my own pocket. And others birds were boisterous and loud: They sat on the feeder and squawked and screamed at all hours of the day and night and demanded that I fill it when it got low on food.   After a while, I couldn't even sit on my own back porch anymore. I took down the bird feeder and in three days the birds were gone. I cleaned up their mess and took down the many nests they had built all over the patio. Soon, the back yard was like it used to be...quiet, serene and no one demanding their rights to a free meal.

Now lets see...our government gives out free food, subsidized housing, free medical care, free education and allows anyone born here to be an automatic citizen. Then the illegals came by the tens of thousands. Suddenly our taxes went up to pay for free services; small apartments are housing 5 families: you have to wait 6 hours to be seen by an emergency room doctor: you child's 2nd grade class is behind other schools because over half the class doesn't speak English: Corn Flakes now come in a bilingual box; I have to press "one" to hear my bank talk to me in English, and people waving flags other than "Old Glory" are squawking and screaming in the streets, demanding more rights and free liberties.

Maybe it's time for the government to take down the bird feeder