A New Mantra?

This past weekend my church had its annual Ladies Tea at a local hotel. The Ladies Tea is a chance for the woman to dress up, eat as much dessert as desired, listen to a speaker, fellowship, did I mention eat lots of dessert and drink…well…tea together. The men in our church were all gussied up in their jackets and ties and were the servers for the night. The guys valeted our cars, refilled our tea cups and served in other ways. It was truly a beautiful night and a great event.

Each table had a host who personally decorated the table in their choosing. There were some creative and fun theme tables as well as some elegant and beautiful ones. Each hostess had parting gifts for us and some people, not yours truly, won door prizes. Although I think I won anyway not only with my favors but also with my beautiful tablemates and hostess. I'm a lucky girl.

It was fun to be dressed up and look pretty. I kept singing, 'I feel pretty; oh so pretty.' Considering that is the only line in that song that I know, that is all I kept singing for a while. There are worse things I could have been singing, I suppose. But now, after typing this guess what is once again being knocked around between my ears. 'I feel pretty; oh so pretty…." A new mantra perhaps?

Since the weather has turned nice I've started getting off the train at an earlier stop than normal and walking to work. My ipod, trench coat, sneakers and I have loved the opportunity to be outside. It's truly a glorious time.

Today was Bring Your Kid to Work Day (or whatever they are calling the 'holiday' these days). So, on my walk this morning I saw quite a few kids walking with their dads. Yup, I only saw dads taking their kiddos to work today. Some kids walked with little backpacks on, some were in shorts, some dressed up for the day, some were holding dad's hand and others were content to walk beside or in front of their fathers. It truly was a beautiful site. One dad was walking with his three daughters all varying in age, one young enough that she wanted to hold dad's hand. Another father was walking holding his young son's hand (they were dressed alike by the way – it was adorable) and when they got closer to the buildings the boy was jumping up and down pointing at buildings asking, 'is that it?' Although I was touched by them all, boys and girls and some proud looking dad's alike, there was one little girl that caught my attention.

She was walking just in front of her father. She had on a cute little outfit with a denim jacket. She walked as if there was no where else she'd rather be. Her confident, proud, excited walk struck me, even from a short distance away. As they got closer our eyes met and she had the biggest smile on her face. Her little face lit up. She knew she was all that and a bag of chips. Her smile, her walk and her eyes said it all. Her dad was taking her to work. She was clearly proud of that and clearly excited for the adventure she'd already had on the train into the city and walking the streets of Philadelphia, and the adventure of the office that was yet to come.

I couldn't help but both smile and tear up as I continued my walk to my office. Oh to look at life through the eyes of a child. No wonder Jesus wanted the little children to come to him. There is something about life through a child's eyes. This little girl felt valued, felt proud to be her father's daughter, and felt excited for a trip to work. Perhaps I should view my walk to the office in that light from here on out. Then someone else may say about me, I saw this woman that caught my attention…..

I Stand Corrected

In my post below, To Bow is to be Sued, I kind of ranted about a court case in New Jersey involving a coach, his team and prayer. I admit that I got my information from an article I read on-line (that was actually from a newspaper). I also admit that I did not read a lot of background information, particularly the court documents themselves. I fell into the media trap.

Luckily I have a friend who is about to graduate law school (congratulations Erin, I'm proud of you) who commented on that post and set me straight. Or at least it gave me some nuggets to chew on. She did read the court opinions, took all that legalese and translated it into English that we non-lawyers can understand. I encourage you to read her comments under that post.

In addition, my friend Katie is a high school teacher. She posted a comment from the perspective of an educator. I encourage you to read her comments as well.

I actually support the separation of church and state as a protector of both the church and the state. It's the personal interpretations and the 'how do we live that out on a daily basis' that I have a hard time with. The lines can become so blurry; freedoms can be interpreted in many ways. Someone's "freedom" to take up two seats on the train violates my "right" for a seat, especially when we each paid for one seat. That's a funny and unrelated example but I think the point is there (and not to mention it's something we commuters face on a near daily basis).

I'm grateful to have friends in law places that can set the record straight. Something tells me though, this won't be the last time it'll happen.

They're baaaaack!

All new episodes of my favorite shows return this week: Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy and Brothers and Sisters. It's like welcoming an old friend. I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted. How long we'll have them back is another story. My guess is they'll be gone by the week of Memorial Day for the summer hiatus. I'll enjoy their time back for as long as I have it.

To Bow is to be Sued

Let me pose a scenario:

A group of high school athletes desires to pray before games. They take it upon themselves to gather those who desire to participate, bow their heads, close their eyes and pray together as a group. Their coach, being in the locker room with these athletes prior to the game, decides to silently join these students. He walks over near their prayer circle, bows his head and listens or perhaps prays with his students silently. The coach does not utter a word out loud. He simply bows his head in unity with his players. Sometimes, if his players had the posture, he would kneel on one knee along with them while they prayed.

Has that coach broken a law? Has he violated his students' constitutional right to separation of church and state? What do you think?

A federal appeals court in New Jersey seems to think he has. A lawsuit was brought against the coach by the East Brunswick Board of Education. And they won. The court ruled that the coach's decision to bow his head and get down on one knee endorsed religion, even though he never uttered a word out loud. He didn't push religion, he wasn't Bible thumping, and he wasn't leading the prayer or forcing students to be a part of it.

The court had the following to say about their ruling. "We find that based on the history of [the coach's] conduct with the team's players, his acts cross the line and constitute an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. Although [the coach] believes that he must continue to engage in these actions to demonstrate solidarity with his team ... we must consider whether a reasonable observer would perceive his actions as endorsing religion, not whether [the coach] intends to endorse religion."

Although the superintendent of the district was quick to point out that students themselves have the freedom to pray voluntarily whenever they like. Thanks for clearing that up.

Here is the part that really gets me. There was a three judge panel in this case. Two out of the three judges (which is the majority) had this to say, "If a football coach, who had never engaged in prayer with his team, were to bow his head and take a knee while his team engaged in a moment of reflection or prayer, we would likely reach a different conclusion because the same history and context of endorsing religion would not be present." Basically, do it once and that's okay; but bow that head twice and you'll be sued.

What about a moment of silence that often occurs at sporting events to honor an event or person(s)? What does a coach do if that happens more than once in a season? During those times some people bow their heads, some people pray, some stand silently. Since it's a moment of silence no one knows what each individual is thinking or why they've taken that posture. If his players happen to bow their heads and he does too, will he be sued?

Now I'm not a judge nor am I a lawyer. I certainly have my own interpretations of the Constitution which many would probably never hold up in court. I tried to view this lawsuit from the point of the players, the school board, the judges etc. I tried. But I still don't fully see the value in the suit. And mainly for one reason.

With all the negativity in this world; with all the stories of coaches berating and beating players; with all the stories of parents and coaches fist-fighting over games; with all the bullying, guns and other school violence that occurs. With all of that, the school board spends money for this kind of lawsuit? No student (that's been reported) has ever come forward and complained about the coach's abilities, practices or character over his 22+ career coaching this very team. Some parents complained about him bowing his head and joining his players when they kneel (which, by the way, is a huge football tradition whether or not the player is considered religious). They ought to be thankful that this coach has taught their kids about their sport, about character and about the freedom to be who they are (even if that means they want to pray together). We should all be so lucky that the worst thing our coach ever did was bow his head along with ours.

Wisdom in the Rings

This weekend I did something I've always wanted to do but never thought I'd actually take the time to do. I watched all three movies in the Lord of the Rings trilogy back to back to back. The extended versions. Approximately twelve hours of adventure, intrigue and fun. All in one very long but very fulfilling day.

Two friends ditched…I mean graciously excused themselves from their husbands… for a girls day of Rings. We settled in with snacks, food and drinks galore to watch on the big flat screen (we were obviously not at my apartment). Now I'm not a LOTR junkie. As a matter of fact, until Saturday (and early Sunday) I had only seen each movie once and I've never read the books. But there is something about these movies; something that stirs in your soul and awakens your heart.

Previously I had felt a connection with different characters in each movie for different reasons. Frodo, Legolas, Arwen, Eowyn, Gimli, Pippin, Galdalf, they all have spoken to me in some way. In some I've seen who I was, who I am and even who I hope to become. Others speak wisdom, beauty or humor that resonates with me. Of course there is Aragorn in all his denial and in all his kingly glory; as a woman he speaks to me and my heart. But this time, seeing the movies one right after the other and seeing how the story lines fit together and following them through to the end, this time I was touched by a different character. I think I have found my favorite character of all. Samwise Gamgee. Sam the Brave. Sam.

Sam delivers some of the greatest lines in the movies. He's the optimist, the loyal friend. The one who jumps in the water to catch Frodo even though he can't swim. The one who won't take no for an answer. At one point one of my friends commented that everyone needs a Sam. That friend who sticks closer than a brother. The one who will support you in all that you do even if it means saying what you don't want to hear or doing that which is beyond their natural abilities or finite understanding. I realized on Saturday that Sam is Jesus.

I believe that many characters represent a part of God's character. God is complex with many characteristics. It's fun to see them displayed on the big screen. But there was something about Sam that touched me on Saturday. He reminded me that I am not alone. Just when I think I can not move another inch, Jesus is there to lift me the rest of the way. When I try to do things on my own, God gently reminds me that he is near and I do not have to go alone. A friend who sticks closer than a brother.

I needed that reminder. But I also needed the reminders that came with the other characters as well as with the story itself. It was a good twelve hours of reminding.

Frodo: Go back, Sam. I'm going to Mordor alone.

Sam: Of course you are. And I'm coming with you.

Frodo: I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened. Gandalf: So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.