Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Some thoughts on the Terri Schiavo case

OK, seems like everybody in the blogosphere has been weighing in on the Terri Schiavo situation, I guess I will too. Here are somethings I have noticed:
  • I have had a very visceral reaction to much of the broadcast media coverage of her unfortunate situation. I find much of the coverage voyeuristic and indiscreet. Though well meaning, advocates for her have turned her into a public spectacle to make their point. And, it seems, that many who are acting as if they are advocates are more concerned about making political hay than in her personal well-being.
  • Michael Schiavo claims that Terri stated that she would not want to be kept alive with the extraordinary methods as have been used. Though he has waffled on this, who would know better than he? I also realize he is not a very attractive individual--there is much distrust of him. What I am pretty certain of is that many people who claim to speak for Terri have no earthly idea of what her wishes would have been.
  • As a culture, we are afraid of death, which is why we are in this quandry to begin with. We have developed medical technology to a point where we are able keep bodies alive beyond what is the natural course. We can cheat death. We strive toward immortality. (Remember the mess over freezing baseball great Ted Williams' body.) Medical technology is a wonderful thing . . . a grace granted from God. Dialysis kept my father alive for a year and a half until he could receive a kidney transplant. He's doing great now . . . and God has blessed me with a few more years with him. So I'm no medical Ludite. But there seem to be some ethical considerations we haven't thought through well when in comes to prolonging life in extreme circumstances.
  • Bill O'Reilly has the most logical position in my eyes. Michael Schiavo has already taken up with a different woman and has had two children by her. If Terri's parents and family have the resources and desire to care for her, why doesn't he step out of the way and allow them to do so.
  • One of the lessons of Easter is that it was through death that we received life. Death does not need to be feared. For many, death has been release from pain and suffering. They are ushered into the glorious presence of a God who loves them, where:

[God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.(Revelation 21:4)

I freely admit not having an opportunity to think about all of the facets and implications of this case. I'd love to hear from you. What's your take on the situation?

Tuesday, March 08, 2005

Eight action roles for social transformation

As I have been pondering Jesus' teaching of "Blessed are the peacemakers . . ." I ran across these challenging words from a recent meeting of the Austin Spiritual Directors Community. Sister Amata Miller, IHM shared with us eight action roles Christians can assume to bring about peace and social transformation. Sister Amata has been very active in Roman Catholic social justice ministries. Currently she is teaching Economics and Finance at St. Edward's University. Here are her eight action roles:
    1. Developing in ourselves a kingdom-centered perspective: reading and studying things that help us develop our own social conscience in light of the signs of our times and the teachings of our faith.
    2. Making daily lifestyle choices square with Gospel principles. Living more simply that others might simply live; Learning to settle conflicts nonviolently, to disagree without being disagreeable; loving those around us; sharing what we have with those who have less.
    3. Fostering Gospel values, making them attractive to others. Helping young people to be nonviolent, other-centered; Encouraging non-materialistic enjoyments; facilitating development of social moral consciences; Praying alone and together in the Gospel spirit.
    4. Helping to nurture alternative ways to meet human needs. Spreading success stories about alternatives; Volunteering for service in new kinds of social ventures; Make your donations to positive change agents.
    5. Working to transform existing institutions from within (parishes, workplaces, families). Gradually figuring out ways to embody Gospel values within these; Bringing all people affected by decisions into the making of them sometimes; Acting in belief that changes will ripple out from here as others see new ways.
    6. Developing and participating in organized strategies for political and corporate change. Making active citizenship a part of one's life; Joining groups effectively focused on transformations for social justice; Encouraging others to join in collaborative actions for transformation.
    7. Acting in opposition to what goes in the wrong direction. Writing letters to the editors of newspapers to influence public opinion; Participating in prayer vigils; Taking part in boycotts; Marching in public demonstrations.
    8. Living out of a kingdom-centered spirituality. Letting God work through us to "write straight with crooked lines" (2 Corinthians 4:5-7); Prayer and liturgical rituals that widen our sense of God and neighbor; Being hopeful in the struggle for greater peace and justice.
Sister Amata noted that we might take on different roles at different times in our lives. Each of us can do one or more where we are, given our own responsibilities and sphere of influence, and if each of us does our part and help others to do theirs, God's kingdom of justice and peace will come for all people . . . in God's time.


Monday, March 07, 2005

The soul of a preacher . . .

Gordon Atkinson, the San Antonio preacher of RealLivePreacher.com fame, has written an essay that expresses the thoughts and feelings of a preacher better than anything I've seen in a long time. If you want to know what's going on in my heart and mind much of the time, read this essay.