Cruelty v. Compassion

Dear Friends

Timing triggered my latest letter to the editor, published yesterday online by the LA Times. Shortly after I heard his alligator “joke”, I was walking at Santana Park and passed the bench with the message about compassion (pictured just above). I wrote the following letter and e-mailed it to the Times as soon as I got home:

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To the Editor: At my nearby park, there is a “hope and healing meditation path” that includes benches with encouraging messages. One has these words about compassion: “We can never really know what someone else is going through. However, we can listen with our hearts and be open to the depths of others’ pain.”

That message caught my attention during my walk because I had just seen the President of the United States joking about people trying to outrun alligators at his new detention center in Florida (“Trump tours Florida immigration lockup and jokes about escapees having to run from alligators,” July 1). I’ve seen one commentator describe “Alligator Alcatraz” as “performance cruelty.”

Clearly, the president missed a recent Los Angeles Times op-ed with the headline “In an era that celebrates cruelty, embrace subversive kindness.” Clearly, he hasn’t seen the message about compassion on our park bench in Corona. And sadly, his habit of making cruel remarks and his lack of compassion has spread to many in his administration and beyond.

John Saville   Corona

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Blog continues here: 

As we celebrate Independence Day, I don’t know how we measure the soiling of the soul and character of our country that our current president is responsible for, because it keeps seeping from the top down and is spreading all around. 

Issues are always up for debate. But character should not be, because character affects the words we speak and the actions we take. I think we are underestimating the deep and lasting effect of his cruel words and actions, which so many people have come to easily embrace, or ignore because they have normalized it.

There is so much more to reflect upon in response to what is going on right now. In the meantime, a couple of verses from this coming Sunday’s second lesson from Paul's letter to the Galatians, offers hope and advice for us, as we press on amid these challenging days:

“So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up” (6:9)

“So then, whenever we have the opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith” (6:10)

John

Where were you?

 

Dear Friends

Three priests walked into a bar….. Just kidding.

Three priests walked onto Disneyland’s “Rise of the Resistance”. Not kidding!

Kathleen and I were celebrating the 1^st week anniversary (May 8) of our 49^th wedding anniversary (May 1^st). We had seen near the park entrance, two priests with what appeared to be a school group. We didn’t expect to see them again.

But a couple of hours later, we discovered that they were in the same “Star Destroyer” in the row right behind us! How? During the ride, I heard a voice behind me say “May the force be with us” and of course I turned around and said, “And also with you”. There were the two priests! We had seen them in another part of the waiting line but don’t know how we all ended up in the same vehicle!

As we got off the ride, I asked if we could take a picture, because no one would believe this story. I introduced myself as a priest and added quickly, “An Episcopal priest” as Kathleen was with me and we were wearing anniversary buttons.

We shared with each other that we had seen the white smoke from the Vatican chimney on our phone screens while waiting in line. An hour later, just after getting off another ride, we saw Pope Leo XIV being introduced.

And then, as were leaving about 10 hours later, we saw the two priests from Clovis again, sitting near the exit, and so we had the chance to say good-bye!

The “It’s a Small World” ride was closed for renovations. But we had a small world experience of our own in a park full of thousands on our own!

And needless to say, we will not soon forget where we were when the new pope was elected.

John

P.S Another very special part of this day was seeing and spending some time with friends Sarah Jones and Jose Hernandez! 

 

                                                    

 

                                                              

 

 

Listen to Lincoln

Dear Friends

President’s Day this year falls smack in the middle of the time between Lincoln’s Feb. 12^th birthday and Washington’s Feb. 22^nd birthday. While history connects them both to important prayers, let me share one which is known as Lincoln’s Prayer for our Nation. (I’m proud that it is included in the Episcopal Church’s Book of Common Prayer). Though offered so many years ago, it speaks clearly and urgently to us today:

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will.

Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogance and from every evil way.

Defend our liberties and fashion into one untied people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues.

Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home and that through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth.

In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

So on this President’s Day, I would suggest we pray with and listen to Lincoln!  May this prayer be lived and come alive by all we think and say and do to help this nation heal.

John

Nothing to apologize for

I have submitted the following as a letter to the editor. 

Since it may or may not be published, I am sharing it with you now.

Responding to the sermon delivered by Bishop Mariann Budde during the National Prayer Service, President Trump's angry tweet ended, “She and her church owe the public an apology!”

With respect, I would like to ask our President a couple of questions and add a comment.

Did you listen to her whole sermon about the three pillars of unity---respecting the dignity of every human being, telling the truth and living with humility?

Did you hear and feel her heartfelt final words, spoken gently to you? They were a simple, sincere ask for mercy on those who are afraid right now. The bible tells us to “speak the truth with love” and that’s exactly what she did.

Most people feel the need to apologize occasionally. You should try it sometime. But in this case, as a member “her church”, I cannot apologize. Your disrespectful, tone-deaf tweet to her does nothing to help build the unity you claim to want for the country we all love.

John Saville

Corona, CA.

A Camellia Grows in Corona

 

Dear Friends

The headline on the front page of the LA Times on the morning of January 10^th was stunning. Above a devastating picture were these words:

                          “EVERYTHING IS BURNED DOWN”

Just three hours after I saw that picture and read that headline, I received a text including a picture; our second grandchild had arrived! A beautiful flower named Camellia had joined her sister, named after a beautiful bird called Rosella (an Australian parrot). (This picture was after she came home).

The name Camellia has several meanings including “love”, “devotion”, “a spirit of depth”, “self-reflection”, “inner strength”, “loyalty” and “humility”. In Latin, camelia (one l) is a feminine name meaning “helper to the priest” and a form of camellia, the evergreen shrub with gorgeous flowers that bloom in winter. I hope Camellia will experience and carry forward some of these meanings in her life.

“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” is described as “a tale of perseverance and vulnerability about a young girl as she grows up in the slums of Brooklyn, New York, and faces an unforgiving world and learns to thrive in it” But for now, with a thankful heart, I will be watching A Camellia Growing in Corona.

I cannot imagine the heavy burden and deep grief that so many are carrying after the fires, not to mention the wondering, "What now?" I pray they will find and be surprised by signs of new life and new hope, and thrive once again.

John

P.S. We were notified by a cousin in Florida that a Camellia Festival opened the day after Camellia was born. It's hard to see but it included this prize winner named Camille!

 

 

Character Counts

 

ChARacTER counts!

Dear Friends

One of the highlights, if not the highlight of our road trip to the east coast a couple of years ago, was a visit to Plains, Georgia. The pictures above include the first signs we saw; Kathleen in the presidential suite, among several rooms above an antique store where we spent the night (as president and Mrs. Carter had); and me standing at the train station where “Mr. Jimmy” as he known by the locals, was welcomed back on his return to Plains.

Grace and goodness. Decency and dignity. Those were among the many adjectives I heard over and over while watching the breaking news of President Jimmy Carter’s death this afternoon. As I have said previously, character counts, character matters, especially among leaders with large platforms. Why? Because character affects one’s decisions and actions, and character affects those who listen and watch what one says and does. We should expect the best for the country we all love.

Sadly, President Carter’s death represents the end of an era in terms of what we now expect and accept from politicians and politics. The last election certainly would suggest that character has been ignored or put even further to the side when choosing a leader. But a quote from President Carter reminds us of the Great Commandment we’ve had all along and can be our guide going forward if we choose to follow it.

“You only have to have two loves in your life:

for God, and for the person in front of you at any particular time.”

Every day we have chances to live those words. We are all far from perfect in doing that, but we hope, with God’s help, that we can do our best.

Let’s hope this moment will help remind us that ChARacTER counts. 

Make character count again.

As someone has said, “Keep hope alive in 2025”.

John

Really?

 

Dear Friends

After having already driven by an overflowing parking lot at the post office three times during the past two weeks, (to purchase Christmas stamps), I finally took a chance when I saw a few empty parking places and pulled in last Friday.

Alas! The line was still way too long. But I decided to wait. Fifteen minutes later and now about 10^th in line and closer to the one postal worker (there are four stations!) I saw a crude sign hastily taped to a counter: “Sorry we are all out of Holiday Stamps. We hope to get more next week”.

My frustration mounting, I started thinking of the nicest thing I could say when it was my turn. When I finally reached the one employee on duty, I said, “It’s a shame you have to work alone.” I also asked why he was alone during this busy season. He said, “a couple of people are on vacation”. (I thought to myself, “Really? Well, that makes a lot of sense!!!) My blood pressure rising, I then suggested as politely as I could that they put the sign about being out of “Holiday” stamps at the front door!  He said that was a good idea. I haven’t driven by again to see if that happened.

In any case, I asked, “What stamps do you have?”  I said no to the flag stamp offered, and the only other choices were, and I’m not kidding, Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford!!! And then he said, “Oh, here is one more”. Hesitant, but feeling the pressure of people waiting behind me, and seeing some words about peace, liberty and safety, I said, “Okay, I’ll take some of those”.

When I got to the car I read the whole message: “12 Colonies Unite in Protest” and then “We ask for but Peace, Liberty, and Safety”. When I googled to find out what this stamp was all about, I discovered it was part of a message from the First Continental Congress to King George!

So now, how do I make a political stamp into something about Christmas? Beyond welcoming the “Prince of PEACE”, I can give thanks that for freedom (LIBERTY), Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) and pray “Hold me up, and I shall be SAFE” (Psalm 119:117)

Clearly, I need to get on a waiting list for 2025 Christmas stamps now, and wait for a drone to deliver them. But I might check back and see if a new shipment of holiday stamps arrive.

John