My wife and I have had the pleasure of spending the last three and a half weeks with our son and grandson while our daughter-in-law has been called to a military assignment. And the last few weeks have been glorious for this old man. I have gotten to know my son in ways that I have never experienced before. I have watched him in awe as he fathers his son. I have even caught myself calling him "daddy". David will always be my son but suddenly he has become daddy. I watch as he plays with Brendan and am amazed at his enegry, David's that is. I watch as he teaches Brendan about life. David is very good at the discipline thing. David doen't believe in corporal punishment and so far he doesn't need it. I watch as Brendan reacts to the firmness in Daddy's voice. I watch as Brendan begins to test the limits with daddy. And daddy doen't back down. David is a GREAT daddy. My love for my son has deepened as I have watched him grow into fatherhood.
Then there is Brendan. I love that little ball of energy more than I can express. We walk together every morning that I am home and we have some interesting talks. I spend a lot of time telling Brendan how much I love him and he usually responds by talking about the big tractors, the birds or the flowers. It seems that we have two different conversations going on but I really believe that Brendan is communicating back to me in "his words", for you see these are words that pops! talks about on our morning walks. He looks at me at times and in those big wonderful eyes I see him saying, "pops! I love you". He melts my heart every morning when I ask him if he wants to go outside and he gets excited and holds his arms out for pops! to take him. There are mornings when we walk that tears stream down my face when I talk with Brendan (as they are now), not because I am sad but because this little fellow has filled me with such joy and love. I can't adequately describe how he has made me fill. Maybe I should quit trying and just let the emotions just wash over me. I never dreamed that being pops! could be so much fun.
And then there is Brendan's grandmother, Jadda. My little buddy has REALLY fallen for Jadda. His face really lights up when Jadda walks in the room. He has learned her name. It really makes me happy to hear my little buddy say "Ja-Da". My love for Jadda has also deepened as I watch her interact with Brendan. After 30 years I didn't think I could love her any more than I did, but I was wrong. I love her more. And as I am writing this I figured out why Brendan is so special to me. He has helped me deepen my love for those around me. I have come to understand even more and even in a deeper way loving is all about. Can I explain it? Nope, but I can sure feel it and it is now so much deeper than it ever was before. Thanks Brendan.
pops!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The diary of a mad pops!
The last few days have certainly been strange. My oldest son had come home but was on his way to enter the PhD program at Cal Berkeley. Shortly thereafter my youngest son arrived in Birmingham (with the world's greatest grandchild) coming from the Cal Berkeley area. I see one son leaving to study things that will make the world a better place to live and one son arriving having made my world a better place to live. I love both of my sons immensely. As any father, there are times that I wonder "what in the hell has happened to that boy I raised". And then there are other times that I see the glorious hand of God working in their lives. Both of my boys, yes, they're still my boys, are more liberal than their dad. Although, there are times I think that I surprise both of them with some "positions" I have taken as I get older.
For you see, there is a little fellow that I call my little buddy that has helped me rethink the world in which I live. For most of my life, most people would have characterized me as a fairly staunch republican. Today, I don't think any one in either of the two major parties would claim me. I am still a registered republican. But today there are some issues that are really important to me as I look at my little buddy as he toddles around my living room making mouth sounds that I proudly take responsibility for helping to teach him. I also taught him where his ears are. But I digress. As I look at the political landscape I am concerned about several things that neither of the candidates adequately address.
1. Stewardship of our environment. We, individually and collectively, must do a better job at protecting our environment. We need less idiots like Al Gore who are so wacky and off the wall that they give "protecting the environment" a bad name. Just listen to Rush. Poor old Al gives Rush to much fodder. I want my little buddy to be able to enjoy this great land of ours. We can continue to be progressive and environmentally sound, but only when it becomes a moral and ethical issue not a political one.
2. War. I know many think me to be an idealist when it comes to the subject of war. But as I watch countless young men and women die in this war and I ask for what, it makes it hard for this once hardnosed republican to justify ANY war. Yeah, I have become a pacifist. Why? Well, for me I believe that is the message of Jesus. Do I condemn those who feel otherwise? No, as contradictory as it may seem, I honor those who serve. They do so because they believe they should and I honor that belief. But as I look at my little buddy, I can't think of any political cause for which I would be willing to give him up. His life is too precious to me. I have heard people say, "What cost for freedom"? I ask, "What cost for peace?" What happen to love thy neighbor as thyself? What happened to turn the other cheek? Didn't Jesus himself ask his followers to lay down the sword. Look at the money spent and the lives that could have been saved with it rather than the lives lost with it.
3. The economy. What will be the size of the national debt when my little buddy is a young adult? Will he have the same opportunity as his pops! Not a chance in hell if we don't do something about our economy. This is where my liberal tendencies are not so liberal. I love our capitalistic system in which we live, but with a twist. What happens when we apply the Jesus principles to our economy. We certainly would take care of the less fortunate. We wouldn't turn our backs on those who serve us, even if we disagree with the cause. We wouldn't fight over alternative energy versus drilling for oil. Hell, it ain't that difficult. We drill for oil short term and do it in an environmentally safe way, while we actively pursue other sources that will allow us independence from foreign oil. We can do both, but only when we make it a nonpolitical issue but a moral issue.
4. Political Parties. I am so F&^%()& tired of our political parties. How can it be that we so many issues that they can't agree on a damn thing? What if we outlawed all political contributions and all campaigning was done on public airwaves. No contrived debates but just plain old talking about issues sitting around a table with general citizens asking the questions. Federally sponsored discussions with no paid political ads. There has to be a better way. The billions of dollars spent on winning the Presidency could be used to retire our national debt, feed the hungry, care for the sick or maybe even find a cure for AIDS.
What are the hell are we thinking? Who will I vote for? I can tell you one damn thing for sure, not OBAMA or McCain. In my opinion we do not have a choice. We have two politicians running who will say anything and everything to get elected. Nothing new here, but still the truth. I keep looking for the day when America gets so fed up with politics that kick all the bastards out and start over again. I for one will start by casting my vote for.......... You fill in the blank, my is a protest vote.
pops!
For you see, there is a little fellow that I call my little buddy that has helped me rethink the world in which I live. For most of my life, most people would have characterized me as a fairly staunch republican. Today, I don't think any one in either of the two major parties would claim me. I am still a registered republican. But today there are some issues that are really important to me as I look at my little buddy as he toddles around my living room making mouth sounds that I proudly take responsibility for helping to teach him. I also taught him where his ears are. But I digress. As I look at the political landscape I am concerned about several things that neither of the candidates adequately address.
1. Stewardship of our environment. We, individually and collectively, must do a better job at protecting our environment. We need less idiots like Al Gore who are so wacky and off the wall that they give "protecting the environment" a bad name. Just listen to Rush. Poor old Al gives Rush to much fodder. I want my little buddy to be able to enjoy this great land of ours. We can continue to be progressive and environmentally sound, but only when it becomes a moral and ethical issue not a political one.
2. War. I know many think me to be an idealist when it comes to the subject of war. But as I watch countless young men and women die in this war and I ask for what, it makes it hard for this once hardnosed republican to justify ANY war. Yeah, I have become a pacifist. Why? Well, for me I believe that is the message of Jesus. Do I condemn those who feel otherwise? No, as contradictory as it may seem, I honor those who serve. They do so because they believe they should and I honor that belief. But as I look at my little buddy, I can't think of any political cause for which I would be willing to give him up. His life is too precious to me. I have heard people say, "What cost for freedom"? I ask, "What cost for peace?" What happen to love thy neighbor as thyself? What happened to turn the other cheek? Didn't Jesus himself ask his followers to lay down the sword. Look at the money spent and the lives that could have been saved with it rather than the lives lost with it.
3. The economy. What will be the size of the national debt when my little buddy is a young adult? Will he have the same opportunity as his pops! Not a chance in hell if we don't do something about our economy. This is where my liberal tendencies are not so liberal. I love our capitalistic system in which we live, but with a twist. What happens when we apply the Jesus principles to our economy. We certainly would take care of the less fortunate. We wouldn't turn our backs on those who serve us, even if we disagree with the cause. We wouldn't fight over alternative energy versus drilling for oil. Hell, it ain't that difficult. We drill for oil short term and do it in an environmentally safe way, while we actively pursue other sources that will allow us independence from foreign oil. We can do both, but only when we make it a nonpolitical issue but a moral issue.
4. Political Parties. I am so F&^%()& tired of our political parties. How can it be that we so many issues that they can't agree on a damn thing? What if we outlawed all political contributions and all campaigning was done on public airwaves. No contrived debates but just plain old talking about issues sitting around a table with general citizens asking the questions. Federally sponsored discussions with no paid political ads. There has to be a better way. The billions of dollars spent on winning the Presidency could be used to retire our national debt, feed the hungry, care for the sick or maybe even find a cure for AIDS.
What are the hell are we thinking? Who will I vote for? I can tell you one damn thing for sure, not OBAMA or McCain. In my opinion we do not have a choice. We have two politicians running who will say anything and everything to get elected. Nothing new here, but still the truth. I keep looking for the day when America gets so fed up with politics that kick all the bastards out and start over again. I for one will start by casting my vote for.......... You fill in the blank, my is a protest vote.
pops!
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