Time for Left, Right to Yield and Merge
My on-line dictionary says the definition of "merge" is: to combine, blend, or unite gradually. Unfortunately, I think the "in traffic" dictionary would say the definition of "merge" is: to come to a complete and exasperating standstill.
Recently, I had one of those white knuckle days; I was, of course, running late for work when I noticed the darkness before dawn was partially lit with the ominous site of ascending tail lights waiting on the road in front of me. Was there an accident? Blocked road?
For five minutes and three light changes, the parade of paused vehicles sat as nothing but shrinking levels of tolerance moved. At last we began to inch our ways back to some sort of semblance of motion. Fifteen minutes and 1/8 of a mile later, I saw the sign: Merge.
That was it. No accident, no blockage; just the simple directional sign trying to get two lines of traffic to combine into one. Merging would be so easy -if only the other guy would get out of our way. Unfortunately, the guy beside us doesn't know this obvious rule of "it's my turn". Or perhaps he does and that's the problem.
Merging forces us to step aside, work with each other, and give up a little bit to each other. Unfortunately, it's necessary not only in traffic, but also in life. Nowhere is this more relevant today than in politics. Right? Left? Middle? We are stuck in a traffic jam that is frustrating everyone and putting pressure on more than simply our white knuckles. We've honked our horns, counted to ten, and some have even used words and gestures that in some way made them feel better in their incessant waiting. Perhaps now is the moment to merge.
Without a doubt, this coming together won't be easy for any of us, no matter what direction you're coming from. My faith and heart color me with the label of conservative. Today, there are some life issues I hold dear that are threatened by our new president who has promised to put up a sign that might detour these issues, or close the road altogether. Should those of us who hold these life issues as basic issues of life come to a complete stop now? Should we change our direction entirely?
Of course not. I wouldn't begin to suggest we make a U-turn just to keep the country moving in some sort of semblance of motion. A merge obliges us to work together, to try to find a way to actually make progress. Those on the right give a little. Those on the left give a little. And, with any luck, we'll all arrive where we hope to be sooner, not later.
For too long we've been stuck in bottle-necked traffic. We've already tried, yelling and waving various fingers at those who disagree with us. It's time to combine, blend, or unite gradually. It's time to see the sign.
Tammy Bundy is a high school English teacher, mother of four, columnist, and the author of several inspirational books. Her columns can be heard across the country through EWTN global Catholic radio.
By Tammy Bundy |
January 23, 2009; 12:05 PM ET
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Posted by: InterfaithNation | January 26, 2009 6:52 PM
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Nice thought, Tammy, but the sad truth is that fanatics of Abrahamic religions, by their very nature, are unable to "give up a little bit to each other" It's my way or the highway. There can be no compromise. Look at the Pope who calls Protestants "wounded", reinstates Bishops who denied the Holocaust and continues his exclusionary attacks on gays. There is nothing for him to give, not even a "little bit"
Posted by: coloradodog | January 26, 2009 4:31 PM
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But with a Wiccan spell, anything is possible!!!
Posted by: CCNL | January 26, 2009 4:15 PM
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Frankly, there'd be more lanes open if the Right hadn't been closing off all others but their own when they had sway.
While they have the power, they say, 'Nothing but total capitulation to our desires is acceptable, tough luck if you don't like it.'
Then, when they fail and lose, start saying, 'Now is the time for the 'Left' to become halfway 'Right-wing' and then 'compromise' with the far right.'
Don't know how they figure that. Half the country's gone off onto the shoulder as it is, and 'keeping right' has half of the rest driving in the breakdown lane.
I think what we ought to do here is get some lanes open. :)
Posted by: Paganplace | January 26, 2009 1:41 PM
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Unfortunately, in relation to abortion, it's impossible for people to cooperatively merge.
"Pro-life" and "Pro-choice" are like oil and water. They can't combine or merge. Their molecules can only collide with one another.
Posted by: norriehoyt | January 26, 2009 11:49 AM
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For Tammy Bundy's eyes only: The Contemporary Reality of Christianity
Jesus was an illiterate Jewish peasant/ carpenter/simple preacher man who suffered from hallucinations and who has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.
The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics.
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html
For added "pizzazz", Catholic/Christian theologians divided god the singularity into three persons and invented atonement as an added guilt trip for the "pew people" to go along with this trinity of overseers. By doing so, they made god the padre into god the "filicider".
Current crises:
Pedophiliac priests, atonement theology and original sin!!!!
Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley, Roger Williams et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingie thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).
Current crises:
Adulterous preachers, "propheteering/ profiteering" evangelicals and atonement theology.
Posted by: CCNL | January 26, 2009 11:03 AM
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Sister Bunjy et al;
"CAUTION: Speed Kill's:
The Quiet'r Ye traveleth the further one is propelled for another 'DUE-TO-BE' moment" via TiME (Temperature). Ye art unniquely frequencied between Absolute Hot & Absolute Cold. i.e., Ye is 98.6 Degrees F. hot (around 100 Watts a photon bulb). Please watch ye internal Gages & External forces. Get the drift??
Each Automatic Citizen/Denizen borneth on this blesseth Holyi Cosmic Nebula-built Space-Ship Earth, & Others similar, aka S.S. GAiA, S.S. GEOiD, S.S. TELLUSng something, is justly Space-Forthing their own imortal "PHOTO-FiNitE-ESSENCE" via the living rail (not grail) of the Holyi NO-MAN's "Arrow Of TIME". And
Each Being posses a Holyi "Frontal-Lobe". And therefrom We use OUR Sences to Guide-Us in the Holyi-Traffic of "IT"s own TiME (think in TEMPerature, not man made time nor space time), Soo,
As We Space-Forth (forward Soldier, never backwards) with "IT"s (Creator of Photons) prophetic given eyes or ears or touch.. to Us, THAT
We hath a Carbon Based & a Synapstic & sensitive built-in Rear-View Mirror (via Frontal-Lobe), so to spaketh which guides Us "Right" way, "Middle-Way" Left-Way , wrong-Way & 180 Degrees or 360. Degrees! Proteins & Calories are OUR PETRO.
Remember & Never Forget: History is OUR Jury:
iNCAMERA (secret); We appear, in Miracle & Never via SIN/CURSE story's) because "IT" (G-d by 1,000 names) or "ITSELF" (G-d of the annimate & or inanimate kingdom) did not want to be lonlely! AND
since we cannot be created nor Destroyed (This is Genuine LOVE of "IT") LIFE/BIRTH is a Miracle in motion, therefore we are ALL with the "ETERNITY AVOIDING LONLINESS" phenomona-on.
Note: If Ye art looking for the "Holyi Travel Instruction Manual" then ye can find it when seeing that "OUR Universe is thee CONSTITUTION absolute" (becoming what "IT" is becoming) And the "CLAUSES" of "IT" are the "LAWS OF "IT"s NATURE" of which each of Us are embedded Eternally!
PS: The U.S. Constitution is 2nd in line to Uphold, to Magnify & Make Honorable. like the Scientific methoid; to know to control to predict; but holyi'r than though truly! And
the Bibles of [this] world should be rendered Un-Constitutional; So to spaketh TRUTH (opposite of MYTH).
Happy Every day & happy G-D ("IT" or "ITSELF") hunting!