Setting a Standard

It seems that blatant public rudeness is now an acceptable means of expression for the masses. Leading this downfall of genteel civility are our celebrities in music and sports like Kanye West and Serena Williams and of course our political representation in the form of Rep. Joe Wilson from the great state of South Carolina. It appears that we now interpret the rights given under the First Amendment as free reign to publicly say whatever we want with no regard for others or the consequences.
Yelling out "You lie" in a presidential address is not OK. It is certainly OK to disagree and to voice your opinions but there is a time and place and talking out of turn is like reverting back to kindergarten and screaming out the answer while other students patiently raise their hands as instructed. Grow up Representative Wilson.
These public temper tantrums keep creeping up and I am appalled. These are the people who we are supposedly expected to look up to and want to be like. I not only don't want to be like that but I am sickened to think that anyone would. I realize the celebrity party line seems to be that they never asked for people to look up to them. Well get a grip. With power comes responsibility and it is time for the powers that be in all genres and settings to step up. We are raising a generation of children who in the last couple of weeks have been given an education in reprehensible public behavior. Let's treat all human beings with a little respect. This is not something where lines are drawn on the grounds of race, political distinction or taste in music. This is learning basic decency and not acting like you are above it.

Football Season!!!

I'm not sure what I was thinking when I chose to go the University of North Carolina at Asheville for college, but how I ended up at a college with no football team is still beyond me. It's fall and fall means Gamecock football!

There is nothing like screaming your lungs off during the last two minutes of a game hoping that your team will come back for a win. And in those events when you lose, it's still a great time. I love the camaraderie of those who pull for the same team. The mutual love for black and garnet and the fact that complete strangers become friends for the day.

Next Saturday Sherrie and I are going to Columbia for the game and I can't wait! It has been years since I went to Williams Brice for a live game and I can't help but recall being a very little girl about 3 or 4 and standing in front of the elevators and seeing Cocky come out of them. I have to admit that the prospect of seeing Cocky still excites me as much now as it did then.

Here's to a new season that has started off pretty promising and to enjoying it with friends old and new!

Praying...

The Apostle Paul said to pray without ceasing. When I was a teenager this thought struck me as insane. How could one live and function doing absolutely nothing but praying. Absolute absurdity.
Over the last weeks I have been bombarded with prayer requests from friends and family. From sick fathers and brothers, funerals, military deployment, starting college, lost co-workers and everything in between. These are not trivial things to take lightly. They are earnest requests from ones I love. Today is my mom's birthday and I am reminded that not so long ago I was the one requesting these prayers from my friends for her. My friends rallied and prayed until God gave her the ultimate healing, and then continued to pray for me. God's presence was ever there and I could feel all of the prayers being lifted up around me.
Today my only question is how can one live and function without praying constantly? This open full communication with a loving Father is not only a line for making requests like a letter to Santa, but a true source of comfort and strength no matter what the situation is. Like every good parent the answer is not always yes. Sometimes it is a flat no becasue we ask for things that despite our own resoning are not in our best interests. Sometimes the answer is not yet, and sometimes the answer comes in a way we never anticipated.
Prayer is the ultimate both of faith between us and our Heavenly Father. It is like the diaries we kept hidden under the mattress in 6th grade. A full disclosure of your heart to one who loves you like no other could.
Today I am praying more than ever and I hope you will include me in yours as well.