U.S. Democracy

A few hours ago the U.S. Supreme Court voted to block the administration’s attempts to limit voting in federal elections by manipulating mail-in voting. SCOTUS said that cannot be allowed.

Attorney Marc Elias has been instrumental in seeking to support the Constitution and the freedoms Americans have enjoyed. He has an online presence called Democracy Docket in which he updates the legal challenges facing the American electoral process. I recommend you sign up for Democracy Docket. More to come on that….

Kentucky Democracy

One of the positives of my returning to the United States is that I can do more in working actively to preserve our Constitution and promote democracy. Distance was a limiting factor when I was in Cambodia.

Tonight I went to a meeting of the Clifton (the Louisville neighborhood where I live) Community Council. Members of the council turned in their ballots for the governing board and then we heard from a member (L) of the metro group working on homelessness and from a deputy mayor (R) focused also on housing. Added to the main agenda items were various recommendations and suggestions for keeping democracy alive in the midterm elections 50 days away.

Laws of Nature

When I was working on a homily this afternoon, some big birds outside my window caught my attention. I gently parted the blinds so I wouldn’t scare them away. The reflection of the blinds created the horizontal stripes in the lower right corner. I didn’t notice taking this shot that two of the birds were eating something.

It turned out these were turkey buzzards and they were eating a baby raccoon. (See the ringed tail.) These two were young buzzards and they could eat together when the dominant male finished eating all he wanted. But when he came back for more, they had to scatter.

After an hour, all that was left of the raccoon was leg bones, some fur, and its rib cage.

Prayer for the Elections

Lord God, as the election approaches,
we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.

We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Here and There, Then and Now

After 42 years in Asia, I returned home to Kentucky. But it isn’t the home I left. Things I saw THEN are different NOW. Life HERE is different from life THERE. Here is another sample of the differences.

here and then

My first bank account was at Greater Louisville First Federal Savings and Loan Association. And in those days banker’s hours were 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

there and now

My bank account in Phnom Penh was with ABA Bank. Many banking practices in Cambodia call to mind banks of the 1950s in the US, but as for banking hours, ABA was the best!

Monday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Wednesday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM