Why virtual political conventions are for the birds

“We the people…”
But where are the people?
Like doing church without a steeple,
conventions (without people)
are so unconventional.

They’re informercials.
Nothing less.
Nothing more.
We know the score
before the game even starts.

Getting down and going dirty
seems to be the only goal.
“When they go low,
we go lower still!”

Party propaganda that’s all it is.
It’s a professionally produced
slick campaign ad.

Where are the delegates?
Where are the reactions?
Where are the on-the-floor fights?
Where are the colorful button-covered conferees
interviewed by the network news correspondents?
Four nights of micro-managed
overly-scripted preditable choreography
leave me longing for the good old days.

Conventions like this are for the birds.
They are not for donkeys or elephants.
I hate aviaries.
I miss the zoo.

Celebrating the Women’s Suffrage Movement

A hundred years ago this week,
we rectified what made us weak.
We gave the right to vote to those
who had been left behind.

Amending what we’d left undone,
at last we finally had begun
to live our values at the polls
and make up for lost time.

With gratitude for those who fought
for equal rights, we really ought
to tip our hats and lift our praise.
These women paved the way.

To Lucretia Mott and Susan B.,
to Katy-Stanton and Alice P.,
we owe a debt we can’t repay.
God bless the suffragettes!

And yet there’s still so much to do.
We’ve gained some ground, but we aren’t through.
Equality remains a dream
for those who are ignored.

What it takes to color our world with kindness

I stand with folks of color,
blacks and whites
and those in blue
who risk their lives
for justice
on behalf of me and you.

I stand with those
whose hair is gray
or kids with knees stained green.
Both old and young
deserve support
’cause bullies can be mean.

And those who wave a rainbow flag,
I stand up for their rights.
They’re loved by God
as are the ones
with whom they tend to fight.

I stand on principles
of One
whose words (red-lettered) speak.
They call me to
stand up for those
who can’t, because they’re weak.

I stand upon
God’s promises.
A black book (Old and New)
with yellowed pages
(creased by time)
whose truths are ever true.

Will you, dear reader,
stand with me
and find ways to be kind?
To love the way
we have been loved,
we must be colorblind.

Remembering Regis Philbin

Who wants to be a millionaire?” he asked.
And we were game.
Who wouldn’t want to win at trivia?
But even Regis knew deep down
that riches can’t buy life
when comes that day when we must say “See ya!”

No! Phone-a-friend won’t do the trick
no matter who you know.
Sweet Kathie Lee or Kelly won’t suffice.
When we must stand before the Lord
and brace for what’s in store,
our final answer can’t be “I was nice!”

For Regis (or for anyone)
the rules are all the same.
The only lifeline we can claim is grace.
The good we’ve done or our success
won’t matter in the end.
It all comes down to Whom we have embraced.

Trivia? Oh, by no means.
This is the Gospel truth.
God’s grace through faith is that by which we win.
The “Game of Life” continues on
beyond our final breath.
So use your lifeline now and trust in Him.

*Ephesians 2:8-9