Saturday, December 29, 2007

Jesus' Campaign Promises

In my favourite newsreader, I have a search set up for the word "Jesus" -- just to see what the media is saying. Lately there have been a lot of stories about nativity scenes being vandalized. This morning, though, I came across an article from the Athens Banner-Herald called Playing the Jesus Card can cut many ways. It was written by William McKenzie, an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

Mr. McKenzie makes some provocative statements and the article is well-worth the read. Here's an excerpt:
We voters better watch out when candidates play the Jesus Card. The child born in a manger turned out to be a radical figure. And his message can take us in demanding, unpredictable directions.

For example, there's that hard command to love your enemies. How would the professing candidates abide by that charge? Shouldn't we ask whether that dictum will affect how they deal with the opposition party on Capitol Hill? With Iran? And if it will affect them, how so?

Then there's the fact that Jesus spent much of his ministry challenging his day's religious establishment. Wow, that could create mighty big sparks if any of these candidates really played the Jesus Card.
Mr. McKenzie's final thoughts say it all:
Let's not boil Jesus down to the candidate of the left, right or middle. Let's remember that the child born in a manger was too complicated for that.
~ Keith

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Views From My Office Window

I'm a Home Hospice RN and I spend all day
driving around rural Oregon.
This is what I see from my window.

~ Keith

Friday, December 21, 2007

Merry Keysmas

At 4pm Pacific Time today, recorded in Marion County, Oregon: Keith & Cathy Seckel are the new owners of a spacious home with an even more spacious yard. Address change cards are forthcoming.

Merry Christmas indeed!

~ Keith

Thursday, December 06, 2007

I'm Old

When I was two years old, I had surgery on my right eye (that's OD for those who care) and I wore a patch for awhile -- over my good eye, to strengthen the weaker one. I've worn glasses ever since then.

Yesterday I passed a milemarker: I got old: I now wear bifocals.

The cool thing is, I don't mind. I like the idea of getting older -- I am finally starting to feel like an adult (at least on the outside). It is a new adventure in every part of my life: driving, reading, walking down stairs, anything that involves my eyes.

~ Keith

Monday, November 19, 2007

Readability

Saw this over at Lynda's blog and decided to check it out.
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I don't know if I should be bummed that my writing is so juvenile, or happy that my blog is so readable.

I guess I'll choose the latter.

~ Keith

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Gossamer

Washing dishes
Tiny spots of food
Stick to the plate
Jet nozzles blast fiercely
Water drops mercilessly pelt
And
Stuff stays stuck
Yet
Ever-so-lightly touching it
Single fingertip barely brushing
WHOOSH
Away it goes

I wonder
How can something so tough
So resilient
Be
At the same time,
So very fragile?
Autumn's rainy arrival
Spiders' webbed bridges everywhereWinds blow fiercely
Large drops mercilessly pelt
And
Gossamer strands
Hold firm
Yet
Ever-so-lightly touching it
Fingertips barely brushing
WHOOSH
Away it goes

Still I wonder
How can something so tough
So resilient
Be
At the same time,
So very fragile?
Two Hospice admissions
Two patients so similar
Family dynamics blow fiercely
Disease symptoms mercilessly pelt
And
Two gossamer lives
Hold firm
Yet
Ever-so-lightly touching it
Divine Fingertips barely brushing
And
WHOOSH
One life goes away
But
Temporarily
Miraculously
One life lingers

Again I wonder
How something
So very fragile
Can
At the same time
Be
So unbelievably tough
So amazingly resilient?
~ Keith

It is such a secret place, the land of tears.