Trying to be human

It's admirable to look ahead to 'good times' with today's politics

Posted: Thursday, September 16, 1999

The other day I was looking on a bargain books rack and came across Molly Ivins' book, "Nothing But Good Times Ahead." It was written in the early '90s and was on sale for a few bucks, so I bought it. You may not like her politics or her opinions, but you've got to love her humor and optimism. Anyone who can watch state and local politics as closely as she does and still keep looking for "good times ahead" has my admiration.

Last night I attended my daughter's high school open house. Parents of junior high or high school students know the routine well. We sit for five minutes in each period while the teacher tells about the grading and homework procedures, discipline, etc. They always end their five-minute speech with, "If you have any questions, please feel free to call." Then the bell rings and we move on.

In 4th period, I came across a teacher who was pleasantly different. He was an experienced government teacher who believed in having a little fun. He was outspoken, enthusiastic and sometimes politically incorrect. You may not like his teaching style, but you've got to like his perspective and zest.

I think our society could learn a good lesson from these two people. I know that I am guilty of taking the "stuff" of my life way too seriously. I should wear a button that says, "Lighten up." If I thought it was a character trait I alone had, I'd never mention it, but I see that same tendency in most people I meet. We can take a situation that is completely neutral or even positive, and turn it into a vehicle for misery and trouble.

One circumstance that comes to mind is the recent ruling that banned public prayer at football games. Some people have been so bent out of shape you'd think the courts had taken away their ability to communicate with God. I've heard people say it is just one more sign of the downfall of the country as we know it.

I don't know why people feel so threatened about not having someone asking God over the loud speaker for fair play, safety for the players, and safe trips on the way home. Do we think God can't hear us if we each say our prayer in silence?

I've often wondered how Muslims or Buddhists or Jews attending the game felt about someone presuming that everyone in the stadium was praying "in Jesus' name." I guess they just went along and uttered their own prayer in their own way and let it go at that. No big deal. But then, neither is it the ruin of our society if we all enjoy a moment of silence to pray or not pray as we see fit.

Some people might see the court's decision as a step toward more, not less, consideration and respect toward all religions. Religious tolerance - now there's a principle on which this country was founded.

The "issue" is not the issue. The process is the issue. I have learned that HOW something happens is much more important than WHAT happens. In watching how, we can catch on to the process and not be fooled again and again by the content. The content this time is "prayer at a football game." The process could be "having someone tell us we can't do something we've always done and have gotten quite attached to."

If we can lighten up, not take it so personally, and watch with a little detachment, we can see how having someone tells us we can't do something leads us straight into misery and worry. Wouldn't you think that would be a great thing to know, given the number of times somebody somewhere is going to be telling us what we can or can't do? But what we do instead is see the content, get stuck in believing IT'S what matters and slip right back into feeling upset about it.

The bottom line - as people of faith are supposed to know - is that God has everything in His very capable hands. If we want to be happy, we just need to practice falling back into those loving hands again and again. It may be simple, but it's sure not easy.