It astonishes me in some ways to realize that, had he lived past 1992, my father would have turned 100 on Saturday.
Born Nov. 7, 1909, in Delavan, Ill., W.H. (for Wilber Harold) Tammeus, also known as Bill, lived through the bulk of a remarkable century. The grandson of German immigrants and farmers, he grew up on a farm -- the same farm his younger (87) brother still lives on today. And he had a degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois, where he met my mother, both of whom are pictured above. He spent some of his life in the ag field but not all, later becoming a financial advisor and a map company owner.
Dad grew up a Methodist but became a Presbyterian when he married a Presbyterian. (The photo at the left here shows Mom and Dad on their wedding day, Aug. 15, 1937. Eventually Dad grew into his ears, and so did I.) Both my parents served the church faithfully as elders, but I wouldn't call either of them profound theologians. Rather, both of them tended to live according to some words found in the New Testament book of James, "Faith without works is dead."
I used to joke that later in his life my father survived on all the dollar-a-year jobs he acquired in doing his civic and religious duties.
I mention my father's centennial this weekend not because any (well, many) of you knew him but because I want to make the point that again that we lose our way if we lose our memories. Our personal history creates the story that shapes us. But, in the end, we also can shape that story. We can change the future of the story, even if we can't change the past.
One of the thing faith communities help people do is to reimagine their futures, to see that better, brighter, more productive and beautiful futures are possible. But those futures should honor what was good in our past. My father -- a funny, dedicated, hard-working, trusting, honest man -- is part of what is good about my own past. So as I continue to imagine my future, I will do what I can to remember that and to bring that with me.
(The photo at the bottom right may be my favorite of Dad. My nephew Mark took it one day while Dad was busy hauling nothing, apparently, in our old wheelbarrow from a small storage shed at the back of the house in which I grew up. Dad often laughed, but not in this picture. And, no, my mother did not -- repeat, not -- buy him those overalls or that hat.)
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CLERGY IN CRISIS SITUATIONS
When a catastrophe like the shootings at Ford Hood occurs, one of my first thoughts if for the on-duty clergy who must help people get through all the associated trauma. Catholic News Service has done this intriguing story about one priest at Fort Hood and what he experienced on that awful day on Thursday. Army chaplains receive lots of training, but probably nothing really can prepare someone for a massacre. Still, I'm glad the military has chaplains.
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P.S.: You can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BillTammeus.
It appears that the gunman at Fort Hood may have developed a persecution complex, and wanted to silence the voices that he didn't like. He wanted certain people to shut up ... permanently.
It's a serious warning sign when someone begins to insist that others shut up who do them no harm. When a person's attitudes switch from being bothered or annoyed to believing that they must silence their opposition, then something has snapped in that person. At that point there is no way to predict what they may or may not be able to justify as 'necessary' in order to modify the behavior of others. Whenever you see someone reach such a breaking point, then it's important to seek professional help in dealing with the person. That was the signal before the Columbine disaster, too.
Some people have absolutely no tolerance for discomfort of any kind, or they may be so paranoid or sensitive that even the slightest hint of disapproval can send them over the edge, whether imagined or real. Others have such a low self-image either due to persecution. ridicule, or gross misperception, that they may become unstable at the drop of a hat. Reactions vary wildly. But one thing is for sure: if the person's reactions are way out of proportion, especially tending toward insistence, violence, or bullying to silence you, then it pays to be cautious.
The Fort Hood attacker illustrates how people from other cultures may have serious trouble adapting to the freedoms and lack of structure that exists in this country, especially when they're used to living under dictatorships or other tightly-controlled situations. Fragile wounded egos of those who were once in controlling classes or controlled environments can snap when they can't order others around any more.
Christians should reach out to, befriend and help fragile/broken people.
Posted by: Just Thinking | November 07, 2009 at 01:33 AM
Stand up, stand up, against Jesus - Guardian UK
Civility has its uses, but we should not be afraid of satire and mockery as weapons against religious power
Here is a comment I picked up on a blog about Santa - 100% applicable to religion and mockery in my opinion .... The actual article is below.
Parent: Honey, I have something to tell you.
Child: What, Mummy?
Parent: There isn't a Santa Claus.
Child: What? You're MOCKING ME! You know how much I love and depend on Santa Claus! He sees me when I'm sleeping. He knows when I'm awake. He knows when I've been bad or good... so I'm always good, for GOODNESS SAKE, Mummy! But without Santa, I might as well go steal an I-Pod Shuffle from the Apple store. Plus, you can't prove he doesn't exist, Mummy!
Parent: Your father and I give you presents because we LOVE you, honey. That isn't going to change.
Child: Um.... yeah, then screw Santa.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/nov/06/religion-atheism
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