BLOODY KNEES, BACTINE, MONKEY BARS AND GOD

Recently the world changed, well recent in a generational sense. It has happened over the last 60 years. Once upon a time children were taught to strive to be the best, to excel, to play hard, keep score and that bumps and scrapes and bruises and winning and losing were all part of growing up and life. When they burst through the door with a bloody knee or elbow, they received a spray of Bactine, a band-aid, and a pat on the butt and were sent back out to play. If Johnny who lived down the street bloodied their nose, Dad would give them a pep talk and a boxing lesson. If they broke the rules at school a swat from “old hickory” or some such named paddle was delivered, picking up trash or some other supposed demeaning task assigned to punctuate their malfeasance, parents notified only if they were repeat offenders.

Today a bloody knee, elbow, or nose can lead to a trip to the plastic surgeon and an immediate call to an attorney to assign blame and seek compensation for emotional tumult and future therapy needs, fighting requiring a police report and a crisis counselor. Have you been to a playground lately? No swings, no “monkey” bars to do “death drops” from, no jungle gyms or teeter-totters, grass and dirt replaced with specially formulated cushioning sand and rubber mats. Failure is avoided in our public schools, it being more important to “try” than succeed. Even scores for sporting contests have been discontinued in some burbs because it is more important to participate than to have winners and losers, God forbid. Oops, sorry, using the G word or saying “Merry Christmas” may upset or offend someone so that is frowned on and do not even suggest singing any of the great Christmas carols like Silent Night in a public setting, too religious dontcha know. Oh, and don’t even get them started on “In God We Trust” on American currency.

If you agree with way the world is turning in regards to personal responsibility, wrapping children in “cotton” in a attempt to shield them from life’s inevitable ups, downs, bruises, cuts, failures and successes, the removing of God and Spiritual Guidance from being mentioned in any public way, than please, have a wonderful day and stop reading. No Really. Stop.

When we believe in nothing then we will believe in anything, all that matters is feelings. Actions have no consequence, so long as I feel good about myself is the credo of those living on the secular basis, a basis for living built on the shifting sand of carnal thought. Living on the Spiritual Basis provides a foundation built on unshakable rock, a foundation that can and will stand against anything thrown against it. God is either everything or else He is nothing-choose wisely. Oh, and whatever time of year it is, Merry Christmas.