Happy Febarch! And, A Merry Maruary to you!

I have been meaning to create some posts during February in honor of Black History month, but this month has just flown by (was it deliberate to honor African Americans in the shortest month of the year?). As many of you know, March is Womens' History month. So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and do some posts about influential African American Women. I might also throw in some white women, as long as they're awesome. So, in the first part of this series, I'd like to honor Rosa Parks.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was on her way home from her job as a seamstress when the white bus driver asked her and three other black passengers to give up their seats for a white man. She refused, and was arrested and fined $10. Her courageous actions spurred a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama that lasted 381 days. Rosa's act of defiance may seem small, but I like the way the NY times described it in her obituary (Mrs. Parks passed away in 2005):

"Her act of civil disobedience, what seems a simple gesture of defiance so many years later, was in fact a dangerous, even reckless move in 1950's Alabama. In refusing to move, she risked legal sanction and perhaps even physical harm, but she also set into motion something far beyond the control of the city authorities. Mrs. Parks clarified for people far beyond Montgomery the cruelty and humiliation inherent in the laws and customs of segregation."

It's important to note that her action was not without consequences - she lost her job and did suffer financially for her dedication to this cause. It's also important to note that the boycott didn't get results on the 1st day, or the second, or even the 300th! It took over a year of walking, carpooling, and boycotting for the protesters to get justice. Even when the buses were desegregated, a long fight for true equality continued (and continues today). When we stand up to the petty injustices of the world's bigots, we can't expect instant change or no adversity. I truly admire Rosa Parks. In her words, here's why she refused to get up from her seat:

"I did not want to be mistreated, I did not want to be deprived of a seat that I had paid for. It was just time... there was opportunity for me to take a stand to express the way I felt about being treated in that manner. I had not planned to get arrested. I had plenty to do without having to end up in jail. But when I had to face that decision, I didn't hesitate to do so because I felt that we had endured that too long. The more we gave in, the more we complied with that kind of treatment, the more oppressive it became."

I honor and admire Rosa Parks for her courage. She was truly a great American.

For more information, see a really detailed biography on Wikipedia here. There's also a great slideshow of pictures of Rosa here.

P.S. Anyone up for a road trip to see the bus Rosa Parks sat on? I'm there!

"Wonderful" Contention

I've been thinking about the contradiction between two verses, one of which I've heard a lot of while growing up Mormon, and one that I've never heard quoted.

In 3 Nephi, Christ teaches "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another." (3 Ne 11:29)

While, when describing the political turmoil during the early reign of the judges (the Nephites' first experience with democracy), an unknown narrator* states "And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another." (Alma 2:5, emphasis added)

Now, I don't want to contradict Christ. But I think what He's talking about is "contention for the sake of contention" (I'm familiar with this from having younger brothers). I think Christ was saying that creating arguments just to argue about something, or pick fault, is a bad thing. I think He doesn't mean we shouldn't fight evil. The key is in the second part of the verse, where he talks about the motivation behind the contention - it can't be in anger. I think a lot of political talk these days falls under the "anger" label (I'm looking at you, Hannity and Olberman).

How can contention be wonderful? We in America tend to be believers in a democracy that throws out bad ideas and embraces good ones through the power of argument. We believe that merely through the opposing arguments of our two main parties (complete with lunatic fringes on both sides) we can winnow down to something approaching a "golden mean" where we make the right decisions. Of a necessity, this involves disagreement. I guess part of me likes the idea of "wonderful" contention. I believe it's a healthy part of a democracy. That's what bothers me about places like Utah or Massachusetts, essentially people don't have to "contend" for their seat. They're able to coast, merely by labeling themselves by the prevailing political party.

I vote for some wonderful "contention" on the important issues facing us today. I don't think we have enough SERIOUS debate - so far it seems to me that Republicans are just reflexively against any changes proposed by Democrats and vice versa. So, call me "of the devil," but I think we need some wondrous arguments ;)

And please, let's not compare either side to Amlici (a bad guy) - rarely are issues as black and white as they were in Alma 2.

*Perhaps Alma, perhaps Moroni?

Spirit of Christ

Merry Christmas Eve! I began posting my Christmas messages the last day of November, and this will be the last of them (then I'll go back to my socialist views of religion).

I wanted to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ, his birth, life, message, death, and literal resurrection. I believe in a living Jesus, one who knows you and me personally. We can gain a testimony of him through prayer, study of His words and deeds, seeing His principles in action - and, ultimately, through faith. When I say "I know" that something is true, it is knowledge through faith. I don't claim to have seen Him, but I have felt the Holy Ghost whisper to me that Jesus Lives, and loves me. For my final post, I'll share two things with you: this video from the Mormon messages channel (which I loved), and the story of Luke 2, which my family reads every Christmas. To spice things up a bit, I've included the New International Version of the bible, which has slightly different wording than the standard King James Version that we often read.



"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph went up from the town of Nazareth in Gaililee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with mar, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." (Luke 2:1-20)

Truly, this is a season of "Glory to God in the Highest!" Peace be with you, and Merry Christmas!

Tracking the Big Guy

In case you were thinking that modern technology wasn't good for anything, I was reminded today that NORAD tracks Santa as he delivers gifts on Christmas. It's pretty awesome, eh? Here's the link for the Santa Tracker:

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html

I hope you all were good this year and you don't get a lump of coal in your stocking!

Christmas Music!

While I've already talked about a few Christmas songs, the truth is that I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC. Maybe next year I'll do a Christmas song a day (a bit more manageable that putting coherent thoughts together everyday). So, without further ado, here is a playlist of great Christmas Music. I have to admit, I even love the pop Christmas music - I can't help but tap my toe to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Wise Men (and Women!) Still Seek Him

The wise men in the story of Jesus' birth are interesting. We don't know if there were three wise men, or more than that. We know this:

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1-12)

The journey of these wise men has always fascinated me - where were they from these mysterious men of the east? Why did they seek the fulfillment of an obscure prophecy? What happened to them after they found the baby Jesus?

Henry Van Dyke wrote a great short story about "the other wise man" - you can read the full text online. It's about a wise man who doesn't get to see Christ personally, only through the people he serves. Here is my favorite quote, when the wise man, Artaban, seeks out a Hebrew priest who tells him:

"And remember, my son," said he, fixing his eyes upon the face of Artaban, "the King whom thou seekest is not to be found in a palace, nor among the rich and powerful. If the light of the world and the glory of Israel had been appointed to come with the greatness of earthly splendour, it must have appeared long ago. For no son of Abraham will ever again rival the power which Joseph had in the palaces of Egypt, or the magnificence of Solomon throned between the lions in Jerusalem. But the light for which the world is waiting is a new light, the glory that shall rise out of patient and triumphant suffering. And the kingdom which is to be established forever is a new kingdom, the royalty of unconquerable love.
"I do not know how this shall come to pass, nor how the turbulent kings and peoples of earth shall be brought to acknowledge the Messiah and pay homage to him. But this I know. Those who seek him will do well to look among the poor and the lowly, the sorrowful and the oppressed."
Christ did indeed come to establish a kingdom of the royalty unconquerable LOVE.

Mary You Did Know

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:26-28)

Let's give it up for Mary! I really don't mean that flippantly - you've gotta admire a woman (or in today's world, a girl) who has the courage to respond to an angel who tells her she's going to be mother of the Son of God, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord." She had faith enough to tell Joseph the news, without being sure he would back her up; eventually make a long journey via donkey while very pregnant; give birth in a stable without modern medicine; flee to Egypt with her young child; raise a child who was probably a tad different, and eventually live to see the death of her son in a very violent manner. The scriptures don't say much about Mary, but reading between the lines we can see a Daughter of God who was selfless, courageous, and faithful. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is an example to me, and Christmas wouldn't have happened without her faith and devotion. Mary did know, and did the impossible through faith in God.