Archive → May, 2010
Happy Trails to YOU! Hearing the Sovereign People of MN Senate District 50!
I can hear you now! Walking with you. Foreclosures. Job searches. Bills to be paid. I can hear you now. Some people have deep faith, and others are learning to lean on God. Others are mad at the bank, the economy, the politicians and God. Well, there is much to learn…I will trust and not be afraid. I’m finding out there are more for us than against us. Both parties are distrusted. Reasons and emotions are freely given. This ‘trail’ is becoming an education. I’m in it to win it. Continuing education frome WE THE PEOPLE OF SENATE DISTRICT 50!
Learning from the people…you can’t fool all the people all the time…but some feel like politics is not trustworthy. “I don’t trust any politician!” one man states, and he means it. He signs. I’m grateful. People can make a difference. The difference of one has been felt many times in America…the difference of one! I believe again and walk on.
How Healthy?
She’s sitting on the steps smoking. An atheist, she states. Family divided. Beautiful young woman. Homeless for the third time or more. She lives in a foster home. Some of her story tumbles out. Previously she was ‘captured’ by a so-called friend and kept under lock and key for nearly two weeks with bad results. She can’t trust God or people she says and tells a little more of her story. It is gripping and real. She introduces her two pets. She loves them. She is wounded and in hiding and not trusting guys or her parents, definitely. Her story is repeated, I know, in the lives of Minnesotans and in the lives of those who find their way to Minnesota in the hulls of ocean going vessels. Minnesota is 13th as a destination for human slavery with slave masters involved from around the world. Much money in this culture of greed and shame. Much can’t be printed. Prayers! She is created in God’s own image, and valued. I didn’t meet her by accident. She calls the next day. I answer. Rescue those. I want to call the police and say watch the Duluth harbors for slaves being sent here to our state. I want to scream for rescue of humans who have been locked down and abused. Liberty for some or for all in America? Silent no more about the plight of those enslaved right here in Minnesota. Look into their eyes and see the desperation. Look again and see a loss of hope.
A beautiful home near the lake. A lonely elderly man who thought there would be more times together. He wonders who I am and asks. He smiles and converses. He wishes for more community events, and does not want to be in a nursing home. He talks. Where is his family? Many of his friends have left the planet. He is here. He has hope and a heart beat and a story. His white hair and common sense make an impression on me. The elderly have made America better and they deserve my respect and I will pay attention! He is part of our ‘national treasure of faith and hard work’. Hear him!
Wow! So beautiful. The children. Little girl with smiles and bouncing braids, and many words, walking with Dad down the street. She’s about two and her brother about four, with a newborn sister at home with Mom I find out. Christians, openly, new to America! [Note to myself: Keep freedom of speech intact!] Dad’s stride is obviously shortened to keep pace with two little pairs of feet. The two children walking with him are often bouncing up and down like the street is made of trampoline fabric.
“Life, Liberty and HAPPINESS do exist in America! Look around! He signs the petition for an independent candidate to get on the ballot. He looks straight into my eyes and seriously encourages me, face to face. I feel his and believe in the proffered strength and go on down the street. It’s been an hours long journey today and my feet still feel good in my New Balance running shoes…640s I believe. Cheaper! Thank God for shoes that bounce even when I do not.
They used to live in MN and wonder where all the mosquitos went. We laugh. They’re back from Washington State. He is nearly 90 and she is not far behind. He is a Bethel Seminary graduate. He is still working as an interim pastor. He loves his Savior and the Word of God and his vocation. He and his wife each lost their spouse. Then they found each other and married. Together they share the message…go and make disciples….baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the world. They share passages of scripture with those they meet–even Senate candidates who come to their door! He offers to pray for me. I respond with gratitude. He asks for God to keep me strong and true to Him and available to others–a servant so to speak! I am so blessed by this lively and joy filled couple. She remembers me from years ago–when you smiled I knew it was you she remarks. Amazing. Also he went to seminary with my Uncle, now in heaven. I bumped into this couple, not by mistake but for ‘good’. Thank you! My good times are in God’s hands, and the not so good times are, too. What a gift. He shares more situations and scriptures and so does she. We find a song we all know and like. I leave for home at 11 pm–amazed at the time. I had stopped by when the sun was up! They invited me to sit down and offered a drink of juice. Then they watch to make sure I’m okay walking down their street. Kindness…and God lives and relates graciously and personally today and always. “Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit says the LORD.” Amen to that. Believing again and again in 2010. “They say…” within five links we all would know someone who knew us. I’m thinking, maybe!
He asks what laws are influenced by the Constitution? I respond that all of them should be! He continues to ask questions. We talk. He is satisfied to note that, “The Constitution is there to control the government, not the people.” He signs on. The Constitution sets the people free. Liberty! Not free of charge, but still we have viable freedoms. A huge black dog is eager to relate–fortunately friendly! I need a shower–and so does the large puppy. Pets are important in the real world. There is unconditional love being expressed, and acceptance. Pets don’t speak in words, but they do speak. [ Note to me: More pets needed in assisted livings and nursing homes...unconditional love up front and personal toward those some people walk around without a nod or a handshake. God made pets, I'm sure!]
Medtronics, and a new engineer buying an older home that came with Siamese cat–from the former owner, who is now in assisted living, apparently. He likes his house. He signs. He speaks of his love for brain research…medical research. He fits in this job and it keeps him engaged in learning. He loves to learn and investigate. He is so young and so well educated and giving back with alacrity and hope. Down the street and around the corner I meet another engineer who has retired from Medtronics. He speaks of the 5800–a pacemaker. He ‘invented’ and/or made the first one Medtronics used and it was at the hip level, not the clavicle. I listen. Both men are fascinating to talk with. I can’t stop listening. Hard to break away, but I know the next people down the block will also grab my attention and make a memory in my heart, and will challenge me to respect “we the people…” in District 50. Our district is privileged to have Medtronic here among us, changing health care delivery around the earth. We all could need brain and heart repairs. Research continues.
Sure enough, a man with “Crocs” on his well used feet opens the door. He smiles. He is tall! He looks big and strong and manly. He says the crocs feel good since his feet have been well used and give pain sometimes. He smiles again. He discovers I’m independently positioned to serve ‘WE THE PEOPLE OF SENATE DISTRICT 50 by engaging the people one by one, and he invites me in to meet his wife, sitting quietly in a chair. I meet his wife with medical problems and discover she is LIVELY and she explains life as she knows it, not mincing words! She is beautiful and full of questions and information. She reiterates that sometimes their new digital TV doesn’t work. They wish for the old way of having TV, like before June of 2009. They both do want to sign on. They are definitely independent voters, and now they have a candidate. “There is no one more independent than me…” he states. We talk about family. He says his son played the part of Jesus in a play, and is an actor. He shows me the family on their wall in pictures. Families! We all have them. Honor your parents. Wisdom never skips a generation, but is hard to find at times. He sounds like my Dad. They must’ve met up somewhere or read the same history of America–an authentic history.
All of “we the people” have histories on the tip of our tongues and with God’s help, we will also have a future! We citizens will need help from each other. We listen to each other –we can do the next right thing. Citizens can unite outside our boxes. We can rule ourselves. We’ve done that before–can’t forget those ‘forefathers’ and fore-mothers! They surely tightened their belts. We can do the same. Waists crying for bigger belts–keep the belt and eat raw carrots and and apples instead of ‘fat’. Too easy to grab fast food when on the ‘trail’.
She’s walking the same street just ahead of me–wearing walking shoes and longer shorts. She is over 90! She signs. She is very conversant. I listen. She doesn’t like one of the statements on my literature that says; “Marriage, One Man, One Woman”. She points out her daughter is in another state and was ‘married’ in Canada to her lesbian friend. She says, “They’re not hurting anyone and they’ve been together for years…” She is feisty and she reminds me after signing on [because she agrees with most of the list] that I need over a hundred more signatures. I say thank you. We both walk on. She walks up the street easily–born in the early 1900s. Later I stop at a home and there she is again. I meet her husband, and she calls him “my better half”. I listen to these experienced national treasures. [Thinking-- be creative--find a word that more accurately defines relating and focuses on fair economics.]
Going to the source. “And God created mankind in His image, male and female created He them, and He said, “Multiply and subdue the earth…” Two genders make one child all around the planet– in every place and in all races. The term “marriage” is a special word recognized around the world for man and woman and pregnancy and childbearing, for working families barely making it and for families that live in palaces and for the often NEGLECTED WORKING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES, as well! Marriage–thinking–want to keep that word for holy unions as God planned and prescribed–only for holy unions as God described them in Holy Scripture.
Yes, sometime laws are wrong and need changing–500,000 missing just in MN–aborted. Sometimes laws are right on. Marriage is between one man and one woman…it is written. Should check out that early English Bible, the Geneva Bible, from 1560, that brought about the Christian Reformation with Martin and Erasmus. Politics and Scripture in the well known Bible. It’s available again. I would like a copy…$25. It’s on the net I discover.
Next house. “I’m not using poison on my dandelions…” she remarks looking at some dandelion stems that popped up through the well maintained and mowed grass. She has a huge garden partially filled with plants peeking through. We look at the yard and I know from experience the work it takes that she puts into it. She goes in and finds her husband. They sign the petition. Thank you! Together they cultivate their garden and their life! Their easy conversation and respect shows their love and their commitment to each other. I listen. Both appear strong, lean and flexible. Their home speaks of care and shouts happiness. The blooming flowers and the sturdy young tomato plants are being nurtured to bear fruit. She grins stating that a couple of the neighbors are more afraid of dandelions than poisons. I agree people do eat dandelion greens, and should not eat poison. There is a message here someplace!
On I go. It’s getting dark. The lights are on. I knock. A man comes to the door and asks questions. He looks serious and signs. Then he gives another address two blocks away. “Go there, they will want to sign,” he states. I do. They sign and are appreciative of my campaign FOR WE THE PEOPLE OF SENATE DISTRICT 50. Now it is dark–fragrant Minnesota summer night. I breathe in the calmness and look up with awed gratitude to ‘God with me’ as usual.
