Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

June 30, 2006

Today’s announcements

Now onto the good stuff!

Today’s Queue Stories

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ValueSpeak

A Weekly Column

By Joseph Walker

valuespeak@msn.com

A DIFFERENT TIME IN A DIFFERENT WORLD

            It was a different world that Juan Padilla leapt into when he waded into the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River and swam over to the American side.

            And a “different world” was exactly what he was counting on.

            Born and raised in Spain, his life there had been . . . well . . complicated (I won’t go into detail, but it was a lot of dysfunctional family stuff – think “Desperate Housewives” meets “Man of La Mancha”).  I guess things weren’t much better in Mexico, although to be honest I don’t know a lot about that.  I just know that on one day during the first half of the 20^th Century, Juan Padilla came to America – uninvited and undocumented – looking for a different world.

            It took a while for U.S. Immigration to catch up to him in California, by which time he was married and had six children.  When they threatened to deport him, his wife said: “That’s fine.  Deport him (evidently Juan was not easy to live with, which may explain . . . you know . . . the whole “Desperate Housewives” scenario).

            “I just want to know one thing,” Juan’s wife continued.  “Who is going to provide for me and my six children?”

            The Immigration folks figured it would be less of a hassle to grant Juan citizenship than to try to provide for his family in his absence.  So . . . case closed.

            Of course, that was a different time in Juan’s “different world,” when immigration wasn’t such a hot button issue.  Juan has long-since passed on, and his posterity now reaps the full benefit of American citizenship.  Many have served in the military and made significant contributions to the communities in which they live.  Others, not so much (that’s sort of the way it is in families, isn’t it?).  The Padillas cherish their Spanish heritage, but they consider themselves first and foremost Americans, and America is a better place because they are here.

            Especially MY America, since my wife, Anita, is one of Juan’s granddaughters.

            And so you would think that Anita and I would have strong opinions on the current wave of immigration awareness that is sweeping across the country.  And we do.  The problem is, we have strong opinions on both sides of the issue.  This current controversy cuts to the very heart of who we are as a nation – and who we have been.  It takes cherished ideologies and valued historical perspectives and pits them against each other in occasionally gut-wrenching ways.

            For example, it has been said that we are a nation of immigrants.  And that is true.  Historically we have embraced the concept of “the melting pot,” and we have invited the world to give us “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free.” 

            On the other hand, what we experienced as a nation on Sept. 11, 2001, changed us a little.  Maybe a lot.  Whereas we once “lifted our lamp” to “your wretched refuse from your teeming shore,” now we’re more inclined to use a searchlight and ask to see your papers.  Given the horrifying impact of terrorism around the world, one can understand this heightened desire to protect our suddenly vulnerable homeland from . . . well, everyone.

            Do you see the conflict of those two perspectives?  Or is it just me?

            Similarly, I believe we are a compassionate nation.  We are the first to help in any crisis, anywhere in the world.  I believe that is right and proper, given our position as the wealthiest and most powerful of nations.  We should be the first to care and the first to share.

            But we also believe in the rule of law.  It is what keeps us strong and focused and civilized.  How can we hope to have impact on what is going on in the world if we can’t control what is going on within our own borders?  When you travel on an airplane, the flight attendant always tells you that if the oxygen masks pop down, you should put on your own mask first before you try to help any children who are traveling with you.

            OK, maybe that last part didn’t make any sense to anyone else, but at 2 o’clock. in the morning it seemed like one heck of an argument to me.

            The point is, there are good points everywhere in this discussion.  There is much to be said for both lifted lamps and for searchlights, for compassion and for the rule of law.  The important thing for us as a nation, I think, is to remember that this isn’t an episode of “Law & Order.”  It took a long time to get to where we are, and we’re not going to solve it in an hour or two.  It’s going to take patience, perseverance and pluck – all good, solid American virtues – to find answers for a different time in a different world.

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 You May Never Know What You're Missing

Joyce C. Lock

     Surely, most everyone who has ever attended church has heard a preacher say, "Faith without works is dead," only to hear echoes in the background chanting, "Uh-huh."
 
     He, then, proceeds with, "Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works," quoting James 2:18 ... which gets the Amen Corner going, "Amen!  Right on!  Hallelujah!  Preach it brother!"
 
     Many sit there (feeling so superior), thinking they work in the church all the time, they've just been patted on the back, and this sermon is for someone else.  Yet, I tend to wonder if anyone, in the congregation, understood its meaning.
 
     Until we trust God enough to take blind steps of faith, we have not exercised faith at all.  But, instead of taking those steps (when the miracles do not come) we blame God by saying He has changed.
 
     Our works do not prove our faith.  Our works of faith prove our faith, "Uh-huh!  Amen! Right on!  Hallelujah!  Preach it brother!"
 
     When God speaks to you, try taking spiritual risks.  Otherwise, you may never know what you are missing.

© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/

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Poetry Section

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Pursue
Gautami Tripathy

Seek within yourself until it’s too late.
Do not wait for hand of fate
You will find yourself along the way
Don’t let obstacles let you sway

Face whatever comes without fear
All will fall into place ever so clear
Only when you set out and make a move
You can have something to prove

You owe it to yourself to try
You cannot just let your life fly
Only when you seek, you get
Keep saying this, lest you forget!



(c)2006 Gautami Tripathy
s_gautami@yahoo.com
http://firmlyrooted.blogspot.com

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 Spirit Glory
Carol D. Meeks
c_pmeeks@hotmail.com

Moses spent precious time with God
upon Mount Sinai's ground.
After he left his holy trod,
after his talk with God,
he held the guide to make them sound.

The light that shined upon his face,
when he met them at Sinai's base,
he placed a veil to tone it down
so the people wouldn't see
the glories fade as Moses' crown.

Then Ten Commandments made them know
they served a God that loved them so.
The veil was removed instantly,
when removed, it set them free.
Then they believed, they did see.

The glory Moses wore that day,
the glory no one could take away,
applies to us as it did them.
At the moment we first believe.
God's spirit is there for us to receive.

His splendor waits for us on high.
We'll live with Him up in the sky.
The glory we'll know can't compare
with life on earth or anywhere.
It truly will be awesome there.

© 2006 Carol Dee

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/kmhomepage/homePage.html

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Mankind's Awakening
Carol D. Meeks
c_pmeeks@hotmail.com

There, Moses prayed for all mankind.
He knew our lives could be refined.
Then he prayed for awakening.

He said, "Our time on earth is short
and all bad things we should abort."
Then he prayed for awakening.

And Moses told us God was ageless,
eternal, endless, also timeless.
Then he prayed for awakening.

So Moses added, "Ask not why,
on God we lean, on God we rely."
Then he prayed for awakening.

The awakening for which Moses prayed,
was the need to live our lives unfrayed.
Moses instilled God is The Rock,
God knows to whom and where we dock.

His sovereignty is always there.
from Dan to Beersheba and everywhere.
Our time on earth with kin and friends
is but a flash as it withers and ends.

Moses prayed for awakenings,
awakenings, awakenings,
revival here on earth,
revival-second birth.

© 2006 Carol Dee Meeks
http://home.midsouth.rr.com/kmhomepage/homePage.html

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