Some heady stuff: The duty of ‘Haves’ to help the ‘Have Nots,’ the existence of God (or not) and this week’s show:
By Helen ~ February 8, 2012
Snow is gently falling outside my window here at eTown Hall world headquarters (just joking there, about the headquarters part) as I write this. Absolutely beautiful. I’ll be honest with you, I’m feeling physically punky today (virus maybe?) so this may ramble a bit.
The word on this week’s broadcast is that our old friend, John Gorka, is back with us (a bit of eTown trivia: John’s one of THE most frequent eTown guests over the years). Rolling Stone has called John “the preeminent male singer-songwriter of the new folk movement,” and with good reason. That voice! One could argue he is the Tony Bennett of our time (oh, geez, he’ll probably squirm in his chair if he reads this, he’s such a modest guy). He’s a real sweetheart too, and we always love to have him with us. Also joining us this week, the Northern California jam band, Hot Buttered Rum, who blend the traditions of folk and bluegrass with more modern influences like reggae and rock ‘n roll, to create their own unique sound. There’s of course also a heart warming E-Chievement Award story for you too. It’s a good hour of listening, and I hope you’ll tune in to be with us. Or join us by podcast!
Ever stop to count your blessings? It’s hard to do, isn’t it, in the midst of challenges, which we all must face sometimes. But still, when you step back and think of it, we here in this country are pretty darn ahead of many in the world in regards to the worries and suffering we must deal with. I mean, I can write this right? Without, for the most part anyways, fear of punishment for doing so. I’ve said some feisty things in my blog now and then (those who know me well are not surprised). Yet I’m free to do so. That’s very different than in most parts of the globe.
So I’ll take the opportunity to say this: I don’t get people who say “Hey I got mine, let them work – or work harder – to get theirs.” I know for a fact that there’s a ton of folks out there who’re working hard, as hard as they possibly can, at as many as three jobs (Walmart, 7-Eleven, MacDonald’s type jobs b/c that’s all that’s out there) just to keep food on the table and the lights on. That is, if they’re lucky enough to have some kind of crummy job these days. And some of us are fortunate enough to have job security and/or a satisfying work situation (those two conditions don’t always go hand in hand).
But for those who have a ton, I have to wonder why some resist helping those who have fallen on hard times and who are struggling. I mean, but for the grace of God, there go I, as the saying goes (don’t take that wrong, I do NOT believe that if I pray hard enough God will bless me and not someone else; I don’t believe he/she makes one team win over another – sorry, Tim Tebow – or makes one person successful and not another. That to me is naïve arrogance; I mean, c’mon, do you think somehow you are more special than any other of God’s “children?”). I believe that, if there is a God – remember, that’s a faith thing, we can’t prove it – that entity comforts us when we suffer and suffers along with us when we do: check out the book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” for more on that philosophy.
I for one love Warren Buffett and his whole approach to things. I hope I get to meet the man someday to tell him so in person.
In the meantime, tune in for some good tunes, good vibes and good news, this week, in eTown.
Stay warm, stay well, talk soon,
Best always,
Helen
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