We have two elm trees in our front yard. Probably two-thirds of our neighborhood has them. Slowly, you see the trees disappear as they die out in each person's yard. It's an inevitability that ours will die as well one day.
This Sunday, as we were pulling into the driveway from church I noticed that the bark near the top of one of the trees looks different than I'm used to. I don't know what a diseased tree looks like, but I do know that elm trees are prone to disease.
So, for the last couple of days I have been thinking about whether I need to get it looked at and what it would cost to hire a crew to come cut down both of the trees, since it's only a matter of time. Today, I decided to Google what a diseased elm tree looks like. "Huh, that's not what our trees look like," I realized. "I wonder what that could be."
It's lichen. Lichen doesn't damage trees. I feel dumb, but relieved.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Thursday, March 21, 2019
signing bibles
I'm noticing that, while I frequently contemplate the implications of news stories and comment on them, the news cycle is so fast nowadays that by the time I have real fleshed-out comments to make on them they're long out of the news.
One such story is the somewhat recent kerfuffle about President Trump signing Bibles in Alabama. If you asked me immediately after the news story broke I would have responded that him doing this was deeply offensive. Now I still think it's offensive, but I also think it's one of the bigger non-stories of the past month.
My initial reaction was that President Trump should have known better, and that doing this exemplifies the criticism that he has a god complex and/or narcissistic tendencies. Christians should revere Scripture to the level that turning a Bible into autographed memorabilia should at least give serious pause. In my view, putting a signature on the cover of the Bible makes it look like the person signing has the same or greater significance than the Bible itself. I still believe this after giving the situation time and thought. The general shrug that a lot of believers gave the story is still bothersome from the perspective that the Bible should be given due respect, and in this case it clearly wasn't.
However, my originally harsh view of the event has moderated significantly. The biggest reason for this is that it's very easy to imagine someone getting random things shoved in front of them to sign and not stopping to think about whether it's a good idea to sign every single thing. One can argue about how prone President Trump is to stop and think in general, but I expect that a lot of people in that situation who aren't President Trump would have signed a Bible in that situation without thinking about it.
Second, there is some debate as to what specifically about signing a Bible is offensive. Other presidents have signed Bibles. Few people consider signing the inside of the Bible wrong, especially when the Bible is a gift to another. People used to use the family Bible to detail their family tree. I have had more than one Bible with my name inscribed on the cover. If I can't draw clear lines on the whys for when it's offensive to put a name in or on a Bible and when it isn't, I do need to give some grace.
Finally, what's offensive about this is more what it represents than the act itself. The real issue is that there are believers who are quick to judge the morals of politicians they disagree with, but will give President Trump or other similar politicians a pass (or twenty) because he nominates the judges they want. In essence, this issue was always a proxy for that other issue. Rather than litigating concerns about hypocrisy as a proxy, those should probably be addressed more directly.
So, this is sort of a defense of Trump in this one instance without really being one. It's indicative of the times we live in.
One such story is the somewhat recent kerfuffle about President Trump signing Bibles in Alabama. If you asked me immediately after the news story broke I would have responded that him doing this was deeply offensive. Now I still think it's offensive, but I also think it's one of the bigger non-stories of the past month.
My initial reaction was that President Trump should have known better, and that doing this exemplifies the criticism that he has a god complex and/or narcissistic tendencies. Christians should revere Scripture to the level that turning a Bible into autographed memorabilia should at least give serious pause. In my view, putting a signature on the cover of the Bible makes it look like the person signing has the same or greater significance than the Bible itself. I still believe this after giving the situation time and thought. The general shrug that a lot of believers gave the story is still bothersome from the perspective that the Bible should be given due respect, and in this case it clearly wasn't.
However, my originally harsh view of the event has moderated significantly. The biggest reason for this is that it's very easy to imagine someone getting random things shoved in front of them to sign and not stopping to think about whether it's a good idea to sign every single thing. One can argue about how prone President Trump is to stop and think in general, but I expect that a lot of people in that situation who aren't President Trump would have signed a Bible in that situation without thinking about it.
Second, there is some debate as to what specifically about signing a Bible is offensive. Other presidents have signed Bibles. Few people consider signing the inside of the Bible wrong, especially when the Bible is a gift to another. People used to use the family Bible to detail their family tree. I have had more than one Bible with my name inscribed on the cover. If I can't draw clear lines on the whys for when it's offensive to put a name in or on a Bible and when it isn't, I do need to give some grace.
Finally, what's offensive about this is more what it represents than the act itself. The real issue is that there are believers who are quick to judge the morals of politicians they disagree with, but will give President Trump or other similar politicians a pass (or twenty) because he nominates the judges they want. In essence, this issue was always a proxy for that other issue. Rather than litigating concerns about hypocrisy as a proxy, those should probably be addressed more directly.
So, this is sort of a defense of Trump in this one instance without really being one. It's indicative of the times we live in.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
construction
When I was in high school I received one of the greatest gifts possible--a job that I desperately didn't want to make into a career. The summer I turned sixteen I was having trouble finding places that would hire someone my age, and so a contractor friend of the family offered me a job on his crew. I learned a lot from the experience, as I worked there the next three summers, but frankly most of it had to do with how I was not well-suited to working in construction.
The primary lesson regarding my incompatibility with construction had to do with the fact that didn't, and I still don't, do well working in the elements. I recall one specific roof that we worked on on a day that was closer to 110 °F than 100 °F. The sun was unrelenting, and it sapped the energy from the body as we did anything. One of the guys in the crew who took a lot of pride in his work ethic got wobbly at one point, and had to take a long break in the shade on the ground. It was impossible to do anything for more than a couple of minutes without downing a huge gulp of water, because we were sweating it out faster than it could be drunk. I distinctly remember riding home from that job thinking that I clearly cannot do this for the rest of my life.
As bad as hot days were, the cold days were worse. We didn't work many cold days, but I would help on random jobs in the spring or autumn. I remember siding a house on a breezy October day wondering why anyone would put themselves through that. At some point I couldn't reliably use my hands because they were too numb. I cannot imagine how someone working construction outside on a winter day must feel.
I think about these situations a lot on days that are very hot or cold. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work in an office setting with a controlled climate. That fact alone is worth the effort and expense I put into my education, and I am fortunate enough to know that I am fortunate.
A secondary lesson I received from that job was the fact that I realized that I am a klutz. I have to have a job away from dangerous equipment, because otherwise I'll eventually hurt myself or someone else badly. In the short time I was there I was able to observe that I got more cuts and bruises than the rest of the crew. I have at least one scar from that period of time in my life, and I was fortunate it was as minor as it was. I understood very quickly that it was only a matter of time before something very bad happened. This was compounded with the fact that I took more chances on scaffolding than I probably should have. My boss confessed to my parents once about watching me nervously on a scaffold, I assume it was from concern that I'd take a misstep from two stories up.
I didn't really need extra motivation to stay in school. There was no chance of me quitting once I started, and it's the setting where I've always done best. However, having a job like that, which I worked even through my freshman year in college, provided quite a bit of clarity regarding the sort of life I did not want to have, and the choices I needed to make to keep from going down that path. There are probably a lot of people who don't have that opportunity, and they make life decisions without that same clarity. I can now, twenty years after the fact, say that this clarity was a blessing.
The primary lesson regarding my incompatibility with construction had to do with the fact that didn't, and I still don't, do well working in the elements. I recall one specific roof that we worked on on a day that was closer to 110 °F than 100 °F. The sun was unrelenting, and it sapped the energy from the body as we did anything. One of the guys in the crew who took a lot of pride in his work ethic got wobbly at one point, and had to take a long break in the shade on the ground. It was impossible to do anything for more than a couple of minutes without downing a huge gulp of water, because we were sweating it out faster than it could be drunk. I distinctly remember riding home from that job thinking that I clearly cannot do this for the rest of my life.
As bad as hot days were, the cold days were worse. We didn't work many cold days, but I would help on random jobs in the spring or autumn. I remember siding a house on a breezy October day wondering why anyone would put themselves through that. At some point I couldn't reliably use my hands because they were too numb. I cannot imagine how someone working construction outside on a winter day must feel.
I think about these situations a lot on days that are very hot or cold. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work in an office setting with a controlled climate. That fact alone is worth the effort and expense I put into my education, and I am fortunate enough to know that I am fortunate.
A secondary lesson I received from that job was the fact that I realized that I am a klutz. I have to have a job away from dangerous equipment, because otherwise I'll eventually hurt myself or someone else badly. In the short time I was there I was able to observe that I got more cuts and bruises than the rest of the crew. I have at least one scar from that period of time in my life, and I was fortunate it was as minor as it was. I understood very quickly that it was only a matter of time before something very bad happened. This was compounded with the fact that I took more chances on scaffolding than I probably should have. My boss confessed to my parents once about watching me nervously on a scaffold, I assume it was from concern that I'd take a misstep from two stories up.
I didn't really need extra motivation to stay in school. There was no chance of me quitting once I started, and it's the setting where I've always done best. However, having a job like that, which I worked even through my freshman year in college, provided quite a bit of clarity regarding the sort of life I did not want to have, and the choices I needed to make to keep from going down that path. There are probably a lot of people who don't have that opportunity, and they make life decisions without that same clarity. I can now, twenty years after the fact, say that this clarity was a blessing.
Thursday, March 07, 2019
self made
Twitter lit up a couple of days ago regarding Forbes declaring Kylie Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire, reaching that level at the age of 21.
I'll confess. My gut reaction was the same as what a lot of other peoples' reaction was. She started as a millionaire with every possible advantage available to her. How "self-made" can we possibly call her? In thinking through the logic of this assertion, I hit on what I believe are a few uncomfortable truths that a lot of people don't like to think about when comparing themselves to others.
Truth #1 - No one is self-made
While it is true that there is a sliding scale to how self-made a person is, the reality is no one is truly self-made, and I doubt many are even in the general neighborhood. If you're even mildly successful in some area of life I can guarantee that many of the factors in that are gifts that were beyond your control. I considered typing examples of this, but it's so specific to the person and the examples are usually embarrassingly obvious.
The response that most people would give to this is that, sure, I have some advantages in life, but not anywhere near the advantages Ms. Jenner has been given. Perhaps this is true, but there are billions of people who don't have the advantages that I've been given in life. In my moment of taking credit away from her I'm also thinking in the back of my mind that I've worked for and earned what I have.
Truth #2 - I am responsible for the opportunities I pass up
The reality is that I wouldn't have become a billionaire if I were Ms. Jenner. I like to think that I would have made something of the opportunities would have had in her shoes. I'm deluding myself to think that my grit and smarts would have outperformed hers. Yes, she had every opportunity, but she also clearly used it.
I have to acknowledge that my life, like everyone else's, is marked by a series of choices I have made to do or not do certain things. There are times when I have chosen a path that led to growth, and there are times when I have not. There are times when I made actively destructive decisions.
Whether I have the maturity to make a wise choice is always on me.
Truth #3 - We value people too much for their wealth
While accruing a billion dollars in wealth is significant and noteworthy, this doesn't say anything about Ms. Jenner as a person. The size of her bank account or assets alone doesn't validate or invalidate her as a person.
None of this is shocking, new, or particularly insightful. However, I find that I constantly want to go back to the same broken patterns I see others stuck in. So much of life is spent building a career with the intent to generate an income that it's easy for that to be my identity. It's then easy to compare the life that my resources allow me to have to the lives others have, then to let that determine my value.
So, when someone is shown to have accrued wealth it is easy to think of that wealth as a gauge of their worth, and whatever I have accrued as a gauge of my worth. I know it's wrong. Most people factually understand this. I also know I'm not the only person who naturally falls into this mindset, and has to combat it.
So, Ms. Jenner does deserve some congratulations on this milestone. It's significant! But, it doesn't make her a more or less significant person. If she loses her wealth and everything else tomorrow she's no more or less valuable of a person than today as a billionaire. That's a truth I find both the easiest and the hardest to believe.
I'll confess. My gut reaction was the same as what a lot of other peoples' reaction was. She started as a millionaire with every possible advantage available to her. How "self-made" can we possibly call her? In thinking through the logic of this assertion, I hit on what I believe are a few uncomfortable truths that a lot of people don't like to think about when comparing themselves to others.
Truth #1 - No one is self-made
While it is true that there is a sliding scale to how self-made a person is, the reality is no one is truly self-made, and I doubt many are even in the general neighborhood. If you're even mildly successful in some area of life I can guarantee that many of the factors in that are gifts that were beyond your control. I considered typing examples of this, but it's so specific to the person and the examples are usually embarrassingly obvious.
The response that most people would give to this is that, sure, I have some advantages in life, but not anywhere near the advantages Ms. Jenner has been given. Perhaps this is true, but there are billions of people who don't have the advantages that I've been given in life. In my moment of taking credit away from her I'm also thinking in the back of my mind that I've worked for and earned what I have.
Truth #2 - I am responsible for the opportunities I pass up
The reality is that I wouldn't have become a billionaire if I were Ms. Jenner. I like to think that I would have made something of the opportunities would have had in her shoes. I'm deluding myself to think that my grit and smarts would have outperformed hers. Yes, she had every opportunity, but she also clearly used it.
I have to acknowledge that my life, like everyone else's, is marked by a series of choices I have made to do or not do certain things. There are times when I have chosen a path that led to growth, and there are times when I have not. There are times when I made actively destructive decisions.
Whether I have the maturity to make a wise choice is always on me.
Truth #3 - We value people too much for their wealth
While accruing a billion dollars in wealth is significant and noteworthy, this doesn't say anything about Ms. Jenner as a person. The size of her bank account or assets alone doesn't validate or invalidate her as a person.
None of this is shocking, new, or particularly insightful. However, I find that I constantly want to go back to the same broken patterns I see others stuck in. So much of life is spent building a career with the intent to generate an income that it's easy for that to be my identity. It's then easy to compare the life that my resources allow me to have to the lives others have, then to let that determine my value.
So, when someone is shown to have accrued wealth it is easy to think of that wealth as a gauge of their worth, and whatever I have accrued as a gauge of my worth. I know it's wrong. Most people factually understand this. I also know I'm not the only person who naturally falls into this mindset, and has to combat it.
So, Ms. Jenner does deserve some congratulations on this milestone. It's significant! But, it doesn't make her a more or less significant person. If she loses her wealth and everything else tomorrow she's no more or less valuable of a person than today as a billionaire. That's a truth I find both the easiest and the hardest to believe.
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