It has started.

Despite how it has looked for the last months and months, the 2008 Presidential campaign does not really start until tonight with the Iowa caucuses. A recurrent theme for both national and local elections for many cycles has been: Running a values based campaign. It seems that people want to vote for someone who not only is competent to do the job, but who also shares the same values.

In the Washington Post "On Faith" segment for today, Gustav Niebuhr, of the famous theologian Niebuhr family, has written a piece defining the five moral principles he thinks a candidate for President should have. Niebuhr writes:

First, are you able to admit a mistake and, as a chief executive, take responsibility for it and work humbly to undo any damage resulting from it?

Second, will you listen to others and give thoughtful weight to reasonable arguments with which you may be inclined to disagree?

Third, will you show sufficient curiosity about the world to believe that you can learn from and respond with care to changing global circumstances that affect your fellow citizens?

Fourth, will you demonstrate enough respect to other human beings to be truthful with them, even if that costs you politically?

And finally, will you state categorically that you will not start a war?

You, of course, may not agree with these principles, but, I think they are worthy to consider. How do you evaluate them? What would you add? What would you eliminate? Certainly, we will have ample time to consider the qualities, or lack of them, of all the people running by November.

The Revenge of the Cold

Winter has finally - and forcibly - come to the mountains of North Georgia. Rain had dominated for the last few days of 2007 - finally and thankfully. Today, though, was clear and cold. This morning's temperatures were in the teens with a 25-30 mph wind, and there was a slight dusting of snow on the ground. I realize that none of these conditions compare to what much of the country has experienced over the last several weeks and is experiencing now. Yet, for us, this is the first real taste of adverse weather.

As I walked to college, I wore my new scarf that Adam gave me as a Christmas present. It is a luxurious wine colored yarn, and, best of all, he knit it himself. At some point, when I have the technological capability, I shall post a picture.

It seems that our family will eventually all become knitters, or knit wits, due to the influence of Jill. Jill gave Vicki a book on the Zen of knitting as a way to encourage V to take up her needles and knit.

So, right now, V has everything she needs to produce something yarny. I cannot wait.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, the Sequel

Elizabeth Tenety in the Washington Post Feature ON FAITH shared this:

The late Jesuit priest Anthony De Mello developed the following examination of conscience which I have read many times but never completed. I’ve been afraid of it. But today, with a prayer to the Holy Spirit and a hope that I may gain clarity for 2008, I will take it on. For those of you also without resolution, or in need of a little direction, here is that exercise:

I imagine that today I am to die. I ask for time to be alone and write down for my friends a sort of testament for which the points that follow could serve as chapter titles.
1. These things I have loved in life: things I have tasted, looked at, smelled, heard, touched.
2. These experiences I have cherished:
3. These ideas have brought me liberation:
4. These beliefs I have outgrown:
5. These convictions I have lived by:
6. These are the things I have lived for:
7. These insights I have gained in the school of life: insights into God, the world, human nature, Jesus Christ, love, religion, prayer.
8. These risks I took, these dangers I have courted:
9. These sufferings have seasoned me:
10. These lessons life has taught me:
11. These influences have shaped my life: persons, occupations, books, events.
12. These Scripture texts have lit my path:
13. These things I regret about my life:
14. These are my life’s achievements:
15. These persons are enshrined within my heart:
16. These are my unfulfilled desires:

While I embrace the philosophical dictum that the examined life is worth living, I found that the older I get the less I want to be intentional about examining my life -- perhaps there have been too many "what if's and if only's" -- and perhaps the greater need for that to happen. So, in a follow-up to the post from yesterday, take this as a challenge to reflect on these questions and to share your answers with one whom you love.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The beginning of a new year marks a milestone for every person, regardless of age. Usually, in between watching parades and bowl games and eating "special" foods associated with good fortune in the coming year -- black eye peas is one of such foods for Southeners -- people make resolutions on how they plan to improve their lives in the months to come.

I look at the resolution making process with much scepticism. Regardless of how needful the changes may be and how sincere the person is, most resolutions fall by the wayside in a few short weeks. So, instead of me encouraging you to make resolutions, let me encourage you to reflect on your life.

On the news and feature website, Arts and Letters Daily, www.aldaily.com, which is run by the Chronicle of Higher Education, was a link to another website, The Edge, http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_index.html, that asks an annual question. The question for 2008 is framed in this way:

The Edge Annual Question 2008

When thinking changes your mind, that's philosophy.

When God changes your mind, that's faith.

When facts change your mind, that's science.
WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT? WHY?
Science is based on evidence.

What happens when the data change?

How have scientific findings or arguments changed your mind?

At The Edge site is a list of people who have responded to this question, which is interesting to read. But, on this New Year's Day, why don't you think about about how you have changed your mind and why? If you have not changed your mind about anything, why not?

Personal Items

-- While today, New Year's Eve, is a frequently taken holiday, Piedmont College was closed for example, it was not much of a "holiday" for us. The day began early as Vicki and I took Joshua to the airport in Atlanta for his trip back to Kansas. We left home around 7 a.m. (what a way to start a day off). Joshua was flying Delta, which has a straight flight to KC, where Adam picked him up from the airport. It turns out that the plane was an hour late in taking off because there was no pilot. I am sure that has something to do with required rest time for pilots, which is a good thing, but that just sounds wierd. The plane was there; the company - Delta - expected the plane to take off; the passengers were there. Only the pilot was missing. Couldn't someone have anticipated this and prepared better?

-- At some point in this process, I hope we can add pictures to this endeavor. To do so will mean we will have to get a digital camera, which we have wanted to have for a while. As an avid fan of Consumer Report's, I have had my eye on a little point and shoot Canon digital camera. Then, I will have to figure out how to do it.

-- The middle part of the afternoon was spent in a doctor's office. This was a first visit to an ob/gyn in Toccoa who has a lot of experience working with cancer patients. Both Vicki and I feel good about this new member to her medical team.

-- Now, this being New Year's Eve evening, I am starting to gear up for Sunday services. With the offices at Piedmont being closed today and tomorrow, I will have 3 days to cover sermon preparation and bulletin production and worship planning instead of the typical 5 days.