In my line of ministry I am constantly visiting new people.  I really enjoy it when I meet a family for the first time and they accept me into their circle so completely that by the end of the visit I feel like I have known them for longer than one visit.  Acceptance is a gift we can extend to others or withhold from them.  The choice is ours.  But when we extend acceptance the gift we give to the other person is long lasting and creates energy and peace within them.  Let us be about the work of ACCEPTANCE each and every day in all that we do!!!!

The Wall Street Journal posted the following information on their web page:

The “NBC Nightly News” anchor, who is under scrutiny after recanting a story he has told for years about being on a helicopter in Iraq that was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade, said last Saturday he was taking himself off the air.

In a memo to staff, Mr. Williams said the decision was his own. “In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions,” he wrote. Mr. Williams, who is also managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” said Lester Holt, the weekend anchor for NBC’s newscast, would take his place.

“Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us,” Mr. Williams said. He didn’t say when he would resume anchor duties.

When dealing with families I run into situations where there is conflict.  The reason a lot of the conflict continues is that those involved do not take responsibility for their own actions.  I do not know more about William’s event than I have read in the media.  But I do applaud him taking a breather while the facts can be determined.  This way the stories of the day can be the news rather than the person who is reporting them.  I am a fan of Brian Williams and truly do hope he is able to return to his anchor duties and garner the trust of the viewers.

Today my Aunt, Edna Grace Robinson, died after a battle with several illnesses.  At the time of her death she was under the care of a hospice program.  During my formative years Edna was always a person I could turn to for affirmation, support and even protection.  She did not have an easy life in that she faced many struggles most of us would want to avoid.  She raised her children as a single mother following her divorce.  In addition to working her job in town she tended to the livestock she raised before going to work in morning and coming home from work in the afternoon.

She was auditor of the bank where she worked when the FDIC closed the bank due to underperforming agricultural loans and depositors were issued checks for the insured amounts of their deposits.  Her accounting was so precise the FDIC hired her to work for them during the transition and collecting the outstanding loans.  All of this took place several years before she had planned to retire.  She did not seek employment following that chapter in her life.

She lived her whole life in Monroe County, Iowa where her funeral will be held.  I won’t be blogging until Monday because of my attending her services.  I was hesitant to make the long trip from Maryland to Iowa.  Her services fell on a weekend where I had several significant commitments.  I was able to find direct flights from Washington DC National Airport that will allow me to attend the funeral and keep all my scheduled events.  My making this flight to her services is just one sign of the degree to which I love her and value her in my life.  Future trips to Iowa will not be same with her not being alive any more.

I met two patients who were in basically the same medical condition.  One felt let down by his Divine Being because he was allowed to get as sick as he was.  The other patient had concern about his medical condition, but said he knew that whatever happened his Divine Being could and would stay on the journey with him.

Both believed the power of a God that was present with people and who had immense power.  One felt God has passed him by and was sad.  The other saw everything from the oxygen to the artificial valve as a gift from God that had been shared with him through the route of modern science.

How we view things as they happen to us has a huge effect on how we heal.  So I encourage you to believe that God is with you when things are going rough.  Fortunately we all know the joy of good times, so when times are not so good we can hope for good times to return again in whatever form they are presented.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday.  In worship settings around the USA living life on a daily basis has been compared to the rules of engagement that are expected in the playing of a football game.  This is a good way to compare how we act to what we believe.

• If we say we believe in love yet practice hate, how sincere is our belief?
• If we say we believe in respect yet degrade others, how sincere is our belief?
• If we say we believe in serving others yet refuse to help when the opportunity arises, how sincere is our belief?

I hope today can be a call to help us examine our actions and our principles and see if we can have them in alignment.  The good news is that if they are not in alignment we can make changes so that alignment can exist.