Back in the early 90s I had the privilege of working with a group of talented musicians in a band called FlashBack. We played classic rock and have the distinct honor of being asked if we were the Doobie Brothers, and a reporter from a major network thought we were the Beatles when he heard our sound check. Granted he couldn't see us, he thought it was on the radio. My last attempt to build credibility in the hopes that you will listen to this recording is that David bowie's bass player needed a back up band, and he asked us to play behind him at Daytona beach during Spring Break - we respectfully declined (one of many decisions I often second guess).
We went into the studio in the summer to cut two tracks for a compilation Christmas album. As a classic rock band we were going for a sort of "Byrds" feel: tight harmonies (which I had NOTHING to do with) and acoustic guitars. Fortunately the studio had an electric 12 string and our guitarist had always wanted to play one. So they let him use it and without practice he laid down a beautiful track. Me? I messed up the drum intro and so they just brought me in on beat 1.
My wife and I, being frugal, went shopping this morning. This song came to mind amidst the yelling, grabbing, pushing and shoving. It remains one of my favorites and I am privileged to have recorded it with these musicians.
Special education teacher, Darlene Gosnell, had her life and career changed by a drunk driver one night after a head on collision. Darlene’s injuries were so severe that when she was finally released from the hospital she needed a dog to keep her mobile, guide her and remind her to take her medications.
Molly
As Darlene continued with her own rehab, other rehab patients would play with and enjoy Darlene’scairn terrier and personal pet/therapist, “Molly.” Darlene’s own rehab took nearly 2 years. During that time Darlene experienced first hand the benefit of a pet/therapist. She and her doctors also saw how others benefited as well. With her doctors’ encouragement and no longer able to teach because of her brain injuries, she began a two year process of establishing TheraPetsof Indiana, Inc.
Drugs or dogs?
Adam is one of Darlene’s biggest fans. Adam was born with a compromised immune system. As a result he is frequently ill and too frequently hospitalized. Adam and his parents are enthusiastic about their experience with TheraPets.
“I like the dogs and they help me to not be scared. It is a lot easier to go to the hospital when the dogs are there” says Adam, now 11, recalling the surgery he had at age 8 to have a heart port put in so his medicine could be directly injected into his heart. It was a scary procedure for the whole family but with the dogs there it was a lot easier.
Adam & Molly
“I still remember sitting there waiting for the doctors to take him into surgery when these two dogs came around the corner. As soon as Adam saw them his eyes lit up and his countenance totally changed,” recalls Adam’s mom, Theresa. “He was able to relax and the whole procedure went much more smoothly. When we are at other hospitals, they have to sedate Adam to help him calm down, but when he has a dog, he can just sit there and pet the dog. It is such a blessing.”
In fact, the dogs are a blessing to hundreds of patients. They are even able to ride into surgery with patients. Once the patient is under anesthesia the dogs are removed from the operating room. When the patient is coming out of the anesthesia, the dogs are there on the bed making the transition much more peaceful.
Mac, a dog who knows:
Many times when a patient is in hospice or the hospital and about to die “Mac” is there offering comfort to the person and family. “Mac” is a bereavement dog. When the person is about to die, “Mac” will fold his paws and rest his head on the patient. It is truly remarkable.
Darlene lives in a small, unassuming ranch in Fishers, Indiana, with anywhere from 4 to 15 rescue dogs. It is from here that Darlene runs TheraPets. Many of the dogs (23 in total) stay with doctors or other foster families, so Darlene’s house is not always full of clamor. She gets her dogs from a local breeder or she rescues them from shelters to give them a new life, even as she now lives a new life.
TheraPets HQ
To look at her house one wouldn’t know that the occupants face death, injury, disaster and suffering on a daily basis. Darlene and her little terriers don’t look like the type you would see mobilized by the National Guard, working alongside FEMA personnel or roaming the halls of a hospital. Yet she and her mighty army of little cairn terriers and west highland terriers, known as “westies” are stalwart in the face of tragedy.
Bringing peace to tragedy:
Recently, the police called on Darlene and her dogs. A couple of men had broken into the home of immigrants and tried to rape the daughter. As the father fought off the assailants, his daughter escaped. The father was severely beaten for his intervention. Adding insult to injury, his wife was then brutally raped in front of him. The wife spoke only Spanish and was distraught to say the least. The presence of the dog was a great comfort to the woman. As she sat there stroking the dog, she was able to calm down and talk about her ordeal.
Darlene and her TheraPets are a great example of the type of people who make up the fiber of a community: unsung heroes who selflessly care for the needs of the hurting, the victims, the forgotten, and the people who, while most of us are working and going about our normal routine, are facing the fragility of life.
Other fun and/or helpful links:
Fishers, Google Video
TheraPets on FaceBook (Maybe Mac will get on Twitter someday!)
I have now lived in Indiana longer than any other place in the world. I understand that Indiana is seen as somewhat "backward" and conservative in the worst sense of the word. This, despite Indiana's history of pursuing avante-garde Utopian designs. We won't touch on Kinsey's fatally flawed "research" in this post. but let Kinsey stand as an enduring symbol to the world that Indiana is not as backward as some might think, though Indiana's esteem of Kinsey would rank us among the blindest.
On to New Harmony. Truly this is a fascinating story. A testament to the world that if we learn from history, life really would go a lot easier.
Harmonie was settled by a break-away Lutheran religious sect known as the Harmonists. Fleeing persecution in Germany they landed in America and kept running! Lest we disparage these hearty souls, history shows that in Harmonie they were able to found a prosperous community. Most of the people in southern Indiana at that time lived in one room cabins but the Harmonists lived in massive dorms. They were able to build a town that was thriving and successful. Their spirit of cooperation and hard work paid off in spades.
What does one do with a thriving town? Sell it! For a cool $150,000.
Robert Owen was a Welshman with a vision. As a social reformer and Utopian thinker Owen sought the perfect society with the aid of William Maclure. Together, the two started their grand experiment in 1825 with the creative name, New Harmony.
(cue soundtrack: Imagine, by John Lennon)
They created a cashless society where everything was owned by everyone. Private ownership was not allowed. Many leading intellectuals joined Owen and Maclure. They even started the first public school.
Alas, all was not well and there was trouble in paradise. They couldn't get along and the intellectuals didn't want to work, they wanted to think. Others didn't want to work and not get paid. Josiah Warren, one of the founders along with Owen put it like this, "our 'united interests' were directly at war with the individualities of persons and circumstances and the instinct of self-preservation." New Harmony was anything but harmonious and in 1829 the experiment concluded in discord.
What has become of New Harmony? It is still there and there are still some intellectuals living there as well. People own houses and are paid for their labor. It is a nice place, and a fun place to visit with its rich and interesting history. In fact, throughout the year many intellectuals visit New Harmony. They take in the history and wonderful art exhibits. I wonder why they don't stay?
The Harmonists? Well, whereas Owen and his friends could not seem to cooperate and thus are no more, the Harmonists weren't so good at cooperating either. They were industrious, but they were celibate. It is hard to keep a society growing without procreation. I think it is safe to say that procreation takes cooperation as well. Interestingly enough, the Harmonists settled in Pennsylvania, the same state with a town called Intercourse.
What lessons are to be learned from history? Well, without procreation, extinction is assured. This is why in about 20-30 years Europe will be Islamic. (We can do that post later)
Owen's experiment is trickier to dissect. Many communal societies have thrived. They tend to be small and people willingly lay down their individualism for the good of the community. Yet, time after time we see a coercive type of "communalism" show up in the forms of socialism and communism. When that type of community is coerced the community seems to be doomed. This is what was alluded to in the Scrooge nation post. When the government is in control of society the people don't need to care about their neighbor, nor really their location. The "pride in ownership is lost." Is collapse inevitable? Are people born with an innate sense that they are meant to be free? How is the tension between free and cooperation best managed?
Please comment and let's see what we come up with.
Growing up I really did not like Charles Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol. All I could see was a grumpy, mean old man with regrets and yes, a scary ghost or two. To my young mind this was not the stuff of Christmas. I am glad to say that over the years I have matured and learned to appreciate A Christmas Carol and would even name it among my favorites.
Early in the novel, Ebenezer Scrooge is approached by two fellow businessmen and asked to make a donation to the local orphanage. You may recall Scrooge's response, "No." Do you recall his rationale? He reasons away his lack of charity because he pays taxes. Since the government takes a part of his tax to help fund the orphanage, he has already made a contribution.
Do you know when American giving was at it's apex?
*During the Great Depression. Yup, when people had the least amount to give, they gave the most. Is it possible that the sense of community, caring for one's neighbor and bearing each other's burdens led to charity on the micro level? In other words, people were giving locally in order to care for their community, more specifically the people in their community.
Is it also not possible that the growth of the welfare state has contributed to the decrease in charitable giving because like Scrooge we, as a nation, view our taxes in part as a charitable contribution?
Additionally, I wonder if welfare implies that the government is caring for my neighbor and I am in turn absolved from my responsibility to my neighbor. In a sense, I have "subcontracted" my responsibility to the government. This article by Arthur C. Brooks seems to confirm that idea.
As "Soaps" said in response to the first blog about community, "When I am my brother's keeper n he is my keeper Community happens :)"
I am not advocating a total stop to welfare, nor is this intended to become a political post and debate. Rather the focus is on community.
What do you think? Is it possible that welfare enables a conscious, or even subconscious, abdication of our duty/responsibility to our neighbor and community? Might another unintended, and ironic consequence be the weakening of community and a strengthening of classism?
As always I look forward to your comments.
* I have been looking for this stat but can not find it. If anyone has this verified lease let us know. I know I have read that as a percentage of personal income people gave just over 3%, now people give on average less than 3%.
To all who are stopping by, thank you very much. Right up front I want you to know that I could really use your help. In a moment I will share my thoughts on what makes a community and I really want to see your thoughts as well. In the coming weeks I will be doing some interviews and research about community, and your input will be helpful. Besides that, I think you are interesting and I would love to get your input on the topic as well. OK, me first.
I think that what makes a community a community is people. That may seem like a "duh" statement to you, but I find it profound. Community is not a place. A place doesn't become a community until it becomes populated. before that it is wilderness!
If people are the source of community, then what people are necessary for a community? More to the point, what people make up a healthy community. Let's define "healthy" as a place where people want to live. A place where people live in safety and mutual respect. Even if only for the most part. Think about, or imagine a neighborhood where you would want to live. I think I have said enough as I don't want to lead you to certain answers. Hopefully that is just detailed enough to not be too vague, nor too closed a scenario.
Borrowing from the educational paragon that is Sesame Street, "Who are the people in your neighborhood"?
I think a community is made up of leaders, people with a vision of a future of opportunity and promise. Leaders with a compelling vision will attract followers. There are those who provide. Those who protect. Those who nurture and those who heal. In short:
To that list I would add two very broad categories, givers and takers.
In the category of giver there are heroes - unsung heroes who serve the community in virtual anonymity but whose presence, whether known or unknown enhances community.
My questions for you and where I need your help are as follows:
In your opinion, what makes a community a community?
Who would you add to the list of people in the community?
Do you know of an unsung hero in your community? If so, name them and honor them here!
Thanks so much, I am really excited to see your responses.
As the plane drifted through a blue sky and over a mix of red roofed homes, Communist-era buildings and medieval architecture, a sense of excitement mixed with fear washed over me. I was weary from 20 hours of trans-Atlantic travel and the city of Budapest sprawled below. How would Keynote’s story and communication training go over in Budapest? Yet another faith opportunity was before me.
Our team with the Hungarian students
This past week I had the incredible privilege of leading a team of Keynote staff to Budapest. Our task; to train the student leaders and hopefully future staff of Campus Crusade for Christ in Hungary in communication skills and how to weave God’s character into their personal stories. To say that this last week was a smashing success would be an understatement.
First I want to say that the Keynote staff were fantastic to work with. As a leader at Keynote, I saw again the talent, level of commitment to our mission, and love for God that makes our staff so incredible. I could not be more proud of them.
Here are a few of the most satisfying tings I heard from the students and staff in Hungary who were observing the students as we trained them.
“This is the most effective training we have ever had in communication. We have had a lot of training, but you guys focus on the spiritual and clearly practice what you preach.” Lotsi, Student Ministries Director
“We are closer as a team than ever before. Though we have known each other for years we learned things about each other we never knew. You encouraged us to go deep.” David, student leader and organizer of training.
“Our staff members wish they could have been at the training!” Dan Butts, Founder of CCC, Hungary
“You are different from other teachers. You focus on God and care about us. You not only tell us how to communicate, you show us.” Sean, student leader attending training
Lotsi, the Student Ministries Director went so far as to tell us that he could see the growth in communication skills and spiritual maturity in the students. It is his hope that we can return and train the rest of the Hungarian staff. Not only that, they hope to be trained to train others as we have done with our partnerships in Brazil, Panama, Singapore etc.
This trip was easily one of the most rewarding I have been involved in my 23 years on staff with Keynote. I am eager to see where God will grow this ministry after our training and hopeful for our future partnership with the Hungary staff. I am so grateful to my many friends who have made this even possible. This fantastic trip is not possible, nor successful without the prayers and support of our faithful ministry partners.
Beautiful city, Beautiful people
In this post I have been pretty open about my faith. Rest assured, that people of all faiths, including no faith, are more than welcome to be a part of this blog. After all, we are all on this journey together, and we can all celebrate each other's joys and mourn each other's losses. I would love to hear your story of a trip you loved. When have you met people and been a part of something energizing and life giving to you?
As a youth I remember being puzzled when Bob Dylan sang, “you gotta serve someone.”
Two thousand years before that Jesus of Nazareth said, “Where a man’s treasure is, that is where his heart is.” Now that I am older (and hopefully wiser) I see that Bob Dylan was paraphrasing Jesus.
It has been said that you can tell where a man’s ‘treasure’ is by looking at his checkbook. In short, we ‘serve’ what we love.
I have recently been challenged to consider my ‘treasure’ as my L.I.F.E.
Labor Influence Finances Expertise
These are the gifts, or treasures, entrusted to each of us. (by God?) The question then becomes, “Will we love the gift or the gift giver?”
If we love the gift, our time, talent and finances will be things to hoard. We love them so we will hold to them tightly, giving begrudgingly. I may share, and I may even share willingly at times, but there will always be a subtle sense of pride, or feeling that I am ‘owed’ something in return: thanks, honor, a tax deduction.
On the other hand, if I love the gift giver I see the gifts as less significant and not a part of “me.” These gifts have come to me through the generosity of my benefactor, not by my merit. As such I act as steward, not owner. Whence the gift came, more can come. I now can develop an abundance mentality rather than a scarcity mentality. I can give with joy, knowing that my benefactor can provide for my needs. I can be a part of my benefactor’s provision for the needs of others.
My love for God, the giver, allows me to serve Him. I am free from the bondage of serving my treasure. I am free to give away my gifts as an act of love and service to God and his people. In this we live out the apostle Paul’s admonishment that we are bond servants to God who rewards our servitude with freedom. The alternative is to live in bondage to our treasure. After all, we all gotta serve someone.
I don't know that a belief in God, god, or gods, is a prerequisite for a life of generosity. I do find it helpful and rewarding. Regardless of your belief in a "higher power" I would love to hear your thoughts. What do you serve and why?
