Lessons From Nazi Germany

 

Headlines scream trouble, heartaches and confusion

While our nation's leaders grin through photo ops

And bicker behind the scenes like children

In elementary school.
All the while we're paying them to represent us
And many are doing the opposite and
Sabotaging a healthy system of government.
 

Speaking of unhealthy

It hurts me to see the innocence we’ve lost.

Pornography reigns freely online and at the corner market--

Poisoning minds and endangering
Young children out playing and
Loved ones walking through a mall parking lot.

 

Many wonder--

Where is sanity amidst our Nation's crises?

Why do nations around the world think we 're bullies?

Where are solid thinkers amidst confusion and decaying morals?

Where is the church's influence? 

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet and Spy
by Eric Metaxas
 

Another concerned thinker alarmed at what he saw

Occurring in his homeland of Germany
Was Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

"As Adolf Hitler and the Nazis seduced a nation, bullied a continent, and attempted to exterminate the Jews of Europe, a small number of dissidents and saboteurs worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside. One of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer—a pastor and author. In this New York Times best-selling biography,
Eric Metaxas takes both strands of Bonhoeffer’s life—the theologian and the spy—and draws them together to tell a searing story of incredible moral courage in the face of monstrous evil. "

(Amazon.com)

"Bonhoeffer is the story of a life framed by a passion for truth and a commitment to justice on behalf of those who face implacable evil."  —Alan Wolfe, The New Republic

 

Wow--what a timely lesson for us today.
 

Where are moral, caring thinkers

With courage to stand and make changes

amidst our decaying society?

We could learn much from Bonhoeffer
In His own words:
 

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice,

we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:

God will not hold us guiltless.

Not to speak is to speak.

Not to act is to act.”

 

"The ultimate test of a moral society

Is the kind of world that it leaves its children."

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

**********************************

What can you and I do

To make our country--

And this world a better place?

Something We All Need To Do

  This morning was deliciously busy and suddenly it happened…

I was sipping coffee and placing pastries on a platter for guests,

Music was playing nearby and

IL Divo began to sing Amazing Grace.

Bagpipes played in the background and suddenly I had a flashback.

         

A lone bagpipe player came walking out of the woods 

Playing Amazing Grace and tears began to flow.

That scene was from my Dad’s funeral years ago.

With a busy life I hadn’t thought about it or wept in a long time.

Startled by emotions long hidden,

I stood by the sink missing Dad and crying.

Then I realized:

My tears were for years wasted--

Times when Dad and I could’ve talked, laughed and hugged,

But we didn’t.

Now those opportunities are gone.

 Recently a lovely young nurse confided a heartache.

“Five years ago my husband was driving home from work

But he never arrived. He was killed in an auto accident.”

         

Another dear friend lost her 16 year old grandson

Who was driving home from a sporting event.

They are still shattered.

         

Thoughts barreled back of shocking news last week.

Some dear friends who got together late in life and

Love like teenagers,

Learned the husband has advanced cancer.

But how, he’s a healthy looking athlete?

He was shattered to learn the cancer may have been in his body

For twenty years and suddenly exploded to life threatening to kill him.

Age doesn’t matter,

Nor does social status.

Life is very uncertain.

Life is fragile.

We need to live each moment

As if it’s our very last.

“You do not even know what will happen tomorrow…” (The Bible)

Don’t put off living till tomorrow—

Begin today.

The real priceless treasures are

Family and friends.

Hug them often,

Tell them everything you may never have the chance to say again

And don’t let anything steal a moment of your time together.

It may be your last chance…

          

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,

Sing like there's nobody listening,

And live like it's heaven on earth.”

--Wm. W. Purkey

Years ago daughter-in-law Laura said,

“We just took Salsa lessons—you’ve got to learn.”

For six years we’ve chuckled over her suggestion and said, “Someday…”

No more. 
This Friday, 
Date night,

We’re finally learning the Salsa.  :)

And while we’re dancing,

What will you do that you’ve been putting off? 

The #1 Lesson For Twitter & Life

Did you know--
 Twitter contains valuable lessons for life? 

After six months of tweeting,

I met some amazing people and 
Learned some vital lessons
That helped on Twitter and in (RL) real life.

 But one thing I've seen-
Many people do not know how
"To do" Twitter.

Some act like it's Facebook--
And tweet personal nonsense that
People over the world
Care nothing about.
Such as, "I can't find my wallet." 

Others tweet personal jottings that sound like
Excerpts from their diary or spiritual journal.   
And then others--

Act like door-to-door salesmen 
Banging on the door
To sell a book or product.

(Most are very gracious.)

 But I understand--
Because I also didn't have a clue.

Often Twitter
Was like learning a foreign language or
Wrestling with an octopus. :)

At first I felt like a two year old struggling to walk--
I mean--
Tweet.

As I previously blogged,

I resisted Twitter for two years while

My techy daughter 
Angie @savvybabii insisted--
"Expanding your social media contacts to
Twitter could help your writing career."
  Wow--

Was she right and I wrong.
And the benefits were much greater...

Daughter ~ @savvybabii

  If you haven't read a previous post:
Angie and The ABC's To Twitter 
Please do.
 







There I reveal the vital lessons 
@savvybabii
Shared and her #1 warning.
It's the mistake I see most often--
People focusing on themselves instead of others.

  As I struggled to understand Twitter-verse,
 @SavvyBabii emphasized:
  Be kind, gracious and remember:
"The most important thing
Isn't about you,
And selling books--
It's about relationships."


Whether in social media or
On the street where we live--
"Nobody cares how much you know,
Until they know how much you care."
--Theodore Roosevelt

Always a great reminder:
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
-The Golden Rule

How has Social Media helped you?

Life's Greatest Treasure

Photo by - Jessica Danielle Hanson

What is life's greatest treasure?

Like a staircase

We traverse the path of life
One step at a time--
And along the path there are priceless treasures.
There are some at the very top of my list.
What are they?

That question reminds me of another day and time--

I was interviewing one of the most

Interesting and impressive people

I've ever met.

He was a mechanical engineer who helped
Design the double-decker buses in England.
The leader of a tank battalion who stormed
Hitler's forces,
Was wounded at the Battle of the Bulge and
Freed the largest women's concentration camp 
On the Belgium border.

There he found the love of his
Life and her name meant--
"Priceless."    

Photo by - Jessica Danielle Hanson

 He wasn't a tall man,
In fact he was slight in statue
And very soft spoken.
But the amazing thing--
He exuded an exceptional strength and 
The longer we talked I noted
Courage as I'd rarely witnessed.

A wealthy, brilliant and accomplished individual
I listened to his story 
And was mesmerized. 

He was truly a
Man of steel and velvet 
And
I was in the presence of greatness.
 

Photo by - Jessica Danielle Hanson

During the interview,
He never bragged for a moment,
He just spoke matter of factly.
As he described horrific dangers, heartaches and 
Outstanding accomplishments,
He repeatedly said,"It had to be done."

During those memorable moments together,
I only shared snippets about myself. 
But just before we departed he made a
Startling remark:
"I envy you."

You've got to be kidding.
Why would such an brilliant, accomplished
World traveler who had lived a life
Worthy to be the subject of a book or movie,
Envy me?

"Why?" I asked.

"Because of your children."
His words were permeated with sadness.
  
"I possess many things but I have no children."
He hesitated and added as bequeathing honor:
"You're a very wealthy lady."
 
Yes one of the few things I'd said about myself,
"I'm the mother of seven children."

Usually people responded as if they couldn't
Believe what they were hearing.
In fact one lady proclaimed, 
"And you look so normal." :)
Yes I was used to all kinds of responses
But never had anyone expressed "envy."

From that day forth I called my
Children a new name--
"My Treasures."

Now rather than half heartedly apologizing
I proudly say,
"I have 7  Treasures."

Photo by - Jessica Danielle Hanson

And yes--
The greatest treasure in life is
Children. 

They are a valuable work of art--
And the only ones who will
Carry forth the heritage of who we are
Into the future.

What a grave and incomparable responsibility
We have.

May I introduce my Priceless Treasures: 

Angela - @savvybabii,

Ouida

Beth,

Dave - @chefdaveb,

Rob,

Jessica
and
Stephen @bullgnome


Each are my wealth and treasures!

Please tell me about yours.    

But if you're someone without biological children,
There are many children in this world,
Maybe in your neighborhood or family,
Who need your love and influence.

Your outpouring of love
Will enrich them
And bequeath you with something
No amount of money can buy--

Children are a gift from God ~ the greatest of all! 


Photography by Daughter - Jessica Danielle Hanson