I listened to a sermon this morning about division. In many Christian churches the Gospel for the day was from Luke, and I’m paraphrasing but God said in Luke that even among families there will be division.

How true, right?

I found it interesting this morning that the pastor spoke about earthly divisions (and we see them everywhere), and that it is Christians who have faith and the Holy Spirit to help them, and yes, that following God can sometimes bring division. There is a cost to discipleship.

I certainly understand that. Being a Christian is not easy sometimes, and being a follower of Jesus and his message of love can put you at odds with society’s standards.

But here’s the thing…

It is within the Christian community where I struggle when I see all the divisions happening now. I get that the Christian community is large, and churches and denominations vary and they interpret Scripture differently. Some are ‘word for word’ Bible believers. Some are open to a wider understanding, and realize the writers of the Bible lived in a time long ago, in a place different from here and now. The words of God and Jesus do not change, but the environment has.

I tend to fall into that second group. In fact, I like nothing more than to have a good discussion about what the writers were trying to say, and what they stressed and why, and why Jesus did what he did. And, how Jesus turned the world upside down. And why. And what does God want from us. And, how in control is God. The questions are endless. There is so much to study, to discern, to try and understand. Theologians spend their whole lives at it.

So, I believe the division in the Christian community comes from wanting to be right on what the Bible says. It’s a human flaw… wanting to be right. (I know I suffer from it.) Wanting to make the Bible say what you want it to say. And, when you have a preacher, or an ‘expert,’ stand up and tell you each week what it says, you agree with them and it feeds you. It makes you feel that your way is the right way. If not, you leave that church and you find one that does. Right?

There are many, many choices in churches. Many divisions within the Christian community. Many varying beliefs on social issues. Abortion. The death penalty. War. Environmental care. Genders. Roles. Etc. Etc. There are Conservative Christian churches all the way to liberal ones.

But, here’s the thing: ALL CHURCHES believe and teach that God is love. End of story. Beginning of how we live. God showed love through Jesus. Jesus taught love – to everyone. The Bible is filled with verses that tell us to love. All the writers agreed: God is love.

So, how can there be so much division if we are all to love?

Christian love. There are no asterisks after it. God never said love only people like you. Love only those who believe like you do. Love only those who have the same skin color, or sexual identity, or financial wellness, or language, or education, or who live in the United States of America.

We can be divided on whether you like organ music at church, or prefer guitars. You can choice a big church with lots of events, or a small one where you know everyone. You can pick a church that is in a huge building or one in a storefront. You can love pomp and glitz, or prefer a laid back feel. It’s all out there.

But, truly, how can Christians be divided on love??

Yet we are.

You know how it is said that an alcoholic has to hit ‘rock bottom’ before having their eyes opened, and reaching out to get help? The people in their lives sometimes go through years and years of ups and downs and false hopes. They try and try to tell the alcoholics how they are hurting themselves AND others. But, too often it takes hitting ‘rock bottom’ and basically losing everything before making a change.

As with alcoholics in love and addicted to drink, so are MAGA people these days. They have so many years invested in Trump and they have ‘drunk’ his lies for so long, over and over again. It’s what they know.

So, I ask: What is a MAGA moment that will have them hitting ‘rock bottom’?

For years now FOX has talked about the horrible and often hidden trafficking of children in our country. They have made it one of their main issues, along with immigration. And, listen, I will never ever downplay the abuse and trafficking of children. I consider it the lowest of lows. People who groom children, lie to them, steal them, abuse them sexually, and even kidnap them – these people deserve to be put away in prison and have the key thrown away. Of course, even these horrible human beings get their day in court in the US because that is how we serve justice in America. But, I believe that the people who prey on children are sick, and dangerous, and they need to be arrested and held accountable for what they did.

You know where I am going with this…

Epstein and Maxwell. Two absolutely horrible human beings who abused and trafficked young girls and teenagers for years. Epstein is dead but his records are in the hands of the Dept. of Justice. Thy have files of information about his finances, his travels, and his clients who came to his residences. Names of co-conspirators. Abusers.

Maxwell is in prison, already found guilty of participating in the sex trafficking. Yes, we all know – she is the lowest of low. In fact, dare I say, as a woman she scrapped the bottom of bottoms because she was an adult woman who put young teenager girls in harm’s way, and she helped find the victims, watched, and let it all go on – for years. it is said she physically took part in the abuse.

Sex crime prisoners are held in top security prisons because what they did was so horrible, and even the other prisoners incarcerated don’t like them. Inmates have a pecking order and those who have been involved in sex crimes with children are considered the worst.

Well, as you probably know, this past week, Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison facility. It happened immediately after she met with Trump’s DOJ attorney. It is very suspect. More than suspect. It is extremely unusual to have a sex crime prisoner moved like this.

MAGA, what say you about this?

The Republican leadership and Congressional members: what say you?

Anything? Hello?? I haven’t heard anything.

Is this not ‘rock bottom’??? I mean, what is worse?

One can easily wonder if Republicans have any moral and ethics conscience at all because they are silent. After years of saying that we all need to help the young victims of sex crimes (and we do), and most importantly we need to get the ones responsible, where are you now?

Why are you so quiet? I am not hearing anything.

Have you totally lost your soul to protect one man? (Or maybe yourself?)

MAGA faithful: How can you allow this?

Seriously. What is your ‘rock bottom’ if not this??

(I started writing this post yesterday.)

Some days I feel hopeful. Really. Despite all the horrible things going on in our country and in the world. I feel hopeful because over time I have learned to live in my own little bubble. I have had to live in the bubble since Trump’s first election because I have felt hurt so badly over people I thought I knew. And now, basically, I only allow those who know me, and who are rational and open, to be part of my circle. It is for my own sanity. I have friends who know what is going on and they give me hope that I am not alone. It is truly about survival during these times. It’s about trying to keep it real. It’s about realizing that I am not the crazy one.

Some days I wonder though.

Occasionally a day like today happens. This afternoon I was confronted with the fact that there are still too many people out there who live in another ‘reality.’ Well, for them it is real. But, for me it is another example of how we can be so swayed to the point of accepting lies and hearing only what we want to hear.

It is so depressing.

I have shed tears from time to time over it all. Yesterday I did.

Yesterday I was thrown by someone I know who has gone down the Trump rabbit hole. He’s all in. He must be a long-time “Fox only” viewer who has believed what they have sold. He has accepted all the lies.

It will take me a little time to accept it. I will certainly still be friendly, and wish him well. But, I now know that we see the world differently and neither is willing to change. At this point we may be UNABLE to change. Years of indoctrination have happened.

In the future therapists and social experts, and psychologists , will be studying this era, the Trump years, to figure out how people can be brought to such division. Good people. Those who you meet on the street and smile at you. I suppose even now we can look back on Germany pre-World War 2. We can see how the people then were ‘fooled’ or told over and over again lies that turned into facts in their minds.

“Mind games” that played on their ‘fears.’ Calculated games that divided. Them vs. Us. To the point of horrible inhumane actions.

I worry we are on the same path.

Yesterday was one of those days when I was faced with it directly. It hurt. It scared me about how it keeps happening, even to people I thought knew better.

I seriously don’t know how we will get through the next 3 1/2 years. One day at a time I guess. But divided. Constantly disappointed. Working hard to keep hopeful. Living as a nomad Christian.

But I promise this – I will be making it a point to constantly push back. To continue to peacefully protest. Doing what I can to make our country safer and more equal for my grandchildren and all children.

To constantly search for facts. To promote honesty and integrity.

It’s what I can do. It’s what I must do.

Last night I was laying in bed thinking about my years as a child living in our family home on Thorne Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Times were different, for sure. So, I thought it might be nice to put down some of my thoughts and memories of that time, for my daughters and my grandchildren.

We moved there when I was just starting elementary school (Caledonia Elementary School). It must have been 1960 or 1961. We moved from Rockville, Maryland when my dad took the position of pastor at Hope Lutheran Church on Taylor Road in Cleveland Heights. Thinking back I can’t remember much before living in that house on Thorne Road. I was too young to have memories in my early years in Maryland.

But, I can really picture everything about that house on Thorne Road, inside and out. Yes, I have pictures to remind me, but I was also old enough to remember much about our times there.

When we first moved to that home my parents decided that my older sister and I would share the master bedroom, and it had a door that connected to the bathroom, the only bath on that floor. It was the biggest bedroom and we each had our own bed. She loved the Beatles and so I remember we had Beatles posters on the walls. A few years after living there my dad finished off the attic and added a bedroom for my brother upstairs, and an office for himself. When that happened I was moved into my own room (which had been my brother’s). It was the room on the left at the top of the stairs. It had a window that did not seal closed well and I remember Ohio winter’s cold air seeping through it. At times I stuck a sweater or sweatshirt there to plug it up better.

After dad finished off the attic the house had a total of four floors. We had a basement that was half finished, half unfinished. In the basement my dad turned a big closet into a darkroom to process his own photographs. Yes, that was a thing. He had the solutions for processing film. He had a red light so he could do the work without exposing the film to bright light. He hung the pictures to dry! It was a hobby for him. Under the stairs in the basement was a closet that held our ‘dress up clothes’ and other toys. I remember that a couple of my mom’s old gowns we used for dress up. In fact one of her black dresses we used for a few Halloween costumes! A gypsy. A witch. The first floor, the main floor, had the living room, the dining room, kitchen, and a half bath. A screened porch was attached off of the dining room. We had a side door to the driveway and next to the door was a “milk pass through.” Do you know what this is? When the house was built it was for the milkman to deliver milk and to leave it there. A small door was on the outside for him, and there was a small door on the inside that hooked/locked closed, for us to receive the milk.

The second story had three bedrooms and the bathroom. It also had a laundry chute in the wall in the hallway. Have you heard of that? We could put dirty clothes in it and the clothes dropped down to the basement, near the washer and dryer.

As I said, the top floor, the attic, became a bedroom and an office. Lots of stairs! As a kid it was no big deal.

The house had no central air conditioning. We had a huge ceiling fan on the second floor that opened up and made lots of noise but helped circulate the air on hot summer days. I remember well when my dad first bought a window air conditioner and put it into his office window on the top floor. On hot days we would go sit up there in the beautiful coolness and watch his little black and a white portable TV. 3 VHF channels and 1 UHF channel. No cable TV back then. An antenna was attached to the TV that we moved and positioned to get the best reception.

I lived in that house through 7th grade. Many of my memories are about playing down in the basement. We had a pool table down there and I remember making it into a “Barbie Island” and playing with all my Barbie dolls on it. I had a Midge (Barbie’s friend) and a Skipper too. I think Skipper was her niece. My sister and I had the Barbie Fashion Shop. To tell you the truth, I think it might have been a gift for her but I played with it also.

We also played for endless hours rolling on skateboards in the unfinished half of the basement. My brother and I would skate circles around the big furnace in the middle. He also had a large fish tank down there, at the bottom of the stairs. One of his hobbies.

We had a basketball backboard and hoop on the garage and my brother and I played many games of “HORSE.” We played many games of badminton in the backyard too. I remember occasionally hitting the badminton birdie up on to the garage roof and my brother climbing up to get it down. He is the middle child, closer in age to me. I’m the young one. Our backyard had a chain linked fence. One day I tried to climb over it (maybe to get a birdie) and my knee got caught on a sharp edge of the linked fence. I still have a scar from it today.

We had a milkman (really!!) from Dean’s Dairy who still came to the house and brought us our milk and ice cream. His name was Elmer. As a family we bought lots of ice cream. I remember saving the zip off strips from the half gallons and getting a free ice cream after collecting a certain number of strips. We also had Charles Chips potato chips delivered to us. They were the absolutely best potato chips, delivered in a large brown can. We would return the can so it could be reused. If you have never had Charles Chips you are missing out on the best chips ever!! Fresh, large, and light!!

Here’s something interesting too. We had a garage but it was not connected to the house. It sat back a little. We kept our garbage cans in it, but would place the cans right outside the garage on garbage pick up days – and there were workmen who drove little ‘golf cart-like’ scooters and they picked the cans up, took them down the driveway to the garbage truck to be emptied, and then brought them back. What service!!

I can still remember many of the neighbors on our street. There was an older couple, the Hersheys, directly across the street from us. And, the Swansons, and the Muirs, were across the street too. I babysat for the Muirs’ little boy when I was in 5th and 6th grade. At the end of the street lived a boy (Dominic?) and his backyard was a hangout spot for lots of kids from the neighborhood. They were Catholic and they had a Virgin Mary statue in their backyard. I had never seen that before. We had the rule to come home when the streetlights came on.

Back in those days we walked to school. As a child it seemed like a long way to go (although it was NOT uphill both ways – ha). I can picture the path in my mind. Down my street and turn right. A couple of blocks more and then walk past a small strip of shops (which was across from my dad’s church). A couple more blocks, turn right, then a left – to my school. I walked with friends. We think everything was safer in those days, and yes, they probably were. But, I remember once walking with my friends and a man in a car pulled up beside us, and drove slowly by us as we walked. I remember going with my friends to the principal’s office to tell them about this man.

I had trouble saying my S’s and Z’s. For awhile in 2nd grade I was pulled out of reading with a couple of other kids to have speech lessons. We would play games during the lesson times and practice saying ‘it’s your turn’ the right way. I think I never got fully ‘fixed’ and I still say my S’s and Z’s wrong. Oh well.

My elementary school was built in the traditional way of that time. Each classroom had a door to exit outside. Can you imagine that now?? No! We had real chalkboards and children were chosen to go out the door and clap the chalk erasers together to clean them. We breathed in huge white puffs of chalk.

I remember the day Pres. Kennedy was shot. And on the day of his funeral our classes all went and sat down in the hallway at school where a TV was wheeled in so we could watch the event.

For a few years while I was in elementary school “Chinese jump rope” was a fad. Can you imagine calling it that now? I imagine it must have started as a fun thing to do by little girls in China. The rope was really a large piece of elastic tied together. It went around the ankles of two girls and a girl would jump into the middle and make designs – kind of like a large “Cat’s Cradle.” We also did ‘two rope/two people’ jump rope often too. “Double Dutch”…. Hmmm. Another politically incorrect term.

As for teachers: I remember Miss Reid in 2nd grade. She actually inspected our fingernails! I think she was looking for dirt – and for biting. Mrs. Hayes was my 4th grade teacher and I loved her. Why? She was kind. She never yelled.

When I finished at Caledonia Elementary my parents worried about sending me to the big public junior high school, Kirk Jr. High. My brother and sister had gone there and it was a ‘tough’ environment. The school was a mix of suburban kids and inner city kids. Cleveland Heights kids and East Cleveland kids. A mix of all types. So, my parents sent me to St. John’s Lutheran School. I rode a bus to and from each day. The good news was that I knew half of the other students in my class because they were from my elementary school. Their parents also did not want them going to the public school. St. John’s was a safe environment. I do remember hanging out after school one day with a group of friends and no adults were around – and we played “Spin The Bottle”! Ha. My first time getting a kiss (a peck) from a boy. Already at that time I had a crush on Steve Brady. I had known him since 4th grade – and I just thought he was the cutest, nicest boy! He played “Spin the Bottle” but did not kiss me. Boohoo.

During those years living on Thorne Road much of my life also revolved around church activities. As a pastor’s kid I was in the church building a lot. I was a member of the youth choir of course. I went to Sunday School – and I hung out with my best friend Karen Olson. Karen and I were ‘church girlfriends’ because we went to different schools. She lived kind of far away from me so it was always wonderful to see her at church. Karen was (still is) very artistic, musically and drawing, and we spent lots of hours together chalking on the boards in classrooms in church. I helped occasionally in the church office. Dad brought me in on Saturdays and I helped fold and put church bulletins together for the next day. I later did the same thing as an adult at my church in Sparta, NJ – and then at my church in Pawleys Island, SC.

We grew up with a family dog. Always. And it was always a Boston Terrier. During my Thorne Road years we had one named “Pal.”

We also co-owned a Shasta vacation trailer with a church family we knew well. Most summers we took the trailer out to state parks. We pulled it behind our car. A couple of memories of it: Sometimes we had the dog ride in it while we traveled. Pal would climb up on the table to look out the front window and watch us in the car. If dad had to stomp on the brakes quickly poor Pal went flying off the table! I also remember that the pilot light for the little refrigerator in the trailer blew out every time we traveled with it. It seemed like dad was endlessly relighting it to keep our food items cold. My last big memory is the time we were camping and I had eaten onion rings at dinner and they did not sit well with me. As the youngest I was in the back hammock, next to my brother, hanging above my parent’s bed. Well, I started to get sick! I could not get out of the hammock quick enough so my brother reached into the kitchen cabinet next to him and pulled out a large bowl for me to puke in. And I did! Oh what a night!! Sick in a 16 foot trailer with 4 other people and a dog.

I remember my years in Cleveland Heights as a typical life of a kid at that time. I had a bike. I loved to do art. I was an okay student. I had chores to do. I went along with the flow of the family. As the youngest I know I had it easier at times than my siblings.

I was sheltered for sure. I was fortunate to never feel like we did not have enough, although we lived on a pastor’s salary. We were a middle class family like so many others at that time. I never felt the need for wanting more. I never felt like I was missing out. I did not grow up too fast.

For that I am very grateful.

Growing up I learned early on that having a positive moral compass was a foundation of a good life. I can’t point to one thing, or person, who taught me that, instead it was a mix of every day teachings from my parents, from Sunday school teachers, and school teachers, and from who I hung around with each day. My friends. My parents’ friends. My community.

Was I just lucky to be put in an environment that stressed morality? With everything going on these days I wonder.

I know that as a kid I was sheltered from the bad in the world, and I certainly did not see the news all the time, or I did not have social media to show me otherwise. I grew up among people who really, really valued having good intentions and true caring for others, who taught me right from wrong, and about the importance of the laws of our land.

Therefore…

I am thinking of morality this morning – because the Epstein Files and possible List are foremost in the news right now.

If you have been living under a rock, here is the summary as I know it. Jeffrey Epstein became a rich person through banking and investing. Living in NYC he hung out with the rich and famous there. In the early 2000’s he owned a mansion in Manhattan, a secluded place in Palm Springs, and a private island.

He was arrested for child abuse, for prostitution, and sex trafficking. As more and more information came out about his sick desire for young girls, for finding them, abusing them, and “working’’ them to satisfy men, interest became great. OF course! There are testimonies from the girls and the staff, and pictures of men who were guests of Epstein and were invited to his homes. Some of the young girls, now older, have bravely spoken out. Prince Andrew of England was named as a ‘customer’. His mother Queen Elizabeth basically disowned him. Lots of other names from all walks of life, all wealthy men, have been rumored to be on the list.

There was an investigation – and it produced pages and pages about the illegal and ill-moral activity. It is thought that this ‘list’ is in the huge investigation folder that sits on Attorney General Pam Bondi’s desk and it holds the names of those who participated. People in politics. Possibly CEO’s of major firms and banks. Celebrities. Princes.

Now, you don’t have to be a genius to realize Donald Trump was one of Epstein’s good friends. They were very similar. Both lived in NYC, both were wealthy, and both loved the ladies. There were many, many pictures of them taken together at parties and other places. Some of the pictures are with young girls.

As I said, I am a person with a moral compass and I find the behavior of them, and all the others involved, disgusting. There seems to be an invisible cushion around these rich, white, men – and for years now they have gone unnamed.

But, just the other day Trump and his administrative ‘groupies’ claim that there is no list. What?!?! They want Americans to stop pushing for the file to be opened and made public. It seems to be an effort on his part to keep the information, and the names, secret and hidden.

So, I come back to morality.

I can safely say that Donald Trump has never had good morals. All his life he was taught that winning and getting wealthy was the most important thing ever. It did not matter how it happened. Who was walked over or hurt. There are case after case of people who knew Trump in business and saw and felt the wrath of his dealings. Many have spoken out that the man has no empathy for others. He has a psychological issue, a narcissist, unable to consider anything beyond himself.

I have to ask: where is the integrity of others? Doesn’t anyone have morality anymore? What happened to other people in government and in powerful positions having a conscience? A moral fiber or two?

Can so many be so ill-moral???

This morning I texted with my bestie that this is a moment where we need a “Deep Throat,” an anonymous source, someone willing to bring the facts out to the public. There needs to be someone in the administration who will put justice above everything else. One person willing to do the right thing.

Because… remember, there are a lot of men walking around, free, who are on that list and who need to come before a court of law. There is a ‘good ole boy’ system that must end. Justice can be an important deterrent.

For the sake of women and girls, it must end.

We need to hold men accountable to their actions.

This is the perfect time.

I’ve pulled my back out (ugh) a little bit so I’m sitting on the couch, taking it easy, and thinking about the holiday we just had. Most Americans call it ‘the 4th of July’…. Because, duh, it hits on the 4th of July! There was lots of celebrating with beach time, picnics, and fireworks. But it is officially called “Independence Day” and I think we need to stress that name more often than we do.

I had my 7 year old twin sons here over the holiday and we got into a discussion about why we celebrate our nation’s independence, and how it happened that our county was founded back in 1776. I have to say I was really proud of the boys for knowing about it, and proud of their teachers for making it part of the 1st grade curriculum, The boys go to school ‘year round’ and track in and track out… so they had just been in class before July 4th. I think that helped.

As you probably do, from time to time I watch some videos that pop up on Facebook and Instagram with ‘reporters out on the street’ asking civics questions to ordinary Americans, and the lack of knowledge is astounding. I know the worst answers are the ones shown on social media, but still, how can anyone grow up, go through 12 years of school here, be an adult, and not know how government works and how our country was started?!?

Without knowing our background we can easily lost track of what is happening. We can too easily accept when leaders don’t act properly, and when they don’t follow the Constitution and laws. This year’s “Independence Day” was a day of protesting for many people across the country because we are losing some of our rights and freedoms. We have a president, a Supreme Court, and half of Congress who seem to bend the rules, play with citizens’ lives, and who ignore the standards of democracy and decency. Women and children are the most vulnerable to it. So, I admired those who took time out of their holiday weekend to take to the streets, and to keep the momentum going to push back.

The next large protest day across the country is scheduled for Saturday, July 17th. In honor, and in memory, of civil rights activist and US Representative John Lewis, the day is called a “Good Trouble” day. Rep. Lewis encouraged peaceful protests and believed that the people of our country can bring positive change together. I look forward to doing my part that day. Rep. Lewis is a hero of mine. He lived his life constantly encouraging others to find justice and equality. He believed in working on consensus, and finding solutions. To end racism, we need education and community. We need equal starts in life, equal chances and choices.

“Independence Day” is our day to celebrate leaving behind a government in England, that was ruled by a king, where the people could not have a say in how the country was run. It is about coming to a new land, creating a new government FOR THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE, and BY THE PEOPLE. And, for that to happen we must be ‘dependent’ on each other together, to support words and actions that can bring the right leadership.

We are so divided now that our country is not working up to its potential. In fact, some would say we are going backwards. And – that is NOT making America great again. In fact, we might be headed towards an authoritative king trying to rule here. We seem to be pretty close to it.

So, remembering that the 4th of July is really “Independence Day” is important.

Let’s go out and do some good trouble. July 17th. Find a place near you to rally or march by googling “50501.”

We must depend on each other to keep our independence.

May 13, 2010 – 1st one ever: N. Charleston Coliseum. With Coleen. Lady A opened. “Southern Voice” tour

Aug. 11, 2011 – Charlotte Verizon Amplitheatre – Luke Bryan opened.

June 24, 2012 – with Kenny Chesney – BoA Stadium, Charlotte – “Brothers of the Sun” tour

Dec. 15, 2012 – Soul to Soul – Tim and Faith in Las Vegas – The Venetian

May 3, 2013 – Charlotte (Brantley Gilbert opened) Did VIP

June 6, 2014 – CMA Fest – did “Highway Don’t Care” with Keith & Taylor

June 11, 2015 – PNC Amplitheatre – “Shotgun Rider” tour

Dec. 29, 2016 – Charlotte Belk Bowl – pre-football game concert – Knights Stadium

April 20, 2017 – Soul to Soul N. Charleston Coliseum. “World Tour 2017”

Oct 14, 2017 – Soul to Soul – Greensboro Coliseum “World Tour 2017”.

June 23, 2019 – Book tour with Jon Meachem

May 21, 2022 – Raleigh Amplitheatre – Walnut Creek

May 12, 2022 – Charlotte PNC Amphitheater

June 11, 2023 – CMA Fest

May. 17, 2024. – Charlotte “Standing Room Only Tour”

June 22, 2024 – Raleigh “Standing Room Only” tour – PNC Arena

August 30, 2025 – “Field of Dreams’ – Dyersville, Iowa

Nov. 1, 2025 – Hard Rock Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ.

So, last night the US dove into the war between Israel and Iran. Big time. If you don’t know, huge American bombs were dropped by US stealth bombers on three places in Iran that were known to be developing nuclear bombs. First reactions from our government are that the bombs were successful and they caused great damage to the nuclear building sites.

I watched the press conference from Secretary of Defense Hegseth this morning, and I also listened to a reporter in Iran about what the officials there are saying. Different stories.

So, it will take awhile to get the truth. I am trying not to form a decision about what happened just yet. These days it seems nobody is able to wait on forming an opinion. I’m reading and hearing lots of opinions this morning.

I have seen online many Democrats both opposed to the bombings and to the way it happened. They are saying that nobody in Congress was alerted before the event, and that it goes against the Constitution. The leaders of the House & Senate should have been told. Also, Congress must declare war and approve any military action before it happens. If it is true that Congress was not told , I am not surprised. President Trump has by-passed Congress often since taking office and he has turned the Republican members into silent ‘no doers,’ to the point that I wonder why we pay their salaries.

I tend to side with Democrats on most issues, and I do worry, as the Dem leaders do, that protocol was not followed. A ‘group’ decision was not made. One military expert this morning said he was amazed at how such a big operation was kept under wraps, with no leaks. He didn’t think the administration was able to succeed in pulling off a large event like this.

But they did. It happened.

So, here we are the morning after….Waiting. Wondering what kind of retaliation Iran will now decide to do to the US. I remember back in the early 90’s when the Gulf War started and how I sat watching the live video feed on TV of the bombs dropping half a world away. It seemed right out my window in a way. It was an eerie feeling. Entering a war.

I have that feeling again.

I will be the first to say I don’t understand all the hatred between Iran and Israel. They have such a long history of governments who can’t figure out how to live geographically close. I don’t understand why there is always a need to have bigger bombs, and to push each others’ buttons. I know it’s complicated. Terrorist organizations grow there. I know there are some pretty bad leaders there too. Perhaps on both sides. When this happens, it is the citizens, the regular people, who get caught up in the horror of war.

And, so now, we Americans are involved. We have troops there. We have weapons there. We have taken a side. And, we are still already deeply involved in the Ukraine war against Russia. Here we go again.

Pres. Trump campaigned and ran on staying out of war. On “America first.” He told his followers that he wanted to be an isolationist, to stay away from world problems. But, perhaps he realized it is impossible. Perhaps he wanted to use his bully power. Again, we must wait to see.

But, at this point the tension has escalated. The rhetoric is loud. The sides are divided as always.

We all are waiting to see what happens next.

Some days are heavy. Today is the 10th anniversary of the shootings of the people at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston. Good, Christian, African American folks were gunned down by a white supremest who walked into their Bible Study class. This young shooter had hate and rage in his heart. We will never know why.

Just three days ago, early this past Saturday morning, a man dressed up to look like a cop knocked on Wisconsin state representatives’ doors. When the doors were opened he shot and murdered two, and significantly wounded two others. This man also had hate in his heart. And rage. He acted out and used firearms. We may never know why.

Between these two horrible events, in SC and in Wisconsin, there have been many, many, many mass shootings in our country. Jon Stewart listed some of them on the Daily Show last night. Hearing them said one after another was gut wrenching. There have been mass killings in schools, businesses, night clubs, at concerts, grocery stores, churches, in homes, and out in the streets.

Saturday’s tragedy was the latest – but here in America we can say with certainty that it will not be the last.

Our country is divided on just about everything these days, including the ways to deal with mass murders. It really is unbelievable to me that we cannot even agree that people who use guns (the overwhelming weapon of choice) get them too easily, and most have given clues to what they plan on doing. Yet very little has been done to tighten our gun laws, to create safer situations, to offer mental health care, to protect the innocent.

I heard a politician on TV this morning speak about the need to make this a non-partisan issue. Because he said even this is political and it has to stop. He said that even identifying killers has become a blame game. People taking sides.

But, some things – like this – ARE partisan and are political. And while our leaders push back on everything, and won’t work together, more people continue to die. Statistics mean something. And, statistics show that most mass shootings are done by men. Most are white. Most are ultra-conservative. Most have had ideology and idolatry for things they have seen in media. Most have had mental and emotional instability.

So, here we are again with the horrendous shooting deaths of wonderful people, civil servants, and interestingly enough, people who have gone on record saying that more needs to be done to stop gun tragedies. Victims of it themselves. Their names are added to the long list.

So, it’s a heavy day today – again.

It’s heavy because the pain is real, and the rhetoric has kicked in again, only to know it will settle down (again) in a few days.

There are endless reasons to be upset with our government (so many reasons that were created by Trump – and that’s for another day) but the violence of mass shootings has been an American problem for way too long. Democrats in Congress have sincerely tried over and over to change laws, to create better databases, to add gun safety features, to restrict types of guns, to fight lobbies to, and to increase mental health care. (Seriously. Shouldn’t mental health be free and available to everyone?)

We have an administration now that is cutting funding on so much. Slicing away needed money for important causes. While doing it they are hiding their heads in the sand. Congressional Republicans won’t take responsibility for what is happening, even though they have turned down important legislation over and over. Our president is such a toddler he won’t even call the Wisconsin governor to express dismay and sympathy about the mass shootings. Oh, yes, it is political. There is no doubt.

That is why I have said it before, and continue to vow, that I will only vote for candidates who really do want to make the effort to stop the incredible epidemic that we have here of mass shootings in our country.

I draw the line on that. And it is an easy line to draw.

I watched a video on Instagram this morning with a woman telling her teenage son that this time in our country is not normal. Think about it. Any teenager in America right now has grown up seeing Trump on TV, running for office, or in the office, pretty much all their life.

Could they think that this is normal politics?

Well – this is NOT normal. It will never be normal.

It is not a proud moment in American history. One day, when the teenagers are all grown up, we will look back on this time and shake our heads that we allowed a convicted felon, a womanizer, a bully, and a narcissist, run our country. A man who used social media to bully people and to hit back on anything he did not like. This man who has no filter, no ability to hold back, and no focus. No respect for others. Republicans in office will be gone (my hope) and more sane, and truth telling, and reasonable leadership will be in office.

Hopefully, by the time we are looking back, we will have corrected all the mess that was created. Am I wearing my rose colored glasses again?

I just don’t think I can comprehend how this can all go on. Yet, I know that without a Congressional majority vote we cannot get rid of a president. So, we have years more to go…. And I cannot even imagine how crazy things may get in our country. (As a Christian I do not want him to be killed…. Or to die, but a natural passing would be okay with me. Sorry. Not sorry.)

I mean I did not think we would have masked, armed, ICE agents raiding businesses and homes. I did not think people would be sent out of our country to foreign prisons without due process. I did not think banks could be bullied. Law firms bullied. Threatened.

I did not think our Supreme Court would put the president above other citizens. That dangerous Proud Boys and others would just be released from prison without care. Other criminals who defrauded people of millions released.

I did not think Congress would turn in to scaredy cats, willing to overlook integrity for money. (Ok. Maybe they have been doing that for a long time! Ha. Can you say ‘lobby’?)

But – None of this is normal. Much of it is illegal.

I think of the teenagers today – and wonder, will any of them ever think that going into politics, and working for our government, is honorable? Is respectful?? I doubt it. Look at what they see now.

What will happen to our nation with 4 years of this madness? Where will we be?

HOW can it go on???

How can we get back to ‘normal’ politics with a working democracy? With truly free honest elections? With leaders who want to help Americans instead of showing off with power?

Is this the NEW NORMAL???