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Ah mercy, mercy me...a week of mercy

Hello!

Welcome to a NEW WEEK. A new week of MERCY and KINDNESS.

This is the week when we all change what we do and how we do it, or improve on the improvements we are all already making. I say this because you know, it hasn't been going all that well in our world lately. Last week in particular.

This is the week when we shake loose the shackles of fear. I mean REALLY shake them off. We don't just say "go on in spite...can't let them win." I mean CUT IT LOOSE. Quit being afraid. Quit checking the current security alert level. Quit looking suspiciously at brown skin or worrying about any Muslims. Quit thinking anyone can be an extremist. Quit hunkering down in the sameness of us.

This is the week when we reach out with love and compassion. Smile at your checkout lady, ask how her day is...her family. Make eye contact with your fellow human beings, and give a slight nod (if you're up North) or a friendly howdy (of you're down south). Let them know you acknowledge them, and that they are a valuable member of the human race.

This is the week you make your friends ask you,"Are you freaking NAIVE?!?!?! It's a SCARY WORLD. You can't just be NICE!"

This is the week when you reply, "Doing kindness is the game and quarry of good men."

This is the week when you remember the Halliburton protestors. The week you remember that this month the Coalition of Immokalee Workers finally won against McDonalds (who I think also won):
McDonald's Corp. agreed Monday to pay a penny more per pound for its Florida-grown tomatoes to help boost wages for the farmworkers who harvest them, after a two-year campaign by an advocacy group that called for the increase.


And from this, that and the other, you know that one small action joins up somehow with other actions and makes a difference.

This week, I am combining Jen and Gwen's ideas and not just because I think they are awesome and the freaking blogging wonder twins. I'm doing it because I have good judgment and they have good ideas.

So on Wednesday, if you would like to join in or continue on with the Hump Day Hmms, you have an assignment.

The original question was which is of greater necessity: justice or forgiveness. Jen asks you to dig deep and:
I think we need to next talk about choice. You asked earlier which we would choose. But deeper, right, is how and why we choose.

And what choice really means. Do we all have the same ability to choose? Is it really a present tense concept?

How do we choose anything (forgiveness, justice, compassion)if we don't know why or how choice is really made?


Next week will be a new element.

This week, also, you won't see too much of me around, live. I've saved up some previously written blog posts that I'll put up so there will be fresh content (in other words...COME AROUND, PLEASE!) I've stocked my freezer with easy meals for my family and I'm otherwise engage with the fundraiser.

This week is number two Big Fundraiser. This is the one I am in charge of, so it's all on my head. So far so good, but the Big Day is fast approaching. Imagine coordinating a really huge event with raffles, auction, meal, selling tickets, entertainmet, etc. for hundreds of people. If you can easily conceptualize it, for goodness' sake EMAIL ME. I take all suggestions. On the line are scholarships to preschool for disadvantaged kids. So the bright future of some awesome kids is the only thing on the line; no pressure. LOL

I'm fortunate to have amazing and wonderful committee heads and friends who are adding to this and making it successful. I think it will be okay. It will be okay.

I'll check in on Wednesday and put up links for any roundtable participants. And I'll be around as I can.

This is the week for doing good.

This is the week for part two of the roundtable. I can't wait for the next round, I really can't. You guys blew me away first go-round.

This is the week I am too busy to be a good blog-friend.

This is the week of being a part instead of apart.

Check back tomorrow for a funny story. To add drama and suspense, here's a teaser:

What happens when the Blues Brothers, a rubber chicken, and butts meet in a car on a Monday morning?

copyright 2007 Julie Pippert

Comments

S said…
Amen, Julie.

You may have to count me out this week for the roundtable, because in the next few days, there are culminating events for both my boys' schools. And wouldn't you know it, I (stupidly, naively, kindly) signed up for set-up of both events.
kaliroz said…
I'll be blogging during round two.
Aliki2006 said…
I'm looking forward to some more incredible reads!
Julie Pippert said…
SM, I understand. My contribution might be late, or links only. Sounds like we have similar weeks!

Roz, COOL BEANS BABY!

Aliki, me too!
Mad said…
Julie,
Just got caught up. I'm so sorry about the stress of last Friday. How terrifying.

I'm likely out for the round table this week too. There is so much term wrap-up stuff going on here that I can really only do quick and easy blogging. I will say though, that the question of choice is very much tied to the systemic issues I was talking about last week:

How do you choose ethically made products when the nature of a product's creation is entirely hidden from the consumer?

How do you choose when governments legislate: this gets back to all my posts on reproductive freedom. I once asked a woman is she was pro-choice. She replied, "I haven't made up my mind yet" not seeing the irony of her own words.
Girlplustwo said…
awesome. i'll do my best to have something tomorrow. that said, i might not make the wed deadline.

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