Inspirational

(This story has circulated the Internet and appeared in my inbox a few times. It’s been verified by Snopes.com.)

During World War I, in the winter of 1914, on the battlefields of Flanders, one of the most unusual events in all of human history took place. The Germans had been in a fierce battle with the British and French. Both sides were dug in, safe in muddy, man-made trenches six to eight feet deep that seemed to stretch forever.

All of a sudden, German troops began to put small Christmas trees, lit with candles, outside of their trenches. Then, they began to sing songs. Across the way, in the “no man’s land” between them, came songs from the British and French troops. Incredibly, many of the Germans, who had worked in England before the war, were able to speak good enough English to propose a “Christmas” truce.

The British and French troops, all along the miles of trenches, accepted. In a few places, allied troops fired at the Germans as they climbed out of their trenches. But the Germans were persistent and Christmas would be celebrated even under the threat of impending death. Continued

“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

~ Henry Ford

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The Electoral College has formally elected Barack Obama as the next president of the United States, the Associated Press (via MSNBC) is reporting.

I wholeheartedly agree with Scott Horton’s suggestion:

It seems obvious that Patrick Fitzgerald should be retained as U.S. attorney in Chicago and allowed to handle this case to its conclusion. But that’s not enough. Is there a prosecutor in the federal system who has done more to win the respect and admiration of the public than Patrick Fitzgerald? Eric Holder and Barack Obama should consider putting him in charge of the operations of the Department as Deputy Attorney General. It would send a simple, necessary message to the country: the days of politics in the administration of justice are over. The theme of the day will be professional integrity.

Early in the piece, Horton makes his case on why Fitzgerald deserves such a promotion. Among other points, he makes this important one:

At a time when the Department of Justice’s reputation has sunk to its modern low point, Fitzgerald stands as a model of the selfless service a rigorous and principled professional prosecutor can provide. He has tackled and excelled with difficult cases, and often enough has struck at the political world. That is shown by the three cases that form of the core of his record: the prosecution of Governor George Ryan, the investigation of the leaks that blew the cover of a CIA covert agent named Valerie Plame that later resulted in the conviction of Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney’s chief of staff, and now the indictment of Governor Ron Blagojevich, Ryan’s successor.

We certainly need more people like Patrick Fitzgerald in our Justice Department and throughout our government.

You may have noticed that I’ve added a new graphic in my sidebar with a cow wearing a Santa hat. It’s a public service announcement for Heifer International, an organization that I’ve supported for the last few years because its innovative practical approach to addressing poverty in the world. What I like most about this charity is that when I make a donation, it becomes a gift that keeps on giving. Here’s a brief explanation from Heifer.org:

What would be the better gift for someone you love this holiday season — another present that gathers dust on a shelf? Or a donation that represents a heifer and training in its care, that brings health and hope to struggling families?

Better still, every gift multiplies, as the animal’s first offspring is passed on to another family — then they also agree to pass on an animal, and so on.

A good dairy cow can produce four gallons of milk a day — enough for a family to drink and share with neighbors. Milk protein transforms sick, malnourished children into healthy boys and girls. The sale of surplus milk earns money for school fees, medicine, clothing and home improvements.

And because a healthy cow can produce a calf every year, every gift will be passed on and eventually help an entire community move from poverty to self reliance. Now that’s a gift worth giving!

An Associated Press article about the organization summed it up this way:

The idea behind Heifer … is similar to the notion that it’s better to teach a man to fish so he can feed himself than to give him a fish that will feed him just once. One animal could eventually benefit an entire community.

Both as a family and as business owners, we have purchased Heifer gifts — like a water buffalo — in honor of family, friends and clients. We would then send a special card that explained the donation made in their name and what the gift meant. And when we’ve done this, the reaction by the recipients has been overwhelmingly positive, with many of them going out of their way to call us to express their sincere appreciation for such a unique and inspirational gift — something that happens less often with more traditional gifts.

As you’re considering gifts to give this holiday season, consider giving a gift that keeps on giving. Consider a gift from Heifer.

Another great one from Straight No Chaser, my new instant favorite music group…

Patton Dodd writes a refreshingly honest and profound column about the power of lamentations.

For many years, I believed it was foolish and faithless to acknowledge all that is wrong with my life. I believed I was a new creation, and admitting anything less was not acceptable. I missed seeing a lot that was wrong with my community, my family, and myself because I thought the Christian thing to do was to emphasize the positive, glory be to God.

But Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy–by which he surely meant that he came for those who know they are sick, and not those who, being sick, nonetheless claim they are healthy.

Since I took up the habit of lamenting, my life has not improved, at least not directly. But life improvement isn’t the goal. The goal is faithfulness and servanthood–becoming like the image of God in Christ. I’ve come to believe meeting that goal involves severe honesty, self-awareness, and nakedness. There is power in honesty, because it removes any hint of deception, and puts us before our God as we really are.

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For more context, read the full article here.

One of my favorite songs of late is John Legend’s “If You’re Out There,” which he sang at the opening night of the Democratic National Convention. I can’t get it out of my head.

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Here are the lyrics if you want to following along Continued

“If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm,
you’ll never enjoy the sunshine.”

— Morris West