Do unto others?

Is it possible to have a foreign policy that follows the principle of "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you"?

I recently heard that 8 billion dollars is all it would take to give the entire world clean drinking water and a sanitary sewage system. Imagine the power of doing good to poorest of the poor throughout the world.

I've had enough with how the US government gives lip service to doing good for others but is really about just furthering our national interests. Quid pro quo seems to be the norm. For example, support us in Iraq and we'll give you x, y & z. Or, support our war on terror and we'll ignore the fact that you're a dictator.

What if we really started caring for other people instead of using them to suit our purposes? Perhaps that attitude in our foreign policy might be the best thing for our national interests.

America invaded

I hear some people wonder why the Iraqis are fighting against us even though we're there to help them. So, I tried to imagine how Americans might react if we were invaded by another country.

We're proud, independent and stubborn.

I think we'd rebel at all costs even if that outside force was here for our benefit. We'd rebel even if it made our situation worse. We want to solve our own problems and not have anyone else interfere.

This helped me understand a piece of why so many Iraqis fight our presence there even if it might help them in the long run.

Not in charge of the universe

"...there is no particular reason why I should get what I want today, because I am not in charge of the universe." These wise words are from Dallas Willard's book, "Renovation of the Heart".

Writing these words in my journal today was particularly apt because we got another round of bad news on our car - costly engine problems. This is not what I wanted today.

Much of my frustration in life comes from my inability to roll with whatever comes my way. I want things my way. I want control.

But, it seems that the way to a life of peace is letting go of the need to have it my way (even if Burger King says I can I have it that way).

Irresistible Bad Jokes

Do you ever have bad jokes that you can't resist saying over & over & over again?

I had a friend who volunteered with the deaf ministry at her church. Every time she'd tell me about it, I'd say, "What?" She'd faithfully repeat what she had just said even though I had clearly heard everything she said.

Another friend works in the lead poisoning prevention program. I never tire in telling this friend that lead pencils are the problem because kids are eating them.

Truth be told, I do pass gas on occasion. But, let that never pass my lips because it's much more fun to blame any noises and smells on the unsuspecting cats, naive son or my beautiful wife. A funny little story on this one. The other night we had a neighbor over for a game of Scrabble. I let a fart go by mistake. My wife thought it was our son so she said, "good one." I will admit it was me and not my son.