Sufferagettes and Thoughts

Today, Karl handed me a folder and said, "Read this. You'll either laugh or get angry." The folder was full of articles from a certain journalist known for his feisty and often argumentative nature, and all were regarding the women's rights movements. It was interesting, if not slightly amusing to read his early statements of, "if women want to vote, then they should vote. But as it stands, they don't want to vote." As the movement strengthened, he seemed to no longer think they should vote if they wanted to, but rather trust in the gallantry of men to lead and be good and sensible staying indoors away from the poll booths. I found all of what I read interesting and some of it humorous ("I'm sure our enemies will tremble with fear when they hear the name of President Gertie and Governor Lulie..."), but as I was reading I thought of how the argument must have been in those days. There was mention of Susan B. Anthony speaking in one of the opera houses, crowds of people in attendance, with sound arguments for why women should vote (mostly that if a woman does not have a husband, if she is to earn her own bread, she should be able to vote). There were still threads of people trying to hold on to the idea of a Christian nation and the idea of woman picking the leaders was a warning flag for women leadership. Unfortunately, the gallantry of men, so far fallen, could only carry us so far. This thought is striking to me because we do not live in a Christian nation. We live in a land full of faulty humans (just like everywhere else), and in a nation that is not focused on Christ, really anything goes. This is not to say that women voting is wrong, not by any means (though feminism is ridiculous), but it makes me wonder what it would be like if everyone made decisions based on Christ, if women followed their husband's lead, and men loved their wives like Christ loved the church and took action out of their best interest. And really this is idealism talking...we live in a very broken world, so much so that even our churches don't resemble this sort of basic principle and it seems that for every step we take we take two steps back. This issue was intense in its day and it makes sense why... we are all in incredible darkness, bumping into things and trying to do the best we can without turning on the lights. It goes back to selfishness. It goes back to pride. It goes back to acting on one's own self-interest and thinking we can do anything without having to yield to God's will. We really like to run our own show...so it's no wonder why this country is where it is...this world.

Well, after I read the articles and was getting things in order to leave for the day, Donald came in. He said 'hi' to Karl and said, "Everyone's dying out there. Lots of people are dying. We gotta go back to the good ol' ways, like the Seventh Day Adventists and get everyone saved." Then he walked out the door.

Heaven's in the Sun

For some time now I have been curious as to the lives lived by the aged. This comes from working at the local historical society, a place occupied with more old people than my fingers. Not to mention the tasks I'm presented with are that of recording the headlines of the local news as far back as the Civil War. As I'm shuffling through the articles and reading the names and places of a time passed, I am struck by the simple realization that this is not fiction. Marriages, deaths, local crime, politics, slavery, buildings being build, roads being paved, the coming of the automobile (refered to as the "devil wagon")--these are all topics that surround me as I type from 9 til noon. This all happened. So, when I come across a headline such as "Slave woman kills two children, commits suicide", I can't help but wonder what sort of hell her life must have been.

It's easy when I'm in this train of thought, to apply it to the people that I see around me. Today a man came into the Society that I had seen a few times before. I previously had assumed he was a bum, a title I'm still not sure should be dismissed. But, today I learned his name is Donald. Before, he would come into the Society, say 'hello' to my boss, Karl, and then be on his way. I'd also occasionally see him strolling the downtown streets, surveying the gutters for long cigarette butts that were still slightly smokable or darting into Funny Pages Cafe to use their restrooms. Today, however, it seemed he wanted a little conversation. Instead of a greeting and a goodbye, he decided to divulge in a spiritual rambling that left all but Karl confused.

"King of Lord of Lords! Right?! And don't you forget it. I know it...I know it." Karl would reply with a "Yep."

Donald continued, "Heaven's in the sun.... I've been there. I can take you up there and bring you back right quick if you want!"

Karl laughed kindly, "No, that's alright."

Donald turned and left, saying, "I've been there...in the sun...", as he walked out the door. I must have been making my crinkled-brow, deep-thought, utterly-confused face, because Karl strolled over and explained to me that Donald used to be a smart man. Really smart. Some years back he was in a horrible car accident that left him with brain damage. He claims now that he went to heaven in the sun and came back and he spends his days looking at books about stars at the library and walks around downtown.

I would have discounted his ramblings for a life of drugs, which, when you live in a city known as 'the meth capitol of Missouri,' you can't really blame me. But coming across this picture of Donald's life I wonder....what about Karl's life? What about Ralph's life? or Doris'? or Cecy's? I wonder what the headlines of their experiences would read and I know there are more than what meets the eye. Did Donald have aspirations of running a business? Did he have a serious romance? A person is more than that surface and few words they present to the world. Sometimes that thought amazes me, and when you get to the heart of a person, you see where their heart resides. Hmm. That's even more powerful that the headlines that make their story...