Change

Change. The word strikes fear in some, hope in others and some say: So what? It seems our country is averse to change and we cringe when ever change is proposed. Certainly we are suspicious when the federal government attempts to adjust the status quo. Exhibit A is the current brouhaha over Mr. Obama's health care proposals. Thousands of citizens have marched on Washington in protests partly staged and supported financially by special interests and partly made up of citizens paying there own expenses and genuinely opposed to the proposed changes in health care. This is not the first time change has caused discord in our nation.




There are a number of instances in U.S. history involving change that have led to protests that produced armed conflict, bloodshed and, in some cases, enduring bitterness.


To mention a few:


The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. A tariff imposed by the government eliminated any profit farmers might make on their sales of grain. The farmers greeted the change with violence against tax collectors.


The Civil War. Slavery states would not embace the changes required under the Emancipation Proclamation. You know what happened after that.


The Bonus Army. In 1932 some 43000 WWl veterans came to Washington, DC. They had been promised a bonus for their service but it was to be paid in 1945. They wanted that date to be changed to 1932. Economic conditions in the country had deteriorated so much that the veterans and their families were in desparate financial straits. They set up a shanty town and prepared to wait for Congress to act in their favor. It didn't happen. President Herbet Hoover ordered federal troops, headed by Douglas McArthur, to drive out the veterans which they did. The troops also set fire to the shanty town. A number of people were killed including two babies.



Change brings uncertainty.

A man had next door neighbors he never visited or spoke to. Yet, when they moved he found that the event made him very uncomfortable. Who would be his new neighbors? Would they be noisy? Would they keep up their property? Would they be black, white, tan, yellow or brown?



From the day we are born we constantly change in one way or another; physically, mentally or morally. We can each recount changes that have taken place in our lives; some minor some momentous; some positive and some negative. Graduations, marriage, having children, careers, financial ups and downs, death of a spouse or parent, illnesess, aging, confronting our own demise and many, many others.

Accelerating changes in technology can be disorienting. They may make us feel we are being left behind and adrift with nothing static that we can hold on to.



An elderly lady made her first airplane trip. Her granddaughter met her at the terminal and asked, "How was the trip, Granny?"

"It was alright I guess, but I didn't let my weight all the way down on the seat."



On what can we confidently let all our weight down? What is there that is permanent in an ever-changing world? What is there that merits our complete trust? What is there that we can hook our anchor to and know that it will never be cut loose?



It's not our bank account, stocks or bonds; it's not our position in society, confidence in other people or our own abilities; most of which can be wiped out or nullified in a moment. Thousands of Americans found that out just recently.



"For I am the Lord, I do not change." Malachi 6:8



"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock." (Jesus) Matthew 7:24, 25

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Recipes

From time to time I will bring you personally tested recipes from our chef's kitchen. This first one is for the more adventuresome who are looking for new taste sensations.

Potato Chip Sandwich. That's right; potato chips.

2 slices bread of your choice

Real Pimento cheese. (As opposed to fake cheese)

Barbeque flavored potato chips (I use Lay's)

Thin sliced ham or turkey

Spread one slice of bread liberally with cheese

Place 2 layers of chips over cheese

Place meat over chips and cover with remaining slice of bread; press to crush chips

Bon Apetit!

Eat your heart out Julia Child