The Power of Art

Each weekly article should be about something that happened within the past seven days that provides meaningful introspection. That might include things that affirm life, relationships, and/or spiritual and soulful reflection.

Of course, Christmas was the ‘big’ thing that happened. I came across something that relates to both this event and the New Year celebration to come. In advance, I apologize for the display of ignorance that will soon be clear. I expect many of you already know all about my ‘discovery’ this past week.

The Carol of the Bells. 

Another “Spirit of Christmas” Message

I know. Christmas is just a few days away. You’ve heard all the uplifting messages, and celebratory suggestions, discussed gifts and gatherings, and heard more than a few requests for donations from those working diligently for the underprivileged as they pull at your guilt strings. You might be tired of it all – before it even begins.

Maybe you don’t feel the Spirit of Christmas anymore. Perhaps you are feeling that it’s just too much work decorating only to shuttle the same boxes of decorations back to storage in short order anyway. Maybe you’d rather enjoy the frozen Stouffers Turkey Dinner alone rather than the family menu of choice and the disruptions that you are confident will eventually come to hard feelings or worse.

Maybe 

In the Driver’s Seat

Control. That's what this is. And we want it.

• We want to ensure things are done exactly how we want them done. 
• We want to be the decision-makers for our life plans and future – and sometimes, we claim this for others too.
• We have the right answer(s). Any disagreement means that others are wrong. And it’s because they are so very wrong, we will step in and fix things to get them back on track.

This controlling worldview probably means that we will have a difficult time ‘letting go’, trusting God, and submitting to God’s will. Does anyone else have this issue? Just me then?

Rules for Robots

Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) created the three rules of robotics. Before we begin, I have several background comments. 

• Isaac Asimov first used the word robotics.
• He wrote I, Robot, part of what is known as the Robot Series of fictional short stories.
• Since he was a writer of fiction, the rules of robotics are seen as guides to keep humanity safe with programmed ‘helpers’ – almost friends. 
• It is generally accepted that these rules are not extremely valuable, considering the advancements made in the field, but they are worth considering when developing AI and other technologies.

An Unexpected Lesson

This week, I noticed once again, how my cultural stereotypes have been reinforced. I faced a couple of situations where it just seemed like everyone was unduly angry and had overdosed on entitlement right here in my backyard. What happened to that Christmas Spirit of my childhood that I so vividly remembered?

I started comparing the city of New York and its nearly 9 million people to Manchester, Iowa with its population of 5,000.

In my head, I was tempted to hypothesize that even from 1,000 miles away, the “Empire State Attitude” of New Yorkers was bleeding into rural America. Of course, this is based on a well-known assumption, “New Yorkers are rude.”