Welcome back! As always, feel free to check out the past recommendations and inspirations.
1) National Headlines → Florida School Shooting
17 families are heartbroken in Florida this week. Another school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School left 17 adults and children dead. This is the second mass shooting (the Las Vegas shooting) that I have written about in the relatively short lifespan of this blog. That piece covered some thoughts on the role of the NRA, politicians sending “thoughts and prayers,” and what could be done to stop this in the future.
There have been plenty of arguments in the last 48 hours of whether the solution is stronger gun control, mental health initiatives, or perhaps everyone should be allowed to carry a gun to defend themselves. Regardless, we can all agree that mass shootings should not happen.
Here is a morbid thought experiment: name the most recent mass shooting in the US prior to Florida. Las Vegas? San Bernadino? Sandy Hook? Columbine? Others? Do all of those city names sound too familiar? My point: there are too many of them.
So, how do we get to policy and change?
Well, people on all sides of the debate need to decide if they want this to be political or if they want to actually commit to ending gun violence. Rather than casting blame on either sides ideas (“This could have been prevented with stricter gun laws!” or “If someone in the school had a gun, they could have stopped him!”) lawmakers and citizens alike need to sit down and genuinely listen each other. Put aside politics, put aside lobbyists, and put aside preconceived notions. Have a real debate. And not about whether guns or people or something else is to blame. A debate about how we end gun violence in this country. A debate about how we want to shape our future.
2) Wisconsin Headlines → Assembly Passes Welfare Package
Governor Walker called a special session on the state’s welfare system earlier this year. Today, the Assembly passed a package of bills as part of that session. No Democrats supported the bill and a few Republicans voted against it as well.
Walker and Republican lawmakers have touted the bills as a way to help people transition from government assistance to self-sufficiency when the state’s unemployment rate is at a historically low 3 percent, but Democrats say the package is an election-year ploy that would harm the needy in an effort to appeal to a conservative base. –Cap Times
The most prominent feature of the package would expand requirements for food stamp recipients “from 20 hours a week to 30 hours a week, and extend those requirements to parents of children older than 6 years old, who had previously been exempt” (WPR).
“Other bills in the package would:
- launch a pilot program to pay out the earned income tax credit monthly, rather than annually, for some individuals.
- create a “pay for performance” system for contractors that provide services in the state’s worker training programs.
- allow the state to partner with private businesses to provide social services, and base state payment to those organizations on determined performance metrics.
- require child support compliance to be eligible for the state’s Medicaid program.
- authorize the state to apply for a federal waiver to offer health savings accounts in Wisconsin.
- authorize new state food stamp cards that include photo identification.”
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
The package is now off to the Senate who may take it up as early as next week. If it can pass there, Governor Walker is likely to sign it in to law.
3) Writer’s Choice → Lenten Reflections
Lent started yesterday and I am trying to be more intentional this year. That said, I will be offering a reflection every week during Lent for the coming Sunday’s readings.
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Genesis 9:8-15, Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:12-15
Lent is a time of penance. During the season of Lent, we fast and pray, we deny ourselves, and serve others. It is a time to do good things. He came so that we “might have life and live it to the full” (John 10:10).
Lent is a time of reconciliation. Repent! Jesus commands us to do so in the Sunday Gospel. To love him. To turn to Him. To follow Him. To walk in His “way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
Lent is a time of renewal. The readings remind us of Noah and God’s covenant with him. Noah obediently followed the Lord and was able to abide in his love.
Choose the Lord this Lenten season. It is not about giving up chocolate, or simply formulating good habits. It is about following Christ. It is about believing in His conquering death. It is about walking with Christ. It is about imitating Christ.
Even if you think, “I have been a pretty decent human and haven’t killed anyone.” What kind of standard is that? We aren’t called to be pretty decent, we are called to be like Christ. So, “repent (Go to Confession!) and believe in the Gospel.”
4) Recommendation of the Week → Ben Rector
People frequently ask about your favorite things as an icebreaker. I struggle with these because it is hard to pinpoint something that I would choose over all others. Ben Rector would certainly be the closest I would come to a favorite. He has a fun, passionate, and human sound to his music. I can’t help but sing along and smile when I hear his music. Check him out!
5) Inspiration of the Week → Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft
Lent has begun and maybe you want to dedicate yourself to more prayer time. Maybe you just find it hard to pray in general because you feel like you are just sitting in silence. This book is not just for beginners, but for anyone who wants to revitalize their prayer life. Peter Kreeft is logical, accessible, succinct, and entertaining. He is one of my favorite writers and is bound to make another appearance on the blog.
Peace, love, and all the above,
DJE
Thursday Thoughts 