Lutherans giving push with Malaria Initiative

I once read "we keep elevating our definition of what the good life is."

This was in an op-ed that reflected on the invention of the washing machine. We can extrapolate from that to the myriad other tech strides that have come to bless us.

We have been reminded of this with the passing of Steve Jobs. He was right in the footsteps of Edison.

The invention of the washing machine and similar tools was supposed to "save us time" and presumably make our lives more, well, blissful. Actually we chose to wash clothes more often. Instead of kicking back "we keep elevating our definition of what the good life is."

Let's take a moment in our harried lives, put down that smartphone or whatever, and really think about our blessings.

I'm writing this inspired by Carol Voorhees, who attends First Lutheran Church in Morris like yours truly. She and husband Ward check this site regularly and I greatly appreciate it.

I used to write in the mass media but now it seems I write for selected individuals or individuals with special interests. If these individuals are as rich spiritually as Ward and Carol, my audience is worthy indeed.

Carol told me about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. While we can feel distracted and annoyed by things like the recent gas line incident - CenterPoint to the rescue! - much of the world has to concern itself with basic matters of survival. About half the world's population is at risk of malaria. Especially vulnerable is sub-Sahara Africa.

WHO tells us there are over 200 million cases of malaria each year and of those infected, nearly a million die. Pregnant women and children under age 5 are most at risk.

"Malaria takes the life of a child every 45 seconds," I learn from a pamphlet Carol shared with me.

Women and their unborn babies are most vulnerable because of weakened or insufficient immune systems. It's no surprise people afflicted by poverty can suffer worst from this health menace. It's a menace with broad economic consequences too.

Carol emphasizes that malaria is preventable and treatable. Let's look at the encouraging side, because measures can be taken for protection. Sleeping under bed nets reduces transmissions by nearly 90 percent.

Medications can help if there's prompt diagnosis. Early treatment shortens the duration of the infection. We must spread education and access to the needed tools, Carol says.

There are displays about the Lutheran Malaria Initiative at First Lutheran Church. The United Nations Foundation is a partner. Lutherans are mobilizing in a global effort.

The atheists at UMM - oh, there's at least one who has gained fame this way - who seem to feel religion is but an odd anachronism around is, might heed the following: ". . .churches can and do play an active role on the international stage and can serve as the catalyst for implementing successful programs on the local level."

Also heed this: "Empowering local communities to join in the effort will pay dividends for the health and livelihoods of future generations."

You can give money right at the church. We are asked to pray. That's the part that college professors would probably scoff at (well, certain ones, I mean).

George W. Bush asked us to pray as Hurricane Katrina approached. We needed more tangible assets from our government, as it turns out.

We live in a world where the most fundamental hazards can still hover close to us, hazards much worse than having a computer virus wipe out your hard drive. We elevate our definition of what the good life is. So we feel frazzled, frustrated and harried even though tech has seemed to advance us by light years.

Somehow the boomer generation got to where it is without smartphones or even computers.

We are so human an animal. We seize our blessings and just seem to demand more, to raise the criteria for determining we are happy.

There's a good therapy for all you people: Read the brochure on the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. You'll see the words "restoring health, inspiring hope."

You should count your blessings, pause to just rest from the day-to-day regimen or "rat race," and realize some of the travail felt in the rest of the world. And maybe help the Initiative in a monetary way.

Ten dollars can provide one family with a treated bed net and the proper education on its use. Thank you Carol for bringing this cause, and background, to my attention. Thanks for coming to this site once in a while and helping me realize I can still find fulfillment in writing.

It appears First Lutheran has a new pastor. I have no reason to believe he isn't an outstanding individual. But in reading the large postcard that got sent out, I'm a little underwhelmed. He bounced around in his clergy career, and for the last three years wasn't even in this career. He sold insurance.

Why is he here?

"Pastor Erdal and his family moved to Chokio this fall so that his wife could accept a teaching position at the Morris school."

I'm not sure why teaching in Morris would require one to live in Chokio.

"Pastor Erdal possesses many years of experience in a variety of congregations."

So, we're going to just be another part of that "variety."

When a spouse gets a teaching job, I guess you've really "made it."

I know a retired clothing store manager whose wife taught, who reportedly once said "if it weren't for my wife's paycheck, I wouldn't eat."

Don't worry, because if Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker gets his way, teaching jobs won't be the kind of anchor occupation they have been in our small towns anymore. We'll all drop to the bottom rung.

There's one remedy: "Vote Democratic!"
- Brian Williams - morris mn Minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com