Clumsy Blogger Trips Over Some Truth

by Kevin Burton

   Here is a summary of the Fourth of July blog post you were about to get.

   It was going to start with memories of the bicentennial, of watching CBS all day as Walter Cronkite brought us stories from literally every corner of the nation, from 8 a.m. until after midnight. 

   Then a quote from Cronkite on a CBS special the next Independence Day as he remembered the big event.

    “As the day went on one could almost touch the spirit that swept over this country it was a spirit that said ‘our country is 200 years old. After all the growing up, after all the glory, after all the setbacks our country has gone through we can still say with pride and gratitude, we are the American people.’”

   This I planned to contrast with what we face today, constitution hijacked, economy wrecked, racial bigotry not only tolerated, but encouraged and normalized. Protests of those issues being partly constructive but in large part destructive.  

   So there I was, striding with purpose, to deliver that message, but then I tripped. Clumsy me, I tripped over a Bible verse, Philippians 4:8. 

   That was careless. I had read it but then left it out in the open instead of stuffing it back in the book.

  Now when I tripped, I didn’t hit my head.  So I didn’t suddenly forget or begin to overlook or excuse any of the systematic inequality or hate.

   But there I was on the ground, with this verse.  Here is the verse in case you don’t know it.

   “Finally, bretheren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good report, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

   That changed my thoughts on what to post.  So here are some snippets from stories of the more positive responses to the virus, the race war, the wrecked economy for your consideration. 

  1. Global-PPE, a healthcare startup based in Reston, Virginia is distributing 10,000 surgical masks to Native American tribes in the Southwest and Northern Plains regions. It is working with Partnership With Native Americans, a Native-led nonprofit, to distribute the masks.

   “COVID-19 continues to disproportionately put the health and lives of people of color and people in underserved communities at grave risk,” said Sanjay Puri, CEO of Global-PPE. “Our support of PWNA is just the beginning of our commitment to the health and well-being of those in disadvantaged communities.”

 2.  Children in Christiansburg, Virginia can receive books, though libraries are closed due to the virus. It’s all thanks to the bright idea of one librarian.

   Kelly Passek got the idea to deliver books via drone. The drone delivery service is offered by a google spinoff called “Wing.”

   “I think kids are going to be just thrilled to learn that they are going to be the first in the world to receive a library book by drone,” Passek told the Washington Post.

   The program has future implications for those who live in rural areas far away from libraries.

3.  Michelle Brenner of Gig Harbor, Washington, laid off from her job in a menswear store, responded to the virus crisis by cooking 1,200 pans of lasagna for strangers in need. 

   “The world as we know if is falling apart but my two little hands are capable of making a difference,” Brenner told the Washington Post. “I can’t change the world but I can make lasagna.”

   These stories were gleaned from “www.goodnewsnetwork.org.” It’s a site you may want to sneak into your rotation of news sites.  It could be good for your perspective, not to mention your blood pressure.

   Sunday on Page 7, more positive responses to the nation’s troubles, made by real Americans for real Americans.

   Happy birthday USA.