I'm convinced that folks who join extremist movements -- Islamists, John Birchers (do they still exist?), or the crazy wing of the Tea Party -- are motivated by a search for meaning and excitement that has been derailed by laziness and fear. Join any of these three movements and your life has an immediate scoop loader full of meaning coupled with thrills up the wazoo. What could be more fun and fulfilling than banding together with a clot of like-minded collaborators to battle a conspiracy of evil adversaries?
But the problem is that this choice is ultimately a dead-end. What do all the great stories tell us? Choose a risky path that challenges your preconceived notions and end up braver, stronger, and more compassionate (and maybe save the world). Choose a path that justifies your preconceived notions and end up just as selfish, ignorant, fearful, and self-satisfied as you were when you started out. And that's a ginormous wasted opportunity.
Next subject: here's an enthusiastic high five to the theology geeks who knew the answer to my last quiz question. The correct answer was: "Nothing." Jesus had exactly nothing to say about homosexuality. He did, however, have quite a bit to say about compassion and reconciliation.
Next next subject: the picture at the top of the page is of 3/4ths of Crabby Mama's youngsters.
Today's front yard critter count:
Deer: 3 (a doe and her two spotted spring babies).
Raccoons: 3 (Old Tailless Guy's Little Woman and her 2 eggplant-sized babies who seem to communicate with their mama by chirping)
Swainson's Thrushes: Lots
Chipmunks: Two
Slugs: 1 (a very handsome Banana Slug streaming across the front porch)
