Monday, April 9, 2018

Taxes - Return on Investment?

If you're a homeowner, you recently relieved property tax notifications. Most of us tend to grumble about them. Taxes are painful. For some, the taxes are a real struggle. It's taken me many years to get it planned right so it would be less painful. And it's taken me years to see it differently.
This year, as I stared at those papers sitting on the desk, images came to mind. They were much clearer as I focused on the city taxes. I thought of every time the streets were plowed. The city worker who hand delivered the water issue notification came to mind. I saw the friendly faces at Town Hall, our city manager, our mayor, our council, our police, our fire fighters, our events planner, our code enforcer. On some very cold winter days, there were city crews working on some trouble areas on the streets or in the water lines.
How many times can I count hearing sirens of first responders? When did those Christmas decorations magically appear? How did the leaves disappear? When did they sweep away the remnants of winter street treatment?
If my tax dollars were divided among all the services and employees serving this city, how does it get applied? As I consider the many services provided in this beautiful town, I'm supporting a great team of dedicated servants. I'm getting a great return on investment. Looking at it this way made writing the check easier. (That, plus super help from my financial institution, Franklin Oil Region Credit Union, to plan better for it.)
Our taxes really are an investment. When we can measure a great return on investment, it's less painful. In my humble opinion, Franklin, PA, is getting it right!

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

In Search of Universal Truth

A few years back, on a business trip in China, my hosts in Wuxi honored me with a trip to see the Big Buddha and visit the temple. Together we climbed the many steps leading to the foot of the giant Buddha and paused there at a table to visit. Through our interpreter we exchanged questions and thoughts. I was the first American woman they had ever met in person. They marveled that I was over 55 and still working, in this case traveling to videotape in many factories. Women in China retire at 55. They asked many questions about American women.
Then, sitting under Buddha's shadow, the conversation turned to religion. "Our Buddha and your Jesus are much alike," One said. I agreed and said something like this; "Please understand that I am not a typical American woman. Many are not like me. And I believe I was born into a Christian family to help me understand how Christians think and I don't understand it yet." To which they laughed. What followed was a wonderful discussion of how we can learn from one another if our hearts are open to learning.
Cross cultural experiences such as these with Buddhists, Muslims, Jews, Pagans, Wiccans, Atheists, Agnostics, Spiritualists, Humanists, Native American teachings, and others have added greatly to my life. The universal speaks to us all in different ways. Among us all there are universal truths. For me, it is those universal truths that are the "word of God". If they are not universal and universally true, they are not from God. At best, those things not universally understood as true are simply man's interpretation of God. God's word must be universally understood and accepted. Why? Because God perfectly understands how man thinks. Only God can perfectly communicate so that man understands universally. Name God whatever you desire. God is universal truth. "God" is simply my name for it.
My love for search of that truth is unending. One book, one set of doctrines, one set of teachings, one religion, one practice cannot possibly contain an understanding of all universal truth. When confronted with someone insisting that there is only one way, my inner spirit asks "Why is your God so small?"
Every day I am searching these truths and an understanding of how I need to apply them to my life. And then today, I did a thing. Dear friends would like me to conduct their wedding ceremony. And so, I sought the path that would lead to my ability to do that. And so, this day, I am officially ordained through the Universal Life Church. They require just two core tenets:
  1. Do only that which is right.
  2. Every individual is free to practice their religion in the manner of their choosing, as mandated by the First Amendment, so long as that expression does not impinge upon the rights or freedoms of others and is in accordance with the government’s laws.
I am now officially titled "Minister of Peace". I do indeed believe in those two simple tenets. My simple intent and motivation is to honor my friends wishes. For many the ordination process is intense and I respect that dedication. My objective is not to start a church or in any way diminish any established denominations or ordained ministers. My intent is to serve. And I will continue to search truth. And I chose the title "Minister of Peace" to be my compass.
While this was easy to do, I do not take it lightly. It is simply another step toward a greater cause.