Day in the life of a devoted follower of Jesus of Nazareth

I wrote this Tuesday, February 3, 2009. Several times I was asked, “How’s your day going?” Close to the end of the day, this is my answer with commentary.

It is hard to explain my disappointed in you, former Sen. Tom Daschle. You had been one of my heroes in the U.S. Senate. I thought of you as an honest, hard-working senator from a small state. I was truly disappointed when you lost your bid for reelection in 2004. I was glad when you were nominated by President Obama to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. I was certain that you were the person who could help craft a plan to bring health care to every American. You somehow overlooked paying all your federal income tax? At the same time you were making millions as a lobbyist? With a tear in my eye, I am glad you withdrew your name.

Next stop. Every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., I have coffee and doughnuts with the greatest group of friends that a person can have. Every one of this special group lives with a chronic mental illness. Schizophrenia, bi-polar syndrome, post-traumatic stress, depression, panic disorder, etc. All are dependent on prescription drugs. Most have spent time in jail or a psychiatric hospital. Bright, intelligent, some college educated, veterans, religious and not, professional people no longer able to practice their skills, thankful for their social worker services managers. Gay, non-gay and transgendered. Republicans, Democrats and politically disinterested. Not a shred of pretense in the whole room. I left the meeting place with a smile and thankful for the privilege of their friendship.

Channel 2 did what? They fired Steve McDonald? Why? No one is saying why the Channel 2 evening news anchor is gone. He is the reason I watch the news on Channel 2. Will this knock him off of Anchorage Edition on Friday evening? He is the best-informed, the most intelligent person on the panel. New owner of the station is from Indiana. I smell a rat. Steve’s wife teaches with my daughter at East High. I know Steve a little bit. Great guy. God, I hope he is not another Tom Daschle. I hope Steve emerges on Channel 11 or 13. If he does, I will be watching. After another thought, I hope Steve doesn’t reappear on Channel 4.

The phone rings. Darlene answers. After listening a few minutes I realize the call is from her sister. Darlene subscribes to the Cottage Grove Sentinel, her weekly home-town paper. Darlene’s sister asks “Have you read the Sentinel? Cousin “Joe” robbed a bank here in Cottage Grove. It is on the front page of the Sentinel.” Cousin “Joe” is a part of the family heartache. In Darlene’s memory, he was a happy-go-lucky kid. As an adult, he appeared to be a loner. Never married. No children. He was in and out of Cottage Grove. Both parents are deceased. Brother and sister are deceased. His closest family friend recently died of cancer. At one point, he was reported living under a bridge near Cottage Grove. Did he have a problem with alcohol? Did he struggle with a mental illness? When Darlene’s sister saw “Joe,” she would ask “How are you doing?” The answer was an affirming “I’m fine.” He was not a very good bank robber. He was caught nearby. He did not attempt a get-away. “Joe” just walked down Main Street. Did he want to be caught? Who knows?

It was time for dinner with a 1- year-old friend. She is the daughter of a deceased mother and a disabled father. Her mother was an Alaska Native. Her father, a Caucasian, has been her single parent for many years. “Julie” is very bright and a good looking girl. Recently Darlene gave “Julie” a copy of President Obama’s book “Dreams from My Father.” We agreed that when we had all read the book we would get together for dinner and talk about the book. We picked “Julie” up at her home and went to a Wasilla restaurant. It was a 2 1/2-hour delight. She was emotionally depressed during her freshman year of high school and could have become another tragic dropout. “Julie” had been a good student in elementary school and developed good reading skills.

She is now again an excellent student. She may have to take a summer school class or pick up a credit in some other way in order to graduate with her class, but she is a determined young lady. She is college material. Darlene and I are committed to helping her achieve her full potential in any way we can.

We dropped her off at her home with smiles on our faces.

Why should this column be printed on the religion page? The truest test of religion is how it works in the real world. I am a devoted follower of Jesus of Nazareth partly because of the way he engaged the world around him. A thoughtful reading of his teachings and his actions shows he avoided no part of the real world. With love he engaged the religious, social, economic and governmental structures of his day. He was a totally involved person. His faith was one that worked everywhere.

It is bed time. Another day of challenges and joys is waiting.

The Rev. Howard Bess is the pastor emeritus of Church of the Covenant, an American Baptist church in Palmer. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.