on poverty:

i feel as though i am constantly trying to make sense of things like this. how do i reconcile the disparities? is it different just because it's india? what about here? how do i reconcile the things i see when i go to baltimore city with what i see in ellicott city or columbia? i feel sheepish telling them that i'm from a church in ellicott city. sometimes i imagine they are thinking, sure, it's easy for you to come from and go back to your cushy neighborhood. do you feel better about yourself now? which always leads me to, how am i supposed to live? that's always the question. how am i supposed to live?

on politics:

as the primaries heat up, and the candidates start campaigning at full force, it's easy to get carried away. and then i have to remember, they are all still men (and woman). their leadership will not make the problems go away. their policies will not bring absolute solutions. even with the best intentions, even if they are christians, or even pastors, they are still humans. just as i struggle with telling people what they want to hear, i cannot forget that this may be their struggle as well. except that it's enhanced with hundreds of thousands of peoples voices in their ears. so i will keep telling myself, don't get carried away. we'll see.

(random sidenote - i watched "air force one" last night. that is a ridiculous movie. but great fun. they just don't make 'em like they used to.)

on war:

yes, there are just wars. just as in justice, i mean. yes, i agree. but no matter the reason, i have to remember the individuals. not the statistics, the logistics, or the long-term goals. the individuals. and that for one person, there may be long-term affects. that their life may be changed forever. that it may determine whether they will live in anger, resentment, hope, or joy until they die. that it is only by grace i am here and they are there. that i have this life and they have that life.