Changing Course

Changing Course and Practicing Forgiveness


In two days I will be in San Diego to participate in the Susan Komen Race for the Cure 5K.

That makes this weekend an historic event in my life, not because it is the longest walk I will
have ever undertaken

It is historic because it represents an intentional act of political forgiveness on my part.

You may remember the commotion that hit the internet. It all started when the Susan G Komen National Foundation dropped planned parenthood from the list of organizations it would fund. The funding that they provided enabled local Planned Parenthood clinics to perform mammograms for women who had limited or no access to health care.

Personally, I joined the wave of outrage. For several years I have had a plan, though no specific date set, in which I would participate in one of the three day Walk for the Cure events. The one in Santa Barbara probably.

In preparation, I have been on the email list to keep up to date. I had "liked" the page in Facebook.

But when the story hit of the decision to drop Planned Parenthood, another organization which I strongly believe needs to supported in all the work it does to provide young women education and access to health care, my reaction was swift.

I dis-Liked the Page of Susan G Komen. I unsubscribed to the email newsletter. I would NOT allow their decision to drop Planned Parenthood to go unnoticed. I was not the only one to exercise my cyber power And to be fair the reaction  was not all negative toward Susan G Komen Foundation.

Eventually not only was funding restored, but significant leadership changes at the top were made.

With all that said, three weeks ago I signed up to participate in the San Diego because I could do the walk with my grandchildren and children. It was a step of forgiveness to sign up and set any fundraising goal.

I'm curious to learn what impact the national decisions have on the work of the local Susan G Komen affiliate. I don't know if everyone realizes that 75% of every dollar raised by the local event will stay in the community to serve the women of San Diego. At any rate, I've decided that withholding support from Susan G Komen Foundation will not be the best way to promote the much needed life saving efforts of early cancer detection for women in San Diego County. 

I hope that others will also reconsider their positions and once again show support for the work of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  You could even start, today, by making a donation to help me make my goal of $125. Even a small donation, a small $5 will be a sign of moving forward for the health and wellness of sisters who depend on a patchwork health care system.

 My Donation Page

On Conventions

CONVENTIONS

So conventional

Gathering powers to
confirm the intentional

Conventions for discourse
for institutions episcopal
clergy and laity
debating
inaugurating
singing and praying
often delaying
ultimately
waylaying
shalom

Conventions of power
for government leaders
politicians and  laborers
right and left wingers
a few radical singers
with awful one line zingers
void of WHOLE truth
all speak with one purpose
to sway the opinion
of Ms and Mr Minion

Only the anarchists
seem opposed to
conventions
which
might
herald
shalom

Lord in your Dominion
send forth your Spirit
Open the heavens
and pour out you
wisdom.


Come Wild Goose, Come.

Instead of conventions
of Human intentions 
Lead us
headlong
Into

Holy
Conferencing

That
sounds
much more
promising