Reading about Responsibility-- and thinking about Labels

I'm trying to figure out if the Christian theologian H Richard Niebuhr book I'm reading [The Responsible Self] was ahead of his time, or whether the winds of change of the 60's just blew right over him. If only people would just be able to describe themselves and label themselves in categories that we understand.-- like put a sign around .their neck or wear a special color hat if you have some special something that you want to called . .Not just a special interest. .like red or pink or yellow ribbons.

Everyone feels they need to generalize to describe people. The media has their labels-- demographics like Generation X, Y or Boomer. .or whatever. .
Political commentaries try to pigeonhole people in 2 camps and no one really fits in them.
Theology, I suppose, is the same. Economists have their little acronyms, I've heard. and the young swingin' crowd has labels for all sorts of people in the social arena. It's no longer just guys & dolls. .I heard one the other day: cougar-- meaning, apparently, an older single woman dating a younger man. I wonder. .I wish. .
Trouble is, no one wants to be labeled by someone else.

It seems that, the only thing that really identifies us is our actions. And, in a way--that is what Niebuhr is saying. To be responsible is to respond to something that you feel loyal to, or believe in-- in his case monotheism.. .and ethics demands that we stick our necks out and walk the talk-- put our money where our mouth is; let our actions speak louder than our words.
hmmmm. What is your responsibility quotient? LM

A little more about change

The topic of change really has intrigued me for many years. As a seminarian, I explored a bit of the spiritual/theological aspects. The term metanoia presents some basic tenants that could provide any leader or political system some great lessons.
The fact that the 'penitentiary' system was built to help people turn their lives around is proof that it is possible, even though very difficult, for a person to change.
I have found research about "what you can change and what you can't" from the psychological aspect (Martin E P Seligman).
The 12-Step process has the basic 'procedures' that have been proven effective for many people, but they recognize that change is a spiritual thing.
I am convinced: Peace of mind is a goal that IS possible.
To close today, I will share this quote from one of my personal meditations, attributed to "Peace Pilgrim". .whoever that is:
Historically speaking, when human beings are faced with the choice between destruction and change, they are apt to choose change, and it's about the only thing that will make them choose change.

I have other thoughts, discoveries and feelings about change, which I will share in a future entry.
I appreciate receiving responses, also! LM

Still, I wonder--about change

There are really so many things that make me wonder. .most of them are about people and their actions or decisions or inactions. This past week I have had the pleasure of great conversations with people of like minds on the topic of change. It seems to be part of politics, personal relationships, psychology, business, technology. . life is really all about change. .

Why is it, then, that some people seem to resist the idea of change so vehemently? Why do some folks embrace change and others avoid it 'like the plague'?
I would suppose it has mostly to do with fear. .but fear of what?. .that list could be pretty short, or rather long.
I wish I didn't have to think I was just talking to myself here, and could hear the dialog from anyone out there who is reading this. LM

Green Beans & New Potatoes

There are a few annual rituals that tend to creep into my cooking habits. During gardening season--the full heat of summer--I usually cook up at least one pot (now in the crock-pot) of fresh garden green beans with small new red potatoes. The seasoning includes plenty of salt, onions, some chunks of ham, or--as in my situation today--bacon, if no ham is available--salty pork, but not too fatty. And, if I can get it, fresh dill. Today, I will use dry dill weed. The beans need to cook longer than the potatoes, so I'll add them about 45 minutes before I want to eat.

Another summer cultural sidedish, that my kids rarely eat is cucumber salad. I have modified my own recipe to make it almost a sweet-n-sour oil & vinegar dressing. This cucumber salad is simply sliced cucumbers and sliced onions, soaked in salt water, and then nearly all of that water is poured off. This softens and somewhat marinates the veggies before the dressing is added. I grew up with cream (soured from the vinegar) added shortly before it is eaten. The low German name for this is "gulga". .who knows what that means. .

when it gets cooler, we'll talk about soup and galushkies during the holidays. Any one coming to meet my parents needs to be prepared for interesting food. LM