Rain, rain, rain
We've had a lot of rain here in central and eastern Europe lately. I suppose you've all seen the floods in Germany, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic on the news. We've been spared the serious flooding in Poland, though people living near the swelling rivers were getting awfully nervous.
I don't know what the soil is like in Germany, Austria, etc., but here in Poland it's very sandy. I'm sure that helps as far as drainage. The funny thing is, after all the rain we've had, give us 2 weeks of dry and sunny weather and the farmers will be hoping for rain again. That's thanks to the sandy soil here.
I think the wet weather has caused the poppies and cornflowers to really go crazy this summer. There are margins of fields and roads close to where I live that are nearly solid red and blue.
I haven't been able to take a photo or find one on the web that really does justice to the sight of great fields with bright red poppies and blue cornflowers growing amidst the wheat or oats. With the additional white daisies that are also common you get a nice red, white and blue effect.
Madonna of the Wheat
Madonna of the wheat, bless the grain
which becomes our daily bread,
so there will be enough bread for all, and none will go hungry.
(Mieczyslaw Gogacz, Litania kwiatow do Matki Bozej)
Thugs, Unlimited
I've been following from afar the scandals concerning the IRS in the United States. The governments of modern democracies (so-called) have more power to oversee and regulate the private lives of individuals than any absolute monarchy ever dreamed of.
"Politics is violence." I saw that quote recently but I can't recall nor locate the name of the philosopher who said it. The context of the quote is that governments, no matter what form they are, whether it be democracy, monarchy or dictatorship, have potentially violent means at their disposal to enforce the laws. If you refuse to pay your taxes, armed federal agents will visit you. Your property may be taken from you and you may find yourself in jail.
But surely we must all pay our taxes. If we don't like the tax rates we have the means of the ballot box to elect officials who will modify the tax rates.
That is true, but creeping government power goes way beyond collecting taxes.
In many countries ("gentle" Sweden, for example) the only educational option for children is the state-run education system. There are no private schools and home-schooling is not allowed. If as a parent you are unhappy with the content of the sexual education (and an informed Christian would have much to be unhappy with!), too bad. If you refuse to surrender your children to the state school system, you will be compelled to. Your children will be taken from you if the state deems it necessary. It turns out your children are not yours after all, but belong to the state.
Regarding the situation with the IRS, I've read that one pro-life organization in Iowa applying for tax-exempt status was told they must agree not to protest outside Planned Parenthood facilities. Say what? That violates the First Amendment in three different ways - it abridges the freedom of speech and of peaceable assembly. Plus, it abridges the free exercise of religion in the sense that Christians and Jews are obligated to defend the defenseless (unborn babies).
Civilization
Civilization is a rather fragile thing, it seems. Thuggery and nastiness are always threatening to break through. Call it 'original sin.' I wrote this some years ago:
Viking Raid
The sun had risen with the wind to spangle
Waves that rushed and foamed the clacking shingle
Where longboats shoved their snouts and spilled their hoard,
Where waves of slouching figures hurried forward . . .
The village chimneys smoked. The roosters crowed.
The milkers stamped their feet against the cold.
But quick the hands that swung the raspy broom,
The hands upon the axe, the doll, the loom
Were stilled. Their screams were stifled in their throats.
So with the bawling cows and bleating goats.
The sun rose high above the inky haze
That blacked out barns and cottages ablaze.
But the last word goes to the Word, the Alpha and the Omega. The song reference is to J.S. Bach's gorgeous Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.
Morning Song
The rising sun casts gold across the earth.
Hurrah! A shout of joy, a splendid birth!
An early walker smells new chimney smoke
And hears the sparrows sing in birch and oak.
His heart, a flower bright as day's new firing,
Sings Jesus, Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring.
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