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Articles by Webb Hubbell
Good Friday! | The Hubbell Pew
Whether for you today marks the end of Lent, or the beginning of Easter, or both or neither, it is a Good Friday. Thank you all for traveling this year’s Lenten journey with the Pew, despite my health hiccups. I hope each of you feels refreshed, energized, and better prepared. I offer one thought as we work toward the massive problems we face as a country and citizens of the world. In the United States, we are not bound to put in power leaders who are obsessed by power, greed, or blind ambition.
Hospitality To Strangers
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. — Hebrews 13:2. One of the great stories that came out of 9/11 was the hospitality shown to so many travelers stranded in Greenland. I bet you know someone who is constantly welcoming strangers into his/her home or finding ways to help people who they will never meet again. I have a friend who was moved to help refugees passing through Charlotte on the way to their final destination.
Today Is A Bonus
Readers of the Pew remember my shower thoughts. I used to do my best thinking in the shower, composing closing arguments to a jury, solving a client’s problem, or writing that last paragraph of a judicial opinion. Later, some of my better Pews were formulated under hot mist. I haven’t had many great shower thoughts lately, although I promise I still shower daily. However, today I was giving myself a lecture about health and attitude while rinsing when something clicked.
Questions | The Hubbell Pew
Suzy and I show our age by watching Jeopardy most nights. Times have changed. Jeopardy is just about the only show we watch on Network news except for sports and the news. Somehow entertainment for us has moved to streaming networks such as BritBox. I still love movies, but Covid has put a real damper on going to the Theatre and eating popcorn. But I divert. The thing about Jeopardy is it’s not about the answers, but the questions. There is a little bit of life in this reversal.
Create Windows | The Hubbell Pew
If the house of the world is dark, love will find a way to create windows. – The Analects of Rumi. My dear friend Tom, the Sufi master, turned me on to the poetry and wisdom of Rumi years ago. I came across the above recently. If we ever needed evidence of the truth of Rumi’s words above it was the last year of Covid.
Retirement | The Hubbell Pew
Try as I may, I haven’t found anything in the Holy Scriptures about retirement. I couldn’t find anything about resting on one’s laurels or being given permission at age seventy-three to stop being kind, stop caring about my neighbor, or retiring from God’s plan. When it comes to God’s plan or being a better person we are supposed to keep striving up to our last minutes on earth. I took a week off last week, and went to the beach for a little restoration and reflection.
Forgive Someone | The Hubbell Pew
I’m not going to suggest how you do it, nor am I going to suggest when or who you forgive, only that during Lent you select at least one person to forgive. This is not a Lenten discipline, but it’s a good time. Make it a total forgiveness, no holding back, no need for the other person to acknowledge the harm they did, just a total, unabashed, no holds-barred forgiveness. Like unconditional love, make it an unconditional forgiveness. A few days afterwards, write down how you feel.
Books and Stories
“A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us.” — Kafka. “Books and stories are medicine, plaster casts for broken lives and hearts, slings for weakened spirits.” — Anne Lamott. Football season is over, and until the Razorbacks return to the glory of the Nolan Richardson days it is time to concentrate on books, reading and writing them.
Encourage One Another
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other… — 1 Thessalonians 5:11. The news about the virus keeps getting worse, and everywhere one turns we hear of another tragedy. Now is the time to follow the above, and remind each other we are all in this together and we are all affected. Suzy and I have just finished our first Thanksgiving without family, and now we face a possible Christmas alone as well. But as I remind her and she reminds me, we both have our health and each other.
All Saints and Souls
Today is All Souls Day and yesterday was All Saints Day. I have to admit that until I looked it up this morning I didn’t make the distinction. My fault. However, as I get older these days on the Christian calendar have more significance, especially in this year of Covid where so many have died. It is only fitting that we spend at least one day a year remembering those who died in that year for each life on earth is unique and special.
The Power Of Human Compassion
Then Jesus called the twelve together… and he sent them out … and to heal. — Luke 9:1-2. What a glorious gift we have all been given — to heal. No, I don’t mean that we all have been given miraculous powers or to cure with the laying on of our hands. I’m talking about the power of human compassion and love. We all have the ability to comfort the sick, listen to the troubled, and to heal in a thousand ways.
Let Us Seek Peace
Let us… seek peace… near the inland murmur of streams, and the gracious waving of trees, the beauteous vesture of earth, and sublime pageantry of the skies — Mary Shelley. The peace and serenity Shelley describes above is hard to imagine in these days of Covid, electioneering, and the words coming from both sides before Justice Ginsberg is even laid to rest about her successor.
Sacrifice A Lifestyle
One of my favorite books is Citizens of London by Lynne Olsen. One of the many things she describes in detail are the sacrifices the British had to make during World War II. Americans sacrificed during war but nothing like the British. Suzy and I were talking about what else — the virus — this morning after my doctor explained that the virus was likely to get much worse until the vaccine is developed. Like most of us we are all fed up with the virus and how it has affected our lifestyle.
When All Else Fails, Be Kind
I apologize for being so negative lately. I forgot my adage, “When all else fails, be kind.” It is difficult when faced with stupidity, ugliness, and arrogance to remember this adage, but it is even more important to do so. Sometimes kindness is easy, but every once in a while, kindness takes some effort. When faced with a bully or a thug who is in your face, kindness takes every ounce of effort we have.
Out Of This Trust
I trust that God is in me. I trust that my labor is holy. Out of this trust I live. — Herman Hesse. No, the above quote is not from one of Hesse’s many characters such as Siddhartha, Damien, or the Magister Ludi. It is Hesse talking about a single tree. However, if I could adopt a personal philosophy which would do me great service the above hits the mark. In this morning’s meditation I thought about the concept that God was actually part of me.
5 books by Charlotte authors to check out while you’re staying home during COVID-19
Patrice Gopo shares personal experiences in her latest essay collection, “All the Colors We Will See.” Courtesy of Charlotte Readers Podcast CharlotteFive Now that you’re at home for a while, this is a great time to crack open a great novel and take a break from all the COVID-19 craziness. Consider checking out a book written by a local author as you’re scouring online bookstores for your next read.
Stop The Presses
Stop the presses! I felt that way this morning when I read the morning’s papers. “Please, no more bad news,” I said to myself. After breakfast, I went into my morning’s meditation with the question, “When will it all end?” But soon calm began to creep up from my toes, and I thought of the neighbor yesterday who Suzy and I passed on our walk who offered to do anything for us — go to the grocery store, pick up laundry, or take me to the doctor.
Present versus Past
In politics, it certainly seems as if the past is more important than the future or the present. A candidate announces for an office, and immediately he or she is attacked by their opponent for something in his or her past. The concepts of forgiveness, learn from mistakes, or occasional “saying something stupid” are non-existent or treated with cynicism. Maybe politics is a mirror on the way we live our lives. We dwell on the past and ignore the present and give short shrift to the future.
School an Intelligence and Make It a Soul
Do you not see how necessary a World of Pains and Troubles is to school an Intelligence and make it a soul? — John Keats. I once had a friendly disagreement with a law partner about Judges. She argued for brilliant minds, while I argued for compassionate souls. Who do you choose? More importantly how do you want to be remembered? Would you rather be remembered for your brilliance or your compassion. Maybe the answer is comes from “Trading Places” : — Why can’t we have both?
Forgive Because You Must
When I was a young boy my best friend, Paul, lived next door. Paul and I got into a lot of mischief including painting our faces with green house paint. But every now and then we would fight, wrestle, or hurt each other’s feeling. It was the nature of a young friendship. I must have said or done something wrong because one time Paul picked up a rake and hit me with it right between the nose and upper lip.
He Has Dealt Bountifully With Me
I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me. — Psalm 13:6. I celebrated another birthday last Saturday, and people would ask how do I feel. The above Psalm is my answer, although I am confident that God would prefer I not sing. God blessed me with many gifts, but a beautiful voice is not one of them. God’s design for me was not what I planned, and every time I adjusted my plan to meet with a new set of circumstances, he/she would send me reminders that I was not in charge.
Injustice Requires Our Attention and Response
What do we do when we see or hear of an injustice? Everyone these days recognizes the injustice of slavery, the Holocaust, the Spanish Inquisition, etc., and I think most of us see injustices of different degrees of magnitude in current times. What we must ask ourselves when we see or hear of an injustice is what is our response. Speaking for myself I too often have not responded justifying my lack of response by telling myself it’s not my problem or there is nothing I can do about it.
Stretched Out Hand Of Tolerance
… loving kindness, warm hearts, and the stretched out hand of tolerance. All the shining gifts that make peace on earth. — David Niven, The Bishop’s Wife. At least once a Christmas season, Suzy and I sit down to watch The Bishop’s Wife.
The Eve of Christmas Eve
My father had a wonderful habit that I adopted on this day. After dinner and we kids had gone to our rooms to read and fall off to sleep he would pour himself a cup of coffee and go sit in the living room and watch the Christmas tree. He may sit for at least an hour, and we never asked what he was thinking. We all knew this was his time and not to be disturbed. I still wonder what he was thinking. Was he remembering a time when he was a young boy anxious about what Santa might bring? Probably not.
Fragility Of Spirit
We may think we are tough and invulnerable but in reality we are all fragile. At some point in life, our body teaches us how vulnerable we are to disease and injury. Likewise we learn how our heart is fragile. A first romance ends, a good fiend betrays, a mentor dies, I bet you can think of at least a hundred heartbreaks each of us experience during a lifetime. Knowing how vulnerable both our body and heart are should tell us how fragile our spirit is.
The Ever Fonky Lowdown
Tonight I will get the opportunity to listen to Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center perform “The Ever Fonky Lowdown,” Wynton’s latest composition that critiques the idea of American freedom. The reason I am so excited is twofold. First, Marsalis is an unbelievable talent, and I am here in upstate New York to specifically hear him perform. The other reason is I heard Marsalis speak on Monday about his composition and his artistic vision for his piece.
The Awful Grace of God
He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair. against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God. — Aeschylus. A few weeks ago, I came across the phrase, “the awful grace of God,” in a novel I was reading — Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. ( A book I highly recommend by the way.) The phrase bothered me at the time but I stored it away.
Listen To Your Body
I’ve had two major surgeries in the last ten years, and both times my recovery required a therapist to help me with my recovery. In each instance, the therapist said the same thing: “Most importantly listen to your body, don’t ignore the signals it sends you.” The advice in both cases was spot on.
Who Judges An Examined Life?
I think I told everyone that I am reading a book called The Practicing Stoic. Seems like people have been writing about stoicism since the early Greeks. Last night, as I read this week’s chapters I thought about all the pages in print that are devoted to improving oneself. Then beyond that, how much of our economy is dedicated to self-improvement, becoming a better person, etc. In fact, The Hubbell Pew, although hardly part of the economy, is meant to have its readers think, meditate, and improve.
In With The New, Out With The Old
It’s been three weeks since my knee replacement surgery, so I don’t have any excuses left. It is time for my meditations to begin their weekly routine. The healing process for the knee is not unlike other healing processes whether it be from surgery, trauma, or mental trauma or anguish. At first you deal with the pain whether it be from the wound or or a wounded heart. It is all one can do to handle the pain. Then slowly time and healing takes over.
We Must Have Internal Peace
We must have internal peace, to give birth to beautiful ideas. — Harriet Hosmer. The great sculptor, Harriet Hosmer, knew a great deal about beauty but also knew what it takes to produce great sculpture. She said, “There are many obstacles to fame, but to surmount them, to produce fine works, we must have tranquility of mind.” Although Hosmer was talking about works of art, her words apply to all of us. We are only at our best, able to do great things, when we are calm on the inside.
One Thing In The World Of Importance -- Goodness
There’s only one thing in the world of any real importance, and that is goodness. — Maria Mitchell. What do you think of Maria Mitchell’s words? How do you or we define goodness? Is it something we just know when we see or experience? As I get older I wonder when I was at my best. Although you couldn’t tell me back then, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t when I was working to obtain material gain or public recognition. I tend to think I was at my best when I was simply trying to do a good job for someone else.
Randomness Is the Reigning Monarch of the Universe
Randomness is the reigning monarch of the universe. — Maria Popova, Figuring We think we are in control, but no matter how many walls we erect around our existence, things happen that come out of nowhere. We do everything perfect at work, and the boss decides to sell the business and you’re laid off. You’ve decided to live your life out alone, and you meet your life’s companion at the new grocery store or at hockey game. God must have a great sense of humor.
Mingle The Starlight With Your Lives
Mingle the starlight with your lives and you won’t be fretted by trifles. — the pioneering 19th-century astronomer Maria Mitchell. Years of learning has taught me to to be more conscious of my surroundings and to appreciate what I used to take for granted. One of those surroundings is the night sky and the mystery and wonder of the stars. The more I’ve learned about our universe the more in awe I am.
You Belong Every Place
You only are free when you realize you belong to no place — you belong every place. — Maya Angelou I traveled to DC where I lived for eighteen years last weekend. The whole time I lived there, I never quite felt that I fit in. I felt like I was a visitor and reading Maya’s words this morning I realized that my feeling of being a stranger was my fault. It was about my lack of self-worth reinforced by events outside of my control.
Beats Against The Current
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past. — F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. The words above are the last line in Fitzgerald’s classic and find Nick returning to the theme of the significance of the past to dreams of the future. He focuses on the struggle of human beings to achieve their goals. Nick concludes that humans prove unable to move beyond the past: the current draws them backward as they row forward.
Believe In Yourself
Believe in yourself — Horoscope for Capricorns, February 4, 2019. No I don’t believe in horoscopes, but I do read mine daily right before I read the comics. These days the comics are about the only section of the paper that doesn’t depress me. But back to mine for today — Believe in yourself. If we can instill our children with anything believing in oneself would go right to the top of the list.
Lighten Your Load During Lent
The first chapter talks about the pilgrimage taken by Saewulf to Jerusalem. Saewulf’s pilgrimage account is the first to survive after the Crusaders’ conquest of Jerusalem. Little is known of the author beyond his name and the dates of his pilgrimage. I’ve always been attracted to the concept of a pilgrimage. I have friends who have traveled the Camino and sing its praises. However given my football knees and my aversion to flying, I suspect the only pilgrimage I will take will be during Lent.
Where Are Competent, Compassionate Leaders for Flint, MI?
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, simmering for years, has only recently pushed its way into our national conscience. I read with horror that children in a 21st century American city have been poisoned by their public water supply. The problem began about two years ago when, as part of cost-cutting efforts in a beleaguered city, Flint’s water supply was moved from Lake Huron to the notoriously dirty Flint River.
An Angry Electorate or Democracy Speaks?
Election Day across the land was this Tuesday and the results provide a window into the political mood of the country. Were the results the “latest warning shot fired at the political status quo, a surge of populism playing out at the edges of the parties,” an awful night for Democrats, a rejection of big money politics or simply a voting anomaly partially caused by low voter turnout? Political pundits, pollsters and talking heads will all weigh in, but time will have the last say.
What Inspires You: Meet Our Columnists #HelpGrowTheCFR
Meet The Clyde Fitch Report columnists during our Kickstarter campaign! We’ll update this page every day to spotlight another of our more than 30 writers and staff. David Finkle, The Aisle Seat What inspires you? What inspires me? The list is too long. Better to ask what doesn’t inspire me. Cruelty. Although under certain circumstance, cruelly might inspire me. Boredom. Boredom only inspires me to flee anything causing it. Otherwise, I’m inspired by anything and everything.
How Does America Regain Its Moral Authority?
Remember how, as 2014 drew to a close, the Senate Intelligence Committee released its report on torture by the Central Intelligence Agency? How the tactics used by the CIA and our allies were barbaric, inhumane and inexcusable? What moral authority our country once had was lost in the details of that report. The question is how we get it back. Can we?
Peace On Earth: How Do We Begin?
Yes, it’s Christmastime, and Yuletide carols implore us to seek peace on earth. Yet we all know that is not reality and has never been reality throughout human history. Should that prevent us from dreaming and thinking about what steps would bring about world peace? No. So, let’s do a little naive dreaming. Here is where I would start: The U.S. Must Quit Interfering in the Affairs of Other Countries.
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