January 2025 - Dialogue - lists.wedgeblade.net

Surgeon Generals Parting remarks
by Karen Snyder Troxel 11 Jan '25

11 Jan '25

Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy’s tenure as US Surgeon General (since 2021, although he was also Surgeon General from 2013-2017) on January 7, 2025, wrote: “My Parting Prescription for America” which is “Community as the Formula for Fulfillment”. His description of the importance of community speaks to my heart. I wonder how his message can make an impact on the problems he identifies. The link is: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/my-parting-prescription-for-america…. I would love to hear your responses. Peace and love, Karen Snyder Troxel

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Obituary, Suzanne Parker, and service info
by Terry Bergdall 11 Jan '25

11 Jan '25

Below is Suzanne's obituary. A service celebrating her life will be held at Wesley United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City at 1pm CDT on Saturday, January 25, 2025. It will also be streamed live on Facebook at "weselychurchokc". Terry Bergdall for Bill Parker ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Suzanne Sachse Wallace Parker was born on February 13, 1943, in Chickasha, OK to Garnet Evelyn (Hill) Wallace and the late James Sachse Wallace, who passed away while serving in WWII just three short months before Suzanne's birth. Her mother then re-married John T. (Jake) Cobble and Suzanne was blessed with younger brother Tom and little sister Mary Jane. The family settled in Minco, OK where Suzanne attended school and graduated in 1961. She continued her education at Oklahoma City University where she earned her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. While at OCU, she stumbled upon a young man named Billy G. Parker and before they finished school, they were united in marriage on January 25, 1963 at the First United Methodist Church in Minco; what would be the beginning of a beautiful 61year life together. Suzanne & Bill immediately knew they shared a driving passion for the human community and this motivated them to join the faculty of the Ecumenical Institute and the Institute of Cultural Affairs, working in human development at every level of society from Oklahoma City to Dallas, Miami, Chicago, Indianapolis, then to Paris, France and finally to Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire before returning to Oklahoma City in 1985. Throughout the years of that journey Suzanne taught elementary school, and used all of her earnings to provide funding for a local staff to get running water and other basic essentials to areas in need in local communities. While serving, they were blessed with two children, Andrew Kennedy Parker and Angela Marie Parker, into their family. As the years passed, the young family decided to relocate back to the states and settled in Oklahoma City where Suzanne then began a rewarding 21year teaching career at Westminster School. Suzanne had such a deep appreciation for education and inclusion, resulting in many of her students forming a lifelong connection with "Mrs. Parker." Following her retirement in 2010, Suzanne and Bill enjoyed traveling to Gander, Newfoundland in exploration of answers regarding her father's MIA WWII death and returning to Paris, relishing in the changes since they'd lived there. They spent years cultivating a butterfly garden in their yard and Suzanne found great joy and solace in admiring the multitude of wildlife that creation offered. She spent hours knitting afghan blankets & scarves, winning 1st place and Best of Show in the Oklahoma State Fair in 2023 for one of her beloved pieces; which will be forever cherished. Suzanne and others helped found the non-profit organization PambeGhana in Oklahoma City, which is a partnership for bi-lingual, Montessori-based education for children in remote communities in Northeastern Ghana. She was a volunteer for Pambe Ghana’s fair- trade Global Market, open in November and December in Oklahoma City, in which all earnings funds about 1/3 of the budget of the model school in Ghana. She was continuing her life's work to help provide aide for those children until her passing. She was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church and supported the Wesley Montessori School for neighborhood children. Suzanne would often be found enjoying her books, classic music, a cup of tea or good glass of wine and good conversation. No one however, received more love and generosity from her than her family. She would do anything for her family. The legacy of her life will carry on to future generations. Suzanne passed away unexpectedly after a brief illness on Friday, December 27, 2024 at the age of 81; just days after hosting a wonderful family Christmas. Survivors include her husband, Bill Parker of Oklahoma City, OK; son, Andrew Parker; daughter, Angela Parker, all of Oklahoma City, OK; two grandchildren, Kennedy Parker of Oxford, MS and Greyson Parker of Edmond, OK; brother, Tom Cobble & wife Lela of the Oklahoma City area; brother-in-law, Gary Crosby of Newcastle, OK; sister-in-law, Charlotte Betche of Cordell, OK; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and an abundant amount of friends, past students, colleagues in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library Sort Site, the Library for the Blind, and many other people and places. She was preceded in death by her parents, Sachse Wallace, Jake & Garnet Cobble; sister, Mary Jane Crosby; and brother & sister-in-law, Dewayne and Maxine Parker. Services will be at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 1401 NW 25th and Classen Saturday at 1:00pm with reception following to celebrate the wonder of her life. The celebration will be streamed on Facebook at wesleychurchokc. We ask that those who wish to make donations in Suzanne’s memory can give to: Pambe Ghana, PO Box 18813, Oklahoma City OK 73154-88103, or to the Wesley Montessori Preschool at Wesley United Methodist Church. The family appreciates the many prayers, gestures and kind words offered during this difficult time. Bill Parker

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Re: [Dialogue] Surgeon Generals Parting remarks
by Vera M Barber 09 Jan '25

09 Jan '25

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Octavia Butler's "Earthseed" series, "Parable of the Sower, and "Parable of the Talents".
by James Wiegel 09 Jan '25

09 Jan '25

Are those the ones where mean people are in charge?? I dont like scary books Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver > On Jan 8, 2025, at 3:11 PM, Doug Druckenmiller <ddrucken(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > Octavia Butler's "Earthseed" series, "Parable of the Sower, and "Parable of the Talents".

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California fires
by Sunny Walker 08 Jan '25

08 Jan '25

Are any we know affected? Butchers? Blessings and prayers for all. Sunny

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You will enjoy reading Playground by Richard Powers
by James Wiegel 07 Jan '25

07 Jan '25

I did. Oceans, islands, artificial intelligence, the last 50 years, Sheridan Road is mentioned, also East Garfield, children voting (what about the manta rays and corals??), lawyers, chess, Go, cleaning stations, a 92 year old Quebequise, …. One line I recall: “ there are 2 types of games: finite games and infinite games — in finite games, the aim is to win; in infinite games, the aim is to keep playing” Doug, I especially sense you would like this Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver

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A poem for you all
by James Wiegel 06 Jan '25

06 Jan '25

With best wishes Da Capo By Jane Hirshfield Take the used-up heart like a pebble and throw it far out. Soon there is nothing left. Soon the last ripple exhausts itself in the weeds. Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery. Glaze them in oil before adding the lentils, water, and herbs. Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt. Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat. You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life. Da Capo By Jane Hirshfield Take the used-up heart like a pebble and throw it far out. Soon there is nothing left. Soon the last ripple exhausts itself in the weeds. Returning home, slice carrots, onions, celery. Glaze them in oil before adding the lentils, water, and herbs. Then the roasted chestnuts, a little pepper, the salt. Finish with goat cheese and parsley. Eat. You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life. Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver

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Second Coming of Jesus
by Richard Alton 02 Jan '25

02 Jan '25

A good friend of mine just asked me if I believed in the second coming of Jesus.. wow, that stumped me.. second coming?? And then just got this seasonal card from Jim Wiegel: " maybe somewhere this greatest birth of all is about to happen"...wow, seems like all this sweet Jesus stuff again.. but something to think about *Get Off Your Donkey* Keep seeing commercials with people sitting on donkeys. It was a real mystery to me. Why were people sitting on a donkey with their iPhone, straddling and even laying on donkeys. It was cute but why was Mountain Dew having people sit on donkeys? Luckily, I was visiting my daughter in Oakland, and she explained it was asking you to *‘get off your ass!’* So, I am really into donkeys. They are supposed to be obstinate, stupid or silly. My brother uses to call me a stupid ass all the time. Hey, and it is the symbol of one of our political parties. The symbol of the Democratic party is a donkey! It seems that during Jackson’s Presidential run somebody called him a “stupid Ass” and before you knew it Jackson was everywhere with a donkey. Wherever he went there was a donkey or pictures. Amazing… seemed silly. Talking of silliness, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey. And it was a borrowed donkey, that was a colt- a young male donkey less than 4 years old and considered wild or never having been ridden before. Strange in that Jesus was coming as the Messiah of the Jewish people-but that donkey was probably a great symbol of his coming for the common man. But they had expected a lot more than this for a new King, the one to bring back their honor and overcome their enemies- especially the Romans. But Jesus did want them to get off their ass Now, I am into Paul Kingsnorth who is trying to make sense of our times. He argues that every great civilization has given birth to a new religion. The Egyptian Civilization grew up and released the Hebrew people from slavery; in response to the great Roman Empire came the Christian faith and now we have Western Civilization (he calls it the Machine or materialistic empire) is starting the stirring of a new sense of the awe/spirit. In the Industrial society we have become just a cog in the machine, a slave- all have fallen into technology. There is a brokenness of the spirit-a kind of slavery. The Machine (think of the Matrix movie- where you sell your soul for a glass of wine and a good steak) has us trapped, has us totally at the mercy of a consumption society. And we can expect another Imperial collapse. These huge breaks in human history do not come easy, but they will come! We have talked of the collapse of Western Civilization before and the symbol of this was the atomic Bomb. The movie “On the Beach” where life on the planet earth is slowly dying off from multiple atomic bombs. Now, although the bomb is still out there, I would say the collapse of western civilization, or the industrial era is symbolized by climate change- a finite planet slowly being killed by an infinite consummation. Now you need to read Octavia Butler’s book “Parable of the Talents”: humankind consumed by environmental devastation and economic chaos that have turned us into a land of horrifying depravity. During this, an Earthseed community springs up around a new faith that teaches “God is Change”. If Butler is too harsh you might try Duane Elgin’s ‘Choosing Earth” and his estimate that by another decade of climate change there will be calamitous breakdowns. But I am with Kingsnorth, that this current ‘machine’ civilization will be the breeding ground of a new spirit, a new awareness of the mysterium tremendum, a new person on a donkey to show up. Richard Alton, Broadway UMC, older but a little bit wiser -- Richard H. T. Alton ICA Global Fund The Last Chapter United Methodist Net Zero T: 773.344.7172 richard.alton(a)gmail.com Make Plain the Vision, Habakkuh 2:2 Won't you be my neighbor?

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