JJ's Top Eleven Suggestions for 2012

1. Let God be God. We do not need to defend the Creator of the universe. Let’s use the time, money and energy used to defend God to help some of his creation - people, the environment, animals in shelters, etc. Also, let’s let God be the judge.
2. Politicians: Don’t hurt people for your own personal gain. For example – if you make a nasty comment about Muslims, or gays, or Democrats, or Republicans, or whomever, to ingratiate yourself with the haters and grab some votes for yourself, this might be wrong. If you hold up progress to hurt the other side, this may also be wrong. Try to improve things for everyone, not only your backers. And for American politicians – a news note: “The enemy” is not on the other side of the aisle.
3. Let’s help each other rise up out of this crappy economy. Hire someone; use services; (consultants are an example, but that’s just my opinion since I run a consulting firm!) buy from small businesses; buy local; take risks.
4. I thought America was the land of the free. Let’s grant equal rights and freedoms to everyone. That includes gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders.
5. Businessmen and women – I thought America was the home of the brave. Let’s act like it. If you have money, maybe you can spend some improving your business, hiring needed people, fixing equipment, planting something around your facilities, donating money, doing good for the community and the world. Hoarding cash, firing as many people as possible and cutting cost regardless of the consequences because you are afraid of the uncertain future is not what Americans are proud to do. I’m not sure, but I think the future has always been uncertain.
6. Learn something about another country, culture, religion, viewpoint, race, etc. at least once a week. Get out and see what other people, who may or may not be like you are doing. Try new foods. Open your mind and heart to the richness of others.
7. Religious leaders – Try to be saints instead of gatekeepers, rule makers, and self-servers. As Jesus said, “You know that the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20: 25-28 And if you are a religious leader and not a follower of Christ, Jesus’ words are still wise guidance.
8. Enjoy the beauty in nature. There is magnificence in the mountains, the oceans and spanning vistas, but also in a single flower, microscopic organisms and a bird enjoying a meal. I particularly enjoy looking at the bare trees in the winter, especially with the setting sun behind the tree. There is something magical about being able to see the outline/skeleton that is usually hidden from our view.
9. Dance; or sing; or play an instrument; or make rhythm; or clap along; or bang on pans with a wooden spoon. (Our grandson seems to really like the banging on pans!) Enjoy music.
10. Help a child; teach a child; enjoy being with children; attend children’s games and shows and concerts and recitals and events. Let’s make the children more of a priority. One NFL game (for example - 70,000 seats sold at an average of $85 per seat) yields nearly $6,000,000 in gate receipts. Contrast that with buying musical instruments (say $750 each per instrument) for a school of 2500 students, which would cost nearly $2 million. I am not suggesting we give up on football, but consider what would happen to the lives of children over the next twenty years if we spent a portion of the money expended on watching millionaires play football (or substitute many of the other pro sports) and instead spent some of it on the children.
11. Enjoy Diversity. Pray for peace. Have a blessed New Year.

JJ Gufreda

Better Than Judging?

People in our society spend a lot of energy judging and condemning others – often for the sin of being different. Look at gender identity and sexual attraction as an example. Have you heard people say: Should we expose our children to Chaz Bono on TV? If we accept same sex marriage, will everyone turn gay? Are gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders born that way or do they choose their “lifestyle.” Can they choose to be something else (or not act on it)? I looked it up in the Bible and found the place where it says that you are an abomination…

I am transgender and hid it for most of my life until the mid 2000’s, Questions and statements like those on the list above are interesting and might be worthy of scientific study. Humans always have curiosity about our nature. I also am curious about some similar things – Why are some people left-handed and others right-handed? Why do some people love chocolate and others don’t care for it? Why do some people crave sushi and others are grossed out by raw fish? Interesting questions. It may be good to know the answers. But, does it really matter?

I am for scientific research – learning the truth, but not for judging God, or the creator, or the universe, or the reason we are here and why we are the way we are. It took me over 50 years to figure out I needed to change genders. If it took me that long to figure out a very important part of me (my gender), I can’t hope to figure out what God was thinking when I was created. Or if you don’t believe in God, what were the causal factors that made me the way I am?

A few other questions for me to ponder: Why am I 5’5” tall? Why do I have a weird sense of humor? Why is my hair blonde? Oh, wait, I know the answer to that one…

Perhaps we would appreciate others more if we attempted to Enjoy Diversity rather than trying to explain and judge it? By enjoying diversity, I have found that a lot of my gay friends are fun; I like to dance; I like Asian food (it’s not Italian, but it’s pretty good anyway. How many Sicilian/Italian women do you know that can make sushi and her favorite sushi chef is Mexican?); I have friends that were born in different countries; and one of my best friends is a Republican. How we can differ so greatly in basic political philosophy, but be good friends is beyond my understanding. We enjoy each other’s company; we like and support each other, and work to try to understand our seemingly irrational and inconsistent views. Agree or not, we are friends. It does not bother us when we don’t agree.

I am not saying that I like everything or everyone, but I am trying to enjoy everyone as much as I can, and I appreciate the differences as well as our similarities. It helps me learn and it is much more fun than judging and condemning. Oh, and have a sense of humor. It helps!