My Thought on Science and Religion

My Thought on Science and Religion

In this house there is an ongoing argument of science versus religion with both sides looking smug and sure of their convictions. I have set by for years listening and weighing my thoughts, believing in the wonders of science but never willing to give up my prayers. Here are some of my thoughts.

Science begins with a small child learning the premise of action versus reaction and the leanings should never end. Science first helps a child explore his universe and then becomes the tool to study "the universe." There is a doctrine of science for any and everyone beginning with the very concrete love of nature and the creatures of our world to time dimensions and string theorems.

The child many times starts his religious experiences with stories of love and creation. These teachings help him/her establish a foundation of rules of right versus wrong, good versus evil and a sense of justice and injustice. These teachings give a child a sense of well being that allows for exploration and questioning. These teaching allow a child to grow.

So my belief is that science and religion are not opposing camps, but the same camp. Either taken to the extreme is harmful to our development and well being. Religion taken to the extreme promotes ignorance and intolerance. Science taken to the extreme promotes intolerance and anger.

More on this later.....

Lila Gives Us All a Lesson on Life's Challanges

So this past week has brought changes to my little girl and her husband.
















I have witnessed my lovely daughter and handsome son-in-law move from being a young couple awaiting the birth of their first child, to parents facing scary health issues. The two of them have had to grow up fast and furious with this beautiful daughter of theirs, first having a difficult time eating and then finding out that she has a heart arrhythmia problem, which hopefully she will outgrown, but in the meantime will require monitoring and medication. They learned very quickly the fear that takes over a parent when they realize their young one is in danger. They experienced being in the Infants ICU the heartbreak other parents also have had to face with a young child. In a time when you wish only beautiful days and sleep-filled nights, they have faced some of the ugliest realities of parenthood. And they faced it together. That is the silver lining to this cloud. Both concerned over the welfare of the other.

Today they had their first lesson on how to live with a baby with a slight, temporary (we have faith) heart condition. I saw them smile up at each other while they were monitoring her heart and saw the love in their eyes, for each other and the baby they created. It was a joy to be there.

Being a Grandmother

My time has come. I am a grandmother. It was nothing I really thought about, but now that it has happened it is a great thing. I have always said I would live forever and now I have the proof that I will live on.

I have had fun in picking out a "grandparent"name. After meeting Baby Lila I announced my grandmother name would be Boss Mama.

Lila came home today from the hospital. It was a long grueling birth, 72 hours trying to induce or in labor and then all of this ending in a C-Section. But we have a beautiful baby girl who seems to have no desire to learn to nurse.

Enough of the details. Being a grandmother is going to be a great experience. Unfortunately Lila and my little family live in California and I am in Georgia. I guess the airlines will get a good chunk of my retirement money.

Staying Grounded

A couple of years ago I had the experience of spending a day with a Shaman in the Arizona desert. Other than starting the day having our spirits purified by preforming a ritual of burning feathers and chanting, the majority of the day's event were centered around visiting various vortexes of the area and mediating. One of the meditations practiced had a lasting impact on me. We sat out in the desert perfectly still for a period of 15-20 minutes. We were told to image that our spines were reaching down into the earth as roots of a tree. Then we were told to understand our place on the earth and with the earth.


This might not appear to be your thing, but everyone was effected that day. Sitting there with no external noise but the wind or an occasional bird is very usual these days with busy schedules and constant accessibility. Several had visions that were interpreted by our Shaman. One of the group was scared of the experience and another was skeptical - choosing to believe in nothing spiritual. But overall, we experienced a sense of peace.

Even now when things start to get out of hand, I stop and mediate, straightening my spine and imaging myself as a tree growing out of the earth.

A couple

75th Atlanta Dogwood Festival Media Kick-Off Party

This past week we had the 75th Atlanta Dogwood Festival Media Kick-off on Wednesday night. It was a different night in that I was in the spotlight and it was Doug playing the supportive role. He did just fine.

I was all over the room to meet different local celebrities and politicians.

Of course when I went to give my welcome speech the microphone would not work at the podium so I had to walk into the middle of the room to talk (without notes).

Here I am with Alex Wan, Mary Norwood, Jamie Ensley and maybe a guy from WellsFargo.

Lil'Bean