Daily Archive for October 8th, 2007

Discrimination?

Published on October 8, 2007 in Just For Fun and Thoughts. 1 Comment

Privilege: A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people

I really like the practice of reserving the best parking spots for people who need them. People who can’t walk (or have difficulty walking very far) get the special privilege of parking the closest. It’s the right thing to do, for good reasons.

My friend Sherry recently blogged about a nearby wildlife refuge that has “hybrid only” parking spots. This raises some questions in my mind, and I decided to have some fun with it… (I really don’t have anything against hybrids!)

1. What is the reason for this privilege?

A. This will encourage people to buy hybrids
B. People with hybrids need to park closer
C. Non-hybrids (especially SUVs) should be kept out of the best spots
D. This makes people feel like they’re helping the environment

2. Will the tow trucks that they have to call be required to run on vegetable oil?

I googled “hybrid parking only” to see if this was a new trend across the country. I only found a few photos of this, however several cities (LA, Salt Lake City, and Albuqerque), offer free parking to alternative fuel vehicles.

Santa Monica

Home Depot

Dont know where

This next one is a different issue, but it makes a great point!

White only

Next I want to see this…

Jeeps only

A Gold Nugget

Published on October 8, 2007 in Friends and Thoughts. 0 Comments

When someone shares their life story, or tells about how God has reached out to them, I often feel as if I have just been handed a gold nugget. I feel enriched. I’m reminded about the importance of community and shared experiences. My friend Mary Lou shared her life story yesterday, and it was a real encouragement to me. She started out with this prayer by Thomas Merton. Thanks Mary Lou.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

— Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude