"Everything's the same now that it's changed . . ."

  "It's hard to maintain a consistent world view when the world itself is always changing . . . " Rachel Held Evans wrote that in Faith Unraveled.  She died on May 4, 2019, at the age of thirty-seven, having written extensively about her journey from a staunchly conservative evangelical to an Episcopal 'liberal'.  Beyond any religious framing, Bob Dylan had foretold impermanence in his iconic "The times they are a'changing".  By contrast, there is the aphorism, "Plus ca change, plus ca dure". If my French is correct, that translates somewhat like, "The more things change, the more they stay the same".  

   Post-World War II rulers in the Soviet Union and now Russia have intervened to impose their hegemony (sometimes through the Communist  party of various countries) in Hungary, Czechoslovakia (1948 and 1968), Crimea, and now Ukraine. This latest violence marks an assault on an independent, autonomous country, raising international anxiety to its highest level since perhaps the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

   Few persons would now likely profess the optimism found in  the self (and perhaps by extension, societal) assertion that "in every day in every way, I'm getting better and better".  Yet, some among us thought, believed, hoped that barbarism was at least receding.  Accountability is missing in much human behavior.  The outcome of the fighting in Ukraine likely will have sooner and later implications.

  In the meantime, compassion has frequently been a response to human suffering.  While there are scammers roaming around in times of turmoil, many legitimate  organizations and groups are attempting to respond to the toll of human anguish in Ukraine.  If you would like a suggestion , the United Methodist Committee On Relief provides humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people in the wake of the Russian invasion of their country.  One hundred percent (100%)  of contributions go to direct assistance to Ukranians.  According to their official site, gifts to support  relief can be made in either of these ways:

   .Online at  https://umcmission.org/advance-project/982450  

    .Toll free telephone : 888-252-6174

    .By check with "Advance # 982450-Ukraine" written on the meme line and mailed to   Global Ministries/UMCOR, GPO, PO Box9068, New York, NY 10087-9068

    Be generous !

              Satchel