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He speaks!

G-d speaking to us and through us. (Letting G-d in is also letting G-d out.) This is a message delivered to Beth Messiah Congregation, Columbus, OH in December 2013.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yic6en1pamkinn5/2013-12-21_Message.mp3

James Klein invites you to follow his trip.

Klein Grandchildren Choir

JR Klein
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I Don't Sleep Well (Pasach lesson)

Drafted 9.29.2009 for publication:  I don’t sleep well. That’s not to say I’m not a good sleeper. I suppose more accurately I’m a short sleeper. Getting up two or three times every night to stroll around the house, talk to G-d, talk to the cat, or make notes to myself has become normal. At first I was somewhat distraught rehearsing how miserable tomorrow would be if sleep continued its perforated character. Then one night I had a “defining moment”, much like Esther’s ”such a time as this?" defining moment presented by Rabbi Silverman in the Purim message. It came to me in a blinding flash of the obvious, “this is a time to listen”. After that everything was different and I even somewhat enjoy this second sleep idea because in the quiet of the night G-d’s voice seems more singular. It is important to know G-d’s voice in this noisy world full of a virtual cacophony of sounds that continually bombard the ear and cloud the mind.
My defining moment leads me to think about Passover and how G-d’s protection and guidance redeemed the Jewish people from their harsh bondage and saved them from death itself. What if there had been no one to hear and recognizes the voice of G-d. What if Moses would have come down from the mountain and said to his wife, “I saw the darnedest thing, a bush that burned and was not destroyed. You don’t see that every day. What a coincidence.” He would have missed a defining moment and everything would have been different. What if the Hebrew slave that, rather than shaking his head and wagging his finger at Moses, said, “I think I’m going to put blood on my door post.” and changed the history of a nation and the world.
Passover teaches many lessons. The one I think about now is how G-d remains active and present in this noisy world. If we want to hear him we have to pay attention. We can’t sleep through His constant attempts to protect, guide, redeem, and save. He has not stopped speaking or become disinterested. He hears us as we rehearse the miseries of life and waits for us to wake up and recognize that He’s been here all the time waiting to help.

In Memory of Bill Graves

A friend who dies, it's something of you who dies. (Gustave Flaubert)

I find it a peculiar thing that any of us ever get to know anyone of us. The propensity of human kind is to guard our existence from exposure to life’s embedded risks and trials depriving us from what life itself is really about. Regardless of the fact that from birth the most prominent human needs orbit around human interaction the natural tenancy is “fight or flight.” We indeed make life more complicated than it needs to be. The British humorist Douglas Adams in his strange and wonderful construct of a largely irreverent universe says, “We also live in strange places: each in a universe of our own. The people with whom we populate our universes are the shadows of whole other universes intersecting with our own.” (Mostly Harmless)

This may be an odd way to begin a conversation about the death of a good man but it is in part how I feel about Bill Graves. I’ve known Bill for somewhere around 20 years and in that time had a myriad of opportunities to work with him in his roles in state and federal government. He sat on the Board of Finance Fund for nearly a decade. These were the places where our universes intersected and my discovery was that here was a man that was more than a shadow but a presence. His opinions, positions, and integrity were always clear. His somewhat eccentric persona shielded many from the intelligence and insight Bill had to offer. At one chance meeting outside a local restaurant several blocks from his office he stopped to chat with me and a couple of my staff members. Very abruptly he said, “Well, I’m late” and turned to sprinted away down the street briefcase in hand and overcoat flapping in the wind like superman’s cape.  

Bill Graves will be remembered in each of our universes. He wasn’t a close friend or an intimate friend or my best friend; but he was a good friend. He would cross the room to say “hello” or call with some bit of information he thought would be interesting or make a special attempt to send a message of friendship. Bill was among a few “workplace” friends to attend my 60^th birthday party in the middle of a snow storm. He didn’t have to come but by making it important to attend he sent the message that our friendship was important.

Bill has moved on. He has gone to a place we all shall travel. Death itself will not deny us the friendship of a good man and a good friend. We will remember you. Thanks, Bill.

HBS classroom

The teaching model at HBS seems to be case studies with instructors leading us there discussion of organizations that they or their colleagues have written. Their guidance of the discussion lead to discovery of principles and application of theory. The environments was intense, challenging, and exciting. I think I learned a lot and will know for sure once my brain stops bleeding.

Harvard Business School

The hallowed halls or hollowed halls seem to provide a aura of history. The week was intense but stimulating and an opportunity to listen, learn, and test some of my theories of management and organizational structuring.

Carrot Soup

This is a draft of an article that will go on Finance Fund's blog:

Carrot Soup or What I Learned at Harvard

“In a time of shifting demands for services, changing operating environments, and mounting financial pressures, the skills of nonprofit leaders are being put to the test. Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) is a Harvard Business School (HBS) Social Enterprise Initiative program that provides the opportunity for senior executives to examine their missions and develop new strategies for the new global economy.”

This is the Harvard speak for “hold on to something we’re going to turn your brain into carrot soup but you’ll be able to see things more clearly.” This was my second exposure to the HBS Executive Education program. The first session I attended about five years ago was in a program that examined Performance Measurement for Effective Management of Nonprofit Organizations. At the end of that intensely focused period of study and learning my perception of the phrase “you manage what you measure” was changed dramatically and that change was not salted but poured into Finance Fund.

SPNM (pronounced: “Speenem”) took it up a notch. It included people from 20 countries in addition to the USA representing world class organizations at the cutting edge of nonprofit management. My living group included representatives from nonprofits in Singapore, Australia, Canada, California, and Pennsylvania. The HBS instruction model is one of discovery rather than impartation and boy did we discover. From 7:30 AM to 10:00 PM we grappled with finding the lessons and truths by examining case studies of various nonprofit organizations from around the world. At the end of the week ideas were stacked like cordwood in my head and will slowly begin to pour into Finance Fund. Upon returning, with eyes forward and tail dragging, I confirmed HBS “Harvard speak” declaration of SPNM and my translation.

Discovered in the foliage

JR Klein
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New House

JR Klein

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Doesn't being in the garden look relaxing?

JR Klein
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The Grand Cycle of LIFE.

Life springs again.

Yes, in spite of what we hear on the news, read in the papers, watch on the telly, or feel in the wind life itself is a wondrous adventure that if you do it correctly is more fun than you can have in a lifetime.

I love spring even when it's not here yet.

Lizzy and BJ

JR Klein
Sent from mobile deviceYah! Cutest in the world.

Check out this Art!

Title: Les grands Boulevards
Artist: Luigi Loir
Year: early 20th century

Another attempt at the same subject.  Guess I have some room for improvement.

JR Klein

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Paris hotel...Cluny Square...Latin Quarters

JR Klein
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Trellis south garden

JR Klein
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Who nose?

JR Klein
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Two roses

JR Klein
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In the corner by the shed

JR Klein
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Magnolias in Bloom

They look good this year.

JR Klein
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All Boy

JR Klein
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Princess Alexsandra

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Thompson Library - OSU

Pencil Drawing New Years Day 2009
"Grand Reading Room"

JR Klein
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Neglected Vices

(This was rejected by the corporate blog, therefore I decided to hide it here.)

I’ve always espoused the axiom of not neglecting your vices, which for me is more a tactic of pragmatism rather than a dictate of principle. To announce that embracing our vices is better than adherence to standard rules or beliefs may send some into wholesale defense of morality, religion, or politics, so let’s define terms that clarity can be preserved. In my world view a principle is an important underlying law or assumption required in a system of thought. We are Republicans, Democrats, Baptists, Episcopalians, liberals, or conservatives based on the opinions and attitudes we have discovered, processed, and adopted as central to the way we think. On the other hand a vice, for most of us, is a mild failing or flaw in behavior or character rather than the “immoral wicked depravity” of media fodder. For most, the journey of life is a process of identifying vices and if not changing than at least managing them.

My thinking here is that by neglecting vices the tendency will be to focus solely on your virtues. Exclusive focus on anything inevitably produces a tunneled myopic viewpoint that distorts reality and in itself becomes distorted to the point of becoming, in reality, a vice. The definition of principle; i.e. adherence to standard rules or beliefs, is not the primary issue it is the method of discovery, processing, and adoption that becomes the route to distortion. First, most discovery has become external rather than internal. Because of the basic lethargy of the species it seems easier to accept what we are told rather than to find out things by ourselves. Second, taking what we have discovered and comparing it against some normal cultural or personally adopted positions seems to be difficult for most of us and, though a basic element of our physiological makeup, is overtaken by apathy. This leads to further distortion of the first point which is that if we have been told rather than discovered our standard for processing is not ours but someone else’s. Third, lack of decrement in discovery and negligence in processing facilitates adoption of ideas and positions that are embraced rather than erased. If everybody in my groups thinks the same something is askew.

May I submit a couple of examples. Any group, club, synagogue, church, mosque, political party, or government that defines who they are, or we are, as one intractable set of ideals, ideas, or ascribable lists may be too focused on their virtues. An organization that is biased, exclusionary, or abusive to individuals that do not look, talk, or think like they do may be too focused on their virtues. If a group will not include or support points of view that are different than the ones they have come up with may be too focused on their virtues.

The New York Times had an article by Jim Rutenberg and Adam Nagourney, Conservatives Make a List to Measure Candidates’ Commitment, in which they reported on a proposed resolution dictating that Republican candidates’ adherence to a basic 10 item list of conservative principles. Not subscribing would result in the withholding of campaign money and endorsements. As a Republican I think these folks may be too focused on their virtues.

Radicalization” and the possible penetration of “violent extremist ideology” are potential threat to national security and have become of great concern to many in the country, including Muslim leaders and national Muslim organizations. Radicalization often results from the marginalization and a deepening sense of exclusion and unfair treatment by establish social groups and government agencies. And the extremist ideology responsible for violent outbursts is often rooted in the systematic demonization of marginalized groups. Rather than being seen as an asset and an important force to prevent radicalization, national Muslim organizations have, since 9/11, come under relentless attacks by far right individuals and groups whose aim have been to delegitimize the authentic voices of the American Muslim community.[1] As a Jew I think these folks may be too focused on their virtues.

Providence, Rhode Island bishop has forbidden a U.S. Congressman to receive the Roman Catholic sacrament of Holy Communion because of his advocacy of abortion rights. The penalty was explained by telling him he was “not a good practicing Catholic because of the positions that I’ve taken as a public official.”[2] As someone who not very good at practicing anything, I think these folks may be too focused on their virtues.

Exclusive focus on anything inevitably produces a tunneled myopic viewpoint that distorts reality and in itself becomes distorted to the point of becoming a vice. The only way we grow as individuals, a culture, a nation, a world is by recognizing how we can live together. Only by identifying and confronting our vices will we ever be virtuous. We’ve got to pay more attention to vices so our virtues don’t take over.

---

[1] Safi, Louay, Engaging Muslim Americans in crucial to prevent radicalization and promote national security, Indianapolis Political Buzz Examiner, November 24, 2009

[2] Mulligan, John, Kennedy: Barred from Communion, The Providence Journal, November 23, 2009

Into Life's future...

Thank you to Henri Goulet for these sentiments;

I Take Thy Promise

Words by Elsie Deck

I take Thy promise, Lord, in all its length

And breadth and fullness, as my daily strength;

Into life's future fearless I may gaze,

For, Savior, Thou are with me all the days.

Days may be coming fraught with loss and change,

New scenes surround my life and fancies strange,

I thank Thee that no day can ever break,

Savior when Thou wilt leave me or forsake.

There may be days of darkness and distress,

When sin has power to tempt, and care to press,

Yet in the darkest day I will not fear,

For, 'mid the shadows, Thou wilt still be near.

Days there may be of joy and deep delight,

When earth seems fairest, and her skies most bright,

Then draw me closer to Thee lest I rest,

Elsewhere, my Savior, than upon Thy breast.

And all the other days that make my life,

Marked by no special joy or grief or strife,

Days filled with quiet duties, trivial care,

Burdens too small for other hearts to share.

Spend Thou these days with me, all shall be Thine,

So shall the darkest hour with glory shine,

Then when these earthly years have passed away,

Let me be with Thee in the perfect day.

Where is your head?

Ever have a day where you just couldn't seem to get your head out of your work? There's a statue that stands outside the Ernest & Young building in LA that pretty much sums it up. Some days are better than others.

The Proper Thing to Do

I like to dress up. It’s very seldom that I don’t wear a coat and tie, which I believe is a piece of my past that continually pokes it head through my frame of reference. My maternal grandfather was English and a proper bloke. He came to the States at seventeen years old and never returned to Britain. He did, however keep a lot of England with him over the next six decades. To my knowledge he never came to the dinner table without his dinner jacket and tie. I remember asking him why after a long, dirty, tiring day farming why he would still change into his jacket before dinner. His answer was simple; “It is the proper thing to do.” And there you have it, some things are just the way they should be and others need help.

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Getting a haircut

I got a haircut last night. It has been some time since a haircut was a notable event for me. At one point in my maturing process it lost its qualification as an event and became a brief encounter resulting from a lack of content. My barber has lived with me for more than 40 years and in her spare time raised a family and kept me from wandering away. The brief encounter took place in my garage and was highlighted by only three brief words, “there you go.” Before I had a personal barber I would go to the “barber shop”, which has had some dramatic nomenclature revisions over the years, where I would listen to the pulse of the American republic. Conversation on local gossip, the day’s news stories, politics, always politics, were more the attraction of place than actually getting a haircut. Many a fervent, at times heated, discussions were held with one side under the sheet and the other with a pair of scissors in hand. And at the end of the “hairied” discussion the scissors were put away, the sheet was removed, you paid the bill, shook hands and parted friends. The process was an essential typology of the democratic process it was relevant and it was civil.

I’m not quite sure what has happen to either haircuts or civil discussion but I suspect we’ve moved from the barber shop to the garage. Referring to current character of political discussion Robert Bennett, former head of the Ohio Republican Party, in comments to the Ohio GOP Central and Executive Committee said, “We have to bring civility to the process; it's too important." That statement was intriguing enough for me to do some further investigation. I read the comments on the Bennett Columbus Dispatch article in the Sunday (Sept. 13) paper “Talking heads' lack of civility hurting GOP, ex-leader says”, by Mark Niquette. Frankly, I was surprised at the number of comments that spoke against the simple principal that civility has a value in politics as well as public life. Such phrases as “not a leader, muddying the message, conservatives (are) laying down…(in the face of) the evil Obama” I accept as examples of the exercise of free speech, the lack of content and the inherent lack of civility did nothing but strengthen Bennett’s position. But some cases free speech is used as an excuse to be abusive.

In Andrew Miller’s WOSU article “Sticker Shock Displays Lack of Civility” he recounts two episodes where passersby made abusive comments to him and his family concerning the Obama bumper sticker on his car. Miller says, “What I believe is lost on these people is that threatening someone's opportunity at life and liberty is not an act of free speech but an unprovoked attack. I'm not sure what happened to civility in our country but I beg our nation's leaders to help bring it back. Unfortunately, many of those leaders are the very people stoking these fires of division and disrespect.”

So what does all this mean to us? For twenty-two years Finance Fund has been an advocate for low-income people with an inherent disposition to have less access, less opportunity, and less tolerance from economies, politics, and moralists. It has not been benevolence or rampant altruism that has motivated us. It is the basic principal of civility. It has been basic respect for another human being and an attitude that respects ideas, situations, and dignity of another person. This is what is lost when civility exits. The lack of this basic social construct makes it much easier to categories people into “them” and “us” and it becomes much easier to demonize one and isolate the other. It becomes easy to deny access to housing because “they” are not responsible enough. Job opportunity for “them” should not be a priority because “they” will spend the money on drugs and drink. There are plenty of empty schools around why do we have to provide space to care for “their” children. “They” are too irresponsible to get a job anyway.

See, it’s easy. All that is necessary is to move from the barber shop into the garage. We can still get the haircut but without all that nasty responsibility to be civil.

Sukkot

Together we remember our wandering in our own wilderness and G-d's
ability to find us where we're at.


JR Klein

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The Day the World Changed (9.29.2001)

The morning had begun with an explosion of color. One of those sunrises that pierces the darkness and changes it to a stellar brilliance. I’d started early, before dawn’s transformation, and was well into my daybreak ritual of thought. The reviewing and previewing of agendas, goals, tasks and tactics filled the commute and accompanied me to my desk. It was Amanda who came to re-focus my attention. “Have you heard the news?” And with that, the world changed.

It’s interesting how in a second, a twinkling of the eye, everything can become different. It was the same feeling I had over twenty years ago in a hospital room in a small inconsequential town on the Great Plains. As my family stood saying goodbye to my father, the air was not charged with emotion nor was the day much different than any other day, but in a second the world changed. I was no longer just his son. I was now the father. All those decisions that were always deferred to him were now directed to me. That day, even though well established and independent for some time, a turning point had been approached, embraced and passed in a flicker of time. The world changed.

It is my wish that America never recovers from the events of September 11, 2001. The terror will subside, the fear will seem distant again, and the grief will dull, but hopefully the unity and resolve of the American people will forever change, how we look at the world and ourselves. It is my belief that how this generation views freedom, its benefits and its cost, will never be the same as they were when morning broke that Tuesday. May we never recover from remembering the importance of knowing our neighbors and taking time to enjoy the sunrise and those who share it with us.

Manditory Stop

JR Klein
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The Old Mill near Utica, OH; home of this historic water wheel and the
Velvet Ice Cream factory. Really, we stopped to see the histoy but the
ice cream was sure good.

Weekend with my baby.

Lola began a new decade this week and to honor the occasion we spent a
couple of days in Holmes County. It was a good time away together, no
phone, no computer, limited connectivity. I think she enjoyed it. I did.

JR Klein
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Celebrating 20 years

photo: Suzette Grant

My annual fashion statement. This is the attire worn at the Wing Spread banquet, Racine, Wisconsin sometimes in 1987 or 88. My plan was to make a statement about the strategy offered at the conference concerning rural economic development. It turns out my statement wasn't remembered but my outfit was. In 1989 while the Ohio Community Development Finance Fund was looking for its first Director two of the board members reported sitting next to an obviously demented individual that might be interested in moving east. I started work for what now is Finance Fund on September 1, 1989 and the rest is history. I wear the outfit each year to remember G-d's sense of humor.

Book stack

Almost a work of art.

Grand Entrance

The Grand Staircase is certainly impressive at the Niel Avenue enterance.

Thompson Library

The Horse Shoe from 11th floor that has been unaccessable for at least a decade. Now it is a showcase.

Opening of remodeled Thompson Library-OSU

OSU Oval from 11th floor.

Garden Tour & Garden Party

Saturday's Garden Tour turned out to be an event. The expected 30-35 guests ended up being over a 100 with conversation, lemonade, and flowers in abundance.

Following the end of the tour (4:30) we regrouped for the staff Garden Party at 6:00. It was a fun time filled with foliage, fairy stories for the kids, and food, food, food.

The redesign of the space worked well. The addition to the deck tying the "tree" deck to the "cantilever" deck was the key. Thanks to Amad and all his ideas, hard work, and workmanship.

We'll be doing more entertaining here.

Braden James Klein

Upon the flurried tide with cogent eyes transfixed in wonder I see him move, not with grace but with style. Not as shore grass graciously sweeps to the sea but more like a sea lion with the drive of intent toward the prey he moves from one place to the next. Then stopping to raise his hands as if to say “I am the Walrus”, he looks for approval and beams at its recognition. In that tide he strikes the match igniting my heart. He is my grandson, my hero, my love’s intent unrestrained.

She joined me here

Lola spent the weekend in DC with me. My meeting schedule did not
allow me to spend time with her at home. She is the "nursling of my
immortality" and my dearest love.

Working on the Garden

Notice that Garden is capitalized. It was a day full of gardening.
First, a morning at BMC planting and pruning, than home to finish
power washing the decks, and finally building the fountian in the
Homestead Garden. The old pump was in Lola's kitchen on the South
Dakota farm. It's about 150 years old and has again found an adaptive
reuse. Good hard work today relishing G-d's gift of life. Life is full
of the little nooks and crannys that contain it's essence.

Happy vs Good

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (Untited States Constitution) - I’ve always taken these words to be a noble and poignant sentiment espousing the lofty ideals of freedom until a recent talk by Tony Campolo (Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern University) at The Gathering in Columbus, OH. His hypothesis was that being happy and the pursuit of happiness was not a goal but a state achieved as a result of obtaining another goal. He contends that goal is goodness. It struck me, at its hearing, that achievement of a state of being good; i.e. personal virtue, kindness, honesty, integrity was possibly the primary direction lost in the pursuit of happiness.

Maybe it’s because being happy is much harder to define in a precise way. It is an elusive goal in that it constantly changes. I’m happy with my car until the new models come out. I’m happy with my wardrobe until the fashion changes. I’m happy with my church until I get offended by what someone says or doesn’t say and I feel uncomfortable because of conviction or lack of it. I’m happy in my marriage until I feel undervalued or over used or unappreciated than I leave. I’m not happy because I feel I’m not getting my fair share or my neighbor is getting more than his. I don’t want to be happy because I don’t get any attention and I’m only happy when I get attention. So to be happy what I must do is anything that will make me happy. Whether unkind, selfish, dishonest, illegal, or depraved it is okay because in order to be happy and to achieve my goal I must do whatever it takes.

So here we are, all of us with noble intention only trying to be the best little people we can while moving slowly, generation after generation, moving away from the real goal of goodness. The farther we move away from the mountain the more it looks like a hill. Even the definition of good has changed to something that fits our pursuit of happiness. We now readily accept the fact that lying is okay if the truth will make someone unhappy. It’s acceptable to over spend in a world of poverty because of the pleasure of immediate consumption. In recent history we have seen cheating, fraud, terrorism, and ruthless cruelty done by humankind in the name of goodness that has morphed into nothing more the hidden search for happiness. The reward of happiness without goodness is empty despair.

Make no mistake, I am not outside of the indictments I present nor are any of us. My hope is that we can move to a more introspective perspective and choose lifestyles that move us away from blind happiness to the real happiness of being good. It is my belief that G-d wants us to be good not happy and as we pursue goodness we learn the secret. You can be happy if you seek goodness no matter how miserable you think you are.

Politics

I believe politics is like inadvertent cleavage...
you know its there but you really try not to look directly at it...
because you know if you do you'll either be...
embarrassed or become a life long fan...
either way you never get it out of your head.

Home Again

It always happens but it not always as subtle. The return from Italy quite naturally provides an opportunity to reflect on where we've been and what the experience was like in relation to where we are and where we're going. It was an enjoyable time in another world that almost seems unreal. In a strange way it's like I'm still there and I was never there. The weeks since the return have been filled with Passover and Easter and re-insertion back into the stream of "everyday" life with little time for reflection. So the processing is coming slower. The pictures are up on Flickr so the remembering of names, descriptions, and places will almost be like getting out from behind the camera and taking the vacation again.

Last ice cream

This is the last gelato shop before heading home.

Government Building

The outside of the Florence municipal building is a little different than what we see in the states. Original sculpture (rape of the savens) on the right and the slaying of Medusas on the left. Michaelangelo's David used to stand in this piazza but is now in a museum.

Pisa

The obligitory tourist shot.

Traveling to Como

Headed to the Alps