look around

PicklyPearCastus says—A good novel tells us the truth about its hero, but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author.  This “It’s Saturday” is not a novel but it might produce the same results.  Take that into consideration when reading.

Let’s just sit down and have a conversation.  Most folks don’t have time to do that; they are always in a hurry.  Except old folks in 55+ communities in AZ; they always have time to talk and of course eat.  Most are really good at both a.k.a. experts!  haha   What’s a conversation? Does it have an agenda? Is it a lecture? Is it to prove that someone is better than another? Is it a teaching situation? Is it fun and enjoyable and pleasurable? Is it one sided? Does it make you feel good? Is it sharing? Is there laughter?

There will be a lot of conversation with family and friends this coming week as many will celebrate Thanksgiving together.  Most of the conversations will be fun and happy but not all probably.  ItchieBitchie says—Try not to be the one who ruins the conversation; most folks that do that don’t know they are the conversation ruiners! AverageJoe says--Let’s all try to use the old advice—If you can’t say something nice, keep your mouth shut!

When I look around and see the small miracles of life, I feel oh sooo much better.  And there are sooo many of them.  I guess that is being appreciative, maybe. It appears our culture does not want us to enjoy small miracles, but it wants us to live “all about me” (i.e. self centered like DuaneTheWorm who is the champion of self-glorification—completely full of himself).  I wonder if that is a good way to live.  But then what do I know, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and fourth south of Roseland, MN.

I seem to remember life around Roseland as a kid to be much different than our culture today. But maybe I have “Yellowed Memories” of those good old days growing up on the farm a mile and a fourth south of Roseland. Those memories are maybe much like the yellow in my tea cup--stained. They are no longer black and white but yellow. Age might do that to me.  Could be. How in the world is an easy way to get those yellow tea stains out of my cup other than scrubbing hard?  It looks like some dog peed in my cup! Yucky!

We have a lot of challenges in life in one form or another. All of us do if we want to admit it or not.  StanleyTheSeguaro says—Some folks conquer and control them, and others give into them; it appears to me that it takes great discipline to conquer and control those challenges (i.e. my Daddy, Chester, said—erv, the best discipline is self-discipline; I think he was right). We all know that it is easier to sit on the couch and eat chips. Just look around folks; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that. I think the snowbirds, in general, have maybe a little different attitude than the average bears, that is my opinion.

As the TV ad says--I can’t protect you from becoming your parents, oh no.  Is that good or bad? I went to a lecture by a professor and phycologist about the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl (i.e. I have read it 3 times; I think it’s that good but that’s just my opinion—I asked him the question which Mr. Franko discussed in the book: That when folks lose hope many people change their lives and in the book he said they died but my question was, what makes folks lose hope—He said—I don’t know but wish I did; but probably it has something to do with each one’s genetic back ground and environment of their past and their current environment (i.e. I have been saying that for years).  Someone agrees with me, I can’t believe it; one person agrees with me; that’s unbelievable in this world we live in!  Holy smokes. I suggest you read this book. This book is considered one of America’s 10 most influential books by the Library of Congress and is listed on Amazon’s “Top 100 Books to read in a Lifetime.” And the saying is—There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, no tonic soooo powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow!

Saturday question—Do you think there is a pandemic of self-love. CadillacJack, who is soooo fast that he’s a blur, says--When people love themselves, the driving forces for everything become ego, self-admiration, personal ambition, and a disregard for anyone else.  Who what me?  SusieQ, who is a moonblast, says--Maybe just not DuaneTheWorm is that way but also me. Are we self-destructing like the mighty Roman Empire? Where is the Roman Empire anyway? How smart are we anyway?  It might be that we aren’t very smart maybe but we just think we are.  Could be. I don’t know. What do you think? That is what I thought. Wait a minute here folks;  I read in the paper soooo it must be right that some folks don’t know if they are a man or woman from one day to the next.  A friend says—Just pull down your pants and look!

Five of us were watching the beautiful AZ sun set at one of the folk’s place. It’s fun to fellowship and discuss stuff (i.e. although I don’t know for sure if any of it was true).  They were telling me that there are close to 1,000 units in our 55+ community.  About a third are occupied by a single person; mostly women (i.e. just look around).  One guy said that women live about 10 years longer than men soooo there.  That guy then said that his wife, who was also there, is 10 years younger than him soooo she probably will live 20 years longer than me. Could be.  I met one of my next-door neighbors; she said she is 86 and widowed and has had cancer three times but the doctors told her she would only live 3 months but now they say she is cancer free again and might live for a long time. We had the most delightful conversation.  I kidded her in that she probably has a lot of guys chasing after her being old and rich.  Her response--I’m not rich erv! A gal down the street told me--erv, there are a lot of old guys down here looking for a nurse and a purse!

Did I just have an opportunity that just dropped in my lap. Did I choose to seize the moment? Did I decide not to delay or procrastinate? Did I do it—now? Did I take a risk in pursuing it? Procrastination is a strange phenomenon. WorldClassLarry says--One would think it will make our life easier when we procrastinate but actually it does just the opposite. It’s a stress generator! When you know the right thing to do, today is the time to do it. Don’t assume you can wait for tomorrow. Soooo when the opportunity is there, seize the moment, get after it.  Maybe it’s time to rebrand!  Maybe, but how do I know for sure?  I always want proof, solid proof. But it doesn’t seem like that always happens to me. You have heard me say this before--I pray for opportunities and I pray that I can recognize them and I pray that I have the courage to act on them. WildWillie says--You gotta do what has to be done when it has to be done! Suck it up cupcake and let's get going: we're burning daylight!

I read what RickyRick said while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--Your worldview influences how you see everything (i.e. look around folks)—including God, yourself, others, the past, the present, the future, money, time, good, and evil. Your worldview influences every choice you make. Every time you make a decision, you look at it through your worldview filter and make your choice based on the beliefs that make up your worldview. It’s crucial, then, that you, as a follower of Jesus, base your worldview on the truth of God’s Word (i.e. if you are not a follower of Jesus maybe your worldview might be way different, I don’t know; you might think this Jesus stuff it's just smack talk). One national survey found that 62 percent of Americans claim they are “deeply spiritual.” When asked how that spirituality affects their decision making, 31 percent said they make moral choices based on “what feels right and comfortable,” 18 percent on “whatever is best for me,” 14 percent on “whatever causes the least conflict with others,” and only 16 percent on “what God’s Word says.” What does that mean? It means most Christians have a non-Christian worldview. This is ervie talking now—Sooooo the worldview seems to be a lot about me and money (i.e. my opinion).

C. S. Lewis described our world as enemy-occupied territory. Now think through that folks using your worldview whatever yours is.  I wonder if most of our worldviews come from our environment of the past and current; it can’t be genetic, can it? Our worldview had to come from somewhere! Missperfect, who could have scurvy, says—Mine comes from the news on TV; I love the news and can’t get enough of it! I believe everything they say!

Life isn’t always without challenges in these 55+ communities, oh no.  I had my Trek 1000 hybrid road bike stolen right off my deck. The community says that doesn’t happen here; hasn’t happen maybe for 10 years.  ANYWAY, the thieves seemed to have gotten over the 6-foot block fence surrounding our gated community and stole some minor stuff which my bike was some of it (i.e. my bike is about 15-20 years old and really doesn’t have a lot of value but it’s mine and I like it). I turned it in to park security and the Mesa Police (i.e. did a theft report on line; this ain’t Butler Co).  Never expected to see that sucker again. Holy smokes, the Mesa Police called me a day later and had my bike.  They found it several blocks away behind some businesses.  They brought it over. The officer and I had a great conversation.  Just like on TV.  But the thieves didn’t take my park bike that I bought from a friend (i.e. for it to really be an official park bike, I need to get a basket for it)! haha I’m learning! My neighbor had a expensive bike and they didn’t take his but only the red rear light he had on it; go figure.  When I got my bike back, his red rear light was on my bike; go figure.

Just look around!  SusieQ says—I have a dog and a cat and they love me to death!  Psychological experts say that everyone needs someone to love and to love you. Soooo there you go!  Now I know why many of you have pets; I didn’t know that before. Well giddie up giddie up, my heart's on fire Elvira! Joesixpack says--When you look at that way, I can see that! Basketball season is starting (i.e. I enjoy watching some basketball) and the announcers say a lot—they had a good look (i.e. meaning had a good opportunity to score).  If they have a good look, their chance of scoring is much better compared to a bad look, bad opportunity (i.e. the odds are much better for success). When we have a bad look, our chances to score are slim to none. I agree Joesixpack, I will try to get good looks on stuff!  You think I should get a dog or a cat or a real human that will love me?

I heard a leading psychiatrist for depression being asked what is his number one remedy for depression—GRADITUDE! Is gratitude thanksgiving?  That wasn’t a big surprise to me. How about you?   SlimySlim, who is a very good bull rusher, says—Yabut most of my prayers are asking God for stuff for myself and very little showing gratitude to Him.  I must be selfish.  Could be SlimySlim.  Could be.  Are you human? Maybe you have been around DuaneTheWorm toooo much. Such is life.

How about having a simple conversation with God using the words of RickyRick--You may not understand what you’re going through, but you can still say this to God: “I know you’re good. I know you’re loving. I know you’re powerful. I know you notice the details of my life. I know you’re in control. I know you have a plan. I know you will protect me.” SweetLouise says--Maybe put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean said—Nothing lasts forever…even the mightiest river runs out to sea.

The tip of the day comes from a dream I had (i.e. now I wouldn’t put much faith in this tip if I were you, really) but it did make some sense to me and maybe to you—the dream said--erv, I don’t know what step you need to take next, but I do know that you need to take it. I asked if I could have a more specific direction as to what the next step should be, but I got no response soooo I got up and went to the bathroom.  Then to make it worse I read what Dr.J said--And the only difference between a grave and a rut is the length. Then Dr.J said this that made me wonder if he was talking directly to me--Bartimaeus had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to pass his way that day. To him, it was just another day. But God gave him an unexpected opportunity that offered him a fresh start. Huh, interesting. I heard a guy say that evaluating opportunities can be like “being burned by hot acid and electrocuted at the same time.”