Carpe diem

Joesixpack says--erv, this week's version of "It's Saturday" is like you looking in the mirror, you don't look like much but it's you.  What I'm trying to say is -- erv might not be pretty to you but it's him!  Joesixpack, reality is reality soooooooo here we go!

I was on my early morning walk on the golf course a day this week.  It was a beautiful morning.  The sun was coming up and glistening off the heavy dewed grass, the cardinals and wrens were talking to me, I smelt the fragrance of the blossoms of the various trees and there was no wind.  It was a great moment.  I told myself to really appreciate this moment as it will never happen again quite like this.  Then I started thinking about living my life moment by moment (i.e. not year to year or day to day but moment by moment).  I want to and will try I said. I say to our children--Enjoy every moment with your little girls (i.e. 3 and 1) as it won't be long and they will be driving!  GeorgeTheCrook says--If you are always living for tomorrow, it might never come.  Soooooooo folks appreciate each moment (i.e. maximise every moment).  WildWille says--You always seem to be in such a hurry and have sooooooo much on your plate; do you like being that way? You don't seem to enjoy each moment of your life; you are always working to have more!  Such is life. 

JoeBlow says--Carpe diem.  It is the Latin words that challenges us to maximize opportunities presented to us on any given moment.  It attracts unique individuals - true change-makers - to new realms of exploration and endeavor.  Today I am challenging myself to pursue new frontiers and fresh opportunities, recognizing that doing so will not be without its battles. But I'm encouraged! In the 8th century B.C., Israel's Creator God said to His people: "Carpe Diem. I brought you out of Egypt and conquered the Egyptian army, now I want to do an even greater thing. I have in mind a new 'exodus'"!  As we are told in the Bible's Old Testament, "Forget all the past - it is nothing compared to what I'm going to do! For I'm going to do a brand new thing. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a road though the wilderness of the world" (Isaiah 43:18-19).  Sooooooo folks seize the moment a.k.a grab the opportunity.  It's a trumpet call!  Oh yes.  Does any of this make any sense to you? 

SusieQ says--Sometimes it hard to see what's what!  It's hard to figure out how a guys is going to get from point A to point B.  Sometimes it hard to figure out the reason for stuff at the moment.  When on our trip to Israel, our group of 25 had many different experiences and emotions.  We ate together usually on tables of 4 or 3 or 6.  We really got to know each other eating more than at any other time probably.  Folks shared their valleys and mountain tops.  It's maybe easier to share when you don't know the folks and know that you might not every see them again or at least at a distance.  Everybody has mountain tops and valleys.  Arlene and I included.  Like LuckyEddie says--It's not if it's when!  Such is life.

All of us at many times have looked from the mountain top moments and from the valley moments.  I personally like the look from the mountain top better.  BUT I have looked from both places many times.  When I'm looking from the valley I wonder "what's going on anyway"!  But I think much like David--His understanding I cannot fathom--God is God--And that's the way it is.  There is soooooo much that I don't understand. The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!" One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off. Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!" To which the king replied, "No, this is not good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail. About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of. Cannibals captured him and took him to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake. As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone who was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way. As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend. "You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so, I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this." "No," his friend replied, "This is good!" "What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?" "If I had not been in jail, I would have been with you--understand.

A friend called me this week.  We became friends through the insurance business years ago (i.e. met him the first time in FL on a golf outing with IGF).  ANYWAY he was telling me he had to deliver a large renewal policy with some bad news.  After the client got mad and reacted in the way my friend expected, the insured realized the reality and they came to a feasible solution to the problem.  My friend said--Some times difficulties develop deeper relationships.  Yabut my friend, I don't like those moments; I don't care what you say!

SongManRuss, isn't  there a song that goes like moment by moment (i.e. moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine)?  Talking about valleys and mountain tops make me think about the spiritual--Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (i.e. sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down). Do you remember it?  FriendJim and I share the statement--Happenstance, na I don't think so!  I was eating my oatmeal with strawberries on it and the scripture of my devotions was--Philippians 4:6 which reads.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your request to God.  Then I read my emails and got my thought of the day--guess what, it was the same scripture with a story about a guy who was in a prisoner of war for 15 months and that is what he repeated many times every day.  I have no idea if you are in a valley today and many of you don't know where I am but this surely is a good verse to hang our hope on (i.e. my opinion). Huh, interesting. 

MissPerfect says--Sooooooooo erv, who makes you chairman of the board (i.e. an arrogant little shi*t) telling us all this stuff?  Chairman of the board actually came about in a strange way I was told on our trip.  We were looking at a ruin of a former building that was during the time of Christ.  It was built of cut rocks and very narrow in width.  The reason why sooooooo narrow is that it could not be wider than the header a.k.a. lintel cut rock that went over the walls.  Our guide told us that it was probably an eating area.  It probably had a board down the middle with benches that folks sat on on each side of the board.  The only place for a chair was at the end of the board.  Sooooooooo that is how the name developed--chair-man of the board!  That was the naming moment folks!  Such is life.

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

erv

MyFriendJean says--Take time to laugh, it is the singing that helps with life's load.