zealous

This “It’s Saturday” is not staged to manipulate you no matter what you say or think.  I’m not smart enough to stag something to mess with you folks; you guys are just way tooooo smart (i.e. all except for one of you and you know who you are—your friends call you TheSuperSucker behind your back).

I had breakfast with a friend last Saturday morning who is an old college friend (i.e. a featured back).  He is a business person/entrepreneur (i.e. he can put up video game numbers).  He was telling me that he had a business closing this last week where the closer played games with him (i.e. at least he thought they were). He said—I told them that I’m not a sucker; I have been around the block a few times; I had to be a real asshole to get their attention and get my money (i.e. he thought he had to very zealous to get things done). 

Many folks think of Masada when thinking about the Zealots.  It was there were the Jewish Zealots lived (i.e. self sustaining) about 70 A.D. They over took a fortress built on top of a hill by the Dead Sea in Israel.  The Romans, using slave labor, built an earth ramp to the gate and were going to kill them all.  The night before they committed suicide.  There is a movie about this.  Arlene and I hiked the 190 feet up to the top when touring it (i.e. there is a cable car that folks can buy some chips and ride).  We did this about 7 years ago and today I need to help Arlene walk from the couch to the bathroom.  My suggestion—Be a zealot of using your time on this earth; enjoy every moment; not every day but every moment. AverageJoe  says—All life’s moments are “Big Life Moments.”

MissPerfect says—Marlene is my friend, but our friendship is now stressed.  She has changed because of money (i.e. inherited money). I don’t care much to around her anymore. Marlene is pretty much of a zealot now; Marlene is all about Marlene (i.e. very self-centered, and self-righteous and egotistical.  She isn’t much fun to be around, but she doesn’t seem to know it or doesn’t care.  Ouchy ouchy!  Saturday question—Do you know any Marlenes?

When I’m a total zealot, I know that I don’t make good decisions.  I’m not always happy in getting humbled, but it is really good for me.  I think I’m a much better person when I’m humble.  How about you?  That is what I thought.  I talked to a person the other day (i.e. by phone) and got the impression that he was very egotistical (i.e. not humble).  He has always given me this impression (i.e. maybe my impression is right and maybe it is wrong—I don’t know).  I think I know that at some point this person will need to humble himself if he wants to have success (i.e. I’m talking about life success and not financial success or some other type of success--my opinion). JoeBlow (i.e. a big package) says—Usually folks who get knocked off their high horse are better folks (e.g. Saul or is it Paul—some of you will get that).  Again, I realize that when I sorta kinda point a finger and there are four pointing back at me. What did Paul say—(i.e. something like this—I was the worse sinner of all—of course he acknowledged that after he was humbled—he didn’t realize it before he got humbled).

I discovered something recently that I think will change my live for the future.  It was enforced by some of the talks I have had with some of you and/or how you live your lives.  Crazy, right! A friend told me that he thought when I got older everything would become “more black and white” but it seems it’s more gray.  Wow!  CollegeJoeSmuck says—Hearing something and understanding something is two different things! I had a text thread with a friend.  I was asked a difficult question—I responded  ~  Maybe  ~  What a great noncommittal  answer!  ~   I have learned that I'm not as smart as I use to be!!!!!! ha ha And I'm still learning. Such is life.  Soooo there you go! ----   Being a zealot can come and go for me.  Maybe! But maybe it’s a roller coaster effect. Maybe! Maybe I will become a zealot again, but I don’t think soooo. I’m pretty much convinced and really think I understand it a little more than I have before.  Maybe I just think that and maybe not.  But maybe I will even become more zealous.  Time will tell.  I can’t speak for sure to this but…

Zealousness has it effects all right.  To galvanize voters and get them to the polls, the political candidates have turned up the volume of the political rhetoric and are taking a more aggressive tone. The same political promises of giving everyone something for nuttin seems to continually work.  One candidate says the IA schools need more funding and their opponent has done terrible; the opponent says IA has done a lot in funding schools and is ranked the best in the nation.  That just makes me laugh.  How can it be both ways.  This is just crazy funny to me.  It probably has always been this way.  It’s democracy folks.  I love democracy.  I really do.  I can vote for whoever I want; you can tooooo.  North Koreans don’t have that opportunity. 

I asked one of our favorite waitresses if is she is opinionated—she said—Depends what it is! I asked a local school board member about a decision they made about something that seemed rather controversial (i.e. it’s only money).  He said—There were 5% of the folks who were very excited (i.e. very zealous) about the decision to go one way and 5% of the folks who were very excited (i.e. very zealous) about the decision to go the other way and the other 90% didn’t care.  Really!  Surely the decision was made using good business sense, good common sense, and the best for our kid’s education; right!  Soooo why did one side get their way and the other side didn’t?  Maybe one side made more noise (i.e. could be) or maybe the one side had more support of individual board members (i.e. could be) or the individual board members voted based on their past environment (i.e. could be).  I have no idea.  A friend told me that he is voting for a certain candidate for governor based on his pocket book (i.e. thinking this one candidate will enable him to make a lot more money if elected than the other. WaltzingMatilda says—Most folks vote based on how they think that is best for them personally (i.e. money usually).  

MissPerfect says--It is soooo refreshing to occasionally come across a person or company that are zealots about service.  It is soooo much fun when this happens. Contrary to many folks and companies who do the minimum to get by, I have been delighted to work with a number of companies and individuals whose expressed desire and goal is to “exceed expectations.” They want to be certain to do more than they had contracted to do. They want each customer’s experience to be so memorable that they will be eager to do business with them again. Not only that, but to provide services in such a manner that “satisfied customer” recommendations and referrals would be virtually guaranteed. This just seems to be something that would really work (e.g. wouldn’t a church want to have this environment and reputation). It’s soooo much fun when someone “exceeds our exceptions” being just exceptional.  Maybe you and I should try this approach; not just do the minimum to get by. What do you think?  That is what I thought. SqueakySqueak says—That is way toooo much work; and I don’t get paid anymore!  For most folks, it’s all about the money.  Such is life.

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--The Bible says in Acts 20:24, “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace” (NCV). Notice it doesn’t say the most important thing in life is to get married, fund your retirement, travel a lot, become famous, or pay off the house. It says the most important thing in life is to fulfill your mission. If Jesus died on the cross for you so that you can fulfill your mission and you don’t do it, that’s a massive, eternal waste. God put you on Earth for a purpose. He has a mission that only you can fulfill. Part of that mission is to tell other people the Good News of God’s grace. You know Christ because somebody told you about him. Who will you tell? MoneyManBill says—erv, you are just a crazy zealot. Now that could be; but that is what the Bible says folks and I believe that.

CadillacJack says--The only difference between a rut and a grave is the length.  Have you ever been in a rut (i.e. your life seems to be on a permanent hold)?  What works for me is I have to be zealous in not letting myself get that way; I need to force myself to learn new stuff and also do stuff.  I do stuff sometimes when I really don’t really feel like doing stuff.  But I just do it!  A diversion is a must for me (e.g. taking a ride on my Yamaha XT25 (i.e. my respite bike), going to church, exercising etc.). Caregivers have a strong tendency to get in a rut; don’t want to or can’t be around people and just become a loner taking care of the person who they are a caregiver for.  It’s easier and many times they don’t have a choice.  This attitude and reality can develop a mushrooming effect.  Caregivers are told many times to take care of yourself or you are going to have personal problems (i.e. some studies say over 50% of caregivers of folks with Alzheimer’s die first—ouchy ouchy).  Caregiving can be a grinding physical and mental rut that is very hard to get out of.  That is the reason why caregivers need to really work at being innovative and creative soooooo they don’t get in that rut.  But, it isn’t easy.  Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going.  CaregiverNancy (i.e. a cut above) says—Roll out the barrel, roll out the barrel of fun!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—No matter how we are dressed, we are all wearing our feelings.