courageous

BobbyBob says--"Stories not only tell us truth but they can also point us toward living lives that are more true." I think another of my heroes used a lot of stories but folks call them Parables.

We got an invite from some old Butter Co friends. They gave us some options with the invite. One option was for us to “stuff it.” We didn’t take that option nor the option of “stick it in your ear.” We have been friends for about 55 years soooo that is how longtime friends can kid each other. Longtime friends get to know each other pretty good soooo we don’t have to treat each other like we are handling eggs. What a hoot! JoeBlow says—Some folks are pretty touchy a.k.a. fragile alright! A golf buddy asked another golf buddy if he is going to play golf this year—no I’m not as I don’t have my good set of clubs here but just an old set—does it really make any difference! VioletStillwater says if girls would talk to each other that way they would cry or at least not talk to each other ever again! Holly chicken strips!

I pray for opportunities and that I might recognize them and that I have the courage to act on them. A friend tells me that with every opportunity there is risk. I agree. Opportunities have a spectrum and on that spectrum there is always some good and bad.  I like the opportunities that have potential which there is a high percentage of good and low percentage of bad (i.e. those opportunities I seem I enjoy more, like the odds are in my favor but I will take a long shot sometimes). But, I know that there is always some bad with the good soooo I’m not surprised. Nuttin is 100 percent perfect. AI says—A courageous person has the ability to face fear, danger, or adversity with bravery and determination. A courageous person is often willing to take risks and embark on difficult endeavors, despite the potential for negative outcomes. This quality is admired in various contexts, from personal challenges to acts of heroism and leadership. That is what AI says! DoubtingHerman says—I don’t think I’m very courageous!

RickyRick says—"Now, God doesn’t bless you so you can live for yourself and spend everything on yourself. God does not bless selfishness or self-centeredness. But he wants to bless you so you can be a blessing to others.” I believe that. A narcissist is a good example of a self-centered person. A friend was married to such a person, and it didn’t go well; it was a terrible life for her, she told us. I can believe that based on being around folks who I think are narcissists. I don’t care to be around them. I was telling a friend about that I wanted to read a book about narcissism. He factiously said—I don’t want to read such a book as it might turn into an autobiography! hahaha You think all of us are a little self-centered? MissPerfect says--I guess we would have to be pretty courageous to even think about that!

Cinderella land is not the real world (i.e. in life in general, in our business or occupation, in a friendship, in a marriage, etc.). There are going to be speed bumps. Soooo don’t be surprised in fact, expect them. They ain’t nuttin new! We know a senior lady who is divorced who told us she doesn’t ever want to get married again (i.e. I have heard this from many divorced and widows). Sooooo we asked her why. She had two reasons; she doesn’t want to take care of a sick old man (i.e. doesn’t want to be the nurse and the purse) and she has seen tooooo many women get scammed by men in second marriages from experiences in her profession. She has her reasons! I got the impression that she might like to have a relationship with a right man though. But flip the pancake, I know many divorced and widows that want to get married again but can’t find the right man. And I also know senior women who have said a lot of stuff but then fall in love and what they said meant nuttin (i.e. like falling off a cliff)!  Huh, interesting!

AI says--"King David’s life serves as an enduring reminder that true greatness is found not in power or prestige, but in a heart that humbly seeks and serves the divine will." That is why he is a hero of mine. But we have to really be courageous to live a life of humility in our current world’s culture, it appears. But many do it and it appears they are well received much more than the arrogant. (i.e. especially in the long run; in the short run maybe it might appear that arrogant folks win, but maybe not). But I don’t know for sure. I might be arrogant in thinking that! 

Here is a response I got that shows that many young folks need courage to go forward with what is right. I think it’s a big challenge they face in our culture. That is my opinion but it seems that the general public is really starting to wonder.  A Northwestern College friend says--"As for how to get the younger generation to see what is of value, I think it’s by showing love and developing caring relationships with them. There is so much negativity in the world. Positive caring relationships matter! Write on and be the light of Jesus!" ArrogantRudy says—Over my dead body am I going to believe that humility bologna.

He is very courageous. Recently I had a great conversation with an acquaintance, who could be a friend, I think. I asked him how his pickleball is going—not good—what’s the deal—I can’t see out of one eye—that’s not good, what’s going on—I need some work done on it to fix it—well it is good that they can fix it—yes, it is; I had a torn retina in the other eye which was fixed and it went real well, I have confidence that this procedure well go well too. He is very confident, has a great attitude! Soooooo, what if the repair of the retina didn’t go well, I wonder if that would change his attitude. I have a new friend who had a terrible experience with a certain brand of electric car. He will never buy that brand of car again, he said. He has no confidence in them. Success breeds success—that is what Frank Lloyd Wright said and attributed way back to Aristotle. 

Nancy, anybody can be a Nancy, says—"The Sioux people of the northern Great Plains in North America believed the longest distance we journey in life is between our head and our heart. This distance is approximately 18 inches. But sometimes it takes us a lifetime to travel that distance. For example, many people love the familiar song, ‘Jesus Loves Me.’ The words are easy to sing. But why is it hard to believe this truth in our hearts that we are loved?” I think it takes a lot of courage to truly believe that; it appears that many folks just won’t believe that. Maybe because they were never loved or had a bad experience with love, I don’t know. But reality is, God’s love is agape love and that is way a different ball game. BUT, it does take a huge massive amount of courage to believe that, my opinion. We have to get out of the boat!

Recently, another Northwestern College friend called me to talk. His wife has advanced Alzheimer's and is her 24/7 care giver and wanted my advice since I have been through the whole, long process. He is experiencing much of what I had experienced. We talked a common language and experience. I told him in conclusion that he had to be courageous; take one hour at a time, one day at a time and it is very exhausting physically and mentally and spiritually. Later in the day I was with a group of folks who don’t have a spouse or has not been a caregiver for someone who has/had Alzheimer’s’. They thought that they maybe had all the answers; but in reality they had no idea! I can understand that, yes I can; we can’t understand things if we haven’t experienced them, my opinion.

LazyHerman from Yakima said—As a young person I could never see myself getting up early in the morning to workout. Well, I was right about that!  RickyRick says—"Everybody, at some point in their life, has what I call a SODSAT moment, when they say, “Somebody ought to do something about that!” In fact, nothing at all really happens until somebody has that kind of moment.”  Are we courageous to do something for someone who needs help of some kind or are we more the kind of person that sits on the couch, eats chips and does nuttin? AverageJoe says—I think I know both kinds of folks! VioletStillwater says—There are soooo many folks that need encouragement! As the pastor said Sunday, we all have something to groan about and we all groan. Soooo let’s all groan together.  Soooo he had all of us do a vocal groan together! We all seemed to be pretty good at it!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--The world is changed by our example, not by our opinion.