respite

This "It's Saturday" might make you AAA-CHOO!  Beware!

It appears to me that our culture is a very unhappy culture. It’s hard to be positive in a negative society (i.e. our environment). There is soooo much stimuli that tries to drag us down (i.e. seems like constantly).

When I was a kid on the farm a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN, we would butcher friers each fall for meat for the winter. My mom would put the friers’ heads between two nails on a log behind the chicken house and with one whack she would cut their heads off with a hatchet. The friers would jump around on the ground for a while with no head and blood squirting out (i.e. that’s where we get the expression, we ack like chickens with their heads cut off!). I wonder if we act that way sometimes.

It appears to me that our minds, souls and relationships are suffering from this constant. contagious thinking. Maybe we can’t fix everything but maybe we can manage it better. It appears to me that we all need a respite from this constant bombardment of negativism. For me, it’s being in a quiet place by myself for periods of time. I like to study scripture, pray, meditate, and most importantly, just be still and quiet. I like the early morning (i.e. for me it’s a decompression chamber). God says in scripture--“What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who listen to him.”

Many of you are celebrity models to me a.k.a. a respite. Yes, you are and you don’t even know it. I tie my boat to you! I hang my hat on you! You’re as good as gold! I really enjoy real folks and you are real folks! My kind of folks. You are a respite to my soul and mind. And some of you, not soooo much!

Flip the pancake! I say one thing about relationships but do another! What kind of person am I!  I just bought some wireless earbuds with the purpose of not having to listen about some person’s hemorrhoids while working out at the work out center at our 55+ community here in AZ. Or another person telling me how great their grand kids are or another complaining about the neighbor’s dog peeing on their rocks in their front yard. I can listen to what I want or just fake it and have quietness! A great investment! Well, jumping Cholla! 

But there is hope! There is no medicine like hope, no incentive sooo great, no tonic sooo powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow. And I believe that God is our hope. It appears to me the folks who believe this are much happier with a much more positive attitude. It’s sad when we have no hope. That is my opinion but look around folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Do you think this is the first  time humans have experienced a world full of evil? Do you think you and I are the only ones who ever struggle with good vs. evil in our minds? It sure appears that this attitude has been around from the beginning of time. Yes, some periods of history sure seem to have been more positive than others; that’s for sure. Greek scholars remind us in this phrase—the evil day—refers to a particular hour when evil will be manifested in an unusual way in the thoughts, activities, and pursuits of humanity. Yikes! I don’t care much for that! I need a respite. Soooo, maybe we need to manage it better. What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Yes, for me, I don’t care to see evil win over good (i.e. it really hurts me). It appears to me that is what is happening a lot now; mass confusion; a major trend! Where is Babylon today? Where is the great Roman Empire today? Why did they disappear? What happened to them? History should tell us something!

A deceased friend would argue—Why would God allow all this evil on this earth if He is really God, the sovereign God? That’s an age-old question that folks have struggled with forever. For me, I think that God is God and I’m erv—His understanding I cannot fathom. And that is a large piece of my faith. I think that is sorta kinda what God told Job.

As for me, I’m going to try to do good!  I encourage you to do the same. The problem that many folks have is that we disagree what good is, it appears. There seems to be differences of opinions on that! VioletStillwater says--But we all know what good is now don’t we. C’mon! An acquaintance seemed to be struggling with his purpose in life. He asked for some counseling and was told he needs to think about volunteering (i.e. think about other folks). It has affected his life. Maybe!

CoachB sorta kinda says this about a respite, my opinion. He says—"A right heart makes right decisions.”  Sooooo, as I see it, if we make right decisions then our lives are much more enjoyable and useful; I don’t think I’m overcookin’ this! SusieQ asks—Sooooo, how do I know I have a right heart? Good question! SusieQ, there are ways. CoachB also says—Wake up and do the right thing; not just (some)thing but the right thing!  Yikes!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone. 

protest

AverageJoe, who is big on weekends, says—I protest how my life is going!  A friend of mine who is probably about 45 now who when she was a little girl would stomp her feet and pout and get mad and put on a huge massive temper tantrum in protest cause she wasn’t getting her way. She wanted her way! I don’t think her temper tantrums every helped very much! But it seemed to make her feel better!

When I look at the newspaper there are folks protesting all over the world about anything and everything. There sure seems to be a lot of protesting. Soooo there are some folks who are unhappy about something it seems everywhere.

There was a protest in Yakima where people marched and made a lot of noise. I had no idea what they were protesting. I read in the local paper that the reporter asked some of the protesters what they were protesting about, and they all had a different thing they were protesting about. They were just mad how their life was going maybe. But not all protesters; a friend told me he asked a protester in London while on vacation what he was protesting and they said—I have no idea, I just like to protest; it’s fun. BUT there was another article in the Yakima paper about the apple growers’ association who are not happy how the situation is for the folks who pick their apples and are aware that they will need to be part of the solution in solving it. They just aren’t making a lot of noise but are being proactive with a solution.  They know they need them to make money. It’s all about the money!

Of course there are folks that just don't care. I have friends that don't pay any attention to the news. They tell me they just don't care; I can't do anything about it anyway, It's less depressing and doesn't confuse my mind. When I was in IA recently I went back to Aplington to wrap up some business and ran into this guy/long time friend at the bank who played basketball on the high school team that I coached about 55 years ago. His tee shirt says it all.

Ok, I have internal conflicts in my mind that I struggle with; we all do without exception. Some folks’ struggles are more severe than others and some folks’ minds are wired differently it appears (i.e. from genetics, past environment or current environment). I have had one person sincerely tell me that we don’t think alike. I agree with that person. We live in America and we have that privilege. I can pretty much accept other people but might not agree with them. Some folks protest when others don’t agree with their thinking cause they think they are right and everyone should be like them.

It's like I have a black dog and a white dog in my mind. One is for good and one is for bad. They are constantly fighting. The fight goes on. And which one is winning? Answer is easy, the one I feed the most. No question. And where does that dog food come from? There is a lot of dog food out there to choose from alright.

History shows that there has always been and probably always will be differences of opinions. And it appears that most have been settled with wars. Wars were during early history and have continued in many forms. Usually, the side that wins is the one that has the most power and might. The loser usually has to surrender and be taken over by the winner. Casualties are usually huge massive on both sides. MissPerfect says--Wars are of many varieties from in our own mind to world wars. Such is life.

A friend gave me this advice—"erv, your grown children are not going to ask you for your advice as they already know what you are going to say!  They don’t want to hear it again. If they didn’t agree with you before they aren’t going to now! You might just as well not talk about it and save your relationship.” Parents can protest all they want but I doubt if it will make much difference. Off course maybe the children are right, and the parents are wrong. Could be! I was told that the demographics of our U.S. population is going to really change in age and other aspects. Now that will change the market! Now that will be interesting. ItchieBitchie says--It’s really hard to protest ageing; I guess we can protest, but it doesn’t do any good!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--A critic is the person who knows the route but can't drive the car.

hot sauce

SlimySlick thinks he is really hot sauce and thinks he’s really something but his slim is just slim but he doesn’t know it. Our human knowledge is limited; yes it is. There is soooo much that we have no idea about (i.e. even about ourselves); some stuff is way beyond our human mind.

There is an old concept I seem to understand better these days. And that concept is to not throw the baby out with the bath water. I think there is good in everyone (i.e. some seem to have more good than others maybe it seems). The bath water might not be all sooo clean, but I don’t want to throw the baby out with the dirty bath water. CadillacJack says--BUT sometimes it seems easier! I had to take a bath in the same water that my sister used when I was a kid. I would guess some of you did as well. I'm gad my parents didn't throw me out with the bath water!

I think the human mind is unfathomable! We cannot comprehend it with our human mind. Impossible. It’s just amazing! You talk about hot sauce! Dr.J says--“The human brain is arguably the climax of God’s creation, the most incredible invention in His universe. It’s a fabulous, living super-computer with unfathomable circuitry and unimaginable complexity, a collection of billions of neurons, each as complex as a small computer. They’re all inter-connected, and one scientist said that the number of connections within one human brain rivals the number of stars and galaxies in the entire universe.” We really are hot sauce!

I’m looking for some hot sauce! Something that has some real zing to it! I’m not talking about some hot sauce at Taco Bell but some sauce for my life that will be exciting, effective, lasting, fun and worthwhile. I’m looking for an opportunity! Now what will that be? I don’t know 100% for sure yet but….! I don’t want it to be something that just fills my time, but something more than that. Actually, I have a pretty good idea what that hot sauce is going to be! I don’t want it to be like worry-- Worry is like a rocking chair; it gives you something to do, but it isn’t good for anyone. I’m sorta kinda excited about this hot sauce thinking I have.  I think it will zing up my life!

Here is some hot sauce for us to use to build relationships. “A Psychology Today article tells the story of a man struggling with alcoholism who resisted attending Alcoholics Anonymous for decades. When he finally went to his first meeting, he said: “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! People were talking about things I thought and felt, it was as if they knew me, knew my problems, and had answers I couldn’t get anywhere else.” Sharing our testimonies reminds us we’re not alone when life is hardest. There is a particular kind of encouragement given when someone vulnerably shares their story of loss or distress and then tells what (or who) rescued them. I believe that we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works.”  I think that is hot sauce!

We as a grandparent can be hot sauce, maybe even when we don't even know it or ever will soooo don't get discouraged. When traveling we were looking at a restaurant for dinner and were talking to the café director, that is what he called himself. He was in his late 20s. We had a nice talk and then I asked him if he was a believer as he had on a cross around his neck—he said—sometimes I am and sometimes I’m not, some of the stuff I believe and some of the stuff I don’t; I’m rather confused. I wear the cross honoring my grandmother who was a believer and helped me a lot in life. That’s hot sauce!

Flip the pancake! We were talking to some friends who were going to drive over and see a grand daughter play in a golf tournament and called her mom (i.e. their daughter) and asked if she would want to walk with them to visit--no, I can't, I'm taking care of my grand daughter--soooo, when will you be done--in a couple of hours--well, maybe you can join us for her back nine soooo we can visit some--well, not really, I'm taking care of another daughter's family dog--you mean now we are behind a dog!

When we were in NY, we stayed in Jersey City and the light rail was close to our motel. We decided to take it to the port for Elis Island and the Statue of Liberty. We were somewhat confused soooo we asked a NY businessman who was dressed very NY business proper carrying a expensive briefcase. He helped us and we thanked him. Later he came back to us in the train and gave us more information. I said to him—You are a good person. He looked at us like he never was told that before and had no idea what to say (i.e. maybe that was hot sauce to him).  After a couple of stops he left the train and as he walked past our train window, he gave us the thumbs up to us.

My Daddy, Chester, taught me—Test it against the worst possible scenario and if it passes, it’s probably a good deal!  My new opportunity passes the worst possible scenario soooo it’s a good deal (i.e. I like the odds in my favor). Or maybe I don’t know what the worst possible scenario is!  Now that could be! Such is life. BUT how do I know if it will work if I don’t try! I'm on it! ItchieBitchie says--erv, throw those chips away and get your butt off the couch and do something!

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--The secrets of success won't work unless you do.

worldview

RickyRick says—"All our ideas, the thoughts that settle in our mind, come together to make up our worldview, the beliefs we build our life on…Our worldview determines our choices.” I’m guessing that none of us have exactly the same worldview as we have different genetics and have different past environments and have different current environments. 

M Scott Peck, M.D. in his book The Road Less Traveled said (i.e. soooo maybe it's his opinion but probably he is correct, maybe)--"It is not so much what our parents say that determines our worldview as it is the unique world they create for us by their behavior."

A young man and I were having a hotdog together at Costco. I get a big kick of Costco’s environment. We had a great discussion about how some retailers are now going away from self-check outs as they are being stolen blind. He said that his generation always uses self-check outs. He also said his age spends a lot of time on social media and many think it’s ok to steal from large corporations. Now that might be a change in a worldview.

Are you a cosmopolitan? The term cosmopolitan refers to someone who is familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures. A cosmopolitan person typically embraces diversity, is open-minded, and feels comfortable interacting with people from various backgrounds. It can also describe cities or environments that are characterized by a mix of cultures, ideas, and influences from around the world. I don’t think I am really a cosmopolitan. I have found a difference between The Great Northwest and the Midwest soooo how can I be a complete cosmopolitan? But it appears to me that with all the unrest, different opinions and wars going on, many folks have a hard time being a world cosmopolitan. Their worldviews seem to be different!

During our recent travels we have talked to folks from all over the world and the U.S. They all seem to be concerned about the future of our world. They told us about their countries, the good and the bad, and also about what they think of the U.S. It is very interesting to us. There are really many nice folks in the world. World travelers might not be a true cross section of the world, we understand that.

I have seen once again that kindness is always a common denominator with folks. Yes, it is. Here is a story, an analogy, about kindness to prove my point. Erin, our teenage granddaughter, likes animals. The neighbor’s cat climbs the six-foot backyard fence and comes in their back yard. Erin plays with the cat, gives it kindness, feeds it, etc. The cat sits on the backyard furniture to look in their house and paws at their door for Erin. And that is an animal!

Our pastor said Sunday, he was surprised that the major costume theme of the kids for the church's trick and treat was evil. And the probably #1 costume was that of a serial killer. He said--"What does that say of our world! Is that the worldview of our country or community?"

My world view can change and sometimes I get out of whack, and I don’t function well when I get my head missed up. Maybe to sum that up, it is when I’m not humble, I’m not a very good person when I get that way. And it’s hard to stay humble in the world we live in. Ok, we can be confident but still be humble I think and that is a great combination, my opinion. Sometimes I have events and situations in my life that really humble me. They really do affect me. I also am learning that certain things in life need time to develop, to play out. I need to give some things basically time to work out! I sometimes try to force things. It is hard to be patient. I also realize again that I'm not in charge of the universe; in fact I think I'm in charge of very little!

Marcus Aurelius said—He who lived in harmony with oneself is usually in harmony with the universe.

While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it I read this:  Pride says, “Forget you, God. I have my plans, dreams, and ambitions. I’m going to do what I want to do.” But the Bible urges us over and over again to choose humility over pride. James 4:6 says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (GNT). And Proverbs 18:12 says, “Before honor is humility” (NKJV). Then James 4:10 promises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (NLT).  

But then again, sometimes we don’t care what others say or think as we think we know everything! Yikes! Such is life!

In an essay titled “First and Second Things,” C. S. Lewis once observed: “...You can’t get second things by putting them first. You get second things only by putting first things first.”

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

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--A person deserves a second chance, but keep an eye on them.