6/26/04
….create so much more than just a new entity that we call a ‘couple’, ‘new family unit’, etc., they also create an enormous amount of stress for the families involved, not to mention the couple themselves.
In about one hour and a half Ashley and Patrick will be married (Jennifer’s niece). It is quite the panoply of confusion amidst a specific design of sorts. You begin with a basic plan and then work out the details, usually with some degree of unanimity, hopefully.
Then comes the confusion of actually figuring out what those details are, and God there are so many details!
Most weddings I have been involved with always have at least a few minor, and sometimes major crisis. The ones deemed humorous usually end up on ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’.
6/27/04 OK, wedding’s over. The only controversy that I am aware of was that Nancy did not get to sit with her husband Bob. (‘Granny and Grandpa’, Jennifer’s parents).
One of the ushers even sat some of the grooms family on the brides side of the aisle.
Other than those little details the ceremony was beautiful. Nobody fainted and even the little ones did really well. Grace, Emma and Reed didn’t fidget or fuss to much or otherwise distract the guests from the bride and groom or the ceremony itself. All in all, a lovely afternoon. Even the weather cooperated after some rain in the early part of the day.
Then on to the reception at the Swim Club. Wow, what a shindig. They had a great DJ, some good wine and a keg of beer, and good food. What more could you ask for? We had a great time, as did everyone else, I believe. I even managed to finally get Angela out on the dance floor! Nobody got too terribly drunk or otherwise misbehaved in any way that I could discern….oh, well, actually there was one person who shall remain unnamed who didn’t make it to breakfast the next morning. Not feeling too well, I understand. Hmmm.
Speaking of breakfast, we decided to celebrate Bob’s 81st birthday at Denny’s before they went back to South Carolina. We had a total of 23 of the family to come share that time together. And it was a wonderful time. I remember it was the same day one year ago we also had a parting breakfast at Denny’s on Bob’s 80th birthday when we got his brothers from California and Arizona to come to the East Coast for that special time. We all thought at the time that there might not be another celebration like this. Oh we of little faith. ‘Brother Bob’ fooled us all and is still going, albeit not to strong of late. And won’t it be wonderful when we can get together next year and be fooled again! We pray so.
Next, it’s off to the beach with Tim and Jenni and their family. Will have a report on that trip when I get back on Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
Friday, June 25, 2004
Another Zieglerism....
I am frequently amazed at the incisive and usually insightful quips this man comes out with.
This one is too good not to quote. I hope you don't mind David, if I pass along some of your stuff on occasion.
"We trust our lives to the convention of driving to one side of a thin painted line." David Ziegler
This goes along with the manufactured illusion of boundary making humans have been so fond of since the beginning.
This one is too good not to quote. I hope you don't mind David, if I pass along some of your stuff on occasion.
"We trust our lives to the convention of driving to one side of a thin painted line." David Ziegler
This goes along with the manufactured illusion of boundary making humans have been so fond of since the beginning.
Thursday, June 24, 2004
On Angels Wings....
The tall tree’s branch, thicker
Than my torso, hung horizontally
Moving in the breeze as if
Waving at me.
I admit to heeding the call as
The thick rope tied to the branch
Beckoned, knotted at the bottom like
A huge wart.
I could run from where I stood
And have a modest swing or
Grabbing the knot I could climb
The outcropped rock and launch
Myself into the universe.
Dangling thrill that it was, tethered
Still to the branch, and hanging on
Precariously lest I experience the
Awkward spill of a short flight
To the hard dirt, clipped wings
And all.
Ron Russo
Than my torso, hung horizontally
Moving in the breeze as if
Waving at me.
I admit to heeding the call as
The thick rope tied to the branch
Beckoned, knotted at the bottom like
A huge wart.
I could run from where I stood
And have a modest swing or
Grabbing the knot I could climb
The outcropped rock and launch
Myself into the universe.
Dangling thrill that it was, tethered
Still to the branch, and hanging on
Precariously lest I experience the
Awkward spill of a short flight
To the hard dirt, clipped wings
And all.
Ron Russo
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Quote....
"When guilt rears its ugly head confront it, discuss it and let it go. The past is over. Forgive yourself and move on."
-- Bernie S. Siegel
-- Bernie S. Siegel
Parts
When I find all my parts
In their proper place
With my nose stuck on my face and
Arms dangling from shoulders
Like shirt sleeves on a hanger,
When my heart wallows in its dark pocket
And my head precariously perching
On its pedestal, I want to say….
This is the sum if it; my body,
With which I sense the earth while
Walking fields, yellow and green, feet
Crushing unsuspecting blades of grass
As they yield to my intrusion,
Seemingly with abandon and grace.
And still while in this place I am
Aware of the fullness of
The spiraling of galaxies like
Water spinning around the rocks
In the creek where the tiniest
Of my parts drowns
In the cold wet tears of the earth.
Ron Russo
In their proper place
With my nose stuck on my face and
Arms dangling from shoulders
Like shirt sleeves on a hanger,
When my heart wallows in its dark pocket
And my head precariously perching
On its pedestal, I want to say….
This is the sum if it; my body,
With which I sense the earth while
Walking fields, yellow and green, feet
Crushing unsuspecting blades of grass
As they yield to my intrusion,
Seemingly with abandon and grace.
And still while in this place I am
Aware of the fullness of
The spiraling of galaxies like
Water spinning around the rocks
In the creek where the tiniest
Of my parts drowns
In the cold wet tears of the earth.
Ron Russo
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Grrrrr....
Okay. I admit it. I am hopelessly addicted to gadgets of all kinds.
I decided I needed a new cell phone. The one I had was the freebie that they give away when you sign a two year agreement and was becoming ancient, an antique actually, a dinosaur at a little over two years old!
And it would not work with my new hands free microphone/earpiece. Well, that was the straw that broke this camels back.
It was time.
So off I go to my neighborhood Cingular store who, by the way, has always treated me well in the past. I finally make the momentous decision and go for the fancy one that takes pictures and does all sorts of neat things I will probably never use or need. And of course it was a special price with another two year agreement. Later I discovered that it was still higher than Best Buy with only a one year agreement. This happens to me all the time whenever I buy something impulsively.
The worst thing however, was when she informed me just as I was about to write the check that there is an upgrade fee of $18.00 which will show up on my next bill. What! I had just renewed a two year agreement a couple of months ago. Now I am getting a new two year agreement. I did not consider this an upgrade. All I wanted to do was buy a new, more expensive phone. The manager explained that it was one half of the activation fee. What activation fee? I have had a continuous contract with Cingular for about six years. I'm already activated!
Of course, there was nothing they could do about this on their end. I would have to complain to the powers that be in 'customer service'. You can be sure they will hear about it.
More on this later....
I decided I needed a new cell phone. The one I had was the freebie that they give away when you sign a two year agreement and was becoming ancient, an antique actually, a dinosaur at a little over two years old!
And it would not work with my new hands free microphone/earpiece. Well, that was the straw that broke this camels back.
It was time.
So off I go to my neighborhood Cingular store who, by the way, has always treated me well in the past. I finally make the momentous decision and go for the fancy one that takes pictures and does all sorts of neat things I will probably never use or need. And of course it was a special price with another two year agreement. Later I discovered that it was still higher than Best Buy with only a one year agreement. This happens to me all the time whenever I buy something impulsively.
The worst thing however, was when she informed me just as I was about to write the check that there is an upgrade fee of $18.00 which will show up on my next bill. What! I had just renewed a two year agreement a couple of months ago. Now I am getting a new two year agreement. I did not consider this an upgrade. All I wanted to do was buy a new, more expensive phone. The manager explained that it was one half of the activation fee. What activation fee? I have had a continuous contract with Cingular for about six years. I'm already activated!
Of course, there was nothing they could do about this on their end. I would have to complain to the powers that be in 'customer service'. You can be sure they will hear about it.
More on this later....
Saturday, June 19, 2004
Fear....
Why do I often experience feelings of fear?
Fear comes when my focus and attention is outside of myself thus ignoring or denying my true inner nature.
When I look outside of myself I cut off and deny the expression of what lies deep within me, which is the purest love, my true nature, and yours. Fear is the result.
If I am not expressing and feeling the love that I am, then I am experiencing its opposite, which is fear.
The remedy, for me then, is to look deeper within. To remember who I really am and be that. (If you saw my website you will remember that that is my guiding quotation).
To look outside of myself is to see the illusions of this world which at first appear somewhat attractive but if I am the least bit sensitive to the Spirit the attraction soon wears off and the illusions are percieved for what they truly are, illusions, and thus the resulting fear.
I am not saying that this world as we most often perceive it is somehow bad or evil. I am saying that when we believe it to be the only reality and live by its rules we become mired in a fundamental deception of common awareness. To be rooted in the deeper truer reality that trancends this world of illusion is to live from intention, and the consciousness of the pure energy of love, the energy that formed the universe as we know it and animates all that is.
And that is what we are, made 'in the image God' as it were.
Namaste....(which means, generally, that 'I bow to the devine in you')
Fear comes when my focus and attention is outside of myself thus ignoring or denying my true inner nature.
When I look outside of myself I cut off and deny the expression of what lies deep within me, which is the purest love, my true nature, and yours. Fear is the result.
If I am not expressing and feeling the love that I am, then I am experiencing its opposite, which is fear.
The remedy, for me then, is to look deeper within. To remember who I really am and be that. (If you saw my website you will remember that that is my guiding quotation).
To look outside of myself is to see the illusions of this world which at first appear somewhat attractive but if I am the least bit sensitive to the Spirit the attraction soon wears off and the illusions are percieved for what they truly are, illusions, and thus the resulting fear.
I am not saying that this world as we most often perceive it is somehow bad or evil. I am saying that when we believe it to be the only reality and live by its rules we become mired in a fundamental deception of common awareness. To be rooted in the deeper truer reality that trancends this world of illusion is to live from intention, and the consciousness of the pure energy of love, the energy that formed the universe as we know it and animates all that is.
And that is what we are, made 'in the image God' as it were.
Namaste....(which means, generally, that 'I bow to the devine in you')
Thursday, June 17, 2004
More on the boundary thing....
We create lines to distinguish between opposites. To show that up is the opposite of down, for example. You know; light and dark, good and evil, etc. This is apparent to all. This was Adam's task. A simple enough idea until we begin to confuse the essential unity of opposites. What the heck is that you say? Wellll....let me see if I can summarize what took Ken Wilbur 144 pages to explain.
The problem it seems is that when we separate the opposites we try to eliminate the part we don't like. If evil were to disappear the good would likewise disappear. We can't have one without the other. There is an essential unity in them both together, a kind of synergy of opposites
We could liken it to a wave and its trough. We can't say I like the crest of the wave but not that big dip in the trough. I could drown down there! Can you imagine nothing but crests with no troughs? Together do they form one event.
Also consider the common activity of buying and selling. When you buy something, someone else has sold something. The totality of the transaction itself transcends the individual acts. Buying and selling are two ends of the same thing.
All this means is that our boundaries are self created illusions. They do not exist in nature anywhere in the cosmos. To quote Ken Wilber: “The ultimate metaphysical secret, if we dare state it so simply, is that there are no boundaries in the universe. Boundaries are illusions, products NOT of reality but of the way we map and edit reality. And while it is fine to map out the territory, it is fatal to confuse the two”. "Words, symbols, signs, thoughts,and ideas are merely maps of reality, not reality itself because "the map is not the territory".
Also: “....when you establish a boundary so as to gain control over something, at the same time you separate and alienate yourself from that which you attempt to control. Hence the Fall of Adam into fragmentation, known as original sin.” Our boundaries become our battle lines.
The problem it seems is that when we separate the opposites we try to eliminate the part we don't like. If evil were to disappear the good would likewise disappear. We can't have one without the other. There is an essential unity in them both together, a kind of synergy of opposites
We could liken it to a wave and its trough. We can't say I like the crest of the wave but not that big dip in the trough. I could drown down there! Can you imagine nothing but crests with no troughs? Together do they form one event.
Also consider the common activity of buying and selling. When you buy something, someone else has sold something. The totality of the transaction itself transcends the individual acts. Buying and selling are two ends of the same thing.
All this means is that our boundaries are self created illusions. They do not exist in nature anywhere in the cosmos. To quote Ken Wilber: “The ultimate metaphysical secret, if we dare state it so simply, is that there are no boundaries in the universe. Boundaries are illusions, products NOT of reality but of the way we map and edit reality. And while it is fine to map out the territory, it is fatal to confuse the two”. "Words, symbols, signs, thoughts,and ideas are merely maps of reality, not reality itself because "the map is not the territory".
Also: “....when you establish a boundary so as to gain control over something, at the same time you separate and alienate yourself from that which you attempt to control. Hence the Fall of Adam into fragmentation, known as original sin.” Our boundaries become our battle lines.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Writing Meditation....
I started a 'writing meditation' a couple of weeks ago using pen and paper. Today, I will use the computer.
Write for ten minutes they say. Push the pen without stopping they say. Turn off your inner censor they say, etc., etc. Yea. Easier said than done. Don't edit along the way. Well, that's fine if you're using a pen or pencil. Doing it on the computer makes it harder for me. Why do I think that I have to edit myself whether on the computer or writing with the pen. On the computer it's actually easier (I know, I contradicted myself) to do, especially when I misspell, or rather miss type a word which is frequent. I can quickly backspace and retype it. I should use the pen and that won't be so much of a problem.
Why do I have this type of perfectionism when I'm on the computer, or pen and paper for that matter. I seem to be that way only in certain areas or specific tasks such as folding the towels at the salon. I like them folded in a certain way, all turned in the same direction and reasonably neat. I have trouble with the writing thing since I assume that eventually someone might read what I wrote and I assume might be critical of me. How silly, of course. But I can't seem to turn off my internal censor. I have this trouble when I write for the blog. I don't always say what I think, especially if it's the least bit controversial. Controversial that is to a certain group of people. I fear that I will not be able to back up what I say with a clear defense (should I be asked to do so) and would look silly for even saying it.
I am getting better at it lately though. I am caring less what others may think and I am becoming more confident in my understanding of what it is I actually believe about things. It's just that I have done such a complete reversal of my former ideas about so many things like faith, religion and politics. In other words, according to some, I've become increasingly 'liberal' minded on these topics.
I hate labels like that. Ken Wilbur defines them as boundaries. To name a thing is to make it separate from other things, this verses that, which he also likens to the original sin.
Actually an interesting subject in its own right. More on this later....
Write for ten minutes they say. Push the pen without stopping they say. Turn off your inner censor they say, etc., etc. Yea. Easier said than done. Don't edit along the way. Well, that's fine if you're using a pen or pencil. Doing it on the computer makes it harder for me. Why do I think that I have to edit myself whether on the computer or writing with the pen. On the computer it's actually easier (I know, I contradicted myself) to do, especially when I misspell, or rather miss type a word which is frequent. I can quickly backspace and retype it. I should use the pen and that won't be so much of a problem.
Why do I have this type of perfectionism when I'm on the computer, or pen and paper for that matter. I seem to be that way only in certain areas or specific tasks such as folding the towels at the salon. I like them folded in a certain way, all turned in the same direction and reasonably neat. I have trouble with the writing thing since I assume that eventually someone might read what I wrote and I assume might be critical of me. How silly, of course. But I can't seem to turn off my internal censor. I have this trouble when I write for the blog. I don't always say what I think, especially if it's the least bit controversial. Controversial that is to a certain group of people. I fear that I will not be able to back up what I say with a clear defense (should I be asked to do so) and would look silly for even saying it.
I am getting better at it lately though. I am caring less what others may think and I am becoming more confident in my understanding of what it is I actually believe about things. It's just that I have done such a complete reversal of my former ideas about so many things like faith, religion and politics. In other words, according to some, I've become increasingly 'liberal' minded on these topics.
I hate labels like that. Ken Wilbur defines them as boundaries. To name a thing is to make it separate from other things, this verses that, which he also likens to the original sin.
Actually an interesting subject in its own right. More on this later....
Monday, June 14, 2004
The Lord's Prayer....
Boy, am I going to get creamed for this one....but here goes anyway. I copied this from a friend who posted it on the church's private bulletin board. It's an interesting excerpt from a book by Forrest Church, called "Lifecraft: The Art of Meaning in the Everyday"
Our Swiss cabdriver was definitely Kierkegaardian with a keen eye for idolatry; he loved Christianity and disdained Christendom. But he was also Bergsonian. He sought to enliven his own faith with a more dynamic dimension. As it turns out, what he really wanted to talk to us about was prayer. Changing his tone entirely, he raised what he called "a serious religious question"-one he answered for himself in the following monologue.
"I don't know about you," the driver said, "but I have trouble with the Lord's Prayer.” I believe in God, but the Lord's Prayer, I mean, since I say it every night before I go to bed, I had to improve on it. I just had to. What's this “Our Father” business? If God's a man, we're finished. And how about ‘Who art in heaven.’ Wait a minute, all of us are here, so what I say is this: ‘Holy Spirit, whom art with and among us,’ and then I drop the bit about the hallowed name, because that doesn't mean anything.
‘ Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,’ same problem. I say `Be with us as we would be with you.'
Then, 'give us this day our daily bread.' That didn't make sense to me until I heard a sermon once. I didn't like the preacher but it was a good sermon; it got me think-ing. We're not talking about hamburgers here; we're talking about spiritual food, the stuff that makes us human. So I left that in.
As for ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’, just talk to my girlfriend .l had to leave that in. But this `Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil' business. Give me a break. What's the deal? We ask God not to lead us into temptation, and then when bad things happen even when we've been good, blame God for it? That's ridiculous. I dropped that out.
Which leaves only ‘Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen.' I have no real problem with that but it doesn’t really do much for me. So I say. ‘Thank you for the blessing of life. I pray I may be worthy of it’. Believe me, it sounds better in German. It doesn’t sound bad in English:
The Revised Version would look like this:
Holy Spirit, who art with and among us,
be with us as we would be with you,
Give us our daily bread.
Forgive us of our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Thank you for the blessing of life,
I Pray I may be worthy of it.
Excerpt from Lifecraft: The Art of Meaning in the Everyday.
By Forrest Church: Boston: Beacon Press, 2000
You see what I mean. I kind of like it myself. What do you think?
Our Swiss cabdriver was definitely Kierkegaardian with a keen eye for idolatry; he loved Christianity and disdained Christendom. But he was also Bergsonian. He sought to enliven his own faith with a more dynamic dimension. As it turns out, what he really wanted to talk to us about was prayer. Changing his tone entirely, he raised what he called "a serious religious question"-one he answered for himself in the following monologue.
"I don't know about you," the driver said, "but I have trouble with the Lord's Prayer.” I believe in God, but the Lord's Prayer, I mean, since I say it every night before I go to bed, I had to improve on it. I just had to. What's this “Our Father” business? If God's a man, we're finished. And how about ‘Who art in heaven.’ Wait a minute, all of us are here, so what I say is this: ‘Holy Spirit, whom art with and among us,’ and then I drop the bit about the hallowed name, because that doesn't mean anything.
‘ Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done,’ same problem. I say `Be with us as we would be with you.'
Then, 'give us this day our daily bread.' That didn't make sense to me until I heard a sermon once. I didn't like the preacher but it was a good sermon; it got me think-ing. We're not talking about hamburgers here; we're talking about spiritual food, the stuff that makes us human. So I left that in.
As for ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’, just talk to my girlfriend .l had to leave that in. But this `Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil' business. Give me a break. What's the deal? We ask God not to lead us into temptation, and then when bad things happen even when we've been good, blame God for it? That's ridiculous. I dropped that out.
Which leaves only ‘Thine is the power and the glory for ever and ever, Amen.' I have no real problem with that but it doesn’t really do much for me. So I say. ‘Thank you for the blessing of life. I pray I may be worthy of it’. Believe me, it sounds better in German. It doesn’t sound bad in English:
The Revised Version would look like this:
Holy Spirit, who art with and among us,
be with us as we would be with you,
Give us our daily bread.
Forgive us of our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Thank you for the blessing of life,
I Pray I may be worthy of it.
Excerpt from Lifecraft: The Art of Meaning in the Everyday.
By Forrest Church: Boston: Beacon Press, 2000
You see what I mean. I kind of like it myself. What do you think?
Saturday, June 12, 2004
Note from the daily guru....
What is the gap?
The gap is the infinite moment that is present in between two thoughts. It is a moment that once immersed in, leads to infinity and enlightenment. The gap is the place where you will no longer believe in God, but will in fact know Him/Her. (That'll shake 'em up as it did me a few years ago 'till I finally figured out the absurdity of the gender thing).
How do I enter the gap?
It is that moment when you make the decision not to immerse yourself in thoughts of the past or the future. It is a now moment (the only one there is) in which you get "out of your mind", literally, since to be "in the mind" is to be with "thought" of some kind. It is to "be present" in a state of no thought.
Sounds crazy, I know, but it works with practice. It is that state of being able to hear that "still small voice" but only in that space that is 'no thought'.
This is true (non-verbal) prayer. Try it sometime. And when you get totally confused and frustrated call me and I'll confuse you some more.
The gap is the infinite moment that is present in between two thoughts. It is a moment that once immersed in, leads to infinity and enlightenment. The gap is the place where you will no longer believe in God, but will in fact know Him/Her. (That'll shake 'em up as it did me a few years ago 'till I finally figured out the absurdity of the gender thing).
How do I enter the gap?
It is that moment when you make the decision not to immerse yourself in thoughts of the past or the future. It is a now moment (the only one there is) in which you get "out of your mind", literally, since to be "in the mind" is to be with "thought" of some kind. It is to "be present" in a state of no thought.
Sounds crazy, I know, but it works with practice. It is that state of being able to hear that "still small voice" but only in that space that is 'no thought'.
This is true (non-verbal) prayer. Try it sometime. And when you get totally confused and frustrated call me and I'll confuse you some more.
New approach to an old photo of mine taken in the back yard. A black and white called 'Winter Study II'
Posted by Hello
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Something to think about....
A glimpse of the world . . .
If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:
There would be:
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-white
30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth
1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. The following is also something to ponder...
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed
than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
(I can't vouch for these statistics, but it was interesting nonetheless).
If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:
There would be:
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans
52 would be female
48 would be male
70 would be non-white
30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian
89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the United States.
80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth
1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent. The following is also something to ponder...
If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.
If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep...you are richer than 75% of this world.
If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
If your parents are still alive and still married, you are very rare.
If you can read this message, you are more blessed
than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.
(I can't vouch for these statistics, but it was interesting nonetheless).
Friday, June 04, 2004
Death in the family....
My former father-in-law, C.C. Osborne, the maternal grandfather of my children passed away peacefully last night at his home. We visited with the family and got to see all of my kids as well earlier this evening. I will have more to say on this when we return from Tennesee.
Reunion Trip....
See you guys later. We're off to Nashville, TN. Music City. Grand Ole Opry. Jennifer's 40th high school reunion! Pray for safe travel. See you next Wednesday.
Will report back then hopefully with some details and pictures. I know you are holding your collective breath (:
Okay. Here's my thought for the day. Did you know that the smallest things can dramatically change circumstances or events? For example, in my business I often work with chemicals for coloring or perming hair, etc. Well, I learned early on that H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) has two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. Guess what happens if you simply remove two oxygen atoms. Right. You get H2O. You know. Water!
Water, of course, can give life. Hydrogen peroxide can make you really sick (if ingested) or make you a beautiful blonde. All because of two little atoms! Amazing!
Now, why did I tell you all that? Well, for one thing it can be a metaphor for what happens in most of our lives from time to time like the incidents I mentioned in my post of the 29th of May about how the smallest things can change the entire direction of our lives (for good or ill). The smallest word spoken. The loving gesture. A gentle touch. You never know how such things might affect someone's life in a positive way. I could mention numerous turning points in my own experience that changed things dramatically for me but not this time. How about your own 'turning points'. What small act of kindness had an effect on your life?
We'll talk more when we get back. Till then....namaste
Will report back then hopefully with some details and pictures. I know you are holding your collective breath (:
Okay. Here's my thought for the day. Did you know that the smallest things can dramatically change circumstances or events? For example, in my business I often work with chemicals for coloring or perming hair, etc. Well, I learned early on that H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) has two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms. Guess what happens if you simply remove two oxygen atoms. Right. You get H2O. You know. Water!
Water, of course, can give life. Hydrogen peroxide can make you really sick (if ingested) or make you a beautiful blonde. All because of two little atoms! Amazing!
Now, why did I tell you all that? Well, for one thing it can be a metaphor for what happens in most of our lives from time to time like the incidents I mentioned in my post of the 29th of May about how the smallest things can change the entire direction of our lives (for good or ill). The smallest word spoken. The loving gesture. A gentle touch. You never know how such things might affect someone's life in a positive way. I could mention numerous turning points in my own experience that changed things dramatically for me but not this time. How about your own 'turning points'. What small act of kindness had an effect on your life?
We'll talk more when we get back. Till then....namaste
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Personal newsy stuff....
Talked to Karen (Dallas, TX) yesterday at lunch. She said she might come to G'boro to see her grandpa (on her mothers side) who is dying. Today she calls at lunch time again, this time she's outside of Nashville, TN on I-40. She and all 5 children should be here sometime this evening. One thing about the Tesh's, they don't procrastinate!
Actually the timing is good since if she waited another day we would be on our way to Nashville, TN for Jennifer's 40th high school reunion and would have missed her and the kids. I hope C.C. doesn't pass away this weekend. I would want to go to the funeral and pay my respects to my ex-wife's family.
Actually the timing is good since if she waited another day we would be on our way to Nashville, TN for Jennifer's 40th high school reunion and would have missed her and the kids. I hope C.C. doesn't pass away this weekend. I would want to go to the funeral and pay my respects to my ex-wife's family.
Here's another of Charleston's old trees in the park on the river. They are magnificent. To see a bigger clearer picture go my home page (link on the panel to the left) Ditto for the one below.
Posted by Hello
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Believe it or not....
I actually had an interesting time of meditation reading the obituaries page. Morbid you say. Not at all. I felt a sense of oneness with those departed, strangers though they be. I prayed for their families. Felt the pain of those who now grieved. I also felt the need to share that with you, perhaps so you could confirm your suspicions about my weirdness.
I'm sure I confirmed my so-called weirdness to my son and daughter-in-law Sunday night when we had dinner at Macaroni Grill. They are involved in an evangelical Presbyterian Church (PCA). I jokingly told them that we were becoming Presbyterians too as I showed them my Church of the Covenant (PCUSA) tee shirt. My son's wife quickly pointed out that the PCUSA was the real liberal Presbyterian Church. I knew that, of course, but since I am slowly coming out of my liberal closet I couldn't resist letting them know what we were doing these days. I mentioned we were attending the "alternative service" which is not the same as the so-called comtemporary worship many churches use today, mainly as a marketing tool to attract the younger crowd. The main difference in our 'alternative service' is the total lack of liturgy in the service. Very laid back.
We also had dinner last night with Rik and Brenda. Rik brought some New York Strip steaks and we cooked out on the grill. Had lots of "Highlander Gaelic Ale" (Ashville, NC) on hand which is Rik's favorite. Afterword we watched a movie called "The Big Fish". Very strange film but very interesting story telling. It could quickly get over your head if you're not paying attention. I think we all enjoyed it though.
I'm sure I confirmed my so-called weirdness to my son and daughter-in-law Sunday night when we had dinner at Macaroni Grill. They are involved in an evangelical Presbyterian Church (PCA). I jokingly told them that we were becoming Presbyterians too as I showed them my Church of the Covenant (PCUSA) tee shirt. My son's wife quickly pointed out that the PCUSA was the real liberal Presbyterian Church. I knew that, of course, but since I am slowly coming out of my liberal closet I couldn't resist letting them know what we were doing these days. I mentioned we were attending the "alternative service" which is not the same as the so-called comtemporary worship many churches use today, mainly as a marketing tool to attract the younger crowd. The main difference in our 'alternative service' is the total lack of liturgy in the service. Very laid back.
We also had dinner last night with Rik and Brenda. Rik brought some New York Strip steaks and we cooked out on the grill. Had lots of "Highlander Gaelic Ale" (Ashville, NC) on hand which is Rik's favorite. Afterword we watched a movie called "The Big Fish". Very strange film but very interesting story telling. It could quickly get over your head if you're not paying attention. I think we all enjoyed it though.
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