Stupid Human Trick

"When you pick something up with your toes and transfer it to your hand, don't you fell, just briefly, like a superior creature?" George Carlin

Ah, the simple victories in life! Do yourself a favor, try it right now.

Take off your shoes and socks, pick up a pencil or a sock with your toes and "hand" it to yourself.
That does feel good doesn't it!

John Schaar Said...

"The future is not a result of choices among alternative paths offered by the present,

but a place that is created--created first in the mind and will, created next in activity.

The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating.

The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them, changes both the maker and the destination".

Hanging Around

"Hanging out with friends" is actually an activity I saw listed by an applicant under the category of "other interests".

Whatever happened to hunting, fishing, hiking, football, kayaking, playing in my band, or any other true interests? Have we really got to the point where "hanging out" is an interest?

Not that there isn't too much terribly wrong with hanging out once in a while, but to list it as an interest?

Do I need to list such activities in my "other interests"? Should I list eating? How about sleeping, showering, etc?. All told they do occupy an significant amount of time in my life. Do such items help in the decision of employment?

Actually in the case of the above mentioned applicant, I guess it did. He didn't get the job.

"The man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore". --Samuel Butler

Praise To The Man

It's been over four years and I miss my friend as much now as I did when I finally realized that he was gone.

Andrew T. Lee died on November 23, 2001- the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was the end of a friendship that had grown over a number of years and then stopped suddenly. Upon his departure, I took notice of the growth and impact he had made:

I had met Andrew as a custodian and said good-bye to a Dialysis Technician.

Although always spiritually minded, I met a wayward soul full of problems and personal demons and said good-bye to a spiritual giant and a friend of God.

I miss our talks and our common goals and aspirations but I find myself quoting "Andrewisms" to my children.

I agree with the final words of his obituary: "A man so good, God couldn't wait to take him home".

Andrew, I can't talk to you right now, but I enjoy my memories of you. Until next time my ol' friend.

Stress??

I received an email that stated that typical symptoms of stress are: eating too much, impulse buying, and driving too fast.

If that's stress, sign me up!!! It sounds more like a perfect day to me.

I think this is just another example of what happens when letting others determine your standards!

Just say it!

Isn't it funny how we have such a hard time saying what we mean?

On the radio, a reporter commenting on a suspect who had confessed to a crime added "he is for-sure likely to be convicted". Is the suspect "for sure" to be convicted? Or is he "likey" to be convicted?

On another report, I heard the reporter speak of the "alleged victim". The suspect of the action may have "allegedly" commited the act- if you are a lawyer, in the court room, in front of the jury. The victim, however, is the victim. Somebody did something to the poor guy. That's not the "alleged" part! You might have a alleged suspect, or an alleged crime, but the victim is a victim!

So why do we have such a hard time saying what we mean? I believe we have got to the point where we are so afraid to get pined down, to offend, or not to be politically correct- that we stumble over how to speak.

If we call someone a victim- does that mean we have "pre- judged" that there was a person responsible for the act that made them the victim and therefore we are no longer fair? Are we so afraid to confidently state what we believe will happen, that we have to say "for sure likely"?

I 'm not saying that we should all be rude, nor am I saying that blundt opinions are always the best. There are people's feelings at stake. But I think we all need to relax a little bit and just say what you mean. Forget the "policitally correct" mode and just remember that people have feelings. Treat and speak to others how you would like to be treated and spoken to: honestly, respectfully, and openly.

Say what you mean. Be clear and precise. Don't be wishy washy!

Sunday Scripture Choice

I Corinthians 1:18

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

SUCCESS: S*U*C*C*E- Execution

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison.

Don't let the actual work discourage you. The work, the execution of the plan is the biggest thing that separates the winners from the losers, or the successful from the unsuccessful.

When you are willing to work towards your goals you enter a group of people that have separated themselves from the others.

"The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them." Robert Frost

Thankful Item #1

Apart from all the yummy food yesterday that is lingering into today and I am sure well into next week, I have my first "Thankful Thing" of this new "Thanksgiving Calendar".

Tradition dictates that Christmas decorating must start today and today it did. I opted to complete all of my roof top lighting this afternoon. We haven't had any snow yet so the roof was clear and dry. Icicle lights, colored outline, and the other decorations on the side of the house. As I started on the lower stuff, a nasty cold front moved in and chased me inside at 8 o'clock.

It isn't snowing yet but it is cold and raining and on the edge of turning to snow sometime tonight I am sure. And guess what! I don't have to risk life and limb tomorrow on the roof!!!

If one can't be thankful about that, what can one be thankful for?!!?

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Lincoln's Thanksgiving proclamation that follows is taken from the collection of Lincoln's papers in the Library of America series, Vol II, pp. 520-521.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.