seriouslyscorpio

thoughts of the moment and of my life

Category Archives: kindness


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DON AND CHRIS…..FRESHENING UP THE REPUBLICAN PARTY


Been waiting to see the comments begin after Don and Chris came into the running for the next Republican President.   Have long enjoyed their banter, full of truths that no one will come near to discuss.  Their desire is strong, their character more open and upstanding than those so quickly to either attack or walk away from their statements.  I am not so dim that I do not see they are in need of speech writers who are cut from the same cloth.  Not everyone in this fair democracy has the ability to give thrilling speeches full of a meat and potatoes agenda that Don and Chris speak about.  Most of those vying for the possibility of being president tell stories of past presidents, and their failures, of poorly fought battles in years past, and then go on to say how well they will handle the same.

Don and Chris speak of what exactly is failing in these United States.  We all know the borders are open.  We all know that  people flow freely. We also know that within a few days or months, a new plan for a safer place to live, can be in place. If you know it and I know it, and there are laws in place to address it….you get my picture.

Americans are just tired…..and the reason they are tired, is that they are smart.  They listen, they learn, they discuss, and they know what is going on.  It is refreshing to hear Don and Chris acknowledge what we know….as a problem.  And, even more importantly, they want to do something about it!  They even have plans!! They even tell you exactly what some of them are and how easy they are to implement!

Shame on NBC and Univision, etc. for being so chicken as to not stand up for what is true….even tho it is not popular.  Truth is sometimes not popular and these two men don’t really care.  Tell your shareholders you really don’t like the plight of illegals inside the United States and that the country’s hands are tied by the current administration.  Where is your character…..your backbone…..Where are your true colors?  It is time you changed your minds….and stood for the people you represent and present to…..those Spanish speaking people who come to hear they are indeed welcome, and are well thought of……when they work under the rules and freedom afforded them by these United States.  It can’t be one way for some and another for others…..and that is exactly what is going on.

Be brave Don and Chris……we are counting on you……(but look in to the speech writers)


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NFL……can’t govern jack….and for sure, doesn’t worry about jill!


just can’t pass this one up……how sad it is that an organization of the NFL’s so-called caliber cannot count on it’s own morals and ethics enough to respect women…and to prove (not improve) its position.. has to employ/acknowledge the very center of conflict….in order to “relieve” its own stupidity to the public…….CHOSEN LADIES…..go to women’s shelters every day before negotiating….Remember the eyes of the children who live in fear….and the ‘lost’ future of the women who seek asylum there…


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LIV’IN IN THE HOOD….OUR CUL-DE-SAC


Most of us just bump along in this life. I’m not saying life is boring…it’s just that we get caught up in the ordinary….I’m as guilty as the next person in that regard. I am doing my best to snap out of it cause there should be no such word as ordinary in this or any other language. Maybe the best word for me is ‘comfortable’, as in happy to be where we are.

Our neighborhood is a wonderful example of ‘comfortable’. I guess it is an old neighborhood, like 25+ years. I remember the day my hubby and I found we could buy this home. It had been $30,000 more than we could afford and we would look at it longingly when we came to visit our friends one street over. One Sunday afternoon our friends called….it seemed the developer wanted to add another section and couldn’t make it happen with the bank, unless he sold the ones he had…..our neighborhood, our house, was now affordable, dropping $30,000 that sunny afternoon and we drove out to buy it.

We watched it being built, still in disbelief, and on a special week in August, we joined total strangers to create a close knit community, called our cul-de-sac.

Families with kiddies of all ages began to unpack and make a house their home. Some came from 100 miles, some just newly retired from 1000 miles, and everything in between. Ages were just as varied.

You know when neighborhoods are first created, it is all by chance. Ours was surely that way and it was magical. The blend was perfect. We all began to ‘spruce up’…..front yards were planted but not the back. No back steps, no patios, no trees, no bushes, just lots of dirt and trust me, loads of weeds. Whoever found a knowledgeable ‘micro climate’ advisor, a mulch company, and especially a concrete guy, became the ‘go to’ person of the hour. We learned quickly this area did not lend itself to the plants we brought from the cooler areas on the California coast. But what we did learn was that our beloved ‘coast’ plants brought snails…and snails and more snails. Dang….and we did it our selves. I must say, however, after 25 years, the snails have gone elsewhere….the climate just being too dry for them to enjoy themselves. (thank goodness)

So these years have flown by….little kids became high school grads, then out of college and on their own. Parents became grandparents and aunts and uncles, but still the cul-de-sac remained ‘comfortable’….Cookouts were common when second or third families moved in. July 4th brought families of families and Halloween brought hot cider for adults and pets dressed up as Godzilla…. And it continued to be ‘comfortable’.

Now, all of a sudden, it is more than 25 years later, and 1/2 of us are still original owners. The ‘newbies’ have either conformed to our ways, or we have to theirs. It is still warm to come home….to see friends/to wave goodbye as they go off on vacation, or when they come back from church. We smile as we remember teens being teens, running out of refrigerator room during the holidays, or even using another’s oven when it became crunch time.

We have had our sad times when those in our circle have moved on, and today my heart is teary as a great family has decided the same. It is and will be good for them. Change is good, even when it makes us stretch our ‘comfortable’ life. It will be a new chapter for the cul-de-sac family as well. They will take their laughter, their Christ led family, their extended family, and our love with them, and all will be well…..in their new neighborhood, where life will, once again, be ‘comfortable’. Miss’in you already…..


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THE MAN IN THE GLASS


Author Unknown…..taken from an old newspaper article

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what THAT man has to say.
For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgement upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass

Some people might think you’re a straight-shootin’ chum
And call you a wonderful guy.
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest
For he’s with you clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most dangerous test
If the guy in the glass is your friend

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass

I remember reading this when I was a little girl….looking in the mirror..was always hard to do when I had done something wrong….as I could ‘snow’ others but not the person in the reflection….it was a good growing up tool then and it is now.


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PRAYER…..FROM DIARY OF PRIVATE PRAYER


O Thou whose tender mercies are over all Thy works, humbly and sorrowfully I crave They forgiveness for the sins of this day;

For every weakening and defiling thought to which my mind has given
harbour;
For every word spoken in hastiness or passion:
For every failure of self-control;
For every stumbling-block which by deed or example I have set in
another’s way;
For every opportunity lost;
For loitering feet and a procrastinating will;
For this…..
And this…..
And this…..

And grant that, as the days go by, Thy Spirit may more and more rule in my heart, giving me victory over these and all other sinful ways….

me


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CHURCH…..WHO DO WE SERVE #2


Today….we look at the church by using two words…..Two words that can overwhelm any church/parish or attendee. These two words come out of the dictionary….and their definitions are variable When it comes to seriousness. What I’ve found is that the degree of this seriousness is one of the main pitfalls in how churches act and react. This is our challenge…..

Word #1…..CONDITION/conditional….
Subject to or depending on a condition; not absolute
Existing state
Situation with respect to circumstances
Restricting, limiting or modifying a circumstance
(as in ‘only under certain conditions’)
Stipulation that would alter an agreement or an event
A diseased state of the body
To make something a condition

Word #2…..UNCONDITIONAL
Not limited by any condition…..absolute as in God’s love

Ever see those wonderul pictures that come from our friends’ email…cuddly, cute pets,….the artist that lays newborns in a flower, or in their father’s hand. Warm and fuzzy to the max.

Where does that go…we grow up, that’s where it goes. Like the line in South Pacific….’You have to be carefully taught’ to become conditional. If these thoughts make you sad, imagine how God feels.

We do live conditional lives, some conditions more degrading than others. “She’s divorced”…..”Unmarried and 2 kids and on welfare”….”They were baptized in _________ church but not here”…….”He always smells”……..”They just come on holidays”……”They only gave $_____last year”……..”Their son just got out of jail”…… and yes, it goes on and on.

But living conditionally doesn’t make it right…..it’s the ‘everybody’ or ‘they’ where we get this syndrome. “Well that’s the way we’ve always done it”…..”Everybody feels the same way”.

Now is when we spend some alone time wondering how we got this way…this lifestyle of condition. Paul wanted his new baby churches to work together….some did, but some felt it better to try to outdo one another….better food, better giving, better crowds. They missed the point didn’t they…..their church going became conditional. Baby churches also contended with new members not quite standing up to the “Christian way”….some were having affairs, some sill loved those idols, and on and on.

Paul was in the same mess then with new churches as we are today….
Not every new Christian was falling in line when it came to Christ’s teachings….Dang! (and I honestly think that’s what Paul said)

But Paul … in his frustration, along with his love of God….rose to the occasion. He did not what was necessarily the easiest, nor the most moral (conditional), but what was right in God’s eyes…he reminded his newbies that God’s love is UNCONDITIONAL and ABSOLUTE… There are no rooms in God’s house where conditions apply…..except that we do unto others as we expect others to do unto us….. and that we love our neighbor as ourself.

Imagine what would happen if our churchd decided to follow this idea? Now I know there are other rules about all kinds of things in the old and new testament, but loving your neighbor and doing unto others….seems to cover it all. I’ll give you a ‘for instance’……..I attended a Disciples of Christ Church in a small town in central Indiana….I had grown up going to a Disciples of Christ Church with my family, but in my late 20’s married and moved to another town. Little did I know, they had a ‘closed membership’. I’d never heard of it….wasn’t a rule in every church, but it was in this one. If one was baptized in other church, they had to be re-baptized again! I CALL THAT A CONDITION! I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now, 50 years later.

Funny, but I bet some of you are not agreeing with me…and this is just ONE itty bitty condition…..

So I’m leaving…..for now…..Think over God’s way of loving everyone and everything, and then take a look at how we love everyone and everything. MMmmmmmm

It ain’t over til it’s over….there’s still time to live and love’
UNCONDITIONALLY.


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Church…WHO DO WE SERVE? #1


I’m going out on a limb here by saying I think there are lots of church goers, non-church goers, and all those in between who question in their hearts, how the ‘church’ is suppose to work. In these next few posts…I’m going to pause, probe, and press for answers to questions that are hundreds, if not thousands of years old.

For those who think these problems are new…read the wonderful world of Paul in Corinthians. This book has warmed my soul because here is a daring guy that leaves no stone unturned, when it comes to creating the best church he can. As I said in my thoughts earlier about Paul, I can see him vividly….gnashing what’s left of his teeth, as he hears, ponders, and writes to his new churches about how they act in his absence.

Flash forward to today and multiply the situation. Churches times a thousand, flocks times ten thousand, and guess what, the problems are almost identical those Paul and his new desciples found in their midst.

One thing for sure, the issues don’t touch any one segment of any one church. That, in itself, should make them easy to identify.
Send a group representative to the local church leadership meeting, discuss the problem, discuss the solutions, come to a vote, take the vote, and run back to the nest with a smile……problem solved.

How many board/vestry meetings have attempted to do just that…how many pastor/parish meetings have grappled with attempts to solve the most petty of church fumbling, and on and on.

Well, I’m here to talk about it….to think out loud..on this paper, in hopes you will do the same. For some it might be ‘been there, done that’; for others, it might be ‘we don’t talk about that’; and yet others might say ‘well, the Bible says’.

Right now I am thinking this will be a discussion of why we do what we do in our church….and why most of us think ours is the best.
We’ll look into boards and vestries…to pastors and priests, to rules of law and rules of church, and to condemnation light. Church or club…..business or belief….is there a definite line..or is it a blur.. we’ll talk later


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NO CURFEW IN THE GULF


Well, I’m here to say, there is seems no end to this spring party in the Gulf….One doesn’t hear much, but the beaches are jump’in..yes, even ‘in the air’ jump’in.

Now that the little guys have arrived, their extended family have received their invites. It is time for sprucing up the digs, so many hermit crabs are up sizing. Yes, they do outgrow, their studio type homes, so searches go on constantly. People (nice humans) who visit the Gulf, know they should only take one live shell away from the beach each visit……what a shame they are allowed even that.
(another ‘be that as it may’) So it is proper etiquette to lift gently and peek in to these shell homes first, before plopping them into your bucket. If they have set up housekeeping, it is then necessary to put them back, and apologize for making thier little hearts skip a beat.

As spring progresses, many empty shell bodies are found. The tides give us a new view of what the Gulf has to offer, and the waves gently deposit the new, old, and empty shells of life in it’s beautiful waters. It is a fact of life, life and death, and the Gulf of Mexico shows us how the grand plan was put into place. I still wonder, at almost age 70, why things are the way they are, so don’t feel alone, if you wonder the same, now and then.

Discarded shells from other generations do provide exquisite art that cannot be duplicated. Their color, their shape, and their design are the architecture of God. Each is made to house the life inside…and is done so to perfection. Take note…..and know it is a simple joy to ‘stop’ and look at these treasures….they will move you and replenish your soul.

I spent the evening at low tide, picking and choosing my next gallon of shells….What a wonderful and inexpensive habit I have. The warmth of spring, the waters of the Gulf, a good friend, and a bucket. These are the days to remember. Thank goodness I’ve been allowed to realize these moments. Just take 60 seconds…and stop to look around…then take 70 seconds and then 80. Take in all the gifts God gives us each day..for free!!


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I AM YOUR POLICY……FROM THE OLD DAYS


While gleaning old files, and shredding in front of the TV, I ran across this letter, attached to a policy that has been cashed in…….thought you would enjoy a little of the ‘old days’ of explanation.

 

                                                        I AM YOUR POLICY

You and I have purpose in this world, which,when broken down, are quite similar. It is YOUR job to provide food, clothing, shelter, schooling, medicine and sundry other things for your loved ones;  you do this while I lie in your strong box.

I must have faith and trust in YOU, Mr. Policyholder, for out of your earnings will come the cost of MY upkeep.  At times I may appear to be somewhat worthless to you–, but someday (and who knows when) you and I will change places.

When you are laid to rest, I will come alive and do YOUR job.  I will provide the food, clothing, shelter, schooling, medicine and other things your family will continue to need — just as you are now doing.  When YOUR work and toil is done, MINE will begin, through ME, your hands will carry on.

Whenever you feel the price you are paying for my upkeep is burdensome, remember, that I WILL DO MORE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THAN YOU CAN EVER DO FOR ME.

Mr. Policyholder, if you do your part, I will do mine.

 

Sincerely

Your policy

                                           ‘CAN WE HEAR AN ….’AWWWWW’


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I read two papers this AM with 3 cups of coffee…..let me say it again, I READ TWO NEWSPAPERS  this morning with 3 cups of coffee.  My kids tell me I’m really ‘out of mainline journalism’…..I’m in ‘mail-line journalism…and that is further out.   I’m sad if it is the truth….that the days of newspapers are fading.  Yes, the word ‘sad’ is appropriate.

The better part of my 68 years I’ve shared with a newspaper…..When I was learning to read….the newspaper was always in my home.  Mother and Dad read, and then I read.  Sure, at the age of 10 I wasn’t all that interested in the front page, but there were always the ‘funnies’.  Kind of like learning to iron…..first you start with the hankies and then you move onward to more difficult pieces of clothing. That’s how the newspaper and I made friends.

Then, in high school, sometimes things in my small brain began to gel….I would read something in the paper and low and behold…we’d talk about it in government or history.  Dang!

And now, after all these years, I’m more of an avid reader than ever.  I learn every day…whether it is a joke, a piece of history, a sale, a divorce, a birth, a death, and on and on. LIFE is the newspaper and the newspaper is life.  It tells me the weather, the high school basketball scores, the time of the July 4th parade, the mass at church, the sale at the local dress shop, the fishing report for the local lake, and the local police beat…often and thank goodness, more humorous than scary.

I would be foolish to say the Internet has not proved to be another great spot for the news….I know we can hear it all on local TV stations as well as  CNN and FOX, but that’s not the news I long for….We all live in little areas..they may be inside large  cities or on farms, distant from neighbors, however, we all desire to be close to one another….The local newspaper, whether it is weekly, bi weekly, in the morning or in the evening, binds our hearts, our lives, our dreams, and it extends the hand of friendship to all.

When traveling thru Tennessee, I read about the lives of folks in Nashville, Knoxville, and all the little towns in between.  I look at their housing, their taxes, as well as their squabbles with local, county and state government.  It truly does my heart good to see that we are pretty much the same, regardless of our proximity to one another.  Soccer might be hot in So. California, but football is the game in Louisiana. High school football barely makes it in some western states, however, in Indiana, and the Ohio Valley, the homes are empty on Fri. night cause they are at the game.   In the assisted care facilities…..everyone is in their room…..not cause they feel bad….but in season….it is basketball and football that keeps the lights on late into the night.

And last but not least…I love the ads…Where am I going to find so easily…..the for rent and for sale section, the used car section, the misc. for sale section, the legal announcement section, the inside ads for carpet, granite, hot dogs. 2 for 1, picking fresh blueberries, and the editorial section, including all the letters to the editor.  So much entertainment, so much knowledge, so much life…..and all  available in the paper.

So go ahead, read the Internet, learn that Tiger won his 74th, that the Supreme Court did or did not make the right decision, and the high in Las Vegas will be 104…..but for me, I’ll use it as backup only…..cause it is the paper…..I truly love.