Live Life

Life is short!
Break the rules!
Forgive quickly!
Love truly!
Laugh uncontrollably!
And never regret anything that made you smile.

An Open Heart

As one can see when the eyes are open,
so one can understand when the heart is open.

-- Hazrat Inayat Khan
The Bowl of Saki

What We See -- Judging Others

Though it is human to evaluate people we encounter based on first impressions, the conclusions we come to are seldom unaffected by our own fears and our own preconceptions.
Additionally, our judgments are frequently incomplete.
For example, wealth can seem like proof that an individual is spoiled, and poverty can be seen as a signifier of laziness-neither of which may be true.
At the heart of the tendency to categorize and criticize, we often find insecurity.
Overcoming our need to set ourselves apart from what we fear is a matter of understanding the root of judgment and then reaffirming our commitment to tolerance.

When we catch ourselves thinking or behaving judgmentally, we should ask ourselves where these judgments come from.
Traits we hope we do not possess can instigate our criticism when we see them in others because passing judgment distances us from those traits.
Once we regain our center, we can reinforce our open-mindedness by putting our feelings into words.
To acknowledge to ourselves that we have judged, and that we have identified the root of our judgments, is the first step to a path of compassion.
Recognizing that we limit our awareness by assessing others critically can make moving past our initial impressions much easier.
Judgments seldom leave room for alternate possibilities.

Mother Teresa said, "If you judge people, you don't have time to love them."
If we are quick to pass judgment on others, we forget that they, like us, are human beings.
As we seldom know what roads people have traveled before a shared encounter or why they have come into our lives, we should always give those we meet the gift of an open heart.
Doing so allows us to replace fear-based criticism with appreciation because we can then focus wholeheartedly on the spark of good that burns in all human souls.

-- DailyOM

The Service Of Peace

Peace is Shalom --- well-being of mind, heart, and body, individually and communally.
It can exist in the midst of a war-torn world, even in the midst of unresolved problems and increasing human conflicts.
Jesus made that peace by giving his life for his brothers and sisters.
This is no easy peace, but it is everlasting and it comes from God.
Are we willing to give our lives in the service of peace?

--Henri Nouwen

Am I willing to give my life in service of peace?

Gratitude

I have learned how a heart full of gratitude feels.

Messengers From The Wilderness – Weeds

Simply expressed, a weed is any plant that grows where it isn't wanted. Weeds are defined by their tendency to flourish at the expense of a gardener's overall vision, and we tend to battle their presence in our yards.

It is interesting to consider, though, that a plant is a weed only within a certain context, which is to say that one person's weed is another person's wildflower. Most of us have pulled at least one dandelion up by its roots and disposed of it in the interest of preserving the look of a perfect green lawn, yet the dandelion is good medicine, packed with healing properties and vitamin-rich leaves that are a delicious, spicy surprise in a summer salad.

In the wild, there is no such thing as a weed because the overall vision is in the hands of Mother Nature, who accommodates and incorporates all forms of life. In nature, balance is achieved over the long term, without the aid, or interference, of a human supervisor.

While one plant may prevail over others for a certain period of time, eventually it will reach an apex and then it will naturally decline, allowing for other forms to be born and survive. This self-regulating realm was the first garden of our ancestors, who learned the art of agriculture from studying the forests and fields of the as yet uncultivated earth.

In a sense, weeds are harbingers of this wildness, pushing their way into our well-ordered plots, undermining more delicate flora, and flourishing in spite of us.

The next time you see a weed, you might want to look deeply into its roots, discover its name, its habits, and its possible uses. Instead of seeing an unwanted intruder, you might see a healer offering its leaves for a medicinal tea or its flowers for a colorful salad.

At the very least, if you look long enough, you will see a messenger from the wilderness of Mother Earth, reminding you that, even in the most carefully controlled garden, she cannot be completely ruled out.

-- Today's DailyOM

Humility

Two definitions of humility are
(1) being aware of one's own defects of character, and
(2) giving credit where credit is due.
This means if you do something and are successful because God gave you certain talents, give credit to God when someone tells you how well you did; this is being humble.
If you are successful at something, but had help from friends, spouse, neighbors, give credit to those who helped you; this is being humble.
If you have done a task and you alone accomplished it, give credit to yourself; this is being humble.
Say the truth and give credit where credit is due.

Creator, let me walk a truthful road today.

Using Our Own Minds

The good news in all this is that we can confidently devote ourselves to making up our own minds about reality, taking everything that is handed to us as truth with a grain of salt.
This does not mean that we discount the information we receive from outside sources.
It simply means that we are vigilant enough to question it before we decide whether or not we agree with it.
All the information we receive is useful in the process of helping us make up our own minds.
As we allow ourselves to sit with the things we learn, measuring them alongside our own inner sense of the truth and our own experiences, we find that making up our minds is a joyful process of integration that grows us into stronger, smarter, more engaged human beings.

Replacing Fear And Intolerance

Today I try to replase by fear and intolerance
with faith, patience, love and acceptance.
I have neither the right nor
the responsibility to judge others.

Progressive

Sobriety is a progressive as is our disease.

The Truth

Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.

Starting Over

I go to meetings, read the Big Book, and work the Steps.
When I think I have it all figured out,
I throw out everything I think I know and I start over.

Disappointments

My disappointments are equal to my expectations.

A Life Of Gratitude

A life of gratitude accepts the bad with the good.
Genuine gratitude is not a zero sum game in
which thankfulness increases the more fortunate you are
and decreases the more adversity you experience.

--Dan Clendenin

Be Present

Live in the present.
Do the things that need to be done.
Do all the good you can each day.
The future will unfold.
-- Peace Pilgrim

I've Learned . . . .

I've learned . . .

That life is like a roll of toilet paper.
The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

That we should be glad God
doesn't give us everything we ask for.

That money doesn't buy class.

That it's those small daily happenings
that make life so spectacular.

That under everyone's hard shell is
someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

That the Lord didn't do it all in one day.
What makes me think I can?

That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

That the less time I have to work,
the more things I get done.

A True Friend

A good friend will come bail you out of jail. . . .

But a true friend will be sitting next to you saying . . .

"WE screwed up, but we had fun! "

Willingness

If faith without works is dead;
then willingness without action is fantasy.

Directions Of Change

Change occurs in two directions.
That which is built is constantly being destroyed;
that which is loose is being used to build the New.
In other words, change is constantly going on.
Many times we hear people say, "I hate change."
Does it make sense that the Creator would design people to hate it?
The Creator designed people with change abilities such as visioning, imagery and imagination.
Maybe we need to learn to use these tools and then we'll look forward to change.

Creator, today, let me see the harmony of Yours, truly changing world.

The Path Of The Heart

If not now, when?
If not me, who?
To walk the path of the heart is a great honor.
Every human has the choice to walk this path, but very few will decide to make it.
Why? Well, because you can't act and behave like everyone else behaves.
You must be the person who will learn to look within.
You must be the person who will be fully accountable for yourself.
You must be the person who prays and meditates.
You must be the person who will sacrifice.
You must decide to be a Peaceful Warrior.
What will you decide today?

Oh, Great Mystery, lead me on the path of the heart.

On The Journey Towards Acceptance

From The Henri Nouwen Society

On the Journey Towards Acceptance

written by PHIL NAZAR

"Preach the Gospel at all times,
sometimes even with words."
- Francis of Assisi

I bike a lot in downtown Toronto. Biking is, by nature, a solitary activity, though in the midst of much activity. For the most part biking is also wordless. This, I'm sure, is part of the attraction for me. Aside from the occasional epithet tossed at wayward car and truck drivers, I say nothing on my two-wheeled sojourns. I watch, listen and prepare for or ruminate on the events of the day.
It was in this state of mind that I rode from work to Word on the Street, Toronto's annual festival celebrating the written word. I was pretty weary after my workday and was looking forward to being in the midst of the celebration but not having to engage anyone. But as I locked my bike to a fence, I heard heart-wrenching sobbing. It was a young boy who had lost his mother. I was at a loss as to what to do, but we began to walk slowly, scanning the crowded street.
Very soon he saw his mother. They hugged, the mother's look changing from tearful terror to tearful relief. I wanted to say something to her, but her world had collapsed into this hug. I knew that any words I could say were unnecessary, so I walked away. Part of me was a little desirous of some of her time and emotion. Part of me was jealous of this all-encompassing embrace. And part of me knew that, in these few minutes of each of our lives, there was nothing but humanity in its awful vulnerability - and its awesome beauty.

PHIL NAZAR - is a former Jesuit and now married has lived in a number of intentional communities, including L'Arche. He is presently a Community Development Worker and Pastoral Minister at the Toronto Christian Resource Centre, located in Regent Park, a large public housing complex in Toronto. He is also the Chair of the Board of the Daily Bread Food Bank.

True To Ourselves

We must be true inside, true to ourselves,
before we can know a truth that is outside us.
But we make ourselves true inside by
manifesting the truth as we see it.
--Thomas Merton

Discoloring My Perspective

Love is a positive feeling and
if one cultivates this feeling in their life,
they will surely free themselves from
any unbalanced condition that surrounds them.
-- Syd Banks

Anger, whether unfocused or triggered by a troubling experience or a hostile person, discolors my perspective through an afternoon or a full day, perhaps even a week. My understanding of events is always directly related to the attitude I've chosen to harbor. No situation or person, however difficult, has the power to steal away my happiness without my passive consent. So willingly I adopt negative attitudes. My choices for actions, feelings, or attitudes are far greater than those I habitually turn to. And it's likely I know love least of all. But just as anger breeds more anger, love cultivates more love, and each life that's touched by love profits from it. When I make a decision to practice love unconditionally - loving myself, my neighbors and co-workers, even the snarling strangers sharing my traffic jam, I will quickly experience the miracle of love in my own lives.

Who Is Lost

When we lose God,
it is not God who is lost.
--Anonymous

The Power Within

The power within me is far greater
than any fear before me.

The Only Prayer

If the only prayer you ever say
in your entire life is thank you,
it will be enough.
-- Meister Eckhart

Stress Reliever: Sleezy Frakle Sprinkles

We all need a little stress-reliever!

This only takes a minute. Sometimes when you have a stressful day or week, you need some silliness to break up the day. If we are honest, we have a lot more stressful days than not. Here is your dose of humor...

A. Follow the instructions to find your new name.
B. Once you have your new name, put it in the subject box and send it to friends and family and co-workers.

And don't go all adult - a senior manager is now known far and wide as Dorky Gizzardsniffer!*

The following is excerpted from a children's book, Captain Underpants And the Perilous Plot Professor Poopypants, by Dave Pilkey, in which the evil Professor forces everyone to assume new names...

1. Use the third letter of your first name to determine your New first name:

a = snickle
b = doombah
c = goober
d = cheesey
e = crusty
f = greasy
g = dumbo
h = farcus
i = dorky
j = doofus
k = funky
l = boobie
m = sleezy
n = sloopy
o = fluffy
p = stinky
q = slimy
r = dorfus
s = snooty
t = tootsie
u = dipsy
v = sneezy
w = liver
x = skippy
y = dinky
z = zippy

2. Use the second letter of your last name to determine the first half of your new last name:

a = dippin
b = feather
c = batty
d = burger
e = chicken
f = barffy
g = lizard
h = waffle
i = farkle
j = monkey
k = flippin
l = fricken
m = bubble
n = rhino
o = potty
p = hamster
q = buckle
r = gizzard
s = lickin
t = snickle
u = chuckle
v = pickle
w = hubble
x = dingle
y = gorilla
z = girdle

3. Use the third letter of your last name to determine the second half of your new last name:

a = butt
b = boob
c = face
d = nose
e = hump
f = breath
g = pants
h = shorts
i = lips
j = honker
k = head
l = tush
m = chunks
n = dunkin
o = brains
p = biscuits
q = toes
r = doodle
s = fanny
t = sniffer
u = sprinkles
v = frack
w = squirt
x = humperdinck
y = hiney
z = juice

Thus, for example, George W. Bush's new name is: Fluffy Chucklefanny.

Now when you SEND THIS ON...use your new name as the subject.

And remember that children laugh an average of 146 times a day; adults laugh an average of 4 times a day. Put more laughter in your day!!!

Open Our Hearts To All Humanity

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares..

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Knowing Happiness

Happiness is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness.

-- William Saroyan

My struggle to attain happiness became easier when I realized I can be happy with having to struggle for it. My happiness can come from just being myself, living each day, doing what I need to do for myself. To be happy means I do not need to struggle to find happiness. Tonight I can be happy with myself and where I am right now.

Don't Enlist

Finally, someone recommending the people take the power to end the war or fight it right – if there is such a thing or way. I pray everyday that the young men and women serving our country are keep from harms way. To bad the government does not – especially the madness on Capitol Hill.

Until the war ends, my prays will continue.

I also include another story about soldiers. Check it out:

http://countrycontemplative.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/soldiers/


From The Dilbert Blog:

Don’t Enlist:

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/05/dont_enlist.html

By Scott_Adams on General Nonsense

I was reading an article about the newish armored vehicles with V-shaped hulls for withstanding IED attacks. Apparently no one has ever been killed by an IED blast in one of these particular vehicles despite thousands of encounters. The military bought 300 of them. They have 35,000 regular Humvees.

Does it seem like we’re trying hard enough to protect the troops?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-10-30-iraq-buffalos_x.htm

I realize it probably isn’t easy to build these special vehicles in mass production. And it’s absurdly expensive. But are we putting a war-level effort into increasing production capacity? I don’t recall seeing a story to that effect.

My recommendation to young people: Don’t enlist.

The majority of the country opposes the war in Iraq, but we don’t seem to have much power to do anything but wait out the clock. 18-to-21 year olds could end the war in six months. All they have to do is stop enlisting. In the short term, it wouldn’t have much impact on military capacity or the defense of the nation. But the threat of a future impact would shock the system and cause some sort of immediate action.

If young people want a career in the military, they could put it off a year, or at least until the government gets serious about building more IED-resistant vehicles. If enlistment drops to near zero, the government has to consider a draft. And it won’t do that because they have too many kids of their own who are draft age.

It’s ironic that people between the ages of 18 and 21 are the only American adults not allowed to drink. And yet they are the only ones who can stop the war in Iraq in the near term. Or if they prefer, at least cause more IED-resistant vehicles to be built.

That’s a lot of power.

The Assault On Reason

I am not a fan of Al Gore.
But this looks like an interesting book -- I am ordering a copy to read.

Time Magazine has an excerpt.
I found it easy to read and understand.
Just passing it along.

http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1622015,00.html

Free Will In Fruit Flies

By Scott_Adams on General Nonsense

Many people forwarded me a link to this story titled “Study Hints that Fruit Flies Have Free Will.” It gave me a good laugh.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18684016/?GT1=9951

My favorite part is where the scientist speculates that if free will exists, it is in the middle ground between randomness and determinism.

Huh?

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/05/free_will_in_fr.html

Be True To Yourself

When we ignore our inner leanings, however, trouble arises.
Trying to live out somebody else's life script is like putting a size 10 foot into a size 7 shoe.
The size simply does not fit.
No matter how hard you force yourself to adjust to your situation, the discomfort continues.
Why not start off with the right fit?
Acknowledge your unique gifts and talents, as well as your wants and needs.
Then seek out situations and circumstances that will allow them their full expression.
This route may take time, but the results are worth it -- a life of peace and fulfillment that comes from being true to yourself.

Seeking Forgiveness

Seeking forgiveness is sometimes difficult work.
It is made easier by meeting people who, without trivializing our sins, assure us that God rejoices over our repentance.
Being forgiven lifts a weight and prompts us to acts of charity.

Silly Studies

Wonder why we don't have a cure for cancer yet?
Maybe it is because federal bureaucrats waste funds intended for health research on silly studies.

Attitudes

Attitudes are contagious.

Is yours worth catching?

Ann Margret

Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in Viet Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper.

However, he had a rather grainy, 8 x 10 black and white photo he had taken at a USO show of Ann Margret with Bob Hope in the background that was one of his treasures.

A few years ago, Ann Margret was doing a book signing at a local bookstore.

Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the treasured photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the 7:30 signing.

When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the bookstore, circled the parking lot and disappeared behind a parking garage.

Before her appearance, bookstore employees announced that she would sign only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted.

Richard was disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her know how much those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home.

Ann Margret came out looking as beautiful as ever and, as second in line, it was soon Richard's turn.

He presented the book for her signature and then took out the photo. When he did, there were many shouts from the employees that she would not sign it.

Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her to see it."

She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she said, "This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly will sign his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I always have time for 'my gentlemen.'"

With that, she pulled Richard across the table and planted a big kiss on him.

She then made quite a to-do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them.

There weren't too many dry eyes among those close enough to hear She then posed for pictures and acted as if he were the only one there.

Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet.

When I asked if he'd like to talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears.

"That's the first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army," he said.

That night was a turning point for him.

He walked a little straighter and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet.

I'll never forget Ann Margret for her graciousness and how much that small act of kindness meant to my husband.

I now make it a point to say "Thank you" to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces.

Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all those who have served their country.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For more on this:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/military/margret.asp

From Dilbert

Better Iraq withdrawal plan than what is being passed around on Capitol Hill.

At ash, poor Scotty -- we can even make bad choices dead.

Iraq Withdrawal Plan

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/05/iraq_withdrawal.html

Scotty's Ashes

http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/05/scottys_ashes.html

On The Journey Towards Acceptance

written by RITA O'CONNOR

Sigh. The journey toward acceptance begins with a sigh. The realization that "it" is a fact. Whatever "it" is... So, the question is, "What are you going to do about it?" Are you going to spend your time and energy fighting the fact? To be sure, acceptance is not passivity. We change what we can and accept what we cannot change.

I have a chronic illness. At first I took each episode as a discrete occurrence. Finally, one day, I accepted the fact of this illness, that it wasn't going away and that it had a profound effect on my life. Sigh.

I have siblings. I used to wish that two of them were different than they are. I decided to forgo that wish and begin to accept them as they are. It was then that I noticed things I liked about them. Strangely enough, when I stopped wanting so desperately for them to be different, they changed.

Both of my parents accepted that their deaths were near. This was a gift to our family. We didn't want them to die, we wished it otherwise, but rather than fighting it, we accepted the fact and said and did what we needed to.

Many years ago I heard the statement "To change something, first you have to accept it as it is." Seems contradictory. Yet it is true.

We can only start from where we are.

RITA O'CONNOR is a single, middle aged teacher living in Richmond Hill, Ontario. She is a staunch Roman Catholic and attends a United Church. She has been an assistant at L'Arche Daybreak and remains a friend of the community.

On The Journey Towards Acceptance

written by SUSAN M. S. BROWN

Perhaps the piece of advice I remember most often is "Start where you are." I first really heard it in reference to the spiritual journey, but it's pretty good advice for most any intention in life. It seems so commonsense, so obvious, that it could almost go without saying. But at a deeper level, its simplicity is not so easy. And that's where acceptance comes in. In order to start where I am, I have to accept where I am-give up my delusions and pretensions about how far I am along the path.

Whatever my resolve-learning a new piece of music, cultivating a more focused prayer life, taking more care in my thoughts and speech-when I start the journey, I'll be taking baby steps or, more likely, going one step forward and two steps back. And I will get to start over, and over, and over again. In fact, the process will be as much about coming back to openhearted acceptance as it will about "progressing" toward my intention.

The opportunity is to accept compassionately my failings and successes and -- through that experience of my own intertwined aspirations and imperfections -- to accept compassionately the failings and successes of others as well.

SUSAN M. S. BROWN is an Episcopalian laywoman and a freelance editor who lives near Boston, Massachusetts.

We Can

You can do what I can't do. I can do what you can't do.
Together we can do something beautiful for God.

--Blessed Mother Teresa

The Present

The present is the only moment that is truly ours, and we ought to make use of it.

-- Blais Pascal

Living University

What we really need to learn is how to live life. Nature is the greatest university when we want to learn about balance, harmony, the Natural Laws and how to live life. But we will never learn unless we spend time in the "living university." Nature is full of examples, lessons, and exercises about life. Nature will help humans learn. Nature will help humans heal. Nature will help with Medicine, knowledge and healing. The reason our Elders are so wise is because they have attended the right educational system - nature's university.

Creator, help me to become wise.

Emptiness and Fullness

Emptiness and fullness at first seem complete opposites. But in the spiritual life they are not. In the spiritual life we find the fulfillment of our deepest desires by becoming empty for God.

We must empty the cups of our lives completely to be able to receive the fullness of life from God.

-- Henri Nouwen

Hope

Hope sees the invisible,
feels the intangible,
and achieves the impossible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~


H O P E = Heart Open; Please Enter.

Undressing Hillary

“Boston Legal” is one of my favorite TV show because of how the strip down today sensitive topics. I especially love the closing balcony scenes. So does the press apparently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From The Washington Times’ “Inside The Beltway”

Undressing Hillary

Only two episodes after "Boston Legal" TV-character lawyer Denny Crane (played by William Shatner) proclaimed "I puke" if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton becomes president, the popular TV series this week attacked the New York Democrat even more harshly, further eroding whatever romance remains between Hollywood and the former first lady.

"Why are relationships with women so much more complicated?" fellow lawyer Alan Shore (James Spader) asks Mr. Crane.

"Come on, Alan. Women have this hormone thing. As much as I love them, they are unstable, which is why they can never be president."

"You don't think a woman should ever be president."

"Oh, come on. Do you? In time of war? How would a woman handle a 9/11? She'd cry."

"You think Hillary Clinton would have cried."

"Well, maybe not Hillary. But she has a few chromosome issues, let's face it."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you ever look at her at times and think, 'That's a guy!'?"

"No, I find her sexy in a praying mantis, and a knee-length skirt kind of way."

"Do you ever mentally undress her?"

"I was talking about my relationship issues. How did we get to mentally undressing Hillary Clinton -- and so quickly I might add?"

"Because it's all related. I want to tell you something here and now about women and relationships. We would never be in Guantanamo if it weren't for Hillary Clinton."

"I know the reason is obvious, but give it to me just the same."

"Bill Clinton would never had lied in the deposition, he wouldn't have risked impeachment. So what if the sexual indiscretion came to light? The public would have forgiven him. But Hillary! The reason he lied is because he was afraid Hillary would find out. That's why he was impeached, that's why Al Gore didn't win. And after all that impeachment scandal crap, the public would have elected any fool other than a Democrat. Cut to . . . "

"The George W."

"All because of a woman scorned."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yep, Hillary's out

"I might vote for him, you know."

"Obama?"

" 'Anybody in America can grow up to be president!' That's what I say. Except Hillary! She wins, I puke."

"Barack Obama."

"Ah. Handsome. Great photo op. But I don't know what he stands for. Be a perfect president. He speaks perfect white, as well as black. You never heard me say that."

"What about McCain?"

"He speaks Bush now. Can't win."

"Obama is against the war now, you know."

"So am I. It's boring. I'm ready for a new war. Time to blow up Iran. They got Saddam. Now we gotta get, uh, ... And that nut job in North Korea, they both gotta go."

-- Conversation between TV-character lawyers Denny Crane (played by William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader) of "Boston Legal" (Season 3, Episode 20, "Guise 'n Dolls"), written by Sanford Goldon, Karen Wyscarver and David E. Kelley.

Today's Jargon

2-Liter Bottle:
The opposite of six-pack abs. It is more commonly known among middle-aged men as a beer gut.

Age Fraud:
The misrepresentation of one's age, particularly as a way of gaining an unfair advantage in a sports competition. Also: age-fraud.

Beer Googles:
Searching the internett while intoxicated.

Climate Porn:
Extreme or alarmist language or images used to describe the current or future effects of man-made climate change. Also: climate pornography.

Ecosexual:
A single, environmentally conscious person with a strong aesthetic sense. Also: eco-sexual — ecosexuality. Good looks, a sense of humour, education and high income count for zilch these days if you don't eat organic, wear organic and recycle.

Fake Bake:
The brand name for a sunless tanning solution that comes in lotion, spray, mousse and lip gloss (no kidding). In its lower case form, it’s also another name for indoor tanning salons.

Fauxtography:
The practice of creating faked photographs, usually by manipulating the images with software.

Food Miles:
The distance that a food item travels from its source to the consumer. Also: food mile.

Giggle Test:
A symbolic test used to determine whether something is legitimate or serious.

Glass Cliff:
A senior job or important project, particularly one given to a woman, with a high risk of failure (cf. glass ceiling).

Goldilocks Planet:
A planet that can support life because it is neither too hot nor too cold, too big nor too small, too near its star nor too far – one whose size, temperature and composition are all just right for life.

Hummer House:
A huge and architecturally inappropriate house built in an existing neighborhood destroying the aesthetic integrity of said neighborhood.

Jet Blued:
To spend more time sitting on the runway than in the air. "I got Jet Blued this weekend."

Male Answer Syndrome:
The tendency for some men to answer a question even when they don't know the answer. Also: MAS.

Password Fatigue:
Mental exhaustion and frustration caused by having to remember a large number of passwords.

Payroll Orphan:
Someone who has lost his or her job.

Shoot Ahead Of The Duck:
Think ahead. Plan. You have to aim where you think the duck will be, not where it is when you pull the trigger.

Silver Industry:
The business sector that focuses on products and services for seniors.

Slabs Of Meet:
A cluster of big, wannabe athletes that gather around giant plasma TVs to watch sporting events, such as the Super Bowl, etc. In honor of the "slabs of meet" (meat) typo in the definition of "mancation."

Toothpick Rule:
As part of the sweeping ethics reforms approved on Capitol Hill in 2007, in theory, the law bars lawmakers and their staffs from accepting any meals from lobbyists that can't be picked up with a toothpick. Hors d'oeuvres are OK, obviously. Just don't pick your tongue. (Lobbists are already looking for a strong toothpick.)

Urban Lumberjack:
A logger who works in an urban environment collecting and selling wood retrieved from demolished buildings or downed trees.

Drinking the Cup

After firmly holding the cups of our lives and lifting them up as signs of hope for others, we have to drink them. Drinking our cups means fully appropriating and interiorizing what each of has acknowledged as our life, with all its unique sorrows and joys.

How do we drink our cups? We drink them as we listen in silence to the truth of our lives, as we speak in trust with friends about ways we want to grow, and as we act in deeds of service. Drinking our cups is following freely and courageously God's call and staying faithfully on the path that is ours. Thus our life cups become the cups of salvation. When we have emptied them to the bottom, God will fill them with "water" for eternal life.

-- Henri Nouwen

See A World . . .

To see a world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower,

hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

-- William Blake

Surrender

We surrender to win;

we give away to keep;

we suffer to get well;

we die to live.

Enjoy Your Work

Choose Your Attitude.
You have a choice about the way you do your work,
even if you do not have a choice about the work you do.

Play.
Have fun while you work.

Make Their Day.
Involve your customers in the games you are playing.
Make their day fun!

Be There.
Be present by focusing your attention and energy on each other and your customers.

Best Government Ever

From The Dilbert Blog by Scott Adam

Best Government Ever

When I try to imagine an ideal government, it looks a lot like the government of Taiwan. First, they’re democratic. That’s a good start. But the best part is that they have Jerry Springer-like fights in parliament on a regular basis. In today’s news, yet another brawl broke out in the Taiwanese parliament. This time it was over a budget bill.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18548294/?GT1=9951

Seriously, how cool is that?

Apparently this sort of thing happens all the time in Taiwan. A legislator objects to a parliamentary procedure and the next thing you know, the Minister of Shellfish is bitch-slapping him. A moment later, the air is filled with shoes, lunchboxes, and microphones. Can you imagine CSPAN’s ratings if we followed that model in America? I don’t think you’d be able to pry yourself away from the TV long enough to take a dump. You’d just sit there all day long with an adult diaper waiting for someone to sucker punch Teddy Kennedy.

Pause to consider how much you would pay to see Nancy Pelosi kick Dick Cheney in the nuts on national television. I’ll bet it’s a big number. Imagine that after she delivers the kick, Trent Lott flings a wing tipped shoe at the back of her head and knocks her off the dais. Now how much would you pay? Personally, I’m in triple digits already and the imaginary brawl has barely started. Can it get any better?

Yes, it can. Imagine that voters start preferring candidates who have kung fu skills. It makes sense, because if you are from Rhode Island, for example, you don’t want to watch your tiny congressman get his ass kicked over a highway bill. So you’d vote for a candidate who can take a punch and still hand out some pain.

Now imagine it’s the State of the Union Address and everyone but the secretary of dryer lint is in attendance. All hell breaks loose. There’s punching and kicking and kung fu levitating. Tell me you wouldn’t be interested in politics then.

I think we’d all agree that democracy is a better form of government than a dictatorship. But democracy plus punching is the best government of all.

Made in the USA: Spoiled brats

By Craig R. Smith
11.20.2006

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right? The same magazine that employs Michael (Qurans in the toilets at Gitmo) Isikoff. Here I promised myself this week I would be nice and I start off in this way. Oh what a mean man I am.

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I starting thinking, ''What we are so unhappy about?''

Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all involved. Whether you are rich or poor they treat your wounds and even, if necessary, send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home, you may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of having a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes; an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells. Just ask why they are going to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book and do a TV special about how he didn't kill his wife but if he did … insane!

Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:

''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''

I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.

Craig R. Smith is an author, commentator and popular media guest because he instantly engages audiences with his common-sense analyses of local, national and global trends. Serving as CEO of Swiss America for nearly 25 years, Craig understands that Americans want solid answers to the tough questions and that real leadership begins with servanthood. Craig's most recent book is "Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil."

Solitude

Meditation means trusting the silence around me for a while, as if it were an answer I had long sought.

A Sacred Center

In the center of the circle is where the powers reside. These powers are called love, principle, justice, spiritual knowledge, life, forgiveness and truth. All these powers reside in the very center of the human being.

We access these powers by being still, quieting the mind.

If we get confused, emotionally upset, feel resentment, anger, or fear, the best thing we can do is pray to the Creator and ask Him to remove the anger and resentment. By asking Him to remove these obstacles, we are automatically positioned in the sacred center.

Only in this way do we know right from wrong.

Creator, allow me this day to live in the sacred center.

What Is Life?

What is life?
It is the flash of a firefly in the night.
It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime.
It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset.

‑ Crowfoot, a leader of the Blackfoot nation

Happy Birthday!

A year older and mayber a little wiser.

Old enough to know better but still young enough at heart to be carefree and wild.

Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional, growing spiritually is up to me.

Thought To Ponder . . .

Prayer asks the question. Meditation listens for the answer.

The Temptation to Hoard

As fearful people we are inclined to develop a mind-set that makes us say: "There's not enough food for everyone, so I better be sure I save enough for myself in case of emergency," or "There's not enough knowledge for everyone to enjoy; so I'd better keep my knowledge to myself, so no one else will use it" or "There's not enough love to give to everybody, so I'd better keep my friends for myself to prevent others from taking them away from me."

This is a scarcity mentality. It involves hoarding whatever we have, fearful that we won't have enough to survive.

The tragedy, however, is that what you cling to ends up rotting in your hands. – Henri Nouwen

The Coal Basket And The Bible

The story is told of an old man who lived on a farm in the mountains of Kentucky with his young grandson. Each morning, Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading from his old worn-out Bible.

His grandson who wanted to be just like him tried to imitate him in any way he could. One day the grandson asked, "Papa, I try to read the Bible just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bible do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and said, "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, even though all the water leaked out before he could get back to the house.

The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was "impossible to carry water in a basket," and he went to get a bucket instead.

The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You can do this. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak out before he got far at all. The boy scooped the water and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.

Out of breath, he said, "See Papa, it's useless!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket looked different. Instead of a dirty old coal basket, it was clean.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bible. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, it will change you from the inside out. That is the work of God in our lives. To change us from the inside out and to slowly transform us into the image of His son."

Dawn's Secrets

The breezes at dawn have secrets to tell you. Don't go back to sleep.

- Jalaluddin Rumi

Do I hear the whisper of the wind today? Or do I close my mind and my soul to it?

Some days the best I can do is just try to listen for the secrets of life that a breezes carries. On other days, I embrace the message being carried by the wind.

Listening is something I must work at each day in many situations. I must first listen to learn.

For me it is simply - stay spiritually fit and be willing to embrace the opportunities, good or bad, that my Higher Power gives me each new day.

Each day begins with my first step towards pleasing the God of my understanding and my contact with Him throughout the day.

St. Paul tells us that faith comes from listening. God has things to tell us which will enlighten us—we must wait for him to speak. The Lord hears us more readily than we suspect; it is our listening to him that needs to be improved. - From Mornings With Fulton Sheen: 120 Holy Hour Readings

Privilege

The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

Peace For All

Excerpts from Manificat for May 8, 2007

Jesus shows us the way to true peace: obedience to the Father's will rather than to the clamor of self-interest. In living as he lived, we not only live in peace ourselves, we also make a place of peace for all those around us.

God is not the God of disorder but of peace.
(cf. 1 Cor 14.33)

God of peace, make peace among those at war;
God of justice, make right what we have made wrong;
God of goodness, make holy what we have turned to our own selfish ends.

It is a cool spring morning in South Carolina as I start the day. Today, I can carry peace in my heart instead of the darkness of hate, anger and resentment. I can accept peace in my life and share it with those I met along of the road of life. I can trudge the Road of Happiness now.

The Flour Sack

BY COLLEEN B. HUBERT

In that long ago time when things were saved,
when roads were graveled and barrels were staved,
when worn-out clothing was used as rags,
and there were no plastic wrap or bags,
and the well and the pump were way out back,
a versitile item, was the flour sack.

Pillsbury's Best, Mother's and Gold Medal, too
stamped their names proudly in purple and blue
the string sewn on top was pulled and kept;
the flour emptied and spills were swept.
The bag was folded and stored in a sack
that durable, practical flour sack.

The sack could be filled with feather and down,
for a pillow, or t'would make a sleeping gown.
It could carry a book and be a school bag,
or become a mail sack slung over a nag.
It made a very convenient pack,
that adaptable, cotton flour sack.

Bleached and sewn, it was dutifully worn
as bibs, diapers, or kerchief adorned.
It was made into skirts, blouses and slips
and mom braided rugs from one hundred strips.
She made ruffled curtains for the house or shack,
from that humble but treasured flour sack!

As a strainer for milk or apple juice,
to wave men in, it was a very good use,
as a sling for a sprained wrist or a break,
to help mother roll up a jelly cake,
as a window shade or to stuff a crack,
we used a sturdy, commom flour sack!

As dish towels, embroidered or not,
they covered up dough, helped pass pans so hot,
tied up dishes for neighbors in need,
and for men out in the field to seed.

They dried dishes from pan, not rack
that absorbent, handy flour sack!

We polished and cleaned stove and table,
scoured and scrubbed from cellar to gable,
we dusted the bureau and oak bed post,
made costumes for October (a scary ghost)
and a parachute for a cat named jack.
From that lowly, useful old flour sack!

So now my friends, when they ask you
as curious youngsters often do,
"Before plastic wrap, Elmers glue
and paper towels, what did you do?"

Tell them loudly and with pride don't lack,
"Grandmother had that wonderful flour sack!"

We Must All Become Caretakers Of The Earth

Mother Earth is the source of all life.
We should not only be concerned about the part of the Earth we live on, but we should be concerned about the parts of the Earth that other people live on.
The Earth is one great whole.
The trees in Brazil generate the air in the United States.
If the trees are cut in Brazil, it affects the air that all people breathe.
Every person needs to conscientiously think about how they respect the Earth.
Do we dump our garbage out of the car?
Do we poison the water? Do we poison the air?
Am I taking on the responsibility of being a caretaker of the Earth?

Creator, today, I will be aware of the Earth.
I will be responsible.

Keeping Life Managable

Each morning sees some task begin.
Each evening sees it done.
Something attempted, something done.

‑ Longfellow

Every day for us is a period of spiritual growth.
Restful sleep prepares us for fruitful days.
As each day begins, a new adventure in growth lies ahead.
We seek strength and an attitude of making our lives more meaningful and positive through prayer and meditation at the start of each new day during our quiet time.
We prepare ourselves emotionally for the busy hours ahead.
With positive action planned ahead, we arise to a day dedicated to accomplishment.
We know we have little time for standing and idly staring.
We accept new challenges as we carry out each day's plans.
We encourage those around us to join us in seeking to see the best in everything that makes up our daily lives.

Restful sleep, meditation, planning, and turning it over starts my day with a quiet time and keeps it manageable.

Seeing the Miracle of Multiplication

The opposite of a scarcity mentality is an abundancy mentality.
With an abundancy mentality we say: "There is enough for everyone, more than enough: food, knowledge, love ... everything."
With this mind-set we give away whatever we have, to whomever we meet.
When we see hungry people we give them food.
When we meet ignorant people we share our knowledge; when we encounter people in need of love, we offer them friendship and affection and hospitality and introduce them to our family and friends.
When we live with this mind-set, we will see the miracle that what we give away multiplies: food, knowledge, love ... everything.
There will even be many leftovers.

‑ Henri Nouwen

Energy of Joy

Even if you have a lot of work to do, if you think of it as wonderful, and if you feel it as wonderful, it will transform into the energy of joy and fire, instead of becoming a burden.

‑ Tulku Thondup Rinpoche

Rule No. 62

Do not take my life or myself too damn seriously.

God's Generosity

God is a god of abundance, not a god of scarcity.
Jesus reveals to us God's abundance when he offers so much bread to the people that there are twelve large baskets with leftover scraps (see John 6:5-15), and when he makes his disciples catch so many fish that their boat nearly sinks (Luke 5:1-7).
God doesn't give us just enough.
God gives us more than enough: more bread and fish than we can eat, more love than we dared to ask for.
God is a generous giver, but we can only see and enjoy God's generosity when we love God with all of our hearts, minds, and strength.
As long as we say, "I will love you, God, but first show me your generosity," we will remain distant from God and unable to experience what God truly wants to give us, which is life and life in abundance.

-- Henri Nouwen

Disappointments = Expectations

My disappointments are equal to my expectations.

My Corner Of The Universe

There is only one corner of the universe I can be certain of improving, and that's my own self.