Love

    Regardless of where a person is located or when in history you may look, mankind has always had an inner need to worship.  The form of worship may be very elaborate or it may be simple.  Nevertheless, the inner spirit of mankind has this need to look beyond himself for guidance and direction.  It is interesting to see that within the major components of formalized religion today there are many differences.  However, there seems to be some basic similarities also.

     Hinduism makes up 14 percent of the world’s population today.  Within its teachings is the following: “The one who loves all intensely begins perceiving in all living beings a part of himself.  He becomes a lover of all, a part and parcel of the universal Joy.  He flows with the stream of happiness, and is enriched by each soul.”

     According to Radhanath Swami: ”When there is love in our heart, only love will come out.”  It is impossible to be a selfish person and truly display a heart full of love.  We are unable to love others when we are only concerned about our own interests.

    Let’s also consider that 24 percent of the world’s population is of the Islam faith.   Most of our knowledge today concerning Islam is presented to us through the reporting of acts of horror that are committed by Muslim terrorists. 

     However, at the heart of Muslim belief is the principal of tawhid or oneness.  This oneness, or unity, has been described as that which dominates the mind in Islam, while the heart is intrinsically linked to the concept of compassion.  “My Mercy encompasses all things” (Qur’an7:156) (www.wccm.org/content/love-and-compassion-islam ) “The Qur’an frequently speaks of God’s plan for diversity, and the goodness of difference as part of this plan.  “O mankind, We have indeed created you as male and female, and made you as nations and tribes that you may come to know one another.” (49:13)

     Within the worlds’ population today some 29 percent claim to be Christians.  By acceptance of the nomenclature a person claiming to be Christian is stating to the world that he or she follows the life pattern set by the Christ, the Son of the living God.

     In the Scriptures themselves we are told at 1 John 4:8 that “God is love.”  Although there are several different words used in the original languages that the bible was written in the one of greatest importance for Christians is agape’.  This word relates to “principal love.”  At times it has been described as “loving the unlovable.”

     This quality of love is such a remarkable aspect of the individual who has chosen to change his life and follow the pattern that was set by Jesus that on one occasion Jesus himself said: “By this all will know you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35)

     However, was Jesus saying that you should only have love for those who like yourself have changed their life to a Christian way of living?  No!  According to Luke 6:32 (New King James Version) Jesus said: “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.”   Jesus went even further with this need for compassion and love stating: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt 5:44)

     If some two-thirds of the world’s population promotes the teachings of love, why is there so much hatred in the world today?  Why do humans not get along with one another and live in peace?  The answer is plainly explained to us within the Scriptures: “- - - the whole world lies in the power of the wicked one.” (1 John 5:19)

     With Satan controlling the world scene and using his demons to instigate the hatred and confusion among mankind and with the very inclination of mankind itself being one that easily leans toward hatred and harm it is easy to see why it is so difficult for individuals to stay on a course that is proper and correct in the eyes of God.

     The apostle Paul himself acknowledged this by saying: “I find, then, this law in my case: When I wish to do what is right, what is bad is present with me.” (Romans7:21 NWT). It is only with the strength and “power beyond what is normal” that is provided by God that we may be able to overcome this sinful tendency that is within us.

     Although we are only human, it is possible to be victorious.  Jesus himself said: “- - - In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 NWT)

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"The solution to all problems is love."

Brotherhood

    Today with all the riots that are going on around the world it would be hard for a person to say that humankind is united within a global brotherhood. Just the opposite would be very easy to confirm with the “evidence” we see around us.  Mankind in one group or another is always finding some “measure” to insinuate that one group is “better” or “superior” to the other. 

     Throughout history however individuals have tried to show that we are the same.  No one is superior to another or better when we look below the surface.  We should not look at our differences as reasons to hate and despise.  We should see these variations of diversity as a means of enriching our lives.

     Mahnaz Afkhami (Founder and President of Women’s Learning Partnership [WLP], the Executive Director of the Foundation for Iranian Studies, and the former Minister of Women’s Affairs in Iran’s pre-revolution government stated:  “We have the ability to achieve, if we master the necessary goodwill, a common global society blessed with a shared culture of peace that is nourished by the ethnic, national and local diversities that enrich our lives.”

     This idea was simply stated by Kofi Annan: “We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.”  Mr. Annan was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006.  He was the co-recipient of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize.  He was the founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation, as well as chairman of The Elders, an international organization founded by Nelson Mandela.  

     It seems that too often individuals will make bold and inspirational statements that in actuality have very little effect upon those who may hear them.  This truth was expressed by the statement made by Faith Baldwin (American author of romance and fiction, often concentrating on women characters juggling career and family.)  “You cannot contribute anything to the ideal condition of mind and heart known as Brotherhood, however much you preach, posture, or agree, unless you live it.” 

     There are those who have had the advantage of viewing this world of humankind from a different perspective than most of us will ever have.  Frank Borman is a retired United States Air Force colonel, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, businessman, rancher, and NASA astronaut.  He was the commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, and together with crewmates Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, became the first of 24 humans to do so.

    From his unique viewpoint he made this comment: “When you’re finally up on the moon, looking back at the earth, all these differences and nationalistic traits are pretty well going to blend and you’re going to get a concept that maybe this is really one world and why the hell can’t we learn to live together like decent people?”

     The same conclusion was reached by Pablo Casals (Spanish cellist, composer, and conductor): “We ought to think that we are one of the leaves of a tree, and the tree is all humanity.  We cannot live without the others, without the tree.”

     This concept is widely held by many and shows that our mental resolve should be to develop it more fully.  The Dalai Lama put it in these terms: “Internal peace is an essential first step to achieving peace in the world.  How do you cultivate it?  It’s very simple.  In the first place by realizing clearly that all mankind is one, that human beings in every country are members of one and the same family.”

     We cannot try to isolate ourselves from others thinking that we are somehow exempt from our actions and thoughts regarding their effects upon others around us.  We must appreciate that all of us face the same difficulties of life on a day-to-day basis.

     Dorothy Height, an American civil rights and women’s rights activist, put it plainly with these words: “We cannot afford to be separate - - - We have to see that all of us are in the same boat.”

     The American Christian minister and activist Martin Luther King, Jr stated: “I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions.  This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream - - - a dream yet unfulfilled.  A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man’s skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality.”  He added on another occasion: “We must learn to live together as brothers, or we are going to perish together as fools.”

    We must learn these things from an early age.  The true beauty of our existence is our diversity.  The hand is different from the foot.  The eye is different from the ear.  The nose is different from the mouth.  Yet which of us would even want to consider that any of these body parts are not needed, yes they are essential, for us to have a compete and enjoyable life?  Diversity is what makes us unique as humans.  It should be the fabric that draws us ever closer together, not the fuel that burns hatred and spite and pushes us farther apart.  The sadness lies in the fact that what should be uniting us within our global brotherhood is the very thing that pulls us apart, because we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"- - - and all of you are brothers."

[Matt. 23:8]

Imagine

    Some forty-nine years ago in his humble Tittenhurst Park estate in England singer song writer, John Lennon composed the song “Imagine” in one sitting.  He was later joined by several other musicians to release the song in October, 1971.  Although at the time John took soul responsibility for the production of the song, he later admitted that much credit should go to his wife, Yoko Ono, who had written a poem several years earlier upon which the song was based.

     According to biography (https://www.biography.com/news/john-lennon-imagine-song-facts ) “The impact of the song is unquestionable.  But disguised within its message of peace and love and its flowing piano melody is a collection of edgy, “dangerous” ideas that challenge society as we know it.  The song that has become an anthem all over the world is actually full of controversial lyrics and radical ideas.”

     Paul McCartney, former Beatle companion of the late John Lennon and who was known for being less than generous about Lennon’s early solo career, admitted that from the first time he heard the song he knew it was “a killer.”

     Former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, said:  “. . . in many countries around the world --- my wife and I have visited about 125 countries --- you hear John Lennon’s song “Imagine” used almost equally with national anthems.”

     This would almost seem ironic since within the lyrics of the song are found the words: “Imagine there’s no countries/ It isn’t hard to do / Nothing to kill or die for . . . “Continuing it’s almost rebellious insinuations: “Imagine there’s no heaven . . . Imagine there’s no countries . . . Imagine no possessions . . . And no religion, too.”  It is almost humorous that at one time the World Church approached Lennon asking if they could use his song but change the lyrics to say “one religion” instead of “no religion.”  Lennon said no.

     The feelings of peace, hope, and acceptance seem to permeate throughout the song.  Yet the suggestive idea that all things that have been currently connected with the prosperous means of life should be abandoned.  That all organized functions of human society are things that should be abolished and accepted as unnecessary by humankind.

     If you pause for a moment and think seriously, are not the things that differentiate individuals from each other the very things that have been artificially put into place by human society from the beginning?

     When God first created the human race (Adam and Eve) there was only one religion.  There was no distinction between humans.  They shared all that God had provided for them.  There was no one greater or lesser than the other.  Eve was not created as a slave to Adam, but as a compliment to him.  An assistant wherein the two of them could work together to further the purpose of God’s creation.

     As mankind grew in numbers on the face of the earth, it was shown that due to their imperfections, they now wanted prominence over other humans.  Cities were formed.  Kingdoms were established.  All these things in opposition to God’s purpose for humankind.

     Humanity grew more violent until it reached a point where God determined to wipe them out by means of a global flood.  This He did.  Preserving only Noah and his family. 

     Today’s world has become “as it was in the days of Noah.”  Our Creator looks upon the human race and sees the hatred, violence, and corruption as it existed in that distant past.  He once again sees a need to remove the majority of mankind from the beautiful planet that he created as our home.  And according to his time table it will be done.

     I once again think of the simplistic words of that song written by John Lennon decades ago: a song that continues to inspire people of all races and creeds, offering the one listening to it a momentary glimmer of hope in a troubled world, especially in the beautiful lines:

     “You may say I’m a dreamer

     But I’m not the only one

     I hope some day you’ll join us

     And the world will be as one.”

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Disorder is the lack of unity

and the absence of God."

After the Move

     Over the weekend my wife and I got moved into our new house.  The location is marvelous and the quiet is unbelievable.  It only took our helpers about three hours and they had everything moved.

     Now comes the hard part.  Getting all the boxes emptied and trying to find out where we have put all our “little items.”  These are the things that are going to take us weeks to get sorted out and adjusted to get our lives back into some type of “working” order.

     How were we ever able to function in our lives without all the little notes, tables, files, and other documents that we use on a day-to-day basis?  I sit in my office chair and now I’m trying to imagine how to put things into place so I can function around my computer.

     I look at things that are not now within arms-reach.  How am I going to operate with those files now on my left when they used to be on my right?  There are actually some items that I am going to have to get up out of my chair and get off the bookshelf instead of having them there in my desk file drawer!

     In only three days I’ve noticed that my computer is now 8.5 inches further away from my reach than it was before.  I don’t think I’m gong to be able to get the copies out of the tray without straining my back in the reach.

    I’ve also realized that there is a “slight” slope in the floor where my desk chair is located.  If I don’t get it positioned exactly right, I slowly begin to drift toward the center of the room.  How am I going to get my processing done during a day’s work?  I’ll been spending most of my time repositioning my chair so I can function!

     Within all this confusion I have also had to “down-size” again!  It is almost unthinkable trying to sit in your seat and make a decision: “Do I keep this or throw it away?”  I just know that what I throw today is the ONE item I will need tomorrow.  My wife says I’m beginning to display a tendency of being a hoarder!  I don’t think of myself that way, but I can see some of the anxiety building when I have to make that final decision on each specific item.

     I know in the end I will get it all figured out and my office routine will be back in “ship-shape” order and I will be once again churning out the blogs, reports, and other necessary items as I was in the past.  However, until that time I feel, in some cases, like I have had to cut off part of my arm as I attempt to find and return to “normalcy” my office routine.  That’s when my wife tells me she is having many of the same problems as she deals with other household items that have been moved.  It just goes to show regardless of who we are: we’re only human!    

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

       

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"My life is presently 

organized chaos."

The Whole Picture

     Many times, within our lives, we have to make decisions about people, about circumstances, and even perhaps about ourselves!  What will help us to do the best we can under those situations?  The thing to keep upmost in mind is:  To get the whole picture!

     What do I mean by that?  It’s really very simple.  For us to get the most accurate and best effective solution to our problem we must be able to see the entire “picture” of what is truly going on.

     We might relate it to some type of physical ailment and having to make a trip to the doctor’s office.  When we finally get in to see the doctor (I know that almost seems like it takes forever) what is usually the FIRST thing that we are asked?  “How are you doing?”  Or maybe “What is the problem today?”  You would think that after making an appointment, showing up at the office, and then waiting until our scheduled appointment time has come and gone, the doctor would know that we must have a medical problems or why else would we be there spending all our precious time just to see them!

     Then when we have started to explain our concern for making this visit the doctor starts throwing all those other questions at us:  When did this start happening?  How long have you had this pain?  What have you taken for it, if anything?  Has this happened before?  And many other questions that may make us wonder why he or she needs to know all this information?

     The reason?  The doctor wants to get a complete picture of what our current medical condition is and perhaps what has changed and hopefully why it has changed.

     We should attempt to do the same when we need to analyze a specific situation or circumstance.  Often however if we were completely honest, we don’t know all the things that might be involved in or what may be surrounding the circumstances that we are having to face.  If may be that we will never know all that is involved with certain events.  This is especially true when WE are trying to make deductions or summations about the circumstances of other people.

     WHY are they acting that way?  THAT was a very foolish decision to make?  We do not know exactly what another person is dealing with.  We might have had similar circumstances but the situation will not be exactly like the one we went through.  Our decision may have been made on the “pieces of the puzzle” that we had available.  There available knowledge or information may have been different.

     Some situations may have us so confused that we are like the dilemma facing the former crew of the USS Enterprise in the 1986 movie “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.”  After stealing a starship, they ventured back to earth in the attempts to learn what alien force was disabling global power on the planet and evaporating the oceans.

     When confronted with the situation Spock’s father made this simple but very powerful statement concerning the “message” from the space probe: “It is difficult to respond with an answer when one does not understand the question.”

     As this may be so true about many situations it still doesn’t prevent us as humans from wanting to play “armchair quarterbacks” during football games or trying to provide OUR solutions to others problems.  But then again, we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"At times the problem is not solving the puzzle.
It's deciding which pieces to use first."

The Post

  

    I stare at the blank screen on my computer and start to wonder what words will come into my head this day.  Perhaps words that will produce a smile upon the face of my reader.  Perhaps it will be words that will bring sadness to their faces and give them reason for serious thought as a single lone tear drop falls from their eyes upon their cheek. Maybe, just maybe, they will wrap themselves within the words of my blog and become totally unaware of the world as it continues to speed past them.

     Or maybe it will be words that will carry them away to some fanciful place that they had never dreamed about before.  Some magical place that will provide them a few moments of relief from the current agonies that they are facing.  Maybe even motivating them to make their lives better?

     Words can be used to lift the spirit of the down-hearten or stir the soul to the march of some world changing crusade.  It is almost unbelievable as to the power of words and how they can effect people so differently.  So, I sit in front of my computer screen and wonder what will be the words that I will use today to transform the life of one of my readers?

     Maybe it will be the words that will make them think seriously about their present circumstances and give them the resolve to change the way things are currently affecting their lives.  It might be the opportunity for them to reflect upon what they have done in the past and how they may be able to resolve never to do those things again.

     It might only be words that will provide a subject for them to debate with their friends to think “What is my opinion on this matter?”  We might never know the effect that our words will have on another person.  We can understand why choosing our words very carefully is so important before we speak.

     In real life we are not like cartoon characters who have their words come out in “little bubbles” above their heads.  If those “characters” are allowed to speak the wrong words all the cartoonist has to do is erase the words from the bubble and begin anew.  It is not that way for us!  Once our words come out of our mouths they cannot be “erased” and redone.  We do not have a “reset” button upon the words falling from our mouths.

     Others may forgive us for what we have said but the truth is that those words spoken or written in haste may haunt someone for years, perhaps even for the rest of their lives!  It was once written "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."  That saying is not always true.  We shouldn't let the words of others dictate who we are in life; however, some words are very painful and certainly can produce a long-lasting trauma within us. 

     I think you can understand why choosing the precise words that will become part of my blog post must be done very carefully.  So, I sit in front of my computer screen and let my thoughts meander through the cobwebs of my mind in hopes of finding the correct words to put into the blog post that I am working on for today.

     Who knows?  Maybe I will have figured out the words I need to use before it is time to post the blog.  Maybe I won’t!  Now that I notice it, the blank screen in front of me is now full of words.  Words that I hope will make sense to those who are reading them.  But I am like all of you:  We’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"The pen is mightier than the sword
only because of the power of the words
they write!"

Planning

    It doesn’t matter what activity we may be involved in the beginning stages must evolve around planning.  Now depending upon the complexity of our “project” the planning stage may only consists of a few thoughts within our minds so that we have an idea of the order and arrangement of steps that must be taken to get the task accomplished.

     For example, when we get up in the morning, we may have to give a few minutes thought to what we are going to wear.  This task may be further simplified by actually doing the “planning” the night before and having all our garments arranged so that the early morning activity of having to “think” may be minimized.

     Obviously if we were beginning the process of creating a sub-division for a city lay-out the planning steps would be certainly more involved and more consideration would have to be given to different aspects of such a project.  The actually planning may involve dividing the various tasks into sub-tasks and assigning others to care for the various components of the over-all project.  Many details would need to be in writing and probably have the approval of various other individuals before the project could even get started.

     I think most of us would find that the projects we have to undertake would fall somewhere between the two examples I gave with the majority leaning toward the lower side of that scale.

     Sometimes the problems lie within us as we reach the conclusion that the task is simply too large and overwhelming for us to tackle.  When this happens what we really need to do is “step back” from the LARGE project and see how we can break it down into various smaller steps and then determine how each of those steps can be accomplished and how they fit into the overall completion of the project.

     As a very simple example of the task of building a house:  You would have the foundation, the walls, the roof, the plumbing, the electrical, and other components.  You would need to see how each of these were to be placed in getting the complete house built.  Obviously, you would not try to build the roof if you had not yet got the walls in place and so on.

     By “breaking down” the complete project into such various steps you will find that things can be accomplished with much less confusion and headaches.

     Even in such a project as moving from one house to another.  The initial thoughts are that this is going to overwhelming.  However, don’t look at the project as moving your house.  Look at moving only one room at a time.  Decide on those items that can be boxed and packed in such a way that they can be carried to you new location by means of your vehicle.  Then determine what items (larger furniture, etc.) that must be carried by movers.  Do this for each room and you will see how much easier the task becomes.  Of course, this type of project is going to depend on where you are moving to!  If this is becoming an out-of-town or out-of-state move you may have to leave everything up to the moving company.

     Our main concern in general is that we don’t want to feel we are no longer in control of the situation and when we become overwhelmed by the size of the tasks involved in a specific problem that is what usually happens. 

     However, no matter how much planning we do, we are never truly convenienced that we have done all that we could or that perhaps we could have done certain things in a different way.  But then again, we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Do all the planning you need to do,

but then get busy putting your plan into action."

Siblings

  

   “Each of two or more children or offspring having one or both parents in common, a brother or sister.”  That may sound like an awkward definition of your brother or sister but that’s the way it is stated in the dictionary.   I think we all have our own definitions to define our relationships with our brothers and sisters.  Some of them may not be very nice, but nevertheless, they define for us that relationship.  We may also realize that our definition may change over time.  Those who were the most annoying to us as we were growing up may now be the closest to us.

     We all have our own memories of experiences within our lives where that ONE brother or sister always made things very difficult for us.  Or, at least, that was our thoughts at the time.  We may remember things about our siblings that they don’t.  It is probably because to them it was “no big thing.”  To us, we might have felt that our life was coming to an end!

     There were times we would find fault with them, argue with them, fight with them, and do about anything else we can think of.  But let someone “outside” our family framework say something about them or do something to them and we would be right there to correct that situation as soon as we could!  It reminds me of the 1988 movie with Danny DeVito and Arnold  Schwarzenegger, “TWINS”.  The basis of the movie contrasts the streetwise Vincent (DeVito) with the intelligent but naïve Julius (Schwarzenegger).  In one scene where “the bad guys” are coming after Vincent, his “twin” Julius steps in and physically prevents this from happening.  Vincent steps in with the comment: “You mess with me you mess with my whole family!”  And that pretty well explains the sibling relationship.  It’s that old saying: “Blood is thicker than water.”

     As we grow, we tend to go in our separate ways.  Often, like our own children, our siblings may do things or choose a way of life that does not agree with our personal point of view.  However, they are still our sibling.  We love them for who they are and not necessarily for what they do.  We all make certain choices within our lives.  There are perhaps choices we have made that our siblings don’t like about us.  When it comes down to the “bottom line”:  You can pick your job, you can pick your location of residence, you can pick your friends, you can even pick your nose!  But you CAN’T pick your siblings!  That’s just the way it is.  Sometimes you simply play the hand that was dealt to you and do the best you can.  Besides We’re Only Human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"You can not be the sibling
of an only child."

Moving

    My wife and I had lived in our five-bedroom, two bath home for over twenty years and watched our children grow up and one by one move away.  The house was a split level and now was certainly too large for just the two of us.  So, we packed things up, sold many items, or gave things to the kids or to friends and moved into a two-bedroom, one bath apartment.  That was EIGHT years ago!  Now we are preparing to move again.

     Originally when we moved into our current apartment it was only going to be for one year until we made some adjustments and could decide exactly what we wanted to do.  But that decision time turned into those eight years and now here we are again packing up and getting ready to make a move.

     We are really looking forward to being in our new location.  The problem is THE MOVE!  It’s almost impossible to imagine how many additional things you collect within only eight years.  Going through the things you have and seeing things that you don’t even remember you own or kept.  And then you don’t know why you kept them?  Example:  My wife took a box out of my office closet and asked me if it was a “keeper” or could it be thrown away.  I asked her what it was?  She said “they are invoices from 1999.”  I thought “1999!” why did I even move them from the house during our original move?  They were thrown away (after shredding them).

     I think that’s the problem with moving.  You just have to get things packed away so you can carry them into your new location and unpack them!  We just hope that in the move things don’t get lost or misplaced.  Getting things back to their “normal” location so you can immediately begin to function again is always a big headache.  However, doing the move does give us another opportunity to thin things out and not continue to hang on to things that are really not necessary to have any longer.

     However, although I am going to fight the urge, and my wife says that she is also going to, moving does give you a chance to begin collecting new things that you will realize in a few years are things that you really didn’t need to have in the first place.

     I’m looking forward to the nice front yard that I can look at from the porch swing.  I’m thinking about getting a bird feeder and just sit there in the swing and watch the birds eat.  Maybe I should also add a bird bath?  Then before I know it another decade will have passed and multiple generations of birds would have enjoyed that feeder and bath.  I would have also gained much enjoyment from watching God’s creation and with some effort on my part perhaps I would have learned something that I can use in my own life.  Then again, maybe not:  We’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Moving cannot be done from a stationary position."

Gambler

    It seems that many people today have a propensity for gambling.  I’m not talking about those individuals who have the “disease” of gambling.  I’m speaking about your every day, ordinary human who would not even think of themselves as a gambler.  However, what is the basic definition of gambling? 

     We may think of the fist definition that comes to our minds: “to play games of chance for money or to bet on the outcome of certain situations.”  However, the term also has the meaning as to “take risky action in the hope of a desired results.”  Here is where many people, perhaps unknowingly, commit themselves to become the gambler!

     People simply have an obsession with gambling.  Las Vegas which at one time was the gambling capital of the world has now been eclipsed by Macau, China, where casinos with familiar names like MGM Grand, the Venetian, and Wynn pull in more money in 2 months than the casinos on the Strip of Las Vegas generate in a year!

     Yet there are now many other gambling opportunities within the United States that are beginning to dwarf the income of the Vegas strip.  Many States have riverboat casinos or Native American casinos as well as commercial casinos.  In many areas it has now become legal to have sports betting within States.  The desires for humans to gamble are continuing to become prolific wherever you look.

     What is truly unbelievable is that today amid the current pandemic every day, ordinary people are beginning to gamble with their lives!  Although many restrictions have been put into place with the hopes of “reopening” the various nations of the world for economic reasons, most people are not happy with these restrictions and have now begun to defy the requirements and take their lives into their own hands.  “Playing the odds” as it were with their lives and the lives of others!

     It is reaching the point where common sense no longer comes into play in the decisions that people are making.  If some were told they “cannot stand in the burning house”, they would reply: “A little heat doesn’t bother me.  I’m not effected by the smoke.  No one can tell me what to do with my life!”  These types of responses would make us want to believe that the person must have some type of mental illness to put themselves into such jeopardy.  Yet that is what many are desiring to do today!  And to add to that some are, in effect, saying: “You can come stand in the fire with me!”

     When it comes to the bottom line: We are a strange bunch of people!  But then again, we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Any risk of your life 

or the life of another 

is unacceptable!"

Success

    Just the mere mention of the word success brings thoughts to the minds of some of great sports figures, of powerful military leaders, or perhaps giant business tycoons!  Many have taken this view of the definition of the word success: “the attainment of popularity or profit.”  Or some have taken the view that success is “a person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains prosperity.”

     Success has been defined in many different ways by many different people.  One source trying to put the definition of success into simple words stated: “Being successful means the achievement of desired visions and planned goals.  Furthermore, success can be a certain social status that describes a prosperous person that could also have gained fame for its favorable outcome.”

     Another source put the definition this way: “Real success in life is achieving the goals that matter to you the most.  Based on the way your personality developed and the life experiences you have been through since you were born with the idea of certain things that will become important to you.”

     One of the greatest models in life (according to some sources), the late Coach John Wooden, defined success as follows: “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”  Success is an attitude.

     With all these possible descriptions of what success is how is a person to truly understand what real success is?  Ask yourself: “What can be worse than failure?”  The answer may surprise you but it is FALSE SUCCESS!  Think about it for a moment.  If you fail you can always take steps to correct the situation.  At the very least, you can learn from the experience and make a firm resolution to do better the next time.

     But false success is different.  If you fall under the influence of false success you may be thinking that you are winning when in reality you are losing.  By the time you see the need to make any changes, it may be too late!  What does this mean for you?

     In a survey in the United States several years ago “having a lot of money” came in 20^th in a list of 22 “contributors to having a successful life.”  What did people consider to be more important in being successful?  Closer to the top of the list were such things as good health, good relationships, and a job that they love.

     Clearly at that time many people could distinguish between false success and true success – at least when they were asked.  The problem becomes more challenging when people are to make decisions that reflect the proper view of success within their daily lives.  That’s where the peer pressure and influence of the world around us becomes greatest.  Then, again, we’re only human!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"To raise children to adulthood 
in this world today is a great success!"

Regrets

     There is probably not one person alive who couldn’t look back on their life and ponder situations that they may like to change and do differently.  We know that it is not possible to do that but we could nevertheless look back with a hopeful desire that if we knew then what we know now perhaps a different decision would have been made.

     However, let’s consider this for a moment:  We CAN’T change anything that has happened in the past no matter how we might now feel about it - - - BUT when we consider the things we knew then maybe that was the best decision to have been make under the circumstances!  Even if that decision turned out to be a poor choice, we should not have regrets over what happened.

     Every single day we are making decisions that effect our lives to various degrees, some will be minor and some will be major.  The point is that if we had a conclusive and definite insight into the future perhaps our decisions would have been different, or perhaps not!

      Any decision we make molds us into the character we have become.  It doesn’t matter WHY we made a certain decision the way we did.  It only matters that the decision was made and now we will be molded by the consequences of that decision.

     There may be times when we come to recognize that a certain decision that we made is going to have undesired consequences and we might be able to make a new decision that will nullify or at least lessen the forth coming results.  It might be that we are unable to do anything about the outcome because we have waited too long or have made additional decisions that have compounded the issue to a point where nothing we might consider would make a difference.  
  

     We work with what we have available to us at the time and then we respond to the outcome of those decisions.  Yes, we may feel the sadness and regret some of those decisions, but in truth, we can learn from the folly of the errors we have made.  We can use that information to become a better person in the present and move forward to the future with the desire to be more cautious in the decisions we have to make then.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Some times our actions override our thoughts 
and bring us unexpected results."

Reading

    I have always had a passion for reading.  When I was younger the passion was only a small flame within me.  I read because I HAD to.  Perhaps it was to pass a test, or to convey a short book report to the class.  However, after I graduated I found out that reading was very enjoyable.  With that thought I agree with the American author Garrison Keillor when he said: “A book is gift you can open again and again.”  You can enjoy more of his writings at www.garrisonkeillor.com.

     Writing has always been the activity that I enjoy the most in giving of myself, but reading is the guide to my continually replenishing my mind with ideas and thoughts that make the written words flow from the tips of my fingers on to the empty page.  I not certain what would come across the blank page if I have not been taking some necessary time to read the thoughts and ideas of others.  Especially do I appreciate reading during these times that we are required to “shelter in place” because of the virus.  I have to agree with Mason Cooley when he said:  “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”

     It is really up to us as adults, especially those who are parents, to instill within our children a real love for reading.  Emilie Buchwald stated it best when she said: “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.”  This is very true.  Never imply to your child that reading is a punishment or penalty for something that they have or have not done.  Reading should always be given to them as a most precious gift that they can enjoy for their entire lifetime.  “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world.  Love of books is the best of all.” (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis)

     Learning to enjoy the activity of reading becomes a treasure that can never be taken from you. “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies - - - The man who never reads lives only one.” (George R.R. Martin)  The adventures that can be had are untold and unimaginable!  Years ago I saw a movie entitled “The Never Ending Story.”  The main character, a young boy, was encouraged to read a book that not only provided a marvelous adventure, but actually allowed the reader to become part of the action himself!  As C.S. Lewis stated it: “You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

     Reading removes us from our current circumstances and transports us to unknown realities and unites us with individuals we have never before known.  “One glance at a book and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for 1,000 years.  To read is to voyage through time.” (Carl Sagan)  William Faulkner perhaps put the subject into its most basic perspective:  “Read, Read, Read.”

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Reading is a way to live the life of others 
within in your own mind."