Benefits of the Sabbath

I've known this, but at times it is so much more apparent: Part of the beauty of keeping the sabbath day holy is the mental rest that comes from setting aside those aspects of the weekday life that cannot be 'worked-on' on Sunday. Being currently unemployed, I can completely 'rest' from those worries on Sunday. I could spend time 'worrying' about things, but if I can't physically do anything about it, why not just 'rest' from that worry and spend time doing those 'good things' that bring joy and happiness. Monday is soon enough to start worrying about the coming week.

Let's kick it up a bit

When I have more time on my hands than I should, that's when I take a few minutes to post more 'spillings'. In my current situation, having too much time on my hands is a problem. So, my thoughts trend towards the negative.

Today's no different, but I want to be more upbeat. Despite my general observations that most web and other such postings are not honest, but said to be interpreted as positive or humorous comment. I do feel that many of us will say what we mean without ulterior motives. It's just that we won't, or don't, say what other thoughts or concerns we have because of the implication, either intended or unintended, that we're not completely who we'd like to be.

Commiserating, like Bunko, leads to an acceptance of what the dominating personality has determined. What if we allowed our thoughts of contentment, our satisfaction in how we cope with reality, and our pleasure in the delights of family, friends, and nature were allowed to be the focus of our discussions. I've been told that sarcasm is a tool of the devil and apparently, he's taught me well that it's an easy tool to get a laugh. I feel good about myself when I make others laugh. But why not feel good about ourselves when we encourage the true discussion about anything, but our self.

Dale Carnegie did a marvelous job in "How to Win Friends and Influence People" to teach us that life around us generally goes undiscovered because we focus too much on 'our life'. How much better of a person I'd be and how greater an appreciation of life and others I would have, if, during conversations with one or more, my mind was not thinking about what I wanted to say next, but what I may 'ask' next in order to learn and understand even more about those who I have had the privilege to spend a few moments with. Why do I feel that its my contribution to the conversation that has made it an enjoyable time for all? Ego! From one who keeps telling himself that he doesn't really have much of an ego. That my best and most noticeable trait is that "I'm a nice guy." Ironic, isn't it?! 

New Readings

For the past several days, I've been reading "Created for Greater Things" by Jeffrey R. Holland, "You Majored in What?" by Katharine Brooks, and "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi. Somewhat related, mostly not, but amazingly insightful as I go through another "And this to shall pass" moment in life. The reliability of the Theory of Chaos has demonstrated itself to me again. When I'm looking back at key points in my life and going through those marvelous moments, and often great wastes of time, when I think 'what if' and 'where would I be now'. I believe I am arriving at where I want to be. I should actually say, I think I'm almost at that point, a few things still need to be in place.

I'm playing with a deck of cards. The deck that creates a foundation for some aspects of our lives. A slight shift may bring on the crashing reality, but at the same moment, this deck just may turn to a foundation of exotic bricks with a pattern of unique design that only fits me ... at this point.

I'm learning that what I think I need, is far from what I receive in life. But once I realize what I've obtained, and attained, there's a strong sense of satisfaction for the making my way through the path that I found; the path that was intended. I came across two old compasses my father used. One when he was traveling the Alps, the other maybe from his military life. I set them beside the barometer that once set upon our player piano. Each night, as he returned home from work, he'd flick the face of the barometer with is finger to see which direction the needle would move. He was a scientist, a fish biologist to be exact, with his PhD. But his heart was formed from his life's experiences and how he impacted, and was affected by those he knew, served, and loved. The heart wasn't formed in the lab, except for that portion that was reserved for the habitat of fish in the northwest and those who needed a healthy fish population for their sustenance.

With his factual approach to knowing the right 'direction' of his surroundings and his love for those encompassed in his sphere of influence, he was a man among men. Never seeking promotions, praise, or awards, but pressing himself to accomplish the results that others sought to acknowledge, he found where he belonged and to those to whom his service belonged.

I'm getting closer to finding my own compass and my own drive to deliver the results that others need now and in the near future. I feel that I'm on the verge, but I don't believe it will be a moment of 'brilliance', but rather a moment of calm comfort ... followed by hard work to make it happen. I anxiously wait, ponder, study, and work, towards that juncture.  

So, this is how it begins ...

Here's my basis for what I'm doing: I don't believe there are many people who are honest with their 'posted' comments, regardless of the social media format they are using. The whole point of the social media is to be able to have your 'thoughts' read by others (most likely those you know). I truly believe that we're creating a verbal house of cards; a lot of comments with ulterior motives without a foundation that has anything to do with the writer, in truth.

We want what we want and for some that's to just get attention by others, to be seen as funny, witty, insightful, original, motivational. Are we looking to define what we'll be remembered for, when our life is reviewed and possibly judged?

I don't think many of us are actual trendsetters. I don't believe there are many truly original thoughts or ideas. Just look at most movie, book, and TV plots; it's fairly easy to see patterns in the writers' creativity. There's a formula to plots and a formula for almost everything else in our lives. We follow what we believe will generate our chosen result. If it's somewhat different than someone else's previous venture, then we have found a new twist. But was it 'new'. Isn't much of what we are, much of how we react, much of what we think simply a by-product of what we've already learned, experienced, or observed from others.

This will not be a monologue of societal complaints. I'm not an educated man. My opinions are more valuable to me than to anyone else. But, for my own benefit, I want to just write what I think, in a format that I can later easily review, and through which I want to feel free to be 'me'. At best, I hope this helps me to discover what I consist of; thoughts, values, ambitions, hopes, contributions, and the like. I am a deeply spiritual person and most of my days are filled with an analysis of my actions compared to scriptural teachings and eternal principles. But this does not preclude my 'mindful wanderings' to uncover, or discover, who am I and what am I to do.

I want an avenue to say what's on my mind with no thought that anyone I know will every read it. Consequently, I hope this is the most honest evaluation of me that I can find/create. In the unlikely event, someone stumbles across this, I may be completely embarrassed, but I hope that it is never interpreted as a reflection on my wonderful wife, my posterity, or my heritage. I have been given a much better direction in this life than I probably deserve.