Posts Tagged: TRUTH

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2
Sep 10

Simply the Future

Hi there.

I hope you read the last blog entry because if you didn’t the next sentence will make no sense.

This blog entry was last Monday’s future.  It is no longer the future but present.  Tomorrow it will be history.

The motion of time is a stubborn task master.  It stops for no one.   If it does stop for you it’s time to start looking for that bright light.

Before I go on I must say, I feel pretty inadequate tackling the topic of the future.  There are literally hundreds of books about the future where minds much better than mine have studied, analyzed and hypothesized.

Nothing makes me an expert on the future and there is no logical reason why you would even take note of what I have to say.  For those who are regular readers I’m sure you have noticed by now that not knowing something about a topic doesn’t keep me from having an opinion.

Anyway, I think a person who possesses something (in this case a future) has a right to pontificate.  I have a future like anyone else.

I look to the future because that’s where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.
- George Burns At age 87; he lived to be 100

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Like George the future is where I’m going to spend the rest of my life.  Now there are no guarantees as to how long of a future I have.  In three minutes I could keel over from a heart attack.  It’s not likely and I sure hope that it is not the case but… who knows?

So I plan to poke around the edges of the “future” topic and just maybe something will tumble out of my head that makes a little sense and encourage or challenge you.

This future thing can get pretty heady if we are not careful.  And like so many things that tend to feel beyond us we make it much too complicated.  The future in reality is rather simple to understand… not easy but simple.

We may not like the simplicity of it but it is simple none the less.  There are two of the basic truths that are important to keep in mind as we look forward.

Simple Truth # 1

We cannot ultimately control the future.  We can potentially impact and influence the future but as I said earlier there are no guarantees.

Life Alert: It has been well over three minutes and I am still kicking.  There have been no bright lights so that’s good news.  So I still have a future… who rah!

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OK, back to the future.  As I stated, we cannot ultimately control the future.  Our best plans and efforts are just that.  We all on some level know this truth but some use it to justify not doing anything.

Simple Truth # 2

Live life now and live it right.  Although there are no guarantees regarding the future the journey is the joy.   I remember as a kid building little towns in the dirt.  I would make roads and bridges and had all sorts of fun stuff.  The joy and pleasure was in the creating not the completion.  Yes there was a degree of satisfaction upon completion but the good memories are of the process

So to help you loosen up regarding your future you have an assignment.  Enjoy yourselves now.  Enjoy the process.  Here are a few things I encourage you to do.

  • use the good china
  • burn the fancy candles
  • take the plastic off the furniture
  • eat the gourmet food in the pantry that you picked up on vacation 3 years ago and you have been waiting for that special occasion (usually it goes bad before you use it anyway)
  • wear the expensive perfume

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Enjoy!

See you in the future… Monday.

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12
Aug 10

Reunion Remix

In the last blog I was so busy describing the reunion that I may have given the impression that I didn’t enjoy myself.   Actually, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Fair Warning: Some of you may find this blog to be a bit pointed.  If you find it offensive then you probably needed to hear what I have to say.

I don’t intend to be intentionally offensive but I think there’s a learning here for all of us… including me.

Why did I enjoy the reunion?  I hope this doesn’t sound hokey but I had a good time because I decided to have a good time.

I have several friends who vow not go to their spouse’s reunions (class or family).  I am not trying to over simplify a complicated dynamic.  I realize there are some reunions for legitimate reasons you have no business attending.

But… there are many things we just don’t want to do because we’re selfish.

Yep…  S  – E  – L  –  F  –  I  –  S  –  H

Now this part will sound like I’m patting myself on the back.  Nope, believe me when I say that I have enough flat spots in my life that make being married to me challenging enough.  But I do believe that I handled the class reunion this past weekend correctly.

Points to Consider for Spouses

  • If the reunion is important to the person you love then make it important to you.  I knew that this reunion was important to my wife.  And I knew that she would prefer to have me go with her.

Side Note: Yes, what can I say, she only wanted me as an arm piece to show me off.  It gets tiring being eye candy for the babes.

  • If you’re going, decide to have a good attitude about it.  The crappier your attitude the more miserable you make it for yourself and your spouse.  In other words, stop whining about going.   Waaah!  Grow up.
  • Your role is to make your spouse look good
  • Look nice (wear what they want you to wear… unless it’s pink or a bit too shiny)
  • Be social, force yourself to interact
  • Stay out of the way unless you need to rescue them from a conversation
  • Go at their pace… not yours (remember, it’s not about you)

Now of course I need to find learning in all this that will help me on this journey that I have embarked upon.  The big “ah ha” for me is this, I call it a B.G.O. (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious).

How many times have I made situations a hundred times more difficult because I didn’t make a decision about my attitude?

Attitude is a Choice

I believe that statement more and more.  We choose our attitude and of course the emotions and behaviors follow.  We create the destiny of a situation before it occurs.  Scary huh?

I can’t say that I will always choose the right attitude but I am so much more aware of the benefits of doing it right.

See you Monday.

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5
Aug 10

Hard Work, Heavy Shovel and a Kick in the Ass

Have you ever had one of those days where you just didn’t feel like working?   Good.  Now I don’t feel as bad.

Everything I do today feels like a chore.  And to top it off, it seems as though even the simplest of tasks require much more energy.  Believe it or not I have stopped and paused several times and I’m only on my fourth sentence.  Pretty sad huh?

Don’t you feel sorry for me… uh… NO!

I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but I am certain of one thing.  The people that I know personally who read this blog are shouting at their computers,

“STOP YOUR WHINING AND COMPLAINING AND GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOMETHING!”

They have a good point and have articulated a very important truth – Action has power.

“Life’s rewards go to those who let their actions rise above their excuses.”

- Lee J. Colan, Orchestrating Attitude

Have you ever been in the situation where you had something to do and the more you thought about it the bigger and more difficult the task became?   Stop thinking and step out.

Honesty Alert: Uuuggh, I hate it when I have to be honest.  Especially when it is something that makes me look bad.  But once again… this is the journey I started in January and at times it may mean me sharing stuff that makes me look bad.

 

The statement above is very very true.  The sad fact is that all too often I don’t even take my own advice.  At least I’m admitting it.  It is very easy for me to put off the chore at hand and instead put on some classical music, grab a best-selling non-fiction and curl up in a chair and read.

My wife while reading this will burst into laugher.  The only thing I got right in the last paragraph is the chair part.  It’s more like chips, chair, TV.  Oh well, so much for image.  But all’s not lost.  I do get a bit of intellectual stimulus because I frequently visit the History Channel.

Side Note: The History Channel is the only place that has the TV shows Pawn Stars and American Pickers.  Don’t judge… they’re really educational… kind of.

Now you understand why I mentioned a heavy shovel in the title of today’s blog – I have dug myself a pretty deep hole and I’m not sure how to get out.

Question:  How’s the best way to get out of a hole you dug for yourself?

  • Stop digging and climb out?
  • Change my ways and do better?
  • Ask for help?

I’m not sure of the best way to get out but the easiest is to pull you in the hole with me and take the focus off of myself.

Okay, fess up.  What do you do when you’re having a rough day?   What is your tendency?  Who do you take it out on?

Just kidding (unless I struck a cord ).  All I know is this… there are day’s when you do great things and then there are just days.  I don’t think this blog will make it to the great list.

Hopefully I will see you Monday.

Adios

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12
Jul 10

Unsatisfied With My Satisfaction

Humm… I bet some of you are wondering about my title.  Me too as a matter of fact.  I am not totally sure what it means but there’s something there that rings true.

That’s what exploring is all about, following your instincts.  I have found for me that it is not good to follow stuff willie nillie.  But if I am open and sensitive, my “TRUTH” sensors are activated when there is something nearby of significance and meaning.

The key is learning to recognize the subtle signals of truth that have the ongoing challenge of piercing the noise of life to get our attention.

There is something about the title statement that is worth poking at.  We may find that there is nothing immediately to be discovered or we may uncover a real jewel hidden in the clutter.

Side Note: When searching for TRUTH no effort is in vain, even if you don’t discover anything at the moment.  I believe more and more that our heart and head collects meaningless stuff… meaningless in and of themselves.

I guess you could call it the plankton of the heart.  The ocean is full of microscopic plankton that seems insignificant in isolation but in essence form the foundation for ocean life.

Over time in our search, the details and clutter of thoughts and information feed larger ideas and concepts.  So let’s take a gulp of plankton and see what happens.

Unsatisfied With My Satisfaction

On the surface if sounds incongruent.  It is sort of like saying that I am unhappy with my happiness.  But exploring requires me to take it a part and examine the elements.

What is, to satisfy?  You can satisfy a hunger, craving, debt, question, requirement, objection, doubt, offense, etc.

Everyone wants to be satisfied and typically want to satisfy those individuals and things around us that need (not want) satisfying.

According to the dictionary it is a verb that means “to fulfill the desires, expectations, needs or demands; give full contentment to:  The hearty meal satisfied his hunger.”

But what is the Truth I need to take from this?  As I poke at this a couple of thoughts come to mind that may have implications for me.

Side Note: The Truths about this topic that jump out for me may not be things for you.  I in no way want to put any of my baggage on you.  I’m sure you have enough of your own.

A couple of points I believe I need to continually keep in mind.

  1. Not every point of dissatisfaction needs (nor should) to be satisfied.
  2. Every good and noble need within my span of control should be satisfied.
  3. Satisfaction, if not challenged, can cause complacency and trap you in a safe cocoon of mediocrity… no venturing beyond into the risky world where you might get bitten.
  4. Satisfaction in your cocoon naturally manifests itself into only doing “just enough” in the lives of those around you.  The tendency to never take things to the next level… Status quo.  You end up doing just enough as a spouse, parent, employee, etc.  You and those around you are bereft from the joy and risks of beyond.

Hopefully I have stirred a bit of dissatisfaction in myself… and you.

See you Thursday.

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14
Jun 10

Bored to Life

Hello there, welcome to the trail.  It is always good having people stroll along with me… I’m glad you decided to hang out with me for a little while.  I like to hang out with people but I don’t feel like I’m very good at it.

Frankly I think that my writing is bit more entertaining and stimulating than meeting me face-to-face.  I have some friends that might disagree, but I feel I am boring.  Yep… boring.  I know, some of you on the other hand are not surprised by my statement at all.  

The frustrating thing is that if I feel I am boring then I naturally hold back in social situations and don’t allow my personality to freely come out.

Honesty Alert:  Ugh, I dislike having to provide full disclosure.  But if I plan on getting the most out of this journey outside the confines of my comfortable walled garden then I must be honest.

 

OK, if I am really honest, I think I am boring because I get bored so easily in social situations.  So if I’m bored then they must be bored.  The silly reality is that boring begats boring. 

I just made a big mistake.  I Googled quotes on boredom.  Big mistake.  I find that honesty hurts at times. 

“Boredom is a sign of satisfied ignorance, blunted apprehension, crass sympathies, dull understanding, feeble powers of attention, and irreclaimable weakness of character.”

- James Birdie

 

OUCH!  What does that Birdie fellow know any way?  With a name like that I would make up silly stuff too.

“Boredom, after all, is a form of criticism.”

                                    – William Phillips

 

Ouch again.  This is getting embarrassing.

“A child of my own! Oh, no, no, no! Let my flesh perish with me, and let me not transmit to anyone the boredom and ignominiousness of life.”

                                    – Gustave Flaubert (1821 – 1880)

 

Ok, ok, I may be a bit slow on the uptake but I get the picture.  This is something that I have been working on and it looks like I need to focus on it a bit more.  I hate to admit it but it is insulting not go give the best of yourself to someone.  If you give your best then it tends to be reflective.

Wow, another ouch, this time I’m injured by my own hand.  My last statement says that I am receiving what I am giving.  I have always prided myself on caring for people, being nice and showing respect. 

I really need to take to heart something I deeply believe.  Everyone has a story.  A few years ago a reporter by the name of Steve Hartman did a series on CBS news called Everyone Has A Story.  I loved it.  He would take a dart and throw it at a map, go to that town, pull a random name out of the phone book and interview them. 

I found this video of one of his reports.  It is well worth the four minute investment

 YouTube Preview Image

Well, the path is clear.  I must really believe that everyone has a story and work hard at engaging with people.  I mean really working at it.  I know that I need to focus.  Focus on them.  They are worth it.

“Work saves us from three great evils: boredom, vice and need.”

                                    – Voltaire (1694-1759)

Gotta go.  I’m going to work.

See you Thursday.

Random Thoughts — 2 Comments
10
Jun 10

Simply Profound

Hi, good to see you.

I’m especially glad to see you because the trail seems a bit lonelier and quieter today.   A person that has pioneered ahead on this path is no longer with us.

I didn’t know the man but I know him… if that makes any sense.

He was a simple farm boy from Indiana who became a great coach.  But his exceptionally successful coaching career was the least of accomplishments.

John Wooden was a giant… a man profound in his simplicity.  It is interesting how the quiet simple things have the most powerful impact.

I was planning to share several of his quotes but I ran across this video that illustrates his simple humble greatness.  It is a little lengthy but well worth the time.

YouTube Preview Image

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I heard a quote one time that really applies to this particular situation.

“The test of one’s nature is the atmosphere it produces.”

This begs the question, What atmosphere do I create?  John Wooden inspires me to be a better man.  That statement alone tells me a lot.

Yes, the trail is lonelier today.  But John Wooden has left us lots of markers to follow as we advance.

See you Monday.

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8
Apr 10

A Seed of Truth

I know some of you are itching to get back on the trail climbing the mountain.  The last few entries have been a break from traveling.  It was kinda like we were sitting around a camp fire swapping stories and philosophizing about life.

Don’t worry, we’ll hit the trail again next Monday and continue our madcap adventure up the mountain.

But for now I need to complete my thoughts about Truth.  And today’s topic is important because it’s the miracle part of Truth.

If you remember, I started talking about Truth because of a thought provoking comment by Kathy.

Excerpt from Kathy’s Comment:

I get grabbed by something that is true and then I belong to it. Change inside of me happens almost automatically. Why do you think it happens that way? Do you think that is the way it is with all truth–scientific truth–or discover in historical facts? or is it just with spiritual truth?

We have talked about the power of Truth… Truth Transforms. It is truly miraculous.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog I believe all aspects of Truth (natural, scientific and Spiritual) comes from God.  They are all intertwined building upon and supporting one another.

Truth Caveat: Well… there are some truths that don’t exactly fit into the God quotient.  Things like. Mike Brown will never hire a GM for the Cincinnati Bengals, the Chicago Cubs never making it to a World Series and Jessica Simpson having no talent.

Now I’ve really done it.  I have made all of the Jessica Simpson fans angry… both of them.

The metaphor that best captures Truth’s miraculous transforming power for me is that of a seed in the ground.

The ground receives the seed.  The seed may be forced by hand into the ground but at some point the soil must embrace it thus allowing the course of nature to occur.

Truth must be received… we must take it in.  We may not fully understand or be totally comfortable with its presence but we consent to the process.  Rejection of the seed terminates transformation.

We are responsible to be faithful to the process.  We cannot make it happen… we allow it to happen.  We provide the environment that is conducive for growth and provide the right nutrients.  We guard against contamination and critters that want to destroy.

Transformation requires diligent patience.

If not careful we can hinder growth.  We tend to be impatient and want to dig up the seed to check to see if it is sprouting.  This is the faith part… trusting the process.

Hopefully you have been sprinkled with a lot of Truth seeds lately.  Just receive them and allow them to sink in.  Be open to the invisible process of transformation that works from the inside out.

So I sit, typing away knowing that seeds of Truth are moving around inside (it could be the chili I ate last night… nope… its Truth I can tell the difference).

It is grand to suddenly see the transformation begin surface.  Really grand.

Later… Monday!

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5
Apr 10

Scalpel or Hammer

Hello, I hope you had a very great weekend.

I am back on this Truth thing again today.  This topic seems to continue to grow.  I was planning to talk about how Truth transforms but I still have some things bubbling around inside about how Truth informs (you will need to read the last couple of blogs to really get a feel for what I am sorting through).

As I said, Truth is all around and continually bumping into us trying to get our attention.  It’s kind of like a thirteen year old girl who seems to “accidently” show up the same places of the boy she likes and is constantly trying to catch his eye.  He of course is daft and oblivious to her cues.

Truth pursues us and is constantly trying to catch our eye.  Unless we are looking for the cues we too stroll along missing the opportunity of a lifetime.

Truth wants our attention and sometimes the vehicle for Truth is another person.  Personally I don’t like it much when another person is involved.  People make things messy.

I would rather have circumstances teach me my lessons not people.  This is by far the best Truth delivery process for me personally.  With my finely honed awareness and keen insights, people pointing things out in me are not necessary… AT ALL.  Well, at least I don’t think so.

As I said earlier, people make things messy.  Circumstances don’t make judgments and they don’t argue.  There are no ulterior motives, emotional baggage, or sensitivities that need to be navigated.

Truth has power, tremendous power.  And Truth in the hands of another person is a scary proposition.

The problem is, people intuitively know the power of Truth and in the wrong hands truth is used to hurt vs. heal.

“I never gave anyone hell.  I just told the truth and they thought it was hell.”

- Harry Truman

Truth in the right hands is amazingly beautiful and powerful.  Truth pierces, it is surgical.  It may not be comfortable but it brings healing and produces freedom.

In hands of people with a wrong motive, Truth becomes a blunt instrument inflicting head or heart trauma.  This of course produces more injury and adds another stone to the bag of rocks we all carry (3/4/10 blog).  What the person is saying may have the core of Truth.  But it is lost in the clutter of motives and the noise of emotion.

Have you ever known someone who felt it was their duty to set people straight?    They project the notion that they are to be the messenger of fact and are obligated to make sure you know where you fall short.

Here is a very Important Point:  It is never our role to set people straight.

It is important to remember, we cannot transform others.  No matter how much we want to change a person we cannot.  In fact, us trying to change a person builds resistance.

There is no question that there are times when we are called to share truth.  It may be uncomfortable for the other person and difficult for us.  It is not easy offering a gift knowing that rejection is likely.

But love gives.  There is beauty and power in Truth purely offered, centered in love.  A gift of Truth given with no expectations… just given knowing that at some time the other person will open their hand and receive.

This is where the miracle occurs.  Truth transforms.

I don’t want to get into this now because this is what I will spend some time talking about in Thursday’s blog.

See you then.

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1
Apr 10

Trick-or-Truth

Hello.  Welcome back.

This blog thing is getting pretty draining.  I think I will give it up.

Psyche!  April Fool’s.

I know, I know… pretty childish.  Just messin with you.  I better not get too spunky, some of you may actually be bummed that I plan to continue to write.  Oh well.  I think it best I move on before I dig this hole any deeper.

In the last blog I started to respond to a comment made by Kathy.  I touched on the topic of Truth.  I mentioned that I believe there is Truth and there are truths.

Note to all of my non-Christ follower friends:  This is a topic that will definitely have some spiritual context.  I am not expecting for you to believe like I do but I do hope that I share some things that may cause you to think.

I would really like to have your thoughts and comments because I am open to have my thinking stirred also.  So please share your perspective.  Once again, don’t worry, I won’t get preachy on you.

Just so you know, I believe that all truth comes from a single source… God.

There are two distinguishing characteristics of Truth that I would like to poke around on for a bit.  They are, Truth Informs and Transforms.  I plan on talking about how Truth Transforms in the next blog on Monday but for today I will tackle Informs.

Honest Confession: I used the word “Informs” because it had a nice ring when partnered with “Transforms”.

Yes it is shallow and self serving but you gotta admit… the words do sound good together (Sort of like Captain and Tannille, Sunny and Cher or Pebbles and Bam Bam).

Although the word “Inform” is somewhat descriptive it is much too mundane and vanilla for the weight and significance it carries.  There is nothing mundane or vanilla about Truth.

What I mean by Informs is that Truth has a way of quietly piercing the clutter to let us know that we are nearing something of substance and significance.  There is a weighty awareness about the situation we’re in or a thought about something we are mulling over that stills us with… “there is something big here that is deserving of my attention.”

I tried to come up with an example but I found it extremely difficult.  I could not articulate anything that even comes close to the point I am trying to make.

It dawned on me that this is the nature of Truth.  You can’t wrap your mind around it in total.  These encounters provide a small pin hole, a glimpse, of Truth.  As you go through life these small pin holes begin to form a picture, a sense of Who and what Truth is all about.

I believe that Truth is constantly being revealed but we are unaware or blind.  One has to be open and ready, expecting something at any time.  This is not a burdensome duty of being on the “look out” but a childlike anticipation and excitement of discovery at any moment.

In our small community we have neighborhood parades on Memorial Day and Labor Day.  About 9:45 in the morning the homes on each street begin sporadically burping up people to make their way to the parade route.

The children are the most fun to watch.  They are animated, alert and fidgety with excitement.  Even before you hear the siren of the lead police car there is a groundswell of energy that clearly announces that something is about to happen.  The kids start leaning out toward the street, stretching their necks and poking their heads over each other to be the first to get a glimpse of the flashing blue light that proclaiming the reality of something special.

This is the way I want to be in looking for Truth.  A childlike excitement and joy.

Truth is amazing.

See you Monday.

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29
Mar 10

Truth or Truths

I don’t know about you but I get pretty frustrated with the media and politics (Don’t worry I’m not getting all political on you.  We have enough political talk without me jumping into the mix).  What frustrates me is that you don’t know what to believe.

Truth is sacrificed on the alter of facts. 

The sad reality is that this is the nature of the world we live in.  From the beginning of time people have taken facts to paint a distorted picture.  We have all done it to some degree.

It is sort of like a kaleidoscope… fragments of facts jumbled together to distort reality. 

You may be wondering what got Jerry all riled up.  You’re probably thinking that I must have just finished listening to the evening news.  Nope.  I’m not writing about this because I’m frustrated but stirred. 

I was stirred by a comment left by Kathy about something I wrote a couple of blogs back.  For full context you might want to review my blog “Searching or Discovery”.

 Excerpt from Kathy’s Comment:

I get grabbed by something that is true and then I belong to it. Change inside of me happens almost automatically. Why do you think it happens that way? Do you think that is the way it is with all truth–scientific truth–or discovering in historical facts? or is it just with spiritual truth?

Over the next couple of blogs I will try to share my thoughts.  Let me be the first to say that I by no means believe that I have the answers to Kathy’s questions… but it doesn’t stop me from having an opinion. 

I believe there is Truth and there are truths.  Truths are facts about things that exist.   

But Truth, that is a different matter.  Ah, Truth… beautiful Truth.  In a world of distortion and complexity there is splendid simple Truth. 

Important Point:    Simple does not mean easy. 

Truth does not rest on the surface of life where you can easily grasp or understand it in full context.  We sense it and see evidence of it.  Truth is something deeper, broader, and higher… all around and permeating everything.

That’s why people like and gravitate to truths; they can take hold of them and control their use by carelessly tossing them around to make a point.  Settling for only truths are the cowards’ way. 

Truth… you cannot distort or control.  It is just hidden in the clutter of truths, but it’s fully intact waiting for us.

There are two characteristics of Truth (I am sure there’s a lot more but these are a good starting point) that I will poke on.  Truth informs and transforms.  I really liked what Kathy said when she wrote, “Change inside of me happens almost automatically.”

That is what our journey is all about.  Discovery. 

See you on Thursday.