hafacenturyncounting

Motivated by a lack of material.

Archive for the month “April, 2011”

09 Apr 2011

III- “hafawayto

Destinations, as you think about travel there is the point you reach where you can choose to go on or turn around and go back. If you had to guess do you think you are more inclined to go forward or do you turn around. This is about the known and the unknown.

Oftentimes when I write I have snippets of inspiration, other times they are flailing thoughts. I must periodically ask myself why am I writing and to whom? I want the consistent, smooth, melodic flow. Yet, I exist in a state of constant indecision at least part of the time.

Here we are getting very close to retirement and what start a new career, with a new company. Never mind you are ignored, unappreciated, treated like a number. The house is where we have always lived, yes it is getting harder to keep maintained in costs and efforts. The lump does seem to be getting a little larger, but I have a physical in six months…Knowing what will happen next doesn’t seem to be daring, but look back at those examples. Making a change or taking a chance could be risky, but deciding to wait and see what happens is as well.

In youth it seems easy to take action, start over, simply start something new, but as we age we have so much more to ponder over first. The repercussions and ramifications of our actions, who it will or will not affect, you get the idea. Are young people the “devil-may-care” individuals we think they are or is it they feel they have nothing to loose? Are we as older folks  the stable Rock of Gibraltar beings or are we simply paralyzed by fear? I mean I can be as impulsive as the next person, just give me a little time to think about it first. As for the destinations of life; do you care how you get there as long as you arrive. That is a point well worth pondering over.

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07 Apr 2011

Aren’t They Grand?

I met her on June 21,2010 at 11:08 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia. I was told this would be a magnificent experience. I was told that she would change my life like no one else I had even met. Instead of scoffing in disbelief, I gave a smile and generally a polite nod of acknowledgment. All the while thinking,” Okay, aren’t we overstating this just a tad…?” However, I have to say what I was told and the actual event itself..well word cannot express.

I am a people watcher by nature; I grew up in Southern California where famous, beautiful people are everywhere. If you allow yourself to be “star-struck” you are in for some very long, interrupted days. Besides, they are just people.

I remember walking through the door and my focus went straight to her. It seemed as thought SHE was illuminating the room. It hit me immediately, I covered my mouth and smiled. There was a quiet excitement going on within. I was subdued and overwhelmed simultaneously. I walked toward her and stopped. My son smiled and said something, I cannot recall his words I was too busy looking at her. He motioned for me to hold her, and I started to take her then I said give her to your Dad I need pictures, but I didn’t take pictures . I let my husband hold her first because I wasn’t able to touch her right then and there at that moment. All I could do was look on at her and say, ” Oh, just look at YOU” over and over. The first picture I took of her was with her grandfather and Uncle Jay. I knew at that moment it did not matter who was there first, who took the first photo, etc. what mattered was her.

Unable to speak but of only that experience, I am going to say I believe that it will be equally wonderful for each subsequent grandchild’s birth. I know the love I feel will be as indescribable and overwhelming as it was with my first one’s arrival. I believe that they are all magnificent. All the signs and indicators point to this. My friends, colleagues, associates and passing strangers; I see them with these special little folks they all have these silly smiles, or speak in funny voices as they  stumble and struggle to do things they wouldn’t normally do if it weren’t for the babies.

So now we, my contemporaries and I, share this another milestone of life. We venture into the land of “grand-parenthood” and I must say, it is GRAND!

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04 Apr 2011
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For Your Consideration

Do you think about someone’s feelings before you act? How many people do you look past, or search through your pockets, or start dialing a number on your cell phone to simply avoid saying “hello” to? Do you walk through the mall like you are the only one there and others need to move or yield to you? Some topics I broach may seem very basic or common sense in nature. Yet I feel they need to be addressed. I see the direction younger people are going and know that we are in part responsible for their _____. I began this and I drew a blank. I could not finish my thought. I was under the impression that this piece was going to be about manners, respect, etc. ; then I got the lesson of the day from Church and it was “apathy”. Suddenly I knew what direction this piece was going in, because the teachings came from the story of Jonah. Read it and the first three verses will make it clear how this piece was turned around for me.

Thinking of someone else is oftentimes difficult to do, we are all wrapped up in self. When that happens it is easy to overlook another person and this is where the lack of consideration comes into play. We become apathetic.  You are cold and unfeeling. Not a good place to be, not a good person to be around. Many of us feel if I am not hurting you that is enough, but we are wrong. God asks us to do more. When someone is in a “bad way” it is not enough that we don’t add to the problem; we are called upon as Christians, as members of the human community to do what we can to improve the situation.

In the beginning of this piece it was easy to address the younger folks and find their faults, my intention was to call upon “us” as the elders to straighten “them” out. However, perhaps the most important thing that can be conveyed here is to straighten out one’s self, for do we not lead by example.

I really don’t mean to “finger point” I want very much to observe and report. Generally I am looking at my personal journeys in this endeavor, and it is funny to see how good intentions can so easily be lead astray. Therefore, I submit to you for your consideration; consider yourself first, before you look to others to point out and pick out.

Posted in Epiphany and tagged , ,
02 Apr 2011
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Judgement Call

“Judge not lest ye be judged”. That is a difficult task and this is a difficult thought for me to approach. As one embarks on a Christian walk the challenges are abundant. The everyday things you encounter oftentimes are tests.

How do you NOT judge? I am  of the opinion that being in a state of constant prayer is the only way, but that is because it is the way that works for me. When the urge comes over me to say or think something judgmental, I try to go to the Bible if I am near one or say a silent prayer. Character challenging thoughts invade all of our psyche’s. As you go about doing the everyday tasks these challenging thoughts will come into your head. Do you run and hide or do you face them with the very human weaknesses that we all possess?

I battle with the way I will handle this piece as much as I do personally with the subject matter. One has to define judgment and that is not easy. I found myself straddling gossip and mean thoughts. It seems so easy, forming an opinion, but the criterion of which one uses to form that opinion can/does make all the difference in the world. Couple that with, are we really qualified to form those opinions? Where did we get the authority to judge and who gave it to us?

Every mean thought adds a frown line or furrow in our face, and it steals time away from our much needed, much sought after, much deserved happiness. Every bit of gossip leads us to sin, on one level or another. I clearly remember both parents telling me as a child, “you go to hell as quickly for lying as you do for stealing”.  Sin is sin.God will judge us, don’t we have enough to do keeping our own selves in line.

Posted in Ecumenically Speaking and tagged

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