Boulders on Shoulders

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on December 6, 2017 in Community, distraction issues, Personal Values, Social, Striving

December 5, 2017, Prescott-

A young girl told an advice columnist that pressure, “from society”, for her to have sex with her boyfriend, felt like “a boulder on my shoulder”.

There is infinitely more to any given human being, of any age, than titillating, tintinnabulating, appealing to the weary and shopworn sensibilities of the jaded and the restless.

I’ve mentioned earlier that I work with two strikingly pretty women- one happily wed, one contentedly single- both young enough to be my daughters. There is not a moment of the day when untoward thoughts cross my mind about either lady.

There are, on the edges of my life, a gorgeous mother and daughter, whom I treasure as friends. The mother could become more than a friend- maybe, someday. I keep our friendship in full perspective. Moreover, nobody will ever, with impunity, lay an unkind hand on daughter- God has my word on that. That young woman is the salt of the earth.

I suppose that could mean kudos to yours truly, but I will take a pass. The above sentiments ought to be de rigeur, for each of us,male and female, who see all manner of people, to whom we might be attracted, on a daily basis.

Yet, to me, the joy of living, what keeps me young, is in seeing a human being as a complete entity- in knowing and supporting his or her dreams, so long as those dreams don’t entail crushing the souls of others.

Boulders crush, when they are dislodged, and roll downhill.

The Lessons Over Time

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on December 1, 2017 in Community, distraction issues, impediments, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Spiritual, Striving

December 1, 2017, Prescott-

Another writer on this network, having just also celebrated a birthday, detailed a lesson learned for each year of her life. Her post showed me that the adage, “Youth is wasted on the young”, is largely a fallacy. Youth may be at a disadvantage, regarding total life lessons, but working under a supervisor who is half my age, I find that the lessons she has absorbed are being put to full use. She is arguably the most competent, save one other, of the many under whom I have worked, over the past 40 years. Son has risen in rank, an average of once a year, for every year of his military service. Nieces and nephews, and their spouses, have each made themselves highly valuable in their chosen work.

It also follows that there is truth to : “There’s no fool like an old fool”. To be old AND foolish has nothing to do with dementia. It has to do with arrogance and an odd form of narcissism. So, now, we are seeing high and low alike being taken to the Village Woodshed, for being so arrogant as to build a lifestyle around deception, indiscipline and disrespect for others, based on their own proclivities.

I have not been free of transgressions against others, but when they have occurred, I have chosen the path of humility, submission to chastisement and atonement. It’s just been better this way. I can live, today, concerned about today’s tasks and planning for tomorrow, as needed. From each faux pas, a lesson has been derived, that has just made me a better human being.

I am grateful that the lessons learned have import for the times in which we live, and will continue to apply in days and years to come.

Thoughts on A Thanksgiving Just Past, and On Black Friday

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 24, 2017 in distraction issues, Inspiration, Matters of Faith, Social, Spiritual, Striving

November 24, 2017, Prescott-

Why do I wake in a state of love?

Perhaps it’s because the alternative

is nothing but a debilitating illusion.

I was treated to a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner,

courtesy of my hard-working,

always conscientious

best friend,

and her younger daughter,

this daughter’s boyfriend

and BF’s middle sister.

I had the pleasure of

helping out,

before and after the meal.

Helping always makes

me feel a part of the lives

of those around me.

Thanksgiving has its

roots in our primal need,

as creatures,

to praise our Creator.

The Konda Reddy people,

of southern India,

praise their Lord,

when the wild mango ripens.

The Zuni, of western New Mexico,

offer thanks, each December,

by blessing the houses that

have been built or renovated,

during the course of the year.

The wise among us,

do similar things,

once a year.

They also offer thanks,

first thing in the morning

and last thing at night.

Thanksgiving is not

imposed by conquerors.

It is a gift of the heart.

The sweep of commerce,

leaving little sacred,

in its wake,

screams “DEALS!”,

even before one’s

heavenly meal,

is a thing of the past.

Again, today,

I think I’ll pass.

Stirring

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 16, 2017 in Community, distraction issues, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Social, Striving

November 16, 2017, Prescott-

Today marks the fortieth anniversary of my first day as a full-time educator. The two-year stint, in a rural area of central Maine, was far from my finest tour of duty, but it was a start. People there would not remember me fondly, but they may as well know that most of my demons have been cast.

On another note, I have been in touch with my son, regarding the earthquake in P’ohang, South Korea, about two hours drive from his city of Busan. He’s fine, as is his girlfriend. I follow such things with alacrity, however, as any parent would.

I am feeling stirrings of outrage, at the ruling allowing imports of elephant parts from Zimbabwe and Zambia, by trophy hunters. This is too obvious a ploy to let well-connected slaughter tourists have their way. There should be no more pretense that this helps conserve species.

Then, there is the “accidental” spill of thousands of gallons of crude oil, from the Keystone Pipeline, in northeastern South Dakota. Wow, who saw that coming?

Both parties, and all points on the political spectrum, have personages who have abused women; no surprise here either. Ego knows no ideology. At least, a few people, Sen. Franken and Louis CK, are willing to take their lickings. Many more, myself included, have had to undergo a considerable measure of emotional growth, in this regard. In my case, it’s been a very lengthy process, though I have not, once, forced my attentions on anyone or sought to avoid responsibility for making anyone uncomfortable. We have made some progress as a society, but not treating people as objects is an area of several segments and one in which each of us must take a measure of responsibility-whether it means changing our attitudes, or encouraging others to change theirs.

So, it’s been a full day, of wide-ranging stirrings in my psyche.

Sutherland Springs

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 5, 2017 in Community, distraction issues, Spiritual

November 5, 2017, Prescott-

My post about a visit to Cave Creek will be up soon. In the meantime, another Sunday, and more mayhem.

Upwards of thirty people may be dead,

and 30 others with life-threatening injuries.

All they set out to do, was worship.

Someone else had a different plan.

Bring on Armageddon.

Others responded to his act,

predictably-

blaming the Government,

blaming Trump,

blaming the Democrats,

even blaming anyone who

showed outrage at the horrific act.

This last, shades of post- Sandy Hook,

post- Las Vegas.

“It can’t be the shooter’s fault.

Maybe there was no shooter at all.

Maybe the Government made it all up.

Maybe it’s just a hologram.”

Tell that to the wounded.

Tell that to the families

who will be burying

their dead.

Tell that to all those

who have INDEED

lost their children,

parents,

siblings,

neighbours,

friends.

Denial means continuity.

Sixty Six for Sixty-Six, Part LXV: It Doesn’t Matter

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 31, 2017 in collaborating, distraction issues, Family, Personal Values, Social, Striving

October 31, 2017, Prescott-

Happy All-Hallows, to those who celebrate it as an evening of festive family and community enjoyment.

It doesn’t matter to me,

if you are Black, White, Brown, Red, Yellow, or some sort of hybrid.

It is superfluous,

if you are conservative, liberal, libertarian, progressive.

It is inconsequential, in my view,

if you claim adherence to the oldest of Faiths, to the Faith founded

two-thousand years ago, to the newest Faith or to no Faith at all.

It is of passing concern,

if you are heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual or just plain fed up with it all.

Male, female, “hybrid”;

child, adolescent, young adult, midlife, early senior, advanced senior, centenarian-

I have much to learn from you,

and much to offer, in return.

What matters is your spirit.

Who I am,

in this final month

of being sixty-six,

is largely who I have

ever been.

My labels do not define me.

God sees beyond the superficial,

the fleeting,,

the limited.

How So?

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 30, 2017 in Community, distraction issues, impediments, Poetry, Striving

October 30, 2017, Prescott-

You, the Secretary of Homeland Security,

have deemed a ten-year-old girl,

with Cerebral Palsy,

a threat to national security.

How so?

A taxpayer’s question:

Is she receiving treatment,

for her condition,

whilst in Federal custody?

How so?

People continue to be

pitted against one another,

on the basis of world view,

by those whose primary motive,

is retention of power.

This is framed as defending

the patriotic from the disloyal.

How so?

Two political opponents

accuse one another

of being in collusion

with a foreign power.

In each case, how so?

One faction of government

claims it, alone, can help

long-suffering and struggling

people.

How so?

Too many, among the elite,

see division as the only way

forward.

How so?

Forgiveness

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 29, 2017 in distraction issues, Family, Poetry, Spiritual, Striving

October 29, 2017, Prescott-

A couple of years ago, one who is closest to me

said “I forgive you”,

in the context of reassuring me

of his filial devotion.

It was not specific to anything,

leaving me to guess,

as to which of several possible

lapses in parental judgment,

to which he might have been referring.

Others, over the years,

have accepted apologies

and held me to my word.

Still others, have simply

dropped out of sight,

though no one ever

drops out of my mind

or heart.

Conversely,

I have forgiven

all but one or two,

of those who caused

my late wife so much

unnecessary pain.

All she wanted was to die in peace.

That was too much for that one,

those two,

whose concern was more about

money,

about rules and regulations,

than human decency.

If I want to be forgiven,

by those whom I have wronged,

then I have to forgive

the worst of the bad,

as well.

Christ said it,

so did Baha’u’llah.

So be it.

Beyond “Me, Too”

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on October 17, 2017 in distraction issues, impediments, Personal goals, Personal Values, Striving

October 17, 2017, Prescott-

Once upon a time, I bought into some, but not all, of the idea that people ought to objectify, idealize, the opposite gender. This was held true for men and women alike. The physique was the primary initial attracter, with social skills and hygiene the glue that secured a person’s place, in the eyes of an opposite number.

Mom told me to look for a person of substance. The intellect was important, and a wide range of interests. She said that a comely, but shallow, person would not last long in our family- falling away by attrition, not by any malice that would be directed at her. I’ve noticed this has continued, through the four marriages of my siblings and me, the seven marriages of my nieces and nephews, the engagement of my youngest niece and the solid relationship of my son and his lady friend. Terra Firma has lent herself to our support.

In my post-marital years, there have been a few emotional rough patches. That comes with the territory. They have, however, lifted me up and out of the stinky swamp of residual objectification. By keeping this thing, in the back of my mind, about viewing women in relational terms, I was also objectifying myself. The current sturm und drang over Hollywood’s sexual predators has had what I consider a bright silver lining. Women are free to raise the roof, over the long-standing, callous disregard for their total being. It’s as old as the rise of homo sapiens sapiens, and it’s past time that men, freely and in their own space, create a mindset, a heartset, that truly measures a woman, first and foremost, by her interests, goals and dreams.

I have the privilege, and honour, of working with two dynamic, highly intelligent and personable women, one happily married. Both are young enough to be my daughters, but no matter. The success of a team is driven by professional chemistry, with social bonding being of secondary importance. In that regard, our little team is solid and focused on the well-being, first of our students, then of one another.

I have a further honour : A wealth of friendships, both on and offline. This drum has been beaten many times before, and I shall not belabour it again. Suffice it to say, my friendships are neither spurred by physical attraction, nor negated by it. Each of my friends’ hopes and dreams matter to me, greatly, regardless of any of their personal or physical attributes. That means dignity comes first.

The antics of celebrity lechers are hitting a brick wall. May each one of us view ourselves through a lens of accountability and resolve to move further, towards this thing called purity.