I Am Hopeful For A New Year

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Hopeful” by “The Daily Post.”

So once again, the old year ends as a new one begins. This is a part of the natural order of things, with the old ending and making room for the new. All things must come to an end at some point; so that new things, can come in and refresh and renew the world and all in it. Don’t be afraid of the new, but embrace it for what it is, an opportunity.

Despite all that has happened in this chaotic and eventful year of 2016, and despite the uncertainty that we face in 2017; I am very much optimistic for the new year. I am optimistic because I know that whatever does happen, no matter how good or bad, especially bad, things will turn out in the end all right, for God is indeed in control and he loves us all. No matter how bad things get, he always corrects things and makes them better.

So yes, I do indeed look forward to the new year with hope and optimism for whatever it brings. I will do the best that I can to make it a good year for me and those around me. After all, that’s all I or anyone else can really be asked or be expected to do. We cannot really control how or when things happen, but we can control how we respond to them and what we do as a result.

 

 

 

 

How Often Are You Festive?

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Festive” by “The Daily Post.”

On this Christmas day, I would hope that all of you are or have been in a very festive mood;  I know I have been. Yet the question is why can’t we always be in a festive mood daily throughout the year. Yes, things happen and we often get very busy doing everyday life things, but that is no reason to not be festive about all the good things that happen or go right in our lives each and every day. To be festive is to enjoy all the things that life has to offer, and not let things get you down. It is not just about celebrating on a certain day or occasion for a specific reason (although that is a good reason).

There really is no reason why one can not be in a festive mood every day, or at least try to be. Think about how much better you would feel if despite not everything going your way (Does it ever?) you could keep such a positive attitude. The good news is you can do so by focusing on whatever it is that has gone right, no matter how small or unimportant it is.

So how often is it that you find yourself in a festive mood; a lot or not that much? If not much, then why is that the case? Why don’t you have reasons to be more festive in your life? The real answer to that if you truly think about it, is that you do have reasons to be more festive, a lot more reasons. So be festive, and enjoy life by doing so all the time not just on special occasions. There is really no good reason why one cannot be festive more often in life.

"The Christmas Shoes" Meaning Of Christmas

Every year at the start of the Christmas season or as those of the Christian faith call it the “Season of Advent” when Christmas songs start playing all the time on the radio, I always look forward to my favorite Christmas song “The Christmas Shoes.” This song really does most aptly and wonderfully pick up what Christmas is really all about and what it is not really all about but seems to be a lot of the time.

Christmas, besides for Christians being the time to celebrate the birth of our “Lord and Savior” Jesus Christ; it is a time of hope, optimism, and caring for one’s fellow human beings. And while it is true that one should be caring for their fellow human beings all year long; the Christmas season has traditionally been very special in just bringing out the caringness of people more than usual.

Unfortunately, that is not all we get during the Christmas season. We get overspending, crowded stores, and people rushing about this way and that, and not caring about the person next to them or in front of the line to the cash register. Yes, we all want to make sure we get the right gifts for our family and friends in time, but we cannot forget what the “spirit” of Chrismas is all about. Even if you are not a Christian and don’t celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus Christ the “Lord and Savior” which I am and do; you can still celebrate Chrismas for the joy, Caringness, and the fellowship of humanity that it can and often does bring.

Sometimes it is the “little things” such as a song that make us remember these important “big things” such as the true meaning and “spirit” behind the Christmas holiday season. But when we do, those “little things” are all the sweeter, and we enjoy ourselves and those around us more.  So as you do your Christmas shopping and chores, remember to take in the “spirit” of Christmas and help out those in need. Merry Christmas!

 

 

 

 

Why Do People Like Fishing?

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Fishing” by “The Daily Post.”

What is it about fishing that makes it such a popular sport and enjoyable activity? Why is it,  one can enjoy sitting for sometimes hours with a pole with a line attached in the water of a lack, stream or even the ocean; and not catch anything, yet still find the whole experience relaxing and just plain enjoyable to have done? The answer lies in the relaxing. There is just something about being outside with nature with nothing to do and no cares in the world, but holding that fishing pole and waiting for a bite that just “refreshes” the mind.

Fishing is love not for the fish that one may catch (though that is nice) but for the time spent doing so. In a lot of ways, fishing is a lot like hunting in that both take place surrounded by nature and require a lot of time and patience. Both activities are relaxing and enjoyable because they help us to get back to our “roots” and commune with nature. They are not fast pace like today’s modern society or filled with the anxiety of having to get a job done at work by a certain time. Fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities are fun, relaxing, and enjoyable just because they are.

There is no real surprise or unexpectedness in the activities that you can get in the rest of life. They are what they are. You either catch a fish or several or bag a deer or other animal you are hunting or you don’t. Either way, there is no real pressure. That there is the key to the popularity of the two and other outdoor sports.

So are you overstressed by your busy days at work? Are you tired of being tired with no enjoyment in your life? Then take up a fishing pole or a rifle and go and enjoy a weekend with nature. It does not matter if you get anything or not (though it helps) you will have a fun and relaxing time, because of the fact that you are not pressured any to succeed, but just spend time, on you and nature.

What's Missing?

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Missing” by “The Daily Post.”

“Ok, where did I put my cell phone; where did my car keys go.” These questions and others like them will every now and then, rear their ugly heads in my life to frustrate me to hell. It does not happen a lot, that I end up missing something, but the “problem” never fills to come back at some point and usually at the most inconvenient of times. Does this happen to you too? I am sure it does, in this crazy, busy, and fast-past world that we live in somebody is always missing something at some point.

Lossing or misplacing something is in my view, one of if not the most irritating and constants drawbacks of life. You never know when it will happen to you, and when it does it can be so unpredictable.  Most times,  when you do lose something, you can usually find it right away but every once in awhile the missing item really “plays” hide and seek, with you either taking forever to find it, or not being able to until you have longed given up and then later it just shows up, either in the most unlikely/surprising place or in a place you had already looked for it several times.

That there is the most frustrating part of the whole deal; not the fact that I had lost/misplaced something, or that I could not find it, but that it will often times, show up in a place I had already gone over and when I no longer need the thing. Missing something is never a fun experience and can/does cause a lot of stress. So are you currently missing something, and do you “miss” things a lot? My advise if it does not show up right away, just walk away, and do something else, and eventually it will show up on its own.

Protest, But Protest With Love

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Protest” by “The Daily Post.”

To Live in the United States is to live with the protest; the ability to redress one’s grievances and stand for or against something. Since its founding, there has been a long tradition of protest movements such as the civil rights movement, the women rights movement and so on. At the same time, there has also been within these movements and others an ugly side to peaceful protest, that being rioting and responding with violence on the part of the protesters. When one protests, he/she should do so with love, not hate.

The goal of protesting is to peacefully advocate for some form of change in either society or government policy or both. This can work when others see you protesting and bringing an issue to light and may sympathize and even agree with you. But only if they can relate to you and your cause. They will not be able to relate or react positively at all if instead of peaceful protests, there is rioting in the streets, with looting and destruction of property, and even violence against fellow man.

Love of fellow man/human beings is what changes hearts and minds and improves this world that we live in. Hatred only hardens the heart and mind and makes things worse for everyone. Love unites, and hatred divides and destroys. So the next time you believe there may be an injustice in the world and are pulled to protest that injustice to bring attention to it, do so with love and not hate. Love those behind the injustice and only hate the injustice. As St. Augustine has said, “Love the sinner, hate the sin.”

 

To Slip Through One's Fingers

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Vanish” by “The Daily Post.”

Do you know the feeling of wanting something badly only for it to “vanish” from sight? Or what about seeing an opportunity “slip through your fingers” and only then realizing the chance you had after you lost it?  I seriously doubt that there is anyone on the planet or in the whole history of humanity that has not felt that deepening loss of something slipping through their fingers at least once.  The thing to remember when we do see an opportunity vanish before our eyes; is not to be discouraged but rather encouraged.

There will always be opportunities in one’s life, and there will be so many that we will never be able to take advantage of all of them. In fact, a lot of opportunities require you to either give up another or have missed another one. When you have an opportunity or anything you want actually “slip through your fingers” or pass you by; it can be the best thing that ever happens to you if you realize what you could have had and what caused it to “vanish.” When you do, you are able to learn from the experience and be extra motivated to do better for when the next opportunity comes along.

To have something “slip through your fingers” is nothing to really be upset about (although it can be) but rather it can be a rewarding experience for those willing to learn and adapt. For those that are, the experience/s can and often is one of the most important factors in their later success/es in life. So when was the last time you had something “slip through your fingers?” What did you learn from the experience; did you learn something? Don’t dell on miss opportunities, but instead, learn from them.

 

 

Is Sacred Over Rated?

This is a response to the one-word prompt “Sacred” by “The Daily Post.”

Once upon a time the word sacred actually meant something; it should still mean something in today’s world and for some it does. Yet, I cannot help but fear that the weight and meaning behind calling something sacred is somewhat lacking. According to Merriam-Webster to be sacred, something is to either be worthy of religious veneration, entitled to reverence and respect or highly valued and important <a sacred responsibility>.

Looking at those definitions of sacred, we can see that they do still apply in that religion still plays a very important role for many people all over the world, but especially in the United States, and that there are institutions and documents that are very much respected and cause a deep sense of responsibility, (the military, Constitution of the United States, Declaration of Independence). Yet, we also tend to us the word sacred as applied to almost anything that we give value to or view as important to ourselves and or society.

The biggest example I can think of is our politics where politicians will “defend to the death” certain programs and what not because they are “sacred.” I also find that people will tend to call anything sacred if they are in danger of losing it and want to keep it. In both cases,  the things being called and treated as sacred, while may be very important and have great significance to individuals and society at large, don’t rate the high level of respect that being “sacred” does. Being important and valued is not enough to be sacred. To be sacred, something needs to “transcend” its self from the rest of the world. It needs to be bigger than the people and the world.

Even those things that we have traditionally held to be sacred and hold to the requirements of being sacred such as our religions (churches), governing documents, and institutions (military) for those who do hold these things as sacred, it is in a lot of cases a water down version of sacredness. (We honor our military men and women yet use them and abandon them.) By opening the door to what we hold as sacred we have diluted what it means to be sacred, thus lessening the importance of “truly” sacred things.

So is “sacred” overrated in today’s world? Yes, and no, I believe it is much more complicated than that. Yes, to the fact that those things that are truly deserving of being held sacred are not really treated as sacred even if they are respected, and yes to the fact that things that don’t really match what is sacred are held up as such. But no, to the fact that sacredness has really lost its meaning and “power.” That “power” may have diminished but is still there just waiting to be revived.

 

The Election Is Over; What Next?

So Donald Trump has won the 2016 Presidential elections and is now President-elect. What are we to do next? That is the question going through everyone’s mind in the country these last couple of days since the election. From the supporters of Trump and those who did not support him, to his skeptics. How will he govern, will he be a uniter or a divider? Can and will he be able to control himself in order to put together an effective government to get things done?

Now that Trump has won the Presidency, he has a long and difficult road ahead of him; no the nation has a long and difficult road ahead. The nation is still heavily divided upon itself and thus needs healing and while Trump did win overwhelmingly in the electoral vote which is what matters, he lost (though just) the popular vote. Which will only make it more difficult for him to bring the nation together and get consensus to get things done.

I have had my doubts about Trump, a whole lot, and I still do, but he is the Presidential-elect and won fair and square, thus we all in this country, myself included have a duty to at least give him the benefit of the doubt and help him the best we can, for he will be our President. As our President, we want him, no need him to succeed. For when the President of the United States succeeds, “We The People” succeed. But when the President fails, “We The Peole Fail.”

President-elect Trump is going to need all the help and prayers he can get in the coming days and months ahead. From setting up the right transitioning and getting the right cabinet and team formed that will help him to govern; to dealing with all the problems that are facing us as a nation right now and the more that will pop up in the next few years.

Make no mistake, I see rough times ahead both for the United States and the world. From economic and financial issues, to the Heath Care Law (Obamacare), to tearism and dealing with Radical Islamist Extremists and other tensions and hot spots around the glob. Donald Trump when he takes office, he is literally going to have to take off at “light speed” to tackle all the issues and problems heading our way.

So please,  everyone dealing with the shock that Donald Trump is actually going to be President of The United States of America and not liking it too much and perhaps fearing the worse; please remember that like you and me and everyone else he is human. He deserves a chance to prove us wrong about him. Believe me, I have grave concerns about him, and do indeed fear just what he will do with all the power about to be bestowed upon him. But here is the thing, I hope and pray to God that I am wrong, and will greatfully rejoice if I am. What’s that old saying “Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst.”

Immorality Now Rules The United States

The election is over and the people have spoken, though it remains to be seen just what they voted for. It was also a surprising night with just how close the election results were and how well Donald Trump actually did. No one had really seen this coming, Hillary Clinton was the odds on favorite to win and was ahead in all the polls. Yet, here we are with a President elect Donard Trump. What does this say about the country and about us as a people, now that such a man like Trump could be elected President of the “Free World?”

Ever since its founding the United States has been a great country, not because of its power, but because of its goodness and because of the ideals that it has represented. The United States has always been an exceptional nation and a beacon to the world not because of its might or its people, but because it has for the most part been lead by virtue and goodness. It has stood for something greater than its self. Yes, there has been a many a flaws throughout the nation’s history, but despite those glaring flaws, it has strived to do better and be better than it is.

This has been what has always made America great and exceptional. Not because of its people or its leaders, but because of a calling of its people and its leaders to be better than they are. To improve, to self-examine, and to always be aware of one’s deep flaws and the flaws of the people, leaders and the nation as a hole. This is what has caused the United States throughout its history to stand up for the oppressed and to inspire the oppressed to stand up for themselves, even when from time to time, this great nation has its self been one of those keeping some oppressed.

With the Election of Donald Trump to the Presidency, I fear that all of this may change and that would be the greatest travesty in the history of the world. For what does it say about a nation and its people that it would chose for a leader, someone like Trump. A person that is so immoral and out for himself. He very little expresses remorse for his actions or what he says no matter how hurtful. He regularly attacks and just savages anyone who criticizes and disagrees with him. He mocks and belittles people. And he is obsessed with his image and “brand” and how he appears to others. The way he treats women and sees women is just so troubling and yet, says so much about his character or lack of one.

Thus, it is troubling to see a nation such as the United States vote in such a person as President (as leader) of said nation. America has been great because America has been good; in order to be good requires the people and leaders of a nation to be virtuous and moral. With the election of Trump, we as a nation are now entering uncertain times.

To be sure I have great reservations about Donald Trump as President. I was concerned as already said about his immorality, but also his unperdictability and just the plane unknown about just what he would do as President. I hope to God that my concerns are wrong about him, for he will now be my President and just what it would mean for the nation, the world, and the future if they are not. The people have spoken, and for good or ill, Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States of America. Come what may, we will as a nation, I truly believe make it as a nation and as a people if we remember and stick to what has made us “Great.” That being that we have been “Good.”