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Entry Category: Uncategorized
Published On: 02-24-2008 13:16 PM
How can you go from being a Christian minister to being a philosophical Taoist? Does that mean you never really believed? Were you a charlatan? Of course, my answer is no, I wasn’t a charlatan and yes, I did really believe. I think of it like this. When I was a young boy, I rode a green bicycle with a banana seat. It was wonderful. I loved my bicycle and had great fun on it. Then, somehow, as I grew up, the bicycle no longer meant as much to me. Now, I hardly ever ride one and when I do, it doesn’t produce the same feelings it used to. The bike was replaced by something “more.” It became as much a necessity for me to move on from the bicycle as a desire on my part. That does not mean that my love for my green bicycle was a fraud, or that I have any animosity toward bicycles. My bicycling friends are fine with the fact that I don’t ride with them anymore and I respect their love for bicycling.
To me, philosophical Taoism is a natural growth, another “stage” of spiritual maturity – not “better” or “worse” than Christianity as it is practiced by the church—but different in the way we Taoists talk about the issues shared by all religious/philosophical perspectives. We, too, talk about moral and ethical issues, life after death, creation, evil in the world, the power of good, etc…. We, too, have a “golden rule” and sacred texts. But the movement from one to the other does not discredit the first. Before college, I really believed Patrick Henry wrote “Give me liberty or give me death”. I found out that he never really gave that speech. I still think Patrick Henry was a great patriot and wonderful speaker, but my understanding of him changed a bit.
Isn’t it ok to change and not feel as if your past was fraudulent?
Published On: 02-24-2008 13:16 PM
How can you go from being a Christian minister to being a philosophical Taoist? Does that mean you never really believed? Were you a charlatan? Of course, my answer is no, I wasn’t a charlatan and yes, I did really believe. I think of it like this. When I was a young boy, I rode a green bicycle with a banana seat. It was wonderful. I loved my bicycle and had great fun on it. Then, somehow, as I grew up, the bicycle no longer meant as much to me. Now, I hardly ever ride one and when I do, it doesn’t produce the same feelings it used to. The bike was replaced by something “more.” It became as much a necessity for me to move on from the bicycle as a desire on my part. That does not mean that my love for my green bicycle was a fraud, or that I have any animosity toward bicycles. My bicycling friends are fine with the fact that I don’t ride with them anymore and I respect their love for bicycling.
To me, philosophical Taoism is a natural growth, another “stage” of spiritual maturity – not “better” or “worse” than Christianity as it is practiced by the church—but different in the way we Taoists talk about the issues shared by all religious/philosophical perspectives. We, too, talk about moral and ethical issues, life after death, creation, evil in the world, the power of good, etc…. We, too, have a “golden rule” and sacred texts. But the movement from one to the other does not discredit the first. Before college, I really believed Patrick Henry wrote “Give me liberty or give me death”. I found out that he never really gave that speech. I still think Patrick Henry was a great patriot and wonderful speaker, but my understanding of him changed a bit.
Isn’t it ok to change and not feel as if your past was fraudulent?
Entry Tags: This blog has no tags.
Entry Category: Uncategorized
Published On: 02-17-2008 11:22 AM
My blogs fill a much needed gap, so I’ll keep it brief. Egotism, idiocy or laziness, you be the judge. I would, however, suggest those three are not the only choices. Or maybe they are. Looking it up would take too much energy. Nevertheless, saying more is often futile. On the other hand, we both agree that one of us is completely disagreeable. You’re right, it’s probably me. This is what I think, unless you convince me to think something else. Then I’ll think that, and I won’t think what I thought.
Does anyone else think life is too filled with the above?
Published On: 02-17-2008 11:22 AM
My blogs fill a much needed gap, so I’ll keep it brief. Egotism, idiocy or laziness, you be the judge. I would, however, suggest those three are not the only choices. Or maybe they are. Looking it up would take too much energy. Nevertheless, saying more is often futile. On the other hand, we both agree that one of us is completely disagreeable. You’re right, it’s probably me. This is what I think, unless you convince me to think something else. Then I’ll think that, and I won’t think what I thought.
Does anyone else think life is too filled with the above?
Entry Tags: This blog has no tags.
Entry Category: Uncategorized
Published On: 02-10-2008 10:17 AM
I am a librarian. That is worse than being a “male nurse.” People come into the library and instinctively say “Hi, ladies” as they enter the room (which can be tough for a former Marine). Invariably, even though I wear a name tag and sit at the “big desk”, people ask where the librarian is. I’m not whining about that. It has become a joke and we laugh about it.
What I’m whining about today is the serious form of misandry that seems to be creeping up on society. Misandry is the opposite of misogyny, and they are completely unacceptable to me. Just as it was wrong to label women as weak, stupid or incapable, so it is wrong to do the same to men. Yet, looking at the commercials, books, sitcoms and such, one would think it is perfectly acceptable to label men as stupid, sex addicted liars. I had a religious studies major at Alabama. In those days, we had to take nine hours of “Women’s Studies” courses. I was usually the only man there, too. I remember my classmates arguing that men were incapable of raising children, should never be left alone with daughters and were the sole reason crime, war, deceit and sin existed at all.
What spurned this little tirade happened recently at the library. You should know that I love children. My favorite part of Sunday morning when I was a minister was the Children’s Moment and Baby Dedications. Yet, to this day, if I am in the children’s section of the library, I will notice mother’s herding their daughters out from the bookshelves. If I go to school to pick up my son, who I have equal physical and legal custody of, even though my ex-wife and I are close friends and have a great relationship, the teachers won’t let me leave campus with him without running to tell her. It is embarrassing to both of us and gives the message to my son that I am not to be trusted because I’m a man.
I know there are lots of crazies out there. But is there one brave woman who will speak up for men? Or is revenge and the heady gloating of retaliatory discrimination too great?
There are a few men who deserve better.
Published On: 02-10-2008 10:17 AM
I am a librarian. That is worse than being a “male nurse.” People come into the library and instinctively say “Hi, ladies” as they enter the room (which can be tough for a former Marine). Invariably, even though I wear a name tag and sit at the “big desk”, people ask where the librarian is. I’m not whining about that. It has become a joke and we laugh about it.
What I’m whining about today is the serious form of misandry that seems to be creeping up on society. Misandry is the opposite of misogyny, and they are completely unacceptable to me. Just as it was wrong to label women as weak, stupid or incapable, so it is wrong to do the same to men. Yet, looking at the commercials, books, sitcoms and such, one would think it is perfectly acceptable to label men as stupid, sex addicted liars. I had a religious studies major at Alabama. In those days, we had to take nine hours of “Women’s Studies” courses. I was usually the only man there, too. I remember my classmates arguing that men were incapable of raising children, should never be left alone with daughters and were the sole reason crime, war, deceit and sin existed at all.
What spurned this little tirade happened recently at the library. You should know that I love children. My favorite part of Sunday morning when I was a minister was the Children’s Moment and Baby Dedications. Yet, to this day, if I am in the children’s section of the library, I will notice mother’s herding their daughters out from the bookshelves. If I go to school to pick up my son, who I have equal physical and legal custody of, even though my ex-wife and I are close friends and have a great relationship, the teachers won’t let me leave campus with him without running to tell her. It is embarrassing to both of us and gives the message to my son that I am not to be trusted because I’m a man.
I know there are lots of crazies out there. But is there one brave woman who will speak up for men? Or is revenge and the heady gloating of retaliatory discrimination too great?
There are a few men who deserve better.
Entry Tags: This blog has no tags.
Entry Category: Uncategorized
Published On: 02-03-2008 10:33 AM
Ok, I admit it. I like keeping up with Brittany Spears' daily life. Not just because I'm a creepy old man :0, but because I need a full set of pressure values in life these days. Time was I didn't have to worry about so much. The color of dye in my cereal, baby seals, melting ice caps, 2012, my priest molesting my son, etc.... I didn't know so much, and so, didn't care so much. Now, in this information age, I know too much. Every moment is filled with reality, and reality requires thought, caring and action. I'm tired of caring about so much at the end of the day.
So, I keep up with Brittany. She is real, but her reality is not mine. I can't do anything about her problems. I can't save her, counsel her, changer her. All I can do is watch. It's freeing. I don' t have to donate to her cause, recycle, protest or write my congressperson. Yes, I feel compassion for her, but she is one problem in this world for which I am not directly responsible.
Brittany is one of my pressure valves. Does anyone else have these, or am I just strange?
Published On: 02-03-2008 10:33 AM
Ok, I admit it. I like keeping up with Brittany Spears' daily life. Not just because I'm a creepy old man :0, but because I need a full set of pressure values in life these days. Time was I didn't have to worry about so much. The color of dye in my cereal, baby seals, melting ice caps, 2012, my priest molesting my son, etc.... I didn't know so much, and so, didn't care so much. Now, in this information age, I know too much. Every moment is filled with reality, and reality requires thought, caring and action. I'm tired of caring about so much at the end of the day.
So, I keep up with Brittany. She is real, but her reality is not mine. I can't do anything about her problems. I can't save her, counsel her, changer her. All I can do is watch. It's freeing. I don' t have to donate to her cause, recycle, protest or write my congressperson. Yes, I feel compassion for her, but she is one problem in this world for which I am not directly responsible.
Brittany is one of my pressure valves. Does anyone else have these, or am I just strange?
Entry Tags: This blog has no tags.
Entry Category: Uncategorized
Published On: 01-20-2008 10:23 AM
I have the most wonderful wife. She is jealous. Isn't that cool? She yearns for me. It is so important to know that someone yearns for you. I think most of our lives are spent in the hope that someone will yearn for us. Men, I know, who are faithful husbands still really, really want the cute check out girl to wink at them. We need to know that we don't walk through life anonymous, unseen, unwanted. I don't have much experience with women, but I suspect they are the same way. My wonderful wife needs to know that she is the apple of my eye, and she is. Probably because she yearns for me.
Maybe that is the key spreading happiness. If we yearn for each other, everyone gets to feel wanted, attractive, desirable...which is the very reason we spend billions of dollars on make up, diets, following pop stars through their lives, clothes, etc.... It seems to me that it all boils down to wanting to feel wanted.
My wonderful wife wants me. And I want her. "I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day...."
Published On: 01-20-2008 10:23 AM
I have the most wonderful wife. She is jealous. Isn't that cool? She yearns for me. It is so important to know that someone yearns for you. I think most of our lives are spent in the hope that someone will yearn for us. Men, I know, who are faithful husbands still really, really want the cute check out girl to wink at them. We need to know that we don't walk through life anonymous, unseen, unwanted. I don't have much experience with women, but I suspect they are the same way. My wonderful wife needs to know that she is the apple of my eye, and she is. Probably because she yearns for me.
Maybe that is the key spreading happiness. If we yearn for each other, everyone gets to feel wanted, attractive, desirable...which is the very reason we spend billions of dollars on make up, diets, following pop stars through their lives, clothes, etc.... It seems to me that it all boils down to wanting to feel wanted.
My wonderful wife wants me. And I want her. "I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day...."
Entry Tags: This blog has no tags.
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