Filed under: Friends, animals, friendship, stupidity | Tags: friendship, Memories, Morals. Scandals, thoughts
I grew up in Columbus, Ohio. When I was sixteen I took driver’s education during summer school. There were four students to each car and for five days weeks over a 3 month period we learned to drive. It really was a pleasant experience.
One of the exercises was that we each got to drive to Centerburg, Ohio. Centerberg is a small town with only a population of approximately 2000. It is famous for being the geographical center of Ohio. Centerberg is located about 25 miles North-Northeast of Columbus.
For four days in driver’s ed we each got to drive to Centerberg and back to Columbus. It was the longest drive we each had taken to date, so it was exciting. I have a memory of one of my fellow students going left of center while in Centerberg to avoid hitting a squirrel. Funny the things you remember. Fond memories.
Later in life, I developed a great friendship with an individual who grew up in Centerberg and migrated to Columbus to attend nursing school. She stayed in Columbus after that but often travels back to Centerberg. I have gone back with her a couple of times. Fond memories.
So imagine my dismay when I saw in the national press that Centerberg had to cancel its high school graduation this year. Apparently, a member of the senior class hacked into the high school’s computers and stole some tests and some teacher’s notes. Allegedly, the tests and notes were shared with over 50% of the graduating class. Amid investigations and lawsuits, the School Board decided to cancel the graduation ceremony. I guess now Centerberg is known for more than being geographical center of Ohio.
What a shame. What is happening to our ethics, morals and standards? Are we experiencing a moral decline?
What do you think?
Filed under: Friends, animals, politics | Tags: animals, birds, friendship, love
Is the Cardinal (aka the Redbird) our country’s favorite bird? According to the list of state birds, the Cardinal has been selected the state bird by seven states. These are the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. There are only two birds close in number of state birds. These are the Western Meadowlark chosen by six states and the Mockingbird selected by five states.
The Cardinal is a robust, seed eating bird with brilliant red color. The Catholic Cardinals, special advisors to the Pope, adopt their name from this Redbird and the color of their testaments are from the Cardinal’s red coat.
I am a devoted lover of Cardinals. The Cardinal is my friend. See my poetry blog http://jimandfriendspoerty.wordpress.com to feel that friendship. Certainly the Cardinal or the Redbird is my favorite bird.
How about yours?
Filed under: Friends, God, animals, books, cats, friendship, hello, mind, music, politics, spirituality | Tags: books, God, life, spirituality
I started reading Rick Warren’s bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life”. This is the second time for my reading this book; I had read it previously in 2005. The point of the book is you must have a to drive your life. Drive is defined as “to guide, to control, or to direct.” According to the author life without purpose is meaningless. And life driven by something other than purpose (i.e., guilt, resentment, anger, fear, materialism, need for approval) is a life in motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Trivial, petty and pointless — life without purpose. I’m only to Chapter 3 of the book. (You read a chapter a day over a 40 day period. Do you know the significance of 40? A topic for another “Thought”.) But I am already thinking about my purpose. Given that I only read the book and became a subscriber to it’s philosophy a short three years ago, why do I need to think about my purpose? Why do I want/need to read the book again? Do I need to discover my purpose again? Renew it? Change it? Maybe I do; maybe I don’t. We’ll see as I progress over the next 37 chapters and days. Regardless, I do believe that purpose provides a purpose. Huh? That is clear to me. Does purpose drive you? Does purpose direct you? What do you think? More later from me as I progress through “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Filed under: Friends, God, animals, friendship, mind, politics | Tags: friendship, mind, spirituality
Do you view your life as the glass half full or half empty? I have always thought of myself as a half full type of guy. My life has it problems and problems that some days seem insurmountable, but I always try to stay positive and count my blessings. Recently, I was discussing this old adage with a good friend. This friend has one of best outlooks on life of anyone I know. So was I surprised when she told me she does not view her glass as half full. I asked how she could not. She told me I view my glass, my life as “my cup runneth over.” I thought about this and realized that even a half full cup still is half empty. My life is not half empty, but is full of joy, blessings and is just plain good. So I no longer think of my glass, my life as half full. Now my cup is running over. How blessed I am. How about you?
I have been reading the book A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle. And I have been participating in the Oprah Winfrey web seminar on the book every week for the past seven weeks. I also just finished the book Way of the Peaceful Warrior, by Dan Millman. A New Earth is the textbook version, while The Peaceful Warrior is the everyday application of the teachings of being in the now or present. I thoroughly enjoyed both books and believe I am more at peace and happy than at anytime in my life. I commend both books to your reading. Interesting, A New Earth was published in 2006 and The Peaceful Warrior was published in 1980 and released as a movie in 2000.
. . . from Way of the Peaceful Warrior
A saintly woman was walking along the edge of a cliff. Several hundred feet below her, she saw a dead mother lion, surrounded by her crying cubs. Without hesitation, she leaped off the cliff so that they would have something to eat.
What do you think?
I posted five new pictures of my cat Huey on his MySpace page this morning. See the link to Huey’s MySpace page. He is such a joy. And then I think how cruel we are to dogs and cats. Do you see the Oprah Winfrey show on puppy mills this past week. It was how we breed for profit. And the breeding is extremely cruel. Dogs never allowed out of cages. Overbreed to they are ill. No medical attention. And when they can no longer breed, they are shot and killed. What is wrong with us. Whether you like dogs or cats or not, how can we tolerate this cruelty? All for profit. What is wrong with America? With the world? Granted there are more pressing issues and concerns facing the world. But if we as a society can tolerate the inhumane treatment of animals. . .it says a lot about us as human beings. And it is not something to be proud of. Fixing this is simple. Outlaw puppy mills. Outlaw the killing of cats and dogs. (Killing is permitted on many states, so when the breeding ability ends, the dogs are just killed.) And stop buying pets from puppy mills. Cruelty to animals must stop. Step up! Don’t tolerate! It’s that simple! What do you think?
Previously I wrote what a wonder pets are to helping us achieve inter peace and stillness. Then it is no surprise that I wholeheartedly support all the many groups opposing cruelty to animals. While I still eat turkey, chicken and fish, I wonder. Is this right? And to use animals for sport, to test, etc., is just undoubtedly wrong. Wearing of furs…how could you! Support animal rights…they are living creatures that some say are as intelligent as human beings, maybe smarter than some. What do you think?
