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Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Questioning Hope, Learning, Love, Hurt, Stupid, and Genius

 

“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
-- Shel Silverstein

 

When all seems lost, where is hope?

Hope is hiding where it seems.  All is not lost. When all seems lost, you will find hope where it seems. It just “seems” lost. As long as it seems… then, hope will still be with us.

What should you realize by the age of 30?

You aren’t getting any younger.

Wisdom comes at us when we least expect it. Most of us are wise and don’t really understand. Some of us are wise and hold it over people. Some of us are wise, understand it, smile, and are humble about it. And, some are too busy, or, don’t want to be bothered with wisdom. Those who are truly wise, however, are humble about it.
What do you think of dictator Putin recruiting 133,000 more men for the Russian Army?
Recruiting? He is a dictator. He doesn't recruit.
What is your personal definition of a "hero"? Have you ever had an opportunity to act like a hero? If so, what happened?
A hero is willing to put their life on the line to keep others safe. First responders, police, military, and many others, are in my definition of what “hero” means.
Is 48 too young to be a grumpy old man?
No, but when you are a really “old man” it will be redefined for you.
"I see what the problem is here. I'm talking in English, and you're listening in dumbass."
-- Clint Eastwood
What motivates you to learn? How does learning benefit you personally?
Life. We are here in this life to learn. Everything else supports the prime objective. Learning benefits me by completing the main reason for me being here. I am fulfilling my destiny in this life, and I will fulfill my destiny in the next, and so on.
What was your worst time ever?
Air Force basic training. The only thing good about it… was thinking of Army boot camp.
What are you, single or married?
Single. I went through a divorce and swore I’d never go through that again. I am happily living with my life partner for the past 20 years. It is a breath of fresh air, compared to being suffocated.
What’s the most valuable skill you’ve learned that schools didn’t teach you?
Supervision and management. 
What did you do to earn your last spanking? 
Other than screwing up by calling her “Madam” and licking her kneecaps? I had to learn the name is “Mistress” and I’m supposed to lick her toes.
What is the best quotes for teachers?
Teaching would be a nice change. Try this:
“Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”
-- William Butler Yeats
How do I show my boyfriend more love?
A blowjob comes to mind.
How does atheism address the idea that life needs meaning to have value?
Atheists have much meaning in their lives. It is, probably, the only life they will have, so they need to make meaning in it. They have meaning and value, they just don’t have God. One belief, among all the beliefs they have. For Christians, it is a big miss. For atheists, it is just a bother. 
Is sarcasm necessary?
No, but it can be funny.
Describe the importance of ethics in organizations. What are the central ideas to focus on?
You can answer the importance and the central idea of good “ethics” in one word: Honesty. 
Reader comment: Honesty and integrity.

My reply: To my mind, if you have honesty you have integrity.

Reader reply: Touche….you are right. I guess the "integrity piece" is being honest, even when no one is watching.

My reply: Indeed.
Is life important or worship?
Life is important. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to worship.
How can someone cultivate wisdom without relying solely on formal education or life experiences?
Wisdom doesn’t rely on formal education, more than it does on life experiences. If you have paid attention to life, you have cultivated serious wisdom many would like to latch onto.
"When one door of happiness closes, another one opens; but we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."
-- Helen Keller
Can a man get over being hurt by a woman?
Get over, yes. Forget, no. Hurt is a survival instinct. Try not to be hurt more than once.
In this day and age, how do you know if you are good or evil?
You know the same way you did yesterday. If you do good you are not evil. Evil is similar to good in that it is self-defining. You are either good or evil. You can’t have it both ways. Some people think they can, but they really can’t.
Do I need an honest wife?
It is much better than a “dishonest” wife. You can take my word for this.
My wife wants different men in bed. What should I do?
Crack open a beer, get a comfortable chair, and bring on the entertainment. Or, you can divorce her — your choice. Personally, I’d bring on the entertainment. But, that’s just me.
What do you call the wife of a pastor?
The pastor’s wife.
My husband left me for a 19-year-old woman. What should I do?
Go shopping for a 19-year-old man. What is good for him is just as good for you. Actually, it will be better… if you ride the horse. Your husband is only good for one shot. You can ride till your eyes explode.
“If you spend your time hoping someone will suffer the consequences for what they did to your heart, then you're allowing them to hurt you a second time in your mind.”
-- Shannon L. Alder
What do you do to get away from stupid people?
Leave.
Do you like getting treated like a stupid person?
The last man who treated me like a “stupid person” I nudged him off the three-foot-high platform, into the mud. “Oh, sorry! I’d help you out, but, I’m too stupid to know where to start.” I turned and went inside, out of the rain. I was chewed out by the officer in charge, and then he smiled and congratulated me for fast thinking. I was rewarded with the man’s supervisory position, a week later.
Can being mindful and aware lead to a better and safer reality?
It’s much better than going around with a blindfold over your eyes.
Does the wise man trust women?
Does a wise woman trust men? Both sides would like to put “sin” on the other when both sides are equally capable of the same sin. Both genders can be equally crap when it comes to fidelity. 
Are most women even worthy of trust?
Again... Are men?
Do you agree with Stephen Hawking’s scathing criticism of IQ as a measure of intelligence, “People who boast about their IQ scores are losers”?
Hawking was right. To boast how “intelligent” you are makes you a loser in the minds of many “smart” people. To be a braggart is to hold your “ego” so high that everyone knows you’re ignorant.
"Noise proves nothing. Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid."
-- Mark Twain
How can I show my genius to the world?
Don’t. You will come off as a showoff and a braggart.
Is it true that calling someone stupid can make them less intelligent? Are there more respectful ways to describe someone who is not very intelligent?
For those susceptible to “ignorant” name-calling they might become less intelligent. Ignorant is what I’d call someone who is not very intelligent. Oh… I see I’ve used the name twice in my answer. It must be right.
When in your life did you understand to never underestimate human stupidity?
When I was in Air Force Intelligence.
How can being called "smart" be considered rude?
I've not a clue. Most “smart” people have more “moxie” than intelligent people. It is probably why intelligent people rudely call them “smart”.
How does a wise man become emotionally intelligent?
If he is a truly “wise man” he’s already emotionally intelligent.
How do you judge a person a success or failure?
The "judgment" is in the hands of the person being judged. What other people think of someone, has no bearing on what they think of themselves. If people think a person is a failure, but the person is genuinely and truly happy, are they a success? I would think so. What a person thinks of themselves, is more important than anything we can come up with.
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)... There are just some kind of men who... who're so busy worrying about the next world they've never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”
-- Harper Lee
Editor's Note
(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)


Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Monday, October 14, 2024

Questioning Poor, Ignorance, God, Karma, Experiences, and Good

 

"Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses." 
-- Kobe Bryant


Are people poor because they're not producing anything?
Like work? Probably. Or, they are spending beyond their means.
What was your most embarrassing moment in front of a female doctor?
In the Air Force. She grabbed a handful of my package and told me to look to the side and cough. The cough was pathetic. She asked me, “What was that?” I told her that was all she was going to get, with her hand grabbing my package. She smiled and told me we were done. 
Where did the wise man learn to think?
At the School of Hard Knocks.
How does a wise man treat his fellow man?
With the same respect, the “fellow man” shows him. A good rule of thumb is that you give what you receive. Life is funny that way. Or, you can let people walk all over you. Not the best option.
How does a wise man deal with his opinions?
He doesn’t. They are only opinions.
Is atheism an attempt to make God subservient to man?
Atheism does not recognize a “God” figure. So, why would they attempt to make a being, they don’t believe in, subservient to man? As an atheist, this would make little sense.
“A god that doesn’t manifest in reality is indistinguishable from a god that doesn’t exist.”
-- Matt Dillahunty
How ignorant is the wise man?
Not as ignorant as the man who isn’t wise.
What is the significance of a man saying "I love you more" to his wife?
By saying this, he is demeaning the love she might feel for him. For all he knows, she might love him, so much more, but loves him enough not to tell him so he feels his love is insignificant to her.
Does the wise man get stuck in his ways?
If he does, he isn’t very wise.
What is the purpose of life if nothing in this world is permanent?
Learning. The only purpose for us to be here is to learn. Everything else supports the main objective of learning. If you don’t learn, you are wasting your time here.
Does the wise man jump to conclusions?
That wouldn’t be very wise of him, would it?
What is the purpose of life if everything has a beginning and an end?
Learning. Everything revolves around learning. Learning has a beginning and an end, and then it starts, all over again, in the next life. We never stop learning until we reach Nirvana, and then, we may continue learning.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Which God is best?

There is only one God, but many definitions of His existence. The stories we have of “God,” may not be stories of the true God. Stories have been handed down, embellished, and told with strength and meaning. This doesn’t mean they are true. We take the stories on faith. Read “Genesis,” in the Bible, and see how many issues you come up with. And, this is only the first chapter. It is a good book, but you have to take the stories as they are - stories.
Why is the wise man alone?
Because he wants to be.
What is the purpose of the importance of time, in life?
There is usually a beginning and an end. Time is the way we tell people how long they have to accomplish things. With time, projects would be finished... on time.
What phrases do you like to hear during sex?
"Yes… YES… Oh, God… YESSSSSS!" Or, do you mean... from her?
Life ends, but problems do not end. Why?
Learning. Everybody is here to learn. Just because your life ends, doesn’t mean the learning ends for everybody else. You are out of this game, but the game continues without you. Learning is the prime directive.
How does the wise man know if "happy" happened or not?
If he smiles, “happy” happened. The wise man is usually smiling, because he’s usually happy.
"Ignorant men raise questions that wise men answered a thousand years ago."
-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 
Can we break free from karma?
Nope. Karma is always there to punish the unpunishable.
I only meet guys who are only out for sex. What is wrong with me?
Try not going to bed with them. The "nice" guys will ask you if you’re into a relationship, first. This will come after several dinners where you both had a great time. Then, again, if you feel like you need to screw their eyes out, first… head on. But, be realistic about the endgame.
Why are atheists involved in a love/hate relationship with God?
Atheists don’t believe in God, so where is this “relationship” coming from?
What is your opinion on atheist judges making decisions based on their personal moral beliefs?
Moral beliefs are just that, good moral judgments. It seems many people think that good moral character is only the purview of the religious. It isn’t. You can have a good moral character without believing in God. You only have to believe in good moral character. What is good is still good, regardless of your belief in God.
Is [this site] full of idiots and trolls?
Maybe.  And, you are…?
Is atheism just a lie?
Any more, or less, than theism. Both sides have a “proof” problem. Neither side can provide incontrovertible proof to their argument. One side will simply die, and the other side may be in for another life. But there is no concrete proof for either side. It’s kind of humorous... when you think of all the hoopla both sides go through, thinking they are right.
“Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth - the universe looks suspiciously like a fix. The issue concerns the very laws of nature themselves. For 40 years, physicists and cosmologists have been quietly collecting examples of all too convenient "coincidences" and special features in the underlying laws of the universe, that seem to be necessary in order for life and, hence, conscious beings, to exist. Change any one of them and the consequences would be lethal. Fred Hoyle, the distinguished cosmologist, once said it was as if "a super-intellect has monkeyed with physics".
-- Paul Davies
What makes our experiences different even when we are in the same place?
Personal preference. Not everybody wants to do the same things.
Why do millennials and post-millennials delusionally think they can “invalidate” established facts and ways of thought from before they were born, generally because those concepts require actual work and discipline?
Well, you have answered your own question. Millennials and post-millennials aren’t real keen on doing work. They have no discipline. It is better for them to “invalidate” established facts than to do the work required to make them look good.
What does the wise man do for a living?
Whatever he feels like doing. Being “wise” does not prevent a person from doing what they want.
Has anyone lost all hope but then had it restored?
I think many people have lost all hope. Some of them have seen it restored. As for myself, I have never lost hope. Hope is the basis for faith, and I have much faith in our military to fight for peace worldwide. I will never lose hope.
Why do you never go to that one restaurant anymore?
The food began to suck, and it got more expensive.
Who is to say if the wise man is wise or not?
Everybody has freedom of opinion. But, the wise person only knows that they have been given wisdom to do good things with it. What everybody says about them is immaterial. When the world goes to “hell in a handbasket”, a wise person will try to pick up the pieces. It is what wisdom does.
"Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way."
-- Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Why should good triumph over evil?
To keep the balance in the universe.
How is game theory used in everyday life?
If you are learning, it is important. If you could give a shit, not so much. Many times what we learn has much to do with games. Game theory would be very important.
Which quality or qualities make your friends/family proud of you?
I’m selfless in my help for others. I don’t brag about it, but I think that would be it.
What would you do if you get a chance to fix your biggest mistake in life?
The biggest mistake in my life was marriage. I can’t fix her head, and even if I could, she gave the world two marvelous children. She actually did two things right in her life. My “biggest mistake” will have to stand as a tribute to my children.
Reader comment: You’re lucky to have marvelous children, considering the circumstances of your former marriage. You don’t hear that kind of thing very often.

 Why does the wise man do what he does?

Because he is wise.
Is it true that one person doesn't matter in a world with billions of people? Why or why not?
A single life is very valuable to the world of people. How many people need to die before people see a detriment? The person we save may be the doctor that saves your life. Are they valuable?
"You have this one life. How do you wanna to spend it? Apologizing? Regretting? Questioning? Hating yourself? Dieting? Running after people who don't see you? Be brave. Believe in yourself. Do what feels good. Take risks. You have this one life. Make yourself proud."
-- Beardsley Jones
Editor's Note
(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)


Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Questioning Realizations, Interviews, Philosophers, Wisdom, and Spiritual

“The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.”
-- Marcus Aurelius

What are some of the most profound realizations you've had about yourself, during moments of solitude?
I’m fine. Taking everything that has happened to me in life, I’m fine. I smile at the realization. I have good friends, smoke excellent cigars, and drink the best bourbon. I’m not married, anymore, and I’m financially well off. I smile at that, also. But, the most important factor in my life… is that I’m fine. I’m still smiling.
Can souls exist without ever being in a human form?
According to religion, yes.
Why is it so hard to meet someone nice?
Maybe, you’re trying too hard to meet someone handsome and nice? How about meeting someone with a work ethic? Maybe, not so good-looking. Maybe, someone who is always nice, not just to impress. I’m not the best-looking guy, but I have dated my share of good-looking women, looking for the perfect man. My problem was that most of them were shallow. So, I started looking for a good friend, instead. We’re not married, but we’ve been “best friends” for over 20 years. Sometimes our “priorities” get the best of us.  
Reader comment: People are so foolish to think there is anyone “perfect “, it’s just ridiculous to me.

Another reader comment: Ok, I know your thoughts. 
What makes some wise and intelligent people avoid leadership positions?
Because wise and smart people avoid leadership positions. The intelligent grab the reins.
Which would you prefer: being a good leader without any friends or being a bad leader with many friends?
If I were a good leader, I would have many good friends. A bad leader would have bad friends. 
Why do good people choose bad leaders?
Ignorance. They don’t do their homework. They believe the press, which is dicey, at best.
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
-- Isaac Asimov
What was the shortest interview you’ve had that led to a job offer?

Corporate Liaison, when I retired from the Air Force. The VP looked at my resume and, then, he asked me if I would always agree with him. I told him that if we were in public, I would hold my tongue until we were in private. Then, I would chew his ass. He raised an eyebrow and hired me. He didn’t like ass-kissing people he couldn’t get honesty from. 
Why do people communicate?

To exchange information. 
How is being born with a lot of wisdom defined?
One in a million. “Born with wisdom” is nearly impossible, since wisdom is a learned trait. The only way I could see an infant would have wisdom is if they remembered the wisdom from their past life. One in a million.

 In a gay wedding, who walks down the aisle?

The bride. 
How is life different after you go golden at work?
Stress. Now you have to stay “golden” or suffer the consequences. It was a “label” I didn’t pay much attention to. In this way, if I lost the label, I wasn’t devastated. I simply worked on. As it worked out, I never lost the label… not that I cared.
How does a wise man become a leader?
Because his “wisdom” appeals to the people he represents. Gandhi is a perfect example.
“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Who are some meaningless philosophers today?
I have to laugh! That would be me.
Why do less ambitious and educated people tend to find easier jobs and even keep it, but I, as well educated and ambitious, struggle?
You are applying for the wrong rung on the ladder. If the less ambitious and less educated are finding these jobs, why are you still applying for jobs at that level? They are looking for idiots they don’t have to pay a lot of money to have. Go up a couple of levels, and tell the people why you are there.
What do you think of the name Shiloh Levi Enos?
If the child is Jewish, it makes much sense.
My vision is to support humanity. We should, also, set their goals so that, because of hunger, they can be mischievous or have a bad personality. What is your view?
There will be mischievous people and people with bad personalities, regardless of your vision, plans, goals, or their hunger. It is an unplanned "balance" that the universe demands. It has little to do with you.
What does the understanding of something, give us?
Knowledge. We are here to learn.
What is the hardest truth about fitness?
It requires perseverance and hard work… if you plan to get anything out of it. If you do it occasionally, it will do nothing for you, except, maybe, give you a heart attack.
“Most people fail, not because of lack of desire, but, because of lack of commitment.”
-- Vince Lombardi
Does the wise man question everything?
Because they are wise, and wisdom questions what it doesn’t know. This is how one becomes wise.
What is madness?
A state of being mentally ill.
Is there a way to determine mankind's purpose in life, if there is one?
Learning. There is only one. Everything we are trained to do is learn and then to act. From the first steps we take we are learning the basics of life. We continue to learn until we die. Why? Because we are reborn and then continue our learning process.
Isn't it obvious that professional psychologists are trained pathological liars, and, that actually, it's their job to lie, all the time, about everything? Isn't "redirection" just lying and manipulation to control people, really?
You are seeing the wrong “professional” psychologists.
Is it true that good people work for evil?
 
If they do, they are ignorant to the evil, or they just don’t care, or they are forced. If it were me, I’d quit, even unto to death, before I did anything evil. It is a free choice. 
How do philosophers define the concept of freedom?
Try this:

"...the true definition of personal freedom is the liberty to devote oneself to what matters most."
-- Lars Svendsen
How do I become a perfect spiritual person?
Don’t strive for perfection. Nobody can attain that. Strive for excellence. This is a goal that many of us can attain. Be an “excellent” spiritual person.
What word or phrase do you repeat more than 3 times per day?
“Thank you!”
Doesn't reject the truth have some consequences that trigger the process of forgetting the truth in our minds and damage mental stability?
Rejecting the truth, like Kamala Harris, can damage mental stability. In time, you forget what the truth is. You tend to live a fairy book life, like Hillary Clinton, forgetting everything important to the people you want to lead.
Be honest! Do you love nature? A. Yes, B. No.
A. (I'm not sure why I couldn't just say "yes," to the question.)
What would you do if I guaranteed you that you will get what you desire if you face your biggest fear?
I’m 71 years old. My biggest fear is death, and I am forced to face it every day. What I desire you can’t deliver. Life and death are in the hands of the omniscient creator of all that is.
Is it just me, or is the internet becoming more and more toxic?
It’s not you.
"15 years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world. Now, the real world is an escape from the internet."
-- Noah Smith
What does a wise man do if nobody believes in him?
He smiles. It really doesn’t matter what others believe. The truth will eventually come out and the wise person will be vindicated. The wise person knows this.
What kind of woman is worthy enough to be the wise man's wife?
A wise woman.
How does a wise man prove himself to the world?
He doesn’t. A wise man is too wise to prove himself to anybody, especially the world. Wisdom is something one may teach. But, a wise person is humbled by so many things. Being wise is the epitome of humility. A wise person may smile, a knowing smile, just to let you know... they are aware.
Is it wise to call the wise man stupid?
Only if you’re an ignorant ass.
How does a wise man become a fool?
Too much of a good thing. For me, it would be bourbon. Truth be known, the wise are always under scrutiny by someone. This is why the wise person only cares what they know, not what others think of them.
Will God judge us based on our knowledge or the knowledge of the Bible?
God will judge us on how good we have been.
“The heart of the gospel is that Christ has come to save us from the judgment of God.”
-- Colin S. Smith
Editor's Note
(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)


Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Questioning Height, Pickup, Hate, Jobs, Revenge, and Speaking

“Your next lesson is this: all women are the same height lying down.”
-- Patrick Rothfuss


What if everybody in the world was the same height?
There would be something else that people would criticize. People need something to bitch about. Size has been one of their "go-to" critiques.
How do you stop being angry about the abuse you’ve suffered?
The only abuse I’ve suffered was mental, in Air Force basic training. Four of us inspected, all of our uniforms, for “tags” left in the pockets by “cleaners.” We got rid of them and they miraculously reappeared, again. That was obvious bullshit. I confronted the training instructor and the “abuse” stopped. I was assigned a cushy "extra" detail.
How do I deal with my husband who constantly contradicts me? It’s exhausting.
You must have married him for that trait. Yes? If the answer is no... well, you need to seriously think about what you’re doing and talk to your husband.
Does it really pay to get your hopes up?
Sometimes, “hope” is all you have. Without hope, you can’t have faith. If you have faith in the hope you have, maybe things will work out for the best. If not, it is a learning moment. And we are all here to learn.
What do you think of the name Chester Bradley Webb does it flow well?
Yes, and it’s one of the best I’ve heard.
Are there any real natural-born leaders in this world?
Yes, but most of them need to have their leadership drawn out. The military can do this, as can a corporation. The bulk of our leaders need to be thrown into the fire, so we can see how they will react. Many think they don’t have the skills, but if you put them on the “battlefield” with no leader, they will act accordingly, to get the job done.
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
-- William Arthur Ward
What’s the smoothest pickup line you’ve ever heard?
“Wanna f#%k?” The smoothest pickup line is short and to the point. This “pickup line” stops all conversation within earshot. If you smile, she will probably smile, and, right there, you have humor in common. A little light conversation… and who knows what the night will bring? 

How much sex is enough sex?

We’re still working on that.
How can one break out of a rut? Is it better to accept it or try to change it?
Try to change it. Being in a “rut” is the worst thing that can happen to you. Accepting it is surrendering to the enemy. I went to my boss and told him I was in a rut. He asked what would make it better. He actually listened as I droned on. He told me to do whatever I thought would solve the issue, within reason. I became a happy camper… if for no reason except that the boss listened to me.
How has the weakness of others helped you to be successful?
Because they were weak, and I wanted to get ahead. Their leadership qualities were as weak as they were, so it was easy to be successful in my chosen profession.
Is it right or wrong to hate other people?
“Hate” is a terrible word. It is better to “dislike” someone.
Why do we love other people if we don't necessarily need them?
I loved my parents, but when they died it occurred to me that, even though I wanted them, I didn’t need them. At 70 years of age, I am self-sufficient. But, I would love to have them back, if for no reason than to say goodbye. 
“I love you. I don't need you to love me back. I don't need to be with you. I don't need to sleep with you. I don't need you to tell me how beautiful I am every day. I don't need a fairytale love story. I don't need a happily ever after. I don't need you to take care of me when I am feeling sick, or depressed or ask me if I'm okay, even though you know I'm not. I don't need you to hold my hand or give me your coat when it's cold. All I want is to be looked at like I'm actually a human. Not like I'm a contagious freak. All I want is to be something to you, even if it's not special. Just. Something.”
-- Youknownotmyname
I really hate most of humanity. What does that make me?
A possible serial killer, or just a hateful person. The scale is still balancing.
What if I was never born human even though I am living in my body?

If you were never born human, what body are you living in? You are living in your body, so it must be something we can put a name to. Or, it could be alien. Now, if you are in a human body you weren’t born into, how the hell did you get in there? But, you say you were never born human even though you are living in a human body. You see the problem here? Again, how the hell did you get in there? I am so confused. 

What is your favorite kind of threesome?
Two women and me.
How can I have sex without being in a relationship?
How much money do you have? If you want to have sex and not be in a relationship, you will need some cash to pay the hooker. Otherwise, meeting someone and getting them into bed, is the definition of a relationship.
How do you say mean things to people that would hurt them?
I don’t. That would make you ugly, bad, and wrong. It's better to just leave the situation be.
Have you ever gone through a heartbreak?
Several times. The last one was when my wife was screwing other men. I was actually thinking about forgiving her. Then, I got my head on straight and divorced her. That was 24 years ago, and I’ve been ecstatically happy ever since.
“Once you had put the pieces back together, even though you may look intact, you were never quite the same as you'd been, before the fall.”
-- Jodi Picoult
How do I find a job to do at night?
Night watchman.
How do I get more mentally unstable?
I used marijuana… until I was busted. It slowed me down and showed me what other people called “normal” life. That was in the early 1970s.
Are you proud of being alive?
I strive to be truly happy always, and in all things, regardless of my circumstances.
Is the evolution of human intelligence keeping up with the evolution of AI?
No. AI, if not subject to rules, will make the “Terminator” franchise come to life. This is how dangerous “Artificial Intelligence” could be, even with rules and safeguards. AI scares the crap out of me.
What is the purpose of sex?
Procreation. However, it has several “lesser” reasons, like… it’s fun.
What are some ways to cope with anger and betrayal after being cheated on or betrayed by a significant other?
I contemplated suicide, then I realized my living would be the thing that would piss her off. I climbed out of my pit of misery and never looked back, I’ve been truly happy ever since.
“Did you really want to die?"
"No one commits suicide because they want to die."
"Then why do they do it?"
"Because they want to stop the pain.”
-- Tiffanie DeBartolo
How do I get revenge on a bully boss, who also lied and ruined my reputation? Spare me the "move on" or "wait for karma".

So, you really want to risk going to jail over this bullshit? You don’t need to take the “move on” or “wait for karma” safety net. Courts love “revenge” cases. He lied and ruined a reputation that you don’t need to rebuild. It is still intact. You are better off getting as far away from this asshole as you can. But, if you don’t want to be spared the common sense actions, take the bull by the horns and risk the rest of your reputation. Personally, I’d cut my losses and say “good ridden” to this prick.
Would a global famine make people less greedy and prejudiced?
If people are greedy and prejudiced, they will stay that way.
What have you learned in oral communication?
Honesty. State facts, or state that they are opinions. Be concise and brief, in what you say. Do not argue. Let your “communication” speak for itself. If you’re right, it will play out. The next time they might listen.
What moment made you think "This is awesome…oh wait"?
Fireworks at the bar. a drunk set off a firecracker right near my ear. I still have hearing loss years later.
How do I make my husband jealous?
Why? Is the marriage on the rocks? If so, making him jealous won’t fix anything. Sit down and talk to him about your thoughts. If he doesn’t see your point, maybe you have made the wrong choice in husbands.

Is “I’m perfectly imperfect” a thing?

Yes, and I am a shining example of it. “Imperfect” can be a beautiful thing.
"I am perfect in my imperfections, secure in my insecurities, happy with my choices, strong in times of weakness, and beautiful in my own way... I am MYSELF."
-- Unknown 
What is it called when you speak things into existence?
Verbal creation, incantation, or magic? I’m leaning toward incantation.
Is there a higher power that loves us unconditionally, or is life simply a chaotic and meaningless existence?
It depends on if you’re a theist or an atheist. A theist will say, there is a higher power who created us, loves us, and hopes for a belief based on our faith. The atheist probably believes life is simply a chaotic and meaningless existence that they have to work their ass off for, and then die. I think the theist "belief" is best, but then, I’m a sucker for the God particle. 
Is still being in your shell and needing time to open up the same thing as emotional unavailability?
Sounds pretty close.
Why do millennials, and post-millennials, think that trying harder is a substitute for actual talent?
Not being paid for “actual talent” should go a long way to explaining their paycheck. I mean… damn. People are paying the big bucks for talent, not for some fool trying hard to produce talent they don’t have.
Does the truth require sameness in every possible world?
The truth is what it is, “in every possible world.” If it isn’t the truth, then it is a lie.
Is a soul necessary for life? If so, how do plants and animals survive without one?
Who told you they don’t have a soul? Every living entity has a soul. As we progress into higher life forms, our soul accompanies us, as does the soul of a plant or animal. Have you ever heard a plant scream? It will chill you to the bone. Have you ever seen the ghost of an animal? Same effect.
When Great Trees Fall

When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.

When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.

Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.

And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.”
-- Maya Angelou
Editor's Note
(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)


Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

The Tale of Elo and Annie (Updated from 10/25/2015)



Annie saw the old man, as he was the day before, sitting on the garden bench, wearing the same tattered, green wool cardigan sweater and dark corduroy slacks. His well-worn black fedora was set rakishly on his head, with tufts of silver hair sprouting from the sides. The twisted "shillelagh" cane he used, rested against the bench seat within easy reach.

She knew her mother would be annoyed if she found the garden was, again, being frequented by "uninvited" visitors. Since her father had abandoned them for a "passing fancy", Annie knew the planned picket fence would be a long time coming, if ever. With the sidewalk just steps away, "no barrier" was simply an invitation for passersby to rest old bones before continuing. Although Annie saw no problem, her mother saw an invitation for trouble for two women living alone.

The elderly gentleman looked up and smiled at her approach, offering in a quiet tone, “Good morning, Annie!”

“Good morning, sir.” Annie made to sit on the grass before him, accomplishing the movement with the grace of youth. The gentleman smiled.

“Sir is so formal,” he began, “please call me, Elo.”

Annie nodded, “As you wish. That is an unusual name, is it short for something?”

He smiled broadly, which made his old eyes squint, almost shut, behind the magnifying "coke bottle bottoms" framed by his black-rimmed glasses. “Elohay, my dear; Elohay Mikarov.” Several birds landed in the tree above and began to sing. “And, yes, before you ask, it is of Hebrew origin.”

She smiled at his answering of her next question. “So, you are Jewish?”

At this he emitted a small laugh, “I consider myself, non-denominational. One is not responsible for one’s given name, and people should not put too much stock in origins.” He cocked an eyebrow and locked on her eyes, “What is in your heart is important, all else is simply... assumption.”

She cocked her own eyebrow in return, “And we know what "assume" is all about. I did not mean to offend.” She lowered her eyes to look at the grass, embarrassed at a possible misstep. Elo laughed, with more energy this time, as he saw her small discomfort. 

"It can make an ass of you and me?" She blushed at her question.

“My goodness, no! You will have to try harder to offend this old bird.” Elo reached into a pocket of his sweater and removed a crust of bread which he proceeded to pick apart and toss to several of the birds that had landed on the grass. One alighted on his shoulder which elicited a smile from him and a giggle from Annie as he proffered a crumb, gently snatched by the feathered friend.

“The birds seem to like you,” she said.

Elo tossed the last of the crumbs. “All of God's creatures seem to like me.” He locked eyes with her again, a slight frown replacing his smile. “A few people ignore me,” the smile returned, “but, these friends, here," he nodded toward the birds, "keep me company and make my happy.” He gave Annie a sidelong glance. “Are you out and about to give praise and thanks for this beautiful day which God has seen fit to grace us with?”

She looked away to the grass once more. “It isn’t Sunday, and I wouldn’t go to church at any rate. I have little to be thankful for, much less the day.”  The old man continued to toss crumbs without prying further into her comment.

Elo brushed the remaining crumbs from his hands, and reached for his shillelagh, as he was leaning forward in preparation to stand. He stopped and waved a bony finger toward her, “Church is an overrated institution, when you consider this wonderful cathedral,” he opened his hand to wave in an arc from the trees to the sky, “provided by God and nature. Don’t you agree?” He winked and easily stood, despite his slightly hunched physique, offering her a hand.

“Your point is well made.” She accepted his hand and, as he assisted her up, she asked, “Will I see you again?”

He laughed, smiled, and with another wink responded, “Always, my dear, if only in a, hopefully cherished, memory.” And with that he waved, turned, and, reaching the sidewalk, made his way down the tree-lined street. She watched as the birds followed in song, and the leaves of fall seemed to provide a colorful runner of reds, oranges, and gold along his path.

Annie glanced around her, then, more slowly, she looked around her. For the first time since her father had left, she found herself appreciating the beauty surrounding her.

She smiled, looked back down the street, and realized the old man must have made a turn at the corner. “Yes, a good memory.”

Her mother beckoned to her, from inside the house.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days passed and the bench under the tree remained vacant. Annie began to wonder if the old man, Elo, had silently understood his trespass and opted not to return. Perhaps he chose to explore another route for his morning constitutional. But, this Sunday morning was met with a pleasant surprise when she glanced out her window and saw the old gentleman, dressed as before, suddenly appear, sitting on the bench, slice of bread in hand, and birds pecking at pieces already tossed. One minute he wasn’t there, and when she looked again, he was. Pretty fast for a slow moving old fart, she thought.

She slipped into her zip up fleece hoody and hurried out the front door, ensuring not to let the screen slam, but her mother immediately yelled from inside, “Annie! Make sure you put on a sweater if you’re going outside!”

“I have, mother!” she yelled back as she quickly descended the four steps from the porch. The old man looked up from his few feeding feathered clients. “Good morning to you, Annie!” he softly greeted.

“Good morning, sir… I mean, Elo.” quickly correcting her faux pas.  She, again, took up station on the grass just in front and to the side of the old man so as not to interfere with the bird feeding. “This is the second time you called me by name,” she began, yet, I don’t remember ever telling you.”

A look of great concentration appeared, making his face more wrinkled and his brow furrowed. He closed his eyes in concentration and placed an index finger above the bridge of his nose where the third eye would be located.  After a second he removed it and looked at her saying, “There are those who might say, I am all knowing. One might deduce, however, that I am all hearing.” Annie arched a brow, confused at the statement.

He smiled.  “Your mother is loud,” he explained. 

Annie also smiled, and then laughed. “Yes, she certainly is.” Elo let out a small laugh in return and continued tearing the last of the bread heal into crumbs.

She picked at the grass by her knees and the small birds rummaged through what she tossed to the side, searching for some small treasure. Her voice was soft, “I thought, maybe you had found another bench to rest upon. I haven’t seen you in a few days.”

Elo tossed the last of the crumbs to the waiting birds as he reassured her, “I am always around, even if you don’t see me.” 

“Kind of like... God?”

He gave her his sidelong glance. “That borders on sacrilege, Annie.”

She averted her eyes at the use of her name in the admonition, “I’m sorry, mother says my mouth will be my downfall.  It seems to always get me into trouble."  She look back up at him. "I didn't mean to offend.”

The old man gave her a forgiving smile along with a slight shrug. “You speak your mind. That is a good thing.”

He changed back to the topic at hand, “I am flattered that you missed me, though.” Elo reached down and patted her shoulder. “As for not seeing me around, when you get to be my age, people tend to not notice you.” He sat back, “It doesn’t matter how popular you once were in their lives, or yours, you will blend into the background, and people will forget. They’re so wrapped up in the issues they confront their every waking moment; they forget to see the greater forest of life which lies behind.” He brushed the crumbs from his hands and put them in the pockets of his sweater.

Annie nodded in agreement. “I think cell phones, pads, and computers make them blind to even their issues.  They get tunnel vision.”

Elo nodded in return. “Ah! In this we agree. How many people are enjoying a morning conversation, face to face, like we are? Face-to-face conversation is becoming a lost art, as is enjoying nature, having faith, or believing in God.”

Annie cocked her head at this. “Isn’t faith and belief in God the same thing?” she asked.

Elo looked up into the sky, careful not to lose his fedora hat. “Oh, my goodness no, child.” He looked back down and met her eyes. He had the tired look of knowledge, that seems to come with age. He continued, “I’m sure God would rather we have faith that includes the Almighty, but, I think living a righteous, selflessly giving, and moral life, will speak for itself at the time of judgement. Don’t you agree?”

Annie thought for a moment, then, “But, isn’t it one of His commandments, to believe in Him?”

Elo smiled at her error, “This is what mankind does with information; by accident or design we always seem to muck it up. What it commands is that man put no other gods before the Him," he explained.  "As for not obeying the commandment, does this mean everyone you know is going to hell? Who obeys every commandment? If you think about it, all of the commandments, save one, have forgivable levels of guilt. Only murder is truly evil and requires serious penance.  As for forgiveness? Oh, you will do penance for not following the rules, but God will love and forgive you while you do the penance."  

He looked into the sky and looked as if he was remembering something that pained him.  He quietly spoke, "Forgive is what a loving father does, regardless of the transgression."

Annie averted her eyes, “I wouldn’t know.” She felt Elo look her way and she quickly asked him, “But, if you don’t believe in heaven or hell, why would there even be a judgement for heaven… or hell, for that matter? Why not just die and that’s that; dead, black, and that’s it? No bright light to go into, or dead relatives to greet you. No burning flames, Satan, or hell, and no concern about an "afterlife not believed in." No hope, just dead. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Done.”

Elo’s brow rose and his eyes widened. “Where would the Father’s lesson be in that?”

“How would burning in hell, for the rest of eternity, be a lesson?” she answered.

“What makes you think, just because you fail, you won’t have to take the class over again until you pass the test?” Elo shot back.

“So what you propose is... there isn’t a hell?”

“You don’t go to church to sing His praise. Do you think that will pass muster when your time comes?”

“According to you, I shouldn’t have to.”

“Whoa, little girl, not according to me; it says so in scripture.” Elo closed his eyes and recited, “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

With that, Elo opened his eyes, let out a snort, “Like they really think God doesn’t see right through them. I think the best of reasons for people to congregate, is to discuss their faith; this is how faith grows within us. I think "prayer" is your personal relationship with God, and not a public thing.” He suddenly looked sad. “But, I also think there are those transgressions, those sins, which are beyond immediate redemption, forgiveness, or another chance to excel. Without forgiveness,especially for minor transgressions, the number of righteous would rapidly dwindle to zero, and where would God fill the ranks of His "army" then?”

He paused for a second, then, “Maybe there is a level of hell for those who require just a smidgen of corporal punishment, if you will, the nun’s a ruler across the knuckles.” A smile reappeared on his face, along with a twinkle in his eye, as he shot her a humorous look. He stuck a regal pose on the bench, like a king on a throne. He stuck his arm in the air with his index finger pointed up, and proclaimed in a loud, kingly voice, “A good, long, spanking in the dungeon should cure what ails them!” 

They both began to laugh.

As their laughter subsided, Annie asked, “But, what if they never repent?”

Elo took a breath and shrugged, “Then I would suppose the spanking would continue until they do, unto forever.”

“How sad for them,” Annie said quietly.

“Yes,” agreed Elo. “How very sad, indeed.”

They both sat in silence, for a bit, as the birds continued their song and the sun rose higher in the beautiful morning sky.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Annie waited on the bench, Sunday, hoping the elderly Elo would again bless her with another visit. His visits made her feel better about life. He was the mentor her father never provided, and her mother never seemed to have the time for due to work. She assigned no blame to her mother whom she knew was working hard to provide for them. She looked down the vacant street, and over her shoulder. She saw no one out and about either, but, when she looked down the street again, there was Elo making his way slowly toward her, leaning on his twisted shillelagh for support at each step. She got to her feet and walked to meet him.

“Good morning, Elo!” she said as she fell into step beside him.

“Good morning, yourself, Annie!” he replied with a genuine smile. He nodded forward, “Are you up to a walk this morning?”

Annie shrugged, “Sure; where to?”

Elo raised a conspiratorial eyebrow. “I thought we’d enjoy a stroll through our relatives.”

“Excuse me?” Annie knitted her brow and looked confused.

Elo simply smiled at this and explained, “The cemetery, young lady.” The cemetery, in the small town, was just around the corner, two blocks down. 

“Okay, but I have no relatives buried there.”

Elo stopped for a moment and leaned on the cane to rest. He turned to Annie, “Really? You don’t consider all of mankind to be related? Aren’t all of these folks that exist now, or have gone before, part of our greater family?”

Annie rolled her eyes and smiled. “Well, in that sense, I suppose so.”

“Ah!” Elo nodded, “In that sense.”

Annie put her hands on her hips and gave him a serious look. “Hey! Wait a minute. Aren’t you the one who bemoans the fact that you’re invisible to most people because you’re old? Not very family like of them, if you’d ask me.”

Elo’s eyes widened at the admonishment and waved his free hand as if to calm her. “Whoa, Annie. What about forgiveness? Even the most loving family can fail. The family of man fails constantly, but, does that mean we give up on them?” Annie dropped her hands from her hips and softened her look as he continued, “No, of course not.” He began to walk again as he continued to talk.

“People fail constantly. They can lose their way, and get lost. If we show them love, understanding, and tolerance, perhaps they can find their way back to the path. They might even find their way to a better path from the lessons they learn. Who are we to judge the servant of another?”

Annie askerd, “Servant? What makes you judge someone to be a servant?”

The old man laughed, and then smiled as he looked at her. “We all serve at the pleasure of another, don’t we? You report to your mother, others to an employer or debtor, and some to their deity, their God. or to nature. It is part of life.”

Annie met his eyes. “And, who do you serve, Elo?”

He knotted his free hand to a limp fist and lightly knocked on his chest, over his heart. “I serve at the pleasure of time, my dear, and time, regardless of this wrinkled old dinosaur you see before you, is my infinite, never-ending task master.” At that, he laughed.

She hesitated, at her next comment. “But, you will die.”

He laughed again, “Yes! Oh, yes! And time will march on, regardless. I have died before, and I am sure I will die again. It is the nature of the universe that our energy be returned and reused. You see, nature wastes nothing, and abhors a vacuum. Where something once was… there will be something again.” He waved a finger to her. “As you once pointed out, ashes to ashes.  But, it is not the end”

She smiled and mumbled, “Funk to funky.” 

Elo responded in beat with, “We know Major Tom’s a junkie.” She stopped in her tracks as he finished the lyric.

He turned to look at her, and smiled. “What? You think because I’m old I never listened to David Bowie? Ashes to Ashes, 1980. Hard to relate to the young unless you try to keep up. Impressed?”

“And amazed,” she answered. It occurred to Annie, as they started walking again, “I never asked, but, well…”

“Just how old am I?”

Annie nodded.

“Ancient.” he stated. “I am what you young folks affectionately call, older than dirt. I was old when Christ was a corporal. Noah threw me into the water, so I’d learn to swim. The “Big Bang” made me jump. Yadda, yadda, yadda…” He laughed.

Annie gave him her best annoyed look. “So, you’re not telling?”

“Nope.” 

They had arrived at the cemetery gates.

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Being a small conservative town, none of the grave markers were large and ostentatious. Even the few family vaults were less than conspicuous; especially considering it contained a history of residents dating back well over one hundred years. This cemetery was more about the trees and flowering bushes, the pond and the garden path that wound through it; about peace and beauty, a reminder that our death is simply a part of our life, to be cherished and not forgotten.

Annie had taken old Elo’s arm as they walked quietly through the small tombstones in the older section. She was busy looking at the chiseled dates and short testimonials, occasionally pointing one out that was especially interesting. They wound their way through the past into yesterday, heading for the present.

She almost missed a "flat marker" in “yesterday.” Something about what caught her eye... she stepped back a pace, bringing Elo up short. He half turned his aged body and used his neck to make up the difference.

“What have you found?”

She had stepped off the path so she could look down at the slightly tarnished brass plate with a ceramic cabochon etched with the head and shoulders of a middle aged man set in the lower middle, below the name and dates. Elo walked to her side and saw a tear on her cheek. He pulled out a clean handkerchief from his sweater pocket, dabbed the tear, and placed the cloth in Annie’s hand.

“Mom never told me.” She was trying so hard not to lose it, but when Elo placed his arm around her shoulders, she caved and the tears flowed freely.

“Your father.” It was more a statement than a question.

“Ye… yes.” she sobbed. “She never told me. He ran out on us… and died…and she never told me!” She put both arms around the old man and held him as if the action would give her strength, or answers. Maybe hoping it would just make her feel better. Elo gently patted her back and walked her to a one of the small concrete benches placed along the path. 

She hugged his arm and he patted her knee until the crying subsided. A weak, childlike voice asked, “Why wouldn’t she tell me, Elo?” The old man removed his beaten fedora and set it atop his cane against the bench. His voice was low and gentle as he spoke.

“From what you’ve told me, and what I’ve seen in you, there was much pain; plenty to go around for all three of you. Yours was a family beset by turmoil, betrayal, anger, hate, confusion, and a loss love. As I remember, it would seem the date he died was not long after he left... about a year?”

She sniffled, “A little less.”

“You were a younger child. Both of you were hurting. Things were probably said between them in anger, which didn’t help, and you probably heard. Assuming your mother knew, what was she to do? Pile more hurt atop the hurt you were already dealing with? What horrific confusion for one so young to deal with. Sometimes, what we do for those we love, makes little sense to those we love. Even now, you would look to assign blame where there might only be need for gratitude.” 

She gave him a big hug and sat up, wiping the remnants of moisture from her cheeks and eyes with the handkerchief. “Thank you for being here, Elo.” 

She smiled, and so did he.

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Elo and Annie continued to visit, every week, for the next ten years. She never asked where he lived, and he never offered the information. The truth is, after ten years she knew much less about Elo than he knew about her, volumes less. She only realized this as she stood in her mother’s doorway looking at an old scrap of notepaper the polite police officer, hat in hand, had just given her. She unfolded it to find her name and address with a short note:

“Should you happen upon me, and I have passed on, I apologize. Sometimes things just take us by surprise, as my death must have taken me. Please be so kind as to inform my dearest friend Annie, whom I have loved since before she was born. Elohay Mikarov” 

The officer explained to her how they could find no next of kin, and no other public record to show he, the alleged Mr. Mikarov, ever existed. After explaining her relationship to Elo, and the fact she, also, had no further information that could be of help, she smiled and thanked the officer.  While Annie refolded the note, she inquired as to where Mr. Mikarov’s remains had been taken.

After she closed the door, she immediately made two phone calls, one to secure the remains so he would not be buried without dignity, and the second was to secure the services of the mortuary next to their cemetery where he would be laid to rest, at her expense. She smiled as she thought to make sure he would be interred next to young people. He would like that.

As she closed her cell phone she recited to herself, “Ashes to ashes, funk to funky, we know Major Tom’s a junkie.” She dropped the phone as she buried her face in both hands. Finally, slowly, she sank to the floor and cried.

Mourners at graveside consisted of Annie and her mother, dressed in what Elo would have called their "Sunday go to meetin," finest. There was no church service.  A minister said a few kind words, at graveside, from information Annie had provided about the kind of man her friend was. When all was said, she approached the simple coffin and placed a single rose atop the varnished lid, leaving her hand for a moment as she said a silent goodbye then, softly spoke, “I will come visit.”

Every week thereafter, when possible, fresh flowers could be found at the brass marker which simply stated his full name, the year he died and, “He was my friend.”

The corner of the entry hall, by the front door, was the new resting place of a cherished heirloom, an object that would become the center of many stories of an old man that came to visit; stories of life and love, philosophies and faith. The twisted shillelagh would forever remain in her care until, in due time, she would hand it down to another.

And while this time came to pass, she would come to understand the meaning of his name, and what he truly meant to her. She would marry and have children of her own, and they would grow and leave, as would her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, mother, and husband. 

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The old woman could be found, each day, sitting on the weathered concrete bench along the spongy synthetic path that wound through the historic graveyard and city park. She would arrive during her daily walk, slowly making her way with the help of an aged, twisted cane of wood, and place flowers on one particular grave.  She would stand there for a moment and then cross the path to the bench and sit alone for a while.  Throughout the entire exercise she would just smile, as though listening to some private conversation.

A few silent vehicles, powered by systems only dreamed of in her day, made their way out of garages and toward the mag line depot where the occupants would be swept into the city and back again on the Transrapid maglev train. From where she sat, she had watched as a city of gleaming business towers called skypenatrators had, year after year, slowly crept upward into the horizon thanks to further innovations in carbon Nano technology, buttressed cores, and significantly wider bases. Now, the four main towers, housing seventy-five percent of all businesses, could easily be seen from this small town, thirty miles away. Cities had literally “grown up” and not out. More was now less as the footprint of a small city was capable of holding the population and businesses of two or three others.

Early in the morning she normally had the cemetery section of the park to herself. This morning, however, a young teenager was sitting at another bench down the path a bit. He closed his dog-eared copy of Walter Moore’s 1989, Schrodinger: Life and Thought, and placed it under his arm as if to leave. He glanced over to the elderly woman, thought for a second, then casually approached.

He held his book in front of him with both hands at his beltline as he stood to one side and offered, “Good morning.”

The old woman looked up squinting and shielded her eyes from the ever rising morning sun with a graceful movement of her free hand. “Good morning, Charles!” Her youthful voice was contrary to her advanced age. “Please, sit.” She patted the space next to her.

He raised an eyebrow at the mention of his name, and took the offer of a seat. “You are nouveau-psychic?” he asked, referring to an accidental pharmaceutically induced alteration creating mild psychic abilities some people who were injected with a particular flu inoculation.  These new "psychics" had been dubbed "nouveau-psychics."

The old woman closed her eyes and put a finger to her third eye. With her eyes closed she held her hand out before her as if touching an unseen script and spoke as if possessed.  “I see many things," she paused and then, switching back to her normal voice, "No, my gullible friend, it is written on the cover of your book.” She opened one eye to glance at his expression and they both laughed as he looked to the book to see his name in plain sight on the dust cover.

She put on a pair of reading specs which she retrieved from the pocket of her sweater and squinted at the book's title. She nodded in approval. “Schrodinger. Interesting reading, is this quantum mechanics. Better than warm milk at night.”

“Milk? Oh, yes, grandmother drank it. She mentioned it helped her sleep. I guess it’s becoming popular again as the old cities are being razed for multi-leveled farmland."  He lifted his head to point his chin to the southwest, "I've heard the Federal agriculture folks are breeding cattle in test tubes to meet the new demand.  He looked at the old woman who was listening intently, "I suppose it won't be too long before I'll be able to afford a hamburger at McDonald's restaurant.”

The old woman smiled, and nodded again. “Um, yes, McDonald's.  What is old, is new once again. Funny how this seems to be another constant in the world of change."  She pointed to his book,   "So, you are a physicist?”

It was the boy’s turn to smile. “Oh, heck no, I’m only fifteen,” he stated. “I’ll get my masters in two years, then, if I’m accepted, it’s off to W.I.T.C.H. for my doctorate.” He saw her cock an eyebrow. She seemed impressed at the mention of the World Institute of Technology Colony Hub.

“Still impressive, for one so young,” she began, “to strive for the "orbital" university.”

He nodded his head with deserved pride, “I hear they’re looking to terraform Mars. I’d like to get in on the ground floor of that. I think, I pray, we will learn a lot which will benefit us back on earth and move us out into space.”

She winked, “Pray? So you hold onto deist philosophies, or do you simply use the phrase?”

He lowered his eyes and fidgeted with his fingers as he spoke a fond memory, “Grandmother’s influence, before she died.” He looked up to meet the old woman’s twinkling eyes. “She wanted to ensure I respected the fact that there were things in this universe greater that myself.” His smile returned as he repeated something his grandmother used to tell him, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio…”

“Than are dreamt of in your philosophy,” she finished. “Grandmother, again?”

He laughed. “Yes! She would quote Shakespeare at the drop of a hat.”

“That was a good thing,” she stated. 

He reacted to a small mechanism behind his ear. “It seems I have to go, or I’ll be late for my online lecture. I have many questions for the instructor today.” He stood to leave. “I enjoyed talking to you. It reminded me of talks with my grandmother. Will you be here tomorrow?”

“God willing, Charles. I serve at the pleasure of time, a dimension which your generation will redefine, in due course.” 

She offered her hand, which he gently shook, and Charles said, “I never asked your name.”

Her eyes were framed with the laugh lines earned through her long life.  He noted the, seemingly, never ending twinkle in in them as she raised her head proudly, yet retained a humility that comes with true awareness, as she smiled and declared, softly, “Elohay Mikarov!” then she put her hand beside her mouth, as if passing a secret, and added, “But, you may call me Annie.”

A blossoming of medical knowledge and physics would extend her life another thirty years.  Their friendship would also blossom and continue until her passing at the age of one hundred and thirty-two, and maybe even longer...

… if Elohay was to be believed.
"Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?”
-- Jeremiah 23:23
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Just a thought to ponder: I think God is found, most often, in the angels around us. And, most often, many of them go unseen, or unrecognized, because our own lives have become selfishly cluttered with, what we would insist are, very "important" issues which are truly of so much less importance to our happiness than we think. 

Perhaps, all we need to do is take the time to have a little faith, and open our eyes. Our answers, along with our happiness, are usually right in front of us, along with the rest of the universe.

Whether you believe in a past life is important, if you believe in an afterlife. Can you believe in an afterlife if you don't believe you lived before? Doesn't one evidence the possibility of the other? And, if this is true, does the possibility of an afterlife necessarily mean a "life ever after" in the Kingdom of Heaven? I offer that, maybe, death is just a school bell letting us out of this class and signaling the time for our next.

I think our faith would be in the knowledge that we will, one life soon, graduate to be all that we are; what we were always intended to be. Until such time comes to pass, if we do nothing else in our lives, we must mentor our young and teach them love, forgiveness, tolerance and faith, preparing them for all that comes next in theirs.
"To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Must give us pause: there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life."
-- Shakespeare's "Hamlet" (3.1.56-69)

Editor's Note
(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)


Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com