My Sunday Thought for 110517: The Reflection Staring Back

"Sometimes you gotta wash away the paint, and reveal to the world the jackass that is hiding beneath."

-- Danny McBride, comedian, actor

Ever get into an argument with yourself? It is usually over something stupid, and something you already know the correct response to, but there isn't anybody else around that understands the issue better than the two of you. Never get into an argument with a jackass, especially when the jackass is you. I stated in an earlier post, "One's first thought might be that it would be easy to take down a jackass in a discussion. And that would seem reasonable, if jackasses weren't stubborn as all get-out. More likely what will happen is everybody else will only see two jackasses trying to 'out bray' each other."  Such nonsense gets noisy and produces little, if any, constructive outcome. Unfortunately, there will always be those who argue for the sake of argument or because they think it makes them look intelligent instead of smart. Of course, when it comes to the perpetually offended, one might feel the overwhelming urge to simply slap them silly and walk away in disgust; it isn't politically correct, but I have to think this beats wasting time trying to reason with someone who would even find reason for offense if you agreed with them. 

"Lady, I didn't get up this morning wanting to be a jackass... but you just pushed my jackass button."

-- Bill Engvall, comedian

Frustration is trying to lookup images for two jackasses braying at each other, when the internet keeps redirecting you to images of the U.S. Congress.  There are pictures of Congress actually working.  Contrary to what we might assume?  Only if we're really as stupid as they think we are.  Images of Congress in session are probably set up photo ops to keep us voting them back into office.  Calling a congressman a jackass is an insult to any self-respecting ass, but I digress.

When you look in the mirror at the reflection staring back at you, do you like what you see? I mean, are you okay if you see the reflection of someone going to hell for who they are and what they do? Because if you like what you see, even though you know you're damned, what does this really say to you, or to others? What do you think it says to everyone around you who sees through your transparent facade? Well, not everyone. If you hang with people just like you then you're in a mutual admiration society of shallow narcissists; so, I guess you're already damned by association.  Everybody wants to be you until they are you, then the smart ones pine for who they were and bemoan they mistake they made by thinking you were something to admire by wanting what and who they never were.  Beware what you wish for; quiet humility is always better than the egocentric alternative.

“Narcissists will never tell you the truth. They live with the fear of abandonment and can't deal with facing their own shame. Therefore, they will twist the truth, downplay their behavior, blame others and say whatever it takes to remain the victim. They are master manipulators and con artists that don't believe you are smart enough to figure out the depth of their disloyalty. Their needs will always be more important than telling you any truth that isn't in their favor.”

-- Shannon L. Alder, inspirational author

The biggest problem with not being honest in recognizing who is staring back at you from the mirror, is everyone else who stares at you are unwitting witnesses to an inability for honest self-assessment.  Unless you've been raised under a rock or away from the mainstream, the narcissists, manipulators, con artists, et al, are fairly transparent.  I'd like to think most good people recognize their own transparency, and embrace it as proof of life.  Barring this kind of ownership, if I find people I can't read, I keep peeling away at their facade until I reach some fresh raw meat.  Narcissists don't like this game of revealing layers, unless they initiate it.  The peeling away of their protective layers makes them, understandably, nervous and threatened.  

Journalist Karl Kraus (1874-1936) once wrote, "To me all men are equal: there are jackasses everywhere, and I have the same contempt for them all."  I have written, "The only people who truly offend me are the perpetually offended."  I don't have contempt for the perpetually offended, I just think some people need to get a life, and if this is their sad idea of life, then it sucks being them.  We would all be better off ignoring their petty offenses until such time as they find an important one.  Of course, by that time they'll be like Chicken Little and we'll simply assume this is another cry of, "The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!"   

“…have you always been a jackass or is that something you’ve just recently acquired at the ‘I Want to be a Junior Jackass’ store?”

-- Ray Palla, "H: Infidels of Oil"

I have no issue with the sinner staring back at me from the mirror.  I have full ownership of my mistakes, the choices and the consequences.  I knock wood each morning and thank God for another glorious day in paradise, and another chance to excel in life.  Will I succeed, today?  Probably not, as the sinner carries a burden of many secrets, secrets known only to God and any cohorts to those choices, good or bad, made in life.  The reflection staring back is the accusatory reminder of honest penance doled out by one's self, and the humble acceptance of one's present and future, the balance which must exist in the universe.

Balance is all about knowledge.  How does one know sweet without knowledge of bitter, light without knowledge of dark, forgiveness without knowledge of damnation?  Who among us knows better the sweet taste of salvation - the sinner, or the righteous?  How does a teacher truly teach, if they have no personal point of reference?  If you haven't walked the walk, how do you talk the talk with any sense of credibility?

So, what is left for the sinner who has found forgiveness for themselves?  I wrote the following in a post about the biblical 'end times' called, Rapture: Will You Choose to Stay?

What will the righteous do at the end?  My assumption, from what I've seen and heard, is that they will jump at the chance for a place on God's lifeboat.  The righteous of God will have given what was asked for, and will stand ready for God's promise to them, even while showing their true nature by their very actions.

Who, in their piety, will stand in the face of life everlasting, looking down on the multitude being left behind, and not feel compassion for their ignorance and pain, some modicum of pity?  Who will stand up for the lost, one more time, and renew the faith of God in mankind?  Who is willing to turn their back on what God wants, in order to give that which God demands?  Who will stand on that Day of Judgment?  Who will stay and guide the children left behind, through the tribulation and what lies beyond?

"I will stay for them, those You leave behind!"  As I close my eyes and lift my face to heaven, spreading my arms slightly from my sides, palms forward, I feel a hand grasp my right, and yet another grasp my left.  I cry.

When your reflection looks back at you, does it accuse, does it forgive, or does it do nothing?  We all have choices to make and consequences which drive our lives, and perhaps they will also drive what we do at the end.  Reflect to others the humility, love, forgiveness, understanding and sweet reasonableness, you discover throughout your life as anything else is of little consequence.  For all of this that you give, expect no return in kind.  Be selfless in love, in friendship, in life, in charity, and in faith, and do it all as if there's no future.

I plan on smiling in the mirror tomorrow.  How about you?

Editor's note to the reader:  By the way, a horse is an intelligent animal but not very smart.  A 'jack' ass, on the other hand, has earned itself a bad reputation as being considered argumentative and stubborn because of a unique survival instinct - it is smart.  A horse will do exactly what the rider wants, even if it means running itself to death, whereas the jack ass will instinctively do nothing which puts it at risk.  It isn't stubborn, it simply sees no good outcome in walking into a canyon full of rattlesnakes and has no problem letting the 'intelligent' rider know its mind by sitting down and not budging.  Smart.  A jack ass is not a jackass, only people can honestly lay claim to that, less than laudable, moniker.  Just saying.

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 opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, 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 another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the 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 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 102917: On Transgender Acceptance

Navy seaman charged with capital murder in death of transgender woman:  Navy seaman, "Dwanya Hickerson, 20, of New Orleans, was arrested Monday, July 25, 2016, on a charge of capital murder in the killing of Dee Whigham of Shubuta." -- Sun Herald article

(Note to the reader:  Please visit the Sun Herald news link, above, as it gives some context for this post.  It deals with human shortcomings, like judgement, honesty, fear, understanding, and acceptance.  I think you will find that these are traits which both the victim and the accused struggled with, each in their own way.) 


I don't see racism as a serious issue in this country nowadays.  Does it exist?  Yes, and I think that's primarily due to certain perpetually offended minorities refusing to let go of their own hatred and educating themselves as to the real reasons for their plight.  It is also fueled by clueless, ignorant white trash, like CNBC financial contributor, Marc Faber, who recently penned that the "U.S. is great primarily because it is ruled by white people."  It's a good thing he's a Swiss investor based in Thailand; let the Thai government deal with his bigotry.  Needless to say he is resigning from his position as director on several company boards and being dropped by everyone else as a contributor or guest.  Mr. Faber is becoming rapidly familiar with my favorite saying, "You just can't cure stupid," and we can all see that being 71years of age doesn't necessarily endow you with intelligence or good sense. 

Racism would seem to be a two-way street, and one is left to wonder if reverse racism isn't the more insidious of the two.  What we are left with, in the aftermath of these destructive attitudes is just simple acceptance.  But, it is hard to be accepted when all you want to do is whine, complain, and be perpetually offended.  So, what happens when someone wanting acceptance isn't open and honest, with those around them, about their little secrets?  For instance, what if they're transgender?

“To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow - this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.”

-- Elizabeth Gilbert

Homosexuals stayed in the closet as a way of hiding who and what they were.  Homosexuality is finally finding voice and a place in our society, after years of non-acceptance and ridicule, and they still have a good distance to travel.  So, who's in the closet now?  It would seem transgender is the new taboo for "normal" society, and acceptance might be a harder battle to win than that of simply being gay.  This would seem fairly easy to understand when you consider someone hiding their transgender from a prospective lover or mate.  When it comes to love, acceptance is always easier when one is upfront and honest.  The relationship may go south because of the revelation, but at least there might be respect, and perhaps even acceptance, simply due to the honesty.

The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.

-- Nathaniel Branden

There can be no acceptance if there is no understanding, and there can be no understanding without open, honest, discussion. However, one would hope for better transgender role models than, and I'm being kind in my description, publicity "seekers" like Caitlyn (Bruce) Jenner and Chelsea Manning. I suppose I'm just old school. I try not to judge, but as a human and a patriotic American it becomes difficult not to judge when important news of the day consists of the hyped drama surrounding family Kardashian, and transgender traitors to our country leaking classified information, mistakenly thinking they do it for the greater good while breaking their oath of loyalty and putting people in harm's way by their actions. Being transgender has little to do with the fact the Kardashians are boring and Manning is a traitor.  The family Kardashian need to get over themselves, if that's even possible, and traitors to our country need to be prosecuted and given the harshest sentence possible for their crimes, transgender or not.

It is much easier to accept someone if they aren't a publicity whore.  There, I said it.  Personally, I don't care if someone is gay or transgender, black or Islamic, a refugee or an immigrant. I do care if you can't shut up about yourself, break our laws, don't work hard to support this country, disrespect the flag and the Constitution, and/or are perpetually offended about every little fricking thing.  The perpetually offended offend me to no end, primarily because they just won't shut up about it.  They tend to wear their cause célèbres as an obvious chip on their shoulder, just daring the unwary to knock it off and ignite the pent up firestorm of derision against the hapless sap.

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

-- Lao Tzu

Do you want to be accepted in this country?  Don't be a divisive asshole.  If you wish to be accepted, be acceptant, or at least be tolerant.  Be a person of ethical good character, be honest, work hard and, above all, try to get along with everyone.  Just because Congress can't seem to do any of it, is no excuse for the rest of us to follow suit; can't we be better than this?  Maybe, if we started be more acceptant of each other's diversity, our leaders might get the message and remember they work for all of us, not just the squeaky wheels.  Hell, they might even remember they were voted in to actually accomplish something. 

Some people confuse acceptance with apathy, but there's all the difference in the world. Apathy fails to distinguish between what can and what cannot be helped; acceptance makes that distinction. Apathy paralyzes the will-to-action; acceptance frees it by relieving it of impossible burdens.

-- Arthur Gordon

Who and what you are is of so much less importance, especially in today's troubled world, than good ethical character and how you treat your fellow human beings.  As Christians, and other people of "good" faith, we should try practicing what we preach, especially when it comes to judgement of our fellows.  Simply because of the color of my skin, I am a target for perpetually offended minorities who don't even know me.  Their excuse would be that now I know how it feels.  My question to them is, "Why punish people for something they never did?"  Punishment without reason, without cause, is a breeding ground for apathy of opinion; the wrongly punished become numb to the plight of the offended.  It is easy to join the ranks of the League of the Perpetually Offended; it is a much tougher test, of one's good ethical character, to not belong.

We all need to practice acceptance and, failing that, tolerance.  Tolerance at least opens the door for communication and, through open and honest communication, the possibility for understanding.

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.”

-- Lao Tzu

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 opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, 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 another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the 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 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 102217: Each New Day

Each New Day

Every day when you awaken,

Knock on wood and give thanks;

The knocking proves you’re alive,

And life means another chance to excel.

Chance might mean failure,

But this is okay,

Because life is just a gamble;

And sometimes you lose.

Win or lose you must applaud yourself,

Letting no one diminish your effort

Even if it not be your best,

Giving thanks for constructive criticism.

Tomorrow you will wake once more,

Knock on wood and give thanks;

You have another glorious day in paradise,

And another chance to excel in life.

Every day is a gift from God,

A rebirth of opportunity.

Yesterday were God’s lessons for today,

And tomorrow is what we make of it.

Each new dawn brings us a promise,

So knock on wood and give thanks.

Failure is nothing more than a choice;

Each new day another chance to succeed.

Each Sunday I try to impress the idea of "giving thanks" upon patients in the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ward of the medical center during my Sunday group meeting with them.  Ages for these troubled folks range from young to old.  Some are there because they need to be, some because they have to be, and some because they want to be, but all are there because they need help.  

What we all tend to forget is that help arrives each and every morning in God's gift of a new dawn, a new day, and another chance to excel in the life which we have also been gifted.  But, what if you have yet to learn this or anything else which you have been blessed with life to learn?  What if you feel you have failed achieving all you feel is expected of you?  What if life has beaten you down to the point that you just want to end it all?  Well, I guess you first need to understand that you haven't failed at anything until you stop trying.  The second thing to understand is that life only as difficult as you want it to be; no one controls your life, your decisions, your misery or your happiness, but you.

If you stop asking what happened and start asking why it happened, you will find the answer always comes back to you.  You made a decision, took an action, or did nothing, which resulted in some consequence in your life.  Okay, so something happened in the past - it is time to leave it there.  Today, each and every day, is a new day to try something different and see if you can get a better result for yourself.

"Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day."

-- 14th Dalai Lama, Lhamo Dondrub

I like to tell each new group of mine about the cartoon I once saw of a cat standing a ledge between windows, many stories up on a high-rise building.  The cat was obviously contemplating suicide.  A dog is looking out the window at the cat while leaning nonchalantly on an arm and telling the cat, "You haven't really thought this through very well."

The moral of the cartoon is based in the cat having nine lives; it will have to plunge to its death eight more times to finally accomplish the goal of suicide.  Herein lay our quandary, if we contemplate suicide:  What if our hell for not learning our lessons here, in this life, is to relive our lives over and over again until we do?  If your life is really crap, why would you want to keep reliving it?  And why, in the name of all that's holy, would you want to risk constantly repeating having to slam into the concrete at terminal velocity from the ledge of some building?  Why not just buckle down and change your circumstances?  It really isn't that difficult, it's just that we make it difficult.

"The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste it in advance. The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a single moment in all your life. You can turn over a new leaf every hour if you choose."

-- Arnold Bennett (1867-1931), writer, novelist 

Every day we live brings a new chance to try something different.  It isn't so much about finding what works in our lives to make us happy as it is about finding out why we're here and why we're destined with a purpose.  Each day we may find it is something totally different than the day before.  Yesterday it was all about pulling a man from a violent car wreck, today it was about welcoming a new chaplain into the medical center chaplaincy and rebuilding part of my parent's deck for them, and Sunday it will be sharing this post during my weekly presentation to the PTSD group.  I always try to keep in mind that, as bad as my day might get and as much as I might want to whine about it, there are those folks whose lives seriously suck, so how bad can my trivial issues really be?

So, how do you start changing your attitude and your life?  Well, every morning you wake up is a good morning; you are alive, and that is all any of us can truly hope for.  Knock wood, look up to heaven and give thanks, "Thank you, God, for another glorious day in paradise and another chance to excel in life!"  It's what I do, and it's what I tell my people each and every Sunday.  Hey, if you don't figure it all out in this life, don't sweat it, you can try to figure it out in the next, or the next.

Life isn't much easier than this to understand.

Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day

who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. 

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. 

Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;

begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit

to be cumbered with your old nonsense. 

This new day is too dear,

with its hopes and invitations,

to waste a moment on the yesterdays.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), essayist, poet

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 opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, 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 another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the 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 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 101517: What It Ain't It Ain't

Reality is what it is, and what it ain't, it ain't.

Sometimes, what it is it ain't, and what it ain't, well... it is.

Other times it is nothing, and then it ain't nothing.

But, if it is nothing, it ain't, and if it ain't nothing, it is.

Acknowledging nothing gives nothing existence;

Therefore, whether it is or it ain't, it must be,

Because even nothing that ain't, already is.

-- Tony Villari

Is this to be yet another esoteric discussion of the obvious?  For some, perhaps, for others may be providing a little food for thought, a crumb of reality, or ply a warning for lemmings trying to keep up with their mindless mentors while holding onto the paper cup of cyanide-laced fruit punch as they race toward the abyss while chanting, "The end is nigh!"  Most of us will go through our daily lives seeing nothing on the road ahead for us.  They miss the very obvious fact that... there is a road.

I have hitchhiked along roads which seem endless, and hills in the distance which take forever to get closer; the heat, the dust, and flies for traveling companions.  Where most might look around and see a barren desert, I would find the odd flower in a crack between two rocks with no visible soil or water, just unbearable heat, and yet it thrives.  Where many see nothing, I try to find something, if only a lesson.  What it is it is, you simply have to look for what your mind refuses to understand in order to see what it ain't.

“Even so, I’m somebody.

I’m the Discoverer of Nature.

I’m the Argonaut of true sensations.

I bring a new Universe to the Universe

Because I bring the Universe to itself.”

-- Alberto Caeiro (1889-1915), poet

"Nothing" is like time, a failed human construct to explain something we don't understand.  Time only exists because we sense the passing of it, and as for nothing, it exists because we sense the emptiness which it consists of.  What we don't understand, or comprehend, we find hard to see and acknowledge, but we will take the effort to name it just so we can go about trying to explain it.  All we sense about us is what it is; we simply have to understand that which we sense in order to comprehend what it ain't.  If we can comprehend why it is, we can better recognize whatever it is because of why it is.

It is what we make of it, whatever it is, but if it is what we make of it then it was, potentially, always there to begin with.  Like an artist, we bring out of the medium what was always within it.  A bomb must explode for it to reach actualization, to be all that it can be.

“Don't go on discussing what a good person should be. Just be one.”

-- Marcus Aurelius (121 - 180), Roman emperor, stoic philosopher

To what end is an esoteric discussion of the obvious?  It is, after all, obvious!  One can discuss the obvious ad nauseam, but to what end?  To argue about the obvious would be like two jackasses supporting each other's arguments against each other. Sometimes it seems we argue simply for the sake of argument, though it benefits no one and proves no point, kind of like the U.S. Congress.  We create our own problems because we refuse to recognize that which confronts us and. good or bad, we seem hell-bent on defeating it just to make some insane point.  

“If I'm not me, who am I. And If I'm somebody else, why do I look like me?”

-- Popeye the Sailor Man

More than any lesson we should learn in life is being true to one's self.  If you're an honest man, be honest, and if you're an ass, be the best ass you can be; there is much to be said for a sense of character, good or bad, as long as your character is strong enough to own itself.  The bad character reminds me of a story told by Elie Wiesel in his book, Night, about his time in the Nazi concentration camp.  Upon telling one of the patients in the camp clinic that he had heard the battle was getting closer and they would soon be free, the patient brings Elie back to earth by stating the more probable outcome, "I have more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He alone has kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people."  Hitler and his minions were insane, yet the Jewish people knew exactly where they stood, the remaining prisoners would be executed before the camp was abandoned and, as it turned out, this was, in fact, the plan.  

It always amazed me, with the prisoner's own acknowledgment of what had gone before, as well as the inevitable outcome promised for all remaining Jewish prisoners, that they didn't constantly rebel, from the beginning, against their captors, until not one Jew was left alive for slave labor.  As it turned out, the Allies were soon to push all Nazis into rapid retreat and defeat, and the liberation of the camps was, indeed, at hand.  The evil character of Hitler and his Nazis could not stand up to the righteous character of the Allied forces.  Be true to yourself, above all else, and you will have no problem being true to your family, your country, your comrades and, as with the Jewish prisoners, to your faith in God.  You will probably find in this an even simpler truth - it is what it is.

I yam what I yam and I yam what I yam that I yam

And I got a lotta muscle and I only gots one eye

And I'll never hurt nobodys and I'll never tell a lie

Top to me bottom and me bottom to me top

That's the way it is 'till the day I drop, what I am?

I yam what I yam.

-- Popeye the Sailor Man

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 opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, 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 another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the 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 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.

My Sunday Thought for 100817: On Being Ugly

Note to my readers:  Because of Sunday evening's massacre in Las Vegas, this post has been updated from the original edit which I published, to several of you, just this morning. 

Added:  We have no information at this time as to the reason for Sunday evening's mass shooting, which killed over fifty and wounded hundreds.  We may never understand the mind of the killer; his family is as confused as law enforcement.  I mention the incident in this post because it plays to the subject, the ugliness and darkness within us; the potential for evil which even the most righteous can fall prey to, unbeknownst to those around them.  As we find in so many acts of murder, and terrorism, no one saw it coming; they were quiet neighbors, pillars of the community, and family people.  Murder of the innocent is pure evil and cannot be excused.  It is the act of sick, psychotic, sociopathic, and/or weak minded individuals who find no other alternative in their twisted mind than to destroy.

Ugly goes beyond the mask we try to camouflage it with.  We can't cure stupid any more than we can hide the ugly within us.  Now, the first thing most shallow folks think is, what about the outwardly, physically, ugly?  Well, it isn't what you look like that matters to God, it's what's in your heart, the beauty within you.  I figure, if that's all God is concerned with, who are we to judge?  But, I'll place a good sized bet most of you were thinking about physical looks, weren't you?  Now ask yourself, "How shallow was that?"  If you hadn't noticed, most humans aren't known for wading into the deep end of thought.

I love the character of John Coffey in The Green Mile.  He is larger than life, quietly innocent, and a simple minded child of God - blessed.  So, do you have to be simple minded to be a child of God?  I think it doesn't hurt.  If you buy into scripture, it says the meek shall inherit the earth.  Of course, you don't have to be stupid in order to be meek; I just haven't met many intelligent people whom I would consider labeling as "meek," full of self-importance, arrogant narcissism, perhaps yes, but not meek, no.

I could be way off base, but it has been my unfortunate experience that to note that it seems, for most of us, as we become more intelligent we also become uglier; we become uglier on the inside, and it doesn't take long for ugly to fill us up and begin working on our outside. It is the rare individual who can balance what they learn with who they are meant, by God, to be; ego, and the like, tends to insinuate itself into the equation.  If the darkness can't find ego, then jealousy, pride, or hatred will suffice.  If one is strong willed, they might, mistakenly think they master their darkness.  Strong or weak minded, darkness simply feeds off the host until the mind and soul are irreversibly corrupt.  Most of us refuse to own our darkness because we refuse to recognize it.  Pretty soon we look in the mirror to see the reflection of a pathetic, cowardly, sadomasochist. At this point, if we have one shred of humility left, we will finally recognize that we were never in control of anything. We erected a façade of strength and confidence, yet we generally had no idea of our own weaknesses which were so obvious to those around us.  After all, it takes one to know one... right?

“I bear the dungeon within me; within me is winter, ice, and despair; I have darkness in my soul.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

I grew up knowing the meaning of "ugly American."  It was a label I took with me overseas and struggled to overcome.  I humbly thought I succeeded, with great effort.  The people I met were beautiful, accepting, and giving.  Egotistically, I also, mistakenly, thought I was making it in life.  But, if I had honestly compared myself to the fine folks who invited me into their homes, full of character, acceptance, and faith, I would have discovered the pauper within me.  I never truly understood my label until I was out among those who would label me as ugly, but they weren't me.

“When you get an idea into your head you find it in everything.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

I also never considered myself handsome, and therein was another example of my own mistakes - physical appearance.  What I looked like had little to do with the person I was supposed to be.  To those I met overseas, I was probably much less than their cultural idea of rugged good looks, and yet, they still gave me the benefit of doubt, a chance to show I was more than an outer shell.  I found that, whether we spoke the same language or not, we managed to find common ground through common interests - primarily food and drink!  Oh, and for you perpetually offended, I must state that these marvelously hospital people, were Muslim, and accepted this Christian into their homes.  Who woulda thunk, huh?

“I never realized my ugliness till now. When I compared myself with you, I pity myself indeed, poor unhappy monster that I am! I must seem to you like some awful beast, eh? You, you are a sunbeam, a drop of dew, a bird's song! As for me, I am something frightful, neither man nor beast, a nondescript object, more hard, shapeless, and more trodden under foot than a pebble!”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

I had an opportunity, just this past week, to attend a "celebration of life" for my aunt who recently passed away.  She was an employer and mentor for some 300 plus employees at her company prior to its sale.  The venue was packed with young and old wishing to pay their heartfelt respect.  These were an extended family of friends and coworkers, many of whom I hadn't seen in some years.  They were all shapes, sizes, and ages.  If one were to care, they were also all manner of physical appearance.  These were people I interacted with, argued with, disagreed with, lunched with, partied with, loved and cried with, and some, to my great shame, were invisible.  But, they were family, and my concerns weren't that these people were tall, large, short or slight; my concern was how to give each of them another loving hug, and a few of them their first.

I'm sure fairly sure some of them were still ugly on the inside, I have grown much since I left them, and have learned to ignore how ugly they were, are, especially on the surface.  I now find myself searching out the beauty within each of them.  I have found inner beauty outwardly manifests itself in so many obvious ways.  In this case I found it in a smile, a tear, the heartfelt memories and thanks for the time they were able to spend under the apt tutelage of a great lady who changed most of their lives, the worldwide views on ethical medical research, and the geography a city, forever.

“His judgement demonstrates that one can be a genius and understand nothing of an art that is not one's own.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

Where other people saw a cleaning woman, or a mailroom clerk, I learned to find the computer savvy office worker hidden within.  Where others saw a body fit for a pants or spandex, I learned to find their inner business skirt or suit.  Where others saw only argument, disagreement, and offense, I learned to find middle ground, the value within all of them.

“Besides, to be fair to him, his viciousness was perhaps not innate. From his earliest steps among men he had felt, then seen himself the object of jeers, condemnation, rejection. Human speech for him always meant mockery and curses. As he grew older he had found nothing but hatred around him. He had caught it. He had acquired the general viciousness. He had picked up the weapon with which he had been wounded.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

There are no ugly people, only people who prefer to act ugly.  I have found, for the most part, if we look for the inner beauty within them they will soon recognize the beauty themselves and, with recognition, they will learn to embrace their own positive attributes.  People will soon be able to ignore all but the beauty standing before them, the beautiful person who was always there, hiding behind an ugly mask.

“Many people in Paris are quite content to look on at others, and there are plenty who regard a wall behind which something is happening as a very curious thing.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

Personally, politically, artistically, or sociologically, I think that any study concerning "ugly" must first start within the soul of the investigator, the writer, the commentator, reporter, or any others who would dare stand in judgement of those to whom they feel superior.  Whereas to think of judging another should give us cause for introspection, the act of judging another should be viewed by all as undignified; it lowers the judge to a level where they, themselves, risk similar judgement and ridicule of those they would lord over.  When it comes to appearances, we see what we wish to see and, perhaps, what we wish is also the root of our evil.

The Talmudic tractate Berakhot states, “We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.”  Leave it to thousand year old Rabbinic Judaism to place that Jewish guilt firmly where it belongs - on us.  Most might be concerned that, if they learn to see things as they truly are, they would be disappointed or frightened by what confronts them.  If this is so, we would have learned nothing... except who we still are.  If we truly see things as they are, we will have discovered how to look beyond first impressions and consider the whole of what we perceive.  Hopefully we'll be able to confront our own ugliness and, humbly, rise above it.  "Everything is beautiful in its' own way," and it is, therefore, incumbent upon us to discover the beauty which resides within as well as without, when looking at others and, especially, ourselves.

Science is now putting forth the theory, the real possibility, that Jesus was perhaps considered handsome in his own culture, but was actually a short, stocky, homely man, in the egocentric view today's culture.  Yet this man's teachings became the bedrock of the number one spiritual philosophy, Christianity, and did it back in the days without use of mass media and the internet.  Jesus now enjoys a beloved following and worship by 33% of the world's population.  Not bad for an "ugly" little man. 

“When a man understands the art of seeing, he can trace the spirit of an age and the features of a king even in the knocker on a door.”

-- Victor Hugo (1802-1885),"The Hunchback of Notre-Dame"

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 opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, 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 another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the 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 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.