Questioning Time, Patience, and One of My Favs

 

"Here's a secret: Everyone, if they live long enough, will lose their way at some point. You will lose your way, you will wake up one morning and find yourself lost. This is a hard, simple truth. If it hasn't happened to you yet, consider yourself lucky. When it does, when one day you look around and nothing is recognizable, when you find yourself alone in a dark wood having lost the way, you may find it easier to blame it on someone else -- an errant lover, a missing father, a bad childhood -- or it may be easier to blame the map you were given -- folded too many times, out-of-date, tiny print -- but mostly, if you are honest, you will only be able to blame yourself."

-- Nick Flynn

What is your interpretation or thoughts about Lao Tzu’s quote, “Time is a created thing. To say “I don’t have time” is like saying “I don’t want to.”?

Well, lately, physicists have come out stating that new theories would indicate time really doesn’t exist. I have stated for several years now that time is a human construct, a concept developed to give sequential order, structure, to this reality. Saying you don’t have time, you’ve run out of time, and the like, are just excuses for our shortcomings when assigning and performing tasks. If we are using “time” correctly, we would say we have the time, or we have time to burn. We developed the concept of “time” and, then, time became our enemy.

Time has no meaning unless put in the context of the past or the future. Time has no bearing on the present, on the “now” we experience moment to moment.

“I don’t have time.” How about if I help you? Ah, now “time” has a different meaning and we view the previous statement as a supposition, not a fact. You might have time if I were to help. In this way, it would seem, we can manipulate the concept of time. I think it might be more honest if we were to cut to the chase and remove time from the equation by and simply stating, “I don’t want to.”

How much patience do you have with fools?

Not much, and it keeps me busy. 

What are your dreams that are still to be realized?

To die with all my faculties intact. My dad died after his fourth stroke, had a feeding tube, and couldn’t drink or speak. Hell no. It broke my heart to see a man who loved to cook and drink be locked away in his mind. It broke his heart, as well. He passed within a couple of weeks. I will try to beat his time.

“The biggest wall you have to climb is the one you build in your mind: Never let your mind talk you out of your dreams, trick you into giving up. Never let your mind become the greatest obstacle to success. To get your mind on the right track, the rest will follow.”

-- Roy T. Bennett

Do you have an evaluation process currently in place for your life? What is your process?

At 68, there is no process. Just stick to your moral code of ethical behavior. Do this and you can spend all your time striving to be happy always.

If you marry an unattractive person, would you become rich?

If you truly loved them, you’re already there.

What does it even mean when your friends make jokes about how handsome you are and tell you that you are a "pussy magnet" in a sarcastic way? I am confused and it starting to get on my nerves.

Find better friends.

“If you aren't destroying your enemies, it's because you have been conquered and assimilated, you do not even have an idea of who your enemies are. You have been brainwashed into believing you are your own enemy, and you are set against yourself. The enemy is laughing at you as you tear yourself to pieces. That is the most effective warfare an enemy can launch on his foes: confounding them.”

-- Bangambiki Habyarimana

Do people who got elected to a position perform better than those who earned their positions through experience and merit?

It hasn’t worked out but once in my lifetime.

Is it wrong to devise horribly painful torture methods for child rapists?

Yes, but you’re asking the wrong person. In the Intelligence field, we would sit around and devise torture methods for interrogation, so I could probably carry it out... but I'm not the best judge.

How does one determine whether he/she is successful in the working world?

If you own your business, you find yourself hiring more employees. If you work for someone, you find yourself constantly getting promoted. But, either way, you remain excessively happy always. Without happiness, there is no true success.

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”

-- Leonardo da Vinci

Do a lot of women just prefer a masculine strong guy?

In lieu of multiple orgasms? I’m not sure what their point would be, but it seems to me their decision-making process is a bit askew.

How can you feel more positive about yourself?

Women could come on to me more often. Other than that, I’m doing pretty good.

How can we seek happiness in little things?

Very little things make me exceedingly happy. How small are we talking about? Do you need a magnifier? As long as you can readily see it, you don’t have to seek the happiness it gives you. If you have to hunt it down it’s either hidden for a reason or you just aren’t receptive to it. Look into a child’s eyes and see the wonder. Let a puppy lick your face and try not to giggle. Listen to a cat purr and try not to wonder how they do that. All of these are little things that make me happy. Maybe if you just opened your mind and really experienced the moment, it might help.

“I live to enjoy life by the littlest things, feeling the grass between my toes, breathing fresh air, watching the wind sway the trees, enjoying the company of loved ones, a deep conversation, getting lost in a good book, going for a walk in nature, watching my kids grow up. Just the feeling itself of being alive, the absolute amazing fact that we are here right now, breathing, thinking, doing.”

-- Marigold Wellington

Should I give the time of day to a guy who never paid any attention to me in the slightest until I lost a lot of weight?

If he didn’t like you then, he has defined how shallow he is already. Is that okay with you? What happens when the diet goes south? Will he still be there? I think not.

What's the least brilliant idea you've ever had in your life?

Getting married to a girl I really didn’t know deeply enough. Oh, and staying married to her for 20 years. Yeah, that would be one and two. 

Why would a guy beg me to spend the night at his house?

How old are you, again? This is pretty straightforward unless you really don’t have a clue, or if the guy is a priest, and even then… well, the begging is a bit worrisome.

“It's way too easy to see the real face of a person. They're amiable and full of pretense when they want something from you, but the minute you don't give in, back away or put yourself first (like they do) is the minute they show you who they really are.”

-- Donna Lynn Hope

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 an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those 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 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved 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, and 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 own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

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