Questioning Reality, Morality, and Obstacles

 

“I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud.”

-- C.G. Jung

 

How do you describe the morality, rationality, and value?

What? This is another question that changes from what was asked to this garbage. The original is: "How do you describe yourself as morality, rationality, and value?" My answer to this question is, “Pastor.”  

I'd answer the other question but I have no idea what I'm supposed to describe the morality, rationality, and value, of.

What are some of the more difficult obstacles to overcome in pursuing early retirement?

Monetary income, sufficient to live comfortably on.

Can you share a photograph that blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy?

I took 23 photos of the Blue Rose Mansion in Pass Christian, hoping to catch a photo of the spirit of a special needs child from the mid-1800s. I told her I was only going to take two more photos, so if she wanted her picture taken she had to get in front of the camera. The mid-1800s, special needs, child, knowing all this you’d think I would have been more specific, like stand in front of the mirror. The last two photos were shot through her, hence the light distortion in several directions at once. Like shooting the pic through a clear gelatin curtain.

“Ghosts have a way of misleading you; they can make your thoughts as heavy as branches after a storm.”

-- Rebecca Maizel

How do I disagree by asking questions?

Ask questions of which the answers steer them to a point they don’t yet recognize. They will catch on and ask if you disagree with them. You will rightly point out that there may be more than one answer or, just perhaps, the right one.

What are amazing, lifetime moments?

First kiss, first sex, first “exotic” sex, first love, the birth of a child, child’s first word, yadda, yadda, yadda.

What is the best lesson you can give to all of us today through pictures?

I can’t wait to see the answers to this.  Here's my idiot.  Note the lack of a safety lanyard : 

How do I overcome procrastinating?

I’d rather we discuss this tomorrow.

Not a good response, and staying away from those responses is a great way to start. Live for the moment. Why put off till tomorrow what you are very capable of doing right now? Pay attention to the way you think and keep everything in this moment.

Why are people so immature and mean on the internet? And what can be done about it?

Nothing. They are what they are. Better to ignore them and only deal with maturity. I run into this all the time with the League of the Perpetually Offended. I try to just ignore them, or let my readers handle them since they do a much better job of it than I.

Reader comment:  How can you say that ignoring something would make it go away. I don’t think that is a smart move at all. What if the Blacks ignored bad treatment from the whites in the past? What if the “problem” of slavery was ignored as well??!

My reply:  We are discussing the internet, right? (Please stop helping me...)

Her reply: Yes. The internet is still a powerful tool that can spread your message across and people should take internet behavior more seriously, maybe then, people would wise up and BECOME matured and actually think about the bad things they do before they do it! There’s punishment when children misbehave in school or at home. Same thing with society if someone commits a crime or breaks the law somehow.

My reply: They’re here because it is anonymous. They can’t be held to task for much of anything, so they really don’t care what you think about them. Even the law has to get special permission just to find out who they are. If you want to change the behavior of the anonymous, everybody should ignore them. Make it not worth their time to be perpetually immature and mean. Maybe they’ll come around. What they want is for you to buy into their bullshit. Just don’t.  (Pleeeaase stop helping me!).

What are some obvious hints that most men miss?

“No. Stop! I said no, damn it. Stop it!” What most men hear is, “Blah. Blah! Blah blah blah, blah blah. Blah blah!” Most men not only don’t really do hints, but they’re also pretty crappy at straightforward, as well. We’re from Mars, what do you expect?

“Haley took a deep breath and said, “I’m gay.” “You’re gay?” the obnoxious guy who’d been sniffing around her and bugging the heck out of her in line for the past ten minutes repeated. “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well, do you think the two of you would want to-“

“No,” she said firmly.

“But what if I-“

“No.”

“Come on, you won’t let me finish. I have this camera-“

“No.”

“It would be fun-“

“No.”

“But what if-“

“She said no,” Jason said as he cut in line and threw his arm around her shoulders in that lazy way of his.

“Hey! I thought you said you were gay!” the man said accusingly.Without missing a beat Jason said, “She is. I’m just her bitch.”

-- R.L. Mathewson

Does the prom dance teach any life skills?

Dancing. What happens after the prom is another question many fathers get involved with answering.

Why do I feel so horrible after leaving my lying ex-boyfriend?

To die for sex? Get over him. He isn’t the only “pile-driver” in the sea.

Is it rude to text somebody during counseling?

Yes. Yes, yes, yes, yes, it’s damned rude! Jesus, people! Come on. If someone is talking to them, they should have the good courtesy to pay attention. I’d get up, walk out, and still bill them for my precious time they wasted on “counseling.” I mean, why bother with counseling?

“Never presume to know a person based on the one-dimensional window of the internet. A soul can’t be defined by critics, enemies, or broken ties with family or friends. Neither can it be explained by posts or blogs that lack facial expressions, tone, or insight into the person’s personality and intent. Until people “get that”, we will forever be a society that thinks Beautiful Mind was a spy movie and every stranger is really a friend on Facebook.”

-- Shannon L. Alder

Why does it feel so good to be yourself?

I’m comfortable in my own skin.

Using one word, how would you describe yourself?

Complicated. Though, I’ve been described as much worse.

At what point in a man's life can he be generally termed a failure?

When he throws the towel in and declares himself a failure. He is the only one, other than his God, who can judge his own worth.

“A man may fail many times but he isn’t a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.”

-- John Burroughs

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