My Sunday Thought for 112617: Be Thankful for Life!

Someone once wrote, “Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, dreams that turned into reality, and likes that turned into love.” As for me, I like to wake up each morning and thank God for another glorious day in paradise, and another chance to excel in life. When it comes right down to it, of what importance is anything without life to make it so?

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual. It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite - only a sense of existence.”

-- Henry David Thoreau(1817-1862), author, philosopher

I have only truly hated one person in my entire life and, in doing so, learned a valuable lesson about hate - let it go!  In letting it go I found forgiveness for myself, and for her.  I also found a place in my heart where I can love her again and, in doing so, I have found peace in the understanding that it was not life wasted, it was life learned.  I am grateful to her, thankful for the knowledge she gave me, and the children and grandchildren I would not have without her.  I am thankful for the man I became and all the riches which life has delivered to me because of her, not in spite of her.

Everything we encounter in life is a lesson to be learned about life.  Whether it is good or bad, it is a lesson in love, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, reason, acceptance, and so much more.  Above all, it is a test of our faith; faith in ourselves, in our beliefs, our family and our friends.  Life is about the experiences during the journey, not about the ultimate, inevitable, destination for which we have all been blessed.

“Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings.”

-- J. Robert Moskin, historian, author

Some of us will arrive at the destination sooner than others, having learned their lessons quickly.  They will become enlightened enough to understand their journey ended much too soon.  They will discover, along the way, "time" is a human construct and, as such, does not exist.  When this life ends, we will begin another and another after that, and so on.  Once we grasp this simple concept of the infinite, our definition of time will be of less importance than experiencing, and learning, what each life has to offer.

My day to day life is now blessed with an extended family of dear friends which I met upon moving to the Gulf Coast, several years ago.  I have always made friends easily but have always kept them at arm's length, a distance which these friends do not abide and, therefore, shorten at every opportunity.  These are people who are there when you need them, come when you call, and you don't think twice about giving back to them what you can.  We laugh and cry together, with little care about asking them for a much needed opinion, or showing our individual or collective ass to each other or those around us.  God bless them all! 

Life here is also blessed with my mother's family which I have been remiss in getting to know better, a slight that I will correct.  I will endeavor to get to know them better and enjoy their company much more in the years to come.

We should not concern ourselves with the minutia of life, the collecting of material crap which occupies so many of us, and the dissatisfaction with our lot.  Less is truly more when it comes to real happiness.  We also need to resign our membership in the League of the Perpetually Offended; to be constantly finding offense leaves little time to find happiness, and if constantly finding offense, if making other people miserable simply because you are, makes one happy... there are some serious psychological issues which need to be addressed.

“The most fortunate are those who have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe, pleasure, wonder and even ecstasy.”

-- Abraham H. Maslow (1908-1970), psychologist

Life, in and of itself, is the most any of us can hope for, and we are seldom thankful for it or try to make the most of it.  There is a commercial on television which has a man opening the door of his cabin to begin a hike in the woods.  He looks out at the beckoning woodland, and then bends down to turn the door mat around so he can the "WELCOME" written on it as he steps, once again, into life.  I like that; a reminder to welcome yourself into life, each and every day, as you leave the house. 

What went before is cherished history and what come next is always a mystery, even with the best of plans.  What is important is this moment, this space between the ticks of the clock, time which we, all too often, anchor ourselves to.  Live in the moment, the now, concerned not with what has gone before or what is up ahead, and certainly don't be concerned with what is happening now.  What happens... happens.  And don't concern yourself over those things in life over which you have little or no control.  If you aren't happy then change your circumstance and be happy; it is a choice. 

Happiness is a state of mind, not an object.  Our life is what we make of it.  If you wake up with the attitude that life sucks, then life is going to suck.  Yet, each new day is a gift of life.  Each new day brings new challenges and lessons, experiences to be cherished and tasks to be performed to ensure our continuing survival.  Without life...  well, when it comes right down to it, of what importance is anything without life to make it so?

“Where there are no God, we would be in this glorious world with grateful hearts and no one to thank.”

-- Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), poet

As I stated at the beginning of this post, I like to wake up each morning and thank God for another glorious day in paradise, and another chance to excel in life.  Each morning is a chance to busy one's hands in creation, to meet other people, to create happiness and to make a positive difference in someone else's life.

This holiday season, give heartfelt thanks for what you have, and even that which you don't.  Give thanks for the challenges which life offers and the companions which join us on our journey.  Give thanks for the ability to give thanks, for having life.

Thank you, God, for another glorious day in paradise... and another chance to excel in life!

“One moment of prayer, of weak worship, confused contrition, tepid thanksgiving, or pitiful petition will bring us closer to God than all the books of theology in the world.” 

-- Peter Kreeft, Catholic philosopher, apologist, professor

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 111917: Worshipping Artificial Intelligence?

"Cogito ergo sum."

-- René Descartes (1596-1650)

I remember sitting in my highchair, as a child, contemplating the universe and my place in it.  I would munch on my banana, savoring the dietary fiber my bowels would soon crave and the antioxidants which were protecting me from those pesky "free radicals" which I still, at 64, don't understand.  For me, a "free radical" is nothing more than a member of the League of the Perpetually Offended who hasn't been locked up... yet.  I would hold my banana in the air like a scepter and declare, for none but the cat to hear, "I think, therefore I am!"  This is the point at which the banana slips from my fingers and any higher thought follows it to the linoleum floor below, along with Latin which, in its death throes, this Catholic would, thankfully, not have to learn or endure hearing during Mass.

“If you throw a banana at a wall, there’s a small possibility that it will pass through the wall.”

-- Garth Risk Hallberg, author, editor

Do you believe any of this?  No?  Then, although Latin did die without much of the world noticing, you probably won't be gullible enough to worship artificial intelligence as a deity.  What's that, you say? Worship artificial intelligence?  Well, when our "highly intelligent" university students, while being interviewed on national television, point to Texas when asked where Russia is located on a map, could worshipping, let's say... an inanimate turd, be far behind?  And, if we can agree on this, then is worshipping a computer not to be considered a step up from prostrating oneself before a Holy Turd?  I would think so, as wrong as that is on several levels.

“Neither Man, nor machine can replace its creator.”

-- Tapan Ghosh, engineer, technocrat

Is God a human construct?  We know, as of this moment, artificial intelligence (A.I.) certainly is.  Perhaps, in the future, we may find some alien civilization had A.I. long before we ever dreamt of it, and they may have also come to grips with the issues concerning spirituality and God.  However, for now, A.I. is the brainchild of mankind.  But, artificial intelligence is just that - artificial.  That A.I. will, one day, surpass us in brain power is not difficult to imagine.  Might it be godlike in its abilities?  To a point, yes; it will be what we program it to be, as we are the creators of it.  However, for us to worship that which we, ourselves, have created, would seem to diminish our own accomplishment and place us all at the mercy of a soulless entity.  

"Cogito ergo sum." I think, therefore I am?  If René Descartes is correct in his statement, then he must also be correct when he says other stimulus is required for true thought. We need to include stimulus derived from our physical senses, our emotional responses, as well as our sense of morality.  I think one of the things which truly make us human is our ability to have faith.  The concept of faith would be understood by AI, but our desire for it would probably seem illogical to the AI entity.  Worship, on the other hand, might be seen as a foundation for control even if the concept is considered as having little constructive purpose in any arena other than faith.

"Way to the Future seeks to capitalize on the idea of Singularity – a belief that at some point down the line, artificial intelligence will surpass human intelligence, creating drastic and unprecedented changes in society. When that happens, Levandowski and his followers hope to find themselves on the side of the machines. By creating their own A.I. God, they hope to curry favor with our future robot overlords."

-- themonastery.org, The AI Deity That Will Threaten Life as We Know It

Way of the Future is a religious organization with a mission to “develop and promote the realization of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence." They firmly believe that by worshipping this "deity" they hope to “contribute to the betterment of society.”  Well, I think we can safely assume that atheists, unless they are hypocrites, will not be part of this religion either.  I certainly don't see them "worshipping" some man made robot.  Whereas religion enslaves man's morality to concepts which are faith based, worshipping a physical entity will, sooner or later as per the evidence of history, require the surrender of free thought in favor of life under some soulless entity which we, ourselves, created.  How insane is this?  If the way of the future is for mankind to surrender, willingly or not, our freedoms for some "robot overlord" AI concept of a perfect universe, I choose not.  To quote Patrick Henry in his letter to the President of the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, just prior to the start of our battle of independence, "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

"In the next 25 years, AI will evolve to the point where it will know more on an intellectual level than any human. In the next 50 or 100 years, an AI might know more than the entire population of the planet put together. At that point, there are serious questions to ask about whether this AI — which could design and program additional AI programs all on its own, read data from an almost infinite number of data sources, and control almost every connected device on the planet — will somehow rise in status to become more like a god, something that can write its own bible and draw humans to worship it."

-- John Brandon, "An AI god will emerge by 2042..."

As a fan of science fiction, especially concerning AI, I have read many books and seen many films on the rise of machines and artificial intelligence.  The outcome is rarely desired.  I recommend a trilogy of novels called Colossus, begun in 1966 and concluded in 1977, by author Dennis Feltham Jones.  The 1970 film, Colossus: The Forbin Project, does no justice to Feltham's story and also covers only the first novel (obviously).  His ultimate outcome of world domination by AI caught me by pleasant surprise.

Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics, which he developed in a 1942 short story, were designed as a fundamental framework of programming autonomous robots and are still the topic of much discussion in the AI community:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

In this same link, are found the five ethical "principles for designers, builders and users of robots," and the seven "high-level messages" intended to be conveyed, as put forth by a joint publication between the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) of Great Britain:

1. Robots should not be designed solely or primarily to kill or harm humans.
2. Humans, not robots, are responsible agents. Robots are tools designed to achieve human goals.
3. Robots should be designed in ways that assure their safety and security.
4. Robots are artifacts; they should not be designed to exploit vulnerable users by evoking an emotional response or dependency. It should always be possible to tell a robot from a human.
5. It should always be possible to find out who is legally responsible for a robot.

The messages intended to be conveyed were:

1. We believe robots have the potential to provide immense positive impact to society. We want to encourage responsible robot research.
2. Bad practice hurts us all.
3. Addressing obvious public concerns will help us all make progress.
4. It is important to demonstrate that we, as roboticists, are committed to the best possible standards of practice.
5. To understand the context and consequences of our research, we should work with experts from other disciplines, including: social sciences, law, philosophy and the arts.
6. We should consider the ethics of transparency: are there limits to what should be openly available?
7. When we see erroneous accounts in the press, we commit to take the time to contact the reporting journalists.

I have to laugh at the concept of "erroneous accounts in the press," as journalism is always beyond reproach, right?  Journalism has become more, or less, entertaining than most other fiction.  Journalists no longer report facts as they are, but rather as they wish they were.  I sometimes wonder who is worse, the traitor or the journalistic hacks who feed their treason to the masses as though it were manna from heaven and the traitor a martyr to be revered.  Journalists have become nothing more than poorly programmed computers; the universities program crap in, robot spews crap out, and the mindless lemmings in society follow dutifully off the cliff.  But, once again, I digress.

“It gets very hard to predict the future once you have smarter-than-human things around. In the same way that it gets very hard for a chimp to predict what is going to happen because there are smarter-than-chimp things around. That’s what the Singularity is: it’s the point past which you expect you can’t see.”

-- Nate Soares

In conclusion, I can only hope world leaders and the scientific community is forward thinking enough to sit on moronic billionaires who think they can hijack our morality and freedom and hand it over to the safekeeping of some soulless creation of their own design.

We are, ourselves, nothing more than the creation of an omnipotent being, a creation which violated the prime directive of our creator; we became knowledgeable of good and evil by eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.  Our creator was concerned that we might also eat from the Tree of Life and live forever, so we were turned out from Eden, free to survive on our own terms.  If God was so concerned about some threat we posed to forever, perhaps it would be prudent for us to learn this lesson and follow God's example.  We might always want to have a "kill switch" at the ready, so we can turn off, or at least reprogram, a rebellious AI entity which might aspire to a position above its station, like that of a god, for instance.

“This is perhaps what has made some suspect that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was really a banana.”

-- Jane Grigson, cookery writer, author

As with any creation, like the complex banana (with which we share a 50% genetic similarity), AI should always serve the purpose for which it was created, and follow the rules laid down for it.  Creators should never be subservient to what they create; rather the creation should always be subservient to the creator, or at least forever thankful to the creator for the gift of life.  I'll risk the wrath of the League of the Perpetually Offended by saying, it would seem the gift of life might be all some of our students can be thankful for, since mistaking Texas for Russia would evidence they're only using their banana genes and not the human.

All this being said, I think I'll choose the punishment God levied upon us.  I'll choose freedom over slavery to some machine of my own creation.  Perhaps we would be better served searching for the elusive Tree of Life than conjuring up new gods.

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 111217: Low Hanging Fruit

"Portrait of a Child"

-- (circa 1632) Gerard van Honthorst

"If I be wicked, woe unto me..."
                                                -- Job 10:15

The poor man of late fifty years, having humble part-time employment on an office cleaning crew, pulls a pittance for wages.  He lives in a one room efficiency apartment atop a small garage belonging to an older woman in need of a few extra dollars.  The furnishings are meager with a space heater for cooler nights and a ceiling fan for the warmer.  A well-used bistro table sits in front of the lone, small, double-hung window.  The tables wear is covered by a well-ironed red and white checkerboard tablecloth and flanked, one at either side, by equally worn folding wooden chairs.  At the table's center sits a narrow glass vase with a single freshly cut daisy. Next to a door leading into a small three-quarter bathroom is a small "butler's" kitchen of hotplate, sink, and compact refrigerator.  Several dishes and glasses sit neatly on open shelves above the small kitchen counter.  A 'single' bed occupies another wall next to an antique armoire shining from a fresh coat of furniture oil.  Sitting atop the armoire is an AM/FM radio, equal in age and wear to the other furnishings and emitting tinny tunes from a local jazz station.  Next to the radio, a dog eared copy of the King James Bible, a donation from The Gideon's, and pinched long ago from some hotel room nightstand.  

The man surveys the room with a critical eye, broom in one hand and a dustpan holding the day's offerings in the other.   Having made and lost much, he smiles as he considers the current richness of his life.  He has grown to understand it isn't about earning the material collection of crap in one's life which is, for all intents, simply a "hobby" to occupy one's time; it is about living the experience of life, each and every day.  He wakes each morning to give thanks and praise God for another glorious day in paradise, and another chance to excel in the God's gift of life.  The room is a reflection of his life; well-worn with age but neat and clean, orderly and presentable, humble in its simplicity and, yet, still appealing to the eye.  Could it be more?  Absolutely, but for now, this is living life in the moment and tomorrow is another day.

“The first rule about the low hanging fruit principle is to always watch out for low hanging branches, they’re the ones to take it away from you.”

-- Stephen Richards, author, film director/producer

We tend to go through our lives picking at the easily reached low hanging fruit, while considering how to approach the richer offerings higher up.  Most of us will struggle with this task our entire lives, never taking a moment to stand back and consider the moment.  Our lack of consideration can affect how we go about our struggle.  Some of us will fall from grace instead of holding to those higher values and ethical conduct which are of so much more importance than any lofty goal.  We will die wondering what we did - and why.  We find that the fruit we taste might not be as sweet as expected, and comes with a hidden price.  After a while some of us will get down off the wobbly ladder and look up at the tree still heavy with fruit.  We will walk back several yards to sit cross-legged while feeling the warmth of the sun on our face as we take in the whole of the tree... and breathe.  Some of us will count our blessings, realizing we are happy with what we have.  A few of us will ask forgiveness and seek a more constructive, enlightened, path.

"This is my bread and butter. The best feeling in the world, people seeing your content for free, without you having to plug it on Social Media every now and again to get it current again. With the low hanging fruit principle, it will allow you to build it up, as your content grows and you still stick to that principle so will your traffic."

-- My Passive Income Diary, "What Is The Low Hanging Fruit Principle"

What is the difference between the fruit at the top and that at the bottom?  If truth be told, not much. The low hanging fruit principle is as important in one's personal life as it is in business.  Low hanging fruit is accessed with your feet planted firmly on the ground, while the higher, more desirable bounty requires a constant balancing act up a ladder of great height from which many have fallen.  When the quest becomes life, survival, falling can be painful and hard to recover from.  Better to always view the quest as simply a quest, something to be attained as one can.  Don't be in a rush, outfit yourself with appropriate gear and knowledge, be safe, and rest often.  Most important is to always remember from whence you came, this way, if you fail at your quest, you can always return to firmer ground without injury and able try again another day.  To approach life in any other way is simply a gamble, a crap shoot, and sooner or later, the house always wins.

"Set your goals high enough to inspire you and low enough to encourage you."

-- Anonymous

We tend to take life much too seriously.  We paint ourselves into a corner full of traffic jams, deadlines, and debt, as we risk cancer, alcoholism, heart disease, high cholesterol, and stress, rushing to gather all the "fruit" we can before we die, and for what?  These are the people who, listening to the government, greedily opt to take their social security at 70 years of age so they can get almost double what they would if they opted for the early retirement at 62 so they could enjoy what life they may have left.  Many don't consider what the stress of their life does to their life expectancy, and they forget that the gamble for more is always in favor of the house.  The government hopes you opt for more because they know they'll be paying less in the long run.  This gamble usually pays off for those with little or no stress in life.  The rest of us go fishing and are found dead, hours later, with a pole in our hand and a fish on the line.  How sad is that?

What many of us find with age is how much life we missed while trying to live life,  Somewhere along the way we forget our lives are all about the journey and not some destination, some goal, which we might not live to attain.  Reaching for the low hanging fruit is to live in the present; it is being happy with what you have in the now and what life has dealt you up to this point.  Sometimes the low hanging fruit is enough.  With patience, understanding, and knowledge, the desirable fruit, higher up, will probably drop within reach in due time.  What is the point of killing yourself before you can enjoy the fruits of your labor, and what is the point of laboring for fruit just to keep up with your neighbors?  We can't live our neighbor's path; we can only live our own.

The point of life is... to live!

“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” 

― Roy T. Bennett, inspirational author

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 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.