Assembly Required!
We purchased a new bed for Parker, our Black Labrador!
She needed it! Her, former bed, had a big hole in the middle of it and her foot kept falling through the, massive hole!
Parker’s bed…had lasted for years!
Finally, what seemed like a simply procedure, I had accomplished it before, twice, turned into a two and one half hour ordeal!
I read the instructions and re-read the instructions and then I knew that I needed assistance! Sadly, I am not known as a, calm, follower of instructions.
Mary Jane helped me, for five minutes, and then announced that I should wait to put the bed together…when the boys could help me!
She understands my weakness!
Two and one half hours later…I had completed the project.
Parker will be sleeping on a new bed…and I will be grateful that I only have to put together her bed…every several years!
I wonder if the, assembly directions, are just difficult for e to understand…or are they, universally, hard?
Parker, slept on her torn and ragged, blue, bed…when she had to…but she did not enjoy the experience! She often scratched, vehemently, at the, blue, canvas bottom of the bed! But, at other times she seemed to sleep comfortably and soundly…the sleep of a, righteous, Lab!
Though, Parker does not like the bed, as it is in her kennel, she is resigned to the fact that she must spend some time in it’s confines to ensure her continued membership of the Brooks’ household!
Mom and Dad leave from time to time…and they count on the security of the kennel and the enclosed bed…to serve as safety from the mischief of the canine family!
The Collector, And A Photo
We were in Dillard Department store, the other day, and what did Jonathon and I spy, with our little eye but, turntables and record players and turntable and cd combos…on a, dramatic, sale!
The, sale, items looked like the boxes had been in a fight and lost!
Now, this was a point of serious discussion for two, young men…yea…three young men, counting Aaron, as to the efficacy of owning, just one more vinyl record player…that also plays CD’s?
I should say that one of the three of the Brooks Boys…is only young at heart…and perhaps more than the other two!
Jonathon and I commiserated regarding the, extremely low price of the expensive items and considered that there must be a reason such as; returns or seconds or mistaken identity!
So, we returned home…and I was much like Ralphie from the movie, A Christmas Story, when he thought of and dreamed of a Red Rider BB Gun!
A full two weeks later, yesterday, Mary Jane and I were near the department store, and I mentioned dropping by Dillard’s to check on the, rouge, record players?
My, dear, wife assured me that I did not need another record player and she inquired as to why I would want one?
I thought, she is right, and for a time, overcame my fever of obtaining, just, one more of my, childhood, fascination of record players and records!
But…today…I was alone!
As I strolled through the store that contained my passion…I did not see the land of, beat-up record player boxes, and I was relieved that I had, apparently, missed the opportunity to add a third record player…to my collection.
Suddenly, a young woman, about half my size, inquired if she could help me? I asked if there were any of the sale record players left…that were in the scraggly boxes?
She, joyfully, said that there were some left and that they were left over from Christmas…and that was why the boxes were in such bad shape.
When we arrived at the, splendorous, display I noticed that they all appeared to be either turn tables or record players…with no CD player combinations.
I asked her about one that was on the floor and under another player and she, graciously, knelt down and read the capabilities of the machine to me. It was a record player and CD player combo!
Now, you must consider that the only way that I could validate the purchase, albeit, a cheap purchase, of another record player was if it would also play CD’s…of which we have several!
When I, furtively, chose the bargain the lady carried it to the check out…and then offered to carry it to my car…but I assured her that I could manage!
My April surprise has a 1950’s retro appearance! But it does not shoot BB’s!
As I mentioned in an early blog, I have accepted an assignment on the Session of my local First Presbyterian Church. It was requested that I send a photo of myself for the church website. I though, fleetingly, about sending the photo of me enjoying a, once in awhile cigar, but then, thought better of it!
After I took several selfies and Mary Jane took several more photos of my, old and heavy visage, I discovered that I look, a little, better, in black and white!
Note: A Christmas Story courtesy of Google.
Grudge!
‘A persistent feeling of ill will or resentment resulting from a past insult or injury.’ Dictionary
‘A grudge is a bad feeling or hate you hold against another for something bad they did, or you think they did.’ Urban Dictionary
We humans love to hold, tightly, a grudge!
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When someone, wrongs us, or when we believe that we have been mistreated…we immortalize the moment and fix it in amber…in order to assure its continuing viability!
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I, like all of us, have been treated, somewhat unfairly, at times.
Also, I have imagined or perceived that I was being treated poorly or in a wrong manner, and found out at a later date that my imagination had been working over time!
All to often, we feel that there was a, hidden message, or an agenda, in what someone says, or does not say, to us…when in reality…we were the farthest from their mind.
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To believe that we are in the forefront of a person, for whom we hold a, sacred grudge, is to think very highly of ourselves and our place in others life story.
A grudge hurts and damages the person holding it, much more than the person that it is being held against.
I have witnessed grudges, consume the person that is suffering from it and subsequently dominate their waking hours as well as rob them of their sleep!
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‘I forgive you,’ Nadine Collier, the daughter of 70-year-old Ethel Lance, said at the hearing, her voice breaking with emotion. ‘You took something very precious from me. I will never talk to her again. I will never, hold her again. But I forgive you. And have mercy on your soul.’ Washington Post ‘I forgive you.’ Relatives of Charleston church shooting victims address Dylan Roof
What a testament to the grace of God…and the message of Christ!
I discovered something, many years ago, that has helped me, immensely, during my walk through life. I do not hold grudges. Not because I am good…I am not. But, God has been merciful to me and, thus far, I have not been, plagued, with the desire to capture grudges.
I stopped when I was a child. My mom and dad divorced when I was six years old and mom fell into a long depression. I was a sad and sullen boy for sometime…until I found that she, seemed to feel better, if I was upbeat! From that point, in my life, onward, I have attempted to forget the bad and magnify the good!
I was a manager/administrator at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, for over 25 years. During those years, no matter how fair I attempted to be, I developed enemies or at least people who did not like me.
My leadership goal at SIUC was to cause my enemies to like me and my friends to love me!
Actually, I see those who seem to wrong me…as fellow human beings on this, very rocky road of life, and I forget their animosity and embrace their humanity!
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Now, do not get me wrong…I am hurt by hurtful words or mistreatment…but the pain subsides…quickly!
When I think of the, multitude, of kind and gracious and loving, people in my life…I do not have space for grudges!
‘Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity of registering wrongs.’ Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre
‘To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.’ Confucius
‘Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die.’ Ann Lamott
‘They say it’s good to let your grudges go, but I don’t know, I’m quite fond of my grudge. I tend it like a little pet.’ Lane Moriarty, Big Little Lies
‘A life without forgiveness is a prison.’ William Arthur Ward
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Faith Should Be A Comfortable Cloak
If you are a, Baby Boomer, as I am, you will remember the cloak room in your first grade classroom?
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When I began first grade at Hillcrest Grade school, in Eldorado, Illinois, I took my seat the first morning and noticed a fellow classmate come in and sit down, still wearing his cap.
Our teacher said, ‘Jackie, take off your cap and place it in the cloak room.’
Now, I had never heard of a cloak room, being from Chicago, and I was intrigued with what was in the, mysterious, space?
When I examined the, special room, I observed a series of hooks attached to the walls and shelves over the hooks. I was a room for, sundry, hats and coats and, in the winter months, rubber galoshes.
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So, yesterday we enjoyed a lovely, potluck, dinner with our church family.
The purpose of the event was, following, a special program of the singing of Spirituals, and before the installation and ordination deacons and elders, that had been chosen by the Nominating committee that represents, both, our congregation and the two boards of the local Presbyterian church, the Session, made up of elders, and the Deacons.
As I sat and listened to the beautiful singing and enjoyed the delicious meal, with the entire Brooks family present, I was struck with the comfortable covering of being with a group of believers that are inclusive and loving to all members of the human family!
From my first association with Presbyterians, I noticed that they are doers rather than talkers!
Have you ever been encountered by an individual who, actively and authoritatively, shoves their brand of Christianity…down your throat?
Are you a member of a church that is determined that you follow a, heavy, book of rules that are centered around a charismatic leader?
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We live in a lonely world. Are we looking for someone to tell us that they love us…or are we seeking for fellow humans that, demonstrate, the love of Christ?
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As I listened to the various elders speak about their ministry, during the congregational meeting, I saw the beauty of being a member of a faith family that does not judge…but accepts and loves all of God’s children that he brings to them.
We all carry a monkey on our back!
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Over 20 years ago when our family joined the First Presbyterian Church, I wondered if I would be accepted since I had not been born into the denomination?
I had to overcome the pre-conceived ideas that I had about the group and ignore the myths…that I had been taught.
What I discovered was a welcoming and friendly church family!
I enjoy being in the background…and, virtually, invisible…as I am a bit of an introvert.
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I served as a Trustee, soon after we became church members. About ten years later, I was asked to serve on the Session.
I told myself, after the last three year term…I had done my part.
But, Presbyterians…are such workers!
I must offer my, meager, services…one more time…God has been too good to my family…for me to not try to help…a little.
Faith is a cloak that is meant to wear for a lifetime…and eternity!
I do not think of how I can impress those who I meet…that I am a Christian.
More often than not…I do not think about the commitment….I endeavor to treat those who I meet…as I want to be treated.
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‘But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them, which despitefully use you, and persecute you.’ Matthew 5:44 KJV
‘Love Thy Neighbor’
‘Thy Homeless Neighbor’
‘Thy Muslim Neighbor’
‘Thy Black Neighbor’
‘Thy Gay Neighbor’
‘Thy White Neighbor’
‘Thy Jewish Neighbor’
‘Thy Transgender Neighbor’
‘Thy Christian Neighbor’
‘Thy Atheist Neighbor’
‘Thy Racist Neighbor’
‘Thy Addicted Neighbor’
The Happy Traveler 