What would you do if you were in charge of repairing ties on the railroad and while you were busy working and minding your own business, someone from the local grocery store ran up to you and told you that a train was coming and that you had better get off the track? Would you get upset and ask the man why he wasn't minding his own business? Would you question his veracity because he was a grocery store owner and not a railroad man? Would you get angry and tell him to quit interrupting you in your work?
I belong to a gardening club. We receive helpful and informative e-mails about different gardening issues and problems. The people in charge of the forum are knowledgeable in their field and are able to answer difficult questions and give sound advice for beginners as well as seasoned gardeners. One day I received an e-mail through the gardening club that wasn't connected to gardening. The serious nature of the issue caused the group leader to want to warn his friends in the group of impending changes that might affect them. Sadly, there were some people who were angry that he would use the gardening forum to spread the word about something political. He spent the next few days apologizing to people and trying to get the site back on track. So, the train is coming and they get angry at the man who tells them because he's not a railroad man. Too bad.
I'm not a railroad man. I don't have a degree in train wrecks. In fact, I've never even seen one. But my eyes work extremely well and I can certainly see when a train is coming. So, what would you do if you were standing in your grocery store, or garden shop, or house and you happened to look out the window and see a train coming, and in the next instant you looked down the track a little way and you saw your friend or neighbor working at repairing the track? Would you say to yourself that he probably already knows that the train is coming, so my telling him again would only insult him? Or would you think that it isn't really your responsibility to warn people about trains; after all, you only run the grocery store, not the railroad? Or would you just call the people at the railroad station, because it's really their problem?
Paul Revere was a copper-smith. He didn't know about revolutions. He had no experience in war. He wasn't a politician or statesman. But he could see that a train was coming and he wasn't about to let his friends and neighbors get run over by it. He got on his horse and in the middle of the night and rode door to door waking people up and warning them of the danger that was coming, and they didn't get angry at him because he was only a copper-smith, or because the news was not good news.
In ancient Greece there was a messenger who brought bad news to the people, so they killed the messenger. That sounds pretty stupid, doesn't it? Unfortunately, it still happens today. If someone brings us news of impending trouble, we shoot at him with ridicule or scorn. We try to find a reason to not believe him, like for instance, he's a grocery store owner and doesn't know anything about railroads, so we don't have to believe him. On the other hand, when the owners of the railroad tell us, in spite of the warnings of our friends and neighbors, that there is no train scheduled on that track and that we have nothing to worry about, we believe them, even though we know that they are bankrupt and cannot pay us and probably have a motive for wanting to be rid of us... via train wreck.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there is no train. Maybe I'm just imagining it. Maybe the railroad company is kind, benevolent, and helpful. And maybe pigs will fly.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
One Life to Give
The other day, as I sat in City Hall having lunch with people who had attended the Veteran's Day Celebration, I overheard one veteran say as he shook his head, “Yea, this country's going to h--- and the worst part is that I just don't know what to do about it.” Then with another shake of his head he looked over at me and my children and with a new light in his eyes he exclaimed, as much to me as to the other gentleman he was talking to, “Wait. I think I do know what to do!” He then pointed at my children and said, “That's where it has to start. Right there with the next generation. We have to teach them.”
This country? Yes, this country. Everyone I talk to has the same things to say. It's not a new story. In fact, I think that the story has been going around for decades. Only lately, it seems a little worse. “What do we do?” seems to be on everyone's lips. But while gums are flapping, hands are tied. Words are cheap, but deeds are nonexistent. The question I have been asking myself lately though, has not been “What do I do?”, but “Could I do it if I had to?”
To find out what needs to be done, one need only look in a good history book. There for anyone to read, are the deeds of amazing men and women who, when they saw the need, did what they had to do. In every case, there was a clear course of action, based on principle. To act, was a question of principle, verses risk. Those people in history who we most revere are the ones who weighed the risk against losing the principle and chose the risk. For instance, during the revolutionary war, Washington risked his home, future, family, property, name and life for the principles of liberty, representative government, and independence. He found the conditions under which he and his countrymen were forced to live, through the tyranny of their government, to be unbearable. The question was not so much WHAT to do as DO they do it.
For that reason I have asked myself the question. If the time came for me to risk everything for what I believe in, would I DO it? Would I value my principles above my life or would I shrink from the conflict to save my life? Upon reading the wonderful book, “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom, I was surprised to find that those ordinary people who lived and worked in a clock shop in pre-war Holland were truly extraordinary individuals. Though the risks were great and the retribution of the German government notorious, they were willing to risk everything to rescue a few people from persecution and what they believed to be certain death. Even when they knew that the police were aware of their operations they did not cease to work, even knowing that it was only a matter of time before they would be arrested themselves.
The other question that occurred to me was “What DO I believe in that I would be willing to risk my life for?” Is freedom dear enough to me that I would be willing to suffer and die for it? Is my faith strong enough to withstand persecution or violence? Would I turn my head if I saw others unjustly punished or imprisoned? Would I do everything in my power to save one person, even if I was not saved? These and other questions have come to my mind recently as I have watched people's reactions to the events that surround us. After all, history may repeat itself. So, what would I do? What would any of us do? It isn't for me to say, but I have decided to decide. If I decide beforehand what I would do then I won't be caught unawares doing something I would be ashamed of later on. In her book, those people who had betrayed others so save their own lives had a much more difficult time after it was all over. What would I do? I hope I never find out, but if I do, I hope that I won't be ashamed of my decisions when it's all over.
This country? Yes, this country. Everyone I talk to has the same things to say. It's not a new story. In fact, I think that the story has been going around for decades. Only lately, it seems a little worse. “What do we do?” seems to be on everyone's lips. But while gums are flapping, hands are tied. Words are cheap, but deeds are nonexistent. The question I have been asking myself lately though, has not been “What do I do?”, but “Could I do it if I had to?”
To find out what needs to be done, one need only look in a good history book. There for anyone to read, are the deeds of amazing men and women who, when they saw the need, did what they had to do. In every case, there was a clear course of action, based on principle. To act, was a question of principle, verses risk. Those people in history who we most revere are the ones who weighed the risk against losing the principle and chose the risk. For instance, during the revolutionary war, Washington risked his home, future, family, property, name and life for the principles of liberty, representative government, and independence. He found the conditions under which he and his countrymen were forced to live, through the tyranny of their government, to be unbearable. The question was not so much WHAT to do as DO they do it.
For that reason I have asked myself the question. If the time came for me to risk everything for what I believe in, would I DO it? Would I value my principles above my life or would I shrink from the conflict to save my life? Upon reading the wonderful book, “The Hiding Place” by Corrie ten Boom, I was surprised to find that those ordinary people who lived and worked in a clock shop in pre-war Holland were truly extraordinary individuals. Though the risks were great and the retribution of the German government notorious, they were willing to risk everything to rescue a few people from persecution and what they believed to be certain death. Even when they knew that the police were aware of their operations they did not cease to work, even knowing that it was only a matter of time before they would be arrested themselves.
The other question that occurred to me was “What DO I believe in that I would be willing to risk my life for?” Is freedom dear enough to me that I would be willing to suffer and die for it? Is my faith strong enough to withstand persecution or violence? Would I turn my head if I saw others unjustly punished or imprisoned? Would I do everything in my power to save one person, even if I was not saved? These and other questions have come to my mind recently as I have watched people's reactions to the events that surround us. After all, history may repeat itself. So, what would I do? What would any of us do? It isn't for me to say, but I have decided to decide. If I decide beforehand what I would do then I won't be caught unawares doing something I would be ashamed of later on. In her book, those people who had betrayed others so save their own lives had a much more difficult time after it was all over. What would I do? I hope I never find out, but if I do, I hope that I won't be ashamed of my decisions when it's all over.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Grandma's Stew
When I was in college I had a job cooking for the dorms on campus. In the cafeteria we had a big salad bar, choices of bread, a large main line with the main course and a vegetable, a choice of several desserts and numerous choices of drinks. The manager, wanting to 'beef up' the cafeteria's choices, decided to add another line called the “Specialty Line”. He put me in charge of daily planning and cooking that line of food. I was supposed to come up with unusual and interesting, and ethnic dishes that would entice the students and satisfy their need for variety. I gladly undertook the challenge and began my daily journey through dozens of cook books.
On Saturday I would plan the menu for the following week. The dishes ranged from Chinese to Russian, from Mexican to Italian. I could order any kind of meat I chose and the possibilities were endless. Every week I would try to out-do myself and come up with something unique and different. After a few weeks of trying to be different all the time I started to run out of resources and ideas. I racked my brain trying to think of things that I could do that would fit the specialty line and still be edible. One particularly difficult week, I found myself at a complete loss for something 'different' to cook that week. Then I remembered my Grandma and her wonderful stew. It was my favorite when I was growing up, so I decided I would try it on my specialty line. I called Grandma to find out how she made it and was surprised to find out that it was all left-overs. Hmm, I thought, can I do that? I talked to the head cook and I was given permission to use some of the leftover meatloaf in the walk-in refrigerator. I began to have second thoughts, like What if they don't like it? and What if it makes people sick? I decided to go ahead with the stew, in spite of my misgivings. I tried to follow the recipe just as Grandma gave it to me and when it was finished it looked very much like what I remember seeing when I was a child.
While the stew was cooking I realized that I had to have something to go with the stew, and I remembered that Grandma always made fresh bread to go with it. I quickly ordered some bread from our bakery and was able to cut, butter and warm it before serving the stew. Once again the doubts assailed me and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. With some hesitation I put the sign on the specialty line that read: “Grandma's Stew and Fresh, Hot Bread”. I put the stew in the warming pan and retreated to the kitchen to watch the outcome. From the little window in the kitchen I could see the server working frantically, trying to get all the people served. There was a long line by the specialty table and hardly anyone coming to the main line. Unfortunately, I had been conservative in my estimate to determine how much stew to make, so we ran out. Everyone wanted “Grandma's Stew”, and no one seemed to want the exotic Peppered Steak they were serving on the main line.
Most of us are just plain like “Grandma's Stew”, nothing special, no frills and ordinary. We live, work, play, love, laugh and die without fanfare, without hype. And aren't we glad? I love Grandma's stew because it's simple, warm and satisfying. I love Grandma for the same reasons. The best recipes are the ones with fewest ingredients. The best people are the ones who live the simplest lives.
It was good for me to take a step back and re-think my specialty line. I started cooking the simple homey dishes I grew up with and I found that I almost couldn't make enough. People weren't looking for something exotic and wild; they just wanted something simple and home-made. Most people don't want to be impressed, they want to be loved. Love is simple and home-made, like Grandma, and her Stew.
Grandma's Stew
Left-over meatloaf, cut into small bite-size squares
Left-over baked potatoes cut into squares
Carrots and Onions cut small
Tomato Sauce
Salt and Pepper
Brown Sugar
Put meat, potatoes and carrots into pot about half full of water. Boil until carrots are cooked. Add Tomato Sauce, Salt and Pepper to taste. A little Brown Sugar can be added if you want. Cook until it looks like a good thick stew. How much of any of these you use depends on how much you have left-over in the fridge. It might be different every time. That's the fun of it!
On Saturday I would plan the menu for the following week. The dishes ranged from Chinese to Russian, from Mexican to Italian. I could order any kind of meat I chose and the possibilities were endless. Every week I would try to out-do myself and come up with something unique and different. After a few weeks of trying to be different all the time I started to run out of resources and ideas. I racked my brain trying to think of things that I could do that would fit the specialty line and still be edible. One particularly difficult week, I found myself at a complete loss for something 'different' to cook that week. Then I remembered my Grandma and her wonderful stew. It was my favorite when I was growing up, so I decided I would try it on my specialty line. I called Grandma to find out how she made it and was surprised to find out that it was all left-overs. Hmm, I thought, can I do that? I talked to the head cook and I was given permission to use some of the leftover meatloaf in the walk-in refrigerator. I began to have second thoughts, like What if they don't like it? and What if it makes people sick? I decided to go ahead with the stew, in spite of my misgivings. I tried to follow the recipe just as Grandma gave it to me and when it was finished it looked very much like what I remember seeing when I was a child.
While the stew was cooking I realized that I had to have something to go with the stew, and I remembered that Grandma always made fresh bread to go with it. I quickly ordered some bread from our bakery and was able to cut, butter and warm it before serving the stew. Once again the doubts assailed me and I wondered if I was doing the right thing. With some hesitation I put the sign on the specialty line that read: “Grandma's Stew and Fresh, Hot Bread”. I put the stew in the warming pan and retreated to the kitchen to watch the outcome. From the little window in the kitchen I could see the server working frantically, trying to get all the people served. There was a long line by the specialty table and hardly anyone coming to the main line. Unfortunately, I had been conservative in my estimate to determine how much stew to make, so we ran out. Everyone wanted “Grandma's Stew”, and no one seemed to want the exotic Peppered Steak they were serving on the main line.
Most of us are just plain like “Grandma's Stew”, nothing special, no frills and ordinary. We live, work, play, love, laugh and die without fanfare, without hype. And aren't we glad? I love Grandma's stew because it's simple, warm and satisfying. I love Grandma for the same reasons. The best recipes are the ones with fewest ingredients. The best people are the ones who live the simplest lives.
It was good for me to take a step back and re-think my specialty line. I started cooking the simple homey dishes I grew up with and I found that I almost couldn't make enough. People weren't looking for something exotic and wild; they just wanted something simple and home-made. Most people don't want to be impressed, they want to be loved. Love is simple and home-made, like Grandma, and her Stew.
Grandma's Stew
Left-over meatloaf, cut into small bite-size squares
Left-over baked potatoes cut into squares
Carrots and Onions cut small
Tomato Sauce
Salt and Pepper
Brown Sugar
Put meat, potatoes and carrots into pot about half full of water. Boil until carrots are cooked. Add Tomato Sauce, Salt and Pepper to taste. A little Brown Sugar can be added if you want. Cook until it looks like a good thick stew. How much of any of these you use depends on how much you have left-over in the fridge. It might be different every time. That's the fun of it!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
A Season and a Reason for Gratitude
Gratitude is not an event; it is a way of life. Like love, it should not be turned on or off, depending on the circumstances, but ought to flow freely from a full heart. These words are easy to say, and take a lifetime to implement. However, like gardening, though it takes many years to learn all the techniques to a successful harvest, you can still enjoy the fruits of your labor, imperfect though it may be. So with gratitude, there are ways in which we can increase our yield and perhaps find greater happiness along the way, unfinished though our lives may be.
When my husband and I were first married, we discovered that there were months, especially while finishing college, when the paycheck did not quite fit the expenses. There seemed to be nothing for it except maybe to quit school, get another job, or move in with parents. None of the options seemed like the right thing to do, so we wondered, worried and prayed. The result? Nothing changed. We were still strapped. Then an idea occurred to me. I took out a piece of paper and began writing down all the things I had. I listed everything, including pencil and paper! After spending something like an hour writing down all the things we had and were thankful for, I realized that there was nothing to worry about. We had all we needed and the rest was insignificant by comparison. Our good parents, brothers and sisters, our children, home, life, furniture, food, shelter, church, friends, clothing, teachers, school and practically numberless other good things were overwhelmingly shouting at me to be thankful. Once I was thankful for all of that, the worry over money seemed small and petty.
The trouble with ingratitude is that it sees only the thing it lacks. It does not see any of the good things surrounding it. Ingratitude can look outside and be angry that the wind is blowing while completely ignoring the fact that the sun is shining and providing life to a whole world of beauty. The amazing thing about gratitude is that it sees only what is good and is thankful for it. It reminds me of a trip I went on with my family when I was young. We were traveling through the mountains and because of the size of our family we were in two station wagons. One of them had trouble with the slow climb up the mountain pass and every couple of miles we all had to stop while the car cooled off. Then we would go another couple of miles and stop again. This routine began to become tedious and some of the children complained that it was taking too long. Mother wisely counseled us to be thankful for the beautiful scenery and just enjoy the ride. Toward the summit of that mountain pass, I watched two motorcycles speed past us while we turned off the road for yet another rest stop. How I wished I could have gone with those motorcyclists and not have been sitting there with that old station wagon. We waited while the car cooled off, then set out again on our crawling little journey up the mountain. As we rounded the corner just a mile or so from the last turnout, all the traffic had come to a halt. “Another delay.” I thought. “Why does this have to happen?” We sat on the road for a few minutes when the curious teenagers in our vehicles decided to walk ahead to see if they could find out why we had stopped. When they came back, they were very serious and disturbed. They told us that a tree had fallen over the road, killing the two cyclists who had passed us just as we had turned off the road. The realization settled upon all of us that had we not stopped that last time the tree would likely have fallen upon our vehicle.
From that day I began to practice gratitude more than I ever did before, especially in difficult or trying circumstances. Being thankful in impossible situations has allowed me a measure of happiness where normally there would have been none. I discovered that where there are a thousand reasons to be upset or angry and there might be only one small reason to be thankful, it is always to my advantage to choose the gratitude. I reap happiness as a result and the difficult circumstances eventually pass, as they always do. But, I believe that the best reward for gratitude is in becoming a thankful person. Bitterness, anger, resentment, worry, fear, anxiety, stress (and their attendant physical maladies) gradually become a thing of the past. Gratitude is the amazing, free, miracle-working anti-serum. So, take your shot today. It can't hurt.
When my husband and I were first married, we discovered that there were months, especially while finishing college, when the paycheck did not quite fit the expenses. There seemed to be nothing for it except maybe to quit school, get another job, or move in with parents. None of the options seemed like the right thing to do, so we wondered, worried and prayed. The result? Nothing changed. We were still strapped. Then an idea occurred to me. I took out a piece of paper and began writing down all the things I had. I listed everything, including pencil and paper! After spending something like an hour writing down all the things we had and were thankful for, I realized that there was nothing to worry about. We had all we needed and the rest was insignificant by comparison. Our good parents, brothers and sisters, our children, home, life, furniture, food, shelter, church, friends, clothing, teachers, school and practically numberless other good things were overwhelmingly shouting at me to be thankful. Once I was thankful for all of that, the worry over money seemed small and petty.
The trouble with ingratitude is that it sees only the thing it lacks. It does not see any of the good things surrounding it. Ingratitude can look outside and be angry that the wind is blowing while completely ignoring the fact that the sun is shining and providing life to a whole world of beauty. The amazing thing about gratitude is that it sees only what is good and is thankful for it. It reminds me of a trip I went on with my family when I was young. We were traveling through the mountains and because of the size of our family we were in two station wagons. One of them had trouble with the slow climb up the mountain pass and every couple of miles we all had to stop while the car cooled off. Then we would go another couple of miles and stop again. This routine began to become tedious and some of the children complained that it was taking too long. Mother wisely counseled us to be thankful for the beautiful scenery and just enjoy the ride. Toward the summit of that mountain pass, I watched two motorcycles speed past us while we turned off the road for yet another rest stop. How I wished I could have gone with those motorcyclists and not have been sitting there with that old station wagon. We waited while the car cooled off, then set out again on our crawling little journey up the mountain. As we rounded the corner just a mile or so from the last turnout, all the traffic had come to a halt. “Another delay.” I thought. “Why does this have to happen?” We sat on the road for a few minutes when the curious teenagers in our vehicles decided to walk ahead to see if they could find out why we had stopped. When they came back, they were very serious and disturbed. They told us that a tree had fallen over the road, killing the two cyclists who had passed us just as we had turned off the road. The realization settled upon all of us that had we not stopped that last time the tree would likely have fallen upon our vehicle.
From that day I began to practice gratitude more than I ever did before, especially in difficult or trying circumstances. Being thankful in impossible situations has allowed me a measure of happiness where normally there would have been none. I discovered that where there are a thousand reasons to be upset or angry and there might be only one small reason to be thankful, it is always to my advantage to choose the gratitude. I reap happiness as a result and the difficult circumstances eventually pass, as they always do. But, I believe that the best reward for gratitude is in becoming a thankful person. Bitterness, anger, resentment, worry, fear, anxiety, stress (and their attendant physical maladies) gradually become a thing of the past. Gratitude is the amazing, free, miracle-working anti-serum. So, take your shot today. It can't hurt.
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Little Day Music
All my life, I have studied that thing we call 'music'. I have found it to be beyond definition, without bounds, utterly incomprehensible and completely amazing. That is probably why I love it. But in studying I have found that there are many misconceptions about music that are commonly passed around as fact. These so-called facts have become the basis for many people's lifetime perspectives on music, and form the philosophical foundation for generations of unsuspecting children to build upon. So, with the greatest care, I would like to share a little of what I have learned in an effort to debunk some of the myths about music that are prevalent today.
Many people are told at a very young age that they 'cannot carry a tune in a bucket'. It is usually a music teacher that reveals this unhappy 'truth', and the child takes those words with him to the grave. Those are the first words out of his mouth whenever music is mentioned, and the child is forever banished from the ranks of 'the musically gifted'. I can think of no greater musical tragedy than that. The truth is that there is no such thing as 'tone deaf'. A person can be deaf, yes, but if you have ears that work and can speak, you can also sing. I didn't make this up. These are the facts. But do people believe me? Unfortunately, no. People would rather believe that they are not capable of producing music. I guess it's easier than practicing.
“It takes yeeeeeeeeears to become a musician”, people will say. I suppose that this is why people start their children in piano lessons when they are very small. They want them to have enough time to get all those years behind them so they can be a musician before they are very old. Ugh! Little children are natural born musicians. They sing, dance, imitate, improvise and jam at an extremely young age, if they are allowed to. The problem arises when parents want music in neat little packages that you can turn on and off whenever it is convenient. But the truth is that children need to make noise and lots of it, in order to be able to make music. Children can be taught music when they are young because they haven't yet 'learned' that it takes years to learn, or that you have to play it 'just right' for people to listen to you. People rarely learn instruments or singing after they are grown up, because they think it takes a long time to learn, that you have to have a teacher, and that it is too hard. On top of that, they won't even try to play or sing unless they can do it perfectly. It's pitiful, really. People who are otherwise intelligent and thoughtful, acting like two-year-olds and saying, “I can't!” By the time I was eight years old I could read pretty well, so I picked up a piano book and read it, and learned to play the piano, as did my mother and grandfather before me. It didn't take forever, in fact it only took a few days. After that I just played more music so I could get faster. No mystery, no magic, no teacher, no long time.
If you think that music is a gift, you would be right. But if you think that only some people have that 'gift' you would be wrong. Everyone, even the deaf, have the gift of music. The gift of music was given to the world as a whole. There is not a soul on the planet that doesn't experience that gift in one way or another. The mistake people make is in thinking that music is some sort of elite club that can only be joined by the 'talented', the 'gifted' or the prodigy. Nothing could be more counter-productive. Music is for everyone. It is not a spectator's sport. Those who think that they can experience music when they only listen to it are like those who are content to see the Grand Canyon on television. It's nice to see it that way, but it is no comparison to being there. If you are a 'listener-only' musician, take a second look at the musician inside you. Somewhere you will find that little child who wanted to make noise. Let that child out, make some noise and LIVE the music. Music is life. Life was meant to be lived, music was meant to be made. Dancing, art, poetry, literature, and love are all music, but watching them is only the beginning. It's like watching swimmers but never getting wet. Jump in with both feet and get all wet. Once you do you will never again be content to just watch. Then you will take your place among the great musicians of the world: all of us!
Many people are told at a very young age that they 'cannot carry a tune in a bucket'. It is usually a music teacher that reveals this unhappy 'truth', and the child takes those words with him to the grave. Those are the first words out of his mouth whenever music is mentioned, and the child is forever banished from the ranks of 'the musically gifted'. I can think of no greater musical tragedy than that. The truth is that there is no such thing as 'tone deaf'. A person can be deaf, yes, but if you have ears that work and can speak, you can also sing. I didn't make this up. These are the facts. But do people believe me? Unfortunately, no. People would rather believe that they are not capable of producing music. I guess it's easier than practicing.
“It takes yeeeeeeeeears to become a musician”, people will say. I suppose that this is why people start their children in piano lessons when they are very small. They want them to have enough time to get all those years behind them so they can be a musician before they are very old. Ugh! Little children are natural born musicians. They sing, dance, imitate, improvise and jam at an extremely young age, if they are allowed to. The problem arises when parents want music in neat little packages that you can turn on and off whenever it is convenient. But the truth is that children need to make noise and lots of it, in order to be able to make music. Children can be taught music when they are young because they haven't yet 'learned' that it takes years to learn, or that you have to play it 'just right' for people to listen to you. People rarely learn instruments or singing after they are grown up, because they think it takes a long time to learn, that you have to have a teacher, and that it is too hard. On top of that, they won't even try to play or sing unless they can do it perfectly. It's pitiful, really. People who are otherwise intelligent and thoughtful, acting like two-year-olds and saying, “I can't!” By the time I was eight years old I could read pretty well, so I picked up a piano book and read it, and learned to play the piano, as did my mother and grandfather before me. It didn't take forever, in fact it only took a few days. After that I just played more music so I could get faster. No mystery, no magic, no teacher, no long time.
If you think that music is a gift, you would be right. But if you think that only some people have that 'gift' you would be wrong. Everyone, even the deaf, have the gift of music. The gift of music was given to the world as a whole. There is not a soul on the planet that doesn't experience that gift in one way or another. The mistake people make is in thinking that music is some sort of elite club that can only be joined by the 'talented', the 'gifted' or the prodigy. Nothing could be more counter-productive. Music is for everyone. It is not a spectator's sport. Those who think that they can experience music when they only listen to it are like those who are content to see the Grand Canyon on television. It's nice to see it that way, but it is no comparison to being there. If you are a 'listener-only' musician, take a second look at the musician inside you. Somewhere you will find that little child who wanted to make noise. Let that child out, make some noise and LIVE the music. Music is life. Life was meant to be lived, music was meant to be made. Dancing, art, poetry, literature, and love are all music, but watching them is only the beginning. It's like watching swimmers but never getting wet. Jump in with both feet and get all wet. Once you do you will never again be content to just watch. Then you will take your place among the great musicians of the world: all of us!
Where's My Liberty?
I was very young (sixteen) and foolish when I entered what I believed to be a scholarship pageant. I was persuaded by the invitation and application that this would be a competition based on academic excellence and intelligence, not beauty. So, encouraged by my parents and teachers, I entered the contest and boarded the bus for Jamestown, North Dakota to attend the competition. Upon arrival I began to be undeceived as to the nature of the competition when I found myself in the midst of a large group of extremely tanned, heavily made-up, fashion model-type girls, obviously competing for something besides academic excellence!
I tried to convince myself that I had at least some natural beauty and perhaps more than average intelligence, and that my attendance would not be completely in vain. After all, I thought, some people say that I am pretty smart, and that's got to count for something, right? Wrong. My skill as a model, which would have been a great asset in that competition, was almost nil, and my intelligence went completely unnoticed. Still, I had hope of at least having a small impact in the competition, on the final night when we would give our speeches to the audience. I had prepared well, and was confident of a warm reception, at least. Now, even at my young age I had noticed that there were some things in our government that had gone awry and that we needed a 'revival' of sorts to put things back to where they belonged. History seemed to be shouting that we were now going in directions unintended by those who gave their lives to bring about this most unique and wonderful condition of liberty within a unity of independent states. But, instead of affirmation, my speech was greeted with a sort of uncomfortable silence and stilted applause. I was too young to realize that there are some things that you simply cannot say to people. That is one of them.
In 1775, Patrick Henry made his famous speech in which he called for the Virginia House of Burgesses to make a declaration of war and send troops into the revolutionary conflict. His call to action was founded upon principles written in the Declaration of Independence wherein the British Government had oppressed the colonies and made life unbearable under it's tyranny. What caught my attention then, and still makes me shake my head today is that we have now come to the same condition of oppression that existed in 1775. The difference is that now, people think they deserve the freedom bequeathed to us by those who knew what it was, as well as the right to forcibly confiscate their neighbors goods. But, entitlement is the enemy of Liberty, and will prove our complete undoing if it is not put in check.
Suppose you have only two families in the whole world. Each is independent and takes care of itself. Each raises and gathers food, makes clothing and builds shelter as needed. Sometimes they trade with each other, sometimes they help each other. But one day, one family notices that the other family has three cows and they have only one. They decide that they are entitled to have three cows, just like the other family and formulate a plan to get them. So they make up a charter for both families to sign. It states that, among other things, each family will give a portion of it's goods to the other whenever there is a need, and the need will be determined by one of the family members who will be elected by the families to make such decisions and enforce them. Amidst some disagreement, the families sign the charter and begin to live normally again. But, the elected family member, who happens to be from the 'Entitlement' family, decides that the other family has had three cows long enough, and it's time to let the other family have three cows, because they deserve it. The other family is forced to comply and the cows now belong to the 'entitled' family. Thus, liberty is lost. However, no such agreement was made anywhere near 1776. But now we are told on a daily basis, in the media and by our leaders, that we are entitled to peace, health, wealth, education, food, shelter, clean air, clean water and the list goes on. But, I ask you, who is going to give it to you? Where will it come from? The only way entitlement ever comes is by force. The only way that people can convince other people to give up large portions of their property or their freedom, for the support of other people or a government (which is just more people) is to threaten them with harm if they do not. Britain tried to force the colonies, they rebelled. We, on the other hand, invite the force into our lives and the lives of others, but more than that, we feel that we, and they, deserve it.
Those famous, but vastly misunderstood, words by Patrick Henry in 1775, now ring in my ears in almost open mockery of what we have become. “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!" And our reply, as a nation has become, “Give us all social security, health care, safety, food, etc. or we will kill you!”
I tried to convince myself that I had at least some natural beauty and perhaps more than average intelligence, and that my attendance would not be completely in vain. After all, I thought, some people say that I am pretty smart, and that's got to count for something, right? Wrong. My skill as a model, which would have been a great asset in that competition, was almost nil, and my intelligence went completely unnoticed. Still, I had hope of at least having a small impact in the competition, on the final night when we would give our speeches to the audience. I had prepared well, and was confident of a warm reception, at least. Now, even at my young age I had noticed that there were some things in our government that had gone awry and that we needed a 'revival' of sorts to put things back to where they belonged. History seemed to be shouting that we were now going in directions unintended by those who gave their lives to bring about this most unique and wonderful condition of liberty within a unity of independent states. But, instead of affirmation, my speech was greeted with a sort of uncomfortable silence and stilted applause. I was too young to realize that there are some things that you simply cannot say to people. That is one of them.
In 1775, Patrick Henry made his famous speech in which he called for the Virginia House of Burgesses to make a declaration of war and send troops into the revolutionary conflict. His call to action was founded upon principles written in the Declaration of Independence wherein the British Government had oppressed the colonies and made life unbearable under it's tyranny. What caught my attention then, and still makes me shake my head today is that we have now come to the same condition of oppression that existed in 1775. The difference is that now, people think they deserve the freedom bequeathed to us by those who knew what it was, as well as the right to forcibly confiscate their neighbors goods. But, entitlement is the enemy of Liberty, and will prove our complete undoing if it is not put in check.
Suppose you have only two families in the whole world. Each is independent and takes care of itself. Each raises and gathers food, makes clothing and builds shelter as needed. Sometimes they trade with each other, sometimes they help each other. But one day, one family notices that the other family has three cows and they have only one. They decide that they are entitled to have three cows, just like the other family and formulate a plan to get them. So they make up a charter for both families to sign. It states that, among other things, each family will give a portion of it's goods to the other whenever there is a need, and the need will be determined by one of the family members who will be elected by the families to make such decisions and enforce them. Amidst some disagreement, the families sign the charter and begin to live normally again. But, the elected family member, who happens to be from the 'Entitlement' family, decides that the other family has had three cows long enough, and it's time to let the other family have three cows, because they deserve it. The other family is forced to comply and the cows now belong to the 'entitled' family. Thus, liberty is lost. However, no such agreement was made anywhere near 1776. But now we are told on a daily basis, in the media and by our leaders, that we are entitled to peace, health, wealth, education, food, shelter, clean air, clean water and the list goes on. But, I ask you, who is going to give it to you? Where will it come from? The only way entitlement ever comes is by force. The only way that people can convince other people to give up large portions of their property or their freedom, for the support of other people or a government (which is just more people) is to threaten them with harm if they do not. Britain tried to force the colonies, they rebelled. We, on the other hand, invite the force into our lives and the lives of others, but more than that, we feel that we, and they, deserve it.
Those famous, but vastly misunderstood, words by Patrick Henry in 1775, now ring in my ears in almost open mockery of what we have become. “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!" And our reply, as a nation has become, “Give us all social security, health care, safety, food, etc. or we will kill you!”
Whate're Thou Art
“Whate'er thou art, act well thy part”, said Shakespeare. But how do you know what 'thou art'?
Since the beginning of time, men and women have wondered what they are. This ancient question however, is even more pressing today. What we are is largely determined by what we think we are. Unfortunately, our thoughts are increasingly held captive by the modern nonsense-culture of television, movies, video games, internet, i-pods and cell phones. This inundation is greatly to the disadvantage of parents who try to teach their children who they are, and of thinking people who are simply trying to get through life. So, just for fun, let's explore the options of who and what we are, in the hopes that in knowing what we are we can then decide how best to 'act well' our part.
Obviously we are human. Being human means that we have the power to reason and give direction to our own lives. We aren't merely the victims of birth and circumstance. The chief obstacle to reason today is distraction. We are so busy working, watching, or playing that all the great thoughts of the past escape our view and we are left with the fluff of mass media trivia. Knowledge is power, but real, valuable knowledge doesn't come by sitting on the couch waiting for it.
Who or what we are also should take into account what we want to be. When you are a child, people always ask you what you want to be when you grow up. I think we should be asking ourselves that question on a daily basis. What am I, and what to I want to be? And, if I want to be something, what am I doing to make it happen. Children are always made to think about their future in terms of employment, as in: “I want to be a doctor, or a fireman”. Adults should realize that those definitions are too narrow. What you are is much bigger than your profession. It encompasses every facet of your personality. You are never done becoming who and what you are until you are done living and every decision, every thought, every act leads you inevitably to what you are.
Part of the problem with the onslaught of media in our day is that it is too easy to compare ourselves with others, or to label ourselves with the current set of popular titles. These deceptive traps are counter-productive in our search for what we are. They sometimes lead us to believe that we are stuck into a certain mode and cannot change it. But, once you decide what you want to be, you immediately have the power to become it. Time, patience and perseverance may be outmoded but they still work.
I once read a story about a woman who claimed that she never had a 'chance' in life. She expressed that view to a man who happened to be traveling through her town giving lectures. He asked her a few questions about her work, trying to find out what she was. She said that she was a mere kitchen helper who pealed potatoes. He asked her where she sat to do her job. She said that she sat on the back step of the building. He asked what the step was made of, and she replied that it was made of bricks. He asked what kind of bricks and she said that she didn't know. So, he gave her his address and told her to write to him and tell him what the brick was made of. A few days later he received her reply, and because of the excellent research she had done on the subject, he was able to print the article and publish it in a Scientific Journal. He sent her a check for the article and then asked her a few more questions and found out that there were ants under the bricks, after which the woman began her research into the types of ants she found. Her articles were published and on the proceeds of her work she was able to travel the world.
“Whate're thou art act well thy part.” Find out what you are, or would like to be. Only then can you 'act well thy part'.
Since the beginning of time, men and women have wondered what they are. This ancient question however, is even more pressing today. What we are is largely determined by what we think we are. Unfortunately, our thoughts are increasingly held captive by the modern nonsense-culture of television, movies, video games, internet, i-pods and cell phones. This inundation is greatly to the disadvantage of parents who try to teach their children who they are, and of thinking people who are simply trying to get through life. So, just for fun, let's explore the options of who and what we are, in the hopes that in knowing what we are we can then decide how best to 'act well' our part.
Obviously we are human. Being human means that we have the power to reason and give direction to our own lives. We aren't merely the victims of birth and circumstance. The chief obstacle to reason today is distraction. We are so busy working, watching, or playing that all the great thoughts of the past escape our view and we are left with the fluff of mass media trivia. Knowledge is power, but real, valuable knowledge doesn't come by sitting on the couch waiting for it.
Who or what we are also should take into account what we want to be. When you are a child, people always ask you what you want to be when you grow up. I think we should be asking ourselves that question on a daily basis. What am I, and what to I want to be? And, if I want to be something, what am I doing to make it happen. Children are always made to think about their future in terms of employment, as in: “I want to be a doctor, or a fireman”. Adults should realize that those definitions are too narrow. What you are is much bigger than your profession. It encompasses every facet of your personality. You are never done becoming who and what you are until you are done living and every decision, every thought, every act leads you inevitably to what you are.
Part of the problem with the onslaught of media in our day is that it is too easy to compare ourselves with others, or to label ourselves with the current set of popular titles. These deceptive traps are counter-productive in our search for what we are. They sometimes lead us to believe that we are stuck into a certain mode and cannot change it. But, once you decide what you want to be, you immediately have the power to become it. Time, patience and perseverance may be outmoded but they still work.
I once read a story about a woman who claimed that she never had a 'chance' in life. She expressed that view to a man who happened to be traveling through her town giving lectures. He asked her a few questions about her work, trying to find out what she was. She said that she was a mere kitchen helper who pealed potatoes. He asked her where she sat to do her job. She said that she sat on the back step of the building. He asked what the step was made of, and she replied that it was made of bricks. He asked what kind of bricks and she said that she didn't know. So, he gave her his address and told her to write to him and tell him what the brick was made of. A few days later he received her reply, and because of the excellent research she had done on the subject, he was able to print the article and publish it in a Scientific Journal. He sent her a check for the article and then asked her a few more questions and found out that there were ants under the bricks, after which the woman began her research into the types of ants she found. Her articles were published and on the proceeds of her work she was able to travel the world.
“Whate're thou art act well thy part.” Find out what you are, or would like to be. Only then can you 'act well thy part'.
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