Enjoy the moment

Enjoy the moment.

I can remember an age before twitter, hashtags, texting, and smartphones. It was a time when people weren't constantly tethered electronically to the world.

I was entering a coffee shop one day, and spied upon a couple sitting together, and were both entranced by the cellphones: looking scrolling, texting, with earbuds
in place to guarantee no foreign sounds intrude on the little world they created. Ironic, since as a reader I always look forward to reading a newspaper when I go out for some coffee. However, I know enough to put my paper down and talk and acknowledge the person I am with. Since that episode, I have learned to put my paper down and try to appreciate the people and color surrounding me.

In a world of cacophonic noise and disruptions, there are some of us who like to seek a little respite from the teeming masses of humanity, ringtones, texts, and pressures. A quiet walk, a cup of coffee, watching kids play in a park, or a stroll down an aisle in a favorite store without the constant texting and ringtones. I have often wondered what people talk about when they seemingly do nothing but talk or text. Maybe it about they are taking about an awesome text they read. Creating your own reality than a virtual one is something I want to attain, rather than a virtual one in a Playstation.

As a result, I have sought to try new things, listen to new music, and develop more hobbies. To that end, I have written short stories, created art work, and began glider plane instruction. The world offers many thing to see and enjoy. And some quiet time is good in the end as well.

Thank you all!

Just a thank you to all the readers out there who may be lurking out there. 2014 I hope to get more traffic by optimizing my page, and I hope for bigger things for the "Night Watch!" Checking my traffic, I noticed viewers from Alaska to Germany, so it's nice to be gaining attention outside the Lower 48 states and overseas. Here is a synopsis of my plans for this year.

I hope to have, through CafePress, Night Watch merchandise: t-shirts, cups, caps, and the like. Please email me with your thoughts of what kind of merchandise you would like to buy. The "Night Watch" can become an exclusive online community!

Advertising. I hope to attract advertisers for the page as it (hopefully!) gains a larger  and targeted audience.

A Youtube channel, where I will post musings of events and ideas, and solicit feedback.

Feedback. For all you Night Watch fans, please drop me an email or Skype, as I would love to hear from all of you. My Twitter handle is Freemason48, and I am on Blogtalk radio at Politics Central.

Social Media Rules

I came to the social media world rather late, thinking such sites as the purview of teenagers. As social media became more mainstream with older groups, I finally joined. Okay, first it was MySpace, but then I joined Facebook, Tumblr, and LinkedIn. However, there some basic rules I wish users would abide by, such as:

One:  context. Posts such as "Feeling blue today" should provide some more information.

Two: No text spelling. I think the cousin of LOL is the social media version the guy who thinks he's funny because he ends a sentence with "TMI", or "That's what she said."

Three: Limit the number of game requests. Whenever I see a red message box on Facebook, I think it could be an important message, only to find a Mafia Wars request for the third time that day. If I want to play games, I'll play Pac man. As a corollary, if you haven't seen someone in twenty years, a friendly message would be great, instead of the first contact being to play Candy Crush.

Four: Reposts of motivational messages (repost this if you love your country, as if patriotism is defined by reposting a message). It's the 21st Century version of the chain letter, and just as annoying, but with much less trees killed for it.

Fifth: personal issues portrayed in wall posts.

Sixth: your picture should be the photo people see beside your name, not your cat, dog, parakeet, or your 6th grade picture (it IS called Facebook for a reason).

Seventh: Context. Please no more cryptic messages, i.e.., "Wonder what tomorrow will bring? Sigh!") that leave everyone guessing and hanging on to find answers, and in some cases unduly worry them.

Eighth: no constant advertising your weight loss/energy drink multi level marketing business. One person did so by constantly posing in a bikini and went from being attractive to becoming a show off. Now, I have ny own cleaning supply business, but keep the ads down at a minimum. If you want to advertise, get your own website. 

Tom and Santa

One day, not long after Halloween, Santa Claus came a upon Tom Turkey at the Holiday Central headquarters, and who seemed very glum. "What's wrong, Tom?," asked Santa. "Well, if you must know, this is supposed to be my time of year, Santa. But it seems your holiday is pushing me out completely."

"How so?" inquired Santa.

"Well, it's barely November, and already I see Christmas lights and tinsel put up, not to mention little trees. What do you have to mark my holiday? Pilgrim hats and a horn 'o plenty of corn. Not very festive, I must say.

"Well, you do have a lot of turkey decorations of yourself."

"Look, Santa, at all the music you have for your holiday about you: coming to town, reindeer, and watching everybody who's being good and bad. Even Halloween has some great music for itself, like the "Monster Mash". Pretty soon even Arbor Day will get more respect than me."

"Never going to happen, Tom. Arbor Day doesn't even have a character to represent them. Besides, people would rather look forward to a delicious meal of potatoes, pie, and tur-,  ahem, uh, stuffing, than plant trees.

"Yes, point taken, Santa. Well, anyway, that's why people can hardly wait to get my head on the chopping block, stuff me, and to eat me with cranberries. I'm like the Rodney Dangerfield of holidays. You, on the other hand, get milk and cookies everywhere you go. No wonder you're so jolly all the time. With all that, can't people let me enjoy my holiday a little more. Now, all Thanksgiving day is a time to start Midnight Madness sales at department stores. Now all of the malls are being hung with stockings and tinsel, elves placed everywhere, and store employees that can't enjoy my day to get ready for yours, which is a month away. Sometimes I think being chased with an ax in the farmyard isn't so bad. At least I get some attention."

"I'm sorry about that, Tom. Even though the Three Wise Men started it, I usually get the credit for the whole gift giving tradition, I agree something is lost in the rush of buying plasma TV's's and Xbox's, though. It used to be about being with family, togetherness, appreciating what you have, helping your neighbor, and the joy of the giving of a gift in itself, with nothing expected in return."

"Thanks, Santa. Presents are your bread and butter, so that's thoughtful of you to say."

"Well, Tom, even I have competition now. I used to deliver hand made toys from my workshop with my Elves. Toys made by hand with love and that would played with imagination. Now everything is about video games and movies where people are killing one another. I remember when people would get together and sing Christmas carols around the neighborhood. The Spirit of Christmas was about community than just  tinsel, lights, and displays of sleighs and deer."

"I get you, Santa. My holiday is supposed to about the Pilgrims who came to America in a leaky ship and were saved by the Indians from starvation. The courage that took to make the trip for religious freedom, and the coming together of the two cultures for a meal of thanks is also being forgotten over football games."

"I guess there are things that both are holidays share: love, family, peace, and reconciliation. Still, can you overlook the fact the Pilgrims ate your fore fathers?," chuckled Santa.

"Funny, Santa. I think I'll let you get back to your workshop. Maybe I'll just hire a PR agent, start a blog, or star in a reality show to get noticed like everybody else these days."

"Good luck, my friend, best of good tidings to you, and have a happy Thanksgiving."

"And merry Christmas, to you to Santa."

As the friends parted, Tom could see a lone figure in the shadow outlined in a robe. As he came closer, he could see the locks and beard on the man, as well as scars and blood on him. As Tom approached, the man spoke knowingly with a tinge of sadness: " I know how you feel Tom. More people today forget my birthday and what it really means, too, which are the greatest gifts one could receive: love and everlasting life."

An Apology

Sometimes during my quiet times of meditation, I think back to what was said or done by me that was thoughtless, misunderstood, or rude. Like everyone else, I've had my bad days. Sometimes in the madding crowds and din of noise, my anxiety and frustration can flare up. A flash of anger, an unkind word spoken, or nothing said at all. So to all hurt and offended, I would like to offer an unequivocal apology.


However, as a Christian, I'm called to higher standard. I am supposed to be witness to the Good News, and the accompanying joy of being a disciple. When I fail, I feel I failed as a someone who told others of the Faith, but did not live up to its promise. I only pray that those I shared with did not become disillusioned with the Christian message for any perceived hypocrisy.


I think of when I lied to avoid embarrassment or shame, cut a corner to get something done, or anything contrary to the commands of God, I would apologize to those I let down. Not to only to God, but those I shared my faith with, and when it mattered, fell short of the mark when you were watching. If anything, the result has been more humility and understanding of other's weaknesses.


Please remember, as much as I want to be a good example, don't confuse the messenger with the Good Message: love, redemption, and a code to live by to please God. When asked how I would like to complete my life when I'm called home, I would like to say that would be "I'm Squaring accounts."

Introverts

As an introvert, I wanted to to defend ourselves to the extroverts at large.

First, we don't like to be corrected publicly, like anyone else. Please don't ever spout out something like "How come you don't talk?" when we are in a group. This useful question usually comes up while we are in a group of people we just met and have no commonality with. It's like being dragged along to your wife's class reunion, and you know none of her classmates, and weren't there at the parties they talked about. You're there to be there, and not to really contribute anything to the conversation. The aggravating thing is your wife is of no help by not helping you get into the conversation, even though you're her guest, and not there by choice.


Which is related to my next peeve: if you invite someone along to your group you already know well, such as work, school, or jail, please don not leave s hanging. Don't introduce me to your friends by name as an outsider, and then delve into a conversation only understood by insiders. Please, understand we are your audience, too. It could help by asking us about how we feel about what is discussed and not left to fend for ourselves in the conversational wilderness.



Another thing that can be irksome with extroverts is for some, everything that comes out of their mouths is supposed to be so doggone interesting. Just because you sit next to someone at a diner or bar, that should not obligate you to be their bosom buddy. Social pleasantries are fine, but long winded yarns about nothing particularly interesting or relevant are frustrating. You may enjoy telling the story about what happened at the wedding of your nephew, but if I wasn't there, please don't expect me join in as though I was.  If the extrovert initiates a long conversation, the topic should be of mutual knowledge and interest, otherwise he should be obliged to pick up the check. Just please understand, we do not want to be the bad guy, antisocial lout, or arrogant just because we don't want to engage in your stories. Please understand and appreciate our differences, and think the worse from us.



Introverts, rather, enjoy solitary pursuits, such as reading or just being introspective on what's going on in life (not just daydreaming, although that is not such a bad thing). There have been times I have been reprimanded in diners for reading a paper instead of engaging in surrounding conversation, even though I came in by myself. Reading is not arrogance, or, to be high schoolish, "stuck up." Reading opinions and works of others means you are open to other ideas and concepts.


A helpful suggestion would be to engage in conversations that are more ideal for them to take place. It is very frustrating when I am standing five feet away from a band, and you want to talk about problems on your property owners association. If you want to further engage, please don't call me on my cell phone for a long talk. Although I appreciate it you want to talk me, I would be more flattered  if you would actually get off your couch, go outside, and meet me for coffee face to face, rather than having phone glued to my ear for an hour and losing minutes. And instead of referring me as "the quiet one," I would prefer being known as a loving father instead.


One final request: Please do not ever ask us if we can talk just because we don't join in and you don't hear us talking. Just because I don't see you read anything, I won't accuse you of being illiterate, either, or ask you why you can't shut up, okay?


Because in a world of cell phones, ringtones, and talking over one another, contemplation and silence can be a beautiful thing.

Why Limit God?, Part Two.

WHY LIMIT GOD? Part Two.

Occasionally an athlete will praise God in an interview or be seen praying at a sporting event. Some skeptics will comment that an athletic contest is infinitival compared to the tragedy in the world, such as war, crime, and hungry children. Why, they ask, isn't God more concerned about such sadness than who wins a football game?

I would respectfully disagree, and perhaps they miss the point. To say God can only concentrate on the bigger issues in life and not be concerned about our trivial desires, such as the outcome of a game or an award limits His sovereignty and power. He is omnipotent and all powerful. If He can know when the lone sparrow falls, He can be willing to give your wish. What is important to you is also, I believe, important to God. He wants acknowledgement, just like a parent wants his child to tell him his wishes.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 states: "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." In everything. Not just the all important things or world changing concerns, but everything. If He wants you to give thanks in everything, why just pray for the large issues. It's not that he will accommodate us every time, or cater to our every whim, but He wants for us to seek Him as an acknowledgement of our love of Him. If something is only important to one person, it is important to God as well. He seeks in us a relationship much like a worldly father would do anything for us out of love. Prayer is our way of recognizing his love for us as He seeks our love.

God wants us to acknowledge Him, and to come to him with our desires. I something is on your heart, even if its trivial to other people, seek Him out in prayer, and I'm sure He will be glad to hear from His child.