WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?

Okay, FJS, enough! At least for the moment. Time to lighten up.

I'm pretty close to understanding God and will write a brief post to explain all of this before too long. However, there are several things on this earth that I do not understand and these seem to be closely related. These are:

1. musicians
2. typists
3. court reporters
4. sign-language interpreters
5. calculator-machine operators 

This post WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? is intended to add much customer-value to FJS THOUGHTS. Unfortunately, I don't have the value to add myself, so I will humble myself and ask that you -- the post reader -- add the value here for me. I invite you -- I implore you -- to please add comments sufficient for me and for all to help understand what the aforementioned folks are THINKING when they do what they do.

I have played music since 4th grade. I can read treble clef a bit. I know a few chords. I don't have the foggiest idea what musicians are THINKING when they zip thru notes and chord progressions effortlessly. How the heck do they move their fingers so quickly? so that what comes out actually sounds nice? How do they memorize all those songs? notes? chords? lyrics?

LYRICS? Many songs have rhyming words verse after verse. How do they keep it all in order without mixing things up? How do bands play together and seem to get the notes all right, not adding an extra note here or there, all knowing exactly how long to hold this note or that rest? I don't have a clue? Please leave comments and explain all of this to me.

And while you're at it, perhaps you will be so kind as to explain much the same for typists, court reporters, sign-language interpreters and calculator-machine operators. Once again, WHAT ARE THEY THINKING? when they do what they do? My brain simply does not work THAT FAST. And yet, I think I have a rather average brain. We're all made of more or less the same stuff. I don't have a clue!

I can type about 60 words per minute. When I type, I am thinking to myself 1 letter at a time. I spell out every word quietly to myself, and type letter by letter, 1 at a time. This cannot be -- CANNOT BE! -- what professional typists are thinking and doing. It's just not possible that this is the secret to speed typing, or court reporting, or sign-language interpreting or calculator-machine operating. What do those people know that I do not know? What is their secret? How do they do what they do?

I thank each of you who will add insight and value to this post by adding comments in sufficient detail to explain to me and to other mere mortals these mysteries of the earth.

Most Sincerely,

FJS

WHAT IF A PRIEST?-2

I'm no expert when it comes to how to recognize inappropriate behavior and how to respond properly. I would like to say a few things in regard to WHAT IF A PRIEST? (previous post I recommend you read before this post).

1. Inappropriate behavior can come from anyone, at anytime, in anyplace. We must be on guard to recognize such behavior when it manifests itself and feel comfortable and strong to stand up against it and not participate in any way.

2. It is quite okay, in fact it is imperative, to say NO! to such behavior and to not participate even in the least. Otherwise, the perpetrator will take advantage of us and proceed with ill intent at every situation that presents itself. It is okay to say NO! It is okay to say NO! It is okay to say NO! Don't worry about offending the person! Say what you have to say and do what you have to do to get out of the uncomfortable and inappropriate situation, never to return.

3. Many times inappropriate behavior will not escalate on a scale of 1 to 10 quickly, all in the same visit. Sometimes it may escalate quickly, as in the case of rape by a stranger. Other times -- perhaps often -- the inappropriate behavior will escalate from a seemingly innocent tap on the thigh or "Take my hand and I will give you absolution" to full blown effect in a bear hug and kissing over a long period of time -- days, weeks, months or even years. Sometimes the perpetrator is quite calculating and methodical in his or her approach, moving slowly and with great caution like a cat -- until the success of the final pounce seems certain in hand. It is okay to say NO! to the first indication of inappropriate behavior -- "NO! I will not hold your hand during absolution." You do not have to wait until the behavior escalates to the extreme of a bear hug and kissing to say NO!

4. It is okay and even important to report such inappropriate behavior to someone in authority -- to your parents, or to your teacher, or to the school principal, or to your spouse or mate, or to the church pastor, or to the perpetrator's boss, or to the police. Do not keep the incident to yourself. Report it to someone who can investigate, file a report and hold the perpetrator responsible and in check. This, hopefully, will help prevent that person from attempting the same behavior with other innocent victims.

FJS

WHAT IF A PRIEST?

What if you had been away from the Catholic church and not practiced your faith in 10 years...

And you decided to go back to church; to practice the faith; to go to mass; to receive the sacraments; to participate with the community...

And you went to your neighborhood parish church early one morning to get a fresh start, a new beginning...

And you went to confession. And the priest hearing confession that morning happened to be someone you and your family knew somewhat well from years earlier...

And toward the end of confession the priest said to you, "Take my hand and I will give you absolution." And you felt uncomfortable about it, but you did take his hand, and he did give you absolution...

And what if one week later you got a call from this same priest offering you a job to work for the parish...

And you took the job thankful to God for welcoming you back into the fold...

And what if you went to confession some time later to this same priest. And again he said to you, "Take my hand and I will give you absolution." And again you felt uncomfortable about it, but you did take his hand, and he did give you absolution. And the priest added, "Your sins are very serious. I think it would be wise to come to my office so we could talk."...

And what if you went to his office. And you talked. And he said, "Your sins are very serious. I think it would be wise to come to my office often, and we will say the rosary and pray for Mary's intervention and God's healing."...

And you went to his office. And you prayed the rosary together. And you went to confession. And again he said, "Take my hand and I will give you absolution." And you did...

And what if a visit or so later the priest said to you, "You know, we priests don't get much affection. Would you mind if you and I shared a little affection at the end of this meeting?" And you were stunned. And you didn't know what to think. And you didn't know what to say. And you didn't want to offend the priest. So you shrugged your shoulders and said timidly, "I guess so."...

And what if at the end of that meeting the priest stood up, and you stood up, and he approached you, and he embraced you, and he gave you a bear hug, and he began to kiss you on the forehead, and then on the cheek, and you were stunned, and horrified, and embarrassed, and didn't dare lift your face for fear of what may happen next...

And what if you pushed yourself away and said you had to go now. And you left his office. And you never returned to his office again...

And you tried to avoid that priest as best you could, but you couldn't too well because you would see him often each week for mass...

And what if that priest was transferred to out of state...

And what if it came to your attention that this same priest had tried something very similar to this inappropriate behavior 25 years earlier...

And what if you quit your job working for the church? And you stopped going to church? And you stopped practicing the faith? And you stopped going to mass? And you stopped receiving the sacraments? And you stopped participating in the community? ... for these and many other reasons.

(Please read post WHAT IF A PRIEST?-2 for some conclusions drawn from this experience.)

FJS 

THE UFO I SAW

I don't drink. I don't do drugs. I am not prone to hallucinations.

This describes the UFO I saw in the mid-90s.

I walked out of my home late at night, about midnight. I was alone. It was a clear night. It was quiet and calm.

I stood in my driveway. I looked up to the night sky and noticed the UFO hovering directly above the tree in front of my neighbor's home. It was so close to me I could almost reach out and touch it.

It was larger than an automobile, about the size of a schoolbus. It was a saucer shape. It was silent, hovering quietly in the air. It didn't make a sound.

It had something like little circular windows all around the widest perimeter. There seemed to be a type of light -- red or green, I cannot remember at this time -- on the inside of the UFO that I could see through all the windows.

It stayed hovering there for about a minute while I stared at it. Then it began to move slowly, to fly slowly a little higher and toward the west, toward Williams Blvd. It did not go far, perhaps a  block or so, and it stopped in mid-air.

After a moment, the light changed from red to green, or green to red -- I cannot remember clearly -- and WITHOUT A SOUND, ABSOLUTELY SILENT, IN NOTHING MORE THAN AN INSTANT, IT SHOT MIGHTILY INTO THE FAR HORIZON! It moved faster than anything I have ever seen; faster than anything I am aware that man has ever made.

It went from a dead stop to absolute speed in an instant; shot across the distant night sky, traveling farther and upward in the split second, and disappeared into the far horizon.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

That is the UFO I saw. 

FJS

IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT

What's right with the world? Plenty, but I'll save some of those thoughts for another post. What's wrong with the world? Plenty, but in this regard I will mention a few small-ticket items. These seem rather obvious to me -- nothing too great or too earth-shattering; nothing that is already much on the political radar screen. I will mention a few simple but obvious things that are just not right. Each is waiting for someone like you to take up the cause, call it your own, and make a name for yourself as you make a difference to right the wrong.

SCHOOL CHILDREN AT BUS STOP

It's not right that young school children wait at bus stops at ridiculous hours of the morning -- 5:30, 6:00, 6:30 AM -- regardless of the weather. This plain and simple isn't right. No school child should have to wait at a bus stop anytime before 7:00 AM! No if, ands or buts. It Just Not Right!

BUS STOP BENCH AND SHELTER

Many bus stops -- far and away most -- do not have a decent bench and some type of shelter from the weather. Too often elderly people who can barely walk, or young mothers holding infants, wait at bus stops with no place to sit, with no shelter from the wind, the rain, the cold or the heat. Shame on us for allowing this. It's Just Not Right!

CHURCH BELLS

It's not right that many Catholic church parishes have bell towers that chime throughout the neighborhood and everyone is forced to listen whether they want to or not. It doesn't seem too awful that these bells chime for a minute at 8 AM, 12 noon and 6 PM. This is a rather innocent way to let folks know what time it is, and if they want to say a prayer .... What is not right is when these bells chime before each mass, and especially when these bells chime melodies of church songs. Not everyone in the neighborhood cares to hear those church songs, yet they are forced to listen against their will. What is the difference between the big, powerful Catholic church blaring its unwelcome noise throughout the neighborhood and a not-so-big, not-so-powerful teenager blaring his boom box? Maybe I'm missing something here, but it seems to me that there is no difference. It's Just Not Right!

SPEEDING AND TAILGATING

It's not right that so many drivers -- that any drivers -- speed and tailgate. These people have little regard for their life and the life of anyone who is unfortunate enough to be near. I guess they are all stupid enough to think that nothing will go wrong, that there will be no mishap, or that they will somehow miraculously respond with lightening-proper reflex if something does go wrong. These people don't know the meaning of the term defensive driving, and if they do, they obviously don't care. How  many innocent people must die because of these selfish idiots? What's the difference between them and someone taking a gun and shooting randomly at everyone walking in the park? I see no difference -- they are all selfish murderers. It's Just Not Right!

LOW PAY

It's not right that someone can go to a job, work hard all day every day, and bring home a ridiculously low paycheck ... particularly when the boss and managers bring home very nice, even fabulous, paychecks. It doesn't take much insight to realize that the boss and managers are making a good bit, if not the major bit, of their salaries off the backs of those they don't pay a decent wage to. This unfortunate practice happens all too often. Untold millions of hard-working yet poorly-paid workers suffer because we allow this to continue. It's Just Not Right!

PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPELS

It's not right that within many Catholic church communities there is a strong movement to encourage what is called perpetual adoration. This means that through all hours of the night individuals, usually one or two for each hour, volunteer to go to the chapel to pray. Prayer is good, but it's not right to schedule these well-meaning people to leave the security of their homes, drive the dark streets, and walk the unguarded sidewalk to and from the chapel in the middle of the night. Maybe it's because I live in a violent city, but it seems to me that middle-of-the-night adoration is a crime -- possibly death -- waiting to happen. It won't be long before some criminal figures out that there are easy prey out there in the dark of night. I know the church loves its martyrs, but it doesn't have to go out of its way in blind ignorance of likely consequences to invite martyrdom. It's Just Not Right!

More to come in future post.
FJS

I'VE COME TO REALIZE

Life is short. It passes by very quickly.

Don't try to do too much. I think it is better to do a few things well than to do many things not too well.

Keep a few photographs of people, places and memories important to you.

People will hurt you. Try to forgive them.

Keep in touch with your family and friends at least once or twice a year, more often if possible.

Walk outside under the sky, close to the trees, to water, to nature.

Try to start each day anew.

Always have something you're reading -- a good newspaper, magazine or book.

Have an idea of goals you're working toward for the year, maybe even for five and for ten years.

Everyone can teach you something important.

Admit your mistakes. Learn from them. Move on.

Give yourself some slack. You're human. You're not God.

Give others some slack. They're human. They're not God.

Don't pay too much attention to the way people look or dress or live. Try to pay more attention to their heart and to their soul.

Intelligent people are not necessarily good people.

Poor people are not necessarily bad people.

Bad people are not necessarily totally bad. There are probably some sparks of good in them.

Saintly people probably have a rough side to them.

Stand by your convictions. Sometimes this is very lonely, but try to do it.

Don't feel powerless. Talk up for yourself and your loved ones to people in authority. Challenge them to do the right thing. Go as high above them as you have to go to get what is right.

Eat healthy.

Exercise.

It's nice to have a few plants.

When you meet wise people, be humble enough to know it and to learn from them.

Try to do a few things in life that are important, and not too many things that are trivial.

Take a personal interest in one or two lonely, oppressed or forgotten people. You can help improve their situation. You'll probably benefit from your relationship to them in many important ways. (Please see post TOUCH ONE LIFE DEEPLY.)

If you don't avoid cigarettes, alcohol and drugs altogether, at least use them only lightly to moderately.

If you borrow something, give it back in reasonable time and in good condition.

If you lend something out, make note of who has it, and remind them after some time to return it.

Don't spend more money than you bring in. Live within your means. Try to put some money away in savings.

If you need help with something, ask for it. Get the help and benefit from it.

It's nice to exchange a few gifts for special occasions. Don't go overboard with this.

Don't own too much stuff. If you're not using something, give it away or sell it to somebody who can use it.

Don't believe everything you see, or hear or read. Try to discern the truth from lies, deception, hidden messages and hidden agendas.

Be very cautious, alert and defensive while driving. Wear your seatbelt. Keep your car in good repair. Change the oil regularly.

Media -- newspaper, magazine, radio, television, movie -- is a tool. It has done some great things and some miserable things. Know the difference. Encourage media to do more great things and fewer miserable things.

It's not important to own the biggest, newest, fanciest and best home.

It's not important to own the biggest, newest, fanciest and best automobile.

Elected officials are elected to represent your interests and the common good. Tell them who you are and what you want.

If you're not happy with the work situation you're in, try to improve the situation, or try to find a work situation you will be happier with.

Elderly people do not have to live in nursing homes. Let's find ways to support them to live with their family and friends and neighbors. Everyone will benefit.

Many people in the world live in miserable conditions. Some of these people live close to where you live. Some live across your state or across the nation. Others live across the world. Try to make a difference for a better life for at least a few of these people.

Nature is the greatest art.

Children need quality time, care, attention and example.

Each life is precious and probably has a lot to contribute to the rest of us.

Watching too many sporting events isn't necessarily a great way to spend your time.

Try to stop everything every once in a while. Slow down. Do nothing. Think. Be. Sleep.

One or two good friends can be great when things get tough for you.

Try to conserve natural resources. Don't waste. Recycle.

A simple life can be a very good life.

Even a simple life is often not very simple.

Everything takes more time to accomplish than you anticipate.

Rain is a joy.

Someone needs to figure out a solution to traffic jams and bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Learn to say no to some of the things requested of you. Know when to say yes.

Try to keep things relatively clean and organized. Perfection is probably not necessary. Sloppiness is probably not helpful.

I can be a lot meaner, uglier, cruel, hurtful and deceitful than I ever imagined I could. I have a lot to work on.

You've got to work hard for just about everything. There are no free handouts.

You can't have it all. Often saying yes to this means saying no to that.

Sometimes commitment to hang in there and give it your best shot over and over again is very important. Sometimes to say enough is enough and to get out is important. Often it is difficult to know which of these two to do.

Being awake, alone, under the sky in the middle of the night is a great joy.

I deeply believe that: God is. God loves. God creates beauty. God desires good. God wants us to do the right thing. God helps us to do the right thing. God forgives.

The great religions of the world have much in common. This is not to say that all religions are the same. There are real differences.

I know I am different at 40 from when I was 30, from when I was 20, from when I was 10. And yet, in some mysterious way I am still quite the same.

I do hope we can see and know each other again when our lives here on earth are over. Maybe there things can be different and better between and among us.

My life could have turned in many different directions. Apparently the decisions we make along the way make a lot of difference on who, what, when, where, why and how we end up. Make decisions carefully. Anticipate the consequences.

Respect the earth. She is a good and beautiful home.

Don't keep putting off whatever it is you want to or need to do. Don't wait too long. If you wait too long, things may change and you may never get the chance.

Trust your instincts.

Express your love, your care and your concern along your way through life.

Part of me wants to rise to the heights, and part of me wants to sink to the depths. This seems like a forever day-to-day struggle.

Follow your bio-rhythms. I am a night person.

Libraries and bookstores are gold mines.

The law is not always right. Do what is right.

Just because you can do something does not mean that you should do it. Try to do what you should do. Don't do what you should not do.

Sometimes you just have to move on.

I've spent a lot of time in neutral and reverse. I think that's been okay. I don't regret it.

Addiction of any type will bring you to the ground quickly and painfully. Fight that beast with everything you can until you are in control and not it. If and when you slip up, resolve again and again to get back on your feet. Get friendship, support group and/or professional help if you think it will help you in the fight.

I don't know a thing about the stock market. I don't think I'm missing much.

The person-to-person encounter is what makes life mostly what it is.

Be slow to judge and quick to forgive. I don't do either of these very well. I am making some progress.

It is important to look around you and pull some people up. It really doesn't cost you anything, and even if it does the price is almost always well worth it.

I worry a lot about what we are doing to ourselves. I wish we would stop the harm and do more good.

We apparently have a lot of freedom to have many and varied relationships, to do all kinds of things with our time and our money, and to buy and sell many and varied products and services. This does not mean, though, that we have to or even should do a lot of these things. Discriminate. Generally speaking, do what is important. Skip what is not important.

All things considered, I really don't know that I have made much of a difference for the better to anyone along the way. I hope that I have, but I really just don't know.

Intelligence is not wisdom. Wisdom can run circles around intelligence.

Prayer is important.

Humility is important.

Courage is important.

Perseverance is important.

Now, I encourage you to develop your own sense of truth and wisdom, your own version of I've Come To Realize. I think we all have a lot to learn from each other.

Peace,

c. 1995 FJS

TOUCH ONE LIFE DEEPLY

I was involved in social service work for about 20 years. I worked at varying times during those years with people who were poor, with children, with adolescent boys, with pregnant teenage women, with people who had mental illness or physical disabilities, with inmates and with elderly people.

The bottom line for most, if not all, of these people is that they each had many needs. For the most part, nothing was simple in their life. Even simple things were often difficult, sometimes very difficult, to take care of and to do.

It seemed to me somewhere along the way that I could perhaps make more of a difference -- or at least a different type of difference -- for the good if I was deeply involved in the life of JUST ONE of these people.

I realize I am treading on thin ice here, but I want to suggest to you if --IF-- you are so inclined, and if --IF-- you have a bit of wherewithal, and if --IF-- you are not already stretched beyond measure with family and work and friends, and if --IF-- you want to do something important with your time...I want to suggest that you TOUCH ONE LIFE DEEPLY.

Please do not quickly assume that you, Joe or Suzie Person, cannot become involved to make a difference for the good in the life of ONE person. It is more accurate to assume that perhaps you can indeed! In this regard, it is often the simple things that make the most difference for the good -- phone calls every so often, surprise visits, watching TV together, going to a ballgame or fishing, walking the mall or the park, eating a pizza.

If the person you are concerned for receives social services, it may be important for you to watch those services and help discern if they are appropriate and provided in good fashion. You can become a watchful eye, a sounding board, of care and concern for what is in the person's best interest.

The person you are concerned for may in time meet some of your family and friends. Maybe -- maybe -- one or two of these will decide to also have some measure of care and concern for the person. Sometimes the more people who are concerned for the good of a person, the better the opportunity for good to actually happen.

I ask you to consider...I invite you...I Encourage You to TOUCH ONE LIFE DEEPLY. I am confident to think that should you do so, the life so deeply touched may very well -- ultimately -- be your own.

I am happy to help head you in this direction and support your efforts if you so desire. We can write back and forth to set you on the road. 

Thanks and God Bless!

FJS