I was thinking about a thing I sent out to some friends about an old eagle who in the process of renewal, tears out his talons, knocks off his beak, and pulls out most of his feathers. After doing so, he is fit for many more years of living.
I alluded that it was kind of like working the steps. One has to remove all the damaged stuff, and replace it with new stuff.... Like thoughts, ideas, ways of conducting ones self in public etc.
I am going to tell you the truth. Working the steps is painful. Especially the Fourth Step, the first time through. You will dredge up forgotten things that will bring you to tears. You will bring up happy times. A searching and thorough moral inventory must be just that; searching and thorough. We often hear it said after the prayer at the end of meetings , “It works if you work it.” Friends, I doesn’t work if you don’t work it.
There are many things that work. None of them are easy. Like, not being able to speak other than saying “My name is ___, and I’m and Addict.” for the first thirty days. There is a reason. It may seriously urinate you off, but there is a reason. My first sponsor, Bud D., told me “Your best thinking got you here, and you don’t have any good ideas. Shut up and listen!”
Bud, in the early days of my recovery, forbad me using the personal pronoun “I”. He said “You have been so enamored with yourself for so long, that you think the world revolves around you. It doesn’t.”
That REALLY urinated me off. But in the end, was incredibly good for me, because indeed, I had been enamored with myself for so long, that I did think the world revolved around me. It doesn’t.
Life is not easy for the addict. Not while we are using, nor after we clean up. W are different, but we have to learn how to live in society. Otherwise, it’s jails and institutions. We only hope for death.
I thought about death, but Bud told me “Not with out permission from your sponsor, and I ain’t givin’ it until after you’ve worked the steps.”
Bud and I had a falling out, and I changed sponsors. I DO NOT recommend that! Work your problems out before you make any major changes. Remember - You don’t have any good ideas. Shut up and listen. Especially during the first two or three years. Sometimes, after many, many years... And ain’t I living proof.
My next sponsor, Bob C. told me basically the same thing. So there you go. I’m stuck here. I continue to work the steps, and have not found it necessary to put any harmful substance into any natural or man-made bodily orifice for over 26 years. (Including small lead pellets.)
Remember what they told you at your first meeting? “Come to meetings, get a sponsor, read the literature, and work the steps.” That’s so simple that even a Caveman can do it. (Sorry Cavemen.) Maybe they didn’t do it. You don’t see any cavemen around anymore.
Here is something from a sponsor. -Me.- When you come to a meeting, it’s about recovery, not about your miserable life. If you talk about your miserable life, it should be how you are using the program to overcome it. And when you overcome it, your life will no longer be miserable.
We were all pretty good actors. We had to be. Our whole life was an act. A good actor learns that one of the most important things is; to listen. Listen to the newcomers. Listen to the old timers. Listen to yourself. Pretty soon, after working the steps, you are able to discern between the bulls–t, and the real.
There are so many other things that I would like to share, but I carry on too long anyway. Why? Because I love you, and care about your recovery. Why? Because at the root of things, we are really just alike. And these days, I like myself, and have more or less learned to live in society, and I wish the same for you.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Lee waxes political
Being in agriculture, I am vitally interested in what the government is doing to the farmers and ranchers.
Received this from Max's people this morning.
February 2, 2010
Baucus Statement on Direct Payment Cuts to Farmers and Ranchers in President’s Budget
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus issued the following statement in response to the White House Budget, which would cut Direct Payments to farmers:
“In Montana, agriculture is the backbone of our economy- and it has been for generations. I cannot stand by as the President moves to cut direct payments to farmers and ranchers. We're only two years into the 2008 Farm Bill and Montana producers have made long term plans based on what they thought was a solid agreement with the government for the life of that bill. The fact is, many family farmers and ranchers in our state need these payments to help them weather these difficult economic times. Wheat prices have fallen steadily over the last year while input costs such as fuel and fertilizer have gone up. It’s not fair to place the weight of our economic troubles on the backs of the folks who put food on tables all across America.”
As a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Baucus played a key role in writing and passing the 2008 Farm Bill. In addition to protecting payments to help Montana family farms and ranches, Baucus created a permanent disaster assistance package, created a stronger safety net for the wheat and barley industry, kept Montana’s Farm Service Agencies open, and boosted funding for nutrition programs.
Made me kinda wonder... Stopping payments to farmers. Is this guy Obama a Socialist? or not? If he's going tax us and give our money away, why not support those who pay a disproportionately large amount of taxes, but really need the help... (We in agriculture do have to pay disproportionate taxes you know,) Also, as a Socialist, The president should remember what happened when his brother Socialist, Stalin, interfered with the farmers in Russia. Cay you say "famine," boys and girls?
Agape
Lee
Received this from Max's people this morning.
February 2, 2010
Baucus Statement on Direct Payment Cuts to Farmers and Ranchers in President’s Budget
Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus issued the following statement in response to the White House Budget, which would cut Direct Payments to farmers:
“In Montana, agriculture is the backbone of our economy- and it has been for generations. I cannot stand by as the President moves to cut direct payments to farmers and ranchers. We're only two years into the 2008 Farm Bill and Montana producers have made long term plans based on what they thought was a solid agreement with the government for the life of that bill. The fact is, many family farmers and ranchers in our state need these payments to help them weather these difficult economic times. Wheat prices have fallen steadily over the last year while input costs such as fuel and fertilizer have gone up. It’s not fair to place the weight of our economic troubles on the backs of the folks who put food on tables all across America.”
As a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Baucus played a key role in writing and passing the 2008 Farm Bill. In addition to protecting payments to help Montana family farms and ranches, Baucus created a permanent disaster assistance package, created a stronger safety net for the wheat and barley industry, kept Montana’s Farm Service Agencies open, and boosted funding for nutrition programs.
Made me kinda wonder... Stopping payments to farmers. Is this guy Obama a Socialist? or not? If he's going tax us and give our money away, why not support those who pay a disproportionately large amount of taxes, but really need the help... (We in agriculture do have to pay disproportionate taxes you know,) Also, as a Socialist, The president should remember what happened when his brother Socialist, Stalin, interfered with the farmers in Russia. Cay you say "famine," boys and girls?
Agape
Lee
Monday, January 25, 2010
I Think My Sponsor Approves
This is something that I wrote for The NA Way Magazine some time back. If you have problems with drugs, contact Narcotics Anonymous. They can help.
Agape
Lee
==========================================================================
THE NA WAY MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2004
VOLUME TWENTY-ONE
NUMBER ONE
I think my sponsor approves
My sponsor died.
Bob C and I were closer than I ever thought two people could be. We shared our joys, sorrows, problems, and solutions. I had known him for about a year and a half when I asked him to be my sponsor. He told me, “I will be your sponsor on two conditions: One, that you are willing to work the steps. Two, that you call me every day.” I held to half of the commitment. I called him every day. I did not work the steps. I made a couple of half-hearted attempts but just could not get serious about it. I had survived more than forty years, thirty of them suffering from active addiction. I knew how to live life on life’s terms. Only one problem: The terms of a junkie’s life address nothing but the life of a junkie.
I stopped going to meetings, stopped calling my sponsor every day, and started hanging around with my old “friends.” Needless to say, in a very short time I went out. When I came to my senses, I gave Bob a call and asked if I could come down to see him.
At the time we were living in a beach city in California (USA). I had an apartment downtown, and Bob lived aboard his sailboat in the harbor. When I came aboard, he made a pot of coffee. I did not say much until the mugs were warming our hands. The conversation went like this:
“Bob, I guess you heard that I went out.”
“Yeah, I heard you’d been trying to kill yourself again. Are you ready to start working the steps now?”
“Yes, I am.”
We started. We worked all twelve steps, thoroughly and in order. I say “we” because, while I did the work, Bob was right there beside me all the way, guiding, encouraging, prodding (a lot of prodding), and providing me with his experience, strength, and hope.
When we were through, I said something like “Whew, I’m glad that’s over.” Bob told me, “It’s just begun. It’s never over.” Bob ran it all down to me like this: “See, the Twelfth Step says, ‘Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.’
“What’s the message?
“One, that I was powerless over my addiction. Two, that there is a power greater than myself that can relieve me of the insanity that leads me to take that first drug. Three, that I can abandon my life to the care and keeping of God, and that this loving, caring God gives me the power to stay clean.
“In a nutshell, that’s the answer to the question of how to stay clean. “Now, having acknowledged these three basic principles, you are at Step Four, and you just keep going on from there.”
I kept on doing the steps over and over. Doing that has led me to believe today that the program of Narcotics Anonymous is the steps.
In my twelfth year of recovery, Bob contracted cancer. When it became clear to both of us that it was terminal, we talked about it: death, the afterlife, and the present life. We came to the conclusion that life is worth living clean—even with cancer.
During Bob’s last year, I moved to Montana to pursue my career. Because of the long-distance telephone bill, I was unable to call him every day, but once a week we were on the phone with each other.
Then one night in my thirteenth year, I got the phone call from Bob’s daughter: “He’s gone.”
We wept and consoled each other as best we could.
They scattered Bob’s ashes in the sea he loved so well, and our lives went on. About a month later, at our regular phone time, I was feeling particularly blue and called out, “Oh, Bob, what am I ever going to do without my sponsor?” The answer came in my ear, as plain as day, in Bob’s voice:
“Lee, I have given you all that I can. I showed you the steps and taught you how to live by the traditions. I can’t give you any more. Now it’s your turn. Carry the message. See you when you get here.”
I never heard from Bob again. I think about him from time to time and always have a warm feeling.
I have been clean now for more than twenty years, and I sponsor a number of addicts. Those who work the steps recover. Those who don’t, don’t. All I can do is share my experience, strength, and hope.
When I need someone to share some of life’s burdens with, I have the guys I sponsor. One of the tenets of NA is “one addict helping another.” Even though I may be an oldtimer, my length of recovery is the same as everyone else’s: twenty-four hours.
More importantly, I have the gifts Narcotics Anonymous has given me: God, the steps, and the fellowship. I think my sponsor approves.
Lee A, Montana, USA
Agape
Lee
==========================================================================
THE NA WAY MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2004
VOLUME TWENTY-ONE
NUMBER ONE
I think my sponsor approves
My sponsor died.
Bob C and I were closer than I ever thought two people could be. We shared our joys, sorrows, problems, and solutions. I had known him for about a year and a half when I asked him to be my sponsor. He told me, “I will be your sponsor on two conditions: One, that you are willing to work the steps. Two, that you call me every day.” I held to half of the commitment. I called him every day. I did not work the steps. I made a couple of half-hearted attempts but just could not get serious about it. I had survived more than forty years, thirty of them suffering from active addiction. I knew how to live life on life’s terms. Only one problem: The terms of a junkie’s life address nothing but the life of a junkie.
I stopped going to meetings, stopped calling my sponsor every day, and started hanging around with my old “friends.” Needless to say, in a very short time I went out. When I came to my senses, I gave Bob a call and asked if I could come down to see him.
At the time we were living in a beach city in California (USA). I had an apartment downtown, and Bob lived aboard his sailboat in the harbor. When I came aboard, he made a pot of coffee. I did not say much until the mugs were warming our hands. The conversation went like this:
“Bob, I guess you heard that I went out.”
“Yeah, I heard you’d been trying to kill yourself again. Are you ready to start working the steps now?”
“Yes, I am.”
We started. We worked all twelve steps, thoroughly and in order. I say “we” because, while I did the work, Bob was right there beside me all the way, guiding, encouraging, prodding (a lot of prodding), and providing me with his experience, strength, and hope.
When we were through, I said something like “Whew, I’m glad that’s over.” Bob told me, “It’s just begun. It’s never over.” Bob ran it all down to me like this: “See, the Twelfth Step says, ‘Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.’
“What’s the message?
“One, that I was powerless over my addiction. Two, that there is a power greater than myself that can relieve me of the insanity that leads me to take that first drug. Three, that I can abandon my life to the care and keeping of God, and that this loving, caring God gives me the power to stay clean.
“In a nutshell, that’s the answer to the question of how to stay clean. “Now, having acknowledged these three basic principles, you are at Step Four, and you just keep going on from there.”
I kept on doing the steps over and over. Doing that has led me to believe today that the program of Narcotics Anonymous is the steps.
In my twelfth year of recovery, Bob contracted cancer. When it became clear to both of us that it was terminal, we talked about it: death, the afterlife, and the present life. We came to the conclusion that life is worth living clean—even with cancer.
During Bob’s last year, I moved to Montana to pursue my career. Because of the long-distance telephone bill, I was unable to call him every day, but once a week we were on the phone with each other.
Then one night in my thirteenth year, I got the phone call from Bob’s daughter: “He’s gone.”
We wept and consoled each other as best we could.
They scattered Bob’s ashes in the sea he loved so well, and our lives went on. About a month later, at our regular phone time, I was feeling particularly blue and called out, “Oh, Bob, what am I ever going to do without my sponsor?” The answer came in my ear, as plain as day, in Bob’s voice:
“Lee, I have given you all that I can. I showed you the steps and taught you how to live by the traditions. I can’t give you any more. Now it’s your turn. Carry the message. See you when you get here.”
I never heard from Bob again. I think about him from time to time and always have a warm feeling.
I have been clean now for more than twenty years, and I sponsor a number of addicts. Those who work the steps recover. Those who don’t, don’t. All I can do is share my experience, strength, and hope.
When I need someone to share some of life’s burdens with, I have the guys I sponsor. One of the tenets of NA is “one addict helping another.” Even though I may be an oldtimer, my length of recovery is the same as everyone else’s: twenty-four hours.
More importantly, I have the gifts Narcotics Anonymous has given me: God, the steps, and the fellowship. I think my sponsor approves.
Lee A, Montana, USA
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Losing a Friend
I got a phone call last night telling me that my friend Mary Stabler had died..I knew it was going to happen. She was in her 80's and had been suffering heart trouble for some time. I know she was a woman of deep faith in God through Jesus Christ, and in the spirit realm, she's doing well.
But I will miss her. Mary had 42 years sobriety on the AA program, and died sober. She was extremely proud of that... Before anybody gets all upset about my breaking traditions, (Read the book "Alcoholics Anonymous") She asked me to talk about it, and because I have her permission, and direction to do so, am not breaking her anonymity... She was a lot of help to me, and hundreds of others in our recovery from active addiction. 'Course I had been clean for many years when I met her, but it is a lifelong process, this staying clean business. She was a willing ear when I had some problems with life, and mine was a willing ear when she had problems with hers. That's how it works. That's the fellowship. Mary was not my "sponsor", just a dear trusted friend..
We used to sit visiting for hours. Sharing war stories, talking about children and grandchildren, dogs, cats, and horses. She was related, either directly, or indirectly to about half the people in the county. I learned a lot about the history lore, and people of Miles City and Custer County.
She was feisty, fiery, and sweet, all wrapped up in one somewhat overweight package. Mary was a looker in her day. She had a bunch of pictures of her in the bad-old-days. Tuweet, tuweeoo! But then, weren't we all?
Mary had a daughter that she loved so dearly. They were at odds for most of the daughter's adult life. I had occasion to visit with them both to try to mend relations, but whatever wounds there were just wouldn't heal without a genuine attempt to address the root of the problem. It's nothing salacious, just human stuff. I suppose that they are as alike as two peas in a pod in their hard headedness. It tore and embittered their relationship. Now it's too late.
If you have a loved one, a family member at whom you are at odds, stop reading this, get on the telephone, and start making those amends. Start by saying something like, "I love you. I'm sorry we have this wall between us. Let's see how we can tear it down so that we can enjoy our loving relationship. Where did we go wrong?" Then, brick by stubbornly cemented-in brick, tear down that wall of pride, hurt, and hate. Because once someone stops breathing in, it's too late, and you will suffer the remorse until you stop breathing in.
The last time I saw Mary, I took her to the funeral of another old friend, Don McDowell. Her eyesight was not good, and she didn't drive at night. So she asked, and I took her. That's what friends are for. Afterwards, we got back to her place, and visited for a while. She spoke sorrowfully about her daughter, and we laughed and reminisced about some of the antics of the late Don McDowell. They had been friends and drinking buddies for years until she sobered up. After that, just friends.When we parted, we hugged, and told each other "I love you." What better way to part? I can't think of one.
So long Mary. See you when I get there.
But I will miss her. Mary had 42 years sobriety on the AA program, and died sober. She was extremely proud of that... Before anybody gets all upset about my breaking traditions, (Read the book "Alcoholics Anonymous") She asked me to talk about it, and because I have her permission, and direction to do so, am not breaking her anonymity... She was a lot of help to me, and hundreds of others in our recovery from active addiction. 'Course I had been clean for many years when I met her, but it is a lifelong process, this staying clean business. She was a willing ear when I had some problems with life, and mine was a willing ear when she had problems with hers. That's how it works. That's the fellowship. Mary was not my "sponsor", just a dear trusted friend..
We used to sit visiting for hours. Sharing war stories, talking about children and grandchildren, dogs, cats, and horses. She was related, either directly, or indirectly to about half the people in the county. I learned a lot about the history lore, and people of Miles City and Custer County.
She was feisty, fiery, and sweet, all wrapped up in one somewhat overweight package. Mary was a looker in her day. She had a bunch of pictures of her in the bad-old-days. Tuweet, tuweeoo! But then, weren't we all?
Mary had a daughter that she loved so dearly. They were at odds for most of the daughter's adult life. I had occasion to visit with them both to try to mend relations, but whatever wounds there were just wouldn't heal without a genuine attempt to address the root of the problem. It's nothing salacious, just human stuff. I suppose that they are as alike as two peas in a pod in their hard headedness. It tore and embittered their relationship. Now it's too late.
If you have a loved one, a family member at whom you are at odds, stop reading this, get on the telephone, and start making those amends. Start by saying something like, "I love you. I'm sorry we have this wall between us. Let's see how we can tear it down so that we can enjoy our loving relationship. Where did we go wrong?" Then, brick by stubbornly cemented-in brick, tear down that wall of pride, hurt, and hate. Because once someone stops breathing in, it's too late, and you will suffer the remorse until you stop breathing in.
The last time I saw Mary, I took her to the funeral of another old friend, Don McDowell. Her eyesight was not good, and she didn't drive at night. So she asked, and I took her. That's what friends are for. Afterwards, we got back to her place, and visited for a while. She spoke sorrowfully about her daughter, and we laughed and reminisced about some of the antics of the late Don McDowell. They had been friends and drinking buddies for years until she sobered up. After that, just friends.When we parted, we hugged, and told each other "I love you." What better way to part? I can't think of one.
So long Mary. See you when I get there.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year
It's partly cloudy at Fringe Benefit Farm this morning. there are patches of sky showing through the clouds, which is hopeful, but the weather forecaster says it's supposed to snow again. four to six inches over the next 24 hours. Problem is, the snow is accompanied by wind. (Can you say blizzard boys and girls?) So the snow will blow over to North Dakota. Arrgh! Oh, well, 'cest la vie in the north country. I will be thankful in the spring when the grass starts to grow and the flowers bloom.
Kathryn is looking forward to getting down to the house in town and transplanting her flowers up here. She has the most beautiful flower garden there. All laid out in the classic English style. I hope she will be able to get things growing to her satisfaction. Problem may be the water. The well water is so alkaline that it kills fish, and causes severe damage to a lot of plants. We have access to ditch water during the season, but it's hard to deliver to the garden. I have a big pump, but there is no tank, (yet, $$$) to hold it. I'll have to look around and see if I can find a used one. Sometimes they are available, but not easy to get. There is a basement from the house that burned down on the property some years ago. Maybe I can get it cleaned out and use it as a storage tank. Depends on how sound the concrete is. Also, it is FULL of junk, so I don't know if the concrete even extends over the full basement. As Bill Wilson once said. "More will be revealed."
The sunrise was spectacular this morning. A golden rosy glow, with a shaft of light going straight up out of the middle of it. Reminded me of the Pillar of Fire that led the Hebrews out of Egypt. Or, for you no as religiously inclined as I, the shaft of light descending from the Romulan starship in the new Star Trek movie. In either case, it was wondrous.
Our friend William gave me the new Star Trek movie as a Christmas gift. Being the old trekker that I am, I was overjoyed. There are some things that may or may not line up with Gene Roddenberry's original stories, but, all in all it was a pretty good show. I won't give any more of it away. Ya gotta see it for yourself. Buy the DVD.
I was watching a clip from Stanly Kubrick's "2010" on the web yesterday. One of the comments was something like "I thought this was all supposed to have happened by now. What happened?" I just had to answer. "We spent all of our space exploration money on killing people." Makes you kinda wonder what would have happened if we had not gotten involved in Viet Nam. We were supposedly trying to stop the reunification of the country by the Communist north. In the end, 55 thousand of our boys, and hundreds of thousands of their people died, and the country was reunified by the Communist north. So instead of shooting rockets into space, and bringing Buck Rogers into fruition, we shot brave young men , and they shot our brave young men, and we are still on the ground, and not on Mars.
"Take Care, Beware Of Greedy Leaders." -G. Harrison-
Whooyah! I kinda got off on a rant. Well, that's the way I feel. Don't get me wrong. I support our troops over there fighting for stuff. I just think that those who start wars should read the Ten Commandments, and follow them.
Meanwhile, Kathryn just left for work. I don't have to go in for about 2-1/2 hours. The roads are icy, so I am going to close for now, and spend some time in prayer for her safety.
Agape
Lee
Kathryn is looking forward to getting down to the house in town and transplanting her flowers up here. She has the most beautiful flower garden there. All laid out in the classic English style. I hope she will be able to get things growing to her satisfaction. Problem may be the water. The well water is so alkaline that it kills fish, and causes severe damage to a lot of plants. We have access to ditch water during the season, but it's hard to deliver to the garden. I have a big pump, but there is no tank, (yet, $$$) to hold it. I'll have to look around and see if I can find a used one. Sometimes they are available, but not easy to get. There is a basement from the house that burned down on the property some years ago. Maybe I can get it cleaned out and use it as a storage tank. Depends on how sound the concrete is. Also, it is FULL of junk, so I don't know if the concrete even extends over the full basement. As Bill Wilson once said. "More will be revealed."
The sunrise was spectacular this morning. A golden rosy glow, with a shaft of light going straight up out of the middle of it. Reminded me of the Pillar of Fire that led the Hebrews out of Egypt. Or, for you no as religiously inclined as I, the shaft of light descending from the Romulan starship in the new Star Trek movie. In either case, it was wondrous.
Our friend William gave me the new Star Trek movie as a Christmas gift. Being the old trekker that I am, I was overjoyed. There are some things that may or may not line up with Gene Roddenberry's original stories, but, all in all it was a pretty good show. I won't give any more of it away. Ya gotta see it for yourself. Buy the DVD.
I was watching a clip from Stanly Kubrick's "2010" on the web yesterday. One of the comments was something like "I thought this was all supposed to have happened by now. What happened?" I just had to answer. "We spent all of our space exploration money on killing people." Makes you kinda wonder what would have happened if we had not gotten involved in Viet Nam. We were supposedly trying to stop the reunification of the country by the Communist north. In the end, 55 thousand of our boys, and hundreds of thousands of their people died, and the country was reunified by the Communist north. So instead of shooting rockets into space, and bringing Buck Rogers into fruition, we shot brave young men , and they shot our brave young men, and we are still on the ground, and not on Mars.
"Take Care, Beware Of Greedy Leaders." -G. Harrison-
Whooyah! I kinda got off on a rant. Well, that's the way I feel. Don't get me wrong. I support our troops over there fighting for stuff. I just think that those who start wars should read the Ten Commandments, and follow them.
Meanwhile, Kathryn just left for work. I don't have to go in for about 2-1/2 hours. The roads are icy, so I am going to close for now, and spend some time in prayer for her safety.
Agape
Lee
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Notes On Christmas
A friend posted a message on a popular Internet socializing site, saying they hate Christmas. Another said they are suffering from "stress, stress, stress". It's so sad. Christmas is such a joyful time. It's the day we celebrate the birth of our savior, The Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. Nothing more. It's not about giving gifts. The gift has already been given. And it's especially NOT about greed. We can't be given any more than Jesus gave. His life for ours.
I sent a reading of "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" to my family this morning. That is my only nod to the secular version of Christmas. I'm not sorry I did. It's a reminder of simpler, more innocent times. But still, to me, Christmas is a religious holiday.
I got to the point where I hated Christmas too. The giving of presents. Making sure that every one was just right, and perfect for the receiver. (You know that I inherited perfectionism from my dad.) It just got to be too much. I have nine grandkids. Every one of their parents make more than I do. Truth be told, I can't afford to buy a bunch of stuff that will be tossed in the trash in less than a month. I don't like to NOT give them gifts, I really can't.
Because of this, Kathryn and I "Adopt" a needy child. We anonymously give that one child clothing, and a present or two. My kids and grandkids have presents galore, and then some. Now, of course, my grandchildren, who are the most perfect in the world, are not spoiled... Heavens! Perish the thought. But they DO have the things they need. Food, clothing, shelter, and parents who love them. Friends and family, there are children who don't have the things they need, never mind the things they want. For this reason, both Kathryn and I believe that it is our Christian duty to lend them a helping hand. A warm coat, a new shirt and pair of pants, new underwear, and shoes will mean a lot more than the little toy that goes along with the other packages. And keep them warmer too.
So here's the bottom line. If you're stressed about Christmas, do what I have done. Stop doing Xmas, and start doing CHRISTmas. I promise you, that 60 years down the road, gathering your kids on the couch and reading "Avisit From Saint Nicholas" will mean a lot more than all the "Little-Girl-Dolls-That-Bubble-And-Coo-Little-Pop-Guns-And-Kiddie-Cars-Too".
Give this a thought. Like Elvis. Santa has left the building. If you do, I promise, your heart will be lighter, and your pocketbook heavier. Plus, when you get used to the idea, because addiction to Christmas and all it's secular trappings is as hard to break as any habit, your stress level will be a LOT less.
Happy Birthday Jesus, and Merry CHRISTmas everybody.
Agape
Lee
I sent a reading of "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" to my family this morning. That is my only nod to the secular version of Christmas. I'm not sorry I did. It's a reminder of simpler, more innocent times. But still, to me, Christmas is a religious holiday.
I got to the point where I hated Christmas too. The giving of presents. Making sure that every one was just right, and perfect for the receiver. (You know that I inherited perfectionism from my dad.) It just got to be too much. I have nine grandkids. Every one of their parents make more than I do. Truth be told, I can't afford to buy a bunch of stuff that will be tossed in the trash in less than a month. I don't like to NOT give them gifts, I really can't.
Because of this, Kathryn and I "Adopt" a needy child. We anonymously give that one child clothing, and a present or two. My kids and grandkids have presents galore, and then some. Now, of course, my grandchildren, who are the most perfect in the world, are not spoiled... Heavens! Perish the thought. But they DO have the things they need. Food, clothing, shelter, and parents who love them. Friends and family, there are children who don't have the things they need, never mind the things they want. For this reason, both Kathryn and I believe that it is our Christian duty to lend them a helping hand. A warm coat, a new shirt and pair of pants, new underwear, and shoes will mean a lot more than the little toy that goes along with the other packages. And keep them warmer too.
So here's the bottom line. If you're stressed about Christmas, do what I have done. Stop doing Xmas, and start doing CHRISTmas. I promise you, that 60 years down the road, gathering your kids on the couch and reading "Avisit From Saint Nicholas" will mean a lot more than all the "Little-Girl-Dolls-That-Bubble-And-Coo-Little-Pop-Guns-And-Kiddie-Cars-Too".
Give this a thought. Like Elvis. Santa has left the building. If you do, I promise, your heart will be lighter, and your pocketbook heavier. Plus, when you get used to the idea, because addiction to Christmas and all it's secular trappings is as hard to break as any habit, your stress level will be a LOT less.
Happy Birthday Jesus, and Merry CHRISTmas everybody.
Agape
Lee
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
The Windswept Prairie
The wind has been howling, which is not unusual for eastern Montana. It has been snowing, but the wind has been blowing it all away. I was worried about Kathryn being blown off the icy road on her way to work in Miles City. She drives a real little car. She called when she got into town. I was much relieved. I worry. I think that must be how it is when you love someone. I nearly got blown off into the ditch a couple of times in my big ol' Chevy pickup on my way in a couple of hours later. Gives one a greater appreciation of the phrase "wind swept prairie."
It could be worse. I got an e-mail from my friends Don and Marit Denham. They are missionaries to Kosova. You may knbow it as Kosovo, but the correct pronunciation, according to the locals, is Kosova. Anyway... They were in the US for a few weeks, and got held up in Albania on the way back. They are snowed in.
See their website liftkosova.org They are lovely people, who are ministering in a largely Moslem country. They are doing good, and making headway. They are feeding people, and doing good for The Lord. Pray for them. I do.
When the wind blows, it blows a lot of the snow away. It is so cold that the snow doesn't adhere to itself very well, so we have lots of powder. Pretty good for skiing, but it's pretty hard to ski on this more or less flat country. I guess I could do some cross country skiing, but there's not much cross country on five acres.
The wind has swept much of the snow cover off the parking lot, and blew it east. I like to think of it as a gift to my sister Judy, niece Debbie, my ham buddy Paul, and other friends in Missouri. -evil grin-
I got the new Startrek movie on DVD yesterday. Thanks, William. Went to play it, and can't seem to make the DVD player work. Must be a bad connection somewhere. Arrgh!
Oh, well. Such is life on Fringe Benefit Farm.
Agape
Lee
It could be worse. I got an e-mail from my friends Don and Marit Denham. They are missionaries to Kosova. You may knbow it as Kosovo, but the correct pronunciation, according to the locals, is Kosova. Anyway... They were in the US for a few weeks, and got held up in Albania on the way back. They are snowed in.
See their website liftkosova.org They are lovely people, who are ministering in a largely Moslem country. They are doing good, and making headway. They are feeding people, and doing good for The Lord. Pray for them. I do.
When the wind blows, it blows a lot of the snow away. It is so cold that the snow doesn't adhere to itself very well, so we have lots of powder. Pretty good for skiing, but it's pretty hard to ski on this more or less flat country. I guess I could do some cross country skiing, but there's not much cross country on five acres.
The wind has swept much of the snow cover off the parking lot, and blew it east. I like to think of it as a gift to my sister Judy, niece Debbie, my ham buddy Paul, and other friends in Missouri. -evil grin-
I got the new Startrek movie on DVD yesterday. Thanks, William. Went to play it, and can't seem to make the DVD player work. Must be a bad connection somewhere. Arrgh!
Oh, well. Such is life on Fringe Benefit Farm.
Agape
Lee
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