The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

Scars

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Unknown-1

We all have them, don’t we?

S              C              A              R              S  !

They always tell stories, don’t they?

Where we got them?

How long ago?

What they used to look like?

How they faded.       .        .

How,

How   they   still   hurt.        .        .

But isn’t this the truest of true?

The worst scars there are,

the ones that hurt the most,

aren’t the ones we wear on our sleeves,

or can ever really be seen.         .         .

they’re the ones we wear on our hearts,

aren’t they?

It’s an older movie now,

“THE      PERKS     OF     BEING      A      WALLFLOWER,”

2012;

the book, older still, by Stephen Chbosky,

1999,

and there’s a Classic line that’ll knock you to your knees and let the funk run out, or at least, uncover that bruised, scarred, still-very-much-beating heart

“WE      ACCEPT      THE      LOVE      WE      THINK      WE      DESERVE.”

Before I even hint of asking you,

is it

T     R     U     E

or

F     A     L     S     E,

maybe what I should really ask is,

“Are you willing to show your scars,

every minute,

 infinitesimal scar

your beating heart expands

with each pulsation?

Well.        .        . ?

T     R     U     E

or

F       A       L       S       E ?

Sorry.        .       .

you’ve got to

S                 H                 O                 W

your work,

just like some Fifth Grade Math homework.        .        .

P    R    O    V    E        I    T !

Do     Y O U,

Accept the Love

Y       O       U

think    YOU   deserve?

Want      to      see      my      scar ?

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh,

you   already   have—-

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm,

your    scars    are    my    scars,

my    scars    are    yours.       .       .       

WHY BE KIND

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W          H          Y  ?

Why  be

 k                   i                    n                    d   ?

A  learned Rabbi once told me

to always ask a

q     u     e     s     t     i     o     n

with  a

q     u     e     s     t     i     o     n

So.       .       .

W h y     b e

m                     e                    a                    n  ?

There’s a lot of negativity out there

that we actually

A  R  E      N O T

immune.     .      .

I love that filmmakers,

Jessie Aurit and Alexandra Berger

wanted to do something to

c        o        m        b       a        t

all   of   the

s        t       u       f       f

out

t                   h                   e                 r                   e   

and  kids

are the perfect

v               o               i               c               e

that  we  may  actually

l          i          s          t          e          n

.          .          .the children discussing

k        i        n        d        n        e        s :

What  it  is.        .        .

Why  it  is important .        .        .

The consequences of being unkind.          .          .

Why  kindness  is  vital  for  our  future.          .          .

Your  Favorite ?

Mine:

“IF    YOU    BE    NICE    IT    GIVES    YOU    A    MAGICAL    LIFE”

y     e    a   h.        .        .

a     m a g i c a l     life:

L                    E                    T             ‘       S

let’s

K          I          N          D          N          E          S          S

It’s the main ingredient

of being a Caring Catalyst

and here’s the not-s0-big-secret:

It’s in all of us

and there’s always ever just one thing that keeps it from coming

o  u  t.          .          .

y                       o                       u.            .            .            .

TABLE’D U P

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https://youtu.be/vDuA9OPyp6I

A    R    E        Y   O   U        H   U   N   G   R   Y ?

For what?

Steak?

Potatoes?

Salad?

Broccoli?

Corn?

Mashed Potatoes?

Spanish Rice?

Shrimp and Grits?

Ribs?

Eggs, Bacon and Homefries?

A Grande Breve Latte?

Cake?

Pie?

Sherbert?

Rootbeer Float?

Milkshake?

Cookies?

Candy Bars?

Tic Tac’s?

Gum?

Popcorn?

Well.            .            .

that which feeds you,

r   e   a   l   l   y

r        e        a        l        l       y

feeds you.          .          .

E  A  T       Y  O  U  R       F  I  L  L

Feed the Beast

and  Feed  it often

until you’re slothingly 

F  U  L  L

and.       .       .

don’t go hungry

ever again.        .        .

and more.        .        .

f   e   e   d       a   n   o   t   h   e   r 

and really take care

of the

hunger problem!

Maybe what the world needs now

is just a huge table full of

hungry people

willing to share

t     h     e     i     r           b     e     s     t     s

to   the    left

and   right   of   them

and   not   being   ashamed

to   go   for   the

s    e    c    o    n    d    s

or

t    h    i    r    d    s.        .        .

T   a   b   l   e       U   P

Bon appetit

T O U C H E D

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IMG_0640

He was the first AIDS patient I had ever met, let alone visit.

He was in the hospital and I was a part-time Protestant Chaplain.

I    HAD    TO    VISIT    HIM

within the first 24 hours of his admittance;

He was sick.         .         .

very, very sick.       .       .

It was 1993

He didn’t say he was gay

.            .            .I   didn’t   ask.

I introduced myself and explained why I was coming by to visit him.

I asked if he was comfortable and if there were was a Church or someone he wanted me to contact?

He told me that he grew up Catholic and had fallen away.         .         .

that he never felt comfortable or was made to feel welcome.       .       .

  He told me that

 ‘t   h   e        s   t   o   r   i   e   s’ 

didn’t ever make much sense to him

and felt like it was a little late to make any sense of them now.     .     .

He told me that he was a professional Ice-Skater/Choreographer

and really missed being with his students;

While we talking an Aide brought in his lunch–

Soup.     .     .

some orange jiggly jello.     .     .

a toasted cheese sandwich.     .     .

a carton of milk.      .       .

and an extra side of sandwich;

There were tears in his eyes which started streaming down his cheeks.      .       .

and before I could say another word.        .         .

“THEY  do this three times a day.      .      .

THREE TIMES.        .        .

and then walk out thinking I can feed myself.       .       .”

He half laughed as he started sobbing

“JESUS CHRIST.     .     . I’M  IN  HERE  BECAUSE  I  CAN’T  FEED  MYSELF!”

We both started laughing.     .     .

I opened up his milk carton and put a straw in it and gave him a sip

I cut his toasted cheese sandwich into small squares and gave him a bite

I brought the bowl of soup to his lips so he could sip it

I put a spoon in the jello and brought a small spoonful of jiggle to his mouth

I wiped his chin when another sip of milk dribbled out

and I held his hand

and I held his hand

and I held his hand

and I held his hand

and asked him if he wanted me to offer a prayer.     .     .

He put his other hand over top of mine

and didn’t look up

for what seemed like a longer than a significant moment could ever hold;

He spoke very slowly and almost in a sigh:

“You know. . .

I can’t remember the last time that anyone has ever touched me without having to.    .    .

I can’t remember anyone ever touching me without gloves on or wearing protective clothing. . .

I can’t remember.      .      .   

I can’t remember.      .      .

I can’t remember.      .      .      .”

he said over and over again.

I broke the trance

by asking him again if it would be okay if I offered him that prayer.       .       .

I’ll never forget what he said next:

“YOU   JUST   DID”

I said what you usually do a the end of a prayer as I squeezed his hand:

“a        m        e        n”  

T            O            U            C            E            D

It wasn’t the first time

it certainly hasn’t been the last time

but   I’m   at   the   very   best   of   me 

when I  can’t  answer,

t r u t h f u l l y

WHO    

 TOUCHED  

   WHO ?

A Hearing Heart

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images-2

“IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE AGE OF WISDOM, IT WAS THE AGE OF FOOLISHNESS, IT WAS THE EPOCH OF BELIEF, IT WAS THE EPOCH OF INCREDULITY, IT WAS THE SEASON OF LIGHT, IT WAS THE SEASON OF DARKNESS, IT WAS THE SPRING OF HOPE, IT WAS THE WINTER OF DESPAIR, WE HAD EVERYTHING BEFORE US, WE HAD NOTHING BEFORE US, WE WERE ALL GOING DIRECT TO HEAVEN, WE WERE ALL GOING DIRECT THE OTHER WAY–IN SHORT, THE PERIOD WAS SO FAR LIKE THE PRESENT PERIOD, THAT SOME OF ITS NOISIEST AUTHORITIES INSISTED ON BEING RECEIVED, FOR GOOD OR FOR EVIL, IN THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE OF COMPARISON ONLY….”

The words were written by Charles Dickens in 1859 or

Y      E      S      T      E      R      D      A      Y

They’re timeless because they weren’t written by pen on paper but something much more sacred:

H      E      A      R      T

Did you hear?

A real Heart does more than just beat.       .       .

A real Heart Sees

A real Heart Hears

A real Heart Speaks

A real Heart

F       E       E       L       S

.         .         .the story of more than 700 years ago is told of a sick man who was weeping bitterly.  Someone went up to him and asked, “Why are you crying?”

The sick man answered, “I am crying to attract the pity of God’s Heart.”

The other said, “You’re talking nonsense, for God doesn’t have a physical heart.”

The sick man replied, “It’s you who are wrong. He is the owner of all the Hearts that exist. It’s through your heart that you can make your connection with all other hearts and the One who created the Beat in each one.     .     .     .”

It’s not only the message of all Hearts, but all Faiths.

When our Hearts are open to the needs of others.      .      .it’s THEN

that they become the true Instruments not only that they were always meant to be…

but the truest Tools of Compassionate Change.

Cries, they take many different forms.        .        .

Seldom do we H E A R what’s inside the cries:

Loneliness
Hurt
Disappointment
Un-Met Expectations
Loss
Pain
or________________________

.         .         .”It’s the best of times, it’s the worst of times.         .         . “

The Heart that cries needs Heard

By the HEART that’s never Deaf,

Blind,

Mute

of   Unfeeling.          .          .

There’s only one true question—ever—

I S       T H A T       H E A R T,

is    that    Heart,

Y     O     U     R ‘  S.       .       .      ?

C L A U S ‘E D

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Sometimes.     .     .

it’s really less about the

p r o d u c t

and more about the

c      o      m      m      e      r      c      i      a      l

When’s the last time you’ve been

Mrs. Claus’ed?

Maybe the better question:

When was the last time you have been

Mrs. Claus

to someone else.   .   .    ?

You know it’s really not that hard.          .          .

See

Hear

Feel

Learn

of a need

and

M  E  E  T      I  T

It just might be one of your

greatest secrets

you can share

without

having to

w h i s p e r

H     O     W

.        .          .Get Claus’ed

and then make sure you

C       L        A        U      S

away

without

C L A U S E.        .         .

because the best way to

Celebrate

D e c e m b e r   26

is simply to treat it like

D E C E M B E R  2 5

(f o r e v e r)

Psssssssssssst of the Day:

That’s the biggest not-so-confidential

s  e  c  r  e  t

you’ll never quite be able to

hide

or

ever need to.    .    .     .

The Man on The Moon

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https://youtu.be/wuz2ILq4UeA

Are you more of a

V     E     R     B

o r    a

N     O    U    N ?

There are lots of Seasons

There are lots of comings and goings

There are lots of Beginnings and Endings

There are lots of Starts and Finishes

There are lots of things that  none  of those things can compare.        .        .

L   O   N   E   L   I   N   E   S   S

being  just  one  of  them.       .       .

Loneliness   is   the   only   season   that   lasts   all   twelve months—

no vacation or holiday.

H        O        W        E        V        E        R

I   F

Loneliness were a Disease,

YOU’D   be   the   Cure.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a Destination,

YOU’D   be   the   Road   from   it.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a complex Math problem,

YOU’D   be   the   Answer.       .       .

I F

Loneliness were an Ocean,

YOU’D   be   it’s   Shore.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a a Sunset

YOU’D   be its   Sunrise.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a Sentence

YOU’D   be   its   Reprieve.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a Verdict

YOU’D   be   its   Appeal.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were hunger

YOU’D   be   its   Banquet.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were Thirst

YOU’D   be   its   Oasis.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were poison

YOU’D   be   its   Antidote.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were Antarctica

YOU’D   be   its   Equator.       .       .

I  F

Loneliness were a man on the moon

YOU’D   be   his   first   Visitor.       .       .

Y          O          U

are    the    Great    answer    to

 Loneliness    in    all    of    its    forms    and    guises

I  F

You’re   more   of   a

V          E           R          B

than   a

N          O          U          N

by just

 s    h    o    w    i    n    g        u   p

instead of just shaking your head and

t a l k i n g     i t     a b o u t     i t .    .    .  

The man on the moon would really like

 T       H       A       T .       .       .

people much,

m u c h  closer would, too;

Every Season should have an Ending

after it’s Beginning.       .       .

Loneliness is the one Season

you can have  Effect  of

not just ending.       .       .

but actually making it

e     x     t     i     n     c     t.      .      .

Are   you   more   of   a

V       E       R       B

or   a

N       O       U       N  ?

SOME  ONE

is looking for you to

S  H  O  W       T  H  E  M !

F       O       C       U       S

in   on

t     h     e    m .      .      .

Make half-way around the world

a

t         o        u        c        h

a              w a y

 

 

The Greatest Gift

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S O M E T I M E S

the greatest

B      L      O      G           P      O      S      T

is

the  skimpiest  o n e

It’s not the abundance of words in a post

.          .          .it’s the

l a n g u a g e

that can’t be spoke or written

only experienced that

shouts   the

l          o          u          d          e          s          t.          .          .

G u a r a n t e e d

there’ll never be a

G         I         F         T 

under a tree

in a store

off the internet

even homemade

that’ll have any greater impact

for those you

l          o          v          e

than the one

who looks back

not so perfectly

at you

in the mirror.        .        .

G I V E       T H A T       G  I  F  T

and

L       I       V       E       S

will  change

.        .        .especially

y            o            u            r            s.          .          .

All Hands ON. . .

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images

The problem with

H     A     N     D     S

is not that we all have them.          .          .

it’s that they are not always joined;

Our hands   c a n

and have done so much on their own.          .          .

but when they are joined together with other hands

the imagination isn’t vast enough to comprehend

what can be accomplished;

Could have   H  A  N  D  S   joined together

stopped the tragic,

senseless violence that takes place all to often in

Anywhere, USA.         .         .         ?

P        E        R        H        A        P        S

We will never know.            .            .

but   H A N D S   joined together can go along way in

providing the

H       E       A       L       I       N       G

What to do.        .        .

Imperfect hands in an imperfect world.        .        .

S     I     M     P     L     E :

H   E   A   L        I   T !

I’m often.         .         .

too often reminded

Of the story of a Rabbi who prayed daily that God would make a perfect world in which there would be no hatred, jealousy, pain, disease, pain or problems.  One night, God appeared to the Rabbi in a dream and took him on tour of the world made perfect.  The Rabbi saw his house, his synagogue, his town.  Lions and lambs laid together.  Still, the Rabbi was troubled. . .something was missing.  “Where am I in this perfect world?” the Rabbi asked.  God offered an apologetic answer: “This is the Perfect World you requested.  You must understand that you are not perfect, so you cannot be included.”

Now, this is where

I would usually plug in some

facts,

figures,

data

scientific studies

that would prove

K       I       N       D       N       E       S       S

is not just an option

it’s a healthier life style.     .     .

but

sometimes you just don’t need a study

to tell you

what you already know.       .        .

F        A        C        T :

Terrible.         .         .

most horrible things take place in our lives and in our World

but they have no relationship on how we live our lives of

Care and Compassion.        .        .

F        A         C         T :

Expecting the World to treat us fairly

because we  are nice people

is like expecting a Bull not to gore us

just because we’re vegetarians.        .        .

F        A        C        T :

We may never be able to prevent horrible events from happening again.           .           .

but by coming together

by joining hands

by Unconditionally Caring

by Unrelentlessly being Compassionate

we lessen pain and make the World a better place

N  O      M  A  T  T  E  R     W  H  A  T

F        A        C        T :

The   Future   isn’t   a   place   we   go   to

It’s   a   Place   we   Create

F        A        C        T :

By joining hands in Care and Compassion

the Future becomes a much better

P    R    E    S    E    N    T

a more hopeful

N     O     W

Join me

p      l      e      a      s      e  

oh please oh please oh

p      l      e      a      s      e

A Place

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https://youtu.be/aFPcsYGriEs

Is  there

 a

P           L           A           C           E

A

S      P     O     T

that makes it feel like a

h     o     l     i     d     a     y

even when.     .     .

especially when it actually

i      s     n   ‘   t.     .     .     ?

Maybe it’s where

you are known.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you are comfortable.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you are misunderstood.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you are embarrassed.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you are feared.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you are seemingly out of place.     .     .

maybe it’s where

you  are .       .        .

There’s a place

not so much where people meet you.    .     .

b u t    j u s t    a    p e r s o n

who accepts you

with all of your

flaws

misfortunes

disformaties

and sour notes

and  at

t h a t     m o m e n t

makes a mere place

H       O       M       E

D O

t      h      a      t

often

Go ahead.     .     .

Open your Heart to Everyone

and watch another’s life

LIGHT   UP

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man