The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

BOOKED

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Is it really that unusual?

What is really unusual is that I buy books ONLY at a book store.

I buy them usually everywhere but a conventional Book Store–

DO THEY EXIST ANYMORE?

I recently bought BAGS of books at a Library Book sale and I was cataloging them

(just like I have about 6500 before them)

and I was looking through them one by one as I took them from the papered sack the above note fell out of one from a novel from Eli Wiesel,

THE OATH

THE NOTE on onion skin paper:

10/2001

PRAY FOR THE PFISTER FAMILY
ESPECIALLY ALICE WHO LOST
HER HUSBAND IN THE EXPLOSION AND FIRE
THIS PAST WEEK THAT CONSUMED THEIR HOUSE
LAST WEEK
ALICE HAS BEEN A PART OF THE BIBLE STUDY
I’VE BEEN A PART OF FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS. . . .

Coincidence?

Words have Power.
Written;
Spoken;
Prayed;
LIVED!

I don’t know Alice
I don’t know Benny
I don’t know about the explosion or the fire
I don’t know about the Bible study of 30 years
I don’t know the writer

But I know. . .
WE KNOW. . .
The power of such a request.

I didn’t unpack the rest of the books that day.

I unpacked some contents of my heart. . .

Before you do another thing, do what I did after I first read the scribbled note

P A U S E

R E F L E C T

H O N O R the note;

do what it asks

in your own way:

P R A Y

and Wonder. . .mull over just what would happen if someone actually unpacked the book of your life, from some sale, no less?

What would Slip from out of your pages?

What Message would be scribbled for someone to discover, to undertake?

Would it be a personal request–just for you. . .

or a Plea, a most sincere petition–a prayer for Another?

The Pages of your Book will undoubtedly

be turned
dog eared
overly thumbed through
perused. . . .

What Message will they hold. . .share?

Careful…even now, your blank pages are being written upon.

Just Throw

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Kevin Costner has made a lot of different sports movies.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME is one of my favorites…no, it’s not the Classic, FIELD OF DREAMS or the funny, BULL DURHAM or even TIN CUP or DRAFT DAY, but it has some strong moments.

It’s about Kevin’s character, Billy Chapel near the end of his career playing for a not so good Detroit Tigers Team and he’s literally pitching the game of his life. He’s pitching a no-hitter going into the bottom of the 8th inning with a one run lead and he’s tired with not a whole lot left in the tank, when his catcher counterpart tells him that the whole team is behind him and that right now because of his awesome performance versus the New York Yankees that they “Don’t Stink.” He encourages his tired, nearly worn-out friend to:

“JUST THROW”

Oh, that’s right, he’s lost the love of his life and will soon find out that even throwing a no-hitter means absolutely nothing if YOU HAVE NO ONE TO SHARE THE JOY.

But, but that’s not the story, really.

The real story as told by Kevin Costner recently in an appearance on Mike & Mike on ESPN was that the movie almost never was able to take place; at least not in Yankee Stadium.

George Steinbrenner, who was still alive and the owner of the Yankees almost pulled the plug on the whole project.

Do you know why?

It was because when George read the script he found out that someone would come into HIS HOUSE of Yankee Stadium and actually NO-HIT his beloved ball club. He almost pulled the plug on the whole project because THE YANKEES LOSE!

They had to convince George that the Yankees, in fact, had already clinched the Division and it was just another game at the end of the season before they made another march in the playoffs. They had to assure George that the game MEANT NOTHING–that it was just a throw away game. And after believing that the game didn’t have significance he allowed the movie to be shot in Yankee Stadium with the Yankees being defeated in a dramatic No Hitter.

I love T H A T!

I so very much admire and at times envy THAT Passion of Mr. Steinbrenner.

That makes the movie, ultimately different, doesn’t it?

WHAT. . .

IN YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU NOT NEGOTIATE

unless you were totally assured it really had no meaning or significance and that indeed, it was actually to illustrate a greater outcome?

Now THAT question is like an all day sucker you can’t quite get your tongue around. . . .

JUST THROW

is really good advice if you know you’ve got THE WHOLE TEAM behind you; if you knew that just for this one significant moment in your life you could put your EVERYTHING in to IT with nothing to lose, when you were at your weakest, at your can’t-do-one-more-thing-exhaustive-break point.

JUST THROW

is really easy to do with pure, unadulterated PASSION!

It’s one thing to Recognize THAT Moment. . .

It’s one thing to Have THAT Moment. . .

It’s one thing to Give THAT Moment. . .

It’s one thing to Share THAT Moment with another. . .

It’s one thing to Combine THOSE Moments into ONE. . .

Go ahead…

JUST THROW!

Be the Magic!

Batter UP!

The Service Station

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Yeah, I was one of THOSE:

A Gas Station Attendant!

You’d have to Google or go to Wikipedia to even begin to understand what A Gas Station Attendant even

W A S

I worked my way through the last year of College and saved enough to begin my first year of Seminary.

It was waaaaaaaaaaay back in 1976

and I didn’t learn a thing about tires, oil changes, alternators, headlights, radiators or cars in general, but I did learn a lot about People and Service.

I was the guy that dropped everything he was doing to meet you at your barely rolled down window before the Service Station bell rang twice as you pulled up to the gas pump.

I would politely ask what type of gas you’d like, how much and if you would be so kind to allow me to check your oil, your tire pressure and clean your windshield.

I’d usually be treated just a little above whale dung–especially when it was in the dead of Winter.

…I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service. . . .

The worse People would treat me was usually when I provided the most Service.

It really set me up for a life of service.

Givers are not Takers but Takers are!

I was making a whopping $75 a week and the best lesson I learned THEN

is the one I Teach, NOW:

NO ONE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO PAY YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO, BUT HOPEFULLY THEY’LL PAY YOU ENOUGH SO YOU CAN DO IT!

Anyone in any Service area, will never be paid for the SERVICE provided–EVER. . .

but most likely you’ll be compensated JUST ENOUGH to be able to continue to provide YOUR SERVICE.

I remember shoveling out the drive way of the service station before it was open and a grandmother and her two granddaughters pulled in with their radiator steaming. The hose had a hole; sprung a leak.

I poured hot chocolate from my thermos for the girls and grandma while I quickly replaced her hose and when she said she didn’t have any money to pay for the repair, I told her not to worry about it, paid for it out of my own pocket and wished them a good day with the advice to KEEP WARM and be safe.

It was near the end of my shift when I saw grandma’s car come into the lot, but this time grandpa was driving and he barely put the car in Park before he jumped out and started yelling me about how I had taken advantage of his wife, and put her and his two granddaughters at great risk for installing UN-named brand parts.

He didn’t want to hear that I never charged her and gave his granddaughters my hot chocolate. . . .

I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.

It wasn’t the next day or the next. . .

I was shoveling out the lot before the Station opened again, and I noticed “THE CAR” coming into the lot.

Grandma was driving.

She got out of the car with a brand new thermos filled with her HOME MADE Hot Chocolate and a warm ham and cheese sandwich and even warmer chocolate chip cookies.

“You’re a nice boy who deserves nice things.”

It was one of the nicest THANK YOU, I’M SORRY I’ve ever experienced.

I learned a lot about People and a whole lot more about Service.

Wouldn’t it be great if we still had Service Stations?

No. . .

Not the kind that serves gas, checks oil, tire pressure, radiator levels or washes windshields. . .

Not the kind that trades radiator hoses for warm sandwiches, cookies and homemade hot chocolate. . .

Not the kind that swaps merchandise for money. . .

. . .the kind that doesn’t count a cost before it delivers. . .
. . .the kind that doesn’t pay you adequately for what you deserve only what you can’t help doing anyway. . .
. . .the kind that the World needs and seldom gets enough. . .
. . .the kind that’ll get your treated a half-inch above whale dung. . .
. . .the kind that’ll make you feel better than any paycheck or hefty bank account. . .

. . .the kind that you’ll learn about People and a whole lot more about Service. . .
. . .the kind that you’ll Teach, Pass on as you first learned it, most likely the hard way. . .

DING
DING

Excuse me, time to go provide some

SERVICE!

GIFT

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Buddy, can you spare a dime?

How about seven minutes?

GIFT

is a short film that has a profound, heart-touching message about the importance of GIVING, and the true value of wealth. It’s a beautiful deperiction of how we deeply touch others when we SELFLESSLY give our time, love and kindness.

GIFT

is about a boy who grew up not liking his father because he believed he was poor, unintelligent and unsuccessful, but his father had a secret. It was only until after his father’s death he discovers the true reach of his father’s generosity towards others and the joy and laughter he brought to others. He finally understands his father’s message to him as a boy, that

“BEING RICH IS NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU HAVE, BUT HOW MUCH YOU GIVE”

I’ve watched the film several times and used it in a couple of presentations I’ve given, and plan to use it in some upcoming ones in March.

It doesn’t matter how many times I watch it.

I tear up

I gulp a little harder

I hear two words that just keep resounding louder and louder above the soft soundtrack. . .

I’M

A S H A M E D.

I’m filthy, stinking rich. . .

and aim to become just a little richer than any calculations could ever compute

. . .and even richer, still, tomorrow.

Here’s my invitation:

JOIN ME!

McFESSIONALS

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Every McDonald’s has them:

A GROUP OF MEN

They drink their Senior Savers Coffee and read paper, do crosswords and The Jumble and

THEY TALK–A lot!

I don’t know how I got “OUTTED” but THEY knew I was “A Minister”

I think Erin spilled it. Then again, many times on Saturday mornings, we started our day there before I was off to do a funeral or two.

It was ONE of those Saturday’s.

He had on a STEELER’S ball cap on and Erin complimented him on it and said, “GO STEELERS” as we sat down beside their table.

“Steeler fans?”

…and the conversation began.

We told him I lived just South of Pittsburgh in a small town called Washington and Erin lived North of Pittsburgh in Natrona Heights. He said he and his family lived in a small coal mining town before they moved to Cleveland for good back in 1936

. . .and then the McFESSIONAL began.

He talked about how his grandfather was a hard working coal miner just like everyone else in that small town. He never missed work for any reason, he proudly told us.

He reminisced about how every Summer the Circus would come to town from the next coal mining town before moving to the next one just down the road. He told us every year his grandfather would promise, “Next year, I promise I’ll take you kids to the Circus,” and “NEXT YEAR” he never did until Grandma put her foot down and told Grandfather he was going to take off work and ‘take those kids to the Circus you’ve promised to take to them every year.’

Grandfather might have been the bread winner and the hard-working-never-take-a-day-off-kind of guy, but Grandma not only made the Law, but enforced it.

A little pause, in between sips of his coffee. . .

He continued on a little slower and a little more reflective by telling us how his grandfather did take off work to take them to the Circus and they were having a great time. He told us how the Circus almost came to a standstill when they heard the Mining Whistle Blow.

There had been an explosion

All of the men his grandfather worked with, called his friends were killed THAT day but not
Grandfather. . .NO, he had taken his grandchildren to the Circus.

“You know, people. . .people can just be down right cruel. They made fun of us kids at school, picked fights, and they blamed my grandfather for taking the day off, for not being there, FOR LIVING! We had to move, to leave town and that’s how we got to Cleveland. . . .”

“The Story” will hardly make an edition of “WHO’S WHO,” or “RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT” It won’t really not much make a Hallmark Special or a LIFETIME SPECIAL FEATURE. . .but it’s a story that needed to be Told and HEARD.

Why. . .WHY ME?

He told us four or five other stories in quick succession after that with the preface of, “I know you don’t have much time, but let me tell you about. . .” one about his son and him getting caught in a severe storm canoeing, one about the death of his father-in-law and his son NOT missing the funeral because of a freak cancelation of school, one about he and his wife, one about him being in the
service…each one with a Confessional flavor attached.

Why. . .why me?

Why you?

Why anyone?

Because everyone has a Story that needs to be told and more, desperately needs HEARD.

Maybe the bigger question:

WHY NOT ME?

The very next story you listen to…GET TOLD…might just be the very one that sincerely needed Shared.

T H A T it was entrusted to YOU. . .

Now that’s Bonus!

Cherish it…nothing more sacred could ever be given…or received. . . .

Validation

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It’s a short film that I have played many times at the end of Presentations and I’ve hesitated for a
Loooooooooooog time in showing it here because if’s about 15 minutes in length. A film that is about what happens to people when somebody starts believing in them, ESPECIALLY when they don’t believe in themselves.

PEOPLE HAVE GONE FURTHER THAN THEY THOUGHT THEY EVER COULD–SIMPLY BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE THOUGHT THEY COULD. . .

It’s this simple:

BE THAT SOMEBODY!

Come on. . .it’s just a little over 15 minutes…that most likely won’t add another second to your Life,
but could actually add an Infinity to the quality of any other second you might live.

EXPERIENCE the Message. . .

BE the Message. . .

Share the EXPERIENCE. . .

Often!

Let There Be Peace On Earth

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IT never fails…especially when I hear a group of kids sing IT. . .

LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH…AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME!

Uhhh, yeah. . .I tear up. . .

A L W A Y S !

The song was written in 1955 by Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller. Jackson, who had been suicidal after the failure of a marriage, later said that she wrote the song after finding what she called the “LIFE SAVING JOY OF GOD’S PEACE AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.”

The story goes that on a Summer evening in 1955, a group of some 180 teenagers of all races and religions were meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains. Locking arms, they formed a circle and sang a song of Peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment–LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME,” helped to create a climate for the World Peace and understanding.

When they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with the and started sharing it. . .and IT began

It traveled the World in a very fast pace (AS GOOD THINGS REALLY HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DO). Soon the song was being shared in all fifty states–at school graduations, PTA Meetings, at Christmas and Easter Gatherings and as a part of the celebration of Brotherhood Week. It became the Theme for Veteran’s Day, Human Rights Day and U.N. Day. American Legion, the B’nai B’rith, the Kiwanis Clubs and CORE.

IT traveled the World.

IT was being sung by big name artists.

IT was winning awards.

The simple thought, LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME, first born on a mountain top in the voices of youth, continues to travel HEART to HEART–gathering people everywhere who wish to become a note in a song of understanding and peace–for for ALL People Everywhere.

It matters not how you hear it. . .

It matters not how you sing it. . .

It matters not how you harmonize. . .

It matters. . .

HOW YOU SHARE IT. . .

How Your Peace becomes Another’s,

For a Moment and then another one until EACH Knows IT

EVERY SECOND. . .

OF EVERY LIFE!

BE the SPLASH that begins the endless Ripple of Peace. . .

LET IT BEGIN WITH YOU–

right where you dwell. . .

but never where you STAY!

UN-LEGISLATABLE

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Wouldn’t it be great if LAWS weren’t the only thing that could actually be legislated?

Wait. . .?

Are laws actually legislated?

Is Love?

Is Compassion?

Is Justice?

Is Hope?

Is Faith?

Is Caring?

Is Forgiveness?

Is Empathy?

Is Sympathy?

Is Belief?

Is Giving?

Is Joy?

Is Happiness?

Is Presence?

We can’t can we?

We can’t ever legislate what we need the most. . .

But, we can share it!

Get convicted doing the right thing–better still. . .

Become W A N T E D with a high price on your head. . .

A Fugitive on the run–

For being a REPEAT OFFENDER!

Hope, Faith, and Love

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How good of a NOTICE-ER are you?

Do you believe in Coincidence or are you more of an Einstein believer of, “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining Anonymous?”

I’ve always had a fairly sharp eye for what’s happening around me. I still think I MISS much more than I notice, but a willingness to SEE, HEAR, TASTE, TOUCH, SMELL more goes a very long way in actually seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling so much more than purposely not doing so.

Everyone wears NAME TAGS these day.

EVERYONE. . .EVERYWHERE.

I saw her’s at CVS as I was checking out. Her name was HOPE.

“I like your name, do you?” I asked her.

She smiled and said it was ok.

I asked her if anyone ever made fun of it and she told me more than she’d like, but was pretty much use to it.

I thanked her for taking care of me so nicely and said, “No pun intended, but I ‘HOPE’ your name serves you well and others more than you’ll ever understand or imagine.”

She smiled at back at me and already began checking out the good of the person behind me.

I NOTICED. . .

Later that day I was picking up some copied mps/cd’s from a camera shop and person who had called me on the phone to let me know that my order was ready, she identified herself as, Faith.

I had a little “Hmmmmmmmmmmm of the Day,” moment.

When I met her, I asked her about her name just like I had done with Hope. She told me that it was an aunt’s name who had died before she had been born.

I asked her if she liked her name and she smiled and shrugged her shoulders a little and giggled out a, “It’s alright, I guess.”

“Well, Faith,” I said, “I hope your name serves you and others well–just like it did me today.”

Her smile served as her only response.

I NOTICED. . .

It was my last visit of the day.

She was sitting with her back to me and her husband was lying in bed.

From the doorway, I could see he was half sleeping and half awake, moaning softly.

He blinked opened his eyes repeatedly, tried to clear his throat and then with a raspy whisper he said, “Hey Love, can you give me sip of water?”

“Ahhhh, thank you, Love, thank you,” he sighed as he was already back into a not so restless slumber.

“What a great name,” I said as I pulled up a chair beside her on the side of his bed.

She looked at me with moist, tired, red eyes.

“Oh that’s not my name, it’s Gloria, but he’s called me that since our second date 48 years ago.”

“It seems to fit,” I told her as we sat silently watching her husband breathe with a little rattle.

He mumbled, “Love. . .Love. . .Love. . . .”

She put her hand over top of his and laid her head down on the side of his bed.

It was peaceful. . .it was Love-FILLED.

I NOTICED. . .

Coincidence or

meeting three women in three so very different places, God’s way of remaining Anonymous?

Are you a good Notice’er?

You really don’t have to be Einstein to N O T I C E

Hope. . .

Faith. . .

Love. . .

The Greatest of these is not just in the NOTICING, but BEING in the moments that make Life more than mere Consequences…and then,

SHARING THEM. . . .

Yesterday’s News, Tomorrow

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It’s almost been a month. . .

If you think that news travels fast, time makes you forget THAT news flies even faster, doesn’t it?

It’s been just about a month since Robin Williams died.

There’s been many stories written, many movies highlighted and seen, many once-upon-a time’s and remember-when’s reflected upon.

Care for one more?

I don’t think I’ll ever be able to hear the name of ROBIN WILLIAMS or see another one of his movies without thinking about this. . . .

The story goes that whenever Robin was to be hired or considered for a role he would submit a “RIDER.”

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