The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

TO SAY NOTHING BUT THANK YOU

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I recently read a post from Parker Palmer who shared a beautiful memory of Jeanne Lohmann, who died at age 92 after a long and fruitful life, wrote poetry that I find best described by the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes:

“For the simplicity that lies this side of complexity, I would not give a fig, but for the simplicity that lies on the other side of complexity, I would give my life.”

We spend many years tangled in complexity and rushing past life’s simple pleasures. For me, one of the gifts of age is to realize that the simple blessings are the finest: a child’s hug, a pat on the shoulder, an encouraging word, a spring-blooming tree and, of course, hot showers, steaming soup, clear eyes and a clear mind.

Please take a moment to savor this poem, and savor every sip of that soup you may have for lunch today.

That elusive bird called “happiness” so often nests in small experiences of this sort—and so does the gift of clarity that we need to find our way through the fog of lethal nonsense that surrounds us today.

[Jeanne Lohmann’s books are at http://tiny.cc/t1vsxz.]

THANKSGIVING MEALS
COME AND GO
AND MOSTLY GET EATEN,
WASTED AND DISCARDED
BUT GRATEFULNESS
DOESN’T EVER SPOIL.         .         .
Right now, some 181 Days away from
THANKSGIVING DAY
What are you most grateful for
t   o   d   a   y ?

JUST A MOMENT: OUR CONNECTIONS

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We all know about connections and how important they are in our world today; in fact, it doesn’t mean or matter anything about social media unless we’re connected and not just to a certain outlet like Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Snapchat, Instagram or any of the countless others.

No, no we are connected, but maybe not as connected as we’d like to think. We are right now at this very moment more advanced than we’ve ever been in our entire universe, medically, pharmaceutically, scientifically, technologically,  and yet, it’s not those things that heal us or that connects us; IT IS OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

Seriously, how connected are you, not just with your family, not just with your friends, but everybody around you?  In just a moment you know; in just a moment we also know how much more connected we could be than we think we are.            .            .

RE-MEMBERING

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Happy Memorial Day.

How can you assure it?

One simple word:

R E-M E M B E R I N G

–literally, by putting together the Pieces of your Life that have meaning and significance to you the Ones who make those Memories worth
RE-Membering–Putting back together.     .     .

The World will debate and argue, but the greatest forces in and out of this World
are our Memories

and the Love that makes those memories
significant,
meaningful
and always worth
observing and celebrating.        .        .

It’s easy to
J           U           S           T
Limit these Memories to our Veterans

or for those who have recently died,

but any day we truly
RE-Member,

that we actually put together those snipets of

Once  Upon  a Times

and ‘Remember When’s’

that put all those glorious colors to the
Tapestry of our Lives,

becomes a true Memorial Day.

Like any Holiday,
it really is celebrated most,

not so much on it’s Noted,
Dated Day,

but when fully Recognized,
Realized,
Revitalized
again and again and again with,

yes, that one single, beautiful thing called

M   e   m   o   r   y

So, on this Memorial Day,

R      E   –   M     E     M     B     E     R  :

It’s not enough for us to just merely
Remember,

but for us to just simply Re-Member one thought,

one memory
past Eternity.

T r u l y:

Give   thanks   not   so   much   for   those   who   have   died;                                                                      

but    for   those   who   still   fully   live   within   us   all.      .      . 

F i v e    W o r d s:

H   a   p   p   y       M   e   m   o   r   i   a   l       D   a   y.       .       .

T        H        A        N        K

Y        O        U

(This Memorial Day, we remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who are grieving. May we, as Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, “highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”)

KINTSUGI

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“In Japan, kintsugi is the art of filling cracks with gold; because it’s believed that the cracks and wear of life make things more beautiful, not less. As wise as this is, I believe it’s not filling the cracks, but entering the cracks that reveals the gold. We carry what matters inside and experience waters that seed until the soul sprouts through our cracks into the world.

“And one day, against all odds, when no one is looking, we drop what we’re carrying—alarmed as it falls, afraid we will lose it, pained by how much it cost. Sometimes, whatever it is—a dream we’re close to living, an injustice almost resolved, a cracked sense of worth filled with the gold of our choosing—sometimes, whatever it is breaks like an egg on the floor. And we watch the yolk of something we care for run its bright colors into everything. I don’t know
how to say it or explain it, but this is the journey: not the race we make of things, or the filling of cracks with gold, but how the bright colors run into everything.”

Excerpt from The Endless Practice

image.png

#marknepo #spiritualpoetry #spiritualinspiration #poetryinspo

KINTSUGI~~ I have blogged about this before on a couple of different situations; it’s a beautiful art and it’s an even more awesome concept, but it’s one of the most difficult things to wrap your head around–this brokenness that is a part of us all.  It seems just when we think we’ve healed, we realize that there are still some missing pieces and when we want to glue them back together again, even with the golden bonds of love, we fight it and fall all Humpty-Dumpty-like as if we can never be put back together again.  Guess what?  WE CAN’T, and that’s the good news, isn’t it?

Humanity at its best is always recognizing that we are all just a bunch of broken pieces trying to come together again and when we are at our best, we realize that the brokenness in me is the brokenness in you and the missing pieces we already possess. It’s just a matter of bonding them up again with that golden glue that just doesn’t make us better but more complete.          .          .

Pssssssssssssssssssssssssssst.          .          .
None of the Kings men or their horses necessary

JUST A MOMENT: WE ARE A CONSTRUCTION ZONE

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PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST:

It’ doesn’t matter where you live or where you’re going to or where you’ve been; it seems like you can’t go anywhere today without seeing the UNDER CONSTRUCTION sign in all bold capital letters and if it’s not a building or a new establishment, then it’s certainly the roads or the ways that we travel to get to those places that we call HOME.

What about you? is there a sign UNDER CONSTRUCTION  that should be at least placed on your lapel or maybe worn around your neck or how about just have printed on your forehead because in one way or the other, it’s true, isn’t it: WE ARE ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Ww are never finished products. We’re never completed projects.  There’s always a little bit of this or a little bit of that that we want to  add or update or refurbish.  So, what about you? What is it in you that needs refurbishing, that needs updated, that maybe needs dilapidated or demolished and raised up all over again in a  brand new way?
If you could choose that, which way would your arrow point?  We don’t have to be asked the question or know the answer.       .       .
IN JUST A MOMENT, right now and quick.           .            .You know exactly why you’re watching this video and the answers to the questions that have made you wonder about the Construction you are under

A LETTER TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SELF

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IT IS GRADUATION SEASON.                .             .Yesterday, I had two granddaughters graduate from High School; unfortunately, one was in Wheeling, WV and the other here at the Stocker Center at LCCC in Elyria.  Erin and I split up as she attended Stella’s in Elyria and I headed to Wheeling for Ava’s.  Both of them made me think a little deeper as I have now graduated three separate times, watched my children graduate and now my granddaughters (with four more looming graduations in the future) all of which that got me thinking about their future and ours, a future, not even on our best days, we can predict.

The word commencement is derived from the French and was first used to refer to graduation in the 14th century.  (Uhhh, yeah, back when I was in school…SMILE).  It makes me think of a pediatric social worker who once told me, “Children love to anticipate.  They need something every day to look forward to in the short term and the long term.”  And I thought, “Gee, I like that idea as an adult.”  During these last 45 +years of ministry I’ve tried to make it my business to assure our folks that something good and exciting and needed is going to happen on a regular basis.  Do they feel it’s right and normal to graduate from old ideas and commence with new ones that help us grow and serve each other better?  It’s the season, so I wish all of you a happy commencement.

With Proms mostly over and High School Graduations very much on the the horizon, somehow this song, these words seem very appropriate.          .         .

Letter To My High School Self (Be Kind) By JJ Heller, David Heller, and Ginny Owens

I’m writing you this letter ‘Cause I’ve walked in your shoes I hope that you will read this When you’re feeling confused

The hardest part of high school Is living in between The person you’re becoming And the kid you used to be

Dizzy from highs and lows You can’t see which way to go I’ve been there too Here’s what you do

Be kind Be strong Believe You belong Love God Work hard Just be who you are

You want to feel important But don’t be fooled by fame ‘Cause everyone who loves you Already knows your name

And when you have a house someday There won’t be trophies on display There’s so much more Worth living for

Be kind Be strong Believe You belong Love God Work hard Just be who you are

Let go of the last times Celebrate the first times And keep your heart wide open

Be kind Be strong Believe You belong Forgive Yourself Don’t be afraid to ask for help Love God Work hard Just be who you are.     .      .
AND JUST WHAT WOULD YOU WRITE TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL SELF
Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst.     .     .
THAT HIGH SCHOOL SELF
IS STILL HERE
Hopefully
L I S T E N I N G
L E A R N I N G
L O V I N G
(always loving, hoping for a little love in return and finding, having, keeping it)

Seeking yoyu 余裕

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W            A            I            T
W           H           A            T.                     .                  .

Seth Godin has been writing a daily blog for years on end and he usually turns them into some interesting books.  The thing I like about his blog and really try to emulate, especially on Wednesday’s with my LIVE, JUST A MOMENT couple of minute posts, is to catch your short attention span and compete all that verses it.  Here is one of those quick-to-read-thought-provoking posts of Seth’s that made more question marks and “Hmmmmmmmmmm’s” popped up for me and now maybe for you:

Seeking yoyu 余裕

There are two ways of thinking about doing more than is necessary.

It can become a really useful marketing tactic. When you deliver more than people expect, your overdelivery creates connection. The surprise and delight is remarkable. People talk about it, seek you out and come back for more.

Of course, since it’s a useful tactic, you’re not actually doing more than is necessary. You’re doing the right amount.

The other sort is magical. It’s difficult, ridiculous and offers no obvious commercial benefit.

This sort of effort isn’t always noticed or appreciated by the customer, but that’s okay. It’s the calm, proud and professional approach that serves the maker, regardless of whether it’s worth it to the consumer.

It’s difficult to care enough to do more than is necessary if you are on the assembly line, hustling to make the quarterly numbers or being measured for every keystroke.

Finding the space to care an unreasonable amount is cultural and it often requires a system to nurture that sort of effort. We need room to spare. We need to stop being in such a hurry and focus on the work and the art in a way that’s generative, not frazzled.

The Japanese term for this is yoyu. 余裕 is effort and ease, time and passion.

The characters 余 (yo) means “surplus” or “extra,” and 裕 (yu) means “abundance” or “affluence.”

Yoyu has several interconnected meanings:

  • Having spare time or room
  • Being relaxed or composed
  • Having financial leeway or resources to spare
  • Mental/emotional capacity to handle situations calmly

Yoyu produces its own reward.

In a competitive market, it’s easy to see how we slide down the slippery slope of efficiency. The boss usually doesn’t often embrace yoyu, seeking easily measured productivity instead. Make the assembly line a bit faster, change the intensity of the lighting, give out a few bonuses or fire some people.

And scale isn’t the friend of yoyu. If use our resources to expand and amplify, we’ve taken them away from our daily craft. If the project gets bigger when you have slack, slack disappears. Stress arrives.

So why bother?

We’re not machines, or even cogs in a machine. When we are at our best, we’re fully human. Human as producers and as consumers as well.

What’s the point of rushing if we never get anywhere?

JUST A MOMENT: MORE THAN WHAT YOU LOOK AT

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The flaw exists in each of us, sometimes more brutal than at other times, but it does exist:  WE DON’T ALWAYS RECOGNIZE WHAT WE NOTICE.            .              . Even if it’s something beautiful; even if it elicits, “Ohhhhhhh’s and Ahhhhhhhhhhhh’s,” from us.  There are times we don’t still see the full picture.  It’s as if, even though we’re looking at the puzzle, the box in which it came, doesn’t fully let us comprehend how the final piece will complete the picture that’s on the box (because it’s the wrong box picture)

anonymous person with binoculars looking through stacked books

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Maybe that’s when we really see what we recognize and notice with the distinct possibility of sharing, so that others can have the same experience.              .               .in just a moment

LOOK AGAIN
.            .            .what you
REALLY SEE
just might surprise you and more,
CHANGE YOU
in just a moment

NOT JUST ANOTHER JOB

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Your Favorite Quote?

Behind all of your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begin–Mitch Albom.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.  All I am I owe to my mother.  I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her–George Washington.

Motherhood is the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won’t be needed in the long run–Barbara Kingsolver

How vital are mother’s influence and teaching in the home–how apparent when neglected–Ezra Taft Benson.

Mothers worry only a out those we brought into this world, regardless of whether they loved us back or treated us fairly or understood our shortcomings–Adriana Trigiani

No language can express the power, and the beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother’s love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of a quenchless fidelity like a star.–Edwin Hubbell Chapin

Mom–the person most likely to write an autobiography and never mention herself–Robert Brault

I, like the rest of the world, had a wonderful day of celebrating Mother’s Day.

It was the fifth Mother’s Day
without my mom
but the days were filled with memories of great times with her

Even without seeing all of my four daughters,
Each who are most awesome mom’s
that make the proudest and happiest of
Pappy’s
We were still able to celebrate with them
without being with them

I had many prideful moments watching the reaction of Erin as the kids expressed thanks for being their
M  O  M
throughout the day.

 I know that she in fact,

is not my mother,

but I could have never been more blessed than her being the mom and stepmom to my children.

It really is more than just a job, isn’t it?

I can’t imagine too many more jobs more

 t  h  a  n  k  L  E  S  S

Truly, it’s one of fewest jobs anyone would ever  apply,

accept or keep.        .        .

and yet, there are well over a billion that hold the actual gut-wretching-never-ending position of

M        O        M

.    .    .to   THAT   there are only two words,

never said enough days before,

Day of,

or days after :

THANK    YOU

About that favorite quote. . .

it’s most likely the one that the heart shouts and the mouth can’t begin the whisper. .  .

the pen can never put to paper.

GO HUG A MOM.     .     .

AND IF YOU CAN’T—

HUG   A   CHILD   OF   ONE

—hard and just a little longer than usual.        .        .

J  u  s  t      b  e  c  a  u  s  e !

Happy     Day     After     Mother’s     Day!

(Make it just as important)

YOUR CORE(NESS)

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Wait.            .             .What.                   .                .isn’t this everyone’s goal, 
EVEN WHEN IT’S NOT NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION MAKING EVE.                .               .

Well, maybe New Year’s Day just doesn’t happen on January 1, maybe it happens when you go to the doctor for your yearly physical and you get get pushed, poked, prodded and oh yes, the can’t-lie-your-way-out-of-it- blood test.

For the most part I am in ‘GOOD SHAPE’ (for the shape I’m in) the A1C was just slightly elevated and I got the, “Cut out sugar, carbs, junk.  Eat more vegetables, fruit and EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE     M   O   R   E

Well, I did what I usually do before New Year’s Day, I started to RESOLUTION before the RESOLUTION and began exercising before getting the missive but.            .            .can your CORE ever be more CORED UP?

I recently read an article from a colleague from National Speakers Association, Lou Heckler who suggested a different kind of CORE TRAINING.  Even though I’m now doing sets of planks, push up’s and walking and need to do more, more consistently, I started thinking about this different kind of CORE TRAINING that doesn’t involve sit-ups or planking, push up’s or walking up stairs.  It’s more about principles and beliefs and practices and how it sometimes feels difficult to stay true to the person you believe you are.

We see lots of people taking what are called “shortcuts” when we really mean “cheating.”  We see work that is “unfinished” when we really mean “unacceptable.”  Do you sometimes ask yourself, “Why am I striving so hard to be good and kind and generous when I see others seeming to get ahead by doing the opposite?”

Spoiler alert here:  They are NOT getting ahead.  Those temporary gains will not last and neither will their contributions to the world at large.  My “core exercises” go like this:  Be loving.       .       .give more than asked; promise the World and deliver the Universe.     .     .look for laughter and joy every day; if you find or make a Smile, bring one (your’s).         .        .help the people who are struggling; just because someone has a hand doesn’t mean that couldn’t use your’s.            .            .be grateful; don’t list the things you’re thankful for, live them.          .          .

Like any workout, it takes a daily commitment, doesn’t it?  I hope you get your reps in this week.            .           .

Pssssssssssssssssssssst: YOUR HEART WILL THANK YOU FOR IT.   .   .AND SO WILL SOMEONE ELSE’S!

 

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man