The Caring Catalyst

Who Cares - What Matters

DAY DREAMING IMPOSSIBLES

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I have used his poetry and thoughts many of times on a Friday blog post and now that it feels like it’s kind of Summer and schools are letting out and vacations are beginning. I’ll quote the old song from a few calendar pages ago of the LOVIN’ SPOONFUL: “What  a day for a daydream, what a day for a daydreaming boy.     .     .”   So what dream this day will you dream up?  If you need a little inspiration just read the following from my buddy John Roedel:

Daydream with me
a place where nobody asks you where you came from—
because we will all remember
that we came from the same place.

Daydream with me
a time when guns all shoot water,
and no child has to wear Kevlar
or learn how to hide behind desks during a shootout.

Daydream with me
a post office that exists where we can send letters
to our beloveds who have become spirits—
and they can write back.

Daydream with me
a courtroom where justice is applied equally,
regardless of how much money
someone may have stored away in a vault.

Daydream with me
a church where nobody whispers about your wounds—
they just pass the bread a little closer.

Daydream with me
a magic garden where the flowers
are microphones for bees
who recite their poetry as they get drunk.

Daydream with me
a night sky where God changes the stars
every now and then
to tell us a really bad joke.

Daydream with me
a grocery store where the canned soup aisle
starts humming when it senses you’re about to cry.

Daydream with me
a forest made of our prayers
we thought were being unanswered—
but were just growing roots.

Daydream with me
the arrival of an even Newer Testament
where the Divine clarifies
that the existence of hell
was always just a rumor.

Daydream with me
a family dinner table where children
aren’t asked to eat the leftovers
of their parents’ guilt.

Daydream with me
a therapist’s office where grief is handed
a cup of tea and asked to speak freely.

Daydream with me
a song sung by a campfire
so heart-wrenchingly beautiful
that the moon opens her eyes
for the first time in five thousand years.

Daydream with me
a school that tells students
if they want to visit another planet,
all they have to do is pick up a pen and write.

Daydream with me
an election season
that doesn’t feel like we are being forced
to decide which brand of household cleaner to drink.

Daydream with me
a version of history class
where the textbook apologizes every few pages.

Daydream with me
when the most searched phrase on Google is:
“how to finally forgive myself.”

Daydream with me
a planet of people who aren’t surrendering
their control over to robots.

Daydream with me
the discovery of a magic wand
that can only cast the spell
of unfreezing hearts.

Daydream with me
a talking dog who goes on a media tour
to let humans know
that dogs need a lot more snuggles
than they currently get.

Daydream with me
a strange payphone on a beach
where people line up
to have a two-minute chat
with their inner child.

Daydream with me
a border made of wildflowers—
where the only thing being inspected
is your gratitude.

Daydream with me
a blind date where two people
instantly recognize each other
as lovers from a former life.

Daydream with me
a neighborhood potluck
where every casserole is a different kind of apology,
and nobody leaves hungry.

Daydream with me
a zombie invasion where the undead
aren’t interested in eating the brains of the living—
but just came back to learn how to salsa dance.

Daydream with me
a confessional box where the priest
won’t offer penance
until they admit one of their own sins.

Daydream with me
a bus stop where time pauses
just long enough for you to catch your breath
and remember who you were
before the world demanded so much.

Daydream with me
a morning where the sunrise waits
for the last person to wake up—
just so nobody misses it.

Daydream with me
an era where nobody uses their phone
to film someone else’s worst moment.

⸻

Maybe it starts like this.
Maybe dreaming isn’t an escape,
but a way to remember
what we’re still capable of becoming.

Yeah, “what a day for a daydream, what a day for a daydreaming boy.     .      .”
And as long as we’re going to do a little daydreaming, why not DAY DREAM BIG.          .           .
Sometimes the bike ride  to nowhere is the best somewhere you can ever be
.          .         .in your own topsy turvy day dream

JUST A MOMENT: TOGETHER WE GROW

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IN JUST A MOMENT

You inherently know that when you bring what you have to what I don’t and then someone comes and shares what none of us have
but now has TOGETHER, amazing things GROW.         .         .
A HANDFUL OF SEEDS ARE A HANDFUL OF NOTHINGS
UNTIL THEY MEET THE DIRT
THAT INVITES THE WATER
TO GROW.           .          .

BUILDING A LIFE

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SIMPLE QUESTION:

ARE YOU LAYING BREAKS,
BUILDING A WALL, or
CREATING SOMETHING THAT WILL LONG EXCEED YOU.          .          .          ?

Psssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst:

THE ANSWER
is how you
BUILD A LIFE

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.            .            .

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

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#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

Professional Speaker, Author, Assurance Man