Monday, July 31, 2006

Exercise

All of our lives we hear about the value of a good diet and exercise. Yet the human temptation to eat the wrong kinds of foods and never exercise is strong. In fact, I would prefer to live my life eating ice cream, hamburgers, french fries, potato chips and cake in front of the television set and never accomplishing anything.

But a few years ago, I realized (after a physician pointed out a few things) that I was a potential walking heart attack. So I rethought my lifestyle and began to eat the right kinds of foods and begin an exercise program. Each morning I wake up and pray. Then I do 250 jumping jacks, 100 situps, and 100 pushups. Then I am ready for the day and feel much more productive.

Now all that may sound simple and easy and I have been told it is a sign of a disciplined mind, but the truth is that I hate it with a passion. I cannot stand to exercise and have not looked forward to it one time. Every morning I try my best to convince myself to skip the routine. I can think of the best excuses from being tired to not having time to not feeling well, but in the end, I force myself to do the routine. And once it is over, I do inevitably feel better.

Now I maintain that each person should design his or her own exercise routine. It could be a brisk walk in the evenings or a 5 mile run or an exercise bike or a rigorous weight-lifting regime. I encourage you to find a system and stick with it as much as possible. Exercise is good for you and the truth remains that the more energy you use, the more you will have.

Start slowly and build up over a period of months. Don't try to overdo it too soon.
Establish your routine and think of it as long term goals for physical health. A friend of mine who went on to teach music at a major university, always encouraged people to keep their mental life in order, their physical life in order, and their spiritual life in order. I think that is a pretty good prescription for all of us.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Prejudice

We normally think of prejudice as pre-judging a person based on skin color; but prejudice can actually assume many kinds of forms.

I came out of the grocery store pushing a cart and walking beside my son Joel. As I walked toward my pickup, I saw two boys and felt a stirring of suspicion and even detestation within me. The boys were covered in tattoos, had spiked hair, body piercing in strange places, and one was smoking a cigarette. I was disgusted with their appearance, turned away quickly, and wondered why they weren’t in jail yet. With that thought came the rampant metaphors and analogies of cancers, sores, blights, cuts, bruises, bacteria, and many other maladies that these boys inflicted on our society. The world would be better off without such sub-humans walking around.

But, for not the first time, and certainly not the last, my middle son Joel, taught me a lesson. As I neared my truck, I heard “Hey Joel, how’s it going?” I looked around and saw those two sub-humans smiling and shaking Joel’s hand. He began smiling back and talking to them. Apparently he knew them from school from a couple of years ago.

As I watched this scene unfold, I realized several things.

One: my autistic son had once again offered his magic to the world and made it a better place. He has an unusual ability to share unadulterated joy with others. He brings no prejudice with him, no suspicion, no fear, and no judgment to the table. He offers up care, interest, and acceptance to all people regardless of their status, appearance, age, background, race, beliefs, world-view, and position. He does not need to nor desire to correct anyone, criticize anyone, give his opinions on anything or pass judgment in any way. He simply wants to say hello, be friendly, and make the world a better place. He gives the gift of simplicity and love to everyone he meets. He is the season of Christmas every day of the year (of course, he does have those occasional but pointed times of being a 16 year old boy, but I don’t want to talk about that right now since it ruins the lesson I learned!)

Two: My attitude was prejudiced. I had pre-judged the two boys based on their appearance and made decisions that were decidedly unfair. I assumed that tattoos, body piercing, and a cigarette meant those boys had criminal intent. I labeled them without knowing them. I rejected them with no foundation for my attitude. Now this is not to say that I completely agree with their appearance choices. I wish, for their sake, they would consider another avenue for their independence. Although wrong, I suspect that finding employment could be a challenge for these two. But as far as their character, work ethic, compassion, integrity, and personality—none of these things have been determined. Certainly, their appearance is not enough to decide these other qualities.

Three: You never know who you or your family members may know. It pays to be friendly to all.

I will work diligently to avoid future prejudices and instead offer up the kind of automatic acceptance that Joel is able to give. If the world had more Joels, it would be a better place!

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Stuck in a fence.

The other day I heard the familiar sound of a goat stuck in a fence. This is not an uncommon occurrence, and I knew it was time to find the goat and help it out of the problem. I also knew from past experience that it was a thankless job. It would probably hurt the goat and could scratch me up if I didn’t handle it well. Ironically, the goat would resist the help and actually work counterproductively to my efforts.

Sure enough all those things took place and as the goat ran off to join her friends, I began to reflect on the root of this continual problem. Why would a goat with unlimited cuisine in the form of trees, grass, various grains, roots, leaves, and an assortment of weeds, desire what is essentially the same thing on the other side of the fence? There can be only one answer to this conundrum—greed. Or as the old cliché goes “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.”

How often does greed cause us to get stuck in a fence? As we try to improve ourselves and look beyond what is around us, we often create more problems than we solve. I suppose the desire to reach for something greater than our current status is an admirable trait in many respects. Goals and vision are two vital ingredients to progress, creativity, and development both individually and corporately. There is no denying that the world was improved through the ingenious and tireless efforts of people who saw beyond the obvious and ventured into regions only imagined by others. The ideas of Benjamin Franklin, Leonardo DaVinci, and Isaac Newton—to name three—ultimately led to vast productivity, ideas, and cultural development even today. These three and countless others saw beyond the fence and diligently applied their own creative spirits to the task of reaching beyond the obvious.

But they did not reach beyond the fence to get the same thing they could have within the fence. Instead, it was their creative mind that imagined the possibilities. In the case of the goat, greed did not produce great creative ideas but rather caused it to try to attain what was already within its grasp. In other words, ideas are potentially enriching and rewarding, but ideas that are simply a restatement of current reality are not really ideas!

By this time, the reader is probably thinking that attributing reasoning to goats is without foundation and I agree. But the point is that greed put the goats in the situation to get stuck. No matter what the reason was, the result was negative. No matter what the effort was, the goat would not be able to get out of the mess without help. How often have you been stuck? Perhaps you have several fences including finances or relationships or health issues or career or anger or any one of a myriad of challenges facing us each day. You got yourself into the fence out of choice, now seek help and get yourself out!

1. Do not get yourself stuck in a fence. Make wise decisions and live within the parameters set forth for yourself. Dream big and have a vision but don’t let greed place you in a position of helplessness.
2. If you do get stuck in a fence, don’t struggle in vain for hours, days, or years. Instead, seek help. It is readily available in many forms!
3. If you see someone or even something stuck in a fence, take a moment to help. You are making a difference by helping. Maybe today it is a goat but tomorrow could be a family member or a friend.

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Cow Patty

I recently had an experience at a relative’s house of seeing an unusual work of framed installation art. I recalled the piece from my childhood and remembered hearing the story of the search for the perfect model. You see, it is a framed cow patty or a hunk of waste or a beautiful work of art depending upon your perspective. When cows rid themselves of unwanted digested food, the result is often a well-shaped spiral object. Each pile has a unique shape and substance. I do suspect that more “attractive” piles of manure are not from any particularly beautiful cow but instead can demonstrate the beautiful random qualities of nature and its output.

Years ago, I had some family members who upon recognizing the positive aesthetic qualities of a cow patty went on a quest for the perfect patty. After searching far and wide through fields of grain, the right looking and attractive patty was found. After a lengthy aging process and drying out period, the patty was spray painted gold with a light coat of varnish to give it a shine. A plastic flower was placed slightly off-center to add a spark and ambiance to the work. The piece was then placed on a colorful backdrop and framed with a glass covering thus completing the artistic achievement.

Upon first glance, the framed piece is rather attractive and aesthetically appealing. The spirals give it motion and line and the contrasting colors give it dimension. Since it is a form of installation art, it has a natural 3-D appearance mixed with realism. Although at first rather abstract and asymmetrical, it is difficult to apply abstract formalism to naturalism. Careful examination of the piece, however, presents a different emotion. When the viewer finally realizes the content of the work, a plethora of reactions occurs. Curiousity, disgust, surprise, humor, joy, confusion...all these and more are typical reactions to the Cow Patty.

Strangely though, the framed Cow Patty is more than a conversation piece. It does provide an element of artistic diversity and an opportunity for philosophical discussion. I have noticed that the eye is drawn to the piece perhaps more than most art in the same room. This does bring to mind the age-old discussion of what art is, what it means, and what is the difference in good art and bad art. It also reminds me of Plato's assertion that an artist does not belong in the "city" due to causing unwanted and unnecessary emotions. But if it is okay with everyone, I would prefer to discuss art and its purpose and role in culture at a later date.

For now, however, I would like to know which one of these philosphies and reactions serves the greater good.

One: The Cow Patty demonstrates a wonderful and glorious opportunity to turn what originated as waste into something special. This proves that all things have the potential for artistic merit; furthermore, this means we should never give up or turn away in disgust at things or even people who first appear to have nothing positive to offer. There is good in everything and potential in everyone. A little shine, a little polish, a small flower, a pretty backdrop, and a nice frame makes the world a better place. Perhaps that should be our purpose--to find beauty and joy in everything.

Or Two: No matter how much polish, shine, framing, flowers, love, and care is applied to the work, it still will remain always and forever a cow patty!

To which view do you subscribe?

Monday, July 24, 2006

Conflict Resolution

The latest issue facing management and supervision is the idea of conflict resolution. Apparently resolving conflict within a unit or institution is a desired and perhaps necessary endeavor for having a peaceful and harmonic existence. Most workshops I have attended have included a component on conflict resolution sometimes couched in other terms such as building relationships, working within the current structure, dealing with people, etc.

There is no question that as quickly as our society moves and as much stress as we tend to experience from day to day, conflict between people is inevitable. We just don’t think and act the same as each other. We come to the table with different and unique personalities, values, histories, agendas, situations, and views. At the table, though, we try to establish some sort of commonality and unified thought. While most good managers rely on consensus building and motivation, ultimately it seems that decisions are often based on one person’s mandate and authority. Of course, this can then result in resentment, a sense of helplessness, and a loss of personal identity for the recipients. Good managers find a way to lead gently but firmly and avoid the kind of conflict that festers into unproductive behavior.

But conflict can arise in families, friends, the workplace, even in social situations or especially in driving down the road. According to Emmanuel Kant, we individually are skewed by our own concepts and interests. If our concept of good driving is staying within the prescribed limits and following the law (which seems to be a pretty good concept), then we tend to be frustrated with those who operate outside of the law. Just as we each have a concept of what good music is, so we each have conceptualized good behavior, proper reactions, and organization. It is really no surprise that conflict often arises between people. In fact, in a way, it is surprising that more conflict does not exist.

Cynically, however, I am a little weary of the emphasis placed on conflict resolution. Is it really necessary to have workshops, sessions, books, articles, and conventions on this topic? Doesn’t it really just come down to common sense? Two people should work together to find commonality. In the case of disagreement, avoid allowing it to escalate. Keep reactions professional and keep the goals as a focus. Bow to authority but always maintain personal standards. Mostly, avoid hurting someone and avoid making conflict a personal issue.

My goal is to meet conflict directly but gently and work diligently to keep it from taking over any situation.

Friday, July 21, 2006

In light of the recent push to provide a public education for pre-school children, I would like to address some of the concerns in education today. More and more we are seeing a push for public funds to replace the responsibilty previously given to parents. Many of us recall a time when kindergarten was not a part of public education. Now, however, kindergarten requires a highly qualified teacher and is a normal part of the public school curriculum and requirements. We are about to add yet another grade level--prekindergarten!

Most new developments in education are because of a need. Needs cause learning and learning is growth. A child learns to walk out of a need to move more quicky from point A to point B. The automobile industry develops new cars and designs out of a need to provide safer and more efficient means of transportation. Einstein's theory of relativity grew out of a scientific need and new drugs are developed daily because of medical needs. The rise in diets and weight reducing surgery are because of a huge need (forgive the pun).

The desire for a pre-kindergarten program in public school is arising out of public outcry for funded daycare. It is being disguised in the form of education. While it is true that education begins at birth, it is also true that the primary responsibility for the kind of education children need during their first few years is parental. The love and care of a mother and father combined with all the things that being a child involves become prescriptions for the fascinating and joyous world of child rearing and development. Nothing and nobody can substitute for a parent.

Yet it seems that we are attempting to do that very thing. While structure and education becomes paramount for children as they get older, perhaps the key to success for a young child is to learn while playing. The freedom and random quality of playing is not only pleasurable and beneficial for a child but is also emotionally and mentally enriching. Children need to play. This is how they learn. We need to allow them the opportunity to play outside of the confines of educational structure.

The structure occurs soon enough and provides the kind of discipline that students need. But is there truly a need to impose the educational system before the age of 5? Obviously, in this time of fewer two parent homes and the need for both parents to work outside of the home, we are in the midst of growth in the area of daycare centers and various babysitting services.

But as we increase class sizes and force children into our prescribed public school system with its careful governance and compliance issues, we will see additional and often unnecessary discipline and restrictions. Furthermore we will burden our system with the need for more highly qualified teachers. The estimated cost for such a program is over 3 billion dollars. Most schools are overcrowded and administrators have more than enough work without adding an additional grade level to their schedule.

Before invoking a compulsory pre-kindergarten program into our present system, I would strongly suggest further study, parent input, and careful consideration of the myriad of challenges facing us as we consider educational reform.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Discount cards. My wallet is full of them. I have a discount card for books, groceries, auto parts, hardware, over the counter drugs, coffee, desserts, and a myriad of fast food restaurants. Virtually every time I purchase something I get asked if I have a discount card for that particular vendor. If I don't, I get handed a form and an encouragement to spend extra money now so I can save 10% later. Sometimes the cards are free but often they are an additional expense. If I choose not to get a card, I usually receive an inquisitive look that says "How can you be so stupid as to not have one of our discount cards. You must be an idiot." I have actually been told that I was not making a wise decision by not getting a card.

I find myself digging through my wallet to find the correct card to match the vendor. It gets frustrating and takes additional time. The result is often a savings of a few cents and lots of anger on my part. My thinking is this: I think they should charge what they think they need to charge and it is my choice whether to shop there or not. The market should determine the price as well as my decision to purchase. I do not enjoy having to deal with finding a card.

Yet, I continue to play the game so as to get a small discount and to avoid the "look" from the cashier. But the day I see a sign saying "we charge the least and do not use discount cards" is the day I begin using that vendor.

Monday, July 17, 2006

I arrived home yesterday after a week away at Texas Baptist All-State Choir and Band. It was an exhausting but rewarding week making music, friends, and honoring God through music. I enjoyed myself immensely but also worked very hard to make it a positive experience for all the students.

I received many compliments on the piece of music I wrote entitled "Visions." It was in a free form and based on the hymn tune Slane otherwise known as "Be Thou My Vision." It was set in multiple meters with emphasis on rhythm and constant shifting of harmony and thematic alternation. The main theme does not occur until the last third of the piece although thematic material is interjected much earlier. The audience responded quite well to the piece and many students said it was their favorite piece on the program. We also performed Wagner's Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral but had some difficulty at the beginning. The ending, however, was glorious and received a strong ovation from the audience.

It was quite a week and one I won't forget for a long time. Seeing old friends made the week even more worthwhile. I am a believer in Baptist All-State and continue to encourage greater participation and development.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Baptist All-State began in 1976 as a dream of Royce Dowell and Sam Prestige. It was designed as a way to gather talented high school age students active in their Baptist churches together for a week of music making through performance, worship, and ministry. It began as a choir only including a smaller more select group called Living Song and later expanded to a band within two years followed by the addition of handbells, strings, jazz, and praise teams. Over its 30 years of existence, the organization has traveled throughout the State of Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, and the country of Mexico. It has been as small as 95 and as large as well over 400. The first director of the choir was Dr. Loyd Hawthorne from Hardin-Simmons University and the first Baptist All-State was located on the campus of Dallas Baptist University.

This year marks the 30th Anniversity of Baptist All-State and once again it will meet on the DBU campus. I was in the first choir back in 1976 and sang in the choir for two more years after that. As an aside, Royce Dowell drove to El Paso to listen to some students audition for Baptist All-State. I recall being very nervous at the audition and shocked when I received the letter saying I had been accepted. I was so excited and surprised since I do not have a very pleasant voice. Years later, I found out that Royce had aceepted everyone since there were less than 100!

I have also directed the band four times, been a sponsor five times and am the director again of the band this year. I have also had the privilege to write a composition for the organization at the commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. The composition is called Toccata for Band and is advanced free style piece based on the hymn tune Slane which we know as Be Thou My Vision.

I have watched thousands of young men and women commit their lives to Christ through music at Baptist All-State and have repeatedly witnessed the transformation of students during the week. I believe in the value of Baptist All-State and feel honored to be a part of the institution.

I am anticipating a busy, fun, and Spirit-filled week of Bible study, music, prayer, fellowship, intensity, and joy. A by-product of Baptist All-State is the opportunity to see friends and fellowship with Christian musicians. I always return from the week rejuvenated and inspired to use music in a variety of ways to further Christ's Kingdom.

Please be in prayer for us this week. There will be a concert at First Baptist Church in Grapevine on Saturday evening and another one at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church on Sunday morning.

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Reading for pleasure. Reading for knowledge. Reading for personal application. I find reading to be one of the great enjoyments of life and have been an avid reader since I can remember. Like my tastes in music which are vast and eclectic, my tastes in books are quite diverse and encompassing of many interests. I look forward to writing about music and will do so when I feel so led, but today I write about writing and about reading.

I generally read approximately 2 sometimes 3 books a week. I read in the mornings, some afternoons when I can and every night. I lean on fiction although I do enjoy reading journals, magazines, poetry, articles, history, and newspapers. Right now I am alternating between four books of various styles and interests. Each book provides an element of satisfaction at any given moment. Now some would call this alternating practice to be a lack of focus, and I can't disagree with that criticism. I am guilty of this "attention deficit disorder" problem when it comes to reading, watching television, writing music, working around the house, and even dealing with people. Yet I also derive great pleasure from reading 20 pages of Charles Dickens followed by an article on whether we are in a long term Bull market or will the Bears rear their ugly head on Wall Street.

It has been said that our current worldview is shaped by our most recent experiences. If a person is reading four books, is his worldview confused and directionless? Or rather is it comprehensive and broad? I choose to accept the latter view!

So I am reading Hard Times by Charles Dickens. A marvelous book with its emphasis on academic rigor versus human expression. A book that extols the virtues of both and the ultimate marriage of emotions and compassion with knowledge. Dickens also explores human suffering and the victory over pain that we can achieve. Dickens certainly must be one of the greatest writers who ever lived and whose books continued to have a profound influence on writers and moralistic thought in today's culture.

I am also reading To The Last Man by Jeff Shaara. This is a well-written and precisely documented narrative of World War I as seen by a few select "heroes" of the war. Mr. Shaara is one of my favorite authors and makes history come alive by exploring the personal thoughts of the individuals who made a difference. I am especially taken with his explanations of how the men in the war dealt with the physical challenges of the weapons at their disposal. I have always been more interested in micro-history of the people than macro-history of governments and politics. Mr. Shaara is able to present both concepts and completing one of his books will give the reader a sensitive and accurate view of the war being discussed.

My most interesting ride has been in John Irving's Until I Find You. While I am often put off by his disingenuous geometrical style of writing, I am beginnning to relish in the opportunity to interpret and moralize based on the events within the story. It is difficult for me to recommend Mr. Irving's books, since I can't always decide about their quality. But there is no doubt that he is a major living literary figure whose writings contain an abundance of hidden meanings and dichotomous philosophies. I am looking forward to completing Until I Find You. I do think, however, that I must be careful not to look examine modern life and people in terms of what I read in this book. I can thankfully say that I do not know anybody similar to the characters in this book!

The last book I am reading is a human interest but oddly dark novel called The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards. It is very well written and is based on a frightening concept of choice and living with the choices made. It also places an underlying emphasis on the value of human life and love. I am enjoying this book immensely and like often happens, I do not want this book to end since I am benefitting from the journey.

I urge you to read. You don't have to read four books at once (in fact, I strongly suggest you not). You don't have to read fiction. But do read. Read for pleasure. Read for knowledge. Read for application. Take a few minutes today to broaden your world--read!

Friday, July 07, 2006

This morning as I pulled into the Starbucks coffee shop, two friends drove up and asked how I was doing. We visited for a minute and I asked about one of their family members who has been having some personal problems. We talked about that for a minute and I expressed my sadness for this person and my wish that all would turn out for the best. One of these friends shrugged and said "you play the cards that life has dealt to you."

While this philosophy is not exactly new or even very deep, it does have contain truth on several levels. I am not a poker player or much of a card player. I have never played Bridge or Canasta and am only superficially knowledgeable in the game of Spades. Although I am not judgmental about cards or even poker and am glad people gain pleasure and emotional satisfaction from their card playing experience, I am suspicious of addictive behavior which in turn makes me question gambling as a source of entertainment, but that is subject for another day. I do assume that the expression of "playing the cards you have been dealt" grew out of some old cowboy kind of practice from the Old West. As an aside, many great life philosophies did come out of the Old West including "watch your back" and "keep your horse tied up." The idea of playing the cards you have been dealt obviously means that you may not have picked these particular cards, but you have to do the best you can with them no matter what.

Life is like that to an extent. We don't always get to choose the events that happen to us. While we often create our own problems and our own happiness and do get an opportunity to make choices, there are times when things just simply happen. The events that happen may not be our choice, but how we react to those events can make a difference in subsequent events.

We have an autistic son. We did not choose to have an autistic son and we did not intend for that to happen. Joel is our middle son and Joel is beautiful, wonderful addition to our family, but Joel can be a challenge. I will be writing more about him at a later date. My point is that not only do we need to do our best to help Joel we also need to recognize that Joel is not just a difficult card to play but in fact is an Ace! Of course people are not cards and life is not just a game, but it is true that we should take what we have been given and turn it into a positive.

Blessings come in many different forms and we must constantly reflect and genuflect up on those blessings. What may seem like an unfair card to you might in fact be the card that provides signficance for you at a later date. It has been said that when a door closes, a window opens and that opportunity may seem disguised but is often right in front of us.

You probably did not choose all of the events that have happened to you, but you have had a choice in how you dealt with those events. Too often we expend emotional energy whining about our problems instead of applying energy to finding solutions. Take the events that occur, react with dignity, and reach for positive results.

Now that I have postured a philosophy of "playing the cards you have been given" and playing them well, it is time for me to practice what I write. Best wishes as you play the game of life today. Use your cards to help someone. Use them well and wisely.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

History. Gone. No more. The gigantic helium filled ape with large protruding arms and vicious teeth glaring at all the passersby has been removed. For several weeks, as I drove from home to work, I came down a long hill and was met by the largest gorilla I have ever experienced. Granted, I have not had any personal contact with King Kong nor have I spent any time in the jungle so my experience with apes is rather limited. But that aside, I still believe this ape to be incredibly large. I estimate his size at 50 feet and his demeanor, while stagnant and unchanging upon a second look, to be ferocious and frightening with a hint of fanaticism.

Now I suppose the car lot that has been the home for this enormous ape, has benefited from his size and appearance. I assume his presence was for the sole purpose of attracting attention to the shiny new vehicles for sale throughout the lot. Kind of the same reason I have seen American flags attached to every car in the past or large banners advertising rebates and various discounts. We are a visual society and car lots enjoy taking advantage of that trait in all of us.

Back to our ape. As I drove by the ape every morning, I began to question not only his role and purpose but also his past and maybe his future. He was initially frightening but also rather comical during his prime. He presented a fierce reality on many levels that I found both disconcerting and rewarding at the same time. You see, we all have our larger than life gorillas that follow us around.

Your gorilla could be money or relationships or time or organization or one of many challenges that we face every day. Perhaps your gorilla is a past situation that occasionally bothers you or perhaps your gorilla is a current fear of something out of your control. That large ape hovers over you and doesn't seem to let you go. He glares at you and exerts negative vibrations that affects every aspect of your life. Your gorilla might be fear or health or even philosophy or worldview. I believe it is important to at least identify the gorilla that is in your life.

But let's look at the facts for a moment. Each morning as I drove by that enormous ape and was shocked by his appearance, I simply continued on and saw him no more. Eventually, he was taken down and will probably show up somewhere else someday. He is temporary, not real, has no personality, no value system, no lasting qualities, no character, and is full of hot air. He means nothing other than a moment of self attained hubris that has no foundation. The ape is fleeting and only superficially frightening. He can't hurt you and he has no future.

I encourage you to identify your gorilla and recognize how to deal with him. He is not as imposing as he appears and he will go away. The relationships you have now have lasting value. Don't love the gorilla. Instead love the people. The friendships and love you offer today make a difference in the world. Don't dwell on the ape, he is gone!

Wednesday, July 05, 2006


Yet in the emotional aftermath of thinking about the video, I realize that I probably watched the worst most inhumane examples of animal treatment. Often we see the extreme and accept that as the norm. Videos are made to elicit an emotional reaction.

In truth, however, there is probably not a perfect, clean and painless method to slaughter an animal. Everytime we eat meat of any kind, an animal was killed for it. The hunting and killing of animals is not exactly a new thing in culture. Man has survived and grown through dominion of the animals as instructed by Biblical law. At the same time, only the most hardened uncaring human would not react to the harsh treatment dealt to animals. Rarely have I seen a human not react positively to a little puppy or a kitten, and a baby goat is always playful and heart-warming.

Yet I am a hunter and a meat eater. I am a better eater than a hunter but have shot a few deer in my life. I love meat of all kinds and anticipate with great excitement many meals of delicious, delectable meat. There is a part of me that refuses to allow the propaganda of an internet video to determine my menu for the future. If I want to eat meat, it is my right to do so regardless of the circumstances of how it ended up on my plate.

On the other hand, perhaps a meal of vegatables without meat is actually beneficial to the body. Certainly a meal of broccoli, asparagus, salad, potatos, and corn is healthy and has enough variety to meet the needs of our taste buds. What tastes better than a newly grilled corn on the cob, or celery dipped in peanut butter? How about some fruit with that meal including blueberries and strawberries and perhaps tomatoes in your salad? All of this sounds appetizing to me.

So in conclusion, I have decided to take a few months and avoid meat when possible and emphasize fruits and vegetables in my diet. Please understand I am not an animal rights activist and am not generally a political liberal; however, I can certainly see some health and even emotional benefits to avoiding meat for awhile anyway.

I will keep my readers informed as to my reactions to a diet without meat. Having gone through an all protein diet filled full of meat, I am looking forward to experiencing no meat.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

My first blog will be a worthless diatribe on cats. We have had as many as 12 cats and are now down to 5. 2 of the 5 cats are expecting kittens unfortunately and 1 of the 5 rarely comes around anymore. Each of the 5 cats has its own personality and superficial value system although all of them have similar expectations and base instincts. 1 cat we call Tornado is magnificent for a cat anyway. He is all black, very muscular, long-bodied, even temperament, and quite protective of his domain on the back porch. He does wander off during the day but always returns at night. He loves to be held and is not afraid of human beings. Yet he displays unusual courage around other animals such as raccoons and skunks. If there were contests for cats, I believe he would win almost any contest.

Another cat we call Harrison is part Siamese and is a loner. He does not like the other cats and prefers to be by himself. He does occasionally enjoy sitting on a lap and always been desperate to be an inside cat. He looks for opportunities to run in the house and seems to be a very healthy cat with good grooming habits. In fact, this is one of the unifying elements of cats. They are generally well-groomed, neat in appearance, and desire a clean environment. This is one of the only redeeming qualities of a cat in this author's opinion.

The 2 cats that are expecting are of a low variety. They do not like humans and remain suspicious of any activity that involves humans. They hiss, scratch, bite, and are generally mean. I cannot understand their attitude since I am the one who feeds them and provides them with water. I like them the least and wish they would go somewhere else. I am curious, however, as to their off-spring. Will their kittens inherit this same dark suspicion and evil nature of their parents? Is this an inherited or acquired trait? Time will tell the story. We regret not having these cats fixed; however, they were impossible to capture.

The cat that rarely comes around anymore had three litters before we decided enough was enough and had her fixed. With the fixing has come a generally undesirable disposition and the tendency to go elsewhere. She is no longer friendly and shows up looking as though she has been in battle. We see her about once every two weeks and are slightly curious as to her habits. We have to wonder if another family has adopted her. If so, we are happy to provide the neighborhood with pets.

I enjoy talking about our cats with people since I get a wide disparity of opinions. Some believe in the "shoot them all and be happy you don't have any" philosophy. Others believe in the "let nature determine how many there are and enjoy all of them" philosophy. Still others believe in the "keep a few around but keep them in control through neutering and spaying" philosophy.

I myself gain no emotional satisfaction from our cats, but am comforted that rodents and snakes around our house are rare. Since we live in the country, cats provide a practical element of "critter control" and for that I am thankful.