Moderation

 Two separate events combine for my post this week. I have been meditating on chapter 9 in Tao Te Ching. It reads:

Better stop short than fill to the brim.

Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt.

Amass a store of gold and jade, and no one can protect it.

Claim wealth and titles, and disaster will follow.

Retire when the work is done.

This is the way of heaven.

I was focusing on the later half because I recently retired from hospital administration.  The people there are doing great which makes me happy.  I believe I trained them well so my work was done.  

Then my wife and I saw the following bumper sticker:

Now this bumper sticker says a lot on its own. But it really opened my eyes to understand more fully Chapter 9 of Lao's book.  In our culture, why not "fill to the brim"?  You have to get your money's worth, right? But Lao is warning us that if we fill to the brim we can spill it and loose more than if we stopped short.  

We all know people who over think things.  You can over train as an athlete and I know you can over study as a student or overwork as an executive.

So I think Lao is reminding us about moderation; whether in sharpening a sword, amassing gold and jade or thinking about a problem. 

So the message for today is moderation is the way to happiness. 

Pax

 

Joe 

You can pick your friends...

 As I stated last week we had a family reunion at the beach.  I was hoping for the best and things went very well.  There were a few hiccups but they were remarkably mild for 10 adults in 1 house.  I meditated most days and focused on family.  Now some people really don't have family but for most of us what IS the difference.  I think the difference is:

 There is a bond there that is forever.  This leads to a shared history and much more important, a safe space of acceptance.  For whether king or pauper, peacemaker or pugilist, at the end of the day I am still part of my family.  There is comfort in that. 

Of course family can also be a source of frustration because acceptance goes both ways.  After 24 years in the military I am punctual and this was tested during the week at the beach house.  However, we then played a trivia game and much to my chagrin, I became a "know it all". When I apologized the next morning for being annoying I was told, " You weren't too bad, don't worry about it."  Yes acceptance does indeed go both ways. 

So I am very glad for my family and consider all of them a blessing.  For while you can't choose them, they are a source of strength and a safe harbor where we are accepted unconditionally.

Pax

Joe   

Family reunions

 I am in the midst of a family reunion this week so this will be short.  Last Memorial Day I talked about how it is important to be fully present at these gatherings. So that is what I am doing.   Pray for me and for all those without families.

Pax

Joe

What do thoughts and words mean?

 Heard an interesting homily from Fr Ivan in Orlando on Sunday.  He stated that ultimately we have to make a choice; either for God or not. If we say we chose God then we should act like it.  It reminded me of one of my favorite Lao Tzu quotes.

 Much to my chagrin I recently found out this isn't from Lao Tzu but from an Episcopalian bishop from Georgia who lived at the end of the 19th century named Rev John Beckwith. It does line up well with Lao except maybe for the destiny part.  So Rev Beckwith I want to give you your credit.  

Regardless of its origin, the thoughts here are profound.  Our thoughts and words, which we think don't mean much, become our habits and ultimately how we live our life. Wow; simple but makes so much sense.

So I need to be more cognizant of my thoughts and words if I want to set my own destiny.  Otherwise I might end up acting and being who I don't truely want to be.

 Pax

 

Joe