Turning A Page In A Life

Today, 5 adults decided to volunteer their efforts towards the improvement of helping our fellow man. We all met at an orientation towards improving literacy in the state of South Carolina with the help of Turning Pages. Turning Pages is a local non-profit organization serving adults in the greater Columbia area. Their mission is to help adults reach their full potential by helping them improve their reading, math, computer, and English language skills, through customized learning plans. They want to open doors of opportunity for adults, children, and families to become enthusiastic lifelong learners. It was exciting to meet such educated and prolific individuals who continued to better themselves throughout their lives. In attendance were educators, past principles, French chefs, engineers, missionaries, and world travelers. Most of them were fluent in two languages and understood a few others. One lady was so fluent in German that she still read her books in German. Even the director and her assistant were former educators and are still teaching because of their compassion to help others. I felt that I was sitting on the board of directors in such esteem company. So, hats off to Edwina, Laura, April, Anas, Malcolm, Genevieve and Deborah, they deserve a hearty pat on the back. I do have to say that Malcolm a retired French chef, who has cooked around the world, is returning to school at Carolina for a Masters in Linguistics and a Ph.D., at 70 years of age. How’s that for not slowing down? Volunteers are people willing to help each other for free. I never thought that I would be a part of that group. I hope someday, if I have any readers, would be willing to take that chance, too.

Who's Minding The Home?

These are some interesting times we are living in. We all seem to have good days and bad days. We worry now more than ever about our future. Look around you, young people are committing suicide. So many of them don’t even believe in a future. They live for the moment and don’t even think of the consequences. There is a difference between appreciating life and living for the moment. But how can you make them aware of this when as an adult you are faced with complex problems of your own? More importantly, are you still there to help guide your children in these troubling times. So many parents ignore their children when these youngsters need guidance from the family than the streets. Have we as parents failed our children? Are we more irresponsible than they are? I was offsite today visiting an upstate agency. I was shown some statistics regarding teenagers from 12-16 years old that would rival adult criminal activity. I’m talking about rape, attempted murder, manslaughter, breaking & entering, drug dealing, theft, vandalism, and even illegal internet activity. These are but a few of these major offenses committed by this particular age group. There were some 10 year olds involved, too. What makes it worse is that these numbers are in the city, not the county. I was told major efforts towards mentoring, finding community support, did not bring the kids to any of these positive activities. Why? Will the excuse single parents can’t raise their kids fly? I don’t think so. If anything, many of them try harder to raise their children. I sincerely believe that when religion and discipline was taken out of the schools, our children’s future went down hill. Children are raising children, classmates are raising each other, and modern technology (games, computers, cellphones, etc.) are helping raise the children, too! Neighbors, during my time, were involved in the each others’ welfare. Now when you return to your roots, nothing looks the same. You might find that there are no flowers, no well-manicured lawns, no fruit trees, and no pride in the homes and community. I heard on the radio coming back that a radio announcer was frustrated with television entertainment ministers and television entertainment academicians. They are selling their show and books. They both preach and use well intended words eloquently, but don’t put forth any actions. In other words, they talk a good game, but can’t back it up. Money talks, BS walks. It’s easier to criticize what others do wrong when you don’t do anything yourself. Yes, neighborhood churches have a lot of ministries and need the money to fund them but how many are actually walking the neighborhood and bringing the church to the people?

Others To Lean On

I want to apologize to my readers about discussing my political views. I got frustrated on the state of our national divisiveness that I vented my own take about partisan politics. I know that there are some of us that will not like the other person for whatever reason but I do believe that we should at least respect each other.

As you all know, the month of March, all Thursdays, and the day after Easters are rough for me now. Easter is such a glorious time!  But I want to give some recognition to people who understood and proved that no man is an island. Lt. Russell Wilson gave me a beautiful card on March 24th marking my mom’s 2 years. His father passed 7 years ago on that date. Cheryl Anderson’s father just recently passed this year on that date and Kathy Solkofske’s father passed last year on that date. It’s amazing how much we all share in this life when we take the time to listen to each other. We never know what others are going through. I tend to think that my problems have priority over others until I learned that compared to other people’s problems, I really don’t have any major problems. I am blessed everyday and still manage to forget it. Miracles are happening all around me and I still don’t see them as I should. We need each other to lean on regardless of our differences. It can be our differences that can unite us, if we just take the time to listen and respect each other.  It starts with little acts of kindness towards each other.

Same Old Negative News

I don't know about anyone else but I have heard enough about Tiger and his sexual exploits.  If I want to read or hear porn, I can go to the internet.  Is this a new found way that the "purist" reporters get a chance to talk dirty and cover steamy news without feeling guilty?  Seems to me this a new reason for the media to go into our bedrooms.  Even though Jesse James and Sandra Bullock are making the latest news, we still hearing the old news with the same players but new information.  Tiger screwed up and let's move on.  Jesse screwed up and lets move on.  David, Eric, Charlie and a whole group of famous and not so famous guys screwed up and some are making the news.  Apparently, people that are doing good deeds aren't worth reporting about.  And if they are, they will get only 5-15 minutes of fame.  Bad news continually sells.  If we don't want to hear it, turn away from it or turn it off.  Adulters have been around for a long time and they aren't going away.  But not everyone is and not everyone will.  But is sex is addictive, I'm not the shrink to figure it out.  Was the same said for alcoholism?  Drugs?  Can you be addicted to porn?  Particular foods?  You see where I'm going with this?  If you have a problem, find a way to get help and work it out.  Do we need others to air our problems?  I know that people are nosey and love to gossip about other people's business instead of their own.  Is insecurity an addiction?

Happy Easter!!! He Has Risen!!!

I hope we all meditated on Christ's supreme sacrifice for us!  If we didn't it's still not too late!

Rest In Peace, Ms. McDaniels

Another co-worker lost his mother today.  He suffered through her illness this past year and lost other family members along the way.  Pray for Michael for strength and divine help to guide him through this new phase in his life.  Yes, my connection is the loss of any mother and the closeness to Easter is also a factor.  He will never forget it because Easter is the Resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus.  My mom loved all of the holidays but most of all Easter.  She loved singing on Easter Sunday.  I guess that's why she waited until Easter was gone before she left.  Michael's mom fought long and hard and left during Holy Week!  The heavens are singing and praising because all of God's children are coming home!  Celebrate the reunion of souls!

We’re Pissed Off, Again!

The Republicans are pissed off with the President this time over his ability to circumvent them blocking the appointment of key positions in the administration. 18 months have passed by and they intend to hold up everything. Some of us that are working are already doing the work of 2-3 people. It’s called burnout! Is this what the Republicans are looking for? Keep in mind that the Republicans have been blocking every move that he has made to appoint anyone. Now this time, the President found a way, which has been used in the past. Both Republican and Democratic presidents have made recess appointments, which circumvents the Senate's authority to confirm nominees, to overcome delays. President George W. Bush made more than 170 such appointments in his two-term presidency. President Bill Clinton made nearly 140. Obama had even warned everyone that he would do it. The bottom line is, let’s be honest, please. The Republicans have been pissed off ever since Obama was elected. During his campaign, they have done everything possible to derail him. Since he’s been elected, they have done everything possible to make him fail and look bad to the nation. Now, if I don’t like you, I don’t care what you do to make things right and fair for everyone, I will still not like you. I don’t hate anyone, but if that was my character, as it is for some people, I would pray that you would fail and slip up. The problem with wishing bad things on others will initiate Karma’s duty to return the same to you. There are sayings in all cultures that relate to digging a grave for your enemy will result in digging two, the other for yourself. I just can’t seem to understand why the ultras (Moderates are being phased out) are so bent on destroying this administration despite what is beneficial. I don’t agree with everything that’s being done in Washington, but our elected officials can’t even discuss problems civilly. They are too busy passing the blame. Personally, I think jobs should have been the first issue, but when I began to think about it, I can see why Healthcare was even more important. We can work through this domestically, in other words, a local issue. It’s not perfect but it is helping others. The legislators aren’t complaining about their socialistic benefits, are they? Jobs require a great deal more because we will have to deal with Multi-National Companies (MNCs) who found a way to satisfy their shareholders by outsourcing products for cheaper labor and larger returns on profit. The Republicans will never stand for that because that is who they represent and defend. We don’t need unions! As a stockholder, I understand and would want it that way, too. But when you die, you will die alone, and all that you own will be left behind. So no matter what you got, you won’t be able to keep it. Age has a way of reminding you about mortality. Now outsourcing is cheaper in so many ways, buildings, locations, materials, people, and most importantly, cost. If you constantly spend and not build revenue, and there is no supplements coming in, you will eventually go broke. But if you don’t spend, you will not be able to obtain the necessary items to live. Wars created jobs but they cost and the people are fed-up with wars and loss of lives. We don’t want higher taxes but we do want what we like. It would cost a fortune to bring jobs back and to have a Made in the USA label. Bringing jobs back in America would cost and invite unions and we know how the right side of aisle feels about that. While we are whining and complaining we should be thinking ahead. What can we do about unemployment and jobs? Let’s present a proposal and get back to doing our job! Instead, we’d rather gripe and hope that mid-term elections will make a difference. It won’t matter who’s elected what will they do to get this country back on track and moving in a positive direction? I am disgusted of the code words and actions to separate the races and classes. If we thought Healthcare was a tough battle, wait for the jobs argument.