Happy Holidays and Holiday Safety

The holidays are a joyous time of the year for children as well as adults, with the anticipation of being with family, friends and giving and receiving gifts. It is also an important time to be mindful of
your children's safety.

Most parents understand the importance of childproofing their homes: gates on stairs, keeping medicines and other potential poisons locked up and out of reach, and not having candles or other sources of heat or flame unattended. But, we must remember that when we visit friends and relatives for the holidays, that their homes may not have the same safeguards in place. Therefore, ask adult guests to take turns watching the children or hire a trusted babysitter during holiday parties, and make safe play rules clear to children in your home and when you visit others.

Also, if you are travelling during the holiday season, it's wise to bring emergency equipment:

•  first aid kit
•  flashlight
•  blankets
•  drinking water and snacks
•  flares and jumper cables...among other things.

My husband always 'over-prepares' but I am glad he does, because there have been many times when what he packed was very useful and necessary while travelling.

•  Adjust your schedule to allow plenty of time for travel
•  Keep in mind that the roads will be especially busy, so be realistic when estimating the amount of  time it will take to reach your destination
•  Keep distractions to a minimum, as much as possible, because everyone is in a hurry to get  to their destinations and people are under a lot of stress
• Resist the temptation to talk on the phone while driving.The goal is to get their safe
• If you feel tired, switch drivers or pull over at a safe location for a nap
• Make sure you pack plenty of activities for the kids

We don't like travelling much at this time of the year, or any holiday for that matter, but most of our friends and family are local, so we stay close to home, as much as possible. However, for some this may not be an option.

So, whether you are staying home, or travelling, have a Safe and Joyful Holiday Season.

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
 and  a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Strain

Now that the holiday season is upon us, many of us will be travelling to be with our families or friends. For many who will be flying, it means extended periods of sitting, lifting luggage, and walking in new surroundings. I just read an article that gave some really good advice on how to avoid or minimize the chance of injury, and I thought of passing it along. Nothing new, but worth a reminder.... The most common injury seems to be the lower back, due to prolonged sitting  and not getting up and moving. So, here are some things to do while flying:

• Get up every 2 hours and stretch your hamstrings (the muscles of the back of your thighs) and calves to help prevent lower back pain and leg cramps. I tried to do that whenever possible, if you are travveling far that also helps not being bored.
• Do exercises at your seat: One at a time, extend a leg with your heel touching the ground and  then your toes touching the ground.
• Since back pain can also occur from lifting heavy luggage, they suggest we pack light. When you lift your bag, squat by bending your knees and keeping your back straight and your face up; lift with your legs, not your back. (Also, my husband helps a lot with the luggage, thank God, because for one thing, I can never reach the overhead storage on the plane!)..
• Bring inflatable travel pillows, one for your neck and one for your lower back. They provide support and help prevent neck and back strain. I always bring a pillow for my neck, but had never heard about the lower back. Good idea.
• Do shoulder rolls to relax the neck and upper back muscles.
• Wear nonskid soled shoes and avoid high heels. This will prevent falls and ankle sprains. Also, I think it is easier to get around and easier to take off your shoes at the check-in.

OK, that's all for now.
Happy travels.

Part 9--Ecclesiastes

What a weekend we had--got together for the afternoon with some new and old neighbors and we had a wonderful time. Everyone brought a dish and we all indulged in the tasty appetizers and sweets etc...etc...We are so blessed to have such great neighbors.We all come from different parts of the world and we bring such diversity and different cultures into the group, and yet as people we are the interconnected. The weather cooperated and we had a little sunshine and a little breeze as we enjoyed the outdoors, no rain! Our prayers were answered....

I would have to agree with King Solomon: enjoy life with your friends and family whenever you can, and eat, drink and be merry. Live happily with the spouse that God has given you, which is the best reward down here on earth, for all your earthly toils 9:9-10......Great advice and great comfort!

In Chapters 8 and 9, he continues to give us advice and admonitions. He tells us to do what we say we will do. Don't be mean or hurtful to others. Don't speak bad about anybody, because  it will get back to them at some point. Don't try to get out of doing your duty even when it is unpleasant. In whatever you do, he says, do it well, because when we are gone there is no working, planning or understanding. Which brings me to his topic on 'death'. As far as death is concerned the righteous person has no advantage over the 'wicked'. People can live outrageous, crazy lives, and after that -- death. While we are alive it seems like God treats us all the same, and sometimes He treats 'bad' people as if they were 'good', and good people as if they were 'bad', and that really troubled King Solomon, and it troubles us as well  (although it may look like people can get away by doing bad things, but their lives will not be peaceful). He wrote: when 'bad' people are buried they get praised in the very circle where they committed their 'crimes'. How odd! Their friends have forgotten all their evil deeds". That doesn't seem fair, does it?  but it is true. We also may get upset over that.

I  thought about it, and I realized, yes, of course, we praise the dead. We find the few things they did well and focus on that, instead of all the things they messed up with. But why not? What purpose would it be to give eulogy where you get up and talk about all the negative things. We do forget and forgive, because all of a sudden we realize the person is gone for ever and we miss them with all their faults and flaws. But then again doesn't God forgive us of all our imperfections? He doesn't keep score. If we truly repent and turn our ways, He welcomes us into his family. He is merciful, and why shouldn't we be the same? Actually, we should be forgiving all the time, and moving on, it is no point to keep grudges and dwell upon hurts.

As we observe in life, the best, strongest and most skillful don't always win the race or the battle, and wise men are often poor and not famous. Some things seem to happen by chance. You happen to be in the right place at the right time. Although wisdom is better than physical strengh, if the wise man is poor, he will not be appreciated and people will not pay attention to him---that is the world we live in. Unfortunately, under the world's standards we look at the outward, the facade, the perception of being wealthy, famous, good looking, successful, popular, well educated. We see it around us all the time. The people with the fancy cars, and beautiful homes and perfect marriages, only to find out they don't own their cars, they are loosing their homes, they are lonely and depressed and their marriages are falling apart.

So many questions and no answers..............

According to King Solomon, God has arranged things so that we cannot put all the parts of the puzzle together. No matter how hard we try and no matter how brilliant we may be, we will not be able to find answers to all the questions.


Untill next time, have a blessed week.



 .

Part 8---Ecclesiastes

Here we are again....time sure flies..we just had a fun weekend at Holiday Traditions in Camarillo where we rented a booth, selling my book, Paws of Wisdom. We had a great turn out and met so many nice people. I have several Holiday Boutiques lined up until mid-December and I am looking forward to them all.

So, let's see where we left off last time. We were reviewing chapter 5 and 6. I am going to be short because I am going to watch the debate at 6PM, between President Obama and Mitt Romney.
Anyway, King Solomon, as always, keeps observing many of the inequities in life and it makes him sad as well as angry and puzzled. It seems like he keeps repeating a lot of the same things, which tells me that there was a lot of it, going on. It does not surprise me. Don't we see the same problems in our world today? Isn't that what we keep complaining about too and want to fix? If some things have not changed over the centuries, then why are we so angry? Why do we keep fighting the same battles over and over, with seemingly little results?

In chapter 6, verse 10 he makes a startling remark. He says: "all things are decided by fate; it was known long ago what each man would be. So, there is no use arguing with God about your destiny".
In other words, the more we complain the more we are wasting our time. In these few days of empty lifetime, who can say how we should spend our lives and what the future holds? Who can know the future? Even he, who had everything and all the wisdom, could not figure it all out . Some things don't seem fair and the world seems to be upside down!

Chapter 7......Here, he starts off by saying that a GOOD REPUTATION (capital letters for emphasis) is more valuable than the most expensive perfume. He goes on giving us many contrasts and a lot of different things to think about. Some may seem a little odd, until you really start analyzing what he is trying to say. For Example:

             1) The day one dies is better than the day he is born........(some people have endured many
                  challenges in their lives, and they wish they had not been born-not that it is a good thing
                  to think that way, but I have heard people say that!)
             2) It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals-for you are going to die and
                  it is a good thing to think about it while there is still time...Don't you find that to be true?
                  When I attend a funeral, I am forced to reflect upon my own life and what it's all about.
                  As I sit still listening to the sermon or the friends and family talk, I realize how short
                  life really is and what would I want others to say about me? What legacy would I leave
                  behind? What do I want people to remember about me? What is my purpose in this life?
                  Is there something I need to change? Is there somebody I need to forgive? Am I treating
                  people the way I should? If I died today, am I ready and where will I end up in eternity?
                  Do you ponder about such things?
              3) Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on you. When we
                  laugh, it's great. We are enjoying ourselves. But, when we are sad, we look within
                  ourselves, evaluating the situation..................King Solomon continues by saying:
                  "Yes, a wise man thinks much of death, while the fool only thinks of having a good time
                   NOW"!
              4) It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool. I agree, because
                  a wise person will give you good advice and you can make a positive change, right?
                  He also says: However, a wise man can be turned into a fool by a bribe. How true!
                  Be careful of false praises and empty compliments. We all like them, but are they true?
              5) Finishing is better than starting. That's true too. Many people have great ideas and start
                   projects, but how many finish? How many young people start college and drop out?
                   and not to mention, how many of us start a diet or an exercise program, or join a gym and
                   don't continue. When I am out and about promoting my book, Paws of Wisdom, I meet
                   many people who tell me they want to write a book. Some have started and are not
                   completing it, and others are too afraid to start. I always encourage them to start and
                   to finish. They will be so happy and proud of themselves, once they do.

Here are some more tidbits, and you can look them up yourselves for more details......

• Patience is better than pride
• Don't be quick tempered-that is being a fool
• Don't long for the "good old days"  (what yo have today,or in the futuremay be better)
• Don't eavesdrop (you may hear something you don't want to hear)
• There is not a single person in all the earth who is always good and never sins. Although God has made man upright, each has turned away to follow his own downward road..............

All right! A lot of advice given here, but here is his conclusion:

"Tackle each task that comes along, and if you fear God you can expect his blessing"

Don't fight the facts of nature. Enjoy prosperity whenever you can, and when hard times strike, realize that God gives one as well as the other, to realize that nothing is certain in life!

Have a blessed week!



           

Part 7---Ecclesiastes

Galen and I have been under the weather and also pretty busy around the house and other things that came out unexpectedly. We have been watching America's Got Talent, and I am excited that Olate Dogs won. However, all the final acts were amazing. What talent--years of hard work has finally paid off. I had a hard time picking the winner.They were all so good. Congratulations to all of them; there were no losers. Well, let's continue where we left off last time. Today we are looking at the last part of chapter 5 and chapter 6.

King Solomon again touches upon the subject of injustice in the world--the oppression of the poor by the rich. Sometimes it does happen, and even some judges, kings or presidents of countries don't protect the poor. However, ultimately everyone is accountable to God.Whatever we do here on earth will some day be judged and the proper judgement will be handed down. We just witnessed a few days ago the senseless killings of the American Ambassador to Libya and the others 3 Americans, as well as all the injured people in other Muslim countries. So many innocent people are paying with their lives. One moment they are living life and next thing you know they are gone!

Kings Solomon continues about people who love money and want more. He himself had a lot of money and he is not saying that money is not good to have, but what he is getting at is that some people are never satisfied. As man's wealth/possessions increase, also his expenses increase accordingly.That is very true. I have seen it myself with people we know. You make more money and then you move into a better house, get a nicer car, better clothes, better vacations and then you end up where you started. You obviously live more comfortably and are enjoying better things, but you are 'cash' poor. That is part of what we see today, where people loose their homes, file bankruptcies etc...They spend more than they should..I am not advocating not to strive to make more money or live a better life, in the contrary more is always better, it opens many doors. But, Solomon is talking about people who are obsessed with more (for their pride and vanity).

In the New Testament, Luke 12:16-21, Jesus is talking to his disciples and gives them an illustration:
"A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were overflowing-he couldn't get everything in. He thought about his problem and finally exclaimed: 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones, then I will have room enough. I will sit back and say to myself, 'friend you have enough stored away for years to come. Now, take it easy! Wine, women and song for you!'  But God said to him: 'Fool! tonight you die. Then who will get it all?' Yes, every man is a fool who gets rich on earth but not in Heaven".

So, the lesson here is that we need to share with those in need and do God's will, preparing ourselves for eternity, not only focusing on earthly things. We must not worry about what to eat or drink, or wear etc..God provides those things for us. Solomon saw how the man who labors sleeps more soundly, weather he eats little or much, but the rich man worries all night about his money. He also saw that hoarding riches and not using them for purposes useful to others gives rise to disastrous consequences. Some, use their money in risky deals loosing it all, leaving nothing to their heirs. They may have money during their lifetime, but they die as a pauper. We have seen examples of that, in famous movie stars, sports figures and famous entertainers.

Both, the hoarder and the high risk taker end up the same: they leave as empty as they came, with nothing to show for all their work. They have labored for nothing!

Cecil Rhodes spent years exploiting the natural resources of South Africa. When he was about to die, he cried out in remorse:
           " I have found much in Africa. Diamonds,  gold and land are mine, but now I must leave  them
             behind. Not a thing I have gained, can be taken with me. I have not sought eternal treasures,
             therefore, I actually have nothing at all".

WOW!! Is that how we want to end our lives? With regrets? This is unfortunately how many successful people, CEOs, CFOs, Presidents of large corporations as well as ordinary people who have accumulated wealth, feel at the end of their lives. At the end, all that matters is family and good, loyal friends, and the things we do for all of God's people here on earth. The difference that we make for a better world. In the last 3 weeks we went to a couple of funerals, one died at 62, the other at 85.  Both died from cancer. All the eulogies are the same, family and friends come up and share all the good things the person did while they were alive, no one brings up any bad things they did. Some of it is true, some is a little bit embellished....nevertheless, our life is very short and we don't know when and how it will end. When I sit and listen to the eulogies, I often wonder, what the deceased would have said about themselves. Would they have been proud on how they lead their life? Would they have been ashamed or would have changed anything? We often are our worst critics.....We see ourselves differently then others do, we don't give ourselves credit, other times we portray ourselves as godly, wonderful people, when we are not....

Anyway, Solomon concludes that it is very good if a man has received wealth from God, and the good health to enjoy it (that is very important!). He writes that, to enjoy your work and to accept your lot in life--that is indeed a gift from God. The person who does that, will not need to look back with sorrow on his past, for God gives him joy. 

Life is very brief. Enjoy everyday while you can. May your everyday be filled with God's joy!
Have a great week!

Part 6--Ecclesiastes

Today we will look at Chapters 4 and part of Chapter 5.

Since the beginning of time people have been grieved to see the oppression and injustice that is carried out by men against their fellowmen. It tormented Solomon also. He saw that power was on the side of the 'oppressors' and no one dared to do much about it. And so he makes a stunning remark. He says the dead are better off  and the unborn are even better than the dead, because they will not have to experience evil, crime and persecution.What I find interesting here is that he is not concerned with the deeper implications of death-that a person who dies in unbelief is doomed to more severe suffering in eternity, than the worst oppression he may have experienced on earth. He questions the quality of life after birth, rather than life after death and it's implications.

Another thing that seemed to drive him crazy was for humans wanting to outdo each other.There was this competitive spirit to do better and better. It all seemed so empty (when you stop to think that God put us on this earth for HIS purpose, not our purpose). When Michelangelo and Raphael were commissioned to paint the Vatican murals, they were so competitive with each other(although they were doing different jobs) that at the end, they were not speaking to each other.You can see even these geniuses were driven by jealousy and rivalry. We see it in today's society where everyone is trying to outdo the other--but actually no one really cares... Just do your own thing and try to be as happy as you can. He gives the example of someone who doesn't have a son nor a brother, no family, yet he works so hard to keep gaining more riches. He has no one to leave it to. He gives up so much in the present, that Solomon finds this pointless and depressing. On the other hand it drives him nuts to see the sluggard, the fool who doesn't want to work and would rather starve. The one who feels it's better to be lazy and have others support you. Don't we see this amongst us? People wanting handouts? Wealth distribution? Our government has encouraged and enabled some of this behavior, in my opinion, to the detriment of our society. When my family and I moved to this country we started from the bottom and my parents were in their late 50's, they never asked the government for anything, we made do with what we had and worked. With no language. We all learned English and took whatever job we had to take and moved on from there.

I have seen both scenarios where marriages have fallen apart and ended in divorce. The one because of a lazy husband and lack of money and the other having no lack and plenty of money , but no time for the family. As you can see, Solomon keeps making these opposite observations. Some are positive and some are negative. So, what are we to do? You can see that nothing is new "under the sun".What he is talking about from 3000 years ago are the same problems we face today.  One thing that we need to keep in mind is that, if we believe that God is in control, than some of these things may be more bearable. Some things we can change because we are in control, but others we cannot. When our health fails us and we cannot fix it, are we in control? When one spouse walks out of  a marriage and the other cannot stop it, who is in control? When a child dies, how is the parent in control? we obviously have very little control in our lives, although we may believe the contrary.

So, let's see what else he talks about. He says two are better than one. Together we can accomplish more things and can help each other. He points out the advantages of partnership and fellowship.I think that he is trying to convey that there are pleasures and benefits from friendships that may be unknown to those living in isolation. I remember years ago when I fell at work and I was all by myself, late in the evening, no one to help me. Fortunately, I was able to compose myself and get up and limp back to my desk (no I did not sue the company). I was lucky that time. The point is that if I had broken a bone and could not have gotten up, I probably would have been on the floor until the next morning.

Last thing he brings up here is that it is better to be a poor but wise young person, than an old and foolish king who refuses all advice. Haven't we all had the 'honor' of being in the presence of a "know-it-all"? Aren't they annoying? But, most of all the problem is that they have a closed mind and will never learn. On the other hand, someone poor and young and teachable with an open mind can succeed and even become the leader of a nation, because he is willing to learn and take proper advice. People are eager to help him.  I wonder if Solomon is maybe thinking of his own father, King David, who was a  poor, 17 year old shepherd boy who became king of Israel. (That story maybe for another time).

In Chapter 5 he talks about some universal principles.

1) Don't make promises to God that you cannot keep. That goes for anyone we make a promise to . If we promise and then don't do what we said we would do, it makes us a liar, and that is a sin, in God's eyes. And, don't make excuses as to why you did not follow through.  You know sometimes we promise things when we are in a bind or a tight, desperate situation. "God, if you get me out of this, I'll serve you forever". But then the tendency is to forget quickly when the crisis is past. Haven't you ever been there? Am I the only one? He goes as far as to say that, this behavior angers God, and this will inevitably cause Him to obstruct, frustrate, and destroy everything you are trying to do. My dad used to do business with a handshake, his partner's did not need 'paperwork' and contracts, what he promised, he would deliver.

2)Dreaming instead of doing is foolishness, and he says that "there is ruin in a flood of empty words". I suppose he is saying that if you have a dream  you must set goals and pursue your dream by doing something towards it's success, otherwise nothing will happen. We just finished watching the Olympic athletes and how hard they trained for 4 years for a chance to win a gold medal. I have been watching the America's Got Talent show, same idea. All the contestants who want to be famous as singers, acrobats, dancers, magicians, whatever, have been practicing and honing their skills since they were little boys and girls. Nothing happens overnight, it takes time and effort.

We'll finish up chapter 5 next time, until then have a Great Week!

Part 5--Ecclesiastes

OK, let's pick up where we left off.

8) A time to hug and a time not to hug. There are times when we are happy to see certain people, and we hug and kiss. A hug is very therapeutic. We hug people when they are going through tough times. We appreciate a hug when we are feeling down. We also hug our loved ones. There are times that a hug may not be appropriate, for them or for you.

9) A time to find and a time to lose. He may be talking about finding love, or a new friendship, or even about financial gains or loses. One day stocks are up, next day they may lose their value. I was watching 20/20 the other night, and they were interviewing people who had won Mega lotteries. Some were doing very well, others had lost all of their fortune within a very short time. Winning all that money had changed their lives in positive as well as negative ways. Some were being sued for that money.

10) A time to keep and a time to throw away. Again he may be talking about material things or relationships. Some personal items have sentimental value for me and I cannot part with, and yet other things I can't wait to give away or throw away. Make room for new. My husband likes to keep things and I can tell he really stresses out when he is forced to let go, but he has gotten better over the years. We sometimes hold on to old beliefs, habits and hurts. However, there is a time to let go and throw out the "trash". We throw out the trash weekly, why not also clear out our minds and throw away the baggage we keep carrying around. The longer we keep it the heavier it gets.

11) A time to tear and a time to repair. Well, some things are not repairable-they need to be torn down. Again, it could be a building, but also it could be a relationship--sometimes they are beyond repair, no matter how much you try to fix them. Maybe King Solomon was thinking of the constant change in clothing fashions? Hems are let out or shortened all the time. It is true, if you wait 30 years fashions come around, some of the clothes and shoes in fashion today are what we wore in the 70's. We live in a throw away society. Nobody seems to like the old. But the old can be beautiful and worth keeping. I remember my mother mending socks and pantyhose....or a dress or a skirt. Today we go get new ones, who wants to wear 'repaired' things.  We seem to be constantly remodeling our homes. We are obsessed with changing the color of the walls, getting rid of carpets for the new tile or wood floors. The kitchens and bathrooms are always updated. All of this is a good thing as long as we don't overdo it, overextend ourselves or put all of our energy and effort on this area.

12) A time to be quiet and a time to speak up. You need to speak up for your rights and the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves. But, there is also a time to keep quiet, if it will avoid unnecessary confrontation or an argument. It's OK to speak your opinion, but on the other hand your opinion may not be shared with others, or doesn't mean it is the right one, because it is yours. By being quiet you can listen and learn from the others. Some people like to speak and make a lot of noise, that says absolutely nothing. When we speak too much we don't  learn anything and we cannot hear ourselves think or listen to God, and what he may be trying to tell us. It is important to be quiet and listen to your inner voice and the voice of God. Find a place where you can be quiet, away from all distractions.

13) A time to love and a time to hate. Well, two very powerful, strong words. King Solomon observed that human behavior fluctuates between periods of love and periods of hate. I do believe that today, we use these words very loosely. We say: I love ice cream, I love candy, or I love to dance or sing or whatever. I hate diets, exercise, driving in rush hour traffic, classical music etc.....Really? Do we dislike these things so much that we 'hate' them, or like them so much that we 'love' them? Does it mean that we love ice cream as much as we love our children, pets, parents? No, of course not. Love and hate are strong emotions that can be good or bad. They can lead to bliss and they can also lead to destruction. Some people are hateful of other cultures, ethnic backgrounds, religions. We have seen examples of these kind of people in the news lately. People can kill because of love or hate. Either way, the results are devastating. We must be careful of our emotions and actions because they have consequences..

14) A time for war and a time for peace. What is history, if it is not the record of cruel, mindless wars, interspersed with short terms of peace? Sometimes wars are necessary. Unfortunately, wars are going on right now in other parts of the world, where innocent people are killed and maimed. Peace is good, but to have peace, we must sometimes have to fight for it. Wars are not only fought with weapons but with other means as well. They may involve families, relatives, friends or neighbors. Like the Hatfields and the McCoys. Don't forget that we also are constantly battling spiritual warfare, between evil forces and good forces. Just because we cannot see it with our eyes doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. If we could see what is going on around us in a spiritual way, I believe it could be a pretty ugly picture.

So, there you have it, the 28 activities.....under the sun......The question that keeps lingering in King Solomon's mind is : what is the whole purpose of man's hard work and toil? He keeps coming back to that question. For every constructive activity, there is  a destructive one. At the end, we are left with nothing. Or are we? The 14 positive works are cancelled out by the 14 negative ones.

However, he does realize that for each action there is a right/fitting time, and we all experience some or all the activities, one way or another. So, his instincts tell him that beyond this life there is the possibility of "forever". God has put eternity in man's mind. In spite of our enormous advances in knowledge, we still cannot figure out all that God has created. Solomon's advice (since we end up where we started, so to speak, and cannot figure out why), is to be happy where we are and enjoy each day, because it is a gift from God. There is a time for everything, even when it may not always be a pleasant experience. 

He concludes this Chapter by saying that he is pained by all the injustice and wickedness of his time (does it not sound familiar?) and he is lead to believe that God will judge people, and all things that went unpunished will be made right. All living things, people as well as animals, share one common thing and that is Death itself. We all have one breath and at the time of death it is cut off, and we all return to dust, where we all came from. Just this morning I received an email about a former co-worker who passed away a few days ago, from pancreatic cancer. He was not much older than me and had a young family. I had not seen him since my retirement. So many people I have known have passed away, some older but many fairly young......why worry about social security and medicare? some people never even get there, and others linger on for a long time and they suffer from old age, dementia, and various ailments. Sometimes the lessons that must be learned are for their loved ones and sometimes for them, before they leave this earth.

Have a wonderful week.

Part 4--Ecclesiastes

Almost 2 weeks have gone by since the Olympics started. I have watched quite a few of the events, my favorites being diving, gymnastics, swimming and  track & field, although I have also enjoyed some of the other sports as well. This afternoon I watched the marathon. It was very interesting. The guy from Kenya was way ahead for the longest time until his friend, also caught up to him around the 22nd mile or so, and then right behind them was the guy from Uganda, an unknown, sort of. By the time they reached the 24th mile the Ugandan was ahead of both of them, and he actually got the gold. The guy who was first for the longest time got the bronze. You never know until the game is over.
Anyway, I am very proud of all the American athletes and all the medals they won. I get very inspired when I hear their stories. One thing that strikes me is their determination to win, and break world records, their passion for their sport and their ability to bounce back after a defeat or disappointment.They invest so much of themselves to their training, they are so dedicated. They make it look so easy and we know the long hours they have spent in the last 4 years to perfect their performance. For many athletes the result is an Olympic medal, with many endorsements to follow, for others, a last minute mishap and their dream is gone in a split second. In some faces we see the joy and in some we see the tears. All the training and sacrifice seems to have been for nothing, no reward at the end. Anyway, I am looking forward to watching the closing ceremony this evening (we are taping it)....

King Solomon, in this next chapter (3) makes some interesting observations about life and human behavior. His "research" concludes that there is a predetermined season for everything and a fixed time for every activity, "under the sun". Just like we have the 4 seasons, day/night, the moon, the sun, the earth and stars moving in a predetermined pattern, so is seems it is with our lives. It seems like man's behavior is determined by certain laws and principles and some things we cannot avoid in our lives. He gives us 28 "activities" which are made up of opposites. 14 are positive and 14 are negative. In some ways they seem to cancel out each other. He states that there is a right time for everything.

Here is the list:

A time to be born and a time to die
A time to  plant and a time to harvest
A time to kill and a time to heal
A time to destroy and  a time to rebuild
A time to cry and a time to laugh
A time to grieve and a time to dance
A time for scattering stones and a time for gathering stones
A time to hug and a time not to hug
A time to find and a time to lose
A time for keeping and a time for throwing away
A time to tear and a time to repair
A time to be quite and a time to speak up
A time for loving and a time for hating
A time for war and a time for peace

So, what does he mean by all this? Let's just discuss the first 7 for now.

1) A time to be born and a time to die. We have no control when we are born or who our parents might be, and we don't know when, where and how we die---but, there is a time. One thing we have control over is to live our lives in a responsible, peaceful, purposeful way, until we die.

2) A time to plant and a time to harvest. He seems to be relating our lives to how a farmer or a gardener, for example, uses the seasons to plant and harvest, something easy we can understand. I enjoy gardening. When I plant certain seeds they have to be planted at a certain time of the year, spring or fall. If I plant them in the wrong time they do not produce fruit or flowers when they are supposed to. When I fail to observe these seasons in planting and harvesting, it spells disaster (which is often for me). Also, unless I plant something I won't have a harvest at all.The reason the Olympic athletes are great at what they do and get medals, is because they have put in the time and effort  by practicing, so they will become good at it. They get their harvest. When we do a good deed, we will reap something good, when we do bad things, we reap bad things. Sometimes the harvest is immediate, sometimes it may take years, but it will come at the right time, when we need it most.
Some trees don't bear fruit for 5 years.

3) A time to kill and a time to heal. I can understand the healing part, but killing? What is he talking about? I had to do some research about it. Well, Bible commentators go to great lenghts to explain that, he certainly doen't mean murder. What he refers to is war, self-defense and capital punishement (I know many people oppose capital punishment, but I am not going to address opinions whether it is right or wrong-that is an individual belief). Sometimes war is necessary-we have seen it in history thru the years. Countries have attacked each other for centuries, since the beginning of time, and although we don't like aggressors, the oppressors must defend themselves in counter attack, in self-defense. Families go to "war" with each other, lovers kill over jealousy, not good, but it happens. Sometime we can "kill" with our words...The good thing is that with time we can heal. We can forgive and we can start over. Countries that used to be enemies become allies, friends who have had  a falling out reconsile, couples who divorced can get back together.

4) A time to destroy and a time to rebuild. Many people destroy their lives with drugs or alcohol, debts, bad relationships, gambling and various other bad choices. Many can rebuild their lives and get out of the destruction they have gone thru. Many countries have been destroyed by war and have rebuilt. Many of our own cities in recent years have been destroyed  and become deserted or turned into ghettos. Some have been demolished and builders come in and erect modern houses and buildings and rehabilitate the areas of blight.

5) A time to cry and a time to laugh. Life seems to alternate between tragedy and comedy. We cry when a loved one dies, when a relationship doesn't work out, when we lose our jobs, go thru divorce, have an illness that cannot be cured. The list is endless. So many things that will make us cry and yet our heart heals after a while. We do go back to enjoying life and laughing. I remember many instances when I have cried, but it is over, life goes on. We cannot get stuck in misery forever. It is not fair to us and to the people around us. Again, life has its ups and downs. we must deal with whatever comes our way. Sometimes it is not easy. Why would it be?

6) A time to grieve and a time to dance. Well, this goes along with the crying and the laughing,doesn't it? Grieving is important, but it is and should be temporary. We cannot go on grieving forever. What would be the purpose? The funeral procession passes by with it's wailing in grief. But, before long, these same people are dancing at a wedding reception, quickly removed from their recent sorrow. This is not to say we forget the one who is gone, but life does go on and sometimes we can memorialize their life by doing something good. For example, The Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization, out of something bad, the death of a son, came something good.

7) A time for scattering stones and a time for gathering stones. This one I have trouble with. What is it telling us? There are different interpretations,some of which don't make sense to me..I'll have to do some more reading on it...

Until next time. Have a wonderful week.

Part 3---Ecclesiastes

After having failed to find pleasure from intellectual pursuits, King Solomon now turns to the pursuit of pleasure. He starts by telling us that he tried to enjoy himself by trying drinking, starting projects to beautify his city and palaces, by acquiring more servants, by breeding his own herds and flocks, enjoying more music and more beautiful women (he had 700 wives and 300 concubines-1Kings 11:3). Just imagine the jealousy, gossip and backstabbing in such a harem. Did he suppose this was the way to  happiness? And yet the delusion persists in our society that sex is a highway to happiness and fulfilment. As we know though, the abuse of sex leads only to misery and self-destruction. The abuse of anything leads to misery. But doesn't that sound like what goes on today? Don't we all get bored and dissatisfied with life at times and wish for something different? "If I only had this, or if I only became that, or what if I could change this or that....or became whatever...(you can fill in the blank)...only then I would be happy and complete.......As we watch the Olympics on TV, we see how hard the athletes train. Many go through challenges and hardships and overcome many obstacles. Yet they focus on this one dream; the opportunity for the Gold Medal. But sometimes comes the disappointment of something going wrong and their dream and anticipation of becoming #1 is lost. All the sacrifices they made for this one moment, gone in a split second! These men and women are amazing. They don't only train physically, but also mentally. They learn to stay cool, calm and collected in the moment of defeat. They learn to go forward. I am sure it is painful to lose, but this one area of their lives is not the only one to determine their happiness.

After experiencing all these things, Solomon stopped to evaluate it all and again this was his conclusion:  it all seemed useless at the end. He had fleeting joy, but no lasting satisfaction. He got bored by it all. That is where our contemporary society is-in a hell of materialism, trying to satisfy the human heart with things that cannot bring lasting enjoyment. So, another thing he now wanted to compare was having wisdom vs doing foolish things, which he had also done. Of course , it is a no brainer: he concludes that is is better to be wise than to be a fool. A wise man can see, while a fool is blind. Yet he notices that there was one thing that happened both to the wise and the foolish alike. He says: just as the foolish will die and be forgotten, so will I. So, what value is my wisdom? He was very disillusioned and hated life, because it was so irrational. What's the point of all this? He is disgusted that all his hard work will be left to others, who may be wise or foolish-very discouraging, indeed. The poor guy was left in despair, knowing that he spent his life searching for knowledge, wisdom and skill and he may end up leaving it to someone who has not done a day's work in his life (actually that's what happened, because his son was not a wise king). Well, that does seem unfair, doesn't it? He questions what we get for all our hard work? Days full of sorrow and grief and restless, bitter nights, as he puts it. How ridiculous is that? What is it all about? Then he suddenly realizes that the most pleasure comes from common, little things of life,  but most importantly ALL comes from God. Who can do anything apart from Him? I know we all think we can do things on our own, but really? We depend on Him for food, appetite, digestion, sight, hearing, smell, memory, health, sanity and all that makes for  normal, pleasurable experiences, even enjoyment. Think about it! If you have older parents who are no longer healthy, or you have experienced pain, illness etc...maybe you can understand. How much power do we really have over some of these things? Can we cure ourselves if we are ill? Can we restore our own memory if we are struck by Alzheimers? Can we restore our sight if we are blinded? I would say the answer is NO.

John D. Rockefeller, had an income of one million dollars a week, yet all his doctors allowed him to eat food that cost a few cents. One of his biographers said that he lived on a diet that a pauper would have despised:
       "Now less than 100 pounds in weight, he sampled everything (at breakfast) a drop of coffee,
        a  spoon full of cereal, a forkful of egg, and a bit of chop the size of a pea".
He was the richest man in the world but did not have the ability to enjoy his food............
I have seen this scenario way too many times in my own life, with my very own eyes. Some things we really don't have control over.

In closing, Solomon makes an interesting comment. God can take away from the ones who displease him and give to the ones who please him. That is interesting. So, my question is: how do we please or displease God? We all have the choice to do either. The important thing is to know which one to do. Right? and how do we find out? We certainly cannot find out how to please God by watching TV or getting information on-line.Where do we turn? Some people, through no fault of their own, live in bad situations, grow up in disfunctional families etc.. We are bombarded by what the media wants us to believe as the truth. Many times that is far from the truth. I guess we must be careful who and what we listen to, and where the source of information is coming from. One thing I do know is that if we work on making more wise choices than foolish ones, we can spare ouselves from trouble and lot of headaches. In life we will encounter troubles anyway, but if we can avoid self-inflicted, self-caused troubles as much as possible, it will make life a little more bearable and  hopefully more pleasing to God.

OK, next week we will look at MY most favorite chapter: #3 "ther is a time for everything under the sun"...until then-- wishing you peace and  joy.

Part 2-- Ecclesiastes

As we watch the news of the tragedy in Colorado and countless other civil wars and senseless deaths around the world, I can't help but ponder on what King Solomon wrote so long ago. We should live our life to the fullest and enjoy the moment with our family and friends and be content with who we are and what we have, because everything else seems to be fleeting and meaningless, and we do not know when our time is up. Life is like a vapor; it goes really fast (I have lived in the United States for 42 years and yet when I think about it, it seems as if it was just yesterday).....But that is easier said than done. Even King Solomon, who was wiser, most educated, with the highest status and ability, then we will ever be or have, had tried and failed. So, why is that?

He says that our life is filled with labor and activity, but where exactly does it get us? We are on a treadmill.He does not suggest that we should not work or not to want to achieve and have more out of life, but I think what he is saying is that sometimes we place too much importance on material things and selfish desires, but at the end we all end up the same. It seems like we go around and around in a circle, an endless cycle. As Henry Thoreau observed, "man lives a life of quiet desperation. There is an endless routine of another day just like the one before". Man is never satisfied. We want more; we are bored with the old, we look for new sensations, new sounds and new sights and yet we are still dissatisfied. But this is because we are looking in all the wrong places, as the song says. King Solomon, in Psalms 107:9 (which he also authored) says that we need to get "above the sun to the One who satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness". In other words, we cannot just be doing worldly things and relying solely on ourselves, by ignoring God and his commandments.

I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and suffering the families of the Colorado massacre victims must feel, and I also wonder what evil force could have driven this nice looking young man, who seemed to have a bright future with his intelligence and education, to commit such an unspeakable crime. King Solomon observes that search of happiness in knowledge and education is not the sure road to fulfillment, but that taken by itself can be a bore. We see it in this young man who was a brilliant student and was working on his PhD. With that being said, it does not mean that intellectual pursuit cannot play an important role in life, but by itself, it is meaningless. King Solomon himself having all the degrees and diplomas didn't get what he was seeking, on the contrary, he concluded that it was all "grasping for something as illusive as the wind". He was frustrated to discover that book learning did not solve all the puzzles of life.

As we learn more about this young man and his background in the media, I cannot help but feel sorry for his parents. How would you like to be the parents of a child who can walk up to innocent people and without any hesitation snuff the life out of them? What went wrong? Are they wondering their role in all this? Unfortunately, our society has become more and more violent and more and more detached from human relationships. Life doesn't seem to have any value and people talk about being bored and their lives not having any meaning. Statistics show, for example, that the suicide rate is the highest among our college age young men and women. Why? Because they only see this life and nothing beyond. The older generation, my parents' age, also feel alone and lonely, very few come to visit, everybody is "busy" with their own lives. So, another pill that is hard to swallow is how fast we forget others and others forget us.  That's something Solomon brings up. How many of us remember the names of our great -grandparents, or the last 4 presdents of the USA? Yet, we think that we are so "important".....the world cannot function without us. When I worked in the corporate world, I always dreaded taking time off, because I had to take care of things at the office. Well, when I retired, I was replaced by someone else, and last time I checked the company is still in business without me and they are doing well! Who remembers me? When we die we are quickly forgottten. I have seen it too many times, especially as I get older and more and more people I knew have passed away. Man feels self-important, but that also King Solomon says, is Vanity.

As we will see next time, King Solomon discovers that without God all things are meaningless.

Stay tuned....

I can't believe how long it's been since I added something to my Blog. Everytime I plan to do it something comes up. As you can tell I am not a "disciplined" blogger. What I need to do is start scheduling the days that I will write and just do it and not get distracted with other stuff. Somehow I always get involved in "unplanned projects", and then I complain I have NO time. I just had a birthday a week ago and decided that some changes are in order. One of the changes is that I will write at least once a week, if not more. Since I may not always be inspired to share something new, I thought what better way then to share with you one of my favorite passages/scriptures from the Old Testament---The Book of Ecclesiastes. It consists of 12 chapters, so I will break it down to small little nuggets and try to summarize the essence of each chapter.

It was written by King Solomon of Israel, King David's son, some 3000 years ago, but what he wrote is still applicable today.Solomon was the man who God enabled to have anything he wanted and Solomon asked that God give him WISDOM. 1Kings, 4:29 says that "God gave Solomon wisdom and a very great insight, and understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore"...........that's a lot of  wisdom, wouldn't you agree? Men of all nations came to listen to King Solomon's wisdom, so why shouldn't we study what he wrote and use this wisdom as a guide to our own lives......?

Here are some interesting facts in history about King Solomon:

1) he had great wisdom
2) he had great wealth ("the riches man who ever lived")
3) he was one who never denied himself any pleasure
4) he had many servants
5) he was noted for a great building and beautification program in his Kingdom

At one time in his life he set out to find the true meaning of human existence. He was determined to discover the 'good life'. He figured that with all that he owned, if anyone could find lasting satisfaction, he was the one. What he was able to determine though, is that life is "vanity and wasn't worth the effort". He was not able to find fulfillment or lasting satisfaction. In spite of all his wealth and wisdom, he failed to discover the 'good life'. He was looking at life "under the sun", meaning that his search was confined to this earth. As we read the entire book, we will discover though  that at some point he figures out that we can save ourselves all the frustration, heartache and disappointment by looking 'above the sun'. If we study what he says, maybe we will not  have to live through his dismal experience, searching for satisfaction where it cannot be found.

So hang in there--not all is gloom and doom. Embark with me on this journey of studying this wonderful book together. I am looking forward to it. Stay tuned for Chapter One.

In the meantime, Have a Wonderful Day!

Happy Valentine's Day

Here are a couple of wise quotes on Love, Marriage and Relationships we can all use:

A relationship based on love is one in which each partner allows the other to be what he chooses, with no expectations and no demands. It is a simple association of two people who  love each other so much that each would never expect the other to be something that he wouldn't choose for himself.
---Dr. Wayne W. Dyer


You can bear your own faults, and why not a fault in your wife (or husband)?
---Benjamin Franklin


A good marriage is the union of two forgivers.
---Ruth Bell Graham


In any relationship in which two people become one, the end result is two half people.
---Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Are you uncertain of your purpose in life?

I just read a quote from a book called: Mother Angelica's Little book of life lessons...........

"Everything starts with one person.................I don't care if you are 5 or 105, God from all eternity chose you to be where you are, at this time in history, to change the world."--Mother Angelica--

So, how are we to connect with God to find out what He chose us for? First of all we must spend time with Him daily and connect with Him. If it is all about connecting with Him, then we must keep the lines of communication open. Use whatever works for you... Sometimes you may want to listen to music; other times you may go for a walk, or read a passage from a book, or read Scriptures. And then there are days where you may need silence and solitude..sit in your garden and just listen to the birds....The point is simply to do whatever will bring you closer to our Creator, away from all the other distractions of life. If it will help you, pull out your calendar and write down well in advance the times when you want to do some of these things, otherwise it may not  happen. We are used to scheduling doctor appointments, dinner with friends, projects or whatever else, why not schedule time with God?

Dogs Can Transform The Lives of People

I never grew up with pets. We got a dog when we came to the United States. I was about 18 years old. My brother saw an add in the paper and the next things we knew he brought home this little adorable male, half-doberman/half-shepherd puppy. We named him Lucky. He was no bigger than the size of my shoe. We all fell in love with him..That was my first exposure to owning a dog. After he passed away we got Bunny and after Bunny passed away we got Fluffy, the CAT.....Pets bring a tremendous joy and pleasure to our lives and as wonderful as that is, dogs and cats (and other pets) can provide so much more. Dogs especially can provide invaluable services to individuals who may be impaired or simply need a little companionship to live independent lives.


According to Working Like Dogs, a resource for people around the world with working and service dogs, assistance dogs transform the lives of their human partners who have physical or mental disabilities. They perform many tasks and are classified as :
Guide Dogs-assisting people with vision loss
Service Dogs-assisting people with disabilities with walking, balance, dressing, retrieving and carrying items,opening doors etc..
Hearing Alert Dogs-assisting people who have hearing loss with door bells, telephones, smoke alarms, fire and smoke alarms
Seizure Alert Dogs-respond or alert humans to medical conditions, such as epilepsy, panic attack, heart attack, stroke and other seizures
Therapy Dogs-often volunteer at hospitals, visiting the patients or visit the elderly at assisted living facilities or nursing homes. (Research has shown that nursing home residents report less loneliness when visited by dogs than when they spend time with other people).


Dogs and cats can also help with a number of medical conditions, such as reducing blood pressure, and heart rates. Petting a dog or a cat is known to calm anxiety and promote a feeling of relaxation. Taking your dog for a walk promotes physical activity and exercise that we may not otherwise be doing. Dogs encourage social interaction, while you are walking...fellow dogwalkers may come up to you to chat which could turn out to be an opening for friendship, and last but not least a dog can be the companion you enjoy coming home to after a long day.


So, there you have it, whether they are professional working dogs or the everyday pet, dogs can provide many services to us and we should be thankful for that! They work hard to make our lives more bearable.