The Senility Prayer?

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I recently ran across "The Senility Prayer," which I think I'd never heard of before.  http://www.thisfunsforyou.com/htdocs/funpages/senility.php

I think it was meant to be taken as humorous, but you know me; just as I can usually find the "funny" in things, I can also usually find the "serious" as well.  The prayer asks God that you be able to forget people you never liked.  While there are definitely some people I would like to forget, I have to admit that I've learned something from at least some of them.  I've learned how I want to behave--or not behave.  I've learned compassion.  I've learned a little about how God must feel when I conduct myself in a less-than-Christ-like manner.

How about you?  What have you learned from people you'd like to forget?

Be a Happiness-Causer

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Oscar Wilde said, "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/happiness.html

Better Than Underdog

Never give up; you never know until you try.

Allow me to introduce you to my canine friend, Underdog!

http://www.toontracker.com/totaltv/underdog.htm


If you were a cartoon-watching, American child between 1964 and 1973 (or you've seen reruns on Cartoon Network or elsewhere,) you may remember Underdog, the animal version of Superman.  As a testament to how television sounds and images can stick with you for years, to this day, I still occasionally bolster my courage by jokingly quoting the furry little superhero's catchphrase, "No need to fear--Underdog is here!"

Yes, I realize that I just admitted to quoting a cartoon character.  I'm sure I'm not the only one, though I may be the only one who'll admit it in a public forum.  My regular readers probably aren't the least bit surprised by my disclosure; you know there is a method to my madness. 

Like many people, I sometimes use humor to defuse tension.  I've written before that my sense of humor is dark, twisted, and irreverent, and it becomes even more so when I'm stressed.  Feeling fearful stresses me.  (How's that for a 'duh' statement?)  When fear tries to rear its ugly head, I think of Underdog, and I think of One Who is a million times better than Underdog.  Unlike Underdog, He's infallible.  Jesus is always there, always equipped, always equipping me with what I need--just when I need it.  Jesus is truly man's (woman's, child's) best friend. 

Apologies and post--Huh?

Never give up; you never know until you try.

My apologies to you all.  I thought I'd scheduled posts for the last couple weeks, but something happened.  They didn't post!  I didn't check to be sure they posted, and when I went to schedule next week's I discovered the goof.  My apologies!  Here's what should've posted earlier this week:

A friend of mine had a birthday last week, so I guess I've had him and his family on my mind.  His sister used to quote the following a lot:

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." (Thanks, Robert McCloskey)

Even when we use "I-Statements," misunderstanding is rampant in human communication.  We project our own hopes, feelings, prejudices onto the other person.  They do it to us.  It happens.  Where we "are" and where we have "been" will "color" our perceptions as surely as a three-year-old will "Crayola-fy" color the living room wall with her crayons.

Be on guard, because Satan will happily take this little fact and run with it, causing as much havoc as possible.  We have to listen to what's behind the words to get the full picture, and we have to be very self-aware to understand how we receive others' words.  Ernest Hemingway said, "When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show_tag?id=empathy

Listen!