From Within and From Without

Yesterday I found myself in the middle of the lion’s den. Someone invited me to a meeting thinking that I shared the same world view as the organizers. I didn’t. I was an unwilling spy. I observed the way they talked, the way they urged everyone else to join their campaign. I had only known this species in their hostile state so I was impressed at their friendliness, ease with technology and their gift of gab (although it was English they spoke a different language). I did see a problem with some of their assumptions but who was I to expose myself? Still, I would like to have a real conversation when both our shields are down.

A day before, I was informed that someone in my own inner circle was moving to another church. You think you know people well enough but I was unaware of his unmet needs within the church.

How little we understand people outside of our circle. How little we know the people in our own circle.

The Turtle and the Grasshopper

There was a turtle, a grasshopper and a highway. The grasshopper convinced the turtle that there was more food on the other side but the turtle warned the grasshopper of the danger of the cars whizzing by. The grasshopper teased him and jumped back and forth from side to side showing him that his fears were unfounded because there wasn’t any car in sight. Persuaded that it was time to face his fears, the turtle started his journey to the other side. All the while, the grasshopper is jeering and running rings around the turtle. Varoom! A car drives by and the grasshopper is squashed like a pancake. The turtle is protected by his shell and survives. But the angry driver (who was forced to swerve because of the turtle) picks up the turtle and lays him upside down on top of a fence to die a slow death.

Questions:
When opportunity presents itself, are people too smart to realize they’re playing with danger? Are people too slow to grab the opportunity? Instead of making a killing, do we always expect the worst and turn into roadkill? When can we trust enough to turn down the divisive walls and learn from each other?

We think we know but we really don’t until we live among them.

TGIF people!

Raoul

“When we lower out shields, we become vulnerable and open to both help and harm equally. In order to bond on a spiritual level, we have to lower our ‘shields’ and become authentically vulnerable with the other person.” — Warren Lamb, PHD in his book Unbound.

2 From Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Thanks to Mel of Washington. DC for this joke.

Video of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mel of Washington DC for this joke.

Thanks to Naomi of North Hollywood, CA.

The post Gossip appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Gout

I had a terrible bout with gout for about a week.
Standing on the sore foot, I shouted out loud: Ouch!
But no one was about.
So I stayed in bed just to pout.

Yeah, yeah … I know my poetry is terrible. But it’s true. I do have gout and was bed-ridden because the pain was excruciating. I need to start exercising. Forget my excuse of a hurting back or a recovering hernia. Because now it’s my gout! This is getting serious.

It couldn’t have happened at a worse time because I missed helping raise funds by doing caricatures for the “Meals on Wheels”  charity event last Saturday. Then on Sunday there was a water leak in one of the properties I managed. In both events, I was helpless to do anything. It just wasn’t my day.

I researched that the cause of gout is very high levels of purines which come from food rich in uric acid. I also read that gout hits men more than women. What makes a man different from a woman? Aha!  Blood! Women shed blood every month. Men don’t. So my theory is: To avoid gout, men need to give away blood periodically to clean their system. I remember that I used to donate blood often and when I did, I never had gout.

The swelling has gotten better so today I went to the Red Cross to do my civic duty to donate blood and test my theory. I went through the usual screening to make sure my blood was usable. It was all systems go until they asked a crucial question: “Have you been out of the country in the last year?” I said I went to Nigeria on a Rotary mission trip. Immediately, red flags went up and the nurse disqualified my donation. It appears that Nigeria is a high risk malaria country. One needs to be here in the U.S. about 15 months before their blood could be accepted by the Red Cross. Bummer!

So now I’m in a quandary. How do I get rid of my old blood if the Red Cross won’t accept it? Do I prick myself? Yeow!  It really isn’t my day.

So … do you know anyone suffering from gout? Can you ask him to try my theory and donate blood? Also, do you know of any hungry vampires?

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Mark Lowry: Clean Comedian
Sent Don of Kelowna, B.C.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Chinese Restaurant Skills

Sent by Debbie of Moreno Valley, CA and Don of Kelowna, B.C.

These Chinese Food artisans are a joy to watch.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Ernie of Fresno, CA who shared this.

The post Turtle Attack appeared first on Traveling Archive.