Friday, October 17, 2025

Coffee shop morning

Thursday was a good day for getting several hours of fall garden work done. There is always stuff to do and I plan on being outside working again later today, but for now I am sipping on a cup of coffee and waiting to meet Chris for a Costco trip.
Neighbor's Mill is more of a sandwich shop/bakery than it is a coffee shop, but they do have good coffee and it tends to be a regular meeting place for people in a coffee shop kind of way. And they have decent coffee, which is a must if you are serving up freshly baked cookies, breads, and pastries.

Tomorrow is the big "No Kings" day event and there are protests in the Springfield MO area. I am considering participating by actually going to an event, but also thinking that a dedicated "No Kings" post is really more my style. While I do believe that the large crowds will have a more effective media impact, damn, I hate large crowds of people. In fact, I begin to feel the inner tension just thinking about going.
I find it interesting that our "No Kings" event has crossed national boundaries and demonstrations are expected in other countries, as well. It turns out that only fascists like fascists and unfortunately, their are large numbers of people here in the US that don't even realize they are the fascists they hate because they are too ignorant to know what fascism actually is. 

If you are unsure of what fascism actually is, this video explains it pretty well.

Whatever I decide to do tomorrow, know for certain that I am opposed to the type of executive authoritarianism that Trump is imposing on the USA. It has to be stopped. 
Are any of you planning to participate in the peaceful demonstrations tomorrow?

John

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Wednesday Wisdom

While there is something to be said about remembering the past and hoping for the future, neither is the place where we live. Living in the past or always being focused on what is ahead of us robs us of the simple joy and happiness of the present.


Find happiness in the moment.
Find happiness in today.

John

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Safe Places

I am home after a weekend of not being home.
We were in southern Wisconsin for my niece's wedding. We took our time going there and coming home so that we didn't have to make an all day drive either way. 

The wedding was fun. It was a beautiful day and an outdoor setting. The bride and groom were officially hitched under a 225+ year old oak tree, and the reception dinner was in a beautifully decorated barn. A covered pavilion outside the barn was there for music and dancing. There was a large fire pit surrounded by benches and cornhole or bags boards set up for games.

The bride and groom wrote their own vows and shared them privately before the ceremony. In keeping with the tradition of not seeing each other before the wedding, they were around one of the corners of the barn from each other and could read their vows without being nervous from being in front of an audience and without feeling as if they were performing. 
They let me (the officiant)  read their vow books so that I could share some of their vows during the ceremony. 

The bride said that the groom is her safe place.
I've been thinking about that a lot.

Safe places are generally thought of as -- well, places. They can be a room, a home, a place in nature or near a body of water.
Safe places are sometimes gathering places with other people that have committed to keeping confidences and trust in one another.
And yes -- safe places can be people, too. A person that allows you to be yourself without fear of judgment, a person that encourages you in the endeavors you pursue and is there to catch you if you fall, a person that provides you with the things you need, even if it's just a hand to hold or a shoulder to rest your head upon -- that person is a safe place.

But what about people that have no safe place?
What about people that have no one they can trust?
What about people that can't get away from the chaos of life, from an abuser, from an addiction, from the demons in their own mind?
What about people that always feel like they have to perform or deliver so they don't disappoint a friend, a boss or coworker, or a parent?
How does a person without a safe place find peace and comfort in a life that has none?

I have no solutions nor suggestions about finding a safe place, and I suspect that everyone's safe place is different. These are just things that I have been thinking about.
I have also been thinking about the privilege I have to live this life where I always feel safe.
Sure, others may judge me and I may disappoint some people, but I really don't care anymore. Although I am concerned about the changing social climate, both for others and myself, I don't generally think I am in danger or in need of a safe place on a daily basis. 

I hope that you have a safe place today.
I hope that you have a person that allows you to feel safe to be yourself and yet inspires you to be better.
I would share my safe place with you, but I don't think that's how it works.
I think we all need to have our own.

John

Saturday, October 11, 2025

It's a good day for a wedding!

It is not often that I find myself struggling to sleep. Last night was one of those rare nights.
Today is wedding day for one of my nieces and I have been asked to officiate their ceremony. It has been a little while (5 years) since I have done this and I was just going over what the ceremony will be like in my head -- over and over. 

Things tied to ministry really seem to be a part of a past life and I feel a bit like a fish out of water. I am not without experience in the wedding officiating, but I am certainly out of practice and the minister mindset is a little foreign these days. I'm sure that the day will be a wonderful day.

I'm in the hotel's breakfast area and there are several parents and grandparents with young kids. It's fun watching the interactions. One group was a quick gathering of a few easy to grab items and head out the door with their softball gear for a late season game or weekend tournament.
And then there are the older folks, like myself, just having a cup of coffee and a bowl or oatmeal or something. 
I wonder what everyone else's plans are for the day and what has brought them to Kenosha WI.

We will get to see Aaron and Jenny today, as well as a few of my siblings and some of their kids. It should be a wonderful day!

I hope you have a wonderful day, as well.

John

Friday, October 10, 2025

The Prize

It's a little bit strange that a president that has renamed the Department of Defense the Department of War is whining about not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize. While he may have played a role in the current cease fire in the Middle East, the deadline for nominations for this year's award was just days after he took office in his second term. Perhaps the imaginary eight wars that he has ended worldwide will get him a nomination for next year's award. 
Or at least for an imaginary award that can be displayed next to his imaginary cover of Time magazine.

There has been very little about Trump's time in office that has been peaceful. The imaginary violence that he paints in our cities allows him to send in the military to create violence. Peaceful protests against ICE actions turn into violent scenes when the ICE agents react violently.
Fortunately there have been some governors and judges that are taking strong stands against the unlawful and unconstitutional acts of this president.

I'm just going to make an uneducated guess that no one is going to award a peace prize to a whining bully.
I should also mention that I have decided that I am not going to shy away from posts that are unfavorable to our current administration. I really don't plan on being political, but I am definitely going to call out the unconstitutional bullshit and political violence that is being waged by the right as I see fit.
Fuck 'em.

Feel free to scroll on by.

John

Thursday, October 09, 2025

Was Jesus an Introvert?

The gospels make several references to times when Jesus withdrew from the crowds to be alone. His alone time was often spent in prayer and one might assume that it was necessary for him to both spiritually and physically recharge.
In Matthew 17, an exasperated Jesus even wonders how long he will have to endure being with his disciples.

People (like me) that sometimes feel challenged to spend a lot of time with people and need to be alone in order to recharge physically, emotionally, and even spiritually are generally introverts. That's not to say that we can't be around people or don't enjoy being around people; it's just that being with people can be an energy drain and being alone is when we recharge. 
Other people, like extroverts, are charged up from being around people.

I'm sure it doesn't really matter one way or another. It's just one of those weird thoughts that popped into my head when thinking about the life and teachings of Jesus. 
Being an introvert or an extrovert is really just a personality trait and seems to have no real bearing on intellect, kindness, generosity, or anything else when it comes to functioning in a society. It's basically about how you spend and receive energy. 

There really isn't any theological thought to go with this. It's just that most of the time we really only look at Jesus as divine. Sometimes it helps (me) to remember the part of Jesus that was human.

John

Tuesday, October 07, 2025

Lost Post and Losing Hope

Yesterday morning I wrote my Monday morning post but ran into an issue with my connection and ended up losing all but a short paragraph. As my writing (especially Monday's meditative post) is mostly a way to focus my own thoughts and is as much medication as meditation, I decided not to re-write it and just went on with my day.

This morning is cool and foggy and it might be a little while before I can get back to working on the back flowerbed. The work isn't going anywhere and will be there waiting for me. 


The sun is starting to appear over the morning fog and should clear things off in time. For now, I am going to enjoy my coffee and quiet time. Even though we haven't had rain in a while, the cool evenings and damp mornings have been good for the fall plants and those that (like me) are still clinging to summer.

Although the mornings on the deck are quiet and therapeutic, there is still much frustration from the political landscape in the US. It is sometimes difficult to celebrate the beauty of the season while knowing others are literally fighting for their rights to live in peace. I am disgusted by the people that are willing to sit by and ignore the atrocious things that are going on in our country. There is no context and no justification for our own military -- National Guard nor active duty -- to be taking action against our own citizens as if they are the enemy. 
Ugh!

It is probably good that I feel this frustration and anger. I hate that it disrupts the calm of my morning and I am at a loss as to what I can do about it. I believe there are only a few that read Out of My Hat that would disagree with me, so even writing to point out the truth of what is happening seems like a waste of time. Pulling weeds and planting flowers might bring some peace and control into my little world, but it doesn't help my immigrant neighbors or the single parents trying to afford healthcare for themselves and their families. I have never been big on going to people-y events for things that I like, much less to go to people-y things like demonstrations, peaceful protests, or even town hall meetings.
That may have to change.

Truthfully, I am losing hope in my country. I am growing increasingly sad about the changing conditions and the positions of people that I thought I knew better. Maybe all of the voices that want change are sitting on their decks or planting flowers. Maybe it is time to let nature tend to the flowers and get busy tending to people. 
The midterm elections are still a year away. What can we (I) do in the meantime?

John

Saturday, October 04, 2025

A Different Kind of Book Club

I've read books as a group book club thing only a couple of times. I have to say that I really haven't embraced the idea of reading a book that I normally wouldn't read in order to be able to talk about it in a group setting. It's like a high school literature class without the teacher to give background on the author and the author's meaning and purpose.
Maybe I could learn to like a book club. I really don't mind reading out of my normal scope if I can find some interest or purpose in reading an author or genre.

But I'm wondering...
How about a book club just for people that always read?
When you meet regularly, people can talk about what they are reading or what they've learned from reading since the last meeting. You can share and recommend books or you can listen and accept ideas about what to read. Whether you read to learn or read for enjoyment and entertainment everyone can participate either by sharing or listening.

I'm wondering if anyone in my local area would be interested in a readers' club like this. 
It's just an idea. Anyone is free to try it in your own area. Let me know if you do.

Springfield area people, anyone interested?
Anyone?
Anyone?

John

Friday, October 03, 2025

This page intentionally left blank

Back in the lifetime when I was a federal employee there were always publications and notices that would come out with blank pages except for the statement across the bottom of the page that said that the page was intentionally left blank.

It never made much sense to me, but there were a lot of things about working for the government that didn't make sense to me.
...And still don't.

But this post isn't about the nonsense of being a federal employee. It's about that blank page.
Maybe the page was left blank as an emphatic way to demonstrate that there is nothing more to say on that particular subject.
Or maybe there is nothing more that can be said nor should be said about it.

This is what came to mind this morning as I was thinking about the government shutdown.
What can be said when the controlling party resorts to using lies and misinformation to blame the other party for the shutdown?
One might point out the lies, but they are so bold and blatant that the supporters don't even care that their elected officials are lying. 
One might point out that the truth of what they are doing will cause much harm to millions of people, but if it is not harming them directly then they don't really care about that either -- especially since that harm comes in the future and there is a present issue to deal with as the government is actually shutting down.
One could strive to educate the willfully ignorant, but that is a colossal waste of time and effort.

At best one can express their frustration with the people that fail to see the harm that is being done to people that are in need of help. 
It's as if the administration's plan is to keep lying until we just give up and accept the lies as truth -- like their followers already have. 

How do you deal with the frustration of knowing that speaking the truth is less influential than using lies to appeal to people's misguided biases?
Typically my way has been to refrain from saying (or writing) anything. But that doesn't seem to be working. 

As I write nothing, the Administration and its incompetent leaders are deploying our military against our own citizens. The renamed Department of War is declaring war on the opposing political party in our own country and the Republican voters are okay with it. 
The press and media are doing a piss poor job of covering and criticizing the administration and are apparently afraid of doing so.

It's all about the money.
We have capitalized our society and our citizenship is for sale to the highest bidders. 
I am at a loss and really don't know what to do or say.
Even this post is nothing more than an expression of frustration and offers no real solution or resolution. I am not even certain that the little bit of venting helps in any way.

Maybe I should have just left the page blank.

John