Cloudy and cool

It's a little chilly out in the deck this morning. It won't be long before my morning coffee will be inside the house and eventually next to the fireplace. 
Nope. I'm really not a fan of the colder weather. But I recognize that it is a part of the annual cycles of life when you live at the mid latitudes in the US. 

It's weird to me that climates at this latitude vary so much. I never really think that we at the same latitude as the southern tip of Spain or the northern part of Africa. The Mediterranean climates of northern Africa, southern Italy and Greece are much more moderate than the winter climate here in Southwest MO. And they have beaches!

As Midwestern climates go, life in the Ozarks isn't too bad. We get to experience four distinct seasons, the winters are not brutally cold, there are plenty of lakes, forests and outdoor activities to enjoy in the summers, the springs are pretty ideal, and the falls can be quite beautiful.
Personally, I wouldn't mind a little less distinction between seasons. The two seasons (rainy and not rainy) of the tropics would be fine with me. I much prefer too hot over too cold.
I do plan to spend a few weeks of the coming winter in the northern tropics of Mexico. That will be a nice break from the winter cold of the Ozarks. I am looking forward to it.

For now I will endure and do my best to enjoy the time and temperature of where I am. Today I will spend some time reading on the deck, smoking a good cigar, sipping an adult beverage, and just enjoying the experience of life.

John

NaBloPoMo

It doesn't appear that National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) is a thing anymore. It used to be an organized deal to encourage blog posters to post daily for the entire month and even had awards for posting. I never entered into any organized push, but I have participated in daily writing several times over the past 18 years. There is a pretty good chance that I will not complete the task this year, but I figured I'd at least give it a chance by beginning on November 1st.

Out of My Hat isn't really a themed blog and I basically write whatever is on my mind at the time I pull out the Chromebook keyboard. While I have plenty on my mind, I don't always feel like organizing it into writable thoughts or think it is something that needs to be publicly shared. For me, daily writing is made most difficult by the simple question -- What should I write about today?

November is also National Diabetes Awareness Month and No-shave November is now a global cancer awareness thing. For some of us pogonophiles, not shaving is just a way of life. My winter face began in September and is well on its way at this point. Not doing something (shaving) every day is way easier than having to do something (writing) every day. Perhaps I can manage to do both for thirty days.

November has also been a month when people daily post the things for which they are thankful. That's been a Facebook trend for several years. While remembering to be grateful is a good practice, I think I'll pass on that one -- both here and on Facebook.

Are there any topics that you think I should write about?
I could use some help.

John

Thursday Theology and Barchurch

In this past week I met with a couple of different people that were familiar with the original or first modification to Downtown Venues, later referred to as Barchurch -- back when it was actually held in a bar and still brought a simple form of church with it.

Over the years, The Venues' Thursday night gathering has gone through many changes -- leadership, location, lesson format, and community. We won't be meeting tonight. Our current leader said the most holy thing you can do this week is stay home and pass out candy to those that come to your house on Thursday night. Making others (especially children) feel as a welcomed part of our community is a pretty Jesus thing to do.

My early barchurch friends miss the vibe and energy of that generation of what was Downtown Venues. So do I. But when I think of clinging to things of the past I sometimes chastise myself for being a selfish conservative, unwilling to change and adapt to the needs of others.
Maybe we need a support group for us old school barchurch people.
Or maybe we just need to adapt and change with the community around us.
Is there any reason why we can't have both?

That original, organic form of barchurch was such a rare find for me (and apparently several others) that I doubt it could be duplicated. What made it strange was that it was a gathering of people that fed my energy rather than drained it. I could sit at the back bar and just observe and absorb the positive energy of the place. The only thing I ever had to contribute was my presence. 
I'm just realizing that others may have felt that same kind of vibe -- that just being there was enough.

I felt that way about one of the shelters where I volunteered. It also had that good welcoming kind of energy. I wish I knew the formula to bring that feeling about. 
How do you create a place that has such a positive energy that it reaches out and welcomes everybody to enter and offer their presence to the community?

I wish I knew.

John

Wednesday Wisdom

It's a little late in the day for my Wednesday Wisdom post.
I met with a friend for my morning coffee. We had a nice visit and it was good to spend some time together. 
I followed that up by going to see another old friend and order some new eyeglasses. It's been several years since I've ordered new glasses and it was a bonus to be able to order them from a friend.

My Wednesday Wisdom to share is -- contact an old friend. 
Send a text
Make a call
Even go old school and drop a card or letter in the mail.
You'll be glad you did.
So will they.

John

Time for a Cool Change

Today will be the last 80+ (27c) degree day of the year for us in the Ozarks of SWMO. 
In my head, I just said a bad word.

The seasonal changes are just a part of life in the Ozarks.
Tonight is the night for volunteer training for the Crisis Cold Weather Shelters in Springfield. I am going back to being a volunteer rather than working as an overnight staff at one of the shelters. Volunteering will give me a little more control of when I work and allow me to vacate the Ozarks to a warmer climate during part of the winter. And it might provide an opportunity for income for somebody that really needs it.
There are a lot of different volunteer positions that are needed throughout the cold weather season. 
Each night that shelters are open, The Fairbanks shelter needs people for:
Sign-up
Set up/check-in (3)
Overnight 
Check-out (3)
Cleaning crew (2)
Pet transport (3 evening, 3 morning)
Laundry runner
Plus there is a designated staff person and a coordinator for each night.

That's a lot of people for just one of the shelters that is open on nights when the temperature falls below freezing. There are additional shelters that open on nights when temps fall below 20 (-7c).
Other than the overnight workers, no job takes a lot of time,
Other than setting up and breaking down, no job is a lot of work.
But every job is important and needed.
If you can help and would like to volunteer, let me know or check out the Facebook page.
Winter is coming.
Ugh!

John

Find Your True Self

It's hard to believe it, but the long 2024 election cycle is finally coming to an end in just one week.
Politics isn't much of a relaxing, calming topic for meditation, but it is also difficult to avoid thinking about it at this point in time. Reminders of the local, state, and national races are all around us. 

It's been said that we don't have elections; we have auctions.
Given the BILLIONS of dollars that have been spent this election cycle that would seem to be true. Advertising to spread your message is one thing. The hateful bullshit is another.
And the lies! The false advertising is out of control. 
Even the news media is captured by the lies and seems to have no control over confining candidates to address actual facts and policies.

I don't mean to start your week off with a political rant.
My purpose is to remind you to find a place of peace.
Whatever happens in the US elections, the world will go on. 
There will always be good people and not so good people.
Elections have consequences and we will deal with that when the time comes.
We should not look at those on the other side of the political divide as our enemies as is often suggested. Just because some politicians choose to be divisive assholes doesn't mean that we all have to be that way. We can still help one another, serve one another, and be kind to each other. 

Don't let the actions of others change who you are.
Find your true self and be true to yourself.

One week.

John

Thursday Theology

Christianity, as it often is vs Christianity, as it should be

Wednesday Wisdom

 

How I know it's Tuesday (and random other crap)

I know it's Tuesday because I just checked the day/date on my Chromebook calendar. 
Checking my phone or Chromebook is how I generally know what day it is. I don't know if it is a good thing or not that retirement has made every day pretty much the same. If I didn't already know it was Tuesday, I would realize it later this evening when the neighbors start to put their garbage dumpsters out at the street for early morning (Wed) pick-up.

I'm trying to be a little productive these days. I have found my old Pimsleur Listen and Learn Spanish Lessons stored in my Google Drive and just finished day 2. I have started this several times in the past, but I don't think I've ever made it halfway. I am going to try to be more purposeful about learning this time.
If you've taken on learning a second language, how did you do it?
Did you have an app that proved to be successful?
Did you use a program like Rosetta Stone, Babbel, or something else?
Did you take an actual in person Spanish class?
What was/is the cost?
Where did you find the most success?

I'm on day 4 of walking, thanks to my younger sister that talked me into walking daily along with her (except she's in Indiana). After sharing day 3 with her, she let me know that she's taking a few days off due to -- blah, blah, blah. I think I've been had!
I did walk a mile (twice around our lot) barefoot yesterday. I picked up a tiny splinter of something in the bottom of my foot that was a little bothersome and difficult to find and remove. I hate to quit walking barefoot. I guess my feet need to toughen up a bit.

I need to find a learning program for the ukulele that I bought earlier in the year. It's been collecting dust on the mantle for the past few months. 
Suggestions?

It is two weeks until election day. I've avoided the political posts because I honestly don't believe that I can say anything to sway undecided voters one way or the other. 
I expect the presidential election to be very close.
I expect that the House of Representatives and the Senate will remain closely divided.
What I really don't understand is how a party with the smallest majority can say they have been mandated by Americans to do whatever the hell they want to do. In my way of thinking a narrow majority would suggest that they should be working together for all of us, not ruling as if we all agree with their particular party platform or policy.

I'm on book 3 of the 11 book fantasy series I'm reading.
I probably need to add some serious reading to that. Werewolves and wizards, demons and other beings from the immortal realm are entertaining, but not very enlightening.

It's past time to make a trip to the recycling center.
Damn, we use a lot of plastic! I wonder how much of this actually gets recycled.
Plastic, aluminum cans, glass -- which is better for the environment, both from the perspective of production and recycle ability?

Have a good day.
Do something nice for the world.

John

Gratitude

Gratitude.
More and more, my meditation/reflection times turn to gratitude. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's this attitude of gratitude that gives me peace or if it's having found an inner peace that gives me gratitude. Either way, they seem to go hand-in-hand.

I'd really like to say that I have no worries in life, but there are a few things that occupy my thoughts in troubling ways from time to time. I am fortunate that my privileged status brings me back to this place of peace and the worries tend to dissipate or at least, regain some perspective on a solution or acceptance. There really aren't any big issues in my life at this time.

I do think that I need to change my meditative time to something more active. Perhaps a meditative walk rather than sitting on my ever widening ass while meditating would be a good thing. I've walked our property line a few times this past week. It's just short of a half mile -- .47 miles. 
If I begin by going down the deck stairs at the back of the house and walk around to the street it gives me the additional distance to make it a half mile. A second lap around and back to the deck stairs makes 1 mile of up and down, hilly terrain. It's not much in the way of exercise, but it is a starting place for a fat, old man. 
Walking the field doesn't seem very adventurous, but it is pretty mindless and there are no worries about traffic or other distractions. And there is a natural connection to the earth that doesn't always come when walking on the road. Maybe I'll try it barefooted and see how that goes. I know it will be slower, but the retired guy has the time for slower. 

Mobile meditation.
Thinking about better health.
And I'm grateful to be able to enjoy the mobility.

John