Following the Sun

I know it is not quite September yet and summer isn't over until 2:20 PM Central Time, Wednesday, Sept 22, when the sun reaches the equator on its southward journey, but it feels like summer is already over. It certainly isn't because the temperatures are cooling. It's been plenty hot here in SWMO, but the days are getting noticeably shorter and the sunrises and sunsets are definitely moving south.

The morning sun now shines into the deck and causes a glare on my computer screen. It does feel good as I start my day and sip on my coffee. The early night sky still shows the summer constellations, but the early morning sky is already showing winter's night sky.
School is back in session and football season is beginning.
Pumpkin spice is back in everything from coffee to beer, so I guess it must be (unofficially anyway) fall.
F*#k!

Yeah, not a big fan of fall and winter.
The best thing I can say about winter is I don't have to mow my lawn.
The cooler temperatures of fall will be nice (when they finally get here) for being able to work outside without being a sweaty mess. I have plenty of yard projects to do.

I know there are a lot of people that love fall.
Why?
Seriously! Help me out here. 
What's so great about shorter days, early nights, and effing pumpkin spice in everything?
Football season? I don't care. Not a big fan.
Leaves changing colors? Yeah, it's pretty. I'm okay with green.
Although I find the astronomical and seasonal changes fascinating, I'm just not a fan of the coming seasons.
Isn't fall a metaphor of things dying and winter a metaphor of death?
Ugh!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help me look forward to fall (and winter).
Tell me what you love about it. 
Tell me why I should love it, too.
And.....
GO!

John

Book Challenge

It's a book recommendation more than a challenge, unless you are a God and country, stand-for-the-flag, big military, flag waving, patriotic, evangelical American Christian. In that case, it is more of a challenge.
And the challenge isn't just to read the book, the real challenge is to  read the book and then to examine where your true allegiance lies and to which kingdom you belong.

If you have been reading Out of My Hat for very long, you know that I have never been a God and country kind of preacher. I've never believed that God should have to share a worship service for some patriotic, flag waving ceremony or even recognition of those that have served in the military. I don't even believe that an American flag has any place in our churches, yet I dare to say that most evangelical churches proudly display the flag from the main platform and even give it the preeminent spot over the Christian flag.

Brian Zahnd's Postcards from Babylon sounds like it might be a book about Israel's Old Testament captivity in Babylon--and it is, sort of. As it turns out, the biblical story of the captivity in Babylon isn't even about the empire of Babylon. It is about how to faithfully follow God while living life in another king's empire.

Seriously, I highly recommend this book as a must read for Christ followers living in the USA. Most of my evangelical friends have long ago declared me to be a heretic and will never see this recommendation, nor would they give it any consideration if they know it comes from me. 
Read it.
Recommend it.
Share it.
Gift it.
To anyone that follows Jesus.

Although I have been following this preacher/pastor/author on Twitter for some time now, this is the first of his books that I've read. I'll be adding more to my reading list!

John

Introverts and Extroverts

I saw a post yesterday (Twitter, I think) that got me thinking about introverts and extroverts.
The post questioned why it seems quite common to challenge the behavior of introverts -- You need to get out more, You need to socialize more, Why are you so shy?, etc. -- but it's rarely done to extroverts.

But is that really true?
Maybe I just don't see that part.
Personally, I'm more likely to get the -- You're not an introvert! -- than I am the others. And I think that's weird. I don't know that I'd be so bold (and arrogant) to tell an extrovert that they're not really an extrovert.

So, to the extroverts out there:
Do people tell you (often) that what you really need is some alone time?
Do you often feel criticized for always wanting to be around other people?
Are you ever made to feel bad for being an extrovert?
And are you guilty of challenging the behaviors of your introvert friends?

Just wondering...

John

Wednesday Wisdom

 

John

Justifying Indulgences

I have been having a problem with justifying (to myself) my personal indulgences. Is this a thing with anyone else?

I wonder about the effects of flying for a vacation. Realistically there is no way to offset the environmental impact of flying to a Mexican beach for a relaxing vacation. I could fill our 5 acre plot with trees and not offset the carbon impact of such a trip.

I spend a fair amount of money on decent cigars to enjoy while relaxing on my deck. Other than the relaxing feeling of enjoying each smoke, there aren't any healthful benefits to justify smoking an exquisite Nicaraguan or Dominican smoke or the whiskey or craft beer that often accompanies it.

I rarely go to ballgames or pay to watch MMA fights, but I do spend untold hours watching overpaid athletes competing against each other in games and events that really offer no substantial benefits to humanity. While I certainly can appreciate the skill and training of athletes, is it really necessary or beneficial to our society?

Do the jobs and income that are supplied by the entertainment of the sporting world justify the money and capitalist machines that are a part of the various industries?
Is it fair that I do little to help others as I sit comfortably on my deck while there is great poverty and need in the community that lives not far from my home?
Is it enough to recognize my privilege without doing anything to help others that aren't as privileged?
Is it okay to say that I've earned what I have and then do and spend as I see fit without caring about the negative impact on the world around me?
Should I be more productive than the retired guy that doesn't do anything more than occasionally buy dinner at a local restaurant or coffee from a local coffee shop?

I have a pretty good, leisurely life and I don't feel guilty about it, but sometimes I think maybe I should. 
Should I?
Should I being doing something to benefit my neighbors?
Should I be helping others to find peace and calm in their lives?
Should I be giving more or working more to bring people out of poverty or despair?
Or maybe I'm doing the best thing for everybody by keeping to myself.

What about you?
Do you feel the need justify your indulgences?
Just wondering...

John  

An Unusual Contemplation

I recently (this morning) took part in one of those Facebook games that will tell you how much of a narcissist or empath you are. I did it because the empath in m has been awakened over the past several years as I have become more contemplative. It would probably be more correct to say that my awareness of my empathetic abilities has been awakened.

Today's contemplation is a bit more unusual than on most days.
Although there are plenty of lunch options at our house, today I chose a simple peanut butter and jelly sandwich--all natural peanut butter (on both pieces of bread) and strawberry jelly.
Over the past few weeks, I've had several conversations about the goodness of peanut butter in general and peanut butter and jelly in particular.

I wonder where I would rank among people my age in number of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches consumed in our lifetimes. I wonder how much peanut butter I've consumed in my life. I wonder why others don't recognize the beauty of the nearly perfect food -- peanut butter.
When it comes to living in the moment, a moment that includes peanut butter should be cherished. 

Cheez-It crackers have become a common snack at our house. Dip those suckers in some peanut butter and you have a tasty treat. Everything tastes great on a Ritz, but peanut butter is exceptional. 
It is good, wholesome food that connects you to the Earth and all of her goodness. Peanut butter and apples, peanut butter and bananas, peanut butter and crackers, peanut butter, ham, and a dill pickle spear roll-up, just plain ol' peanut butter, or peanut butter and just about anything.

Other than peanut butter and jelly, what is your favorite go-to peanut butter combo?
Enjoy the present moment -- especially if it includes peanut butter!

John

The Best Time to Plant a Tree...

I have five acres of former pasture/hayfield. I don't mind mowing it (much), but it does seem to be a huge waste of land. I want to plant trees (both evergreen and fruit and nut trees) and also would like to have a mini solar farm.

When we moved to Missouri several decades ago, I bought tree seedlings from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDoC). There are some good looking, mature trees on that piece of property now.
I was too late to buy trees from the MDoC the year we moved into our house, and just forgot about it last fall. Purchase dates for spring '22 delivery of tree seedlings begin Sept. 1, 2021. I'll definitely be buying some for spring planting.

The area I'll be using for most of the trees is far from a water source, so I'll have to haul water to the seedlings while they establish their root systems and during dry seasons. I'll need to get a barrel or tank with a spigot that I can fill and haul out there. Fruit trees I'll probably keep closer to the house.
If you'd like to do your part to reduce your carbon footprint, consider ordering several trees for yourself. If you don't have a place to plant them, you can send them to me and I'll plant them for you.
Seriously! I haven't looked lately, but they used to be a very reasonable cost. Let me know if you want me to plant trees for you and I'll send you my address.
Here is the MDoC's website. The catalog of available trees should be up on Sept. 1.  By planting trees, not only am I reducing my carbon footprint with new trees, I'm also reducing the amount of time on my lawnmower!

"The best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. (I did that, then moved.)
The second best time is now." (or in the spring) 

If I get some fruit trees and expand my garden, I'm going to have to learn how to can fruits and veggies or buy a bigger freezer. This year's garden as been pretty pathetic, but even so we have had several servings of green beans, plenty of cucumbers, some tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and a few potatoes. There is something special about eating stuff that you've grown.

And as much as I enjoy the produce, I really like watching the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds around the flowers. I'll definitely be planting more flowers next year and still want to have beehives at some point. 
For today I just need to work on our new landscaping project.

John

Do I need a hobby?

Do you have a hobby?

I'm going to say that I really don't.
I used to consider magic a hobby, but I haven't really done much of that lately. Nor have I been riding my motorcycle much. I've been working in the yard and garden, but have to say that I look on that more as work that needs to be done than a hobby to be enjoyed. 
I read a fair amount, but definitely don't consider it to be a hobby. 
Yeah, I think it's fair to say that I don't have any hobbies.

If we use the definition of -- a regular activity done for enjoyment during leisure time -- I guess parking my butt on the deck with a cigar, a beer, and some background music would qualify as a hobby.
By that definition, doing nothing is a hobby.
I guess I don't think it is important that I have to be doing something. In fact, I keep telling myself that I've become pretty comfortable as a non-productive member of society. 

How about you?
Any hobbies?
Do you consider listening to music, reading books, smoking cigars, etc., hobbies?
Blogging?
Scrolling through social media?

Let's hear it. 
What are your hobbies?

John

Social Justice

Maybe I should say social injustice.
Certainly there are areas of injustice that are more easily seen and identified than others. Black Lives Matter has shined a light on the racial inequities of our police and judicial systems. Same sex marriages, bigoted bakeries, and denominational religious splits have highlighted injustices against the LGBTQ+ community. The difficulties in caring for the unsheltered and food insecure communities during a pandemic have created awareness of our blindness to their struggles.

We currently have several state legislative bodies that are systematically targeting portions of the population with voting rights violations. Our secular society firmly believes in the other Golden Rule--The one with the gold makes the rules!

So how I do I (we) stand against injustice and stand for justice for the oppressed?
A single mom trying to feed her kids doesn't need me to stand in a protest as much as she needs some food, a decent paying job, and affordable childcare.
A black parent might like a mostly white guy demonstrating at a BLM event, but what they really want is for their teenaged son to be able to drive to and from his after school job without fearing that he'll become a police violence statistic.
A gay couple might just want to have the spousal privilege of being with their mate in the hospital, but are denied that by some archaic rule.

Seriously, what can I (we) do?

What are some other areas of social injustices that need to be addressed?
And how do we do that?

The Old Testament prophet Micah gives a pretty concise guide for following God: Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly with God.
I'm afraid the church has failed miserably in all three of these.
I'm afraid I have too.
How do I (maybe, we) fix this?

I'm counting on you to weigh in on this.
I know that I am far too comfortable sitting on my deck with a cold beer, a decent cigar, a keyboard, and some background music (just in case you were wondering about by current situation). If I could change the world from here, I would. But I'm afraid that isn't how changing the world really works.

My honest assessment is that I have been okay with injustice that doesn't touch me. That really isn't very Christ-like, is it?
How do I change that?

John

Monday

I'm not sure why, but I was awake early this morning. Since I wasn't falling asleep again, I decided to get up. It has been some time since I've been up before the sun and I wasn't too thrilled about seeing the constellation Orion high in the eastern sky.
Orion is a winter constellation in the Northern Hemisphere. I know winter is still four months away, but Orion's appearance this morning brings the announcement that winter is on its way. Ugh.

I took a couple of days off from doing yard work and I will be back at it today. It's a little weird that I neither mind doing it nor particularly like doing it. I guess I'd say it's more satisfying than enjoyable. I wish I had a better relationship with Mother Earth. Coaxing her to bring forth beautiful flowers and shrubs is difficult for me. As with any relationship, I need to work on understanding her a bit better. The good thing is that I don't have any deadlines nor timelines to meet. I can just work at it until I don't feel like working and then pick it up again later. The downside is that projects take much longer that way.

It's just now my normal coffee time and I've already finished my daily allotment of coffee. I'm tempted to brew another pot, but probably won't. The early sun is sporting a couple of sundogs this morning, and the finches and bluebirds are pretty active. Maybe it's time for me to get active, too. I need to have a talk with the Earth lady and see if we can't agree to get some new plants growing and supplying her bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds with some more nectar. 
My talks with nature are much more peaceful those dealing with hurricanes, earthquakes, potential tsunamis, and wildfires.

Have a great Monday!
John