"Jesus and Formulas...they never seem to mix." Thoughts on Saint John 8: 1-11

  "Where are your accusers, Jesus asked. "There are none Lord," the woman answered. "Nor  do I not condemn you. Instead, the time has come for you to be free from the life you are in."  [paraphrased from John 8:11]

  As the New Year approaches, I think about what changes I can make from last year. One thing I have experienced in life, formulas very rarely work for me. They are simply not effective. You know, if I wake up, follow a healthy routine, and keep track on what is next on the daily agenda, the results will be awesome!
  The problem I run into with situations like this is the formula wears out and I eventually drift back to where I started. so, I asked myself, "What's missing?" One thing I notice is the meaning of it all. I believe in the "loving yourself philosophy," but I notice I get more excited when I am able to influence and help others...particularly those down on their luck.

  In Saint John, Jesus had been in a discussion with the Pharisees on His purpose in life. The Jewish religious leaders at the Temple in Jerusalem didn't buy into His song and dance that He truly is the son of God.
  In the discussion, the topic was Jesus could not be a prophet because He came from Galilee. The Scriptures were clear. There was absolutely no evidence a prophet of God ever came from that region. [Note: Ancient Greek manuscripts do not include this story.  It appears the story was passed down through oral tradition. Still, John includes this story in his gospel as was later discovered.] The Scriptures state the discussion ended with no apparent conclusion on the matter. The passage continues with Jesus going to the Mount of Olives that evening, a place He regularly retreated to be alone in prayer.
  Early the next morning, Jesus was up around dawn and returned to the Temple. Crowds began to gather to hear Him and learn more about His teachings. The religious leaders thought teaching the common person was a waste of time because of their ignorance of the Scripture.
  Suddenly, the Pharisees and Scribes brought a woman before Jesus who had been caught in adultery. [Note: How they discovered this is not made evident in this story.] They made this woman stand alone in the center of this court so everyone could see her. 
  "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery. The Law of Moses dictates she must be stoned to death! So, tell us, what is Your verdict?" [Note: the man in this accusation is missing. Again, the Scriptures are silent.]  The motive behind this question was to trap Jesus. The religious leaders were looking for anything they could use against Him and prove His teachings contradict the Law of Moses.
  Now, here is where it gets a little interesting.

  Instead of answering the question, He simply stooped down and began writing in the loose dirt. Meanwhile, the Pharisees badgered Him to get an answer on this woman caught in adultery. Nevertheless, Jesus remained silent until He finished writing in the dirt. Then, He stood up and said, " Okay, if any of you have never sinned, then step up and throw a stone at this woman." Then, Jesus stooped down once more and continued writing.
  The Pharisees heard His answer and one by one stepped up to read what He had been writing in the dirt. In a short time, every Pharisee from the oldest to the youngest left the court area.  [Note: The Scriptures are silent as to what Jesus wrote in the dirt.]
  Jesus stood up with only Him and the accused still standing in the court. Jesus then addressed the woman, "Where did everyone go? Did anyone condemn you?"
  "No, my Lord," the woman answered.
  "I will not condemn you either. Instead, this is the time for you to be free from the life you are in."
  Again, the Scriptures are silent as to the decision the woman made...

  So, my first New Year's Resolution? BE UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS: I WILL BE MORE EMPATHETIC IN 2019.


  
   
  

Empathy and Loving Yourself....a take from Matthew 22:39

                             Empathy and Loving Yourself...a take from Matthew 22:39

  The English Living Dictionary describes empathy as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another."
  Jesus said in Matthew 22:39, from The Message version, "We are to love the Lord with all our passion, our hearts, and our intelligence. The second commandment is to love others as well as you love yourself. All the other commands depend on...these two."
  In an online article from Psych Central, Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., breaks down some "empathetic boundaries" during this holiday season of giving. Being made aware of so many needs throughout the world, visiting friends and family, and the cries of various charities needing assistance, can be overwhelming and sometimes lead to decisions based on guilt, shame, or pressures from others. Here are a few things to consider as this Christmas season continues:

1. Set Empathetic Boundaries: Allow yourself space and intervals of solitude to "clear your head." Discuss plans with people who refresh and recharge you. Be aware of those who drain you. Sometimes you have to go by your "gut feelings" and recognize when you feel your best and when you feel the worst. One idea for a check-in is keeping a simple journal to remind yourself of goals and plans for this season.

2. Pause Before Saying "Yes:"  It has become an involuntary response to say, "Yes, of course!." to any request that comes our way during this season. One suggestion is to take a pause before blurting out a commitment. Try phrases like "Let me check my schedule," or "May I get back with you...say tomorrow?" We need time to respect our personal efforts and energies before emotionally accepting a request. Perhaps a good question to ask yourself is: "If I don't want to do this, does that "inner voice" within respond, "That's okay." Emotions are not our best governors when making decisions.

3. Shifting Your Perspective: When you surmise it is best to decline a request or choosing a present that is beyond your budget, you can still answer in an empathetic manner; a) "I understand your needs, but at the moment I am struggling with issues myself. Perhaps I can be more of a help at a different time." b) "I would like to hear more about this, but right now I am a little overwhelmed." c) "I understand but if I take anything else on at the moment, I would have to compromise some concerns already on my plate."

4. Use Another's Reaction as a Valuable Sign: Understanding reactions can be vital to our decision making. Do others react by "pushing against you," not take "no" for an answer, or use guilt and shame to influence your emotions. Do they respect your boundaries? A fact of life I have found is people do not always reciprocate with the same fervor I feel for them. And that in itself is okay. Just remember to invest yourself in relationships where boundaries and needs are respected, not where they are not.

One final note: Don't wait to set boundaries when you are overwhelmed and exhausted. Set boundaries that include yourself...now! Have a wonderful holiday season!

Talkin' about killin' off characters...The Viking Series

           
                            No Guarantees being a Character on the Viking Series

    Real history takes no prisoners. It seems Michael Hirst, creator of The Viking Series on the History Channel, understands that. If the count is right, 87 characters have been killed off, regardless of the "character pecking order."
    I was surprised when Siggi drowned and King Ragnar killed Yidu. I was heartbroken when Floki killed Athelstan. I hated to see Queen Lagertha kill Queen Aslaug, Floki's wife Helga dying, and King Egbert of Wessex go. Of course, King Ragnar's death was a real moment, while recently Astrid and Halfdan were killed off.
    I appreciate Michael Hirst's persistence to keep close to recorded history we have on the Vikings realizing it is still a historical fiction series.
    Michael Hirst said on September 12, 2017; " It has been my pleasure and my privilege to work with History and MGM over five seasons and 69 episodes of Vikings. Now we are ready to begin production of a 20 episode season 6 that will deliver a huge and unexpected revelation to our audience."
    Historical fiction is a tough act. It is particularly hard with limited sources of historical data. Much of Viking lore was passed down orally or in written sagas. A few examples include:
1. Athelstan   He is not mentioned in Anglo/Saxon accounts nor in Nordic sagas.
2. Queen Aslaug   She is mentioned in  13th century Icelandic saga in the story of Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons.
3. The Seer   His character is not based on a specific person but inspired by ancient pagan sorcerers.
4. Bjorn Ironside   History indicates he may have actually been the 2nd son of Queen Aslaug. His older brother may have been Ivar the Boneless. He was a legendary King of Sweden who lived in the 800's. He was known for his raiding skills on both England and France.
5. Queen Lagertha   She is recorded to have been born around 795 A.D. and died sometime in the mid 800's. Not much detail but was said to be member of King Siward's court of Norway. I won't forget the episode in the TV series when Ragnar had to kill a bear and a hound to win her affection.
6. Rollo   He was the first Duke of Normandy and did marry Princess Gilsa of France. He had a son named William Longsword. No, he was never a brother to Ragnar.
7. Ivar the Boneless   He appears to be a pretty mean guy who was equally manipulative. He might have been the wisest of all Ragnar's sons.
8. Floki    No character like this seems to exist in Norse legends, but his personality is influenced by the Norse god Loki. Did he create the Viking longboat? Who knows.
9. King Ragnar A legendary Viking king, ruler, and raider. He is described in several Norse sagas and attacked the coasts of England and France to raid and plunder. Still, the evidence of Ragnar is vague.

Other questions arise like did the Vikings have shield maidens? Were they really farmers?  Were they here on the North American continent before anyone else from Europe? Did they come in longboats?
  The Viking series is the best! Skol!

References:

acsu.buffalo.edu/NorseCharacters.org

mythologian.net

Some Things in Life come with Pain: "A Christmas Story"

                                             
                                A Christmas Story: Pain is Sometimes Included


  "How do you know?," he asked, not sure he wanted an answer. He had been careful to make her life as comfortable as possible. Living on a meager salary while medical bills continued to pile up, the small, drafty apartment in Chicago offered little comfort to the pain Robert felt.
  As garland, Christmas trees, and Santa themes faded in the first few weeks of 1939, Mr. Robert May was forced to turn his thoughts on the next Christmas because his job description demanded so. Meanwhile, his parents came to live with him because Robert's ailing wife, Evelyn, requiring 24 hour assistance. His parents faced near poverty themselves resulting from the Great Depression, and with the rumors of another world war about to erupt, only added to Robert's difficulties.
  Employed by a large retailer, Montgomery Ward, Robert worked as a copyright at the headquarters in Chicago, overseeing designed ads for the mail order catalog. He loved to write and had earned a journalism degree from Dartmouth College, graduating with Phi Kappa honors in 1926. Still, at age thirty-seven years of age, he had not envisioned himself creating ads for men's shirts, women's dress, or children's clothing as part of his writing career. But, in early January of 1939, Robert received a new assignment.
  Montgomery Ward traditionally purchased and distributed free coloring books to children as part of their holiday promotion. This year however, the decision was made to produce Christmas coloring books in-house and lessen the costs of holiday expense
  One morning before leaving for work, Robert heard his four year old daughter, Barbara, say to his wife, "Mommy, why are you so different? I pray for you. I don't want you to die." Two years prior, his wife was diagnosed with cancer. Now bedridden, she lifted her frail, left arm and gently touched the side of Barbara's innocent face. Robert sat next to the bed in a long back, fabric torn chair, squinting his eyes trying to hold back tears. "Perhaps you might have time to take Barbara to the zoo on Saturday, Robert," Evelyn, spoke in a soft, yet weak voice. Barbara loved to visit the Lincoln Park Zoo.
  Robert had been called to the supervisor's office only a few days before to receive his new assignment. He was to create a children's coloring book that would be uplifting and cheery for the holidays. The supervisor advised Robert to include an animal as the main character, with various scenic outlines of children awaiting Santa's arrival interacting with their "new friend."
  As Robert walked with his daughter, Barbara, at the zoo on Saturday, they viewed the sea lions, the Kovler Lion House, "Bushman," the popular lowland gorilla, and reindeer.  His mind contemplated ideas about the type of animal for the coloring book.
  He remembered his supervisor mentioning the animal be meek and mild. He drifted back to his own childhood, facing rejection and bullying from his friends. He was small, not physically strong, and not good in sports. Robert experienced a hard time fitting in with others. Could he create an animal that faced...rejection?
  Evelyn had been the love of Robert's life dating back to their days at Dartmouth in the early 1920's. He would be lost without her. And Barbara...how could she grow up without a mother? Yet, in July of 1939, Evelyn lost her battle with cancer.
  A few days after her death, Robert's supervisor offered to take him off the assignment and give him time to adjust to the heart rendering loss. However, Robert refused. By late August he completed his assignment.
  The coloring book included a poem. Robert cleverly weaved the words of the poem throughout the book, yet before he submitted his finished product, he read the poem to his little girl, Barbara, to gather her thoughts and feelings on what he had written.
  He read;

"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
  Had a very shiny nose.
  And if you ever saw him,
  You would even say it glows.

  "All of the other reindeer,
  Used to laugh and call him names.
  They never let poor Rudolph
  Join in any reindeer games.

  Then one foggy Christmas Eve,
  Santa came to say,
  'Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
  Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?'
 
  Then all the reindeer loved him,
  As they shouted out in glee,
  Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
  You'll go down in history."

  Montgomery Wars gave our over 2.4 million coloring during the holiday season of 1939. As World War ll began, paper was rationed and the company produced no Christmas books through 1945. Late in that year, Sewell Avery, the CEO of Montgomery Ward, called Robert to his office and gave him the rights to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," free and clear! A company decision had been made stating the coloring book and poem had run its course. They decided to going in a different direction for 1947.
  Robert thought he would publish the poem, yet soon discovered most publishers were not interested. The reasoning was millions of free copies were already in households and the market was saturated. Finally, Maxton Publishers agreed to print an updated version of the "Rudolph" poem.
  In 1948, the idea of producing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in song might encourage sales. Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore were contacted, yet both politely declined. In the later part of the year, Gene Autry was approached. After singing the song in his studio a few times, he decided he would also decline. But, he faced resistance.
  His wife heard him playing the tune and loved the melody. Gene Autry changed his mind and accepted the offer. The recording was placed on side "B" of  a 45 record.
  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold over 15 million records in the next few years and became the 2nd most popular song at Christmas. Only Being Crosby's "White Christmas," sold more.
  Although the success of "Rudolph" paid off Robert's medical bills and gave him a comfortable living for 5 years, he never became extremely wealthy.
  In 1951, Robert Mays returned to Montgomery Ward as a copyright and worked there until his retirement in 1971. he passed away in 1976, content with what "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," had provided.


Sources:

History Channel: "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" by Christopher Klein 12/19/2014

InterfaithFamily.com 12/20/2011