Second Thoughts ~ Death’s Outlook

Greetings Dear Reader,

When I say “Outlook” here I am referring to the calendar and communication software used by so many of us. I spent most of the day yesterday with Death.  Like upper management, he dropped in unannounced with a few agenda items to discuss.  I will review his agenda in reverse order.

My eldest son texted me asking if I knew Jamie (Last name withheld).  I responded gleefully that I did and that she IS awesome.  He immediately considerately called me.  He explained that she passed away suddenly and that the visitation and funeral were imminent.  I worked with Jamie many years ago.  Although it radiates through all of time and space, the brightness of her life can be encapsulated in a moment:

Years ago, I was very discouraged over the health of one of the people we served in our work.  It was unlike me to show these feelings openly.  Jamie put her hand gently on my shoulder, looked me in the eye, and said, “We both know that things will work out as they should.  It will be OK.”  She believed it and knew that I did too.  That moment plays through my mind whenever I am discouraged.  That story seemed to help her grieving family last night.

Death’s second agenda item, still moving from last to first, was the death of someone I do not know.  Her name is Summer.  Like any eighth grader she was on her way to school on a rainy Georgia spring morning.  Hydroplaning on a wet road and a head-on collision with a school bus took her life.  The reason this matters, other than the fact that every death diminishes me, is that she is a dear friend to my niece Jade.  My sister Ivy, Jade’s mum related that Jade is devastated. 

The first agenda item on Death’s outlook for me was already scheduled.  My sisters Jade, Amy, and Echo were burying the man they really knew as a father, Gordon.  This followed close on the heels of losing their grandmother.  Due to the kudzu nature of my family the relationship would take more explaining than is relevant here.  The essence is that Death was there already in my day as I prayed for my sisters.  I love them more than they know and get to be with them less than I wish.

As I drove back from the visitation last night, having met Jamie’s husband and telling him how much she meant to me, it occurred to me that a day filled with Death has something to teach me.  Death reminded me that his appointments are set and that neither of us gets to reschedule it.  We may not even get a reminder of the appointment.  The sand moves through the pinch and we cannot stem or stay its flow.  What we can do is remember to have the proper perspective of life and death.

You see, Dear Reader, I also mean “outlook” as a perspective.  If you want to understand my view of Death you may wish to read Chronicles of Thanatos the Reaper.  In short Death is there to look out for us.  He gets us to the clearing at the end of the journey.  He ushers us into that undiscovered country.  He follows the direction given him by the Father and needs no permission or understanding other than that.

It is up to me to see the purpose and accept it.  It is required of me that I represent comfort and hope to the bereaved.  When Death stops by he never lets me know when he will return.  We first met when he came for my Grandfather.  He has visited to pick up a Sister and a Daughter as well.  He always has something to teach me.  This needs to compel me to see all life as precious.  I must love every person I encounter to honor the likes of Jamie, Summer, and Gordon.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Expressing Gratitude

Greetings Dear Reader,

This may at first sound circular.  I am grateful for the idea of gratitude.  When I mentioned this as a test idea to a friend she said that I was running out of things to say about gratitude.  In truth, yesterday was a day spent with Death and he reminded me that gratitude is vital to life.

I will write about my day with Death this evening but I want to seriously express my gratitude for gratitude.  It is something that energizes me.  When I feel genuinely grateful for something and express it properly it makes a huge difference.  Showing real gratitude has benefited me greatly over the years.

There are people who are my friends simply because I made it a point to show gratitude.  Genuine gratitude surprises people but it should not.  I once made it a point to go to someone who had worked late to get some data for me.  I thanked her for working so late when she was already tired.  She told me that it was the first time in sixteen years at her job that someone sought her out to personally express gratitude.

I am motivated to show gratitude.  I am happy that I have been taught to appreciate others and what they do.  The process of expressing gratitude is a gift to those who share it.  It is a source of joy for the truly grateful to bestow that gratitude on the deserving.  I need to express gratitude.  It makes the journey richer.  How about you Dear Reader; what does expressing gratitude do for you?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Diners

Greetings Dear Reader,

My earliest memory of a diner is sitting in one with my Grandfather.  He would order his eggs over easy and eat around the yolk.  Then he would gingerly place the yolk on a corner of toast and eat them together.  I still do this.

Wherever I have lived I have sought out a diner.  It takes time for me to find the right one but I always find it.  My current diner has been “my diner” for sixteen years.  I am deeply thankful for it.

My gratitude for diners goes beyond good food at a fair price.  I find it to be a solid reflection of the idea of community.  One can sense a community there; even get an aspect of it values and personality. 

A diner is one of the great aspects of independent business.  Someone chooses to get up early and cook food for others.  I once visited a diner that opened at four in the morning.  It did so because it was less than a block from the local police station.  The night shift would take a “dinner” break there and the day shift would go in for an early breakfast.  The diner served the community.

I am grateful for a hot meal at a fair price.  I am grateful for waitresses that call you “honey” even when they do not know your name.  I am filled with gratitude that anywhere I travel I can find a diner with unique but common flavor.  I try to always try what they recommend on my first visit. 

I think that when I am at a diner It fuels my desire to be kind to others.  It reminds me how hard people work and how many different flavors of life there are.  I am grateful for the reminder of the people who need love and kindness on the journey as they stop off for coffee and food.  I strive to give everyone I encounter a large plate of that kindness.

Johnny’s Café – John Fischer

Wasting the day down at Johnny’s Café,

All kinds of people there with plenty to say,

If you got nothing to say to folks at Johnny’s Café,

You got nothing to say at all.

Walk in any day and you’ll find a slice of life at your table;

One man leaving his wife another wishing he was able,

An old man trying to forget a young one looking for a label,

And the stories they tell you can’t tell if they’re true of they’re fable.

And the lady pouring coffee she knows the regulars by name.

If she doesn’t know you she calls you “honey” just the same.

And we all love to hear it,

Even if she has to fake it,

‘Cause it’s nice to think that someone really cares;

Someone cares.

Go spend the day down at Johnny’s Café,

All kinds of people there with plenty to say,

If you got nothing to say to folks at Johnny’s Café,

You got nothing to say at all.

Half a mile down the road you’ll find a church with a steeple.

And on Sundays the pews are full of well-dressed beautiful people.

There’s a leading politician whose wife is a musician in the choir.

A corporation head who is trying to get a little bit higher.

And the preacher pouring sermons he knows the regulars by name.

If he doesn’t know you he’ll shake your hand just the same.

And we all love to hear it,

Even if we have to fake it,

But it would be nice if someone really cared;

Someone cared.

Go spend the day down at Johnny’s Café,

All kinds of people there with plenty to say,

Now if Jesus were here I think we’d find him today down at Johnny’s café.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Emergency Services

Greetings Dear Reader,

Where I live I can sometimes hear sirens going down the motorway.  I can usually distinguish between police and fire/rescue sirens.  I try to always pray for those in need and those on the way. 

Do we really show gratitude to those who stay up all night and work the holidays so that we can be safe or obtain emergency care?  I am concerned that we do not understand the level of sacrifice they offer to serve us.  I become more aware each time I speak with my brother who is a paramedic. 

I am blessed that I have only needed emergency services a few times in my life.  In those times I have received excellent care.  None of those time was my life in danger.  Still, I need to have gratitude on behalf of the secondary benefit I receive. 

Last week I walked out of my door on the way to my car.  I found myself surrounded by uniformed police officers and detectives.  I immediately stopped, put my hands in clear sight, and asked if they needed me to do anything.  One of the uniformed officers politely told me that if I could show him my ID it would be helpful.  I did.

There were seven police vehicles, a forensic unit, and a few detective cars.  They were keenly interested in my neighbor.  After they verified my identification one of the officers walked me to my car and wished me well.  I thanked him for doing his part to keep us safe.  I asked him to pass on my gratitude to the team. 

As I drove away I again thanked God for those who serve us and protect us.  I prayed for my neighbor.  I still do not know what the issue was nor do I need to know.  What matters is that I am grateful for those who protect and serve and save.  I am thankful that I live in a place where people still pull over for emergency vehicles.  I have great gratitude for those who sacrifice so much just to keep us safe.

I thank them when I can.  I offer kindness whenever possible.  You would not believe the level of smile you get when you thank an officer blocking your driveway for enforcing the four-way stop sign on your corner.  How do you show your appreciation for emergency personnel Dear Reader?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Movies

Greetings Dear Reader,

I first discovered movies as a lad.  My mum would sometimes work on Saturdays and would send me next door to the Fox Theatre for their Saturday children’s movie.  The inside of the theatre was like being in a castle at night.   The ceiling filled with stars twinkled at dusk showing the walls and towers of the castle around the perimeter. 

As a boy I saw movies like Jack the Giant Killer and The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad. It was always a double-feature with heaps of cartoons thrown in for good measure.  The time was magical to me. 

The progression was first to a steady diet of old movies on a local UHF channel.  I was treated to the great classics, desert dramas, and Abbot and Costello comedies.  There were some great science fiction reels there as well. 

The first movie I attended on my own was The Land that Time Forgot.  It was at a small local theatre.  I sat through it twice.  Then I got a job at a mall with a theatre.  I would work my shift in the morning on Saturday and take in a movie before going home.

There was a time where the church I attended convinced me that all movies were bad.  I knew better but conformed for a little while out of false guilt.  I returned to my silver screen adventures when Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan released in 1982. 

I am always grateful for an adventure.  Understanding the work and skill that goes into making a movie makes me even more appreciative.  They become fodder for discussion and comradery.  What about you Dear Reader?  What is your favorite movie?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Gratitude ~ Mothers

Greetings Dear Reader,

From the outset, gratitude is necessary because no one would be here without his or her mother.  I will share a memory of my mum that has influenced my entire life.  Every time I think of it there is a smile in my heart. 

I was six.  It was not quite fall weather in Georgia but the summer heat had broken.  I was suffering under the vengeful tutelage of Mrs. Mars who was also Methuselah’s grade one teacher.  I was unhappy about school and still finding my way in other things that six-year-old boys should not have to navigate.

It was a Thursday.  Mum sent me to bed early saying that I looked tired.  I knew better than to argue.  Surprisingly I fell asleep. 

It was deeply dark when my mum quietly awakened me.  She led me into the living room where there was popcorn and lemonade.  The small black and white TV we had was on and the credits for some show I do not remember were rolling.

Then a few ads rolled by and it began.  The screen went dark, a single note pinged, then another.  And the words that would change my thinking on so many things reached my ears for the first time.  “Space, the final frontier: these are the voyages of the Star Ship Enterprise.  Her five-year mission to seek out new life, new civilization, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

My mum thought I would like Star Trek and she was right.  Even at six I grasped the beauty and depth of the show.  I have been a fan for my entire life and used it to reach out to others in need of community.

I feel great gratitude for my mum making the time to invest that weekly hour in my nurture every week.  It has made a vast difference in who I am.  It has taught me much that extends to all of life.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

Gratitude ~ Baseball

Greetings Dear Reader,

As I write this my beloved Atlanta Braves are in first place.  This early in the season the situation is still quite mercurial.  Still I get to celebrate today.  It is one of the many things I love about baseball. 

I have been a life-long lover of the game.  I am grateful for it because of not only the game but the life lessons it teaches.  You can read more about this in the chapter, The Mound, in Sheetrock on the Road. 

It provides a venue for good conversation with friends.  I have had opportunity for my Children and Grandchildren to experience good times and good food.  It has coaxed some dreams out of them and created some beautiful memories.

I am most grateful for the lesson in opportunity.  There is always opportunity in baseball.  It is linear and constant.  It is fleeting and renewable all at once.  It is measured chaos at its finest. 

The gratitude I feel involves memories of my Grandfather, playing as a youth, and memories I am creating with my family.  Every moment of the game has a measure of truth to teach.  There are dreams realized and lost in the game.  There is drama and joy.  It is a microcosm of life.  There is also the great thing that we all need; renewed constantly every moment.  There is hope.  I am so grateful for hope.  I am so grateful for baseball.  Do you get this Dear Reader (there is no wrong answer)?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Service Personnel

Greetings Dear Reader,

I tend to get to know the people who work at places where I shop and dine.  These individuals work hard and do not get paid what they are worth. This week has been filled with kind surprises from those people. 

I wonder if we take enough time to consider the lives of those who ring up our groceries or refill our coffee.  The work that they do is crucial to the way in which we move through our lives.  By way of example consider the inconvenience of no service clerks at a grocery store.  I do not often need assistance there but when I do it is crucial. 

Making all of those service experiences friendly and personal benefits me as well.  As they get to know me and count on my kindness, they are open and honest when I ask how they are.  This is a treasure to me.  I get to show compassion.  I am more knowledgeable in my prayer for them (yes, I pray for service personnel.  Are you implying that you do not?).  Knowing them better allows me to show the kind of kindness each of them needs.

I mentioned that this week was very good.  I was surprised with a hug.  I was given a gift.  I was told that I make a difference.  I was delighted to hear about a waitress who is graduating from college and moving on to her career.  I will miss her but she is going to chase her dream and I was privileged to be a part of that journey.

I am grateful for those who serve us as we go through our day.  They are a gift we often overlook if we do not make the time.  Try it Dear Reader.  Invest a little in those who serve.  You will be grateful that you did.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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Gratitude ~ Giving

Greetings Dear Reader,

I suppose it may seem odd to be grateful for giving.  Usually one receives gratitude for giving.  It is not supposed to be the purpose of giving but it should follow.  One must always be grateful when receiving a gift.

It is vital, however, that we understand that giving is a privilege as well.  “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”  If we accept that as an axiom then it follows that we should be grateful for the opportunity to give.

In trying to live this out I have adopted a response when people thank me for giving.  I respond that it is a privilege.  The person I say it to is often surprised and I enjoy that.  Occasionally someone will challenge and ask if I really think that giving is a privilege.  I do.  I tell them as much.  I am honored to be able to give.

If we learn to view giving as a gift we share we can give more freely, more abundantly.  If I treat giving as the privilege it is, then it is easier to resist selfishness and greed.  It becomes joyful to put others first, to share my resources, and to be generous.  It removes my need to grasp and possess.

Giving is one of the things that makes what us we are.  It forges things eternal.  It shows our love and compassion.  Can you see giving as something for which to be grateful?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Gratitude ~ Abundance

Greetings Dear Reader,

Abundance is one of those relative terms that can both be positive or negative.  Having an abundance of gold coins is good.  Having an abundance of mosquitoes is not good at all unless you are studying them for some humane purpose.  Then again, having an abundance of gold coins, say in your pockets is not good if you have just fallen off a ship into deep waters.

Abundance can also be relative in terms of perspective.  Many people do not realize they have an abundance of things until compared to someone who lacks.  Someone who only has a cup of rice a day may see a fifty-pound bag as abundance. 

Even though I have been without “normal” income for almost a year, I have an abundance.  I have more than most people in the world.  I have an abundance of food and clothing.  My life is filled with opportunity to write and help others.

I have more than I need even though I do not have all that I want.  I do not mean this in a selfish or complaining way.   I am simply drawing the distinction.  I try to temper my wants to serve my journey.  I do not always succeed.

For what I have I want to always be truly grateful.  When I lose sight of the abundance that I possess I become greedy and self-absorbed.  It is my obligation to remember that I have much.  Further, I must be thankful as often as possible for the abundance I have.  I must also share out of that abundance whenever possible.  What about you Dear Reader?  Do you consider what you have in abundance and how you can show your gratitude for it?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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