Why am I doing this?

The last half of the title of a book I read many decades ago may give a clue: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I unabashedly hope that some of the things I comment on will influence people for the good; winning friends is not something I’m too worried about.

Someone, maybe Stephen R. Covey, said that we all have an intrinsic need to ‘live, to love, and to leave a legacy.’ Maybe that’s it—I’m worried about leaving a legacy or at least having made a good showing in life or leaving evidence in someone else’s life that I’ve made a difference. I’m always worried about that in my children’s lives; not for me or with a focus on me, but that something I said or did could enrich their lives. That, too, was and is an important goal for me in my teaching-- in my public school teaching, in over forty years of Church teaching, always in the teaching of my family, and for you in Omnium-Gatherum.

An aphorism that has stuck in my mind is:

‘He who would make footprints in the sands of time should wear his work boots.’ (author unremembered)

The work that I am trying to craft here, then, is to express my thoughts in such a way that a residual-- an encouragement, a motivation, perhaps a new direction, or new resolution is left that you will pick up on and that your life will be enriched. I think too many of us are stuck, tracking along in a rut, not making a conscious effort for self-improvement. It is never too late to try again. Maybe you will get something here that will give you a jump start if you need it.

I am reading a book, that I don’t particularly like, about a man (Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, by Walter Isaacson) who did have a desire for self-improvement but the focus always seemed to be on ambitions for himself without a whole lot of regard for others. I hope my view of him changes by the time I get to the end of the book.

But selfishness or self-aggrandizement is not my goal. I think it is a poison for anyone who allows himself or herself to be caught in this kind of self-delusion. I have found that service to others is much more satisfying, and much more becoming. My life has been exceedingly blessed by being on both ends of this thing called service.

So I end today with this thought from the Bible following a nice little speech given by Solomon that I would like you to think about: “ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart…and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour….” (1Kings 3:11-13)

That is my wish—for me and for you—at least the part before “riches and honour.” Remember, Solomon didn't ask for these things--neither should we.

'Where ere thou art, act well thy part' -- Good advice?

This epitaph was written on a grave marker in Scotland and has influenced many, including me. It has caused me to ponder my role in life and forced me repeatedly to ask myself if I am living up to what is expected of me by my God and by those who depend upon me. Have I acted with soundness of character and integrity to my many roles—Christian disciple, husband, father, son and brother, American citizen, teacher, neighbor, friend?

I have concluded that it is good advice. There is a caveat, however—there is always a caveat. It is that we must choose our parts carefully.

In Bavaria Germany, this year, is the famous Oberammergau Passion Play, performed generally only once every ten years since 1634. Approximately one-half of the village’s 5,400 residents participate in the depiction of Christ’s last week of mortality. Each person has a part, including those of Jesus, Mary, and the apostles including Judas Iscariot.

The players, all laypeople of the village, are to so immerse themselves in their roles that they ‘become’ the person they are depicting so as to be thoroughly believable. You can see where this might lead—especially for the man who takes the part of Judas Iscariot.

It has been reported that three of the more recent ‘Judas’s’ have committed suicide.

Omnium-Gatherum-Millermade: Our Thoughts.

Omnium-Gatherum-Millermade: Our Thoughts.: "I feel constrained to amplify what I said about ‘standing on the shoulders of giants.’ I will tell you up front that my future postings wil..."

‘LIKE’ GROUNDWORK:

Since I started my second posting with some ‘up front’ admissions I will give you a few more. If you choose to be a reader of further offerings of my mind-flights you should know that I love and respect good language well-expressed.

But some things grate on my ear—such as the word ‘grate.’ Another word that ‘grates’ is the word ‘blog.’ The only time you will ever read the word ‘blog’ in a posting on Omnium Gatherum will be this one time. I simply don’t like the word; it sounds like something the cat left on the rug after a hard night out. It is not a piece of miscellany that I care to gather (omnium-gatherum, n., a miscellaneous collection or gathering of all). Neither will you read the word ‘like’ except as I used it in the previous, but not the following sentence. So, ‘like’ I’m sorry girls, ‘weblog’ will be as close as I’ll get to the current usage by ‘like’ those under 30.
The most substantial encouragement I will give today is to use the dictionary with regularity. Some of you do, and I give kudos to those who looked up the title of my weblog on their first reading.

Perhaps these admissions point to some eccentricities which my children know well, and will become readily apparent for those who persist and become a regular reader of these offerings. I know I am provoking some of you, but that’s one good way for me to be appropriately provocative. Much of my learning has come because I was provoked. That, my children also know. Thanks, kids. Enough said.

Our Thoughts.

I feel constrained to amplify what I said about ‘standing on the shoulders of giants.’ I will tell you up front that my future postings will make no pretense of being, necessarily, original, but I fervently hope they will be thought-provoking and helpful.
I suspect that everything I think or believe or will write in this forum has probably been thought or believed or spoken by others—and these people are giants to me. Consider this observation by a very bright man: “Certain authors, when they speak of their work, say: ‘My book, my commentary, my history’….They would do better to say ‘our book, our commentary, our history,’ since their writings generally contain more of other people’s good things than of their own.” (Blaise Pascal, Pensees, Penguin Classics, 1961, p.42)
Over the years I have gathered many ideas taken from prophets, poets, teachers, historical figures, song lyrics, and writers of great books, both non-fiction and fiction, and some of you—some sources long since forgotten--that have colored my worldview and given me knowledge and direction and have enriched my life. I thank them and I thank you. So I will try to give credit where I can, without taking too much trouble to look up everything. But even there, who can say that the credited or uncredited person did not get his idea from another antecedent to him? And, really, does it matter? I now hope to pass some of these ideas and observations, to which I now lay claim, on to you. If you like what you read, embrace it or reclaim it as your own, pass it on, and be glad.

First Offering

I am defined by what I have read, seen, heard, felt, and experienced. I have a happy life and want to share, what can be shared, that has made it so. All of this, of course, will be very subjective. But that doesn't mean that it cannot be valuable to others--or to you. Take what you wish. The first thing you take, I hope, is the observation by Isaac Newton; be grateful for all the contributions others' have made to your life. You didn't get here alone.