Sabbath Messages > Sabbath Message: Oct. 9, 2004
Good Sabbath
October 9, 2004 "This is the Book; it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who
fear God: who believe in the Unseen and are steadfast in prayer." (The
Holy Quran - the long-ago gift from my dear friend, Abdul Kassir)
"Transcendentalism=a philosophy based upon a search for reality through
spiritual intuition." I try to make this the meaning of my work for
every organization I guide or assist . If the world is divided into pragmatists
or visionaries and right and left-brained, then we must become more enlightened
and creative through "out of the box" thinking. The brain is an
incredible mixture of absolutism and creative inspiration, faith and doubt,
love and hate, romance and boredom. The corporation is an artificial legal
teaming of all of the above, with the focus on profitability and earnings.
It is through each individual that the world becomes better or worse.
In my elderly years, I attempt to not waste any time, teaching my brain a
better discipline that has made it sensitive to the preciousness of effective
time-use. This doesn't mean having to become a workaholic! It means to learn
to utilize your God-given blessings so that you become mature, discerning,
and non-judgmental, enjoying your senses by noticing the miracles that can
become everyday living habits.
Yesterday, I took the train to Los Angeles and noticed several people decked
out in bike-riding clothing flowing with color and vibrancy, as they lifted
their bikes onto the train. Bike-riders come in all colors and shapes and
ages; they transcend professions and socio-economics; they would get off
in Capistrano and ride back. They would, at a later date, go to Austin and
take part in a 100 mile race, raising money for a cancer-stricken friend.
I spoke to a top executive of a great building organization and a police
sergeant; I made two new friends.
I also met strangers who were on their way to a gigantic football game, walked
the university campus of my alma mater, lunched with two fine gentlemen,
one an educator of years, whose prize was his son and the fact that this
son could out-fish him and achieve, but never losing the superb love between
father and son; the other a former Disney-executive, a perfect gentleman
- calm through terrible traffic (the ultimate test?).
There was a newspaper article announcing a workshop: "real boys: raising
happy, healthy and well-balanced boys in the 21st Century by William S.Pollack,
the author of "Real Boys." I thought of this as I listened to Bob
French, professor and educator. I have often wondered about how to raise
sons, do you make them weak by heightening their awareness and sensitivity?
Do you make them into insensitive bullies by teaching them skills of self-defense
so that they can become warriors? This is never simple in any way, for the
parent must strive for balance, preparing them to be parents themselves,
good and kind humans, ambitious, with enough aggressiveness so that they
do not become household pets.
As I have aged, I have become more aware of the danger of the man getting
so used to having his spouse around that he becomes more passive and can
evolve backwards into a babyhood again. A real man ages well when he remains
in touch with his sensibilities and transcends the daily culture of work,
dining, tiny home life and work again; fishing may be fun but it must not
ever become the goal of retirement or the man becomes the hooked.
The mind must become lubricated by its thoughtfulness - about others, loved
ones, even strangers. Self is important, but like fishing, can become a preoccupation.
I always worried that "women's lib" would make the female more
manly; it certainly has made many more aggressive, better at both business
and competitive sports; as Fran and I watch the many color-guards that come
marching on the field at baseball and football games, ready for the national
anthem, we note the tall men and the small females, all at attention and
all quite able to defend their country's flag.
You see, all men and women are created un-equal in stature and potential,
each nurtured by a fine or foolish parent, often too busy to supply the mentorship
which can shape a child's future values. I was always so busy in business
ambitions that I left it to my Frances to provide most of the daily nourishment
they required to become mature adults. I hoped that I would serve as a role-model
for them with fidelity to Fran, clean-living and creativity that could solve
life's problems. I learned the lessons of being away so much, though it always
tests the fidelity of a male. When all is said and done, that is how a boy
becomes a real man, through fidelity and the construction of a fine marriage,
thus making ourselves into the role-model for our young and those who work
for us.
Thank You, dear God
For looking down on Earth
Through the 6-billion
And selecting the only one
Who could put up with my evolution into
True manhood
as she evolved from girl to beautiful person.
Have a wonderful Sabbath by transcending all other days
sandy
