Winning Words 3/3/11
“We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the
same.” (Carlos Castaneda – anthropologist) I recently had an online “talk” with a friend about: “Is the life we lead completely the result of choices we make?” I agree that it is, up to a point. We can make some “miserable” choices, and others can turn out great, but is it all choice? What do you think? ;-) Jack

FROM JK IN MICHIGAN: It has been the observation in my life that I agree our choices affect 90%+ of our life position. Strange thing is that for some reason less honorable choices (like eating the rest of bag of chips) seem easier to justify sometimes than the right ones - even when I know the difference. I am starting to really re-evaluate the value of self discipline to honor God in all things. FROM JACK: I see God as being like a caring parent who allows children to make free choices...up to a point.

FROM BLAZING OAKS: Well, you have to consider Tornados, and 2 foot snow storms, and a few extenuating circumstances which are out of your control, so I say, NO, our life is not ALL about choices we make, but in all honesty our choices do heavily reflect on our life outcomes, especially health issues. But the WW today hit the nail on the head (ouch!) as to whether we decide to be a happy person or a sad and miserable one...and that is a conscious choice for sure. Hopefully we get better at putting a positive spin on things, as we mature...! I said, HOPEFULLY!!~!A cheerful person is appreciated by everyone, and people DO notice. FROM JACK: Storms can can cause "trees" to fall on homes indiscriminately. "Into each life some rain must fall." You've had your share of storms. We all have. Having a religious faith seems to go a long way toward helping one to have a positive attitude.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Life is all about choices and answers to prayers. Work like everything depends upon you and pray like everything depends upon God,. That is what I tell all of the grandchildren. Just do the best that you can. For some reason, I am programmed to forget the unpleasant experiences and to remember on the happy ones until someone or something jogs my memory. At our age, if we are healthy, we get to do what we want to do, don't you think? Yesterday we went to a concert of the Dukes of Dixieland which reminded me of the jazz in smokefilled cellars in Chicago, the caves of Paris, and Bourbon Street New Year's Eve in New
Orleans. Today we are going to a lecture on My Travels with the World Council of Churches by the Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson at USF. Afterwards, we are thinking of going to the Strawberry Festival in Plant City.
FROM JACK: Ahhh, The Dukes of Dixieland. I have two of their albums. Because I'm free to do what I want to do, I'm going to pull them out and listen to them. We have a "player" that accomodates LPs, tapes and CDs, but no 8-tracks.

FROM PRJM IN MICHIGAN: That's about as answerable as the "Nature/Nurture" discussion. We have free will but there are other circumstances that impinge on our ability to choose or enable more choices. Mmmm?
FROM JACK: It's easy to become sidetracked. Simply stated, our attitude plays a large part in whether we are happy or depressed. I know of people who heavy burdens to bear and do it with a happy demeanor. I know of others who are just plain grumps, for no apparent reason.

FROM HANNELORE IN NS: Thank you for the many Winning Words I am receiving since I have my own E mail address, I liked many ,but today was very special. I had a friend in Pennsylvania, she died 2 years ago, she was born with C P, she had the most amazing attitude in life and made the most of every day. Mary Anne and I we had so much fun together,she is on of my heroes .Even so it is up to us how we deal with challenges in live we have to want to be positive. FROM JACK: We all have our heroes....those who face adversity with courage, who are an inspiration. I'm sure that Mary Anne thought that way about you, too. That's the way it is with friends.

FROM SH IN ILLINOIS: We may not always be able to choose what happens in our lives, but our reaction to what happens is always of our choosing. Dealing with my husband's ALS, friends' cancer diagnoses, and other senseless tragedies has taught me that over and over. Do we choose anger or forgiveness? Do we want to live in despair or hope? Do we choose to live as victims or to find a way to make a difference each day? Do we choose to wallow in the fallenness of the world or to rejoice in God's promise of salvation? FROM JACK: I am inspired (as are others) by you and your husband. Someone might say, "I couldn't handle it." That's a choice. How the two of you and your family handle it is a choice, too. Thanks for your response.

FROM JO IN MICHIGAN: I think that there are two sides to everything, and that there can be positive outcomes from negative events. It's all up to the individual and what point of view he/she has on life. FROM JACK: It also has to do with the kind of people we associate with.

FROM DAZ IN COLORADO: So we ought to be optimists. FROM JACK: We need to try.

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY: it is not always dependent on the physical choices that we make. they are actually teaching tools. attitude also depends on the way we choose to perceive life around us. without burying our heads in the sand, we can still choose to see things from the positive side, not giving power to the negative. it's the way i think about the whole god/satan conflict. by giving all power to god/positive, satan/negative power is diminished. FROM JACK: That makes sense to me. It may be simplistic, but I see God as the ultimate good, and satan as anything that is opposed to that good. MORE FROM MARY: not simple at all. that is the definition of good and that which is not. we give power to that which we choose to, even sometimes, innocently. the key to choices is keeping one's eyes and spirit open, and of course sending as much goodness out into the world as possible. it is a full time job. not simple at all. FROM JACK: A verse from the hymn, "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy"....If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His Word, Then our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: Where is the point you are talking about? At what point do we loose control? I do agree by the way. FROM JACK: "Ay, there's the rub." The point may be at different times for different people. My belief is that God intervenes at the appropriate time.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: These WW resonate with me too. Henri Nouwen says in his book "Here and Now" "Some people become bitter as they grow old. Others grow old joyfully. That does not mean that the life of those who become bitter was harder than the life of those who become joyful. It means that different choices were made, inner choices, choices of the heart." Some how that is so comforting to realize we have "inner choices" "choices of the heart", kind of levels the playing field doesn't it, helps the most down-and-out person still be able to win the prize. Great WW once again today. FROM JACK: I like "Choices of the heart."

FROM MOLINER CF: Jack, This one is a bell ringer! You have no idea of the influence you had on me today. Thanks. FROM JACK: It's like "The Twilight Zone," sometimes.

FROM CWR IN B'MORE: I agree, as well, "to a point".....but circumstances are a big factor. For instance, skin color. I volunteer in an "inner city" health clinic and our patients are climbing up a much steeper ladder than I ever had to climb and my choices are easier and more simple, by birth. FROM JACK: I agree with your "point." Judgment is based on varities of circumstances.

FROM KZB IN COLORADO: I believe in free will and the power of prayer. hmmmm... where does that put me? ;-) FROM JACK: Where? Sitting in the pew next to me.

FROM RG IN ARIZONA: It's time to read Kierkegarrd on this one. He was the first one to address the depths of our existence in the subjective sense, unlike other philosophers who addressed Life systematically. He was the great Danish philosopher and theologian born in 1813(?) and died in 1855. That's not that long ago really --- but long overdue! He notes our fundamental freedom and corresponding ability to respond [response + ability]. We're even free to think we are 90% accountable. Once the notions of freedom and responsibility truly set in, with all of its overwhleming option and opportunity, one will likely better understand the reasons for all the attempts we make to avoid it! FROM JACK: Those philosopher/theologians are so complex.

(People understand me so little that they do not even understand when I complain of being misunderstood. —Søren Kierkegaard) Responsibility for choices goes on an on. Socrates probably influenced SK. I know that both had an influence on me.