Jack’s Winning Words 3/12/15
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”  (Jon Kabat-Zinn)  Perhaps it’s the loss of a job, an illness, an unexpected death, or fear of the unknown.  Life can be stressful!!!  This prayer has been a help to many people:  “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”  The old hymn, “Be not dismayed, whate’er betide, God will take care of you,” can be a comfort, too!    ;-)  Jack

FROM HONEST JOHN:  Great quote....Sometimes when we can stop the waves, we shrink from it...or ignore the opportunity....e.g., we can fix the roads but the legislature lacks the guts to do it. ====JACK:  No matter what the job (task), blessed are those who get it done, without first wondering, "How's this going to benefit me?"  This applies to legislators and...even pastors.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  Like====JACK:  Do you also LIKE the song, "Surfin' USA?"====LIZ:  love the beach boys. god only knows is my fav.====JACK:  The song was voted 25 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Regarding Kabat-Zinn's words, personally I prefer to adjust them..."You can't stop the waves, but you can stay back from the seashore."  When you're stressed from job, illness, fear, etc, there's not a serious means of converting those hardships into fun.  You need a change of perspective.  For long term relief and peace of mind, I'd take your advice and "cast all your cares upon Him for He cares for you."  (1 Peter 5:7)====JACK:  Easier said than done...to look with new eyes at old things.  For some people, life looks like Detroit in ruins.  Conundrum...How to help those people see possibilities amidst that which seems impossible?  In a small way, Winning Words seeks to do that.  To speak positively when others would be negative, is another way.  That seems to be as challenging as it would be to teach you to surf. ====RI:  I got a good laugh at that last line of your response.  (Looking positively at the things around us is always evident by your commentaries in WW...kudos to you for that.  Also, your frequent expressions of enthusiasm about the potential for Detroit comes through clearly.  You are not simply a "booster", you exemplify the spirit for creating a better Detroit, and thereby a better world.  I'm proud to call you my friend.)====JACK:  Sometimes it's frustrating to see what others are unable to see.  But, then I have to realize that that's what teaching/sharing is all about.

FROM RJP IN NAPLES:  GOOD ONE. Seems like I have been mastering those breakers for years. But it also makes you stronger and more resilient.====JACK:  Do you remember when you learned to water ski and what a thrill it was to get up out of the water for the first time?  When we meet difficulties and are able to overcome them...that's a thrill, too.====RJP:  Bad analogy for me. I went around the lake on my bottom. took three times to get standing on the skis and I had the runs for two days. What a way to get cleaned out.   Talk about lessons learned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!====JACK:  Was there any reported fish kill?

FROM JAYHAWK DON:  Good advice for tournament time.====JACK:  The only surfing I will do is when I go from station to station when March Madness games are being played simultaneously.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Or maybe the "Senior Serenity Prayer": "God grant me the Serenity to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to meet up with the ones I do like, and the eyesight to tell the difference!"  Yes, as the WW tell  us today,  we sometimes have to adjust our sails to accommodate adverse winds. F. Scott Fitzgerald said, "Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." I would guess he might know something about that!  Good inspiration for today, thanks! ====JACK:  When it comes to making adjustments, the retirement years present some challenging ones.  It could be called, Surfing for Seniors.  After years of "being in charge," the decision making begins to be in the hands of others.  Oh,well...when we came into this life, we were in the hands of others, too.  COWABUNGA!

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Or you can try to jump over them.  You may be knocked out a few times but you'll get over some of them!====JACK:  I'm not as agile as you are.  No jumping over waves for me.  I just try to "wade" through.  That can be exciting at times.  Do you remember the hymn..."Master, the tempest is raging, the billows are tossing high etc."?  If you can't jump, wade or surf, you can always call upon the Master of the waves.  "Peace, peace, be still!"

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Yes, and one day at a time.

FROM SBP IN FLORIDA:  Well, surfing (water) is not my cup of tea. I tend to head to higher ground, maintain stability, and await the recomformation of the situation....making the necessary temporary adjustments along the way. And my hymn is " What a Friend..."  While teaching, I read The Big Wave to each of my classes. The setting a fishing village on the shore of a tropical island upon which there was a mountain. The villagers were experienced in signs of underwater quakes and oncoming tsunamis. They headed up the mountain, adjusting to the situation, to the protection of Grandfather. Once the storm had passed, they returned to the newly shaped coast, rebuilt their huts with a window facing the sea.....and adjusted to the changed conformation. As I think of it now, it seems a bit allegorical. ====JACK:  I told my (confirmation) students about The Big Flood.