I would rather meet someone ignorant than stupid, ignorance can be corrected, stupidity cannot. The dictionary defines ignorant as lacking in knowledge or training, the definition for stupidity is foolish or unintelligent. So you see, by definition, ignorance can be cured.
The reason for this is of course a Facebook post, someone re-posted something someone else posted without research. Now I am guilty of this myself, however, when corrected or someone posts the research as a comment I quickly correct my post.
The person posted something about a major retailer, it didn’t sound true, so I researched it and posted the research under it and said hey this isn’t true.
Their response was does it matter. Does it matter? Let’s think about this, you posted something that was erroneous and potentially harmful to the retailer. As it was quite vicious in it’s accusations. Plus, let’s add on the fact that the person portrays themselves to be a Christian.
So now we’ve got a violation of do not bare false witness and thou shall not lie, so yes, Virginia, it does matter.
It matters for so many reasons, first you are showing that you are not ignorant as you cannot learn, you are showing that you are stupid or foolish. Next it matters due to the fact if, a big if I admit, many people believe the vitriol it could hurt the major retailers’ business. That would mean layoffs, people losing their jobs and not being able to provide for their families. I know that’s a big supposition, however, it could happen.
After that, we have your immortal soul, do you really want this to be the thing you have to explain to God when you die? Because, contrary to popular belief, God can see everything you do, yes, even on the internet.
People think they are invisible or they forget that that God is omniscient, He sees all, He knows all. I have to admit, there will be quite a few things I have to answer for when I die, however baring false witness will not be one of them.
Choose what you post carefully, I try, I am not always successful, but I do try and I feel that if I am ignorant on a subject I will educate myself.
In the words of Judge Judy, Beauty is skin deep, Stupid is forever. Ignorance can be cured, stupidity cannot, and with the advent of the internet we are seeing stupidity overtake ignorance in a big way.
This is my advise to everyone, read, read then read some more, if you have any doubt on anything you read, then read more. Education is the key to fighting ignorance and warding off stupidity.
My Review of the Rustic Cuff Business
I’m going to tell you something, something I don’t advertise or tell anyone that I do, to me it is a private thing and something that gives me great joy. Whenever I am in the drive-thru at Starbucks I pay for the person behind me. I know what you are thinking, what is the big deal, well I am telling you that because it parlays into what I am about to delve into.
I was raised to take Matthew 6:4 at it’s literal word, in case you have forgotten what it says: “Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” My mother was a pro at this, I didn’t know she made quilt tops for homeless veterans until I was 16 years old and caught her and my dad loading them into the car to deliver to the woman who would distribute them.
I am also a Mary Kay Consultant, something else that will come into play as you will soon see. In Mary Kay we are taught the Golden Rule, if you don’t know it when you become a Consultant, you learn it in lesson one. For those of you not familiar with it: Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Do unto others what you would have them do unto you. Pretty simple and clear cut. These are lessons we should all be learning as children, and they should not be a surprise to anyone as an adult.
Now, onto the heart of why I am telling you all this, there is a company in Tulsa called Rustic Cuff. The owner and creator of the business is a woman named Jill, her back story is well worth reading. It’s a great backstory, although, the majority of us in life have a great backstory. However, it takes a rare individual to take that story and make it a business, not only a business but a thriving one, especially one that is specialized.
You see the company makes and sells bracelets, and the owner is constantly giving them away. So now the women who buy them also give them away, they call it “gifting”. They imbue Jill with the attributes usually reserved for sainthood, I find it a little disconcerting.
Don’t get me wrong, what she has created is special and wonderful, she has taken a setback and created a business. She is adding to the economy of Tulsa, employing people and selling a much sought after item. But she is not in the league of a Mary Kay Ash or Ebby Halliday, yet, once she begins to employee more women and create more jobs without ceilings for them I will be more impressed.
You see in Mary Kay, we are taught about gifting, we give gifts with every purchase (the majority of us do), we also give a gift for having us in your homes. When we deliver product we have it wrapped prettily in a gift back with tissue. I have customers tell me that they look forward to my deliveries because even though they are paying for the product they feel like they are getting a gift.
Jill does give a lot of bracelets away, they have bracelets and cuffs, the followers call them all cuffs. They are not, they are bracelets, they buy them by the 100’s, from what I have seen. One woman posted that her husband (who is in the military and deployed) saw their bank account on line, called her and told her no more. She had spent roughly $400.00 on bracelets. Bracelets. The women then began commenting that she should spend more! I saw that and was floored, I thought can someone say divorce court.
I see women posting that they will have to feed their family fried bologna because they have spent too much on these things. They have to scrounge for rent or house payments, I just think to myself this is insane.
I have a few of these very attractive pieces, I will not be “gifting” any of them as I purchased ones that represent things in my life. I have also asked my children for one for Christmas, it is a true cuff and is a cutout of Oklahoma. Once again something that means something special to me.
I fully believe this woman is doing great things and is guided by the Golden Rule, from what I have seen she is very giving, very driven, high energy and family oriented. She is a rare breed of woman that God has blessed beyond measure and she is giving back. She gives back to the community at large, I have seen her do great things with this newfound fame she has garnered. I pray she continues and God continues to bless her, what I want to say to her followers, and they are followers, not mere customers, is that the near worship you have for her is a little scary. I have seen you post pictures of her children when they were out with their mother. I have seen you take pictures of Jill without her knowledge, with her in the background, some with her children in them. I have no words for that.
Please remember, this is a business, she is a business woman, with everything she is giving away, she is making a lot of money. This is not an altruistic business, it has a bottom line, however she seems to have her priorities in order, God, Family, Business. I pray she has continued success. I love seeing women succeed in business, but her premise is nothing new, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Looking Forward
2016 is looking like it is going to be a great year, for nerds and geeks everywhere, myself included. Let’s start with Batman vs Superman the Dawn of Justice. Introducing Wonder Woman to the mix. My head may explode, as you may know, or not know, I don’t know, I love the superhero mythology.
Before you say, what, those are comic book characters, I would say yes, they are, however there is a whole mythos that surrounds them. Wonder Woman literally, she comes from Amazonian warrior women, she is the daughter of Ares and Queen Hippolyta. Literally a Demi-goddess, in Greek Mythology. If you are not familiar with the backstory I suggest you google it, it is way too long to go into here.
Superman, let’s take a look at him, a super being sent to earth to save mankind, without the whole dying for us thing. There are so many similarities that it is also worth some research, the first book I suggest you read is The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. A fantastic read for everyone.
In it he delves into the human need for heroes, for a something, someone higher than a mere human. Our psyche is hardwired to look for something beyond ourselves, an explanation to our universe.
With the world in so much turmoil it is only natural we escape into the world of caped heroes, that we dream of our world being rescued by a being not of our world.
Of course this is not going to happen, I am a devout Christian and I do believe the end is coming, and humans are trying to hurry it along.
However, that does not stop me from loving the world of super heroes and heroines, my first love was Superman, I added Wonder Woman, Thor and Captain America as I grew. I also grew to love Science Fiction. I cut my teeth on Star Trek and Dr Who, and don’t even get me started on classic horror films and books. Frankenstein’s monster, The Wolf Man, and Dracula!
Of course we cannot forget my immense love affair with anything Joss Whedon, from Buffy to the Avengers, he is my geek crush of the century, well last century and this one.
I don’t believe it takes away from my Christianity to love these stories, I don’t love Christ any less, and I don’t believe they are real.
I still hold out hope for mankind, I still hold out hope that the Vulcans will eventually contact us. Although to be honest, reading the news and looking at the tabloids (purely in line at the supermarket) they will NEVER contact, especially if they monitor our airwaves, such as E! and all of the “reality” shows. Especially the ones on TLC, seriously, I’m embarrassed to be human sometimes.
I am excited for 2016, for so many reasons, but several stand out, Captain America Civil War and Batman vs Superman are two that jump to mind immediately.
Beautiful?
So, on Facebook, a friend of mine tagged me and challenged to post five pictures I feel beautiful in. Interesting. That is the only word that comes to mind as I am not beautiful, I never feel beautiful and I most certainly have no pictures that I am beautiful in. No amount of lighting will ever make me look beautiful. I am not even passingly pretty. I am reminded of that every single day of my life.
I will not be posting any pictures; I have made a decision to never post another picture of me at all. On any form of media, it’s too painful to look at it afterward. I will only post pictures of animals or funny pictures. Or my children and Tess of course, however, fewer of those and with the majority of my social media on strict privacy control.
There was an episode of Angel (brilliant Joss Whedon) where Cordelia is rendered unconscious due to her visions. They were never intended for humans, and she meets Skip, a full on demon who explains this to her. He takes her on basically a vision quest, but what struck me is when he tells her that most people have an idealized vision of what they look like. However, she doesn’t, because, well, Cordelia is beautiful. But the point is she saw herself the way she actually was.
I see myself the way I actually am, I have never been beautiful, pretty or anything else that causes heads to turn.
I have no illusions regarding my looks, oh, sometimes I have more bravado than most days and I can fake it really well. The whole look at me I’m pretty façade is just that, a façade and as I become more aged the façade has been stripped down.
So no more selfies, no more photos of me, no photos plastered all over the internet for all to make fun of. To point and say who does she think she is, thinking that she looks good, when in actuality the truth shines through.
I don’t even think I have a good personality to make up for it, I read a lot, I watch geeky shows and movies and do not have an exciting life. I used to be envious of women who are truly beautiful, my BFF Tammi is so pretty, she was actually a Mrs. Oklahoma. Julie Sunday, a former Miss Oklahoma, was so pretty. My parents would hold her up as an example of what I wasn’t. I don’t think they meant to really do it, just a generational thing.
So, here I sit, not posting the five photos I feel beautiful in, because there are none in existence.
To all of you out there, the pretty ones, the beautiful ones, enjoy it! Revel in it, take care of it, cultivate the inside as well as taking care of the outside, because eventually the inside shines outward.
I guess my insides are not that pretty either, as nothing is shining outward with me.
Morose
I’ve decided I will no longer advertise my blog on Facebook and Twitter. This way I can write what I want, no one really reads this anyway, and the few people that actually see my Facebook and Twitter updates won’t miss being inundated with blog updates.
It’s raining and cold, therefore perfect, I have the back door open. I love it, the rain soothes my soul, the cold matches my personality.
My mood today is morose, more thoughts on how truly alone I am in this world. I wish it would snow, a blanket of white would be lovely. I don’t feel alone when it snows, I feel God is speaking to me when it snows.
Christmas will be here soon, I’ll decorate this weekend. I love Christmas, however, I’m still alone during that time. Sometimes I drive down the street of houses lit up with so many lights and my heart hurts. I realize that it’s just me looking at lights, I don’t have anyone to look at them with me.
I still remember the year my children told me they didn’t enjoy driving around looking at lights. I haven’t been out to look since, it’s not as fun alone. It just serves as a reminder of how I will spend my dotage.
Maybe my nursing home will have lights I can look at. I have no illusions, I will be in a nursing home. My children all have their lives, as it should be, their lives have no room for a crazy old woman. Which I am sure I will be.
That’s all I have for now, I’m going to go back to the rain.
Thanksgiving?
I hate Thanksgiving, there, I said it, the thing you’re not supposed to say. It is a day that reminds me of what I don’t have. I don’t have a family to spend it with, my children spend the week with their dads’ family. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they do that, I would never want them to miss out on that.
Getting back to me, my parents are deceased and I don’t have any siblings. I know what you are thinking, I could spend the day with friends. I did have an invitation, but the thing is, I feel out of place. Like I’m intruding on someone else’s family.
I’ve felt that way my entire life, like I’m intruding, not really belonging. My birth mother should never have had children, she had four, she gave all of us away. But not before we were scarred.
I’m happy I was adopted, I had great parents, but I didn’t belong. Their children made sure I knew that, I was introduced as Angie, she’s not real, she’s adopted.
So, I hate Thanksgiving, it just shines a light on my inability to belong.
I know this is a day I’m supposed to reflect on everything I’m grateful for, but it’s hard for me. I am thankful to God I have a roof, food, job and amazing children.
I’m thankful I get to spend time with my granddaughter. I’m thankful both her mother and father allow me to spend time with her.
It doesn’t take away from the fact that this day is hard as I feel like it gives me a glance into my future. That I am not real, I don’t matter in anyone’s life, when I die I won’t be missed.
I’m happy for all who have families they get together with and celebrate this day with. But I genuinely hate Thanksgiving.
Civil Disobedience
I’ve been thinking a lot lately, a bad habit, I know, however, with all that is happening in the world and in this country it is unavoidable. I can’t do anything about what is happening in the world abroad, however as a citizen of the United States of America I do have a voice. It’s a voice that really won’t be heard, however, I can choose to speak.
I have been thinking a lot lately about Civil Disobedience, reading Thoreau is ubiquitous in American high schools, so it should not come as a surprise that the events happening in our country brings that to mind.
The one thing that stands out and I keep repeating in my head is his argument that individuals should not permit a government to overrule their consciences, the people have a to not acquiescence to a government that makes them agents of injustice.
The main things that drove Thoreau to make these statements and write and give lectures on this was the Mexican-American war and slavery.
He was very anti war and anti slavery, while I know we don’t have slavery today, partly in thanks to people like him and them speaking out actively doing something about it, we do have war.
It seems, every day, we are closer to that war being fought on our own soil, something that has not been done since WWII. I am not including September 11, 2011 in this as our own planes were used against us. There was nothing for our military to fight back against on that day, the events just unfolded in a shocking and horrifying way.
It seems we are at a crossroads again in this country, just the way we were in 1848, when the collective conscious said no, no to slavery and no to the Mexican-American war. The war didn’t stop, but people spoke out about it, and their voices were heard.
We are an unique country, we can speak out, we can say no, we have the right to stand up and tell our government we will not acquiesce to tyranny, we will not give up our right to bear arms, we will, as a people stand up and be heard.
There seems to be an underlying current in our great country in these times, we are tired of the status quo, of being thought of as weak by other countries. It is a situation we are not used to, since the shot that was heard around the world was fired in Concord. I believe we forgot who we were for a while, we became complacent, and in complacency you will find apathy and stagnation.
We are waking up, we are finding the people that are supposed to look after our best interests here and abroad are indeed not. And, yes, I do know it has been this way since the beginning of time, however, here, in this time, in this place, people are waking up.
It is not right to tax a people to the point of breaking, and no you do not deserve a free college education. You are provided a basic education for free, anything beyond that is on you, go work for it. Show the world you are not a whining, selfish children, show the world you care about the country that you live in.
If you want to change the way things are done, read Henry David Thoreau, all of his works, it is worth the time and effort to do so. I don’t know if they still have students read Walden in high school anymore, however, if you have read it, re-read it.
I know there is a bit of rambling here, I am filled with rambling thoughts, therefore must get them out in the that way.
In the Moment
The other night, here in the DFW area, we had a storm, where I live it was a light show. I ran outside to watch it, decided to try and capture it on film as it were. Ran back in for my camera and could never get what I wanted. It was then I realized I was supposed to enjoy it, not capture it, so I stood and watched God’s incredible show. And it was truly glorious and a balm on my soul.
I believe, in today’s society, with the advent of so much technology that we forget to be in the moment. We are always trying to capture it on our cell phones or other devices, that I believe, we miss out on the pure enjoyment of the moment.
I was reminded of that with the lightening show, I am grateful the camera didn’t capture it and I took the time to put it down and simply watch.
Don’t get me wrong, pictures are a powerful reminder of situations, family moments, lost family and friends. However, sometimes it is just nice being in the moment and enjoying what is happening around you.
I still have not added Facebook back to my phone, nor twitter, the only place I see it is on the computer. I get on my computer in the mornings to read Dear Abby and look at the comics, I love starting my morning like that, gently. Also, to write this, I don’t enjoy writing on my phone, too small and I am too old. Bad eyesight and all that.
Also, since the election is coming up, in all honesty, I don’t want to see it, the mud slinging, the oh if you are voting for so and so unfriend me. If one cannot be friends with someone who thinks differently politically, well, you don’t deserve any friends.
I am more focused on stress levels and growing in my relationship with God, I believe that those are the important things for me right now. I do believe there are some seriously messed up things going on in this country right now and they will only get worse before getting better.
I do not feel the need to air that on social media, or to criticize or be criticized by people who think differently than I.
I am going now, I will be enjoying the quietness and perhaps watching a movie before Doctor Who tonight. What? You knew something nerdy had to work its way in here somehow.
Hello
I made a decision last week, I decided to get off of social media for a while, as in Facebook and Twitter. I admit I still looked at Instagram because, well, the pictures are fun and I don’t get notifications for that one. Except when tagged or Elizabeth Anne wants me to see something.
I deleted Facebook and Twitter from my phone, I did this for me, not because someone said or posted something I didn’t agree with. I’m an adult, I can handle it when others don’t think like I do.
I wanted to see what life was like without those two things, an experiment if you will. I have to say I enjoyed it, we live in a world that is barraged with others are doing, thinking or saying. Instantly, the news is but a touch away, knowing what our friends are doing is right there.
The experiment made me realize that I liked it not being on my phone, I will keep it deleted for now, I say for now because no one knows what the future may bring.
I am back on Facebook and twitter on the computer only. If I am away from the computer, which is a lot, I tend to go on in the mornings or when I want to express a thought. Or make my grocery list, I do that on the computer so I can print it out, my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired.
I did find one thing fascinating, I kept getting messages on Facebook, it taught me a lesson. Not everyone reads everything I write. So therefore I don’t need to put everything on there. Which I didn’t, but now I know I am not the center of everyone’s universe. Shocking!
For those of you that don’t really know me, that is sarcasm, so I say hello to social media in a limited amount.
Heavy Heart
My dad loved college football, he said it was the last time players played for the love of the game instead of a paycheck. He particularly loved the Sooners, he would watch every OU game that was on television and if it wasn’t on television, he would listen on the radio. This was back in the day where pay-per-view and cable didn’t really exist. Especially in the country, where we were at.
When he wasn’t rooting for OU, he rooted for OSU, unless they were playing OU of course. I asked him once why he would ever root for OSU, even when they weren’t playing OU.
He looked at me with that dad look, you know the one, the head half-cocked, one eyebrow raised, and said words I would never forget.
He told me that all Oklahomans stick together, and when OSU wasn’t playing his beloved Sooners, the Cowboys deserved his respect and attention. Simply due to the fact they were representing Oklahoma.
He would be heartbroken over what happened in Stillwater yesterday, senseless loss of life, people injured. Especially children, the children injured and dying would have brought him to his knees. He would have asked God to wrap His arms around the parents and families and thank God for welcoming the children into heaven with open arms.
He would have prayed for the person who did this, for her family, as the guilt of this will be staggering on them as well. Our actions have a ripple effect and her family will be hurting over her actions.
When I would question him on this, and I would have, he would assure me that our God is a loving God and will be there for the survivors. We should pray without prejudice, and pray unceasingly.
My dad was what we call a good man, he was a godly man and he was the head of our household. I miss his unwavering belief that everything would be ok, that consistent prayer and worship and study would bring us the answers we need in life.
He was first and foremost a Christian, after that came my mom and his family, then he was an Oklahoman, to the core of his being. Even when they moved to California during the depression he never stopped trying to figure out a way to get back.
God provided that way through a job at McDonald Douglas, God was faithful to His faithful servant.
I have to believe now, in the wake of this tragedy in my beloved Oklahoma, God is faithful, He is the great comforter.
Like my dad taught me by example, I prayed for the victims’ families, for their loss, and for the survivors, I pray for a quick healing of body, mind and soul. And yes, I pray for the perpetrators family, that they can come to grips with what their loved one did.
