I have lost a little less than half the weight that is my goal and that I need to lose.
Things are going so much better for me, and I feel so much better. One of the most amazing side effects of this surgery, so far, is my diabetes. I was diabetic since 1994 and had to take medicine every day to control the sugar levels in my blood. Since my surgery, I have not taken a single shot of insulin or any medication for my diabetes. Thank God and the doctors hands He guides for this miracle.
Below are a number of hopes I have for this surgery and the resulting eating and exercise plan that I am involved in to eliminate the disease of morbid obesity, and to maintain a healthy weight.
Be warned it a short list--off the top of the head--There is so much more.
God Bless and have a wonderful day.
I am looking forward to not being the person who everyone that tells a story uses to illustrate size such as, "Hell Gary--they were as big as you".
I am looking forward to getting out of the house when I want and doing what I want.
I am looking forward to NOT being the largest person in the room.
There is a myriad of co-mobilities that are disappearing such as Diabetes (gone) Sleep Apnea (better), Hypertension (working on this), Arthritis, Bursitis, other joint pain (improving).
So many physical improvements--shoe tying, Hygiene issues, walking, exercise, movie seats, sports events, concerts. Living instead of existing. Really being healthy and feeling good most of the time instead of rarely. This is my short list--there is so much more. We will talk more later.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Another Reminder--God Bless our Troops and God Bless the USA
Remember our troops and their families and support them with prayer and any help you can give them if and when the opportunities arise.
I think this deserves a re-post in case anyone missed it. it is powerful and beautiful. i just about cry every time I see and hear it!
Please click on the link below--and listen to some troops thoughts, beautifully done!
If I Die Before You Wake - Powered by FlashPoint
Source: g.dwgsee.com
I think this deserves a re-post in case anyone missed it. it is powerful and beautiful. i just about cry every time I see and hear it!
Please click on the link below--and listen to some troops thoughts, beautifully done!
If I Die Before You Wake - Powered by FlashPoint
Source: g.dwgsee.com
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
I think I saw God Today-- on my Morning Walk
The Early Morning Walk
I think saw God today--
The birds were singing--(Robins and Mocking birds). The grass in the yards along the neighborhood smelled and looked great! At the end of my Cul-de-sac there is a small pond with ducks swimming and splashing. The trees are beautiful. I walked for 30 minutes. This from a guy who was home bound and could hardly walk across a room four months ago Yeah, I'm almost sure I saw God today!!
I think saw God today--
The birds were singing--(Robins and Mocking birds). The grass in the yards along the neighborhood smelled and looked great! At the end of my Cul-de-sac there is a small pond with ducks swimming and splashing. The trees are beautiful. I walked for 30 minutes. This from a guy who was home bound and could hardly walk across a room four months ago Yeah, I'm almost sure I saw God today!!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Another beautiful thought of wisdom from proverbs.
"I just love me some proverbs in the morning. "Smells like victory"
Proverbs 29
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
5 Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.
15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief [a] in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.
27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
Proverbs 29
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
5 Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
12 If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure.
15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 If a man pampers his servant from youth, he will bring grief [a] in the end.
22 An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
23 A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy; he is put under oath and dare not testify.
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.
27 The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
Friday, August 21, 2009
What a beautiful writing (poem) from Proverbs
Proverbs 30 (New International Version)
Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle : This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal: 2 "I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man's understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 "Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11 "There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.
15 "The leech has two daughters. 'Give! Give!' they cry. "There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, 'Enough!':
16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'
17 "The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
18 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 "This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'
21 "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,
23 an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.
24 "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.
29 "There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him.
32 "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!
33 For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle : This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal: 2 "I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man's understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and the name of his son? Tell me if you know!
5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 "Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11 "There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth, the needy from among mankind.
15 "The leech has two daughters. 'Give! Give!' they cry. "There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, 'Enough!':
16 the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'
17 "The eye that mocks a father, that scorns obedience to a mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.
18 "There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 "This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'
21 "Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king, a fool who is full of food,
23 an unloved woman who is married, and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.
24 "Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26 coneys are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
27 locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces.
29 "There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king with his army around him.
32 "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!
33 For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Invictus
This poem by William Ernest Henley, stresses the trials a soul and body have gone through--yet has not given up on life and will do what it takes with the help of God to battle the evils that have assaulted the physical and spiritual being. I think it is the perfect poem for the battle against obesity.
By : William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
This poem by William Ernest Henley, stresses the trials a soul and body have gone through--yet has not given up on life and will do what it takes with the help of God to battle the evils that have assaulted the physical and spiritual being. I think it is the perfect poem for the battle against obesity.
By : William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Weight Loss Update
This is so cool!
I have lost over 100 pounds in the last 4 months. I am so thankful for this tool that is allowing me to get healthy. That's right--I called it a tool--because it is NOT a magic bullet that makes weight fall off magically.
WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) helps with your appetite and in some cases gives an amount of mal-absorption to keep some of the calories (as well as the nutrients from being absorbed into the system.) But one still has to eat the correct amount of the correct food and exercise like a fiend to lose weight quickly. It is not the easy way out as many think, and it is not bullet proof. If you do not make a lifestyle change commitment--you can gain all the weight back and more. My hats off to those long-timers who have had the perseverance to stay at goal for years. That is my goal. I do not want to go back where I was with no life. I don't think I can stand it.
I have lost over 100 pounds in the last 4 months. I am so thankful for this tool that is allowing me to get healthy. That's right--I called it a tool--because it is NOT a magic bullet that makes weight fall off magically.
WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) helps with your appetite and in some cases gives an amount of mal-absorption to keep some of the calories (as well as the nutrients from being absorbed into the system.) But one still has to eat the correct amount of the correct food and exercise like a fiend to lose weight quickly. It is not the easy way out as many think, and it is not bullet proof. If you do not make a lifestyle change commitment--you can gain all the weight back and more. My hats off to those long-timers who have had the perseverance to stay at goal for years. That is my goal. I do not want to go back where I was with no life. I don't think I can stand it.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The wisdom of Our Forefathers
How did Jefferson know???
"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
Thomas Jefferson
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
"Thomas Jefferson
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
Thomas Jefferson"
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson
" The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Thomas Jefferson
"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which hedisbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802 : "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
Talk about seeing the future!!!
"When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe."
Thomas Jefferson
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.
"Thomas Jefferson
"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson
"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
Thomas Jefferson"
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson
" The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
Thomas Jefferson
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Thomas Jefferson
"To compel a man to subsidize with his taxes the propagation of ideas which hedisbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson said in 1802 : "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
Talk about seeing the future!!!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Perspective
Luke 12 (New International Version)
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."Do Not Worry 22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest.
I really began to think about perspective yesterday. As you can imagine--most of my concentration for the past four months has been on losing weight, learning to eat healthy, and exercise. Then something happened that reminded me of the above Bible verses, and about how easily our perspective can change.
I've started with the Bible passage--now let's recall the story together. Now you must understand that this story came from a different time in our history. It would not be at all politically correct to tell this today, and just my recalling it to you may cause many to be upset. It was a story that taught me a lesson, however so.........
......Here goes anyway. Back in the late 1950's or early 1960's people from the south of the USA were thought to be different than from other parts of the country. Admittedly there was some factual basis for some of the opinion held, but there were also a lot of stereotypes. For example, it was considered factual, that all white people from the south were racist red-necks, an uneducated sort of individual that scraped a living from the land when they were not moon-shining, hunting, fishing or trying to marry some relative.
It was thought that people of color were slower in the south, lazy, uneducated, and unable to hold positions of responsibility. It was even thought that people of color should not vote. Now--not all people thought this way--but this was the prevailing perspective of a great many people in the US population.
One of the ways back then that news was distributed was through monthly magazines, and there were some famous monthly periodicals. One such magazine was particularly famous for its pictures and the ability to tell a news story with the single snap of a camera.A news editor thought one day about what a remarkable idea it would be to send one of his most famous photographers to the southern states to get a picture capturing this peculiar cultural phenomenon and so without hesitation--he sent his most famous--his very best photographer to accomplish this task. Hopefully the photograph would be ready before the next edition, because there had been some unusual trouble between the white and colored people down south.
As the photographer worked his way through Dixie, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, he suddenly came upon a scene he could not believe. Sitting in a straight cane bottom chair, in the shade of a tree at the end of a field of cotton, was a gentleman using a hoe to remove weeds from the crop--a common practice in the south. At least most of the people who partook in this activity had the gumption to stand and if required stood in the sun as they completed this necessary task so that their cotton could grow and they could make a little money to live on.
The photographer was beside himself. This was the shot. It captured exactly what he was looking for from this "middle American". A man so lazy that he forced himself to do what he had to do, but yet found a way to exemplify this cultural phenomenon he was after.
The photographer needed the perfect shot and he might not have much time. Daylight was escaping, but he needed to change position so he could get all the elements in the photo. He needed the chair, the hoe, hopefully some expression on the farmer’s face that exuded the angst of having to do this task.
The photographer moved closer, being careful not to alarm the subject of his intentions. He sat the camera, got the sunlight in the correct spot, focused and was ready to take the shot...when suddenly he saw it.
It was a fleeting moment just before he had everything perfect, when he noticed the farmer's pant leg hung empty. There was also the pair of crutches leaning against the cane bottomed chair. As he watched the farmer tossed the hoe forward. Got the crutches, grabbed the chair and manipulated it further up the row. Sitting down the chair he wiped his brow, bent and got the hoe and began to cut the weeds expertly from the cotton plants.
Immediately, the change in the photographer’s perspective transformed the farmer from a lazy, racist, red-necked, slow uneducated, irresponsible southerner to a hero who would do what it took to make life better for him and his family.
The photographer took the picture and loaded his equipment with tearful eyes. His attitude had changed, just because he had to change perspective for a photograph. What if he had not had to move the camera?
Now--I have no idea if this is a true story. I heard it as a child. It changed my perspective.
Today someone that I know who was happy that they had lost lots of weight and had things going her way and was happy, let me know that her husband lost a long fight with a mental illness and left this world. Her perspective on what made her happy had changed.
We have to change our perspective. Left, Right, White, African-American, Latino, Legal, Illegal, change---all are important. What must be most important, from my perspective is that we see all sides, pray to our God, vote our conscience and be Americans and make sure our views are good for our Country and its entire people.
God Bless you and God Bless the USA
16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."Do Not Worry 22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest.
I really began to think about perspective yesterday. As you can imagine--most of my concentration for the past four months has been on losing weight, learning to eat healthy, and exercise. Then something happened that reminded me of the above Bible verses, and about how easily our perspective can change.
I've started with the Bible passage--now let's recall the story together. Now you must understand that this story came from a different time in our history. It would not be at all politically correct to tell this today, and just my recalling it to you may cause many to be upset. It was a story that taught me a lesson, however so.........
......Here goes anyway. Back in the late 1950's or early 1960's people from the south of the USA were thought to be different than from other parts of the country. Admittedly there was some factual basis for some of the opinion held, but there were also a lot of stereotypes. For example, it was considered factual, that all white people from the south were racist red-necks, an uneducated sort of individual that scraped a living from the land when they were not moon-shining, hunting, fishing or trying to marry some relative.
It was thought that people of color were slower in the south, lazy, uneducated, and unable to hold positions of responsibility. It was even thought that people of color should not vote. Now--not all people thought this way--but this was the prevailing perspective of a great many people in the US population.
One of the ways back then that news was distributed was through monthly magazines, and there were some famous monthly periodicals. One such magazine was particularly famous for its pictures and the ability to tell a news story with the single snap of a camera.A news editor thought one day about what a remarkable idea it would be to send one of his most famous photographers to the southern states to get a picture capturing this peculiar cultural phenomenon and so without hesitation--he sent his most famous--his very best photographer to accomplish this task. Hopefully the photograph would be ready before the next edition, because there had been some unusual trouble between the white and colored people down south.
As the photographer worked his way through Dixie, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, he suddenly came upon a scene he could not believe. Sitting in a straight cane bottom chair, in the shade of a tree at the end of a field of cotton, was a gentleman using a hoe to remove weeds from the crop--a common practice in the south. At least most of the people who partook in this activity had the gumption to stand and if required stood in the sun as they completed this necessary task so that their cotton could grow and they could make a little money to live on.
The photographer was beside himself. This was the shot. It captured exactly what he was looking for from this "middle American". A man so lazy that he forced himself to do what he had to do, but yet found a way to exemplify this cultural phenomenon he was after.
The photographer needed the perfect shot and he might not have much time. Daylight was escaping, but he needed to change position so he could get all the elements in the photo. He needed the chair, the hoe, hopefully some expression on the farmer’s face that exuded the angst of having to do this task.
The photographer moved closer, being careful not to alarm the subject of his intentions. He sat the camera, got the sunlight in the correct spot, focused and was ready to take the shot...when suddenly he saw it.
It was a fleeting moment just before he had everything perfect, when he noticed the farmer's pant leg hung empty. There was also the pair of crutches leaning against the cane bottomed chair. As he watched the farmer tossed the hoe forward. Got the crutches, grabbed the chair and manipulated it further up the row. Sitting down the chair he wiped his brow, bent and got the hoe and began to cut the weeds expertly from the cotton plants.
Immediately, the change in the photographer’s perspective transformed the farmer from a lazy, racist, red-necked, slow uneducated, irresponsible southerner to a hero who would do what it took to make life better for him and his family.
The photographer took the picture and loaded his equipment with tearful eyes. His attitude had changed, just because he had to change perspective for a photograph. What if he had not had to move the camera?
Now--I have no idea if this is a true story. I heard it as a child. It changed my perspective.
Today someone that I know who was happy that they had lost lots of weight and had things going her way and was happy, let me know that her husband lost a long fight with a mental illness and left this world. Her perspective on what made her happy had changed.
We have to change our perspective. Left, Right, White, African-American, Latino, Legal, Illegal, change---all are important. What must be most important, from my perspective is that we see all sides, pray to our God, vote our conscience and be Americans and make sure our views are good for our Country and its entire people.
God Bless you and God Bless the USA
Monday, August 10, 2009
A Quick Update
Sometimes, we fail to realize how good we have "it". I suppose the "it" I am referring to are the blessings from God. We will discuss this in detail later.
In the meantime just to let all my "many" followers know that over the last couple of weeks I have been in the hospital with pneumonia, past my 3 month surgerversery, and lost a total of 93 pounds since 4/18/2009. It is all good even though the pneumonia has been rough. I will write some more about this as I feel better, but just remember--God is good--all the time.
In the meantime just to let all my "many" followers know that over the last couple of weeks I have been in the hospital with pneumonia, past my 3 month surgerversery, and lost a total of 93 pounds since 4/18/2009. It is all good even though the pneumonia has been rough. I will write some more about this as I feel better, but just remember--God is good--all the time.
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