March 14, 2025 – B

Posted byjimwdollarPosted in06/25/2020
Self Portrait
This is a screenshot taken with a background supplied by Zoom and adjusted in Photoshop.
We disappear pain and suffering and Donald Trump by changing our mind about our relationship with all three. The way we look at things determines what we see when we look. Seeing differently changes everything we look at. We do not have to respond emotionally about anything in our environment. We ascribe meaning to everything, and we can change the meaning of everything "like that" by changing what we say, how we interpret, all of it.

The Buddha's recommendation of "Peaceful abiding here, now," is just a matter of shifting horror and disgust into peace, and doing what is called for without allowing that to impact us in any way--as though we are emergency room personnel dealing appropriately with everything that comes through the door. Donald Trump comes through the door and we respond in ways appropriate to the occasion and let it go at that.

We have the power of perspective/perception/interpretation/
meaning over everything in our environment. We can change our mind about how we see everything. Nothing says we have to suffer. Nothing is stopping us from taking everything in stride and doing what is called for about all that comes our way no matter what every day.

We have the power. Why not use it?

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters, five granddaughters, one great granddaughter, and a great grandson on the way, within about ten minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything.

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