All of Me

The other day I was having lunch at a local restaurant with someone who knows me very well - someone whom I deeply love and respect. There were a few people present; including someone else who sometimes can kind of intimidate me.

During the meal, I dropped a piece of food on the table. I thought this latter person would find me foolish for not wanting to eat something that dropped on the table. I mean the staff cleans the tables after each visitor, right? Why wouldn't it be ok?

I don't know. I just don't like to eat off the table. Feeling a bit intimidated, I started to put the piece of food in my mouth.

"What are you doing?" the person who knows me so well questioned. "Don't compromise your values, or what you believe for anyone else!" he exclaimed.

I stopped. I didn't put the food in my mouth, but placed it off to the side of my plate. I was very appreciative this person offered me that piece of sage advice. I don't know why I was going to bend that day; I never had before. Normally, unless the silverware is placed on a napkin, I won't even use that silverware, if it has touched the bare table. Maybe that's extreme.

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So, I am political. Politics for me is about one thing: Protecting and being a good steward of all the freedoms we have in this nation. Especially important to me, is protecting our freedom of religion which is the center of our entire belief system. If we don't have that, we don't have anything. It's what I believe and it is what I have to do. It is what is required of me. I don't question that; never have.

The ever-trending Facebook!

Maybe it is time for a warning. Please don't ask me to be your "friend" if you do not like political people. You won't like my page if you do not like that type of thing. I will annoy you.

The truth is, we could be "friends" and you could "block" me or "unfollow" me if you found out I was annoying. That would be perfectly fine. I would only suspect you had done that; but I would never truly know for sure.

Or you could tell me your views. Try to converse with me. Point out something that I may not see. Tell me what you believe. It's called civil discourse...at least it used to be. And Facebook is social media after all. Shouldn't we talk?   

I have had several people "unfriend" me when they have become my "friend" and suddenly realize they do not like what I post. Yes! That is difficult to admit. lol Honestly, I don't understand that. Facebook has made it so easy to just "block" someone; or put certain people in certain groups; or even just "block" specific types of posts. There is really never any need to "unfriend" someone, unless you simply have total disdain for that person. Maybe that's it. Well, alrighty then; that's different.

That leads me to another thing I don't understand. Why would you despise someone for their political views. That doesn't make them solely who they are. I mean, someone wouldn't "unfriend" someone because one has a difference of opinion on sauerkraut for instance...or pit bulls, or movies....or music...or whatever! Do most people "unfriend" over things like that? I don't think so. Then why would someone "unfriend" someone over politics? I don't get that.

I love all my friends, regardless of their political opinion. I have friends who are Christians and some who are not. I cherish them all. I have some friends that are Democrats and they put up with me even though I am conservative. I treasure them. They accept me, regardless. And I love them whatever their political views because I know that does not entirely define them. We can connect in other ways.

And like I said, if it is simply the posts that get on one's nerves, one can simply "block" those.

I have also had people delete my comments in a conversational thread; I have had people lecture me for doing exactly what their other friends were doing - simply stating their opinion. Mine simply happened to be an opposing view. And I have had people tell me to never post anything on their page ever again.

Well, when any of those things happen, I don't "unfriend" them or "block them". I just never post anything on their page again...just like they requested. I realize they are not open to discussion, so why would I force it on them. But also along with that, if someone tells me to stay off their page, or that my comments are not welcome, then neither will I "like" or make any positive comments on their page, either. No sense in forcing my presence (my face) on them, right?

Sometimes I suspect people are talking (gasp! gossiping!) amongst each other, because I will be totally avoided in certain little circles where I was previously accepted; or I would  at least get a "like" now and then from someone in that circle. Then all of a sudden, it's like "Oh I can't approve of that, because so and so doesn't."...did you follow that? Probably extreme. Or, "She won't ever comment or "like" any of my stuff!" Well yeah, that's true; but it's because you kicked me off your page! lol

What in the world? I just don't get it. We have come to the place where we can only comment when we agree in all things, or we won't have anything to do with that person?

Truthfully, it just makes me want to sing. Yeah! It's kinda like that song..."All of me...why not take all of me...can't you see, I'm no good without you....Why not take all of meeeeeee?"

LOL

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Do you get where I am headed? I don't have to let anyone goad me into doing something different than what I believe, simply because they intimidate me with their disagreement. Sometimes I think that is what the silence is really all about. Intimidation. Maybe that's extreme, too. But let's just make sure everyone understands our disapproval by remaining silent. And that probably isn't extreme.

I am political and I don't put food in my mouth that has dropped on the table. That should be ok whether you are the same or not.

lol...I think you get the idea. "Why not take all of meeeee?"

 

One Piece At A Time

New Year's Day. New Year's Resolutions. I haven't made any in a long time, preferring instead  to pray about what God has for me in the new year. I simply ask God to reveal to me what would be the "Word of the Year", so to speak. Interestingly enough, I think this year the word IS "resolution". I think it is time.

After the busy year I had last year, I had to let so much slide.  My friends, my family, my house, my yard, my animals, my hobbies, all took last place last year. Because of that, I am behind on everything. And actually it isn't even just last year that has been beating up on me; it has been several years. Last year was probably only the worst. Regardless, there has been much that has suffered.

SO! This year, I will work to resolve all of that. My resolution is to begin!

 I have become so overwhelmed by what is here for me to do, that I have failed to act. The task has become so big it has paralyzed me. I don't know where to begin, so I just do nothing. I think to myself: "I just don't have time to do that."; so I don't start, simply because I know I can never finish.

A very dear friend of mine once gave me some very valued insight and information. I had just broken a beautiful glass bell I had inherited when my grandma died. She had a wonderful collection of decorative bells and they were passed on to family members after her death. I was absolutely heartbroken when I broke this treasured memento. I just wanted it back together in one piece. The task seemed impossible. The bell was shattered.

"How am I ever going to get that bell back together?" I lamented to my friend.

She calmly answered and in a soothing voice confidently stated, "Well, Jan; simply one piece at a time."

Her words hit my heart with clarity and satisfaction. That was my answer and the only answer I needed.

Well then, shouldn't the task before me now be dealt with in the same manner? That is the only way to get it done. To simply begin. Even if it is only one little piece at a time.