tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post1142400825831731843..comments2023-09-12T11:31:20.729-05:00Comments on Straight-Friendly: CarefulTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-48288114696786515692010-07-17T13:29:08.264-05:002010-07-17T13:29:08.264-05:00No argument from me.No argument from me.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397335545286040472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-37827570490699837212010-07-16T14:23:06.989-05:002010-07-16T14:23:06.989-05:00Don't you love that, Tom? Could it be that we ...Don't you love that, Tom? Could it be that we also start from the same place--seeking justice and guidance to truth? I think that's probably it.<br /><br />Peace,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-19582848148234830282010-07-16T13:08:20.280-05:002010-07-16T13:08:20.280-05:00You're most welcome, Tim. Although we often a...You're most welcome, Tim. Although we often approach things from different directions we usually end up in the same place.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397335545286040472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-17895687720774874022010-07-13T17:37:33.880-05:002010-07-13T17:37:33.880-05:00Phil, first-off, happy birthday! I pray a most joy...Phil, first-off, happy birthday! I pray a most joyous day for you and the best year yet.<br /><br />I'm so glad you weighed in here, knowing your keen interest in time and consciousness. Vis-à-vis Tom and Claire's comments above and your note about "the wisdom of aging," I'm prone to believe it's experience more so time. I've met a lot of younger people who dwarf my wisdom simply because they've seen more of life in a shorter time. They're much better at leaving the moment with decisive clarity than I.<br /><br />Then we also have Scripture telling us God endows some of us wisdom, Solomon and Jesus being the prime examples. In these cases, it seems more likely God-given wisdom shapes its owners' experiences from the first. We know from Solomon and Jesus that wisdom doesn't spare anyone from pain and sorrow, but it appears to insulate them from detrimental memory.<br /><br />Finally there's the "collective memory" you describe which lives in dreamtime and other cultural anomalies that mysteriously (or is it mystically?) collapse time. A quick scan through my undergrad psych courses doesn't surface any notable mention of this phenomenon by Jung or his followers, but I would bet some theory of how and why it works exists somewhere.<br /><br />Re the "old-timer" feeling that comes with describing past experiences to youngsters: that used to bother me because it did indeed make me feel old. But the older I get, the more grateful I am that I've lived to tell!<br /><br />Thanks again for your thoughts. They add another layer of richness to a most elusive topic!<br /><br />Blessings and returned hugs,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-37478868422712451362010-07-13T12:18:56.963-05:002010-07-13T12:18:56.963-05:00I love the quote at the bottom of the clock. Why w...I love the quote at the bottom of the clock. Why we remember - ooh that's a big one !! So often my memories come unbidden and take me by surprise. It is my birthday tomorrow and inevitably I will be reminiscing on all the roads that have led me to here. I think memory is intimately tied to desire and that can lead us to be bitter as well as thankful. I am always interested in old people telling thier "stories" and I am aware that I am getting old too and when I'm telling young children about things that are still fresh and alive to me I am aware they are seeing me as antiquated and out of time !! It also makes me wonder about the wisdom associated with ageing in cultures that respect memory and how that has been eroded in our fast fast way of living today. Also, things like aboriginal dreamtime which I know very little about and so different from my own experience and yet is so vital to other another cultures beliefs relies on memory and yet is very much of use in the present. This is an interesting and stimulating post Tim- <br />Thank you : Blessings,hugs and take time to remember for the good times !!Blue Eyed Ennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181985609681328032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-51743516216582326372010-07-12T23:39:06.513-05:002010-07-12T23:39:06.513-05:00Claire, I find what you say so true. Could it be t...Claire, I find what you say so true. Could it be that age brings wisdom? I look back on traumatic moments in my life--and people whom I feared--and at this age I'm more prone to empathize with their frailties and ignorance, because I've seen similar ones in myself. That excuses neither of us, but it brings more clarity to my memories.<br /><br />Those people did help us become who we are. And, you're right, it is less interesting carrying the burdens of some memories as we go.<br /><br />This past weekend turned into memory overload for me--all of it good--but it kept bringing me back to what I'd posted here. I had a sort of Eureka moment. If we stick to etymology, the opposite of forget is <i>forgive</i>, to offer in passing as opposed to let pass without grasp. And as we get older, I believe we understand that. Instead of ignoring wrongs done to us, in the moment we offer love and tolerance. We leave the moment with a sweeter taste having given rather than refused to accept. But that's a skill that comes with time and the wisdom it teaches.<br /><br />As for jail time, people I've known who've experienced that have told me it works one of two ways: either it hardens a person and essentially stalls the maturity process, or it accelerates maturity. Tom's personal experiences and work prudently point to the latter, I think.<br /><br />Thanks for this. Memory is always difficult for me to write about, because it's so powerful and specific to each of us. But I believe it's something we should regularly attend to, as it affects us and our faith profoundly.<br /><br />Blessings, dear friend,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-59408573011579140122010-07-12T10:59:11.094-05:002010-07-12T10:59:11.094-05:00I find the older I get, Tim, the nicer my memories...I find the older I get, Tim, the nicer my memories get. Or the less egregious, if you wish.<br /><br />Like those people who harmed me had reasons... They helped me become who I am...<br /><br />For years I had such a problem with my mother. Frankly, I find it less and less interesting to continue carrying them.<br /><br />On the other hand, I understand what you and your friend TomCat say.<br /><br />The good thing is that sometimes as one ages bad memories don't taste so bad any more.<br /><br />Of course, having done time in jail may take us to another entirely different levels.<br /><br />Blessings.claire bangasserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12380558962103134334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-31610228414081977872010-07-11T18:59:41.173-05:002010-07-11T18:59:41.173-05:00Exactly, Tom. We are forever making memories, good...Exactly, Tom. We are forever making memories, good and bad. And I'm convinced there are positive things to be gleaned from them all. We just have to direct our thoughts in that direction. Nothing is lost.<br /><br />Thanks for the example--it's exactly what I needed here to bring this life!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />TimTimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271248501086241494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722447614945782871.post-11221826726625459192010-07-11T12:22:11.057-05:002010-07-11T12:22:11.057-05:00Tim, this sermonette is very similar to the things...Tim, this sermonette is very similar to the things I teach prisoners and former prisoners in my volunteer work. What you call mindfulness, I call developing consequential thinking. As we err, we need to take stock of what we could have done differently to prevent the error. Then we practice the improved behavior until it becomes automatic. Even so, ever time we face a new decision, we need be mindful of what consequences each possible choice will entail and decide accordingly.TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397335545286040472noreply@blogger.com