I recall a neighbor who knew what everyone else should believe, should do, and imposed her views belligerently on all she met. Often she was out there in wacko land, but Boy! did she know how to come on strong.
She was active in her church, and took it upon herself to counsel young women. She counseled one to leave her husband and break up the marriage of a professional sports player (who was also married) because she had had a vision or a dream. She was toxic!
Ah! Some people loved her and found her wonderful. Others found her as poisonous as as spitting, mature viper. In my opinion she was a "toxic person". She poisoned relationships even with her own friends and relatives.
What shall we do with toxic people? Cut them out of our lives? Learn to ignore their foolishness and appreciate their good points? Lock them up?
What do you think? I hope we can converse about this. Please leave a comment.
Al Lustie
Thinking with Al
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Certainty?
As I think about thinking I sometimes wish for certainty. "Couldn't there be a few things we could be absolutely certain about?" I ponder. The answer always comes back, "No."
I have come to believe that if we had some things that were certain, we would not need to think. Many people approach religion this way. They are certain of their god, their doctrine, their convictions and, for reasons of certainty, they stop thinking. No more questions. Not more wondering (and no more wonder). No more looking at things from a different angle.
I recently purchased a new app for my iPad -- a game of physics. We can, and must, spin our view of things around in order to shoot the blocks that crush the zombies effectively. Different angles, different perspectives. Even then, we are uncertain as to how it will play out. And that is just a man-made computer game.
How much more thinking MUST be done about real life, real experiences of the transcendent, real quandaries?
What do you think? Have you come to a point of gratitude for uncertainty? Sign up and let us know.
I have come to believe that if we had some things that were certain, we would not need to think. Many people approach religion this way. They are certain of their god, their doctrine, their convictions and, for reasons of certainty, they stop thinking. No more questions. Not more wondering (and no more wonder). No more looking at things from a different angle.
I recently purchased a new app for my iPad -- a game of physics. We can, and must, spin our view of things around in order to shoot the blocks that crush the zombies effectively. Different angles, different perspectives. Even then, we are uncertain as to how it will play out. And that is just a man-made computer game.
How much more thinking MUST be done about real life, real experiences of the transcendent, real quandaries?
What do you think? Have you come to a point of gratitude for uncertainty? Sign up and let us know.
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