Jeanne H Barnett's Blog

I do not purport to be an expert
in anything . . . especially not in recounting history. However,
I do claim to have lived through
a period of time which, in
retrospect, seems connected somehow and very important to the current time I am living in
and, therefore, my observations  might prove interesting to some – unimportant to many – and,
maybe, insulting to others.
Just my opinions from my limited,
personal perspective,
just my opinions . . .
1960 to 2017

OVER Fifty years ago . . . in 1963, I was a junior in high school in High Point, North Carolina, sitting in class when the announcement came over the loudspeaker that the President of the United States had been shot and his condition was not known. An unbelievable shocked silence came over the people in that classroom that I can still remember today—it was like we couldn’t breathe because if we did, it would mean it was true and we knew it could not be true—  . . this was Camelot!

The first thing that seems important to me was the overwhelming feeling of HOPE . . . in 1960, oh, nobody thought things were perfect and yet, that was one of the reasons we were hopeful . . . because we recognized so many things we could improve. Call it the optimism of youth, but most of us were focused on believing we could make this world a better place for everybody— that each of us really could make a difference AND we had just elected a man who wanted to lead us on that journey! Granted this man wa not perfect either, but he inspired us to believe in ourselves, to believe in our dreams . . . to believe in Camelot!

In 1960, most of us were not blind to the flaws of our world at that time, but we were willing to step forward to work together to build a better world and to help each other live the “American dream”—NOT the materialistic one our parents had created, but the one in which money was NOT more important than time spent with family, one in which possessions were NOT more important than those intangibles like love and sharing and living life instead of accumulating things, one in which ALL people were treated as living, loving individuals NOT as things to be used or tossed aside or judged because they were different! Our vision was of a world where everyone had what they needed and everyone was respected for who they were beause we knew LOVE would do all it could to build bridges and to . . . bring everybody into Camelot!

were we unrealistic In 1960? a little, maybe . . . but I think we might have made it, IF . . . a government agency had not introduced LSD to some of our young people so they could experiment with it as a “truth” drug. Of course, the experiment failed and it was shown to be a dangerous drug, but the introduction of this hallucinogenic drug took with it the focus of those it enslaved and diverted the focus from our mission of building a world together to the self-centered pursuit of “pleasure” – which is always the lure of drugs that pulls people deeper and deeper into its dark world and makes them “comfortable” with lethargy resulting in a lack of motivation and . . . stops their journey to Camelot!

Of course, the “story” was always that the hippies and the counter-culture movements failed . . . which they did in that they failed to resist the lure of free drugs touted as a doorway to wonderful experiences, a way to explore “space” inside and outside your self, expand your consciousness. It was not proof that the non-materialistic philosophies based in unconditional love and acceptance would not work, it was proof that the subtlely of distractions is more effective at diverting and bringing defeat than any other method—it is insidious: “operating or proceeding in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless way but actually with grave effect”—and, it is obviously being used to great effect in our current time . . . Only uniting and working together to overcome our struggles can offer any hope for us all and draw us back to a world where all can live and work together . . . . . . to build a real Camelot!

1961—January: the inauguration of the second youngest President in history of our country . . . (Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest) and the vim and vigor of JFK inspired the youth of this land to want to come together to make the entire world a better place! It was like believing there were current day “knights in white-shining armor” who would step in to rescue anyone in distress, even if they were flawed individuals . . . that caring about others required action and was always the right way to be . . . that sharing whatever we had would mean we would all have what we needed . . . that love was always the answer and anything we did should be motivated by love and that would make the world a better place for everyone . . . not a perfect place, but a better place and one in constant progress toward a better world, each day bringing us . . . a step closer to Camelot!

And then the story continued . . . more thoughts to come of deeper, darker times . . .

I have been SURPRISED
at some of my friends being deceived by the marketing rhetoric of Donald Trump –
I never thought that people raised to have basic manners, respect others, and not use foul language would be swept under the spell of a vulgar, immoral, racist, self-centered bigot who throws adolescent temper tantrums and shows open disrespect for anyone who is different from him and who seeks to destroy anyone who disagrees with him.
*******
I have been DISAPPOINTED
that many in this country have been so easily deceived into believing the marketing rhetoric of Donald Trump – all he has to do is repeat a “slogan” or a “catchy label” and it is repeated until it becomes “fact” (now called “alternative” facts)to all who want to follow someone to get what they want for themselves! Here’s a man who rationalizes cheating on his taxes, cheating on his wives, and cheating his employees as well as not paying debts he incurred with vendors and labels it “good business” – so it makes it okay!???
*******
I have been DEPRESSED
by the number of people claiming to believe in God and Jesus Christ who call this man a “savior” and who have embraced and defend a man who has made filthy statements about his behavior toward women, has openly stated his hatred of immigrants and foreigners, has made no secret of his admiration for dictators, and consistently stirs up crowds with language that seems to justify violence toward those who disagree with him, even saying his political opponent should be killed and our biggest enemy in the world couldn’t possibly be guilty of trying to interfere in our systems . . . and all of this without apology—living a life in direct opposition to the Message of God and the Life of Jesus Christ.
Now, don’t get me wrong — Trump is really good at marketing and seems to be really effective at manipulating people, BUT that just means he could, as an old saying puts it: “sell a freezer to an Eskimo”!

The basic idea behind marketing techniques is to convince people that they need something and make them willing to pay for it!
• One recognized technique is REPETITION—
repeat it often enough and loudly enough and it will
become accepted by those hearing it.
• Another marketing technique is to ADVERTISE the benefits of
what you are selling according to your target market and
UNDERMINE ANY CRITICISMS by making fun of whoever criticizes you,                            claim the source is false or the information is questionable.

Successful marketing does NOT change the message of a person’s life . . .

I live in the United States of America in a Southern state and I drink SWEET TEA and I really enjoy it—it’s the only way to drink tea!

Now I know that there are people out there who drink their tea unsweetened and there are even some who don’t drink tea at all—how sad!

So consider this . . . SWEET TEA supports the job market in many areas like sugar cane fields and the companies that process the sugar and the vendors who sell it and the ones who put it on the shelves in the stores—I feel really good about drinking SWEET TEA—it’s the right thing to do!

Of course, then there are those who drink their tea unsweetened, just plain tea, and I guess they could say they support the tea plantations, the companies that process the tea, the vendors who sell it, and the ones who put it on the shelves in the stores—yeah, that’s okay, I guess.

Then there are people who do not drink tea at all! Maybe they don’t care for the taste, maybe they have some sort of health issue that prevents them from drinking tea, or a religious belief that prohibits drinking tea, or some other reason, but they just don’t drink tea in any form—that’s a bummer!

That’s why living in the United States of America has always been different than other countries . . . the idea that each person should have the right to choose to drink SWEET TEA or unsweetened tea or no tea at all is a part of the basic “freedom” package.

SO . . . come on, folks . . . allowing each of us to choose how we drink our tea—SWEET TEA or unsweetened tea, or not at all—is what shows that we are willing to allow others to have the same freedom we want for ourselves.

I cannot demand a right for myself
that I am not willing to give to another.

Of course, trying to apply this concept to other subjects has proven to be almost impossible because of the intensity of emotions involved. Why?

Why can we not seem to be able to discuss issues with each other respectfully and with a willingness to listen to the other person’s views without flying into “angry defense mode” AND how did we reach the point of having to make all others conform to our view while we do not even consider theirs or ridicule it?

—
Think about this . . . hypothetical case:
I own a sports arena and I love SWEET TEA, so I sell it to people who come there to watch the competition AND, because I sell so much, the vendor gives me a break on the price for the product meaning I can sell it for less than others around me.

Then, a friend of mine is diagnosed with diabetes and starts having to watch his sugar intake. He can’t buy my SWEET TEA and that leaves him with no other options, but he has adjusted to drinking unsweetened tea and asks me if I would consider stocking it so he could drink some tea when he came to the arena. Well, I want to help my friend, so I start selling both SWEET TEA and unsweet tea.

Then, I get acquainted with a man who comes to the arena a lot and I notice he is not drinking anything while he is there and some of those days were very hot. I asked him about that and he said that he belongs to a group who believe it is sinful to drink tea of any kind because it harms the body. Well, I had never heard of that, so I gave it some thought and decided to ask him what he could drink and I would add that to my menu.

Things were really going along fine and everybody was able to enjoy drinking something during their visits to the arena . . . but, then someone came to me and said, “What are you doing wasting your money carrying all these drinks besides SWEET TEA? You know it is the most popular with most folks and you don’t have to carry those other drinks—it’s a waste of your money.”

So, I thought about it and he was right, but there were other things to consider, like my friend who had to restrict his sugar and my friend who had a religious conviction against tea, so I answered my objecting friend by explaining about consideration for the others and his response was quick: “So, are you going to let others tell you what to do? Are you going to waste your money for just a few people who probably don’t even spend that much with you? Do what YOU like—SWEET TEA and forget all that other stuff!”

The thought popped into my head . . . what if there was no SWEET TEA? What if there were only the other drinks and I couldn’t enjoy my SWEET TEA??? No, there was really nothing to consider . . . if I wanted to enjoy my SWEET TEA, I should be willing to let others enjoy what they could drink. I didn’t have to drink what they were drinking, I could drink my SWEET TEA . . . and that seemed fair to me!
Ah, the politics of SWEET TEA!

Courage . . .
has as many different expressions as there are people in the world.

What, for you, might be an easy task would require a great deal of courage for someone else.

We don’t often stop to consider that in our judgement of people and that’s sad. All of the things we are “supposed to do” and “supposed to be” are based on someone else’s ideas. They often don’t take into account an individual’s experiences at all.

For instance—driving in the rain would seem a simple enough task. One requiring, perhaps, just a little more caution than normal . . . but, for me, it takes courage. Each time I do it, a picture flashes in my brain of my car crushed up again a concrete bridge, a picture of that helpless feeling, of spinning and not being able to stop. Each time I drive in the rain, the pictures get a little dimmer and it takes a little less courage on my part. Eventually, I may overcome it completely; but, for now, I still have to push myself to drive in the rain.

So, a task most people don’t even think about, is difficult for me. I don’t think that makes me crazy or weak or unintelligent. An experience that was mine alone made this task one that requires courage for me to deal with each time.

It’s so easy for people to stand back and ask why I can’t deal with something the way they think I should. If they had lived through my experiences, they would know that I display my courage daily. They would see how some “small” act to them is something I have to push myself to do because of my experiences.

Courage becomes a clearer word
when you realize that we use it to fight being human.
Courage is what it takes to live . . . every day . . .
but, it is different for every person.

Maybe that’s why sometimes we don’t show the understanding we should to someone. If that person doesn’t let you know his/her experiences and what requires courage on his/her part, then you can’t give support where it is needed. By the same token, if we are so quick to to give judgement, others will not feel that they can share their burden with us. This causes frustration for you as well as the other person.

Remember:
the only thing that makes your problem worse than mine is that it’s yours . . .
and it takes courage for me to face my challenges because the experiences are mine!

I’m not as strong as you are . . .
your words really hurt me
and when you say that
I’m blind and I can’t see—
I’m not as strong as you are . . .
your words really hurt me!
I’m not as strong as you are . . .
your words cut me deep
and when you say that
I’m stupid, I weep—
I’m not as strong as you are . . .
your words cut me deep!
I’m not as strong as you are . . .
your words say hate another
and when you say that
I’m dumb to love
and one who’s different is not
my brother—
I’m not as strong as you are . . .

But there was one I know
who as a babe came to earth for me
lived through trials here below,
gave all He was so I could be . . .
in poverty
showed the riches of love,
In silence
showed power of the One above
in sacrifice
brought supremacy unmatched in time
out of nothing
made the universe in beauty sublime
out of emptiness
filled all that there is so I can see
as God/man
opened the kingdom of God to me
as God/love
died to release life to redeem the Fall
for God
so loved the world . . .
that HE gave Himself and
HE is stronger than all!

The heaviness in my heart comes from knowing TOO much . . . there are those I counted among my friends that I find out I did not really know . . . there are feelings within me that I did not know were there that needed much more review . . . deep disappointment in myself and others . . . that is the darkness that is hard to overcome . . .

I sit in the midst of viewing fractured and broken relationships and friends and families that can never be the same again because of the verbal acid thrown in the heat of what was perceived as “a battle” but which should have been a call for each of us to examine ourselves . . .

I weep over the vicious attacks, the “exposes” shared without bothering to validate, the seemingly joyous feasting on the garbage and the sharing of the garbage with others . . . and the heaviness becomes a break in my heart as I allow it to pour out before my only hope for healing, holding out ALL of the wounds as I fall into the arms of my Father and wait for HIS LOVE to wash over my entire being . . .
May God comfort us who mourn
Giving us a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So we will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
that He may be glorified. (Isaiah 61)

Tuesday—November 8, 2016

I am sorry and I apologize for offending anyone but . . . I struggle with FEAR because we now have a President-elect of the United States of America who has expressed stances I detest and is (in MY opinion):
–vulgar
–demonstrates a lack of “class”
–is a horrible role model
–speaks racial insults
–demeaned women and minorities
–uses words I do not allow in my presence
–promotes white supremacy
–has multiple failures of his businesses
–only acceptable communication is when a staff member controls his Twitter account, etc.
–vengeful and erratic
–narcissistic
(By Mayo Clinic Staff Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that’s vulnerable to the slightest criticism.)

SO go ahead & tell me I need to love those who voted for this self-centered ego-maniac and I will tell you . . . I do love them and I know some who are friends of mine (I have a problem with “their man”-not them), but I am terrified that these people are going to get exactly what they think they want and, believe me, it will not be what they think it will be and all of us will have to suffer the consequences–

This man was “smart” when he began his campaign with bullying playground techniques by hollering “crooked Hillary” until his followers picked it up and repeated it until many were speaking it and NEVER did anyone offer any real proof of the validity of the accusation . . . that’s sad! I still have not found anyone who can tell me how she deserves that label since every investigation has shown her “not guilty.” I mean, really, compare personal email server use with .NOT paying your employees/vendors PLUS stating a person at his level can treat a woman however he wants PLUS campaigning on racist comments and promises of shutting out others from a country founded by immigrants!
http://mentalartsnetwork.com/american-spirit/

Romans 13 tells me to submit to the government – so I will, but I will work against all I can legally to keep others from being mistreated and abused in the name of “freedom” for those who claim rights for themselves that they refuse to grant to others . . . the 100-day-plan that has been posted should strike fear in heart of each of us who claim to follow the God of all that is. Selfishness and hatred seem to be in charge and that brings my heart to a prone position before the throne of God begging GOD to forgive us and draw us back to where GOD wants us . . . knowing it is GOD who is great . . . not us!

We are called to LOVE . . . we are called to put the interests of others before our own . . . we are told to take care of others with no mention of whether they deserve it or not or are on drugs or not . . . we are all in this together—simple, right?

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
Colossians 3:9-11

Changing seasons . . . life is full of them.

Sometimes I have noticed a change and sometimes I have just kept walking or crawling forward . . . oblivious to the bigger picture and how a change brought me something I did not know I needed for my journey ahead.

Of course, I did not realize that life was a journey or that I was constantly making choices that took me one place or another. Then, one day, I had an eye-opening moment . . . and, in that moment of clear vision of what had happened in my life before that time, I chose to end it all coming to the conclusion that there was no point in continuing to try to swim in such thick mud when I was unable to make right choices in anything and the losses, the pain, the darkness was overwhelming!

BUT, as is obvious, that choice was not carried out . . . I am still here and my life has continued with all the ups and downs of human existence! The God I walked away from when I was 19 years old because of the wounds one of those claiming to be His child had inflicted on me would not let me end my life before He had finished His work in me. So, feeling defeated and having built a wall around the deepest of wounds in my heart, I moved from North Carolina to Arkansas because my mother refused to give up on me and would not let go.

I did not know it then, but that changing of seasons began the healing of my inner being—it is an on-going process begun years ago by a group of people who accepted me just as I was, broken and ready for the garbage heap. Those people showed me love without pointing out any of my flaws and, even though my lifestyle was totally out of their acceptable way, they trusted God to bring me to where I needed to be . . . and that made all the difference, opening small cracks in my hardened heart where God could shine His Light and Love to guide me.

Changing seasons . . . I cannot always know what the purpose is or how it will ultimately work into my journey at the beginning of the changing season; but, I have come to believe that God’s Plan is for my good and that each step, even if it is a painful time in a pit, is part of HIS Plan that will work out into a beautiful tapestry . . . in His Time, through His Love.

May my heart be open to God’s heart and the messages of the changing seasons . . .          life is full of them.

Sad for the commentary this election makes on the hearts of the majority of the United States of America’s citizens . . .
embarrassed to be included as one who is now represented
by a man who openly spews hatred and fear and disgusting language and attitudes, a despot . . .
concerned for the halt to the acceptance of all people in a country founded by immigrants . . .

My belief system requires that I submit to the government in place knowing that God sets up all governments for His purposes, yes, even Hitler and, no, I can’t explain that—          ask God!

In 1 Samuel 8, the people demanded a king and God told Samuel to give the people what they asked for, that the people were rejecting God, not Samuel—I am inclined to feel that God gave the people what they thought they wanted in the 2016 election . . . an arrogant, uncouth, vulgar man who preached hatred and fear and drew followers in by appealing to the selfish aspect of mankind’s nature.

Those who were not blinded by this man’s strategies to deceive to gain for himself MUST walk forward according to the Truth in their hearts – protect those who are not on this man’s “acceptable” list – provide for the poor & needy – guard against the violence directed at those with different skin color, ethnic origin, sexual preference, religious affiliation . . . BECAUSE we cannot demand for ourselves what we are not willing to give to others, my rights are secure when I make sure others have those same rights whether I agree with their choices or not.

My belief system includes knowing that I am not wise, but I can hold up the “wisdom from above” as a standard for my choices:
“But the wisdom from above is first pure,
then peaceable,
gentle,
reasonable,
full of mercy
and good fruits,
unwavering, without hypocrisy.
(James 3:17)

My belief system means that I can:
“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves”
(Philippians 2:3)

My belief system guides my behavior in this dark time;
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and          humble in spirit;
not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead;                          for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.                             (1 Peter 3:8-9)

and I pray with the psalmist:
But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.
(Psalm 5:11-12)