TheRedneckProfessor

As an example, I found out Friday that I did not get a job that I was really hoping to get. It would have been a "perfect" position for me; and certainly "the next big thing" for my career. But the company found somebody else they liked better. It happens. In the past, I would have obsessed over missing out on the prestige that would have come with working with that particular company. I would have fretted over the lack of financial security I'm currently facing, and lamented the loss of the salary that position offered. I would have used this opportunity to wax philosophical, poetical even, about the vanity of life, as our esteemed author of Ecclesiastes did. Instead, however, I've spent my time this weekend reflecting on The Moment. I ask myself, "Did I really need that job, when right now I have a good, home-cooked meal in front of me?" Or, "Do I really need more money in the bank, when right now I have a nice, warm winter coat on this frosty morning?" "Do I really want to pour more if myself into my career, when right now I have a beautiful wife who is having a wonderful time going grocery shopping with me?" Obviously, this shifts the focus off of the negative (I didn't get a job I was perfect for and it really sucks); and onto the positive (I don't need an incredible job, when I've already got a pretty rad life). But it also enhances The Moment I am currently experiencing. I am able to be present with my family over dinner, present with my new coat, present with my wife... present with a good cup of coffee and nothing more. Rather than just being present with the suckiness of life; I am present with the awesomeness of my life. That's what helps me out, anyway. Take it for what it's worth.

I give gifts to my sons and use the holiday to reflect upon peace on earth and how i can improve myself as a person. It is a "spritual" time for me (for lack of a better word).

I used to have a boss who would always ask if I would be willing to work on Christmas day. I would always answer, "jesus never came to any of my birthday parties; why should I show up for one of his?"

What kind of morality would be provided by a god who allows the rape of ten-year-old sex slaves?

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Ugh. Same here.

I got so hungry on a fishing expedition years ago that I ended up grilling the shrimp I was supposed to be using for bait. That was the last time I planned to camp out and live on what I caught.

Glad I could help.

Having been raised with the idea of divine destiny, I've had the expectation that my life was going to somehow be extra-ordinary, incredible, a cut above the average... anything but the garden-variety, mediocre, 9-5 existence most people endure. It was a tremendous disappointment to realize that god doesn't really have a plan for any of us; and that my life was going to end up pretty plain. This disillusionment spilled over into my post-christian life. Even though I know there is no divine destiny, I still find myself looking for the next big thing, the next great adventure, the next new experience; and I'm often horrifically bored with my life. Don't get me wrong, I've had a pretty awesome run, so far; but there's still that part of me longing for "more." A last vestige of my once firmly held belief that me and jesus were going to do great things together, I suppose. What has helped me out a lot over the past year or so has been forcing myself to focus only on The Moment. Just live in The Now, without expectation, or judgement of it. Just observe what is happening and try to learn from it. I might not ever have an incredible life; but I'm learning to create a series of incredible moments. And maybe that's all I really need.

Not even looking forward to christmas, beyond giving gifts to my boys. Thanksgiving was completely miserable with my mom storming around the house creating unnecessary tension and looking for excuses to get angry and hate on people. I caught her several times whispering poison into Redneck Jr.'s ear about the new Ms. Professor and Professor Jr. Had a right royal bowdy-how over it.

Right 'nuff, the local lads offered me free "Ulster air conditioning", if I didn't fly their colors. They didn't much care for the ol' stars and stripes I hung, so they didn't.

I used to live at that address, many years ago. I was just being facetious using it as an answer to End3's question.

In my case, I seek to be a better person because I got tired of being a pariah.