Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    It has been my experience that I tend to become comfortable with my
    given life situation, and more so the longer I continue in that state. 
    I think that there is no question that being forced to re-evaluate your
    life by some significant event that is thrust at you against your
    wishes is a major factor for change.  I don't know if Massey is right
    that it is the sole reason or not, but it is clearly an important
    factor.

    One of the things that I have been thinking about a lot lately is the
    fact that I really can't take things for granted.  Having parents 40
    years older than you, and watching them grow old, can have an impact on
    your view of life while you are still young.  I envy those people whose
    parents were in their twenties when they were born, and whose parents
    continue fairly healthy lives on to ripe old ages; their parents are
    still lively and healthy throughout most of their own lives.  In my
    case, at nearly age 33, I can see my parents bodies deteriorating
    significantly before my eyes.  My father is on dialysis, my mother is
    going deaf, and both of them are showing physical signs of old age.

    And then my brother, who is six years older, just recently discovered
    that he has MS.  Having a sibling with MS reduces the odds that you
    will get it from 1000 to 1 to between 50 and 100 to 1.  I am still
    safer from MS than I am from a Digital layoff, which is not exactly a
    consolation either.  Digital, a company that once did very well, with a
    long tradition of laying people off that is now forgotten--is not the
    same place to work for anymore.

    Our health, our jobs, our lives--we all get settled into our lifestyles
    and take them for granted.  But our lives are not as secure as we think
    they are, and inevitably we get jarred back into reality by some
    unexpected change.  If we don't die violent or accidental deaths, then
    we can expect to die from the decay of our own bodies, from things
    going wrong or breaking down.  Those events can change us, our outlook. 
    Maybe it *is* better to have older parents, so that I don't take my own
    life so much for granted, but I have become much more aware of my own
    mortality, perhaps too much so for a 33-year-old man who, with the
    exception of high cholesterol, is in good health.

    -- Mike

Mike .1,

	It sounds like you've experienced an SEE.  Cerebrally, you already
knew that as you get older your family gets older.  The term *significant*
doesn't necessarily mean you were struck by lightning.  But it does mean you've
experienced some discomfort or perhaps some other significant emotion.

	My priorities, too, have changed with age (which incidentally is
more than a decade greater than yours).

Peace be with you,
Richard

Interesting that Jesus told us to love our enemies and to pray for the benefit
of those who persecute us and say vile things against us.

This calls for behavior which overrides our normal inclinations, does it not?

Peace,
Richard

    I've experience several SEE's lately.  Somehow I feel older than I used
    to.
    
    That isn't to say that I feel like an adult yet, I might add.  Just an
    older child.
    
    -- Mike

    As I recall, your birthday is coming up soon.  (Mine was yesterday. 
    That's how I remember)  Could this have a bearing on your feelings?
    
    Pax, not pox,
    Richard

    Very good, Richard--you remembered.  I still have my Shalom cup, by the
    way.
    
    I'm not sure if the birthday means anything to me or not.  The
    transition from 32 to 33 doesn't seem to carry quite the same
    significance as, say, from 29 to 30.  I do plan on celebrating my LP
    day later this year, however (LP day being my 33 and a third birthday,
    some 122 days after my 33rd.)
    
    -- Mike

Happy belated Birthday wishes and hugs, Richard!

Love,

Ro

    Yes, a belated happy birthday to Richard.
    
    -- Mike

.7 Thanks, Ro!  Yeah, all the good-looking people were born in 1948.

.6 Mike,  re: the Shalom cup.  I like to give coffee mugs as gifts.

You may be interested to know that Sister Joan Brown is leaving Colorado
Springs to live and work in the Las Vegas area.  Her farewell party will be
this coming Sunday evening and I have another mug as a gift for her.  Her
mug says something like:  "Official Department of Defense Mug," then it has
a price tag - $3178.00. ;-)

Peace,
Richard

    I think that an SEE often triggers a change but, ultimately a change in
    belief always preceeds a lasting change.  In my experience, if what I  
    believe about myself and my life doesn't change then, eventually, I
    wind up back in the same old rut.  Changing your thinking and beliefs
    about life may begin with some kind of traumatic event but unless it's
    followed up with a concious commitment to the change it won't last very
    long.  
    
    Nanci  

Sandy 4.288,

	It sounds to me that you had what Massey calls an SEE, a significant
emotional experience.  Massey claims that not only does an SEE trigger
change, he says it's the only thing that does!

Richard

            <<< Note 580.11 by CSC32::J_CHRISTIE "Declare Peace!" >>>

>Sandy 4.288,

	>It sounds to me that you had what Massey calls an SEE, a significant
>emotional experience.  Massey claims that not only does an SEE trigger
>change, he says it's the only thing that does!

>Richard


Sounds serious, Richard.  Should I get help for it?  :^)


Sandy

    .12  No, not necessarily. :-)
    
    Richard