Lucy and I, with 9-year-old Nathan and 6-year-old Nolan (grandnephews) were at the Charles Mill Park in May. Lucy, in her wheelchair, went through the park and a teenager ran by her, muttering that he lost something. Lucy didn't catch the name of whatever was lost but the boy's father was seen walking throughout the park, searching the ground. It must have been important because he was seen several times.
Meanwhile, Nathan and Nolan were down by the water, skipping stones, and was oblivious of it all. I had the idea, or premonition, that whatever they had lost would be found but was sure it would not be found by me, although I looked around a little where I was. I had no idea what he was looking for.
Finally I called the boys to come along, we’re going home. Lucy then noticed that the man and boy were getting into his car on the other side of the park. When Nathan and Nolan sat down in the van, Nathan remarked that he found an MP3 player and was happy about his find. Lucy remarked that maybe it is what the man was looking for. Nathan gave a sigh of disappointment.
We noticed that the car was leaving and I quickly drove up a side road to the main road. If he turned right I would try to intercept him; if left, I’d follow him. He turned left and I followed until, for some reason, the car stopped by the road. I pulled up behind it.
Nathan got out of the van and the teenager got out of the car. Holding up the unit, Nathan asked him if this is what he was looking for. The boy said yes and took it, and went back into the car. A few seconds later he got out again and called out “THANK YOU”. We pulled out again and the driver of the car called out THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Is it any wonder that we can be thankful for such an incident that gives us a lesson in a dynamic that can only be attributed to something beyond ourselves! We may have the insight to grasp a working situation but it is what is within ourselves that can choreograph an event to a meaningful and happy conclusion.
We can take it as a lesson. That's what we are here for—to learn lessons. As many say, there are no coincidences.
This is the third Opinion Shaper article, published on April 15, 2012, in the Mansfield News Journal, Mansfield, Ohio. It was right after my dear brother passed away.
There certainly is something in the air that doesn't agree with everybody. There is an ongoing feud with the economy, politics, education, finances, religion—in short, the quality of life.
My brother, Ronald, recently let uncertainties of life finally get to him. He called me on Feb. 27 to wish me a happy birthday. We had a cordial conversation, but three days later he was gone, a victim of his own discouragement.
He had admitted to being very discouraged but he wouldn't, or couldn't, lay a finger on the cause. We mentioned retirement, touched on the state of the economy, and, worst of all, the political scene. He was close to retirement age, still in good health and working, and had a lovely wife, two beautiful daughters and six grandchildren.
So, where does that leave the rest of us? We are concerned about the same things. The economy is trying to get onto its feet, and politicians are trying to prove some kind of aristocratic ardor; vying for the top seat in government; trying to appeal to the masses, which is mainly how one of them will manage to get there—or stay there.
Then there are religious and societal differences that figure into the mix. Catholics, Protestants, other religions, atheists, races, creeds, lifestyles. In a free society that should not be a problem—to each his own—but there seems to be the curious need to watch each other and make a judgment about the different ways of viewing the world.
There is an ongoing need for happiness and contentment—song, dance, sports, religion. That's on the right track, but then there are drugs, sex, alcohol, tobacco and excesses of all kinds. It all plays a part in giving a sample of temporary happiness, at the risk of one's own eventual downfall. But that's when one is focusing full attention on it.
There is another focus that can help alleviate the discontent or madness in one's existence, which can last longer; paying attention to that which was already set up for countless ages—the beauty of what you see around you. It's there when you look for it. It's there just by being, without judgment of its own.
You can withdraw inward for a few minutes a day and quiet your mind and contemplate on the exquisiteness of a flower, a tree, even grass. Let your mind focus on the unseen microscopic world. Somewhere in that orderly mass of cells, molecules and atoms is the essence of life that keeps it all growing and flourishing, a mode of intellectual pursuit even at that level to complete the cycle of life, assisted by DNA patterns, and evolving according to the environment in which it finds itself.
Then there is the magnificent thought in watching the stars and planets take their steady course through the heavens. If you have an active imagination, you can allow yourself to soar among them, oblivious to what is around you for the moment, taking a little time to relax in that feeling of wonder.
Or you can consider the birds, animals and insects with a sense of awe as you realize that each species is different. You can also adopt some of their characteristics for yourself—strength, courage, patience—which can help you give order to your own existence. It's just taking lessons from that which has a divine order about it.
Then there is the joy of doing what you love—reading, writing, expressing yourself in art and music, helping one another in time of need, enjoying the kind of life that can be shared and enjoyed by all.
A universal law is in place: what you give out will eventually return to you. It's called the Law of Attraction, which is beyond the realm of philosophy or religion. It affects everyone, regardless. On a personal level it has to do with the ethic if reciprocity, the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
It can work the same way on a much broader scale. Somewhere along the way wars must cease if there is to be world peace. Governments must pay attention to the governed in positive ways. It can start with you, a single source as an example of encouragement and appreciation for those around you, an influence for good as a role model for others.
Love for our fellow humanity will go far, which includes respect, tolerance, self-control, forgiveness. It also includes a love and respect for the Source of life, however one knows, believes or imagines it. This applies to everyone--everyone!
When you are finished quietly contemplating the natural order of things that has existed for millennia and beyond, you can return to your conditioned life's programming with a refreshed outlook of being able to help make some kind of order out of the chaos that made you seek the solace of withdrawing inward in the first place. You can call it prayer or meditation or just relaxing. Inspiration comes to a quiet mind.
This article is my first attempt at writing for publication in the local newspaper as a guest columnist. It was published in the October 15, 2011 Mansfield News Journal, Mansfield, OH as an Opinion Shaper article. The Opinion Shaper team consisted of 13 volunteers who each submitted an article for publication every three months for one year.
It's not often you get a phone call saying you have won a large sum of money, but for many people it is all too often, with regrettable results.
Recently I got: such a call, and a female voice congratulated me for winning $3 million. I asked what I should do next, and the reply was to send $750 for the cost of expediting the delivery. I told her to just deduct the $750 and send me the rest. She said, "OK," and hung up. I didn't hear from her again.
During the next two weeks, I received several similar calls from different people. One was from a David Foster who informed me that he was from (a well-known company) and that I won $1.5 million and a Mercedes Benz.
"How do you like that?" he added. I told him it would be OK if I had the check in my hand or, better yet, the money in the bank, He agreed, but told me that all I had to do was send him $100 to defray expenses of the delivery.
I had already researched some of the scam methods and I told him that we should not have to pay anything for a sweepstakes win. He replied that the rules have changed and explained a few points.
"Will you cooperate?"
"No," I replied, and hung up.
I called security at that company and they informed me that they do not contact a winner by phone.
But there was one call I was curious enough to follow through. The call came from a John Anderson, and he informed me that I won $5 million and congratulated me, saying that I definitely did win and that I would receive the money. All I would have to do was send them $385 to cover expenses. This time I played along, but I told him I didn't have that kind of money. He then asked me if I had any bank credit cards and, since it was not exactly personal information, I replied that I had MasterCard and Visa. He asked what the credit limit was on the cards and I replied, "$12,000 on one of them." He said he would send me a check for $12,000 and I could pay the $385 out of that, and he admonished me to "spend the money wisely."
The next day I got a phone call from another man with a heavy accent who asked me if I got the check yet. I told him it was only a day later—mail doesn't travel that fast. He said he would call the next day.
The next day or so he called again, still no check. He suggested I could pay the $385 out of my credit card, or take a loan out using my car as collateral. I told him I don't do things that way. Another call asked what bank I used. To maintain the sense of innocent participation I told him the name of a bank - but not my bank.
A few days later I got a call again, and again I told him I did not receive a check. He then told me he would send it, what is my address? This time I waived the admonition to not give out personal information. I gave him my address; I wanted the evidence.
Meanwhile, I called the Mansfield Police Department and talked to one of the detectives who gave me the 411 on the numerous scam attempts and successes that pervade our society.
A couple days later I got the check, dated and signed by the name printed on the check, made out to my name, but the rest was blank.
When the caller called again I informed him that the amount on the check was blank. He told me that they did not yet know how much the government would charge for the transaction so they left it blank - he would let me know the amount. He told me to deposit the check for $9,500. That was where it became really confusing and I don't remember what he said next, except he did end with, "Are you going to the bank now?" I told him I was working on it.
I was not going to cash or deposit any check of that sort. The lesson I got from the police department was that the check may be cashable, but the check funds can get shanghaied to who knows where, and the money you received will have to be given back to the bank, which will not have sympathy for your situation.
I took the check to the police, along with pertinent information. In this case, the check was proved to be a fraud early on. The checking account had been closed, the owner of the account had died and his wife was in a nursing home. I got a phone call a couple weeks later that was apparently from the same source. I replied that the check was a fraud and hung up.
It was a hassle to follow through with what I knew was a fraud, and it gave me a few headaches. I got my evidence, but it was filed with the police department among thousands of other similar attempted, or successful fraud cases.
Incidentally, my phone number is on the National Do Not Call Registry. Why am I still getting unwanted calls?
