Post antidotal stories, phrases or bible verses here that might be helpful in bringing Catholics and non-Catholics together.

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Post antidotal stories, phrases or bible verses here that might be helpful in bringing Catholics and non-Catholics together.

Here (below) is a story about an old Army First Sergeant and a young Army Specialist in a bar. This is a story I think about when I feel frustrated by comments I read here at CAF. **
Posed by Jimmy B.

*An old Army First Sergeant went out for a couple of drinks with another, younger Sergeant and sitting at the other end of the bar, was a young Specialist. The young man at the other end of the bar, who also happen to be in the First Sergeant’s Chain of Command, had obviously, way too much to drink. *

*The First Sergeant told the specialist to, “Take it easy Mister”, responding to having just watched the Specialist “go off” shouting at the bar tender and making a scene. *

*The Specialist turned to the First Sergeant and he went ”nut’s”, calling the First Sergeant every name in the book. *
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*The First Sergeant, without saying another word, calming looked away, quickly finished his drink and he told the other Sergeant, that he had arrived with, “Come on, let’s get out of here”. *

*They walked out of the bar and down the street. The other Sergeant, who was much younger, shocked at what he had just seen, asked the First Sergeant, “Why didn’t you do anything back there?" *

*The First Sergeant smiled and said, “Words, words, words…word, words, words, words, words, that’s all it is”. *

*The younger Sergeant asked, “What are you going to do to him when he gets back to the Fort? *

*He (the First Sergeant) said, “Well… I know that kid, and he’s a great soldier, I am going to find out what the real problem is, he wasn’t yelling at me, he is more frustrated about something that’s going on in his own life”. *

*He went on, ”Maybe it is the separation from his girl, maybe he has a drinking problem, maybe it’s because he is worried about going to war, or maybe he is simply having a bad night, who knows?, I am going to find out what’s bothering him, and see what I can do to help him”. *
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*When I usually tell this story, it is much longer but here is the point, sometimes we have to smile and remind ourselves, “words, words, words…word, words, words, words, words, that’s all it is” and try to think about what it is, that we can do to help. *

*The story above illustrates, among many other things, “real” leadership, maturity and patients but it also illustrates Christian forgiveness and Christian charity. *

Your thoughts…?
 
Understanding “Difficult People” and their “nature”.
Posted by Jimmy B.

Here it story about the turtle and the scorpion.

There was a turtle and a scorpion standing next to each other on one side of a river and they both wanted to go to the other side.

The scorpion said to the turtle, “hey buddy, I can’t swim but you can and we both want to go to the other side of this river, can I ride across on your shell?”

The turtle said to the scorpion, “No! You’re a scorpion and I know scorpions don’t like turtles, I will get half-way across this river, you will sting me, jump to the other side and let me drown; So, I won’t do it!”

The scorpion said to the turtle, “I promise I won’t sting you, Pleeeeease let me ride across on your shell”.

The turtle, known for his kind nature said, “Ok scorpion, jump on my shell and I will swim across this river”.

*The turtle swam about half way across the river with the scorpion on his shell, when, all of a sudden… the scorpion looked down at the turtle, smiled and stung the turtle. *

The scorpion then jumped to safety, on the other side of the river.

The turtle began to sink into the river and he asked the scorpion, “Why did you sting me? Now I am going to drown….you promised!

The scorpion smiled, tilted his head, shrugged his shoulders, and said, “I guess it’s in my nature”.
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*We all have a little of the “scorpion’s nature” in us, some more than others. As Christians, we should work on our “kind” nature or kinder side of our nature, like that of the turtle. *

Moreover, we should try to bring out the kind side in others. We might get stung at times but that doesn’t mean we stop trying to be kind to one another.

Your thoughts…?
 
Interesting posts.

I especially liked the “words, words, words…”

It’s easy to get caught up in what we think someone means, when in fact we’ve often totally misunderstood them.

We have extra barriers to overcome on these fora (pl of forum?) because:
  1. we can’t see others’ expressions - hard to distinguish sarcasm & humor sometimes
  2. it is difficult to communicate in English - more so in written form (at least for me anyway)
  3. sometimes being “techy-challenged” adds to the frustration of trying to communicate
  4. we come with pre-conceived (ill-conceived?) ideas about … well, many things; such baggage jumbles up our “hearing” too
I’m sure there are a billion or so other things that could be added to this list…but at least being aware of our weaknesses is perhaps the first step in allowing G-d to “grow us up”

many thanks for your posts, Jimmy

shalom
 
paidion said:
Interesting posts.

I especially liked the “words, words, words…”

It’s easy to get caught up in what we think someone means, when in fact we’ve often totally misunderstood them.

We have extra barriers to overcome on these fora (pl of forum?) because:
  1. we can’t see others’ expressions - hard to distinguish sarcasm & humor sometimes
  2. it is difficult to communicate in English - more so in written form (at least for me anyway)
  3. sometimes being “techy-challenged” adds to the frustration of trying to communicate
  4. we come with pre-conceived (ill-conceived?) ideas about … well, many things; such baggage jumbles up our “hearing” too
I’m sure there are a billion or so other things that could be added to this list…but at least being aware of our weaknesses is perhaps the first step in allowing G-d to “grow us up”

many thanks for your posts, Jimmy

shalom
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How about, bad at writing, typing and lazy at proofreading? That’s me. :rolleyes:

Thanks
 
Posted by Jimmy B.

“One of the reasons I like Catholicism, is because it adds “structure” to my life. “Structure” is a good thing; it keeps me out of trouble.”

*“A train runs more smoothly and is never so free, as when it is on its tracks.” *

“This is of course, when the tracks lead us towards a virtuous life and ultimately, our final stop, Heaven.”

“Our lives are very much the same; the gentle guidance of God and His Church, allow us to know, experience and share God’s love and that gives us hope, peace and happiness.”
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My Words…Your Thoughts?
 
Posted by Jimmy B.

***“***Guilt is the spark that lights the fire, which is Humility. Humility leads us to remorse. Remorse causes us to ask for pardon from our Father. By His pardon, then and only then, are we healed.”

*"Guilt is the good part of our nature, fighting with the bad part of our nature, a constant battle.” *

“*Prayer becomes much more sincere *in the man who confesses often.”

**“Trust in God, He has a way of straightening life’s path. Even though at times, it may appear that He puts up road-blocks, He doesn’t, we just make the wrong turn from time to time" **
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My Words…Your Thoughts?
 
Nine Ways of Being an Accessory to Another’s Sin:
  1. By Counsel
  2. By Command
  3. By Consent
  4. By Concealment
  5. By Defense of Evil Done
  6. By Partaking
  7. By Provocation
  8. By Praise
    **9. **By Silence
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Are you truly innocent? May God have mercy on me, a sinner.
 
“in order that a man arrive at the perfect vision of heavenly happiness, he must first of all believe God, as a disciple believes the master who is teaching him.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas - Shorter Summa
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“In all your dealings be slow to speak and say little, especially with your equals and those lower in dignity and authority than yourselves. Be ready to listen for long periods and until each one has had his say. Answer the questions put to you, come to an end, and take your leave. If a rejoinder is required, let your reply be as brief as possible, and take leave promptly and politely”

St. Ignatius of Loyola – *How to Deal and Converse with others in the Lord *
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“DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God’s will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good”.

Thomas à Kempis – The Imitation of Christ (chapter four)
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**
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He (Jesus) said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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The Gospel of Matthew 22:36-39
 
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