LOVE WORKS DAILY 02/23/07 - Going All The Way
Hello Friends! I hope today finds you happy and well
and filled with the infinity that is love and the
capacity to give and receive it freely today!
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INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT:
(Great Thoughts By History's Inspired Thinking Men and Women)
The giant oak is an acorn that held its ground.
-Anonymous
TIM's BLOG
(Random Thoughts and Tim's Daily World):
Hello again from this frosty Friday morning in
beautiful Southern Oregon. In case you don't already
know, my name is Tim Henry, and I am the host and moderator
of this group. I'd like to welcome a couple new readers
today...Welcome!
If you've wondered what this is about..and how you got here..
you got here because of LOVE. Our mission is to enhance
connection and understanding amongst all types of people
to bring down hate and anger and bring up love and happiness.
Yeah, Yeah...I know...Hippy Dippy...Oh, Well...I usually
write this while hugging a tree anyway...so....
So...toss me a guitar and lets have a "Love In!" Woo Hoo!
Truthfully, I welcome you all to get involved. If have a comment
about something I've had to say, or just something on your
mind...everything said in a loving and respectful way is welcome
here. There is no right or wrong answers...and after all...
that's the point...learning to love even those you don't agree
with...
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
(Brand New and Classic Love Works Essays 2001-2007)
In March, my 12 year old is going to State!
He's won the local Klamath County contest of MathCounts,
a $1000 scholarship to Oregon Tech, and the chance to
compete in Corvallis to maybe win a slot at the nationals
in Texas!
This boy can do more math in his head that I could ever do..period.
By all accounts, he is a mathmatical genius. And he's only in
the 7th grade.
Which brings me to my LOVE WORKS topic and a question we have
been wrestling with the last few weeks.
When he won the competition in Klamath Falls, we, as parents,
were thrilled beyond belief. Our son was very happy, but
not terribly surprised, I think. But WE were out of our
minds. Neither of us had ever WON a scholarship in an academic
challenge. For me, however, It would have been such an
exciting moment.
Now that he has the chance to go to state and maybe on
to nationals...we are thrilled...we are hyped...we are
amped....
And he is rather ho-hum.
I think that he thinks he has a chance...but not a very ggod
one...to win at State...but for him the task has been accomplished.
He set out to win at Klamath, and he did. He wanted
to be one of the few people ever from Klamath to qualify for
state, and he did. He wanted to be the ONLY student from
his school to ever qualify for state, and he did.
But now...going to state doesn't seem really motivating.
For us, the parents, we see this as a huge opportunity.
He could end up going to the schools we have only dreamed
of...having the job offers that we could have only begged for.
But what do we do now?
What is the most loving action?
I have visions of "beauty pageant" moms and "Child actor" parents
flashing through my mind. Adults living vicariously through
the success of the child..at the child expense. The pressure,
the expectation..the loss of childhood.
Because our son is a math and science prodigy, does this
mean we should push his to fame, fortune and the Nobel Prize?
On the other hand, if we don't push at all....will he
let his talent wither.
Ultimately, I think that his happiness is the the very most
important thing. I want his to know without any question
that he is LOVED, and LOVED just as much, no matter what
he does, or how he does in life.
If he is happy being a mechanic or a plumber (both very
skilled jobs, by the way) then that's what he shoud do!
But we feel like we should put SOME fire under him
to do his very best, especially when faced with opportunities
not afforded many other people.
So here we sit...
He said to me the other day..."dad, you said that when
we were going to the county Mathcounts that you'd be happy
no matter how I did, but now with me going to State you
seem to want me to win"
Did I? Was that what I had been saying?
I responded by saying that when someone gets a chance at
something big...something that they want....they should go at it
with the mindset "I can get it!" and try their very hardest. We
would be oh so proud to know that you went and tried hard
but did not win! We love and support you no matter how
you do. But we don't want you to let something pass you
by that you would regret because you didn't try.
But even after saying that...it wasn't clear to me.
Was it our 12 year old regrets we were worried about...
or were we having regrets about what WE let pass by.
I know, I would have done some things different.
As a man of 40, I know I would spend every hour between
now and March 10th studying math....to give myself the
best chance...to WIN!
But as a boy of 12, I think I would want to go out
and build a snowman...which is exactly what he did.
LOVING, to me, is about going all the way.
Not kids going all the way to Nationals because you think they
will let their parents down....
But parents going all the way to show that they care about
and support their kids no matter what....
Would I be walking on air...to be at the televised competion
in Texas with my son, the math genius. And when he won
that...going to the White House to meet and shake hands
with the president....?
I makes me nearly pass out just thinking about it....
But my son being happy and being a kid is just as important.
We're gonna keep coaching and pushing a little...but
if he makes it clear that he needs a break...or just wants
some Snowman time...we're gonna back off and
go all the way..to show him we love him.
Love In Thought! Love In Word! Love In Action!
Love To You Today!
"May we endeavor today to increase our understanding and appreciation of
what others have given and contributed to us. And develop constant,
mindful consideration of how our thoughts and actions will BENIFICIALLY
CONTRIBUTE to others"
The best to you today in discovering the answers to life's difficult
questions!
A Final Thought:
Love is always the right thing to do. Even if it isn't the easiest
thing to do.
May we have compassion for the struggles of others, wisdom to
acknowledge our own, and courage to address them both every day.
Respectfully,
Tim
This is a daily newsletter of LOVE WORKS DAILY:
A collective of individuals of different beliefs and
backgrounds, dedicated to a better world by living LOVE in thought,
word and action. Compassion. Wisdom. Courage.
Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Peace be with you.
(c)2007 T.Thomas Henry
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