HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-05-25, Page 30Page 8—Crossroads--May 25, 1983
Work, play and meditation
By REV. LEE TRUMAN
Living with tension,
stress and pressure is dan-
gerous and destructive to
both physical and mental
health. Still, this is a way
of life for many Ameri-
cans.
The pressure goes so far
that most Americans can
think of only two ways to
use the off -job time that we
have: We work or we work
at our play. Either way, we
do it intensely, competi-
tively or compulsively.
There is little in our cul-
ture that says life need not
be like this, and that there
is another proper and valu-
able use for time worth
considering. It is an alter-
native which can be used m
everyday life and it comes
to us in moments which
ask for something besides
more hard work or com-
petitive play. The third al-
ternative to work or play is
worship or meditation.
Meditation is not only
delightful, it also is import-
ant to mental health. 'In
part, it is allowing one's
mind to wander and won-
der as it wanders. How is
this done? In the easiest
terms it is to disconnect
oneself entirely from what
is immediately around, and
spread those inner, God-
given wings, insight,
dreams and hopes. You can
use the Bible, ancient or
contemporary devotional
classics, poems, a sunset
... any of these can act as
a springboard.
Meditation not only
gives rest, but also re -ener-
gizes our inner energy and
it helps us keep a balanced
overview. I am sure that is
a prime source of internal
emotional and spiritual de-
velopment. There is no se-
cret or special technique to
learning this skill. It is a
matter of learning to turn
loose of the tense, tight
string that holds our mind,
and allow it to wander in
peace beyond the practical
things which demand our
attention around us.
You might look at it as
letting your thoughts take
a vacation, and leaving the
minor humdrum things be-
hind, seek and explore
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those things which auto-
matically fill ourminds
-when we hear gremusic,
or stand at the crest of a
magnificent mountain. The
experience of wonder with
expectancy is meditation.
Do not seek or expect
any physical setting to
bring this about other than
some place which is rea-
sonably comfortable. ,$ur-
roundings can be unimpor-
tant. But even a person of
the caliber of the great
psychologist, William
James often told his phi-
losophy students to attend
chapel. His point and pur-
pose was to have the prac-
tice of going to a quiet
place which was sugges-
tive of reflective thought,
and this would help
achieve perspective and
depth.
One illustration James
used to describe what
meditation did for him was
that life for him was like a
person who was being
shoved about in a crowd, so
he climbs a set of stairs
and looks oyer the head of
the people, sees where the
crowd as a whole is going,
and then descends again
into the push and shove,
but now is going in the
right direction.
Meditation raises ; us
above the small and the
petty so that we can see
the things which are im-
portant and note those
things which will last.
To begin the process, one
needs to take 'that single
footstep in the right direc-
tion. It should be the effort
to move our minds along
an outward and upward
__-patb_._to the _u111versal _and
.__._ th 1m on—dl th c tie = '—_
downward and in�bard
toward the specific and
egocentric.
It may be that the mind
grows tired of the practi-
cal, and grows weary of
the specific, and that is
why our thinking processes
can leave the now with
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The best way is to use
short thoughts, short peri-
ods of concentration on the
abstract. Consider the na-
ture of What is beautiful,
the meaning of truth, the
destiny of man, the spirit
of courage, or the under-
standing that today is one
day of eternity, and relax
as you do so. 4
You might take a quota-
tion, a verse of the Bible in
a new translation, or a pro-
verb and turn it over and
over in your mind until you
begin to draw from it the
kind of insight that does
not come with the quick
glance and passing look.
In difficulty, harassed by
pressure, or pushed by
stress, there is no more re-
liable method for attaining
a calm outside and inside
than by the deepest kind of
meditation there is, and
that is prayer.
Be different, and try the
third alternative for the
use of your free time
meditation.
Brahms shot at eats
German composer
Johannes Brahms, a notori-
ous cat hater, spent much
time at a window, trying to
hit the neighborhood cats
with a bow and arrow.
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Dave and Jami Frredtawith stir Jed, \kallemtein
At wit's end
by Erma Bomb.ck
A child psychologist ven-
tured a "new theory" to tele-
vision viewers the other day.
He said, "Modern-day
parents don't discipline their
children because they are
afraid of them."
You bet your sweet whip
and chair we are. Where has
this guy been? Twirling
around in a tea cup at Dis-
neyland?
Parenting isn't for sissies.
Never has been. It's like
playing poker with
strangers. You never know if
you've got a "bluffer", one
with a "killer instinct" or
one who changes rules in the
middle of the game.
Children are born with na-
tural weapons that would
bring any foreign power to
its knees. Ever try to ignore
''"ai angry baby and time how
long it can hold its breath
and turn blue between cries?
I am one of those parents
who always had "visions" of
headlines: ',Mother watches
General Hospital as baby
blacks out from not being
picked up."
I was terrified of my kids
from the moment they were
born. I never trusted one of
them with a mouthful of
strained peas. Even after I
stopped p ing their lips
together an watching them
swallow, I was afraid to take
my eyes off them lest I get it
all back in my face. "Mother
drowns in strained peas:
baby pleads brutality!"
And what mother has not
been terrorized by the big-
gest source of energy since
Hoover Dam ... a child's
mouth? "Aunt Margaret, my
mother says if you had a
brain, you'd be dangerous."
Did you ever question why
everyone believes a child
who still believer the tooth
fairy writes post-dated
checks on his Dad's bank ac-
count?
I had children who were
"eaters". They ate every-
thing . . . chairs, turtles,
blankets, hymnals, shoes
and anything else that didn't
fight back. I never slept be-
hind a door that wasn't
locked.
I watched my son play ten-
nis at a nice club one day
wearing cut-off jeans with
boxer shorts hanging out of
the legs and the top to his
pyjamas. I was horrified he
would give his right name.
"Search continues for mo-
ther of abandoned derelict in
centre court."
Mostyparents admit to ap-
prehension in disciplining
their children because they
fear they will run away from
home and they will never see
them again. We all dread
that day when the U -Haul
pulls up and empties our
home of beds, linens, TV set,
tywriter, bathroom heat-
er, dishes and appliances.
U armed parents cleaned
out by siblings. Supreme
court ruling needed on
search and seizure."
Most kids raise their
parents by intimidation.
By Louisa Rusk
Now is the time to begin to
plan your entries into the
various Fall Fairs, including
the Canadian National Exhi-
bition.
Categories have been
drawn up and prize lists
printed, so it would be wise
to write and find out the
deadline for entries and ob-
tain the necessary forms.
As there are so many
small fairs around the coun-
try, it would be impossible to
publish all the information.
As well as the "EX" there
are large fairs in London -
which is the Western Fair, in
Regina and of course the
Pacific National Exhibition.
The best plan is to write for
details.
This year there is over
$15,000 in prize money being
awarded at the Canadian
National Exhibition, with
special categories for people
confined to hospital, for
senior citizens and blind
people who are registered
with the Canadian National
Institute for the Blind.
To obtain your free copy of
the 1983 Handicraft Prize
List, write to Marna Malan-
iuk, CNE, Exhibition Place,
Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3C3.
This year the "Knit &
Chat" magazine will be
offering prizes for any item
made from the magazine.
First prize $50, second $30
and third $20. I hope many of
you will enter.
Speaking of the magazine,
the Spring issue was mailed
out two weeks ago, and I'm
keeping my fingers crossed
that the post office co-oper-
ates and delivers them on
time. One lady in Victoria
waited almost two months
the last time. It's mailed
from Toronto, some get
theirs in four days, others
over two weeks.
I'm sure it is well worth
waiting for. We have a new
look with violets down the
side of the front cover, and
it's packed with lovely things
to make and do, now that
Spring is finally here.
If there is a wedding in
your family circle this sum-
mer, you'll find the instruc-
tions for making ribbon
roses most helpful, also the
ideas for bridesmaids' hats.
If you are a proud grand-
mother of a little girl, per-
haps you would like to smock
a dress for when she begins
to toddle. There are many
more ideas you'll find inter-
esting.
Look for my magazine in
your local wool or craft
store, but if you cannot find
it, write to me and I'll send
you a subscription form.
Better still, send the $11.75
for one year and I'll person-
ally see that this latest issue
is mailed to you imme-
diately.
0--0•--0
This week's pattern is a
lovely knitted set for a baby
coat, bonnet, leggings and
mitts. This would be a great
outfit for the Fall baby, and
baby clothes are so light and
easy to knit during the sum-
mer months.
To order Leaflet No. 83108,
send 75 cents, plus a stamped
self addressed return en-
velope. If you do not have a
stamp or envelope, please
enclose an extra 50 cents to
cover the cost of handling
and print your name and ad-
dress. Send to: Louisa Rush,
"Craft Talk", 486 Montford
Drive, Dollard des Orrneaux,
P.Q., H9G 1M6. Please be
sure to ;tate pattern num-
bers correctly when ordering
and to enclose your stamped
return envelope for faster
service.
The Issac Walton Fly
Fishermen's Club held a big
convention at Toronto's Sky-
line Hilton recently.
I went to it expecting to see
a bunch of the boys whooping
it up, roaming around the ho-
tel in old beat -up fishing hats
littered with fishing flies and
wearing outdoor jackets with
crests sewn all over them.
Nothing could have been
further from the truth. "The
Canadian Fly Fishing For-
um", as it's officially known
looked more like a meeting
of stamp collectors. It was
all very serious, almost dig-
nified, compared to the way
I'd visualized it.
There were over a thou-
sand fly fishermen looking
over displays of rods, reels,
tackles, and especially hand-
made fishing flies.
They were also attending
workshops conducted by ex-
perts from various parts of
the continent, where differ-
ent techniques of making
fishing flies were demon-
strated and discussed.
I dropped in for a few mo-
ments to watch the activities
at a workshop led by Don
Moore (just one of the big
names in the game). It was a
beginner's forum and Don
was giving instructions over
a microphone to about a hun-
dred intense novices tying
the complex and colorful
flies.
Later, I got a few lessons
in casting from Denise Max-
well of Vancouver, a world
champion in the women's
division, and from Maurice
How, a veteran who has fish-
ed all over the world.
I didn't see anyone wear-
ing a typical fly fisherman's
hat orjackeL au the time.
was there: Apparently that's --
just for field and stream.
Tom .Totten, the publicity
chairman laughed when I
expressed my surprise. He
said the public image of fly
fishermen is away off base.
These are no Huckleberry
Finn fishermen. They talk in
a tangle of terms and
techniques. But they still
have Huck Finn fantasies.
Dreams of giant trout rising
up out of the waters to greet
them on opening day.
Walruses often use their
tusks to pull themselves out
of the water.
HEY KIDS! LEANN TO DRAW
WITH DANNY COUGHLAN
1. Here's Danny's complete drawing.
2. Finish what Danny started.
3. Now try it yourself!
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