SENSITIZE 50
Every morning, Mr. Cring takes a personal moment with his friends.
Today: Our belief is a burden unless it becomes a blessing.
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Not Long Tales … November 12th, 2019
Jonathots Daily Blog
(4226)
14.
The Big Morning
It seems that contemplation is often the worst treatment for concern. Maybe it’s because if an answer is so readily available through simply thinking, it should have popped up by now, offering itself as a possibility. Concern requires a certain amount of relaxation—usually impossible to attain because of the energy and frustration involved in lacking an answer.
All in all, he got up from his time of rest feeling pretty good. Actually, he was surprised at how relaxed he was, considering the day laid out before him.
He had made the request just a while back to have a private meeting with the boss, to discuss his future with the organization. What a bizarre phrasing.
“Future with the organization.”
Didn’t it hold to reason that if your past was excellent and your present was fruitful, that your future should be budding? Yet there was some sort of nagging fear in him, that transitions were in the making, and he might be left out.
Silly as it sounded, he always found it reassuring to get a good shave to calm the nerves. One might think that shaving was a dangerous thing to do during a fit of anxiety, but actually, because it required such precision, it slowed things down and welcomed perspective.
It also immediately offered a much less complicated choice: “To cologne or not to cologne? That is the question.”
Considering the time of day and the purpose of his business, he decided that extra fragrance was unnecessary. Then, picking the appropriate clothing.
There was nothing quite as impressive as being well dressed. After all, it was the first thing people saw. And amazingly, upon leaving the room, the last image they had of you.
Coming and going.
Navy blue. A great color—not quite as somber as black, but exuding gravitas. Yet—on this day, he chose his smoke grey suit, with just a slight hint of pinstripe. A robin-egg blue dress shirt. And then the tie.
What tie? Stripes were too gaudy for the occasion. Matter of fact, designs of any kind might draw attention away from the maturity of the conversation. He decided on a royal blue. It looked beautiful with the suit. Just looking at it hanging there delighted his eyes and generated confidence.
He was dressed.
But he was not ready. Normally, “dressed and ready” go together, but sometimes it was a good idea to get dressed—to be in your uniform of choice, so that your thinking was freed up, to garner valuable inspiration while expelling nonsense.
What was the goal of this morning? What did he want to see happen?
He decided to follow the past, present and future format—that being, when he finally stood in front of his boss, he would present the quality of his past performance, which had already been proven out; the nature of the present work ethic, which was fluid and without interruption or regret; which would immediately open the door to the future.
And what did he want to clarify with his boss about the future?
Well, certainly he wanted to know if he was in the plan. He was curious about what his role and position might be. And he was notably worried about being ignored and abandoned from the planning, forbidden the opportunity to make the endeavors more fruitful.
He took a deep breath and thought to himself, “I’ve done well. I don’t want to be arrogant. I don’t want to have to tout my accomplishments. But I have done well. Does my boss know this? Does he care? Does he take it for granted?”
Sorting through the situation was good.
Past success.
Present flow.
Future placement.
Yes—that would be his format. He would go in with a mingling of gratitude, lifting up his productivity, while quietly and intuitively offering some suggestions on change. This was the chemistry of a good meeting—to be grateful for productivity while energized by the obvious need for change.
But what would his slogan be?
While he contemplated, he walked himself into the room, looking for something to eat. Nourishment was such a trickster. It was always comforting to snack, but too much food dulled the brain, preparing it for a nap instead of a conversation.
After much consideration, he realized the meeting would not take very long, and if it went as well as he expected, he could go out, pick up a late meal and celebrate the victory—no, no. Not the victory. The harvest of the big morning.
He needed a repeating phrase—yes, something to come back to as he talked about the past becoming the present and the present evolving to a more glorious future.
With this, he considered the nature of his boss. He had watched him fervently. After all, the boss was the one who held the keys to his future. He had found this individual to be generous but unrelenting. In other words, “All is well as long as all is done well.”
Yes—that certainly capsulized him. What would he want to hear? What should be the theme of this dialogue between the two of them, to determine the horizons of their relationship?
And then, like a light bulb, it went off inside his mind. Inspiration is often like a crack of thunder followed by a flash of light.
Yes. As he explained the past, the present and the future, he would punctuate each portion by returning to a simple phrase: “Sharing burden, sharing credit.”
Indeed. This was certainly something that would go along with the company plan.
He took a moment, since there was no need to chomp on a bagel or sip any coffee, to do a trial run on his little spiel, careful to keep it under five minutes. Anything that took more than five minutes became an ordeal to the ears instead of a pleasure to the soul.
The past, then the slogan. The present, the slogan again. The future, culminating with “sharing burden, sharing credit.”
Suddenly his spirit was buoyed by memories filling his head with accomplishments and successes. He had become one of the favorites in the company. Matter of fact, last year, when it was suggested that some music was in order for a celebration, the boss had asked him to step in and organize the whole event. He was astounded at how much talent there was and how absolutely terrific the musical program turned out to be. He had never viewed himself as a person familiar with notes, beat and harmony. That was why it was essential that he do good.
You see, when you do good at things you should do good in, there’s little reward. But when it turns out that you do well when no one knows of your talent, then you began to impress—perhaps even startle.
By the time he got done putting on the musical production, he had used so many staff members that it seemed like nearly half of them were on stage, performing for the other half. It was a beautiful corporate extravaganza.
All he wanted was more of that.
More responsibility, lending itself to excellent effort. And more respect, leading to even more involvement—to where finally, he could once and for all feel what he really wanted to sense from his boss.
Confidence. And out of that confidence could come more status.
He took a deep breath.
One more practice of the speech. Thankfulness, status, and simply asking the boss to back him up without hesitation, knowing that he could be counted on for good work at every turn.
Straightening his tie, deciding at the last moment to dribble a little cologne on to sweeten his fragrance, he headed off to the meeting.
He was expected. The boss was in and waiting. This was a good sign.
He felt something really strong stirring inside him. He stepped in and looked at his boss, sitting there with a little smile on his face. It was odd. A disconcerting smirk. It did not exude pleasure or approval, but rather, appeared to be a snarl of authority—a sneer establishing superiority.
All at once, all the preparation fell to the side. Worthless.
Why did it have to be this way? Why couldn’t quality be recognized? Why was there a need to diminish staff to maintain order? He was so angry.
Everything he had plotted, everything he had reasoned and everything he had wished evaporated.
Instead of feeling grateful and ready to discuss the future, he felt small and meaningless. In a fit of rage, he stepped forward, not more than four paces from the boss.
He stuck his finger out, nearly touching his nose, and screamed, “You think you are god! YOU THINK YOU’RE GOD. Well, listen. Move over. Make room. Because Lucifer is here to stay.”
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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant … October 19th, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3099)
Not Always Like This
Concerning this morning’s mode
I seem burdened, overload
Hampered by nagging retreat
Fostered through vague deceit
I pity again my worried self
Placing others on the shelf
Determined that I must be seen
Bubbling a heart of treacherous mean
I probe to find the callous slight
Denying the evidence of what is right
I am the critic for the meek
Sneering, I mock the lovely weak
Exposing their obvious lack
Hoisting burdens on their back
Enemy, I emerge of that deemed decent
Ruddy with anger over offenses most recent
Finding the Christ I deny
Shaking my head, I decline to try
To simply deal with my lot
The portion provided, what I’ve got
Frowning at the human race
Unmercifully mocking the joyous face
For goodness seems too good to me
Foolishness and fear are what I see
In this cauldron I melt into a creep
Unworthy to mingle with the holy sheep
Beware, my friend, something is amiss
Please understand, I’m not always like this.
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PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant
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Listen! Stop! Look! … July 21, 2014
Jonathots Daily Blog
(2298)
Listen!
Don’t assume you’ve heard it all.
Allow your brain a chance to receive the freshness of a new insight.
People are always telling you their story.
They will let you know where it hurts.
They will inform you of what they need.
Sometimes they bury the lead under a joke.
Often they disguise the anguish beneath religiosity.
But listen.
Allow yourself to believe there’s more.
He that has an ear, let him hear.
Stop!
Yes, cease to believe that you’ve heard it all and know it all.
Don’t try to fix people.
Find a way to input them in the space they’ve provided.
Stop trying to save the world.
Instead, give people a chance to grow.
Don’t be so sure you know the will of God.
Because after all, it’s not His will that any should perish.
Don’t allow yourself to be so far behind the times that you’re chasing truth.
Stop repeating things that don’t work.
Start anticipating fresh blessings every day.
Look!
- For ways to bless people.
- For ways to hug people.
- For ways to touch people.
- For ways to make people laugh.
- For ways to drop a dollar at just the right moment.
- For ways to learn.
- For ways to avoid too much work.
- For ways to lift a burden.
- For ways to establish your humanity.
- For ways to be forgiving.
- For ways to be vulnerable.
- For ways to accept that people are the closest thing to God you will see today.
Listen!
Get your ears on.
Stop!
Selling an agenda.
Look!
For God.
He’s out there.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Click here to get info on the “Gospel According to Common Sense” Tour
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about scheduling SpiriTed in 2014.
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The On Must Go Show … September 23, 2013
Jonathots Daily Blog
(2015)
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.
But last night, in the middle of my show, when my electronic piano went fuzzy, it was very hard to bear. Bluntly, it’s difficult to be a workman without tools. Maybe we should not be too vulnerable to the world of miracle machines, but unfortunately, we ALL suffer under the addiction.
I made what I thought was a “quick fix” and tried to do one additional song, but my piano had figuratively stomped out of the room and called it an early evening.
What next?
The good folk who had come out so graciously to see and hear us did not need to be disappointed by my failing keyboard. Also, in my opinion, it was not necessary to involve them in the dilemma since they probably have sufficient difficulties of their own.
You see, it’s not so much that “the show must go on,” but instead, “the on must go show.”
If you’re going to call yourself a craftsman–someone who has achieved a level of expertise–it is your job to be “on.” What does that mean to me?
To be “on” is to know what and why I am doing what I’m doing. When I forget that, I become simpy, obnoxious and double-minded.
An electronic keyboard throwing a fit onstage doesn’t have anything to do with my calling. It is my duty to stay “on.”
So then I am ready to go. I love people who really understand the word “go.” It means “keep moving towards a solution.”
If you have an emotional breakdown every time you see a breakdown in your plans, you will be useless to yourself and others. It was my job to come up with a solution on the fly with regard to my temperamental eighty-eight keys. I did not look to the audience; I did not look to my stage partner, and honestly, dear friends, I didn’t look to God.
Even though I believe that He is constantly divinely inspired, I do NOT think He has hung out a shingle advertising, “Piano Repair.”
It was MY “go” and mine alone. I needed to move towards a solution. I had approximately three seconds of dead air available to achieve a positive direction. Here’s what I did: I rose from my piano and quietly moved over to the grand sitting nearby and continued my escapade. I made no explanation; I didn’t apologize. Truthfully, I didn’t even acknowledge that I had a problem, which brings me to the final point–“show.”
Here’s what I think a “show” is: don’t make your job and your life everybody else’s business.
After all, it’s only “sharing” if people are interested in what you’re saying. After that, it’s boring. It was not the privilege of that audience to be privy to my tribulation. They were there to join into a common experience of inspiration and entertainment.
I wish I could pass this on to politicians–that it’s their job to be “on,” to move forward to solution, and to understand that it’s not the fault of the American people that they’re inept.
Every preacher should realize that when he or she arrives on Sunday morning, they need to be “on” and go towards Spirit–and not show the congregation all the frailties of finance or the frayed carpet in the narthex.
It’s a part of growing up.
I don’t know if some of the people in last night’s audience even knew there was a lack. Good. For after all, they don’t need another concern, do they?
So I pass this along to you, not to lead you to believe that I’m special or a dynamic professional. What I did last night was basic–basic humanity.
The on must go show.
It’s the ability to rejoice in your burden ,,, and be grateful that you’ve been given the honor of carrying it.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Please contact Jonathan’s agent, Jackie Barnett, at (615) 481-1474, for information about personal appearances or scheduling an event
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