“Just The Facts Ma’am”

Greetings my very gentle readers to anther weeks installment of the “Be Yourself, Often” blog found here at: http://www.joelwlamoure.com/id43.html . Ah, that time when we can sit back and appreciate the calm and soothing sense of nature and the chaos theory that abounds within Her.

This week we will take a look at one of my favourite movies, which is Dragnet. The modified one (of course) with Dan Aykroyd as the uber straightlaced, yet prone to impulsive decisions and actions Sgt. Joe Friday and Tom Hanks as his partner with a list of merits ad citations yet a flagrant disregard for the status quo. The dynamic and yet unusual duo that end up together through some cosmic mis-association in the LAPD. We all know the movie!

The Facts present us well and define us when they are filtered through the chaos of nature vs the amorphic and sometime ambiguous definitive lines that exist in a set culture, society or where there is a rigid pecking order. Quite intriguingly in my observations->  it seems across over 20 years of practice (11 in psychiatry), 140 journal articles, unknown OTN lectures and discussions, over 500 lectures, 3 continents and 60,000 hits to this website alone (plus 6000 on Academia.edu: www. http://uwo.academia.edu/JoelLamoure ) that the opposite is true.

Home is where the heart is. Not a place of straight lines, but one of amorphic curves. Per wit, embracing nature vs the man made entities that have their manipulation and unpredictabilities. Sometimes, one has to make a set stand in their Belief Systems and in their Creator to see that. These decisions are not easy, but do reflect how expectations can drive one insane. Totally, truly, clinically insane.

A wise person told me yesterday about anger, uncertainty and stress being like a balloon and how every event is like a puff into that balloon. And ways to distress and decompress that balloon…especially where there are factors that cause inherent impacts on the balloon to start with: like abuse, harassment, PTSD, anxiety, loss, grief to name a few. Interesting as I love writing and using metaphors in my sermons and writings.

“Just The Facts Ma’am” and knowing all the facts before making hasty decisions helps prevent inflation of the balloon and wiser minds to prevail. Step back and analyze what are the root causes and cause/effect and epidemiology and taxonomy of the situation Step back and analyze what are the root causes and cause/effect and epidemiology and taxonomy of the situation and prevent unneeded provocation and escalation. These are the facts of life to live. Peace, patience, silence, humility and serenity as I have stated many times (with varying success). I too fail, often.

Touching nature as it is meant to be in all its glorious, unrefined chaos is an appealing idea. To return to the roots and the Earth is to be yourself, often.

___ Rev. Dr Joel Lamoure    July 2013

What the Heck Just Happened?

Greetings my gentle readers to another week’s installment of the “be yourself, often” blog found at http://www.joelwlamoure.com. This is the point in time of the week where we are able to sit back and mindfully reflect on the moments that were and the impact that they have had in our lives.

This is our first blog posting of the past six weeks. Those of you who follow our radio show “prescribing spiritual hope” on WULC out of Carrabelle, Florida on the Spreaker network will also have observed we have been off the air for the past two months.http://www.spreaker.com/show/tuesday_prescribing_spiritual_hope I anticipate that not only will the blog be back to its normal weekly posting effective now, and our radio show be on the air again by mid-July at its usual time of 9 PM Eastern time and think all of our dedicated listeners and readers from around the world for staying with the network.

The past couple of months have been an exercise in journey into the deepest recesses and caverns that exist within the mind. A time within the wilderness where over the past 40 days and 40 nights opportunities have presented themselves repeatedly. Unfortunately, as we know in life, and that we as humans are not the divine architects of our own plans, most of the “opportunities” have had a negative flavor. However, the concepts associated with the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” are all well and alive.

These have been days of a death of dreams and recalibration of determining what is important. A time to realize that what one thought would be logical, in fact was illogical. There were birthdays forgotten by others, promises broken, expectations shattered, religious discrimination, hate crimes, decades of planning eradicated, disease and illness. A breach of confidence by confidents and friendly fire. Bullets that derive from close sources fired under the brave face of anonymity, send through an unwilling messenger. Sadly hypocrisy and vigilante justice is alive and well.

As such, based on what the title states, it leaves one wondering, especially a man of faith wondering why so many good people have been hurt while the sinful, wicked and evil continue to prosper in their lies and deceit, claiming to be and searching “enlightenment” themselves. I use the term in quotes as it is ego-centric enlightenment they seek, not Spiritual Enlightenment. My friends, these are days of learning the highest virtue, which is forgiveness. “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do…”

Within forgiveness, which is an easy word to say but hard action to do lies the resolution of inner turmoil. Resolution of the inner turmoil is not playing it out words and harming other people. Resolution does not lie by constant complaining, self harm, belittling, telling stories repeating stories, playing victim, hatred, or any of the other tools that were initially used against us. I believe, that is why true forgiveness takes longer… Perhaps truly 40 days in the wilderness.

It is about finding again what makes one happy and appreciating that we have the “free will covenant” and do not have to be the same as those that wrong us. It is not up to the courts to make a decision of judgment or forgiveness, but the quiet Light of Divination that says so much. To be able to not focus on stuff, and focus on the Light with clarity and intensity will allow us to be the spiritual being having a human existence and truly be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure June 2013

(D)Evolution of the Fiber-Optic Class?

Ok folks, gentle readers and those that subscribe to this blog at www.joelwlamoure.com and diligently read this that I apologize for being late (again) this week as its been a time myself  (yet again) of stopping and reflecting and wondering what to write. What is important and what makes the biggest difference at the end of the day. Today is Victoria Day and tried to figure out how to fit in Canadiana and family/fun/fireworks into the mix but just couldn’t work it through. I have had though great opportunities to watch and learn from people this week that had no intention up front of teaching me anything, and from those that did. Actually sometimes those are the most impactful learnings I find.

  The past 3 weeks from my radio show “Prescribing Spiritual HOPE” in a bit of a self-imposed reflective exile I have been able to step back and reflect on the things that drive life, the people that we meet, the items that we have, the gestures that we make and the adventures that we have and share. Really at the end of the day what is important and what is not. Assumptions that we make and how they create the next steps in the running dialogue of the life that is and even more how these subsequently translate into positives and negatives in ours and others’ lives. I will SO agree that everyone sees things in a different light and what is important to some are useless pieces of shiat to others. My goal is not to impose or force my will on others, but to cause us as human beings to think and reflect as well. In keeping with my New Years Resolution (yes, still going :P ), which was to not judge, not jump to decisions and to be careful with the things that were said lest they hurt as words and comments bite more than one knows. Even more so in this electronic world where we are truly adrift… unknowing of the 90% of communication, and just how valuable this is.

All of the rate, tone, pitch, expressions, eye contact, muscular expressions etc. Also reflecting over the past several weeks on why such negative comes to such beautiful people and how in a heartbeat masks are discarded and inner rage can predominate what was once a relationship of love. Reflections on when there are acts of kindness commenced that why do people personalize these events and claim there is unfairness and inequity. Complain and shut down the pipeline of aid instead of trying to network with the pipeline of joy that radiates out even more. Be positive besides positively demoralizing. I believe this will occur more and more in this electronic world devoid of non-verbal human touch and also as the ability to rip off that mask, express oneself and have ZERO accountability enhances. We are not acting as tigers in such ways, but that of jackals.

  Bad things happen to good people and very inspired individuals and great opportunities are given to those that may not seem deserving. I see the opportunities lie here in leveling the playing field. Spirituality is a wonderful way to achieve that objective. I have enough belief and been a fortunate recipient by my wonderful parents and families who always did the best they could with what they had at the time in love, life and empowerment that that might actually happen. Reframing our thoughts and knowledge and being open vs. entitled helps a great deal with that objective.

We are then able and willing (and wanting) to step and aid, even in a small way with my gifts that I have been given to step up to the plate and aid a hero that is in need. Someone that is having a challenge, a good person and needing a stabilizing arm. That I believe we can all offer and help them stand up and brush the dirt from the road off their clothing and watch as they start to progress and shine again. There are sadly very many of them out there. The people that have been blinded, crippled and or beat by societal demands and dictates. Yet these people deserve and want and need to practice and live with pride and integrity in the way they know and understand. Without Judgement or assumptions that hinder and hamper aid. The heroes that give their time and resources to help less fortunate and bolster their potentially fragile egos and feelings and show them some in the world DO care.

  The person that we look to isnt the people at the top of the societal game usually. As stated by the late Harry Chapin, Rich people are too busy hanging on to their wealth and items and possessions, no matter how they got them. The poor person is struggling to make ends meet, yet in my experience those that give and help are those that ARE at a more dis-advantaged state. They give of time, love, caring and experiences.

  Maybe, just maybe what really matters at the end of the day isnt how much money I have, the car I drive, a house on the lake and my symbols and trapping of status. Heck, it didn’t work too well in Sodom and Gomorrah did it. Ouch. Maybe we are creating that psychopathology again, I don’t know and will save that for a theological discussion one day. This time the invisible webs that are reinforcing the Towers of Babel are held up by fiber optic cables and a mask of denial, a false golden calf that we have all strived to worship and achieve in the sense of the great god of Economics.

Where did we lose our definition of a hero and leader? Where did these individuals go? I had the wonderful opportunity to volunteer and present at a moving ceremony in the cool wind of a man who gave his life to save 2 others 70 years ago over Lake Erie. One man and LAC Spooner gave his so others could survive. These stories abound and the reflections I had the privilege to deliver that esteemed group related to the fact that “Freedom is NOT free” and also the fact from a previous blog that states we have gone from the “All Seeing I” to the “All SeeKING I”. We have totally lost our moral compass, or at least gone off course somewhere since the days of Victoria.

What is REALLY important is being true to your belief system and standing by it 110%, not backbiting others and integrity/consistency. Put that money where your mouth is. At the end of the day, none of us get out alive in this realm.

So at the end of this exercise...what are MY deliverables? I want the opportunity and joy of a smile, to have helped another and feel the experiences that exist in my own backyard of life. At the end of the day, that kind word, effort even in communications that are not face-to-face, smile and experience is what is remembered. To be otherwise is to be dis-connected with who we are. That creates dis-ease. Personally, I will have Nunavut. I would rather spend my time and energies with those that can advance that same curve and pay it forward. But to do that, we must know ourselves fearlessly, pay it forward, and put our currency where our mouth is. To know yourself, you must be yourself, often.

                           ~~~ Rev Dr. Joel Lamoure   May 2013 

“Lessons From Two Components of Mothering”

 Greetings my gentle readers to another week's installment of the "Be Yourself, Often" blog at www.joelwlamoure.com . Hopefully, this is a point of time in the week where we can sit back and appreciate the privilege of being here in the sanctity of the moment. For indeed, if we do not believe that each moment in itself is sacred, and I do not believe it is possible to anybody else will be able to convince us otherwise.

Around the world today is Mother's Day. No matter who you are if you are on this planet then you have a mother. This is one of the consistent practice of life that transcend race, color, creed and ideologies. And hopefully, no matter what you see in others, your mother remains and will be the best and brightest light in your life.

A mother is a very interesting individual for the fact that they are able to carry us through to birth and then nurture and teach us nurturing is a miracle in itself. If one wants to reflect on a true Higher Spirit, looking at the miracle of becoming a mother is proof in my mind of a Divine intervention. In the true concepts of motherhood, there is the delivery after carrying a new life across nine months. During this time, a woman is a medical miracle in the point that she has two beating hearts, four legs, four arms, four eyes, and two completely different sets of DNA that coexist within the same body. As stated, that is a medical miracle on so many levels.

To carry this to the next level, this is only one component of motherhood. Even individuals who have not been a mother in the sense of having given birth to a child are mothers in so many other ways and rights. These mothers as well we must hold up today on this very special moment. That is because a mother as well [Mommy) gives of herself in perhaps the most all true mystical and altruistic components.  

Of note, men can have mothering traits in the sense of giving and inspirations but there is the delineation that exists right from Biblical times of man and woman, which we shall support here.

Historically across time, there is the nurture component that augments and complements the nature component. These altruistic gifts of time and love are not often appropriately appreciated or captured. These often are related to moments of teaching and kind thoughts to be able to help leverage an individual, animal , plant or mineral (all forms of nature) ahead. I believe that true mothering is a combination of an intelligent love and concern for others when coupled with a strong root belief system in stewardship and respect of how everything interfaces together. It is accepting without judgement the days of good and bad and using these learnings to leverage to the next day so the one that is learning (and as well the mother) both benefit from this symbiotic relationship. A gift…the present.

And with this not be an incredible thing to teach? And even more so, an incredible thing to learn. We tend to call this “Mother Earth” or "Mother Nature” in part because of the stewardship and appreciation of the fine lines and shadows that cross every living creature on this planet. In fact, some mothers have an appreciation of how this planet interfaces with the world of metaphysics beyond. To step back to the here and now, perhaps we can learn from true mothering as we progress through our days. We can learn to have a soft kiss and embrace on everything that we do. Intriguingly, capital or corporal punishment is rarely effective beyond creation of walls of fear.

Maybe we as a human race can learn from the teachers of motherhood [nature and nurture components) who are the leaders in the field, and who we are celebrating today to practice in a more gentle way. A way not of harsh words or judgment, but the way of gentle embrace. Perhaps then as a race we would not be so surprised when we ourselves (with no one to blame) make judgments of folly and see negative outcomes come into our path, wondering why we always get the negative end of the stick and then demand a recount, a better mark. This is a problem of pathology if the person repeats this over and over (we all know these toxic souls and mercy to them) and to expect a different outcome is well….insanity coupled with a lamentable lack of insight they can overcome. For if we are approaching up front without judgment, malice and respect the insights of these higher powers (like a true mother), then perhaps (likely) our end results will become better and brighter.

I can only hope that humankind will consider these ideas because as we are progressing, this is antithetical to true motherhood. We are experiencing and going through a de facto insanity as a society currently. Expecting everything, giving nothing, anonymously judging and wrapped in conspiracies and when we get nothing that we had hoped for and then becoming disappointed. This makes us angry.  Who ever told us we were so darn entitled?  Not those very wise persons as we define mothering, that soul who gives and gives to the person she brought life to (metaphysically or physically or spiritually). Motherhood is perfect awareness and translation of talents to achieve stronger outcomes in their young, always striving for better in mankind. I have been very lucky if I use this definition. <3

We have the ability to be as Christ in image but actions sadly detract from the wonderful creatures of light that we are. It is a sad dichotomy because we sanitize our hands and sanitize our lives and are not able to embrace the fact life has a beautiful balance of dichotomies. Play and work, light and dark. We can be and do so much more through the kindness given in altruistic ways…mothering.

Perhaps if we were two learn from the true concepts of mothering and stewardship of the nature and nurture components then we can advance ourselves and ultimately through osmosis impact positively on all. You can truly be yourself, often.

~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure  May 2013  (Mothers Day)

You CAN Paint it Black…or White! (Or Fuchsia!!)

Greetings my gentle readers to another week and another installment of the “Be Yourself, Often” blog at www.joelwlamoure.com . This represents perhaps a checkpoint in the week when we can step back and reflect of the moments and sands of time that have traversed the hourglass and gave themselves to help us reach the point and state that we are today. And that the moment and present that is the now can be translated into the dreams of tomorrow.

There are so many potential subjects that can be addressed from a spiritual nature filtering through the concepts and parameters of H.O.P.E., which we are striving towards.  This is a worthy spiritual agenda that advances our holistic health and ways that we can capture and encapsulate it, outcome driven objectives, personalized perspective and the end goals and challenges associated with empowerment.

If we agree that we are spiritual beings having a human existence and proceeding through the school of life, with all of its classes, challenges, dynamics and trials/ tribulations then we can consider each step begets the next. Ther are the challenges and roadblocks that exist and demonstrate themselves in the course of our life and how we perceive and deal with these define outcomes. Certainly, there are freak accidents and events that we cannot even begin to conceptualize as to the why of them occurring. Far too often, bad things happen to good people and where we translate the learnings defines our “mark” in this particular class.

Do we focus on the learnings in the moment or dream towards the future? Remain firmly rooted in the past perhaps? There are certainly pros and cons to all of these and perhaps as opposed to having to pick one, in this class of life perhaps we may be able to approach it more as a smorgasbord or buffet of life. There are the various courses that we are fully able to mix and mingle and intersperse with other components. Nothing saying that we cannot take the past learnings and nostalgia of times go by, be aware of those moments and enjoy a quiet reflective moment and a tranquil smile. Knowing that YOU have been given that gift to experience such a wonderful thing and that it can persist across the quantum dimension of time… and time past is equidistantly dead and are unable to touch or change that past. So our filter of perspective should be one of positives, for want of otherwise living in regrets.

To capture that moment in the smorgasbord is an intense blend of utilization of our 5 senses in the here and now and encapsulated/imprinted on the psyche in the moment. These imprintations will trigger future memories based on sight, sound, touch, taste, or smells are the root of the event and stimulate our wits, which senses used to be termed in Shakespeare’s time.

But perhaps my friend we are even more than that from a spiritual existence and the senses impart a feeling which we can link and be aware through the gift and inspiration of cognition. So many other senses then are drilled down such as pain, nociception, kinesthetic sensory input and so much more. That we are able to balance and assign a “feeling” to an event that files the event in the sensorium in the filing cabinets of good or bad also will translate through across time.

So then, what we absorb, intuit and feel will become the picture that we will carry around in our mental wallets forever, and through the premises of HOPE can assign the degree of robustness and richness the picture will have. Personally, I feel the truest way of remembering an event in true vivid high definition (HD) imprinted in our mental wallet is to have the event resonate on all senses, embracing it with the gifts and talents and being that we are. My father used to call it being “in country”, which means that we fully immerse ourselves in the surrounding environment and learn by being part of it. That is a wonderful way to collect facts and understand the why of the event as opposed of standing by passively and casting stones and Judgement.

Moments that are very dichotomous in nature as well tend to be filmed in the very best HD film as well. These moments can be easily created by the observer and often creates a smile and pleasurable associations if they are planned to be. They are the adult at play, Light within a period of dark, Water element touching earth and a kind smile on a gloomy day. Captured in fact by the Rolling Stones on their album “Aftermath” and the song “Paint it Black”.  We can be light even in dark.

That is the root of spiritual living is to be the beacon of light and provide a positive lesson to others in the moments of darkness. To help others in an altruistic way see and be the positive side of the dichotomy. There is a choice and that is to be the negative…if you wish. But by seeing the light and positives, then we can help others see it and then me and you can be yourself, often.

     ~~~~ Rev. Dr. Joel Lamoure    April 2013