Author: armstrong.wou@gmail.com

“We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.”—Thomas Merton

Parker J. Palmer’s book, A Hidden Wholeness, taught me the Quaker practice of allowing space for the soul to speak. I am far from a master, but I try. I try to listen when others speak. Allowing (I sometimes prefer “creating”) space for the soul to speak goes beyond merely listening and patiently waiting for one’s turn to speak. It requires that we provide the opportunity for the speaker themselves to hear what they are saying—to learn what their soul is trying to speak to them, as well as to us.

Other-centeredness goes together with Spiritual well-centeredness. Spiritual wellness refers to our understanding that we are not the center of the Universe. It refers to an understand of Purpose. It goes beyond religion and teaches that GOD is love—that pure religion is to care for the widowed and the fatherless (those who are marginalized and abandoned; James 1:27).

We have lost sight of this as a society. We are increasingly self- and we-centered. The divide between us grows increasingly expansive. Until we realize that “we do not exist for ourselves alone” we will never be happy or function well as communities and nations.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow!

Carpe momento!!

September 11, 2001, the people of these United States of America we brought together by two towers and four planes. Twenty-one years later, are we any greater as a nation? Any more United? Where do we stand? Is the world any better for how we responded and how we remember? These are questions we must ask ourselves.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

 

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”—Nelson Mandela

For many students, school has started or will be starting soon. This is amidst sometimes heated discussion about the cost of education (a college diploma/degree) and student loan forgiveness. The discussion of education finances is often futile without some discussion on that an education is and is not.

Sadly, a diploma is considered an “education.” However, it is nothing more than a certificate of completion—a document. An education can come without any formal program of completion. Indeed, an education is never truly completed. The diploma simply indicates that one has followed a prescribed path to a predetermined milestone. Many are more educated having never completed high school or stepped foot on a college campus. Reading can open many doors to self-education (and should be a part of one’s continued education).

So, why a formal education? Well, many will tell us that a college education is a must. Why it is a must is often poorly articulated, and such advice often leads one to simply pursue a diploma and universities to offer worthless degrees (hence contributing to the immense burden of college debt). Formal education must prepare us for our purposeful place in society. It must prepare us to think critically and creatively. Education need not teach us to simply regurgitate information. Of course, with present technology (i.e., the Internet in our pockets) we can access almost anything in mere seconds. Education teaches us to process this information—to discern information.

Education is not checking a series of boxes. It is not getting As on all the exams. It is not “earning” a high school diploma. It is not a bachelor’s degree. It is not a master’s degree. It is not a “terminal degree” (e.g., Ph.D.). If anything, each earned degree should open a door showing us how little we really know.

Our systems of formal education need to be reformed—from kindergarten to doctoral programs (including medicine). We can’t simply pass on students to the next level and/or lesson the standards for completion. Often, we educators hear phrases like “equity” and “privilege” as cause for making diplomas and degrees more accessible. In the process, we have created many “worthless” degrees (I know this is subjective and believe that any degree can be valuable in the right hands—but that is an education and not merely a degree) and a debt crisis in the process. We have distorted the end goal. Access to a degree is confused with access to an education. These are not one in the same.

I have been verbally attacked by academic colleagues for using phrases such as “academic rigor.” This, apparently, is a sign of my “privilege.” Undoubtedly privilege (which is just a word for “opportunity” that is used by those who love to virtue signal) has created disparities in education levels. We need to rectify these disparities. Equity, however, does not mean lowering standards (I, personally, find such a suggestion as “-ist” [insert whatever term for marginalizing you wish] as can be). Equity in education is, to me, like teaching one to swim. It is not throwing them in the water and saying “swim.” It is not simply handing out certificates because one showed up to swim class. It is (as an educator) getting in the water with the students. It is letting them struggle but being there to keep them from drowning until they can swim. (Note the student who has learned to swim still has mastery to accomplish. Some may go on to be the next Michael Phelps. Some may simply get stronger and better every time they get in a pool. Others may, sadly, soon go on to never use the skill.)

Diplomas do not “change the world.” An education, however, does.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”—Dr. Martin Luther King

As we debate the cost of a college education, we should likewise address the cost of being uneducated. (I believe what we are really discussing is the cost of a diploma, because education is not part of the discussion.) We must also discuss what exactly is an “education.” It is not, as many would have us believe, a college degree (or degrees). Having a Ph.D. does not make me educated, per se. It simply means that the revelation of my ignorance is more focused on a particular discipline. Not having a college diploma does not make one “uneducated.” (Some of the brightest people I know have little more than a high school degree, and many of the most ignorant—and close-minded—people I know have doctorates.)

Despite what we are being told, it is not the diploma that is necessary for success. Rather, it is the education that helps us succeed. It is like the classic joke: “What do you call a physician who had a C average in medical school?—‘Doctor’.” I don’t particularly wish to have that doctor providing me with medical advice. In addition, if my car breaks down, I prefer to take it to a trained and experienced mechanic rather than Googling “how-to.” That mechanic may not have a degree (in the academic sense), but they are far more educated in automotive function than I am.

Education goes beyond simply knowledge (and certainly beyond checking the boxes of university or state-determined high school requirements). It is, as Dr. King suggests, the ability to think intensely and critically. It is to include character with knowledge. The goal of education should be independence (therefore schools must be inclusive and why simply passing students along is not acceptable). Effective education develops a maturing society rather than a dependent society.

The growing costs of higher education are (apart from necessary technological increases) largely due the cost of an uneducation. Not educating in K-12 and trying to make up for our lack of preparedness by stacking on additional (often irrelevant) degrees is what is costing society.

Change comes from criticizing the status quo. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire” (William Butler Yeats). Are we willing to allow out worldview to be disrupted by allowing it to be challenged?

As an educator and as one who hopes for a better world, I prefer the student who challenges what I am teaching over the one who can repeat what I have taught. As such, I hope our focus to turn from diplomas back to education.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

“Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.”—Plato

We want success—Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social—but we (most) often don’t want to put in the effort. We want to be wealthy—we play the lottery. We want to be fit—we look for supplements and hacks. We want to be healthy—we look to pharmaceuticals before assessing the lifestyle that made us unhealthy. Success—Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social prosperity (well-centeredness)—however, comes only commitment and consistent effort. Growth comes only with proper cultivation. We must sow the correct seed, feed, water, and tend to the inevitable weeds and parasites.

We must have a growth-mindset and apply ourselves unceasingly to being better today than we were yesterday. The alternative is decline–death (Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and Social).

Choose to:

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

“Discontent is the first necessity of progress.”—Thomas A. Edison

Progress (i.e., growth) begins only when we become discontent with the status quo. Growth—Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, and/or Social—requires that we act. Once we determine that we are on the wrong path (and not until—until we are discontent) we can discuss words like “commitment,” “consistency,” and “determination” (determination = commitment + consistency). We can determine the course of action (i.e., plan our progressive overload) such that our discontent turns to progress that leads to a growth mindset. With a growth mindset discontent that in born in dissatisfaction become the discontent that fuels desire and continued progress.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

“In the final analysis, the questions of why bad things happen to good people transmutes itself into some very different questions, no longer asking why something happened, but asking how we will respond, what we intend to do now that it happened.”—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Sometimes we must ask the question, “Why not?”, instead of “Why?” when bad things happen in our lives. (For some, we must learn to ask, “Why not?” when good things happen, as well.) Good or bad, it is less about why something happened and more about how we will respond—what good will come from it. How will we allow our circumstances to impact the Universe? As insignificant as we might perceive ourselves and our effect on others, we do affect the world in ways we rarely perceive. Good or bad is inevitable. How we respond is a matter of personal choice and responsibility.

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!

I came across an article* this morning that caught my attention. It was titled, “Here are 5 exercises that will burn 200 calories in less than 3 minutes.” (These are the exercises, if you are interested: burpees, jumping jacks, running with high knees, mountaineer, and jump squat.) The article states that “a recent study showed that performing a sequence of one or more exercises at a brisk pace in in 150 seconds would be an effective workout to burn 200 calories in no time.” So, let’s look at this article with the proper scrutiny.

First, there is no citation for the “recent study.” So, this should be a big red flag. I didn’t search for it, because I suspect it either doesn’t exist or it is grossly misrepresented in the present article.

Second, I assume that (if it exists) the “recent study” did not suggest that 200 calories could be burned in “no time” and (I hope) that the author of the article is being figurative, because, well, “no time” is literally no time.

So, the question remains: “Can any exercise burn 200 calories in 3 minutes?” The simple answer is that likely every exercise burns more than 200 calories in 3 minutes. WHAT??! Indeed, it is true. How? Because the author of the article doesn’t understand (or does) what is a “calorie.” A calorie is the amount of heat energy required to raise one gram of water one degree Celsius. This is not to be confused with a food Calorie (big “C”). We often use Calories when talking (in lay terms) about food energy and metabolism. A Calorie is a kilocalorie (kcal) or 1000 calories. So, 200 calories are actually 0.2 kcal (or 0.2 Calories). Much less impressive!! So, yes, you CAN expend 200 calories in 3 minutes (in almost “no time”—literally).

Resting energy consumption is approximately 3.5 ml/kg/min. Oxygen consumption for a 70 kg individual at 200 calories per 3 minutes is 0.19 ml/kg/min (I won’t bore you with the calculation, but that is far less than resting metabolism [roughly 1.25 kcal/min—3.75 kcal in 3 minutes]).

This does not mean that it is better to just stay on the couch. The exercises listed can burn calories. Most exercise of moderate-to-vigorous intensity will likely expend 15-25 kcal/min (depending on several variables). The “100 kcal rule” states that, whether you walk, jog, or run, you burn 100 kcal (100,000 calories) per mile. Performing the exercises described as a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout can have the added benefit of an elevated post-exercise metabolism (i.e., you might expend an addition 200 calories per 3 minutes for hours after ending the exercise session).

So, today’s take-home message? Exercise and mind your calories (and Calories). (In addition, read fitness articles carefully and with some skepticism!!)

Be your best today; be better tomorrow.

Carpe momento!!

*

Here are 5 exercises that will burn 200 calories in less than 3 minutes

LESSON 14–Stand

I couldn’t end on the previous chapter. This chapter was written in December of your 12^th year, I see a world that is no less broken than it was when Lesson 13 was written. This year was rocked with a string of celebrities and politicians being exposed for sexual impropriety (which seems like too benign a descriptor). Now, it seems like the dominoes are starting to fall. Sadly, all we are hearing are half-hearted apologies and denials. (Sadly, still the trend continues into 2022.)

I read comments that certain of these men have shown courage for apologizing. I would argue that it takes very little courage to apologize after one has been exposed. In addition, the organizations that have harbored these men (in many cases, for decades) seem to take no responsibility. How these can claim that they were unaware is beyond comprehension. The reality is that we must all take ownership.

Women are finally finding the strength to stand against those who have persisted in making unwanted advances and worse in the workplace. Some may be wrongfully accused, but there is no doubt that countless women have be harassed and assaulted in the workplace—in places where they should feel safe. My heart hurts for these women. Moreover, my anger boils for those who have allowed it to happen.

I want you to have the courage to stand up to bullies and abusers. When you see something that you know to be wrong, don’t ignore it and don’t walk away. Stand for what is right. Be courageous. Stand!

I was taught many years ago to “avoid the appearance of evil”. In other words, conduct yourself in such a way as to give nothing to your would-be accusers. If we act as such and avoid situations in which we can be without a strong defense against false accusations, we cannot be wrongly accused.

Be upright in your treatment of others. It is never appropriate to sexually harass another. Moreover, speak out when you observe others act inappropriately.

You are growing up in the digital age. It is much different than it was for me as a young man. The Internet and social media provide the possibility of being inadvertently complicit in unacceptable behavior. If someone includes you in a message that includes statements that you know to be inappropriate and/or abusive, you must act. Inaction makes you complicit from a legal perspective. More importantly it makes you morally complicit. If someone shares an objectionable comment via text or message, clearly state your objection, lest you be perceived guilty. But more important than covering your own behind, you are taking a stand that what others are doing in not acceptable. It is the least you can do. As best you can, protect those who are vulnerable. Speak up. Stand!

Pictures and words are one thing. Physical abuse is yet another. Far too many times in our broken world we see by-stander do nothing. Worse, we see people videotape people being harmed without doing anything to intervene. This must not be! Stand!

Don’t only stand when the physical harm is threatened. In some ways, this is easy. I have found it easiest to step-in in such situations. Shamefully, as I alluded to in the previous chapter, I have not always spoken up when words have been thrown around. I hope you will learn from my experience and do better. Encourage others to do the same. Be an example of moral strength and character.

Stand!

Carpe momento!!

© W. Jeffrey Armstrong, 2022

LESSON 13–Shed Tears and Blood for a Broken World

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him—John 3:17 (NIV).

This lesson was written in late December in your third year. I had sought to write just twelve lessons, following the Bible’s use of twelve as a symbol of completeness. But twelve is just not enough. This “lesson” is perhaps a summary. It is perhaps a culmination of what I have written previously, but it is by no means a conclusion. You and the imprint that you make on the world will write the conclusion.

Two major events drove me to write this chapter. First was a realization of the revolutionary Purpose of Jesus Christ. Second was seeing the movie Milk, starring Sean Penn as the first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk. At the core of both events is a broken world. (At the time of this rewrite, the world remains broken—perhaps even more so.)

In the past, I might have admitted to crying at only two movies: Brian’s Song and Sounder. But I cried at Milk. I am not entirely sure why, but I did—and I am not ashamed. I cried, in part, because it was a sad movie—Harvey Milk was assassinated after a long battle in the ongoing struggle for the civil rights of gay Americans. I cried, in part, because the struggle for civil rights all people is ongoing. [In the 14 years since the conception of this chapter, the brokenness of the world has only continued to escalate.] But I think I cried the most for my own sins. I cried because of guilt. I cried because of shame. I cried because the world is broken and hurting—and I have done shamelessly little to change it!! In fact, I have been crying a lot lately. Yes, for some reason your tough, cynical father has found himself tearing-up at the slightest of things!

My faith has changed over the years. I have long believed in the coming Kingdom of God—that Christ will one day return with the sound of trumpets to restore all of creation. I longed for the day of his return, believing the world to be hopeless. The brokenness of mankind and God’s creation were not something I could fix. But as I read more fully the words of Jesus and the teachings of the Apostle Paul in a context of the world under Imperial Roman rule, the text becomes increasingly relevant—thanks to many teachers.

I have realized that a core scripture in the Bible—for me—has become John 3:17. Yes, I know that it is supposed to be John 3:16, that is held as the core scripture. I have seen the rainbow-haired fanatic at the major sporting events. I have seen the signs of evangelicals. But I have also seen the pain on the faces of the marginalized in our society—the ones for whom christianity has had little concern.

No, “christianity” is not a typo. In fact, the autocorrect on my computer keeps changing it, and it remains with the red squiggle we recognize as a misspelling. No, I typed it in lower case for a reason. I have long struggled with a professing “Christian” world that is incongruent with the teaching of Jesus Christ. So, I have begun to address the “Christian” faith with three labels—which is, perhaps, a judgmental attitude on my part, but consider it a sincere desire to set a mark or standard for myself. First, there is the lower-case christian—the person who accepts that Christ lived, died, and was resurrected, but does very little beyond this. These people may go to church every Sunday—or Sabbath—but show no genuine fruit in their lives. Second, there is the upper-case Christian. These read John 3:16 and live a visible faith in Jesus as their “Lord and Savior.” Unfortunately, these Christians miss the heart of Jesus. They fail to see that his mission was not simply personal salvation for the few who believe. They may work to bring some level of comfort to their neighbor but are not in community beyond those who are of like mind. These are good people for the most part, but they are not willing to join the revolution of Jesus Christ. Finally, there is the Follower of Christ—the person I admonish you to become—who hears the cry of the oppressed; who associates with the marginalized of the world (after all, was Christ not attacked for his associations with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners of all kinds?); and who sacrifices his/her life for others. Remember that Christ summed the law the prophets with two simple commands: love God and love your neighbor.

So, John 3:17? Well, the realization of this often-overlooked verse was profoundly introduced to me in a sermon. The pastor read John 3:16 and mentioned that people rarely ask what lies on either side of this verse. When he read John 3:17, it was like the person behind me hit me in the back of the head with a two-by-four. It was clear as day. The mission of Christ was expressed in one simple verse. Christ had come to save the world—not just me and anyone to whom John 3:16 was read! But more important was the message that he did not come to condemn the world. It was a revelation to me! More importantly, it was my road to Damascus. And ever since I have wept at the slightest inclination of the world’s brokenness.

I have been reflecting on my life and those that I have hurt. I never thought of myself as mean-spirited. I never realized the pain I was causing. As children, we seem pushed or pulled to become exclusive. If I could ever go back to moments when I hurt someone with my words—or lack of words, as the case may be—I would. But I can’t.

In seventh or eighth grade, I picked on Matt—among certainly many other kids. One day as I was turned around in my desk making some objectionable comment (Matt, I beg forgiveness) he jabbed me in the hand with a pencil. The lead visibly remains in my skin. I look at it often and ask myself “why?” I can’t answer my question. It seems like a natural thing for kids to do—to pick on the “weaker” kids—but this should not be. And I don’t think it was really in my nature. It was a way of escaping my own brokenness and desire to fit in.

In fifth grade, I was sent to the principle for fighting. Scott was new to our elementary school, and several kids were picking on him. I came to his defense and, as the result, was sent to the Principal’s office. I often think of the message that was sent when the teacher who witnessed the incident turned me in to be punished. Yes, fighting is wrong and violence in schools—or anywhere—should not be tolerated, but to me it was a message not to stand in defense of others. I think to some extent I lost my desire to stand up for the oppressed that day.

Never fail to stand up for your neighbor. Never see yourself as better than another for when you do a part of you dies. Stand for the oppressed—without violence if you can. Christ after all stood up to an entire system by allowing himself to be brutally murdered on a cross. This is to truly love your neighbor!

I wish I could say that I have done this in my life. But I am a coward. Rather than stand up for others in their oppression, I have gone along with the crowd—often leading the crowd. I am ashamed.

We all want to be popular and accepted. There will be times in your life that you will find yourself pulled away from certain friends and classmates who no longer fit the “norm.” Please, resist this temptation. Rather embrace those who are different. It won’t be easy, I know, but the reward will be overwhelming—although you most certainly won’t recognize it for years to come.

You can’t heal all the world’s suffering. Therefore, we long for Christ’s return. But what if we who profess to follow Jesus took his message to heart and broke away from the pull of the Pharisees and offered comfort to the hurting? What if…?

I believe my greatest shame lies not in openly antagonizing weaker individuals, but rather in standing by and doing nothing—in turning my back on my neighbor in his/her time of need. Sadly, I missed out on some wonderful relationships. One haunting example is my friend Russell, who was gay and was a member of my church. At first, it was easy to befriend him because it was done in a bit of self-righteousness, but we soon became good friends. As time went by and his struggles grew, however, I turned my back on him. When he needed me most, I wasn’t there. I shamelessly abandoned him because his struggle was foreign to me, and I feared what others might think. “If only I could go back” should never haunt you. To see someone hurting and just walk on by is the greatest sin—because it breaks the two great commandments.

What I am asking you to do is hard. It is impossible in the flesh—that is why we need Christ. But I pray that you will never have to look back in remorse. You may be mocked and criticized. You may take physical blows and shed your own blood, but stand for the oppressed. Even when you are told that the actions of another stand in conflict with your faith, love your neighbor. There is no greater witness to Christ than love. Love can change the world!

I was a teenager when Harvey Milk was assassinated. Shamefully, I didn’t know who he was until the movie came out. More disgraceful is that, at the time, I probably scoffed at his movement. I have learned, however, to not judge one for whether I accept their lifestyle. Instead, I am learning to accept everyone as broken and in need of love and healing. Thankfully, you have the opportunity to live with few regrets.

Toleration seems to be an evil word in the christian community. Toleration, however, has nothing to do with what we perceive sin to be or not to be. Toleration, rather, means to endure the suffering of others.

I have often wondered who might show up at my funeral when I die. Would anyone? Have I made an impact on the world that would warrant people mourning my loss? And, if anyone does show up, would anyone be offended or disgusted to see him or her there? Would everyone look the same? Or would the room be overflowing with a motley and diverse crowd. Unfortunately, I don’t see the room to be overcrowded or diverse. Thankfully, there is time to change that—perhaps.

I am going to give away the final scene of Milk, but it is incredibly moving. Harvey’s former lover and a female friend arrive at City Hall in San Francisco for a memorial service for Harvey Milk. They are disappointed—as I was—to see only a small handful of people at the service. They walk out into the street to find another friend who was going to gather some people for the service. They were greeted with a candlelight vigil of countless thousands of people lighting up the streets for miles. It was incredible… and I never knew it happened!

Make your life a memorable one—not because you attained some level of passing celebrity—but because you touch the lives of the untouchable. Love the unloved. Bring comfort; bring healing; bring salvation to a broken world. Seek to be remembered by those who are forgotten.

Dare to be yourself—whoever that may be. Accept others. Enjoy others. Love others for who they are—broken misfits like the rest of us—the children of God.

Carpe momento!!

© W. Jeffrey Armstrong, 2022