Pipeology - The Fine Art of Pipe Smoking and Thought

 Essentially I am a cult of one.  I have refused to join a religion of any kind.  I am my own religion.  I believe that at the judgement—of which there is only one, when the Messiah comes, God will ask just one question.  That question pertains to the taking of Human Life.  That’s  all there is to it.   But for many it isn’t easy not to do harm.  Yet, in my thinking, that’s all there is to it.  But ask anyone how easy this is not to do harm.  In years past I have written about Santa and Red Speedos, but this year I’ve decided to focus more on my Angels.  I’ve just been more focused on them throughout the past year.   I feel my Angels are new to more people this year.  But as I said yesterday, I might have less stress if I changed my theology and joined a church. But  actually, I learned that is more stress and not less.  I asked my angels whether I had to give up my pipes.  They told me it was up to me....

 The angels are a part of the Christmas narrative.  In more recent years I have written about Santa but this year I seem to be more focused on angels and their simple theology of doing no harm to others or oneself.  It is a very simple theology and perhaps too simple for most to grasp.  Surely there has to be more to it than this.   But unconditional love is just this.  Simply do no harm.  It is the Hypocratic oath taken by doctors today.  Simply not to do harm.  But what does that mean in today’s society?  It means to live and let live.  It means we don’t condemn except when one has intentionally taken a life.  That’s it.  Otherwise we are to love and forgive.   Loving unconditionally means to forgive unconditionally.  This has been the hardest lesson for me to learn.  But I just tell others and regardless of beliefs I simply say believe what you wish but do no harm.  Anyone who threatens to do harm mu...

 I have no reason to fear death but maybe I could say I have every reason to fear life.  For many it is the opposite.  My brushes with death taught me not to fear it.  I could say I have many reasons to fear life and living, but really even with life I have few fears., Maybe my greatest fear is an OSU loss.   But I jest.  I’ve learned to embrace life and living.  I couldn’t say this 32 years ago, but I say it now.  Even if no one understands me I know God does.  This is what matters to me.  Everyone wants to be understood.  What matters most is that we do no harm either to others or ourselves.  This is the straight and narrow path of life.   I don’t have a lot to say this morning, except to say my brushes with death taught me not to fear.  I live with a lot of worries in life, but I live with no fear.  Except maybe I could say I have a healthy fear of pain. That might be my greatest fear.   I’m relaxing this...

 I actually have celebrations throughout the year.  But since 2011 Christmas has been a special celebration.  Everyone needs special celebrations throughout the year.  We need to have special celebrations for life.  Christmas has been a celebration with family and close friends.   The Christmas of 2011 was special because I lost some 30 pounds due to my heart attack.  My wife has a Christmas picture of me from that year and I’ll admit I look pretty sickly.  But I’ve kept the weight off and try to walk almost every day.  I was thankful just to be alive.   The holidays have been special since 1993. This year is no different.  I remember throughout the year.  Some days are more special than others.  We’ll have two Christmases this year.  Our son and his gang will leave the 22nd and my wife says we’ll have a family Christmas on the 21st.   Then we’ll celebrate again on the 25th with friends.  Christmas is specia...

I might be the only one my age who says I’m fourteen today but I suppose if you were to ask my family I’m in my second childhood so-to-speak.  But yesterday I made a big deal out of my heart attack but today not so much.    It’s not that I fear death—no, I fear pain.  Death doesn’t frighten me in the least.  I have talked with many who have had that kind of heart attack and the women have said it’s worse than child birth.  There really isn’t a pain like it they have said.  If I could go without the pain I’d be in heaven right now.   But if I had to go through that pain to get there I’d rather live.  But a lot has happened in these last fourteen years.  And I’ve been alive to live my life relatively pain free.  My appendicitis wasn’t all that painful but the stomach tube was annoying enough.  But we sold our home and invested in another place in NY and now live with our son here in Florida.   I’m limited in what u do and I ...

 Tomorrow ends the 14th year since my hear attack.  I had the widow-maker and only by the grace of God and a good heart surgeon I survived.  I had never experienced such pain in my life!  I knew I wasn’t going to die but my heart was damaged so much it functions at about 50%.   It was a Saturday and we were going to visit my mom.  The timing couldn’t have been better!  We could have been out on the road.  It was about nine O’clock in the morning and I had to pump up a tire on the car.  The funny thing is I had a BP check in October and it was 120/80 with no signs of anything being wrong.   I was about 30 pounds over weight and I simply was not taking very good care of myself.  I was under some duress during that time, but still no sign of it happening.  My wife questioned as to whether it was a heart attack but I told her to call 911.  I had no doubt what was happening.   The squad came and they confirmed it was a hea...