If There is a Reason

 If I could smoke a pipe indoors last evening, I would have.  But I had some wine instead.  But if there is any reason to smoke a pipe, last night's football game is a good reason.  I feel as though I need to comment on THE game, but I won't.  A lot of people needed to smoke pipes in that stadium last night.  No question about it.

But the main reason to smoke a pipe is for relaxation.  That is the number one reason.  A pipe takes one's mind off anything stressful.  I often will think that there are times when pipe smoking should be allowed.  Alcohol tends to make people belligerent in stressful situations and yes, even the coach needed to smoke a pipe.  

Okay, I won't say anything more about last night's game.  I've written about this so much, but I have a tendency at times to get strung out.  And I have come out to the lanai and smoked a pipe.  Doing so calms my nerves.  I wish at times that some people would just moke a pipe just to calm down.  But why does smoking a pipe do this?

Because of my theology, the world is a very stressful place.  If I thought differently about the meaning of life, I might see life differently.  But my pipe is a tool for meditation and relaxation no matter what I read or am thinking.  But not everyone needs a pipe. 

I know there are cigarette smokers who will say they smoke for relaxation.  I would argue it's all the chemicals in cigarettes that causes relaxation.  There is nothing artificial about a pipe.  The tobacco for a pipe is pure tobacco.  A pipe smoker doesn't inhale.  The relaxation of a pipe is that the pipe is a pipe smoker's focus.  It demands attention.  One's mind becomes focused on something else.  

Now, having said all this, I know meditation without a pipe is just as effective.  I understand this, but my meditation is a reason I smoke a pipe.  I'm not saying everyone should smoke a pipe.  Do what you need to do to just calm down.  Anything artificial certainly is NOT necessary.  I am not an advocate of substance abuse.  But we do what we do to simply calm down.  We don't need more anger in this world, and we don't need self-destructive substances either.  

I say meditation is the best no matter what it takes.  It is a natural way to remain calm.  Perhaps the pipe is second best as a tool.  But I say this for myself.  We just need less anger in this world and more calm.  Maybe I am just an old pipe smoking hippie, but this is what I learned about pipe smoking 50 years ago and my thoughts about it haven't changed.  Thank you for your time and Peace to each one of you.

Dave