Category Archives: Get on your feet

My prayer for myself today

February 27, 2017Get on your feet, Job search/Job prospects, Motivations, UncategorizedChaos, Chaos and order, Delaying gratification, Diligence, Efficacy, Opportunism, Prayer, PredationWilliam Tell

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Sunday 2017-02-26

My prayer for myself today was that I “come into a world where my diligence will be rewarded.” A related new concept, as far as the blog is concerned: efficacy — the feeling or sense that one can accomplish something. In question is whether I perceive my world that way now.

It is notable that a background of chaos militates against efficacy, and normally teaches that diligence will not be rewarded, except as it’s expressed in opportunism and predation (See “Can’t resist temptation? …” below.) A background of, or perceptions of, order, in contrast, teach the exact opposites.

Related future posts (The links won’t work until the posts appear.):
– About Edgar Cayce’s dream
– Perceptions of order

Related previous post:
– Chaos overwhelms the poor
Also related:
– Can’t resist temptation? That may not be a bad thing

A snapshot: this moment in my life right now

February 25, 2017Get on your feet, Homelessness, Job search/Job prospects, The Way of PeaceClairvoyance, Faith, historical Jesus, Jesus, Upward mobilityWilliam Tell

Thursday 2017-02-23

Some weeks ago, on a Sunday afternoon just after check-in at the mission, I became clairvoyant for a few seconds, and saw many things.

The first insight was that many things I’ve been saying for a long, long time — teachings, theories, hypotheses — are far more factual than I’d ever supposed.

The last thing that came displeased me. It said, “God has a purpose for my being [at the shelter], and I’ll never get away until it’s accomplished.”

What progress I have made since then has come from acting on the “things I’ve been saying for a long, long time.” The Way of Peace was composed in 2010; I don’t know whether I’ve yet posted here all that was composed at time; I’m know there’s still a lot that I have yet to post; but it’s the basic teachings in there, including those already set forth, that I’ve been called to act on.

Yesterday afternoon on the walk back to the shelter, I was using — for the first time in months — techniques perhaps first set forth in “Paying my dues …,” first published in 2013.

The teaching set forth in “Simple,” I have been working to live out. I found the quotation in an e-mail I sent various people in 2007, telling them it epitomized what I believed Jesus actually taught.

Walking my talk, or learning to: that may be what’s keeping me at the shelter. Once I’m walking my talk enough, I may be free.

Previous post: Job search
Next post: Job search report 03/01/17

How to Wire Your Brain for Happiness

February 9, 2017Get on your feet, Science, The Way of PeaceAwe, Brain chemistry, Chaos overwhelms the poor, Happiness, Meditation, Mindfulness, Neurology, Presence, Psychology, Rick Hanson, The Homeless Blogger, WonderWilliam Tell

(Originally posted 11/09/13.)

A follower sent me the below link; I don’t think I need to comment on the article, but just highly recommend it.

How To Wire Your Brain For Happiness

Well, I will say this much. In “Chaos Overwhelms the Poor” and elsewhere I stress the effects on the brain itself, of chosen spiritual disciplines. This article reinforces that concept, with much good advice.
talk radio, talk show host, on air talent, the homeless blogger

Simple

January 21, 2017Get on your feet, QabalaChakras, Developmental psychology, Eighteen words, Gospel, Here - Now - Can, Infantilism, Jesus, Presence, Scott Morrison, The Whole TeachingWilliam Tell

In recent weeks, in my quest for spiritual growth and improvement of my own condition, I have had to deal with lots of complicated stuff — chakras, sephirot, different dimensions of the personality or psyche, previously unknown stages in the progression from infantilism to adulthood.

This flies in the face of my conviction that the Gospel must ultimately be simple; and the same for everyone, regardless of one’s circumstances or developmental stage.

I come to the conclusion that it is. Simple.

Continue reading Simple →

Me, Me, Me

January 12, 2017Dependency, Get on your feet, Homelessness, Motivations, Poverty, SqualorAddiction, Choosing feelings, Crime, Infantilism, Physics, Prayer, Selfishness, Yin-YangWilliam Tell

(Originally published 06/06/13 at Trojan Horse Productions. Republished here 10/30/13.)

This has been a very heavy day, and there’s a lot here. For the moment, at least, I will not try to organize this.

Darkness at times appears to serve Light; destruction, to serve creation.

It is a rude awakening for me to have to revisit the world of infantile self-centeredness, apparently to have to re-learn correctly this time (at age 57!) some things I didn’t learn correctly on the first go-round.

A world where it is correct for me to want things only for “Me, me, me!”
Continue reading Me, Me, Me →

Dilemma

January 11, 2017Get on your feet, Homelessness, Job search/Job prospects, Motivations, Poverty, The Way of PeaceHealing, Infantilism, Jesus, Need, Neediness, Outer darkness, Prayer, Self-love, Stewardship, Your Heart's DesireWilliam Tell

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In a comment on a WaPo article about “Prosperity Gospel” televangelists, someone said:

Jesus taught us to think of others needs before our own.

As of now I dispute that Jesus taught that.

If he did teach that, Jesus was wrong.
Continue reading Dilemma →

About the Parable of the Talents

December 3, 2016Bible, Get on your feet, OUR BEST POSTS, Poverty, SqualorBootstraps, Creation of poverty, Mark 2:17, Matthew 25:14-30, Parable of the Talents, Self-love, Stewardship, Talent, Wealth creation, Why have nots have notWilliam Tell

Main points:
(1) God always provides more than you need.
(2) Use well what you’ve got now; only then will you get more.
(3) What you abuse, you lose.
(4) Absent a disease process, chronic poverty is not a natural condition.

I write as a man with next to nothing, concerned principally for others who have next to nothing. God put me in this position for a reason.

I am strongly tempted to want to rename it “The Parable of the Bootstraps.”

Continue reading About the Parable of the Talents →

The Parable of the Talents

December 1, 2016Bible, Get on your feet, Justice, OUR BEST POSTS, Poverty, Squalor, The Way of PeaceMatthew 25, Parable of the Talents, Poverty, Squalor, Stewardship, Talent, The Homeless BloggerWilliam Tell

(Originally posted 10/08/13.)

Matthew 25:

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

19 “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

24 “Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’

26 “But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. ²⁹For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’[”]

On the one hand, I don’t believe Jesus ever said these words. (Link) On the other hand, I firmly believe in the principles expressed, and will have occasion to refer to this text many times.
talk show host, on air talent, radio talk show, the homeless blogger >

* My record cannot be expunged. (UPDATED)

November 17, 2016Career goals, Get on your feet, Homelessness, Job search/Job prospects, Justice, News, Politics, PovertyBackgrounds, Crime, Expungement, HomelessWilliam Tell

(Originally posted 10/04/13. See update, below. Reblogged 12/12/24.)

Yesterday I researched expungement in Maryland. My conviction was in mid-October 2010, and I’d understood one could get a misdemeanor expunged after three years, so I was hoping to take care of that now. Turns out there is no expungement of any guilty verdict, except in the case of any of a long list of truly trivial nuisance crimes, e.g. urinating in public or not paying one’s fare on the subway. To clear my record, I must apply for a pardon, for which I become eligible only after five years of being arrest-free after the end of probation (Oct. 2011). The paperwork is extensive. One’s application must include copies of one’s high school and college diplomas, any discharge from bankruptcy, and certified copies of one’s driving record from any state in which one has ever had a license (as in my case, Ohio until 1978).

So for the time being, until October 2016, my one (1) misdemeanor conviction will continue to bar me from employment with many of Maryland’s largest employers.

Previous post: Hiring discrimination and “backgrounds”

Update

At this writing, I have no intention of seeking a pardon. My current job search history shows that, since the “ban the box” legislation took effect, my record poses no obstacle to interviews with, and even job offers from, the employers of interest to me. As noted in the post linked to, however, before that change in the law, certain major employers were rejecting my applications out of hand.

* Changing what I want

November 12, 2016Get on your feet, Homelessness, Job search/Job prospects, Motivations, OUR BEST POSTS, The Way of PeaceChoosing desires, Choosing feelings, Choosing thoughts, Disappointment, Discipline, First things first, Free will, Self-love, Wants vs. needsWilliam Tell

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Last week I was turned away from the shelter three times: Sunday night, Wednesday night and Thursday night.

Under current conditions, to be sure I get a bunk, I must show up no later than 14:15. It’s not just a matter of being on time, but of getting near the front of the line. And that’s iffy in itself, given that there’s always a bum rush when the gate opens at 14:30.

Accordingly, I must wrap up my activities at church at 13:30 and leave out no later than 13:45. But the way my day goes, it’s normally 13:00 before I have opportunity to do anything for job search. That leaves me half an hour. Can’t do much in half an hour. It’s been a daily disappointment that I don’t even get off the e-mail to J___ M___, my contact at S&K.

What I want ain’t getting done. May be time to change what I want — Continue reading * Changing what I want →