Funnier: Public relations 101.
Love the way Jessica Hagy (http://thisisindexed.com/) sees the world…..
You just might get…pancakes.
Writings: Wherein the tradition becomes revolution, with Thomas Merton
It seems appropriate to offer thoughts by Father Louis (Thomas Merton) on Good Friday, especially when it speaks of the change of heart that lead to the peace the Christ told us about:
And yet this tradition must always be a revolution because by its very nature it denies the values and standards to which human passion is so powerfully attached.
To those who love money and pleasure and reputation and power this tradition says: “Be poor, go down into the far end of society, take the last place among men, live with those who are despised, love other men and serve them instead of making them serve you.
“Do not fight them when they push you around, but pray for those that hurt you. Do not look for pleasure, but turn away from things that satisfy your senses and your mind and look for God in hunger and thirst and darkness, through deserts of the spirit in which it seems to be madness to travel. Take upon yourself the burden of Christ’s Cross, that is, Christ’s humility and poverty and obedience and renunciation, and you will find peace for your souls.”
Thomas Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation
Writings: The world according to Satchel
It is estimated that Leroy “Satchel” Paige was born on July 7, 1906. The mere idea that his birthday is an estimate provides perfect evidence to the mystery that was Satchel Paige. In 1965, 60 years after Paige’s supposed birthday, he took the mound for the last time, throwing three shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics.
Joe DiMaggio called Satchel Paige “the best and fastest pitcher I’ve ever faced”. His pitching was amazing and his showboating was legendary. His career highlights span five decades. Pronounced the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues, Paige compiled such feats as 64 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch of 21 straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. For 22 years, Paige mauled the competition in front of sellout crowds. Sure, he liked the attention, but to him, there was only one goal. That goal would be to pitch in the Major Leagues.
In 1948, Paige’s dream came true. The Cleveland Indians were in need of extra pitching for the pennant race. Legendary Bill Veeck tested Paige’s accuracy before offering him a big league contract. As the story is told, Veeck placed a cigarette on the ground to be used as a home plate. Paige took aim at his virtually nonexistent target. He fired five fastballs, all but one sailing directly over the cigarette. Veeck was indeed pleased, and Paige helped the Indians win the pennant.
In addition to Cleveland, Paige played for St. Louis and Kansas City. When his Major League career was completed, he compiled a modest 28-31 record with a 3.29 ERA. He also served as coach for the Atlanta Braves in 1968. What made Paige so memorable was his longevity in the game. The main reason his age was so difficult to track was his seemingly endless success. He rarely answered questions about his age, and when he did, he replied with something like: “Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
In 1971, Leroy “Satchel” Paige was given the ultimate honor, he was elected to join the very best in baseball history in the Hall of Fame.
++++++++++++
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”
“I ain’t ever had a job, I just always played baseball.”
“I don’t generally like running. I believe in training by rising gently up and down from the bench.”
“I never rush myself. See, they can’t start the game without me.”
“I use my single windup, my double windup, my triple windup, my hesitation windup, my no windup. I also use my step-n-pitch-it, my submariner, my sidearmer and my bat dodger. Man’s got to do what he’s got to do.”
“If a man can beat you, walk him.”
“It’s funny what a few no-hitters do for a body.”
“My feet ain’t got nothing to do with my nickname, but when folks get it in their heads that a feller’s got big feet, soon the feet start looking big.”
“One time I snuck a ball on with me and when I went to winding up, I threw one of them balls to first and one to second. I was so smooth I picked off both runners and fanned the batter without that ump or the other team even knowing it.”
“The only change is that baseball has turned Paige from a second class citizen to a second class immortal.”
“There never was a man on earth who pitched as much as me. But the more I pitched, the stronger my arm would get.”
“When a batter swings and I see his knees move, I can tell just what his weaknesses are then I just put the ball where I know he can’t hit it.”
“Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be common.”
“I never threw an illegal pitch. The trouble is, once in a while I would toss one that ain’t never been seen by this generation.”
“Just take the ball and throw it where you want to. Throw strikes. Home plate don’t move.”
“They said I was the greatest pitcher they ever saw…I couldn’t understand why they couldn’t give me no justice.”
“Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.”
“Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines.”
“How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?”
“Money and women. They’re two of the strongest things in the world. The things you do for a woman you wouldn’t do for anything else. Same with money.”
“Work like you don’t need the money. Love like you’ve never been hurt. Dance like nobody’s watching.”
“You win a few, you lose a few. Some get rained out. But you got to dress for all of them.”
“My pitching philosophy is simple; you gotta keep the ball off the fat part of the bat.”
“I never had a job. I always played baseball.”
“Mother always told me, if you tell a lie, always rehearse it. If it don’t sound good to you, it won’t sound good to no one else.”
“Don’t eat fried food, it angries up the blood.”
Reposted from http://www.satchelpaige.com/
Writings: Closing the door, opening the mind, with Thay
It is always wonderful when there is a story of wisdom making its sometimes slow but always sure way around the circle we live in…sometimes around the world. Here’s one from one of my favourite teachers, Master Thay:
CLOSING A DOOR
“With the energy of mindfulness, every action in our daily life can become pleasurable. ”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
🌼
One day, when I was a novice monk, my teacher asked me to do something for him. I was very excited to do it for him, because I loved my teacher very much. So I rushed out to do it. But because I was so excited, I wasn’t mindful enough, and I slammed the door on my way out.
My teacher called me back and said: “My child. Please go out and close the door again. But this time, do better than you did before.” Hearing his words, I knew that my practice had been lacking. So I bowed to my teacher and walked to the door with all of my being, every step with mindfulness. I went out and, very mindfully, closed the door after me. My teacher did not have to tell me a second time. Now every time I open and close a door, I do so with mindfulness, remembering my teacher.
Many years later, I was in Kentucky with Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, and I told him that story. He said: “Well, I noticed that without you telling me; I have seen the way you close the door.” A month after I left his monastery in Kentucky, he gave a talk to his students and told them the story of me closing the door.
One day many years later, a Catholic woman from Germany came on retreat to our Plum Village practice center in France. On her last day, she told us that she had come only out of curiosity. She had listened to a recording of Thomas Merton’s talk, and she had come to see how I closed the door.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh, At home in the world
🌼
Photos at Tu Hieu Temple, Hue, Vietnam
Writings: How is your growth mindset coming along?
Fans of The World According to Brother Ian know that we here at the editorial offices are huge fans of Derek Sivers, and the clear way he both puts things, and makes us think.
See if this little essay of his strikes a chord – I know it does for me.
Fixed Mindset vs Growth Mindset, with Derek Sivers
One of the most important concepts I’ve learned is the difference between the “fixed” mindset and the “growth” mindset.
People in a fixed mindset believe everyone is great or is flawed – that this is a fixed status, because it’s just who you are.
People in a growth mindset believe anyone can be great or can be flawed – that this is an ever-changing status, because it’s entirely due to your actions.
This sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly deep. The fixed mindset is the most common and the most harmful, so it’s worth understanding and considering how it’s affecting you.
For example:
In a fixed mindset, you believe “She’s a natural born singer” or “I’m just no good at dancing.”
In a growth mindset, you believe “Anyone can be good at anything. Skill comes only from practice.”
The fixed mindset believes trouble is devastating. If you believe, “You’re either naturally great or will never be great,” then when you have any trouble, your mind thinks, “See? You’ll never be great. Give up now.”
The growth mindset believes trouble is just important feedback in the learning process.
Can you see how this subtle difference in mindset can change everything?
More examples:
In a fixed mindset, you want to hide your flaws so you’re not judged or labeled a failure.
In a growth mindset, your flaws are just a TO-DO list of things to improve.
In a fixed mindset, you stick with what you know to keep up your confidence.
In a growth mindset, you keep up your confidence by always pushing into the unfamiliar, to make sure you’re always learning.
In a fixed mindset, you look inside yourself to find your true passion and purpose, as if this is a hidden inherent thing.
In a growth mindset, you commit to mastering valuable skills regardless of mood, knowing passion and purpose come from doing great work, which comes from expertise and experience.
In a fixed mindset, failures define you.
In a growth mindset, failures are temporary setbacks.
In a fixed mindset, you believe if you’re romantically compatible with someone, you should share all of eachother’s views, and everything should just come naturally.
In a growth mindset, you believe a lasting relationship comes from effort and working through inevitable differences.
In a fixed mindset, it’s all about the outcome. If you fail, you think all effort was wasted.
In a growth mindset, it’s all about the process, so the outcome hardly matters.
Writings: It’s the dream we carry, with Olav Hauge
It’s the dream we carry
that something wondrous will happen
that it must happen –
time will open
hearts will open
doors will open
mountains will open
spring will gush forth from the ground
that the dream itself will open
that one morning we’ll quietly drift
into a harbor we didn’t know was there
by Olav Hauge
Writings: When will you ever learn?
There’s my math teacher, so many years ago, noticing me make the same mistake on three straight exams:
When will you ever learn?
There’s my exasperated dad, showing me for tenth time how to not grind the clutch:
When will you ever learn?
There’s the fourth or fifth tough breakup, and the voice in my head:
When will you ever learn?
There’s the song’s line, that stays with you echoing after we wonder “Where have all the flowers/soldiers/husbands/graveyeards gone?”….
When will you ever learn?
And today as the lessons pile up, the practice continues, and the crowd of teachers in my life watch the pace I keep, I wonder if they’re thinking that, too:
When will you ever learn?
Gotta say – thanks for asking. I’m as interested as you in finding out.
Let me know how it’s going with you, too.
Much love –
Brother Ian
Art by Tara Turner:
https://tara-turner.pixels.com
About Brother Ian
Over the centuries, Brother Ian has been collecting stories & information & discourses for the purpose of elevating the human condition as needed, dissecting it when necessary, and building the case for hope.
In the spirit of noting that organized crime, organized baseball, organized labour, and organized religion tend to engender controversy & occasional discord, I promise to be neither organized or critical of those who are.