So here's a little life story I've been musing about quite a bit lately, on account of someone who's sitting in jail for being an idiot. I know, I know. . . . our legal system has not saved us as a society from all the idiots, and maybe has even been taken over by that tribe. . . .
You don't go to jail for being an idiot. It's for not being the right kind of idiot.
well, maybe "idiot" is a harsh term.
Here's the story, as only I would tell it. No one else would see it this way, for sure.
The "man" was, after a lot of history, a person of immense self-esteem, some very credible marketable skills, making big bucks in his trade. Loved those big trucks, ya know. When you ride around in those, some girls look. I don't know what's going on with Dr. Jones, but I'd skip the monster truck and tell my investors I'm the kind of developer who doesn't waste time and money on cheesy trucks. After seeing what a truck did to my friend, that is. . . .
So a gal set her sights on him, and made her plan. Not so bad looking, and a nice church girl to boot. She made sure he saw her everywhere he went. Oh, yah, she was a mess. She'd been injured falling in WalMart, and WalMart settled by agreeing to pay all her medical expenses for life, whether related to the fall or not. She'd been raped at BYU, and had gone through two hubbies each one an abuser, and all. But she was a good girl.
And, oh, Yah. He had more self-esteem than his truck could haul. Did I mention that? So he got reeled in with lots of neediness, lots of praise, and a bunch of kids who desperately wanted a good dad.
The woman was known, let's say it delicately, as a hypochondriac or a drama queen at the local hospital. Not known especially for anything better than the daytime soaps, and some folks tried to talk the Big Man outta marrying her, to no avail, because of course, this overdone self-esteem syndrome makes people impervious to advice. And when the advisers have the disease, too, no way is it going to be followed.
Good marriage. Lasted about five years, produced two additional children. But as one adopted daughter moved into teenhood, Mama wasn't happy with the BigMan's advice, and began a covert, at first, rebellion. No way would her daughter hafta skimp on makeup. No way.
So, the mistake BigMan made was leaning into and encouraging a sort of mentality centered on his self-esteem. His manner of raising kids was to draw them in, praise them, and direct them overmuch. So Mama's rebellion was like the irrestitible force hitting the immovable object.
Not to mention the fact that the kids had been through all this before with disposable dads, and the real manipulator of everything had always really been Mama. But BigMan thought he could argue and prevail, boss and win, and threatened divorce if not obeyed. Huge mistake.
Mama panicked. Pulled out all the stops, made every necessary allegation, and called the cops. Oh, and did I say it was a well-planned move? For weeks she had with her kids' help, set a trap. Set him up? Well, who knows. One should wonder in a case like this, which is a replay of another earlier divorce proceeding, sans some of the mistakes she made before.
When I talk to the BigMan, he seems to pin his hopes on his adopted son switching sides and recanting allegations. So what is a boy, if he has lived a life being the manipulatible object of an adult, living to please and be praised by someone. Won't his whole life be a series of life stages where thing learned is, most of all, not to look inside, and comply. . . . and not to question one's own self, not to challenge authority, not to be truthful, not to have self-sufficient esteem. . . .. always needy, always looking for who should be pleased first, who he should obey first.
So BigMan and BigMama made a train wreck of a boy.
Somehow, I don't think this is what Jesus would do. So, bros. Sorry, no discipleships offered in this course. The whole course is to address the Universe with your own mind, and please share what you see or think. Best presented with some reason, and I hope with some human decency as well.
Egg!!!!!!!
You don't go to jail for being an idiot. It's for not being the right kind of idiot.
well, maybe "idiot" is a harsh term.
Here's the story, as only I would tell it. No one else would see it this way, for sure.
The "man" was, after a lot of history, a person of immense self-esteem, some very credible marketable skills, making big bucks in his trade. Loved those big trucks, ya know. When you ride around in those, some girls look. I don't know what's going on with Dr. Jones, but I'd skip the monster truck and tell my investors I'm the kind of developer who doesn't waste time and money on cheesy trucks. After seeing what a truck did to my friend, that is. . . .
So a gal set her sights on him, and made her plan. Not so bad looking, and a nice church girl to boot. She made sure he saw her everywhere he went. Oh, yah, she was a mess. She'd been injured falling in WalMart, and WalMart settled by agreeing to pay all her medical expenses for life, whether related to the fall or not. She'd been raped at BYU, and had gone through two hubbies each one an abuser, and all. But she was a good girl.
And, oh, Yah. He had more self-esteem than his truck could haul. Did I mention that? So he got reeled in with lots of neediness, lots of praise, and a bunch of kids who desperately wanted a good dad.
The woman was known, let's say it delicately, as a hypochondriac or a drama queen at the local hospital. Not known especially for anything better than the daytime soaps, and some folks tried to talk the Big Man outta marrying her, to no avail, because of course, this overdone self-esteem syndrome makes people impervious to advice. And when the advisers have the disease, too, no way is it going to be followed.
Good marriage. Lasted about five years, produced two additional children. But as one adopted daughter moved into teenhood, Mama wasn't happy with the BigMan's advice, and began a covert, at first, rebellion. No way would her daughter hafta skimp on makeup. No way.
So, the mistake BigMan made was leaning into and encouraging a sort of mentality centered on his self-esteem. His manner of raising kids was to draw them in, praise them, and direct them overmuch. So Mama's rebellion was like the irrestitible force hitting the immovable object.
Not to mention the fact that the kids had been through all this before with disposable dads, and the real manipulator of everything had always really been Mama. But BigMan thought he could argue and prevail, boss and win, and threatened divorce if not obeyed. Huge mistake.
Mama panicked. Pulled out all the stops, made every necessary allegation, and called the cops. Oh, and did I say it was a well-planned move? For weeks she had with her kids' help, set a trap. Set him up? Well, who knows. One should wonder in a case like this, which is a replay of another earlier divorce proceeding, sans some of the mistakes she made before.
When I talk to the BigMan, he seems to pin his hopes on his adopted son switching sides and recanting allegations. So what is a boy, if he has lived a life being the manipulatible object of an adult, living to please and be praised by someone. Won't his whole life be a series of life stages where thing learned is, most of all, not to look inside, and comply. . . . and not to question one's own self, not to challenge authority, not to be truthful, not to have self-sufficient esteem. . . .. always needy, always looking for who should be pleased first, who he should obey first.
So BigMan and BigMama made a train wreck of a boy.
Somehow, I don't think this is what Jesus would do. So, bros. Sorry, no discipleships offered in this course. The whole course is to address the Universe with your own mind, and please share what you see or think. Best presented with some reason, and I hope with some human decency as well.
Egg!!!!!!!
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