Why Suffering in the World?

The theory is, if there is evil, there may be a God - but we have to give up on His Omni-benevolence.

God is like an artist - His Canvas - all of space and all of time. What's He making? He's making something beautiful. Beautiful art always involves a play between dark and light, light and shadow.

 God therefore permits evil. He does not cause evil because evil is a lack of something (like a toothache is a lack of health in the tooth).

But He permits evil so as to bring about a greater good - so as to produce in a way that we cannot see clearly, a more beautiful canvas, a more beautiful sculpture or a beautiful novel or a beautiful painting.

At the end of time, we will see all of Creation like a great book but in the course of this life, we maybe see one paragraph - one tiny part of the whole story. That's why the world so often, as we experience it, doesn't make sense.

Like Job who complains he doesn't deserve this suffering. God takes him on a tour of the cosmos and asks him over and over "Job, where were you when I created this?"

via Fr Robert Baron and SueWidemark (http://healthread.net/)

A Spiritual Event

I wrote to Robert Genn, an author/artist I know, respect and admire,  requesting his permission to print the letter you will see below my request as follows..

Dear Robert,

I would like permission to copy/print some of the letter today about Sedona, Arizona and what Art is (your perspective) along with a link in case others want to subscribe to your letters ... I would include it on my http://ymmartin.blogspot.com/ as a standalone blog entry titled Robert Genn Writes....

You may remember me, Yolanda Martin, (I wrote and was selected by you in past years as a Finalist by you for inclusion of my article in your new book. My article exists for reference at http://ymmartin.com/ARTicles.html#Article5 “Define Art ....In Search of The Meaning of Art”. Obviously with all the valuable input you received from other artists and authors, and continued thinking on the subject of art and its meaning, you are more of an recognized authority on the subject which interests us both.

I so much enjoy your letters.

For me, art is not for making a living, bur for making living worth while.

Quietly I think of you today.
Silence is golden we think, we say.
Perhaps alone with our thoughts,
Maybe feeling with our hearts,
All the memories of yesterday.
***************************

Be all you can be.
Be better than I am.
The Best is yet to be.
*************
For some,
Art is for making a living...
For others,
Art is for making living worth while.
For everyone,
Art is what brings us together.

Yolanda Martin
*********************************

Dear Yolanda,

I'm walking a labyrinth in Sedona, Arizona. I'm repeating the words, "My higher self is guiding me." As well as thinking of something else, I'm wondering if there's "something else."

Sedona is one of those spiritual hot spots where visitors come for all sorts of body work, yoga, self-improvement, or guru-inspired transformation. In the USA, this kind of stuff is a $10 billion-a-year industry. Sedona is also the place where three fine folks allowed themselves to be cooked to death in a spiritual sauna at the end of a labyrinth. This was at the urging of the now bankrupt and criminally implicated guru James Arthur Ray. If only those folks had been aware of the life-centering force and personal power one gets from the harmless little activity known as painting.

Yep, I'm talking about painting as a spiritual event. The act has something to do with making a physical tribute--a sort of a visual prayer--honouring the gifts that surround us and the life we've been given.

Before you hit that delete key or drop a note to say I've gone wonky again, here are a few observations for those who might be buying my oysters:

Art establishes and makes tangible a time, a place, a thought, an idea.

Art, properly made, enhances and enriches the lives of others.

Art gives an opportunity to endow new life and new meaning into the ordinary.

Art gives an opportunity to design your own world, and, as in your children, create a significant immortality.

Art is hard-earned work that is its own reward and has a degree of permanence.

Art, because it's so easy to do, and yet so difficult to do well, encourages humility in the human soul.

Art is an apprenticeship that can be stretched into a lifelong education.

Art thrives on democratic ideals, freedom of expression and rugged individualism.

Art permits you to step out of the labyrinth and into a quiet corner of your own private joy.

Best regards,
Robert Genn

PS: "You don't need to follow someone else's path." (Nathan Thornburgh)

Esoterica: A spiritual awakening is often found and developed in a wilderness. It can be a poem or a parable of a deep forest, a mountain meadow or a cactus-studded desert. The outdoor spirit of plein air refreshes and further enables the indoor studio chapel. Each new creative beginning is a confirmation of the simple truth of taking care. And while it may all appear to be self-indulgent and isolating, every thought, every stroke, every caress of the brush adds a small refreshment of meaning and purpose to our universe. "Work is love made visible." (Kahlil Gibran)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://clicks.robertgenn.com/spiritual-event.php (to view this broadcast letter online)

You can also follow Robert's valuable insights and see further feedback on Facebook and Twitter.
(permission to reprint in this blog granted by Robert Genn Mar 11, 2011..."Hi Yolanda,
Thanks for writing and yes please use the material as you see fit, giving credit where due.
All the best and thanks for your friendship. Robert")

(c) Copyright 2011 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com. Thanks for your friendship.

FRIENDS

Friends........They love you, but they're not your lover
They care for you, but they're not from your family
They're ready to share your pain, but they're not your blood relation.

They are........FRIENDS! !!!!
A True friend...... .

Scolds like a DAD..
Cares like a MOM..
Teases like a SISTER..
Irritates like a BROTHER..
And finally loves you more than a LOVER.

(A friend is a lifesaver, a enemy may need saving too, BUT....:)

My English Language Pedigree

Regarding languages, vowels, and English grammar ... and cut downs http://wordsmith.org/words/images/pedigree_large.gif

My English Language Pedigree

I hope you will agree,
and will appreciate,
my English pedigree
is simply, very... grate!

(Yolanda)

Fear of Darkness

Fear of Darkness

What about those of us
who work in the dark,
are in the dark,
blindly seeking light
and then may shine
brightly for others?

I do not fear darkness,
but greatly appreciate
the stars
that shine
at night,
and the dawn
heralding a new day,
a new beginning,
a new challenge.

(Yolanda)

What Is a Troll? Chronic Dysfunctional Social Behavior.

(prerequisite is my blog on Getting Along in a Social Setting)
(Also worth your viewing is comic caricatures at this web site defining the many online group flame warriors dysfunctional behaviors ...
http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/)

The many faulty, fault correction behaviors used in dysfunctional groups and by select savage individuals creates an unhealthy climate increasing the cold weather fronts of hostility, animosity, irritability, intolerance, hatred, and many other negative human behavior responses counterproductive socially.

In interpersonal communication and relationships, it is the differences recognized in others that initiates the fault finding, fault riddance discrimination syndrome . It is very difficult when someone believes there is a fault in another when it is not actually a fault but natural human diversity: differences such as a disability, a developmentally acquired attribute, or some other distinguishing feature.

Unlike faults, diversity is not bad and it is good to be discerning of differences so as to improve one's self and others. To know and for others to know your strengths and weakness is prerequisite to improving thereon, being able to appreciate how much improvement has occurred overall, and how much to expect in the future.

Diversity deserves group attitudes and actions that foster understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and also providing helpful, caring, responsive therapeutic treatment or special counseling if needed. Diversity in a group should not be a problem if the differences that distinguish an individual's specific strengths and weaknesses are allowed. Conformance compatibility changes and expectations required within a group should be flexible enough to accommodate the individual's special needs.

Related to the problem of dysfunctional fault finding behavior, is the disagreeable fault creating troll and the various trolling behaviors that should be cast out and banned. Trolls are negatively and rapidly reproducing their species creating unusual breeds of trolls where each breed has many varieties making it difficult to cope with the problems the troll creates.

In general, the species of trolls is a person choosing dysfunctional behavior.  The troll does not even believe the way he writes, he just writes it just to provoke negative response, (that's trolling). Just disagreeing (however loudly and/or wrongly you may think) isn't trolling because dissent is valuable in a group especially if it is sincerely expressed, valid, and not meant to be a political ploy detraction.

A troll is a bully who harms others and disregards the rights of
others. The troll uses low level fault finding behaviors on the entire group or individuals within a group increasing disharmony, discord, and dysfunction of a group's member or the entire group. The troll creates confusion muddying the discussion by mixing up the minds of the participants.

The troll is the villain. Given choice, the troll chooses evil, bad versus good, destructive behavior versus constructive. Zooming in on the label, trolling unreasonably disagreeing with something that's a known fact or otherwise claims to own/have done/seen something that is either clearly impossible or intentionally formatted so that it get's on the other person's nerves, exasperating their patience and tolerance excessively. Don't feed a troll by arguing with him because you have then become his victim.

Don't confuse a villainous troll with diversity members in a group.
Diversity members sincerely want to participate as they are able to positively and constructively. A troll is bad and wants to make others into worse trolls. Member by member, he can disable an otherwise productive group rendering it dysfunctional. Call in the sharp shooters to apprehend and eliminate trolls.


Never allow a troll to reproduce his species of dysfunctional behavior in what ever nuanced breed and variety evidenced. Attenuate the troll's affects on others by neutering his dysfunctional behavior then humanely, safely dispose, and protect yourself from this remorseless, unconscionable, parasitic pariah.

Pariahs tend to reinforce each other and form their own cliques within a group and perhaps attempt takeover of the group entirely. I don't know if it is possible to reform or rehabilitate the pariah, but perhaps someone may try and succeed. Perhaps the pariah will reform and rehabilitate their self becoming a welcome member in social groups that encourage and reward positive self improvement changes. There is hope that dysfunctional behaviors will be eliminated entirely.


Good luck to all with the tasks of creating a better tomorrow.With positive self improvement behavior, the social climate will become socially healthier and much more enjoyable.

Getting along in a social setting

I have many shortcomings and faults, but I do not give up on myself. For others who I consider works in progress, I have hopes for reconciliation and try again, unless I realize there is nothing possible for me inter personally to do constructively to resolve issues within reasonable measures. In those cases, I maintain social distance, and I try to do better the next time, just as I do with an unsatisfactory art work I have created.

God knows what he has created. He doesn’t make mistakes, or does he? Perhaps he intended for us to refine each other and to evolve our souls and lives so that we would have the satisfaction of feeling better because we have made the choice to become better, assisted by the help of friends and others in our lives, creating a bond that unites us socially in a satisfactory way.

In this blog there are many grammar errors, poor wording, and an incomplete list of gradations of the levels of  the need for and methods of modifying another’s behavior. I keep proof reading and rewriting to improve it. There is a point at which I must stop trying to improve it. You may see obvious errors in the message content or other problems I can not see myself. I appreciate those who let me know my mistakes in a constructive way, but there is not time to dwell too long on its imperfections or any you see in me.  

In behavior modification, it is virtually impossible not to change yourself while engaged in the attempt to influence desired change(s) in others. The resulting behaviors of both interacting may be worse than before. We are changed by the people we love because love is the most powerful instrument of change process.

However, I keep on working at becoming a better person. Shouldn’t we all? It is just more difficult for some than others to improve because we all have different resources to use and problems to cope with. It is very difficult when others would prefer you to fulfill their negative projections and expectations, low balling, rather than having high hopes for evolving your social ability positively.

Groups ironically and historically need to have scapegoats. Groups also have their ins and their outs. For instance the saying, “Clue her in” or “She’s clueless”, or “Clue her out” ... Mankind’s history is a violent one. It seems that by now we would have learned how to coexist peacefully, but the news on TV indicates we haven’t achieved that level of civilized behavior.

SomeYahoo groups have lost valuable members due to interpersonal  personality conflicts. I have worked a lifetime in organizations, in both social and business groups, and by now must have experienced directly and personally almost every interpersonal conflict imaginable or that others can contrive.

It was necessary to analyze a variety of interpersonal behaviors along the way in order to understand my own behavior better and that of associates and acquaintances.

Often self improvement was needed or sensed that the group had problems within its organization borders, coping with interpersonal conflicts counter productively negatively affecting the groups quality of existence. 

How do we create better mirrors to reflect where behavior should change either in ourselves or others so that the result is a higher performing and more productive person in their interpersonal relationships? It is a challenging problem to eliminate group social conflicts and alleviate interpersonal friction.

There is a difference in degree and resulting effects of methods used to evaluate each other and influence desired change. Changes desired are identified according to subjective assessments made by person(s) who may or may not be qualified to critique another.


When it is not an I'm OK, your OK situation, behavior modification is required by one or both participants or all participants in a group according to the scale of need for reducing friction and social conflicts. I have created the following analytical progression of severity from bad to ideal behavior modification to prevent validly perceived poor social performance and to facilitate mutual improvements inter personally.


***************


List items presented in the order of least effective to most effective mode of modifying an other's behavior to an other's expectations and standards of improvements . We both know individuals differ in the manner they deliver or treat another individual inter personally whether it be in or out of a group.

Group psychology is a little more difficult than just meeting and making a new friend(s). It is the science of politics, and I lack training and experience needed in that science. I am even very poor performer socially. I believe it developmental to identify fault correction methods and their effectiveness.

1 Faults invented such as falsely labeling overtly, covertly, or subversively an other who is unwelcome in the group because of personal attributes.

2 Fault dwelling and focusing so as to dismiss the persons strengths and contributions discouraging and suppressing their active participation while encouraging others.

3 Fault ridiculing another to suppress them from participation and denigration of them.

4 Fault seeking with intent to harm.

5 Fault finding as casual observation.

6 Criticising excessively versus when justified.

8 Giving feedback harshly and mean spirited.

9 Giving feedback kindly and generously.

10 Giving feedback when asked and responding as a friend.

11 Acceptance partially of an individual despite his shortcomings.

12 Acceptance unconditionally appreciating the individual. Reinforcing their unique contribution with no need for change. 
Every individual has something that justifies their valuable presence positively and uniquely in life.


What level would you judge you practice?  What level do you judge groups you know about when assessing their internal interpersonal effectiveness? I know I need to improve, do you, or an organization you belong to?