The Block

I am a hobbit Trekkie narnian army medic VET potter coast guard rescue
Swimmer 5 year high school graduate, San Antonio street fighter, greater 48 resident; Texan by choice, hat tippin, tea sippin, door holdin, rule maker, law breaker, speed limits driver, star gazer, dream chaser, book reader, lover, hater, Dorito junkie, pot supporter (not smoker YET!) Buddhist, Taoist, half oceanic, half Chicano, all Jedi and everything in between.



If ever you would like to make a list of everything you are feel free to post it here. That is one thing the Temple can do, is validate.
We are not in the business of denying any one and any ones faith . On the contrary - we say yes! Yes you are ! Yes you can be . Yes you are right . So in that light what are you - what type of Jedi are you friends ? I had fun pen ning this little list that is no means at full length . Some day I will list it in full but you get the point right ? I hope so - Jedi are smart , that's on of the many reasons I like y'all as continue to serve each and every one of y'all here in this great place .
Force be with us as we ALL seek the Force !
Carlos Jedi Knight and clergy

Bump

The ZAX
By Dr Sues (c)1961
This is a Martinez family favriot . Thought ide share as it's one of the more famious shorts ! You can it in The Sneetches and other stories on line - Barnes n Noble - Amazon - any children's resale or book resale shops - I suggest finding a copy ! Now - to the tale !!!!

The ZAX - one day, while making tracks in the prairie of prax, came a North going ZAX and a South going ZAX. And it happened that both of them came to a place where they bumped. There they stood. Foot to foot. Face to face. " look here , now!" The North going ZAX said. " I say! You are blocking My path. You are right in my way. I'm a north going ZAX and I always go north. Get out of my way, now, and let me go forth ! " " Who's in whose way? " snapped the south going ZAX. " I always go south , making south going tracks. So your in my way! And I ask you to move and let me go south in my south going grove. " Then the North going ZAX puffed up his chest with pride," I never," he said, " take a step to one side. And I'll prove to you that I won't change my ways if I have to keep standing here 59 days" " And I'll prove to you ," yelled the south going ZAX, " that I can stand here in the prairie of Prax for 59 years! For I live by a rule that I learned as a boy back at south going school, never budge! That's my rule. Never budge in the least! Not and inch to the west! Not a inch to the east! I'll stay here , not budging ! I can and I will if it makes you and me and the whole world stand still!"

Well... of course the world didn't stand still. The world grew. In a couple of years the new highway came through. And they built it right over those two stubborn ZAX and left them standing in budged in their tracks.
End of line
May we find the Force we seek and not be un movable - un teachable - un learnable and some times un lovable with the light of a ZAX. Smile temple- life is sometimes that easy , not all the time but sometimes .... just and inch ... yea !

A bump

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/sermons/2415-carlos-2

Carlos, I'm here to meet you at the block. You are a wonderful example of a person whose sole focus is to build them up. Thank you for being a piece of the puzzle that helps me do what needs to be done in this world. Your positivity just shines through. Have a Fantastic Friday!

thomaswfaulkner wrote: Carlos, I'm here to meet you at the block. You are a wonderful example of a person whose sole focus is to build them up. Thank you for being a piece of the puzzle that helps me do what needs to be done in this world. Your positivity just shines through. Have a Fantastic Friday!

You are so very welcome friend ...as iron sharpens iron as some say ... we share stories and ideas and ways and lights and paths and roads and eventually we lead to the same few - the main is that we treat one another like human beings. Jedi.- the label that can remove all labels. May you join me in the new year and may we have a stronger walk togeather here as well as the Temple but truly in our every day real world life.
If change happens inside , the ones who benifit- outside - are the ones who are directly in front of us. Maybthe Force we share seek and serve find us both as we seek it ! See ya next Monday !

Happy holidays and turn of time y'all!
What a Monday . I find my new addition and current family at a Bob Evens waiting for New Years breakfast ! That's total of 4 for our new family , no longer little. I often read my son as many stories and myths from as many places I can. I wish my dad would have read me them but that's neither here nor there - I am here now and I not only fill my shoes -I pick my boot- so to speak. We read from Grimms tales and this one stuck out the other day. Ide like to share it with y'all

A merchant had done good bismess at the fair; he had sold his wares, and lined his money bags with gold and silver. Then he wanted to travel homewards, and be in his own house by night fall. So , he packed his horse with the money and rode away.
At noon he rested in a town, and when he wanted to go further the stable boy brought out his horse and said ," a nail is wanting sir in the shoe if it's hind foot." " Let it be wantin " answered the merchant ; " the shoe will certainly stay on the six miles I still have to go, I am in a hurry"
In the afternoon, when he once more alighted and had his horse fed, the stable boy went into the room with him and said," a shoe is missing from your horses hind foot, shall I take him to the blacksmith?" "Let it still be wanting " answered the man; " the horse can hold out for the couple of miles that remain. I am in haste."
He rode forth , but before long the horse began to limp. It had not limped long before it began to stumble and it had not stumbled long before it fell down and broke its leg. Teerxhant was forced to leave the horse where it was, and unbuckle the trunk , take it on his back , and go home on foot. And there he did not arrive untill quite late at night. " and that un lucky nail ," said he to himself," has caused all this disaster."


Make haste slowly

Make haste slowly ---- this one simple story and moral seems to be the hardest things to do for me. I think Grimm says " think about the future" quite often in his stories or just "think bro" ( bro added for my own mind )
The story is called " The nail" it's a short story by Jakob and Wilhelm. I have the complete collection which i recommend any parent have for - day time night time or any time story time.
What do you think ? Peace and the Force be with y'all!!

somthing to think about this week if you like ...
When your tank runs out , where do you find your resolve ? Where do you find your focus?
It is said ... to know others takes wisdom : my add( not knowledge)
Knowing yourself is wise.
Mastering others takes strength : my add ( not want )
Mastering yourself is power : My add ( for ourself to use not others.)
Knowing when is enough is rich.
Steadfast is the heart that seeks - he who stays endures : my add ( this is where experience points are gotten learned and earned)
To die but not perish is to be eternally present .
Book of change 33 my own personal version

To do ... to be in it - to go thru life is some times where we flex and learn. In the seek if it ... what ever we seek - it's in the prosess we gain. The experience points we get ... those never go away. We pass those by simply getting em.
By simply "enduring it" or living it. We can't get out of living but we can let it beat us and sway and break us or ---- DALING!!! Get some experience points!
Get some Jedi and ... save em pass them and be glad you got em!
Love ya temple ! All y'all!
Carlos Jedi Knight Clergy councilor

Shel Silverstiens Invatation

If your a dreamer, come in,
If your a dreamer , a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er , a pray-er , a magic bean buyer...
If your a pretender, come sit by my fire
For we have some flax-golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

To all the dreamers and schemers ... I encourage you to dream big. I also encourage you to have a plan for your dream. Don't just dream .... have a plan to make that dream come true . Dream yes , by all means but do what it takes to make that dream come into reality. Today - in the states we celebrate a day where a dreamer dreamt big. Against the common. He took the time and the effort to realize his dream. He stood tall, and was willing to take his dream ... to the next level.
He didn't just speak of a dream .. though that's what many of us remember.
He was arrested over 30 times while protesting and telling and sharing his dream. 34 some say exactly .

I remember seeing this photo in a school book. What courage does one need and what resolve does a person need to know that no matter the cost - their cause is worth it ?
Can we as Jedi learn from photos like this?! I hope so.
One.. I did . Think about it . Can we be as brave as some of the leaders in the past ? Can we learn from them? In life, sacrifice is evident . Some of our "dreams " may take some sacrifice_-some may some may not. Dream - but be ready : be prepared for the rest of what your dream brings it May not be to the extream.r Realize there's more to things that just dreamimg
to change things , it takes action.

Today I sit with coffe in hand and under my cherry tree by my thinking chair. There is a stillness that comes. As I meditate I enjoy the calm before the storm . My mind relaxes as I get ready for the possibilities of screaming children pots clattering and people shuffling in and out of my home.
The peace I receive has to be set at times. The tree needed to be bought and fertilized planted, potted , watered - sprayed and trimmed. The coffe needs to be made. The dishes had to be washed and the time had to be cut out and planned for me to get this - peace . Some days we have to make our peace and put bliss. Some days we have to plan for it and some days like today we have to make time for it.
Peace - if you need it and can't find it - some days you have to make it .
Think about that this week my temple .

Somthimg to ponder my Jedi :
What are you doing ? What is it you seek? And even better ---- what is it creating ?

It is to every human to have the ability to "pass and review " their own life's and intention.
As Jedi we have the ability to check our own selfs out as often as we see fit. What is your search creating ? What type of Jedi is the current path you are on creating? Is your search creating tools for your heart or weapons to create conflict.? Are the labels your finding creating conflict and harm or are they starting to grow and begining to heal?
I hope this small reminder of pass and review helps your personal paths . I do this so often I penned "pass and review" lol may the Force we share seek and serve find you exactly where your looking for it !!!

In the US we have kids meals and kid menus. Not sure how it is in the rest of the world. Today , my son said , dad , can I eat real food? He ordered French toast with a side of broccoli and eggs scrambled. He ate a bit of everything , didn't eat it all but in volume, he ate more. He even asked for some of my own fries (3) and had a blast as the buffet was on his plate. Took him a little longer too.
There will come a time in our learning when we no longer need milk and can chew and digest a bit more. Even further down the road our palate will change and grow. Take some time to realize this happens to us as we learn. Some day we may need a bit ... more or a bit ... difrent than what we have been used to. Grow my temple and notice the signs . Jedi are smart! May this week - when we study - may we study may we grow and may we even notice that weay no longer need what we used to yearn for ... that's ok. Open your palette and take a new try at new things. Take a deeper longer more larger portion... if your ready , you may be ...
may the Force we seek serve and see - be with y'all!


Ps .... you gunna eat that !!!? Smiley face !

ITS MONDAY!!!

Your compass, I've spent some time out at sea- Coast Guard Cutter Eagle; Coast Guard Cutter Amberjack...skiffs, 44'ft rescue boats, 48' rescue boats, 12'ft rescue boats, launchas, pontoons, yachts, oil tankers (Exxon/Valdez sized), battle ships...Kitty Hawk, carriers...George Washington, and the ever famous vessel the USS Myself.
Yes, I have floated in the middle of the ocean, all by myself, and in every instance, it was a necessity to have a compass. Survival was due to the compass. Direction. In some cases I had several. There comes a time when we need to figure out in our past our own compass. It's every humans right and every Jedi s gift to be able to choose their own direction.
Often times we have questions. Questions are never wrong - or right - questions come. Ask your self - where will this lead me - yea I said it " question your questions" check your compass before you leave . Make sure your direction is the heading you want. You can have several ! So this weeks encouragment is check your devises - question your questions . Are they helping and keeping you foward and in the direction you like or ... are they leaving you afloat lost ... with no direction to return?
May the force be with y'all This week!

Friday edition :
In the prosesss of learning we find and in finding we are compelled to teach others those great Things we have learned first hand.
There can come a time in this step when the focus shifts from learning and the upset begins and the learning stops. Don't find that spot and stay there Jedi.
Remind yourself of your focus. I read so many staments that sum up this very pause in learning. " Yoda- "Yes. Yes. A flaw more and more common among Jedi. Hmmm. Too sure of themselves they are. Even the older, more experienced ones." This happens too often in modern day Jedi ism. Friday edition: be mindful of the future but not the expense of the present.
The living force ...
The one present living now.

Your path has guided you for so long to this place of finding things and finnaly knowing certain ideas as helpful and non helpful.
Keep them ! If you wish - share them. Don't let anger or upset come in where there needs to be none.
Happy days Jedi !

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/Clergy/120861-carlos-book-of-change#315843

In his world we live in - there are many MANY difrent people . To be precise, The world population was estimated to have reached 7,500,000,000 at 16:21(UTC) on April 24, 2017.
Seven and a half billion. None of one is like the other. No two fingerprints are the same. No voice is duplicated. Think about that.
Think about this - all those people - and we choose to be Jedi. We believe in the inherit worth of 7.5 billion people. Do we act like it ? Better question ... do we live like that? Are we at awe at the mind blowing possibilities that are Standing or standing right next to us at the store or in public? What's the sight we have now? What do we see the world as ? "Sweeney Todd says "there's a hole in world , like a big black pit ... and it's filled with people who are filled with shit " that's the face we have ? Or is it difrent ? What's your face ? What's your face saying? There was a American president out with 2 of his secret service agents back in the day of horse and carriage and they met a man walking from one town to the other . The man quickly said sir ... may I have a ride to town- the president said of course and took him the way he was going any way. When they reached the destination he asked the man why didn't you ask them - the man replied "you had a yes face"
Jedi - what face you got ? Love ya Temple
Carlos

very inspiring brother!

With destruction comes it's shadow.
When we destroy- balance is effected. When we choose to destroy our effort centers around this idea and we are focused on a single sight. (Often) It can take our focus and keep it longer than expected. Anger is a feeling we were born with as joy and fear. Nothing wrong with being mad. We all get upset. It's a natural path. For some this path can keep us. It's so strong and so frequented it's overwhelming.During it's presence, anger tends to take our personal focus to a place we may tend to over see it in a way like we almost forget we have other feelings and can think. Then something happens ... then we begin to destroy. We forget- Our actions from the feeling begin to bloom anger - no longer in thought form but action. Destructiveness starts - we yell at our loved ones - ignore them - hurt them. We allow something else to take the wheel -and drive. If we use our thinker - often times we would say - why would I do that ? Why would I say that ? Was that me ?
As Jedi we like to think we can be- Jedi in things especially in anger or destructiveness in our own lives . When I say Jedi the idea of a Jedi type of control and demonstration is intended. It can be possible to begin on a path of destructiveness and even easyer to stay and be held. Take some time and notice where we are at in our paths. If we are un raveling more than we are creating maybe it's time to re focus . If our focus has shifted , Maybe we can re shift it - if something else drives the mind maybe it's time to change out drivers and help ourselfs out of that shadow that holds us far too often.
Force be with y'all my friends and my temple! Something to think about this week!