What happens is not as important as how you react to what happens.

My ‘handle’ you might say, has been thealphamare (aka, ‘leader of the herd’) for several years now...a humorously self-imposed title taken from the responsibility that I have taken on of reuniting and caring for my small remaining immediate family.

I have never seen myself as having leadership qualities – in fact, never had any desire for leadership qualities, nor any desire whatsoever to assume any leadership role of any kind – yet life seems to have a knack for forcing reluctant leaders into their intended roles in spite of their reluctance. Much to my surprise, my family recently announced to me that they all look to me as a worthy and capable leader of our family unit. Hence I humbly take on the following assignment.

We have taken on a practice recently of gathering together on Sunday afternoons for a time of family fellowship – a time where we can freely and respectfully air our differences, discuss personal issues, hopes, fears and whatever else. Our first few sessions were productive, but as time has progressed, we have all felt the need for more focus in our meetings. It was the family’s unanimous vote to conduct a sort of Bible study, based on Rick Warren’s popular book, The Purpose Driven Life.

Since this will now comprise a major aspect of my personal ‘journey’ in life (the primary focus of this blog), and at the encouragement of others, I will also make this experience available to share with my most cherished blog buddies – the more the merrier I say! Please feel free to participate with  your own commentaries, views and insights. And please note that I am not offended by opposing views. Nor am I rattled by some of our very ‘heathen’ friends’ humorous lacks of reverence, etc. (you know who you are, boys –  please promise you will not divulge our dark secrets – I am trying to maintain a certain aura of righteousness here). This will likely not be the ONLY subject I blog about, but since it will likely be a very consuming task (if done correctly), it will surely comprise a large portion of my posts. For those curious about my unique spiritual beliefs, here’s your chance!

If you wish to participate in this venture with my family and I...
my lessons will be based on the assumption that you have acquired a copy of said book from which we will be studying. You can get a paperback version at most any bookstore for less than $15. We plan to start next Sunday, so you have 5 days to get one!

The time frame suggested in the book is a 40-day study. It is most likely that we will take more than 40 days. (We’re a slow bunch in this household.) Starting next Sunday, the minimum reading requirement will be a chapter per day (7 chapters each week), though it is likely that might change, since I strongly suspect our discussion of each will be so lengthy, we will not cover 7 chapters each week.

One more tool that we plan to use is meditation beads. (dogyo  knows all about these.) Now don’t all my Christian friends get in a tizzy about this – I will not be attempting to convert anyone to some strange eastern or new age religion. We will be using them merely as aids to concentration during meditative exercises. The suggestion is a strand of 108 beads with either a tassel or one larger bead in the center. If you don’t want to be bothered by stringing together your own (as we will be doing here) or purchasing one (search online for mahlas – they can be found for as little as $25), use any other method of counting you wish – moving 108 marbles from one bowl to another – use grapes or rice or sunflower seeds...jacks, Tinker Toy sticks, dice or dominoes. The purpose of counting is to aid in concentration and duration of the exercise, so just plan for some method of counting that you would be comfortable with.

I will have one rule for participants and/or those who wish to reply: NO ARGUING! Discussion of opposing views is not only welcomed but encouraged, but must be in a non-confrontational and kind spirit, respectful of the beliefs of others. Smart-ass remarks such as is common from our beloved misterghoulie   and Chris (I can't keep up with his identities these days) are accepted because we all need to be continually reminded that we must never take ourselves too seriously. LIGHTEN UP guys, and enjoy the ride!

Now, for everyone else, I promise that before week’s end, there will be a few more ‘normal’ Sojo posts. We have a hawk rearing a family of chicks in a HUMONGOUS nest high in a tall tree at the far end of the pasture and I’ve gotten a few shots of her! I’ve also FINALLY gotten an acceptable shot of one of our bluebirds – not National Geographic quality as I would’ve liked, but then, I don’t have $10,000 worth of lenses and admittedly, don’t really have National Geo level talent either – but what I got is a START! And for all those Nutkin fans, I’ve got some squirrels too! Now, if I could just get a shot of our resident heron…

PS...how many of you thought, after reading that subject line, that I was making a wedding announcement? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!