What is my true purpose in life?

Context: There is no one else on earth who is exactly like me.  I am a unique person. I live in a universe that is larger than I can imagine. It includes far more information than I can ever hope to comprehend. The only way I have of knowing anything is through empirical experience or through the verbal reports of experiences of other people. Life for all living things is either growing or dying. Growth seems to be enhanced by acts of kindness and compassion. In order to survive and grow I need sufficient financial income to pay bills and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Caring for others and being appreciated is important to me. I would like for my life to make a positive difference for others, especially my children.

Insight: For most of my life I felt as though I have just not been able to figure out why I am here.  What is my purpose and how do I find it?  That is the question I have spent a good bit of my life pondering, but never arriving at a satisfactory answer.  But, recently I ran across a philsopher online, Steve Pavilina, who enlightened me about this issue. According to Steve, I may or may not have been created for a specific purpose, but I have the freedom to decide for myself what my purpose in life is. 

My Purpose in Life: The purpose I choose for my life is to be the best me I can be, to always seek to know and understand what is true, to live my life with integrity and work daily for justice, to care deeply for my family and the world, and to generate sufficient financial income to live a healthy and happy life.

God is not mentioned in this purpose statement because I have no way of verifying his/her presence in the universe. As an act of faith, my purpose includes an invitation to God to be present in my journey as I seek to know and understand what is true. I cherish the words of Micah 6:8,   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Thanks, Steve.  Your insight is quite liberating.

 

Victory Over The Squirrels

Today, April 8, 2011, I am celebrating a small victory in life. I have, at least temporarily, defeated the squirrel(s). For weeks the pesky little rodents have been “stealing” our bird seed. It doesn’t seem to matter what manner of feeder I put up, they find a way to defeat it. Finally after replacing multiple springs on the allegedly “squirrel proof” feeders that don’t work, I tried a new tactic. I ran a thin wire between trees, thinking that squirrels cannot leap vertically more than 4 feet. I hung a very inexpensive plastic feeder from the wire. Aha! I’ve got them foiled, I thought.

Alas, it was not to be. Somehow they were getting to the feeder and either getting the seed or just dumping the whole feeder on the ground.  How could it be.  Could they be tightroping down that thin wire.  Patience finally paid off.  Despite the fact that I had clearedmost of the nearby trees and shrubs so they could not leap across to the feeder, they were still getting it.  Then, I spied one of thieves sitting on a branch of the base tree to which I had affixed the wire.  I could hardly wait to see him or her walk the tightrope to the feeder.  But, that was not to be.  After musing for a few moments, the squirrel climbed up the tree.  I’ve finally foiled him, I thought.  But, no.  Summoning a great courage the little thief  leaped about 15 feet down and out from the tree, landing perfecting on the birdfeeder.  I could only admire such a daring leap down the hypotenuse of the triangle formed by the tree, the wire and his line of approach.

Now, that I knew his mode of operation, I began to think how I might foil his thievery.  The answer was simple.  I took a litre coke bottle and drilled a hole in the cap and the bottom and slid it down the wire to position it over the bird feeder.  So, the next time the squirrel tried to dive for the bird feeder he would have to first land on the coke bottle which would spin on the wire spilling the squirrel to the ground.

It’s been over a week now, and no more stolen bird seed.  So, today I declare victory, at least temporarily.

How Annie Prichard came to be the final glory of her lineage

The Thomas Pritchard family migrated from somewhere in England, possibly Wales, to the Virginia Colony, where his son, Thomas Prichard, was born in 1765.
Thomas Prichard married Elizabeth Betsy Mays, whose father was Bill Mays (could this be a forebearer of Willie Mays?). No wonder Prichards are baseball fans. Thomas and Elizabeth had several children, among them, Joseph Prichard, who was born Dec. 12, 1783 in Virginia. Joseph lived to be 82 years old and died in 1865 in Princeton, Missouri. The Prichard family moved from Virginia to Knox County Tennessee where they lived until Thomas died in 1815. His wife, Joseph’s mother, Elizabeth lived a much longer life and died in 1860 in Knox TN.
Meanwhile, Joseph Prichard married Mary Polly Tye, who was born in Tennessee in 1787. She was twelve years younger than Joseph. They were married in Kentucky in 1810, and in 1819 Jackson Prichard was born in Whitley County in Kentucky. It has also been recounted that Joseph and Mary crossed the Mississippi with their family on a flat bottom barge with several cattle on their way to Princeton, MO where they settled.
Louisa J. Rockhold was born in Whitley County Kentucky in 1832 and must have followed with her family a similar migration as Joseph and Mary Prichard, because in 1850 she and Jackson were married in Missouri. Louisa and Jackson had a son they named Joseph G. Prichard, born in 1857. He married Elizabeth V. Ray, who was born in Iowa in November of 1861. She was known as “Lizzy” Prichard.
Joseph G. and Lizzy had several children, among them, Olin Ray Prichard, born in 1882 in Princeton, MO. Olin married Annie M. Mulinax, daughter of Eli Mulinax. She had two brothers, Ira and George, and a sister, Ada B Mulinax. We often visited Aunt Ada and Uncle Ira in St. Louis. Aunt Ada once bought a new 1958 Cadilac for Olin Ray Prichard, Jr. Olin Ray Jr. was the son of Annie and Olin Ray Prichard, and was born in Princeton MO in 1910. He had one sister Hilda who married John Hall and they lived in Texas.
Olin Ray Prichard, Jr. married Velva Ruth Pratt of Jefferson County Missouri. She was born in 1921. She had two brothers and one sister, Charles and Bob Pratt and Rose Mary Pratt. Her parents names were John Pratt and Allena Pratt. The family lived their life in Jefferson County Missouri, although both Charles and Bob Pratt were paratroopers in World War II.
Olin Ray Jr. and Velva Ruth had three children, Gary Ray, born in 1941, Joseph Reed, born in 1946 and Janice Rose, born in 1950. Gary was born in Rolla MO and Joe and Jan were born in Bonne Terre, MO.
Gary married Judith D. Barrett, born in 1943. They had a daughter, Anne Elizabeth Prichard, born in Richmond, MO in 1971 when Gary was the minister of the First Christian Church of Lexington Missouri.
That is the amazing story of how Annie Prichard of So. Lake Tahoe came to be the crowning glory of the Prichard line that began when the Thomas Prichard family migrated from England to the Virginia Colony. Along the way there were many other brothers, sisters etc. who lived and some who died young. But somehow this is what was needed to bring life to Annie.
After 13 years of marriage, Judith and Gary were divorced. Subsequently Gary married Linda Jean Berray whose two sons were Mark and Erik.
Prepared in April of 2011 by Gary Ray Prichard
The information above is believed to be accurate, although it is possible that someone along the way has been missed.

Happy Valentines Day

A good companion shortens the longest road.
A sweet love makes life more interesting.

Over the Wingspan

Went to the store the other day, and nearly went in the wrong door which happened to be a United States Armed Forces Recruitment Office. That inspired me to write a new song lyric.
Maybe someone will like it and record it. Enjoy!
Over the Wingspan
Lyrics by Gary Ray Prichard

Went down to the shop to get a new haircut
My head was in a daze, been out the night before
Need a trim, I said when the barber’s face got red
And then I noticed the sign upon the door.

I must be dreamin’
What can it mean, my shirt is green
And they say I’ll enjoy the tour
Only barber here
Shaves your head from ear to ear
Over the wingspan it’s Afghanistan

I thought I knew the way I go there every day
Never did I dream I’d go astray
You’re perfect for the part , sign right here to start
That’s how I found my way

I must be dreamin’
What can it mean, my shirt is green
And they say I’ll enjoy the tour
Only barber here
Shaves your head from ear to ear
Over the wingspan it’s Afghanistan

And still I wonder how I found that barber
I should have read the sign above the door
A man can’t be choosy, feeling kinda boozy
See over the wingspan it’s Afghanistan

Every Day Can Be A New Christmas

EVERY DAY CAN BE A NEW CHRISTMAS
Lyrics by Gary Ray Prichard

Every day can be a new Christmas
When everyone can truly care
For a child’s delight in all things bright
Love doesn’t have to be so rare

Every day can be a new Christmas
Just let your inner light shine through
With a joyful spirit you may inherit
A world that makes a new debut

Every day can be a new Christmas
Now, we can all begin to see
Jesus’ holy light illuminates the night
And makes all mankind truly free

The world is full of lonely people
Who need the special gift of Christmas
There’s someone who needs you
And someone who needs me
And every day can be
A new Christmas
When we let our hearts go free

Copyright 2010, Hendersonville NC
All rights reserved

Loving Speech and Deep Listening

Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful speech and the inability to listen to others, I am committed to cultivating loving speech and compassionate listening in order to relieve suffering and to promote reconciliation and peace in myself and among other people, ethnic and religious groups, and nations. Knowing that words can create happiness or suffering, I am committed to speaking truthfully using words that inspire confidence, joy, and hope. When anger is manifesting in me, I am determined not to speak. I will practice mindful breathing and walking in order to recognize and to look deeply into my anger. I know that the roots of anger can be found in my wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in myself and in the other person. I will speak and listen in a way that can help myself and the other person to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. I am determined not to spread news that I do not know to be certain and not to utter words that can cause division or discord. I will practice Right Diligence to nourish my capacity for understanding, love, joy, and inclusiveness, and gradually transform anger, violence, and fear that lie deep in my consciousness.
– Thich Nhat Hanh

Clothesline Stroll

Lyrics by Gary Ray Prichard
Copyright 2010
All Rights Reserved

Pick up a clothespin,
Tuck your corner down,
Pin it on the line,
And turn yourself around
That’s how you do it
Ain’t nothin to it.
Doin’ the clothesline stroll.

Pick up a clothespin
Slide on down the line
Grab the other corner
And pin it on the line
That’s how you do it,
Ain’t nothin to it.
Doin’ the clothesline stroll.

Dry-line in the sunshine gets your body moving
Sunlight on your laundry makes your clothes smell groovy
Turn off the dryer – it’s the natural way.

Your clothes last longer
Blowin in the breeze
No chemicals needed
And they won’t make you sneeze
That’s how you do it
Ain’t nothin to it
Doin’ the clothesline stroll.

Hang out a dry line
The world’s a better place
Mountaintops grow trees
Instead of empty space
That’s how you do it
Ain’t nothin to it
Doin’ the clothesline stroll.

Dry-line in the sunshine gets your body moving
Sunlight on your laundry makes your clothes smell groovy
Turn off the dryer – it’s the natural way.

Mama Was Right

Greetings to all of you who gave some of the time and substance of your life to the Obama campaign,

Sometimes it seems like change will never come, but thankfully it finally has begun. You can take pride in being one of the first to step forward to support our President before he was elected.

I doubt that many of us could have imagined the depths of deceit and self-serving actions his opponents would reach in their futile attempt to block health care reform. The spectacle of rudeness and vile behavior seen during this debate only serves to reinforce the truth of what my long deceased mother told me as a child. The Republican party represents the rich people and big business, she said, while the Democratic party is the party of the working people. She came of age during the great reforms passed by President Franklin Roosevelt. She knew what she knew, and simplistic as it sounds, we have seen that chasm of self preservation played out for the past year.

What a disappointment our Rep. Shuler is. Does he really believe that those who oppose reform of our health care system will support him against their own kind? Does he believe that those insurance and anti-labor folks with the big money will back him against a Republican candidate in the next election? I expect that his vote against health care reform will cost him his next election. What a foolish and unfortunate role he has played. If he were wise he would immediately issue an apology to his party and to the President.

President Obama did his best to create a bipartisan coalition, but in the end, it was not to be. Not one Republican representative voted for the bill. There was so much propaganda and lying about what was alleged to be in this bill by the Republicans and their insurance supporters that many were led to oppose it. In the end, I wasn’t even sure myself if it was the right thing, but then, when I observed who was slinging the mud against it, I knew that if all those people, followers of Rush, etc. were against it, it must be the right thing for the rest of us. Mama was right!

Now, brace yourself for the backlash. It seems that the Republican party doesn’t know how to be a good loser. They will continue to condemn President Obama and other Democratic leaders. They may even try to use the conservative judges appointed under Bush to block implementation of reform. We can only hope that there may be enough reasonable Republicans to move on and decide to become cooperative with the majority.

Thanks for all you have done in the campaign to make this reform possible. Hang on to your hope!

–
Gary Prichard

A Clearing Prayer

When you find yourself blocked, and you can’t see how to move forward in your life, you may find this prayer helpful. Read each paragraph, pause and reflect on its meaning for you and your situation today. Then, read the paragraph again as a lens through which you view your struggle.  After you complete the prayer,  please remember that your comment may be helpful to someone who comes after you.

 

O Thou Mystery of Life . . . guide me to discern the event(s), the point of origin of my feelings and thoughts about ______________________.

God be with me as I take each and every level, layer, area and aspect of my being to this point where I diverged from the track of spiritual and material progress. Guide me in understanding and resolving every issue, feeling, thought and misunderstanding involved in my distraction from what is best for me and the universe.

By Thy grace, may I know the truth which will make me free from all bondage to past events.

Be my companion, O my God, as we pass though each generation, and through all time, healing every incident and all related experience. I know that it is Thy will for me and all people to be filled with the light, truth and grace of forgiveness and freedom. May I forgive even as I am forgiven, that there shall be no sadness, anger or misunderstanding that separates me from anyone or from Thy love.

By Thy grace and in Thy love, may I experience total forgiveness. May I be born anew with every physical, mental, emotional, spiritual problem and destructive behavior absolved. May the point of origin, the first cause of my distress, be forever erased from my DNA. I am a new person.

This moment I choose to be _______________.
I feel ________________________
I am __________________________

It is done. It is accomplished now!

O Thou Mystery of Life, accept my gratitude for being present in my life, for helping me forgive myself, for guiding me toward the full measure of my potential. Thank you, God. I celebrate my new life in Thee.