 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| "TOM'S WALLS" Wise words from an old friend |
I admit it, about a month ago I finally signed up for Facebook. My daughter likes to play some of
the games on there which require so many “team” or “clan' members, so she talked me into joining.
I must say that Facebook is a good tool for keeping in touch with large groups and staying
updated on one's circle of friends. I compare it to the form letters that many used to send with their
Christmas cards every year. You know what I mean--the letters that were basically annual updates
from people you had not heard from since you got the last annual update.
There is one thing I absolutely love about Facebook. Through it's system I have been able to
connect with many people from my past. I am sure most of you have past associates that you
wonder, “Whatever happened to...' With this social network and it's tools, one can reconnect with so
many of those people.
Of course, it is a bit complex. You cannot just type in the person's name. If you do you will be
surprised to see how many have the same name or a similar one. The next thing you know you have
nine pages of profiles to sift through. However, if you know their area, or even what school they
attended, one has a great chance of finding an old friend.
Most of you that have read my works know that my past was not a pleasant one. But there are a
few people that left positive marks on my life. Two days ago I used Facebook and tracked down one
of the few heroes from my life. I was very pleased to find out that my old fraternity big brother, Tom
Sagan, was alive, well, and apparently happy.
There are a few things that have popped into my mind every time I think of Tom: his New York
accent, his inclined bed (I am sure he had GERD before it was called GERD), and the fact that the
man put garlic on EVERYTHING.
Tom was the guy in the fraternity that most avoided, for he was the gadfly. He was the one that
would let you know when you were screwing up. He would ride you over and over again when your
behavior was self-destructive.
Of course, Tom was also the first one to pick you up when that behavior got you into trouble.
The thing I remember the most about Tom was he was truly the first person to listen when I talked.
I think I spent more hours whining to Tom about the problems I had than I care to admit. The thing is,
his door was always open, and he always listened. When he was done listening, you could count on
him to give you a real gem of advice.
The best gem he ever gave me was the “ten foot walls.” In college I always seemed to have the
same problem--a lack of money. I was poor and my family back home was in even worse shape. I
lamented the fact that getting through college was so difficult financially. I was envious of the guys
whose parents were able to fund everything and send them $100 per week to “live on' while I cleaned
the student center on the third shift for $3.00 an hour.
Tom would say that life was a series of ten foot walls. Each of us has obstacles we have to
overcome. We all have trials to face. There are some, like Tom and myself, who had to scratch and
crawl to get over those first walls. Getting passed those barriers seemed to drain all of our strength.
Then there were the one's who had help getting over those first few walls. The walls that took us
weeks to climb, others were just lifted over with someone's help. Then Tom said that down the road
when we face more walls, they will seem easy because we have done it so often. But the others, the
one's that always had help, will find it more difficult since eventually, that help would not be there.
Tom, of course, did not tell me that each wall in my life would get taller and harder to climb. It
seems that each chapter of my life has been successively more formidable. However, if a person
begins a new exercise routine by lifting 300 pounds, they will tear a muscle. One has to start by lifting
the “sissy weights” and then slowly build up to their maximum. It seems that while each tribulation in
my life has become progressively harder, each has given me the strength to attack the next wall I
face. I have alluded to this in numerous writings, God has been training me since the very beginning.
“Tom's walls” has helped keep things in perspective for me. At times, it is what has kept me sane.
Now that my kids are teenagers and I devote my life to helping others through their problems, I dig out
the lesson of “Tom's walls.” I have shared that story with both of my kids, and I hope they have some
perspective of their own because of it.
In these difficult times many of you are facing problems that you never thought you would have to
face. I am sure that some of you are lost and desperate and have no idea what to do and how you
will do it. Then I am sure there are others like myself who have faced numerous walls of their own,
and know they have the strength to persevere.
In the last four days I have had three huge hurdles thrown in my path. After my fifteen minutes of
anger and panic, I have turned to face those walls. The obstacles from twenty-five years ago seem
so small and insignificant now, but they helped give me the strength to face these new ones.
I am sure as many of you face foreclosure, unemployment, health problems or worse; it may seem
like an impossible task. Please turn around and look at the path you have been taking. I am sure
that back there were many walls in your past that seemed impossible then as well. Now they probably
seem like speed bumps. You made it over those, you will make it over these as well.
As usual, things are going to be rough for me. As usual, it seems impossible. But like before, I will
find the strength to get though this, thanks in part, to “Tom's walls.”
I wonder if right now, as he puts garlic on his tuna sandwich, that prodding former New Yorker
realizes his words were the trumpets that will help bring down these walls of Jericho.
Be well,
Sponge
07/03/2009
Sponge Daddy's Facebook Profile
the games on there which require so many “team” or “clan' members, so she talked me into joining.
I must say that Facebook is a good tool for keeping in touch with large groups and staying
updated on one's circle of friends. I compare it to the form letters that many used to send with their
Christmas cards every year. You know what I mean--the letters that were basically annual updates
from people you had not heard from since you got the last annual update.
There is one thing I absolutely love about Facebook. Through it's system I have been able to
connect with many people from my past. I am sure most of you have past associates that you
wonder, “Whatever happened to...' With this social network and it's tools, one can reconnect with so
many of those people.
Of course, it is a bit complex. You cannot just type in the person's name. If you do you will be
surprised to see how many have the same name or a similar one. The next thing you know you have
nine pages of profiles to sift through. However, if you know their area, or even what school they
attended, one has a great chance of finding an old friend.
Most of you that have read my works know that my past was not a pleasant one. But there are a
few people that left positive marks on my life. Two days ago I used Facebook and tracked down one
of the few heroes from my life. I was very pleased to find out that my old fraternity big brother, Tom
Sagan, was alive, well, and apparently happy.
There are a few things that have popped into my mind every time I think of Tom: his New York
accent, his inclined bed (I am sure he had GERD before it was called GERD), and the fact that the
man put garlic on EVERYTHING.
Tom was the guy in the fraternity that most avoided, for he was the gadfly. He was the one that
would let you know when you were screwing up. He would ride you over and over again when your
behavior was self-destructive.
Of course, Tom was also the first one to pick you up when that behavior got you into trouble.
The thing I remember the most about Tom was he was truly the first person to listen when I talked.
I think I spent more hours whining to Tom about the problems I had than I care to admit. The thing is,
his door was always open, and he always listened. When he was done listening, you could count on
him to give you a real gem of advice.
The best gem he ever gave me was the “ten foot walls.” In college I always seemed to have the
same problem--a lack of money. I was poor and my family back home was in even worse shape. I
lamented the fact that getting through college was so difficult financially. I was envious of the guys
whose parents were able to fund everything and send them $100 per week to “live on' while I cleaned
the student center on the third shift for $3.00 an hour.
Tom would say that life was a series of ten foot walls. Each of us has obstacles we have to
overcome. We all have trials to face. There are some, like Tom and myself, who had to scratch and
crawl to get over those first walls. Getting passed those barriers seemed to drain all of our strength.
Then there were the one's who had help getting over those first few walls. The walls that took us
weeks to climb, others were just lifted over with someone's help. Then Tom said that down the road
when we face more walls, they will seem easy because we have done it so often. But the others, the
one's that always had help, will find it more difficult since eventually, that help would not be there.
Tom, of course, did not tell me that each wall in my life would get taller and harder to climb. It
seems that each chapter of my life has been successively more formidable. However, if a person
begins a new exercise routine by lifting 300 pounds, they will tear a muscle. One has to start by lifting
the “sissy weights” and then slowly build up to their maximum. It seems that while each tribulation in
my life has become progressively harder, each has given me the strength to attack the next wall I
face. I have alluded to this in numerous writings, God has been training me since the very beginning.
“Tom's walls” has helped keep things in perspective for me. At times, it is what has kept me sane.
Now that my kids are teenagers and I devote my life to helping others through their problems, I dig out
the lesson of “Tom's walls.” I have shared that story with both of my kids, and I hope they have some
perspective of their own because of it.
In these difficult times many of you are facing problems that you never thought you would have to
face. I am sure that some of you are lost and desperate and have no idea what to do and how you
will do it. Then I am sure there are others like myself who have faced numerous walls of their own,
and know they have the strength to persevere.
In the last four days I have had three huge hurdles thrown in my path. After my fifteen minutes of
anger and panic, I have turned to face those walls. The obstacles from twenty-five years ago seem
so small and insignificant now, but they helped give me the strength to face these new ones.
I am sure as many of you face foreclosure, unemployment, health problems or worse; it may seem
like an impossible task. Please turn around and look at the path you have been taking. I am sure
that back there were many walls in your past that seemed impossible then as well. Now they probably
seem like speed bumps. You made it over those, you will make it over these as well.
As usual, things are going to be rough for me. As usual, it seems impossible. But like before, I will
find the strength to get though this, thanks in part, to “Tom's walls.”
I wonder if right now, as he puts garlic on his tuna sandwich, that prodding former New Yorker
realizes his words were the trumpets that will help bring down these walls of Jericho.
Be well,
Sponge
07/03/2009
Sponge Daddy's Facebook Profile