Tag Archives: munchkins

Conventional Thinking

Conventional Thinking: (adj) conforming or adhering to accepted standards of conduct or taste

I do not know why some things become “conventional thinking.”

It isn’t because they make sense, and certainly not because they are productive.

I guess there’s an abiding premise that we need to stop trying to improve things, and settle for inadequacy.  Perhaps it’s our down payment funny wisdom on words that begin with a C
on original sin: “I am not worthy of good things.”

Conventional thinking insists that the American system of politics has value. The fact that it doesn’t work, causes strife, ignores the needs of the citizens and is an overblown ego trip doesn’t deter us. Like little munchkins singing for Dorothy upon her arrival at Oz, we chorus our praise to the American system of “checks and balances”–which never check anything and certainly are imbalanced.

Why we accept the conventional thinking that the God of the Universe is desperate for our praise and worship is peculiar. And do we really believe that He made the penis and vagina but recommends that we only use them for urination? This is beyond me.

And finally, how did we ever get tied up in the conventional thinking that fifty percent of the population can be at odds with the other fifty percent and giggle about it, because after all, “men and women will never understand each other?”

I don’t know what convention caused conventional thinking.

But I do believe it’s time for us to convene once again.


Donate Button

Subscribe to Jonathan’s Weekly Podcast

Good News and Better News

 

Boy Scout

j-r-practix-with-border-2

Boy Scout: (n) a member of the Boy Scouts of America

I tried to join. I really did.

It’s not that I was interested in campfires, forest animals or hiking. It’s just that one of my friends was a Boy Scout, and he convinced me we could have more time goofing off together if I donned the scarf and signed on the dotted line.Dictionary B

So I came for an interview with Mr. Randall, the Scout leader. He was an interesting man. He was not married, but very fussy, with a soft voice. In my day and age, we just considered him to be an oddball. Today I think most people would assume he was gay.

Yet he was dedicated to the Boy Scout cause.

He could tie a knot in anything.

And all the guys from the troop really respected him and loved him, although some of the more judgmental mothers were a little frightened that his softer ways might rub off on their masculine munchkins.

My interview with Mr. Randall did not go well.

It began to deteriorate when he took my measurements for a uniform, and realized it was unavailable except in the adult leadership size. So he set out, in a very kind way, to discourage me from joining the Boy Scouts, explaining all of the walking, lifting, carrying and struggles involved in a weekend pack meeting.

His technique was very effective. Even though I wanted to have a yellow scarf and a Scout uniform, I was not willing to pay the price for such a benefit.

By the way, Mr. Randall did not stay in our community too long. I never knew the entire story, but eventually, one by one, the young men who were receiving great training and quality lifestyle direction from this leader, left the scout troop at the bequest of their mothers and fathers.

Soon Mr. Randall was a troop leader … with no troop.

 

Donate ButtonThank you for enjoying Words from Dic(tionary) —  J.R. Practix 

 Don’t let another Christmas season go by without owning Jonathan’s book of Christmas stories

Mr. Kringle’s Tales …26 Stories ‘Til Christmas

Only $5.99 plus $1.25 shipping and handling!

An advent calendar of stories, designed to enchant readers of all ages

“Quite literally the best Christmas stories I have ever read.” — Arthur Holland, Shelby, North Carolina

Only $5.99 plus $1.25 shipping and handling.

"Buy