[Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost

Tue May 13 13:28:55 UTC 2014

Since we are now waxing philosophical, I'll put my oar in the water. For those who care, I am not a religious person, or at least not in the traditional sense. With that said, if there is an afterlife, I really believe there is one pertinent question we should have to answer. That one is "Did you leave things better than you found them/" I think that if we can answer that affirmatively, we weren't a waste of space.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lauren Merryfield via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 8:15 AM
To: gwunder at earthlink.net; 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost

Hi,
I understand one of Ray's points. It sounds like the priest had low expectations of Ray because he is blind. That can feel really disappointing, when we know better. But his showing up every Sunday actually is important and there are too many nowadays who do not do that.

Some blind people are met with those low expectations so often that they take them on but feel bad about it, because somewhere in their hearts and minds, they know they are capable of more, or they want more sighted people to know that they, (blind people) are more capable, before their time is up.

Since most of us will not be remembered by hardly anyone--maybe not even by our own extended families, we, as blind people, do often want to do something in our lives that matters to the world and proves that we were alive and capable beings. I've been guilty of having those desires.

But now I am not as concerned with the world, which is not going to really accept me as an equal anytime in my lifetime. It just isn't going to happen.
But the One who created us wants us to focus on Him, not on the world, and develop a stronger, holier relationship with Him. We can do that regardless of what the world thinks, or doesn't think of us. We may never be on the map in the world but we can be "on the map" with Him, and that to me, anyway, is what really matters.
Blessings,
Lauren

Philippians 4:8 King James Version (KJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it."
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-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via blindtlk
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 5:21 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost

Hello, Ray. My comment is philosophical and has nothing whatsoever to do with blindness.

You say that mere existence is not enough, and at one level I agree with you. On the other hand, I have known a good number of kind, generous, and thoughtful people who lament the fact that they have made no contribution to the world. What they usually mean by this is that they will not be remembered in the same way that Abraham Lincoln or George Washington will be remembered. If that is really the standard, most of us will never make it.
We will be known for a time in the small ponds in which we swam, but how many of us make changes on the world stage that will get our names etched into stones that people see or books that people read?

I grew up thinking that my life would only have meaning if I could do something heroic like John Wayne did in all of his movies. The heroic event has yet to come along, but I wonder if the magic of making a difference really is in getting up every day, doing the good that you can for other people, and bringing to the world what it is that God has given you to bring. One of those good and kind people who has spent considerable time wondering about the purpose of his life is my best friend. Is this meaningful, and, if I am someone's best friend, is this also meaningful?
you know, I do not throw this out to be argumentative. I would just like others to think with me about what it means to have had a meaningful life and may be to extend the discussion beyond the perceptions that people have about blindness.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ray Foret Jr
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2014 9:00 AM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: [Blindtlk] matters of belief: was: Re: Getting Lost

Well, being catholic myself, my faith informs me that God has a purpose for both blind and sighted folks.  I do not believe that mere existance is enough of a life purpose for us.  I once complained to a priest that I had felt that I had not yet fulfilled my purpose in life and had yet to do anything which really made a difference.  Father said in reply to me, "Well, you show up every weekend and that's an inspiration to us all.".

        Y'all, I'm sorry, but, for me, that's just not enough and certainly not what I was looking for.  My belief is that my time will eventially come:
and, when it does, God help anybody in my way.

Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the blind built-in!

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!

On May 2, 2014, at 8:43 AM, cheryl echevarria <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> Well when I get members of religious organizations that come to my
> home on
a daily bases, and no offense to our Brothers and Sisters that are reading this , and I don't shut my door on anyone who is offering me a kindly gesture or wants to talk about religion.
> When they find out I am blind, they take me by the hand, and say you
> poor
thing, you must pray to god and be a faithful person, and god will restore your sight, don't you know the story of how "Jesus can make the blind see again". I in turn thank them, and I say I am a faithful person.
> But, I also say that means also that Jesus makes the blind see, by
> opening
the eyes of the sighted to the faith as well.  Blind people are very faithful depending on their religious background I am Jewish, and my husband is Catholic.
>
>
> Cheryl Echevarria, PresidentNational Federation of the Blind's Travel
> and Tourism DivisionA proud division of the National Federation of the
> Blindwww.nfbtravel.org631-236-5138cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com
> Also Owner of Echevarria
>
Travel631-456-5394reservations at echevarriatravel.comwww.echevarriatravel.comD
isabled Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 of NY State The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.
> Sign up for our e-newsletter by e-mailing us you first and last name,
> and
e-mail address to reservations at echevarriatravel.com, let us know if you want just text or pictures in your e-mail.
> Echevarria Travel has partnered with Braille Smith.
> www.braillesmith.com for all her braille needs.  Gail Smith is the
> Secretary of the NFB of Alabama
>
>> From: blind411 at verizon.net
>> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Date: Fri, 2 May 2014 09:26:54 -0400
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Getting Lost
>>
>> Arielle,
>>      Whenever someone offers to pray for me because I am blind, I
generally offer to pray for them because they are ignorant. I know that this might offend them; however, their ignorance is just as offensive!
>>
>> Marion
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> Arielle Silverman
>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 9:02 PM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Getting Lost
>>
>> When I was in college, I was studying outside when a random guy came
>> up
and asked directions to another building. My cane was on the ground, and he didn't realize I was blind until I was midway giving directions. Then he suddenly started offering me money and healing prayers, and it took me a while to get rid of him. I realized later that I should have asked him to pray for a good grade on my test instead of healing, but I digress. Anyway I'm not sure if he found the building he was looking for. It's a shame people would dismiss good, clear directions just because they come from a blind person.
>>
>> Arielle
>>
>> On 5/1/14, Ray Foret Jr <rforet7706 at comcast.net> wrote:
>>> Quite funny.  Reminds me of a story that Carle Jacobson told of a
>>> waitress who told him that she was going to put the water in the
>>> smaller glass and the seven-up in the larger so he could tell the
>>> difference:  but, ironically, it was she who could not tell in which
>>> glass the water was and in which the drink was.
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from my mac, the only computer with full accessibility for the
>>> blind built-in!
>>>
>>> Sincerely,
>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray, still a very happy Mac and Iphone 5 user!
>>>
>>> On May 1, 2014, at 3:23 PM, Marion Gwizdala <blind411 at verizon.net>
wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dear All,
>>>>    I perform a song called, "I'm Not Lost; I am Exploring". I
>>>> generally introduce the song by sharing a story told once by Dr.
>>>> Abraham Nemeth while he was waiting for a bus in a crowded city.
>>>> Two
guys approached Dr.
>>>> Nemeth and asked for directions. They were given very precise
>>>> turn-by-turn directions to their destination. As they turned to
>>>> walk away, one guy said to the other, "We might want to ask someone
else; that guy's blind!" Dr.
>>>> Nemeth replied, "Yes! I am blind; but I'm not the one who is lost!"
>>>>
>>>> Fraternally yours,
>>>> Marion Gwizdala
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> directions
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: blindtlk [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>>>> Julie J
>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 3:18 PM
>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide Dogs
>>>>
>>>> Yes, absolutely!  Sighted folks get lost too.  Coincidentally I
>>>> just gave directions to a sighted lady trying to find my office
building.
>>>> She was close enough, I'd think she could see it from where she
>>>> was, but I was able to get her here.
>>>>
>>>> Getting lost is no big thing.  The important part is having the
>>>> skills and state of mind to get yourself unlost.  I've been lost my
>>>> fair share and it's no fun, but it isn't the end of the world wither.
>>>>
>>>> And you can still get lost with a dog.  I've done that too.    For some
>>>> odd reason sighted people think the dog knows where to go and you
>>>> have a poorly trained dog if you get lost.  Not true, the dog just
>>>> follows directions.  If I tell him to go the wrong way, he's going
>>>> to
do it.
>>>>
>>>> Julie
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>>> On May 1, 2014, at 1:52 PM, "Mark Tardif"
>>>>> <markspark at roadrunner.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Anybody can get lost, even if you have excellent mobility.  I can
>>>>> tell you about some of my getting lost experiences, and I think I
>>>>> have excellent mobility skills.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Mark Tardif
>>>>> Nuclear arms will not hold you.
>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: Brandon Olivares
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 1:25 PM
>>>>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>>>>> Subject: [Blindtlk] Guide Dogs
>>>>>
>>>>> Hello,
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm wondering who on this list has guide dogs? I'm currently
>>>>> applying for one through Guide Dogs for the Blind, and am curious
>>>>> how difficult it is generally to get into one of these schools.
>>>>> How good does your mobility need to be? I have always been told I
>>>>> have good mobility, but today I got lost coming home from
>>>>> somewhere
and it discouraged me a bit.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also which do you think is the best school? I've heard a lot of
>>>>> good things about Guide Dogs for the Blind so decided to apply there.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Brandon
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----
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