If a Tree Falls

Junietta Baker McCall

Description

This journal contains thoughts about what the author has experienced and learned about life; and some things many would like to focus on more deeply.
Some of us are in the habit of thinking about what we know; what we have experienced and are experiencing; and what we would like to focus on more deeply. While this habit is evidenced in differing ways it is clearly a process that seems to form part of the essence of who human beings are. And there is plenty to think about every day.
Furthermore, this habit of thinking about life, has resulting in many interesting inventions, movements, and even inspiration about life. This is important. For when we are limited in our ability to engage in self-reflection, we stand a chance of becoming unbalanced. For it is possible to have what might be called a poverty in thinking and making sense of those thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. While it is also possible to think so much that one is stuck and in a ruminating rut that can cause disorders of the mind, heart, and soul. While it is not usually good to have a sparsity of thoughts and experiences it is also not usually good to be overwhelmed by them What is good is to have an appropriate abundance of wonderment that leads to stimulation of person and community.
And so here we are – at the beginning of a book consisting of many pages containing thoughts about what the author and others know; what she and others have experienced; and some things many would like to focus on more deeply. And this time the material will be presented in a format similar to the previous publication, One Lesson at a Time 1– as a model for structured journaling, including content for contemplation, and hopefully rich sources for reframing memory, and furthering inspiration that leads to growth and development on the reader’s personal and perhaps communal levels.

Sujets

• Santé et bien-être
• Développement personnel
• développement personnel
• Journal
• Self-help
• Blessing
• Self-help (disambiguation)
• Life Lessons
• Self-Help

Informations

• Publié par: iUniverse
• Date de parution: 10 octobre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781663245533
• Langue: English

Extrait

If a Tree Falls
 
Contemplating Life’s Blessings and Challenges
 
 
 
Junietta Baker McCall
 
 
 
 

 
IF A TREE FALLS
CONTEMPLATING LIFE’S BLESSINGS AND CHALLENGES
 
Copyright © 2022 Junietta Baker McCall.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
 
iUniverse
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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6632-4554-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6632-4553-3 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022917837
 
iUniverse rev. date: 10/06/2022
Contents
Dedication
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1Beginnings
Chapter 2Mid-Season & Taking Chances
Chapter 3Winter and Indwelling
Chapter 4Spring, Seedlings and Renewal
Chapter 5Summer and Blossoming
Chapter 6Laying Back and Harvesting Gratitude
End Notes
Bibliography
Dedication
I am dedicating this book to its readers: those who enjoy thinking about their experiences and developing theories and philosophies about the life they are experiencing.
On a more personal level I want to dedicate this piece to my sons Seth and Jeremiah who continue to enrich my spirit in tangible and even invisible but impactful ways.
Next, I want to dedicate this effort to my daughters-in-law Sheri and Olivia. They have been my best and only daughters ever. Plus, they have loved my sons whom I cherish.
Next, but not necessarily last come my grandsons Tyler, Dylan, Cameron and Kevin who bring back to me the joys of being young, and of having innate wisdom and curiosity about their worlds.
And the last dedication is reserved for my husband John C. who continues to listen and support my dreams of expressing myself through writing.
About the Author
Junietta Baker McCall, D. Min. is the previous director of pastoral psychotherapy and counseling education at Beverly Hospital, Beverly, Massachusetts. For twenty-two years she served as director of pastoral services at New Hampshire Hospital in Concord. A retired licensed pastoral psychotherapist, diplomate in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and ordained minister of The United Church of Christ, she is the author of Grief Education for Caregivers of the Elderly ; A Practical Guide to Hospital Ministry ; Bereavement Counseling: Pastoral Care for Complicated Grieving ; Building Hope During Challenging Times ; With Wings Widespread: Reflections on Life and Hospital Ministry ; Co-author of Living Well as You Age ; and her recent publication: One Lesson at a Time: a Year of Living Thoughtfully . Dr. McCall has served as adjunct faculty member in pastoral counseling at Andover newton Theological School and as associate pastor of South Congregational Church in Concord. She is currently retired and remains in Concord, New Hampshire.
Acknowledgements
There is always a long list of witnesses to every book I have written. There are those elements of creation including nature and humanity that stir my thoughts and bring about the birthing process of writing a journal such as this. It is obvious but important to acknowledge their impact on my life and writing.
I especially acknowledge that living in a world where the seasons change and bring with them different experiences, challenges and opportunities is a very good thing. After all I am blessed with four distinct seasons and an abundance of reasons to focus on everyone.
And this time around I want to acknowledge that Ms. Kratz, my sixth-grade teacher gave me the best school assignment ever! This being a twelve-page autobiography of my life. Having just rediscovered it and read through the pages of wisdom as experienced by an eleven-year-old, I realize the impact that homework assignment has had on me. So, thank you, Ms. Kratz.
And finally, one more nod to the village of families, teachers, neighbors, friends, patients and clients, and authors who have probably unknowingly lent their experiences and wisdoms to this volume.
1 Beginnings
Some of us are in the habit of thinking about what we know; what we have experienced and are experiencing; and what we would like to focus on more deeply. While this habit is evidenced in differing ways it is clearly a process that seems to form part of the essence of who human beings are. And there is plenty to think about every day.
Furthermore, this habit that humans have of thinking about life, and in particular their life, has resulting in many interesting inventions, movements, and inspiration about life. This is important. For when we are limited in our ability to engage in self-reflection, we stand a chance of becoming unbalanced.
For it is possible to have what might be called a poverty in thinking and making sense of those thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. It is also possible to think so much that one is stuck and in a ruminating rut that can cause disorders of the mind, heart, and soul. While it is not usually good to have a sparsity of thoughts and experiences it is also not good to be overwhelmed by them What is good is to have an appropriate abundance of wonderment that leads to stimulation of person and community.
And so here we are – at the beginning of what is a book consisting of many pages containing many thoughts about what the author and others know; what she and others have experienced; and some things to focus on more deeply. And this time the material will be presented in a format similar to the previous publication, One Lesson at a Time 1 – as a model for structured journaling. There will be plenty of content for contemplation and rich resources for reframing memory and furthering inspiration that leads to growth and development on personal and perhaps communal levels.
Getting afte r it
On what used to be CNNs’ “Cuomo Prime Time,” Chris Cuomo, the show host repeated on each occasion that his show aired a section called, “Let’s get after it.” 2 What a neat phrase for encouraging viewers to think about current events, challenges, and wisdom or folly of the day. And for my part I took to the phrase, as did many other viewers. And I have applied the idea to this book. Because I am hoping to get after a lot of ideas, thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and experiences common to many of us and perhaps some novel ones too.
To tame the process of getting after things I have divided If a Tree Falls into six parts following the North American seasons of slightly over one calendar year:
Beginnings
Midseason and Taking chances
Winter and Indwelling
Spring and Renewal
Summer and Blossoming
Laying Back and Harvesting Gratitude
Using a journaling format, each entry within each season will direct our focus on the author’s experiences, reflections, thoughts, feelings, and skills learned in life in general and in the practice of professional care and counseling. When an entry needs a little research that process is included.
There are also suggestions for how those reading an entry might “get after”- a topic, quandary, or issue. How they might apply what they have experienced and believed that has worked well for them. And there may be times when one could consider changing their thoughts and feelings about what is being discussed. Some suggestions for changing and adjustments according to personal preference will also be included.
There is no suggested order to the reading of a book like this. One can follow the seasons. One can move around as the spirit so directs. One can read an entry at a time, three a day, or whatever seems helpful. Probably one’s best bet is not to try to move through the book at the speed of light. As it took time to write this kind of journal so too would rummaging through it be best done from a meditational point of view. But that is completely up to each reader for everyone his, her, their own style.
The Role of Inspira tion
Christmas, 2019, I purchased a rock up in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The rock was green, smooth, and had a non-symmetrical shape. The information provided was that the rock, African Aventurine, represented the heart chakra and would promote “creativity, imagination, prosperity, career, success, balance, and heals circulation.” 3
Since my son Jeremiah had been talking about focusing on balance in his life, I thought the rock would surely be a perfect gift for him. And the other benefits couldn’t hurt either. Plus, the old saying that it is the thought that counts could surely apply.
So it is that life is full of motion: ideas, memories, experiences, and potential inspiration. And just as we need memory joggers so too do we need thought and vision starters to move us forward. In my case, for some reason, probably my training as a pastoral psychotherapist and chaplain/clergy have helped me look at the many angles of just about any thought, experience, belief, and action. Both my own and those of others. The benefits being that engaging in such a process produces not only solutions but also energy a