the Cost of Capitalism?

Not sure how I wound up living in the era where capitalism needs a boost...but here i am and will happily do so.

With modern times of rapid technological advances, I know that not only are folks trying to ¨recreate the wheel¨ in almost every industry....but they are wondering if capitalism also needs some fine tuning.

In my occasional ponderings of economics I am still convinced that capitalism works.

 Capitalism, as I understand it, works for one simple reason.....it allows some people.... sometimes....to win.

It is this process of watching the occasional person ¨win¨ that folks on the benches start squirming because they are no longer in control and jealousy begins to raise it´s ugly green head. Watching other people win, when we are struggling is hard... It´s painful.... and at the same time... it is the price of capitalism. We can not all win all the time, in a capitalistic society. But yes, we always have the OPPORTUNITY to win. We win only when we create and develop something that others have not thought of or discovered, or uncovered. We win when we make something that works well.....really really well. 

I like to think of the following example often. When a smart entrepreneur walks into a thrift store and spots an ancient painting that he believes was painted by one of the well known masters...he takes it quickly and pays for it quietly, being able to purchase it for only $19.99.

He doesn´t shout in the store, that he has discovered a masterpiece. He does not say anything to staff on his way out of the shop. No, he lays low and takes his new found treasure home. He unwraps it from the bag carefully and examines it closely, hunting for some sign that it is authentic and not a fake.

He does a search online for the painter´s works and sees if the painting he now owns is listed and where it was last sold. Finally, after completing his own due diligence, he brings the painting to a real art appraiser, to authenticate his hunch. He holds the painting every so cautiously as he rides the bus to the office of the appraiser.  The appraiser takes her time, her eyes widening as she inspects every aspect of the painting. The stunned appraiser finally asks the young man if he knows what he now possesses? The young man sits quietly nodding his head. The appraiser helps the man understand the true value of the painting to be over 2 million dollars. The young entrepreneur´s hands begin to shake and his heart begins pounding.

The young man pays the appraiser  with the last few dollars he has in his bank account.  He then goes home again on the bus, and then locates and reaches out to the nearest art auction house. Perhaps the auction house is a Sotheby´s. They agree to put the painting up for auction that very next weekend and the bidding wins the young man a solid 5 million dollar windfall. The tears pour down his face as he realizes his life will never be the same. He thanks God as he asks the auction house to transfer the money to his account.

The young man´s path has been radically altered because of his wisdom, keen eye and ability to take action. Who knows how many shoppers in that thrift store had walked by that painting and ignored it? Perhaps some shoppers even muttered to themselves that this painting reminded them of one they had seen at a museum. But their musings talked them out of taking action.

This is how we are going to protect capitalism for the next generations. We are not going to complain when we see people win. We can not tell the young man to give the thrift shop a portion of his winnings from the auction. We can not tell the young man to give his struggling next door neighbour a portion of his winnings. We can not tell the young man to pay for his sister´s college education.  We can not complain that we have ZERO control over what that young man is going to do with his new found wealth. It just isn´t fair.

Bingo. That´s the word I was looking for. FAIR. Capitalism is rarely fair. The fact that capitalism allows people to win is what keeps capitalism alive and compelling. Chasing the possibility of an unfairly oversized prize in life, is what keeps people creative and motivated. Winning is grand. Winning is often rare.

Governments also must resist the temptation to inordinately tax away the power of ¨unfair¨ huge winnings. Does a young tech wizard create a new app that he sells to a fortune 500 company for 2 billion dollars tempt the government to eat more than a reasonable chunk in capital gains tax? Do family members get to sue other family members when one sibling earns a big salary and the other one earns minimum wage?

My friends, we must get over our need to control each other´s wealth.  We must embrace the beauty of competition. We must embrace risk sometimes. The greatest innovations occur when individuals have autonomy over great wealth. They build new inventions, and sponsor schools and scholarships. They build hospitals or build better cars. They help to fight disease and fund charitable organizations that fight famines and floods.

Of course, we are all human. We would not be human if we didn´t flinch sometimes when we realize that modern capitalism is creating billionaires that can probably never outspend their wealth in one lifetime. But that does not give us or anyone who loves economic freedom the right to take capitalism away. Do not clip it´s wings. When we allow folks to win, including ourselves.....we give power to our dreams and to the dreams of the future, a future that only great gobs of money can profoundly develop.

So the next time you see a grand yacht floating dreamily down the Bay...thank God for the system that allowed that person to prosper, because next time it just might be your unique idea and relentless ambition that grants you and your family the ability to buy even more than one yacht. 

Wealth does not play favourites.

Your opportunity still exists. 

Peace,

Carla

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New Day

Not sure what is up....just some kind of shift occurring in the atmosphere. When these things occur, I know that God is up to something.

And when it is a God thing.....one can reasonably expect that it is going to be a good thing.

I was wondering what I was sensing and then I watched a bit of news. The net explained some changes going on in my country of Canada. These are huge things.

I know that God is responding to the prayers of His people. And nothing gets in the way of the good Father responding to his Children.

Have you wanted something to occur that you know is God´s will for a long time? Have you longed to see evidence of God´s blessing and presence in your life? I believe that the gifts that God is beginning to pour out is not going to be constrained to just church people. I believe that we are going to see miracles occur on the sidewalks and in the shopping malls and in the factories and office buildings. I believe that people who have never shown any interest in religious activities are going to have real spiritual encounters that can not be faked or controlled by humans. I believe that heaven is going to overlap with earth at certain times, so that our joy and fulfillment will be great. There will be times when humans can step more easily from earth to heavenly places and back to earth again, without suffering further ado.

And if you have no idea what I am talking about....that´s ok....maybe the next post will be your cup of tea. Not everything I write is meant to be embraced by all. I kind of write in my own language sometimes...yes, still english...but definitely a genre of it´s own.

Thanks for listening friends, I value your time and attention. May this season of kindness from above bring rest to your soul.

Peace,

Carla.

john 3:16

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3 Months is Ok

It took 3 long months to grow these from seed to blooming. 

it would be fair to say..

"Carla, that is simply too long to wait for a flower to bloom." Especially since our growing season here in Ontario is pretty brief. But some things i do i intend to be the slow boat. Not fast food...not 2 second fleeting blips on an app. 

Some things in life are intended to be a long walk on a pier barefoot and unrushed.

I received the Marigold seeds from a local free seed bank. Happy to see if they would grow. I love  the kind of seeds that one can just throw in a pot with no special soil and just watch them slowly form...little by little as God allows.

God knows we are in a rush. Social media has trained our brains for quick dopamine bursts as we swipe and scroll...

swipe and scroll..

swipe and scroll.

But.....life is worth more than that. You are more than that.

The really good stuff is worth waiting for...training for...cultvating and watching for.

Perhaps this is the pause you have been waiting for. Stop ....running...just for this moment. It is ok to be still. To work on something that may take weeks...months years or decades to complete.

My marigold seeds grew into tall green things with buds and finally burst into bloom. Not fancy like roses..

but full of colour. Most of these green creatures reached 2 to 3 feet in height . If i had bought the plants at a store they would not have grown so high. The "seedly" route was worth the wait and brought forth big strong tall stands of marigolds...with enough blooms that i can collect some to keep for seeds for next year.

Thanks God for your perfect ways..

for seed time and harvest...suns and sunsets.

We will wait on your timing for all things.

Peace.

Carla.

So You´re An Introvert

Ya, sooo ....you´re an introvert. You finally figured it out.

You like people, but only on your terms. You´re not a snob, you just measure your time with outsiders very cautiously.

You get overwhelmed when there are too many unknown variables in your social life.

Yes, perhaps you cut friends off

with little to no warning....frustrating said friends and making them sad.

Don´t worry...you are not alone. Even though you like your alone time.

It´s kinda refreshing when you stumble upon the right books or videos that discuss ¨being an Introvert¨ in great detail and with great passion.

Finally you find folks who can relate to your lifestyle. You may have just found your ¨ẗribe¨.

The internet can be a really great place for those who consider themselves a sort of introvert. Why? Because online it´s much easier than  in a public place, to measure how much you wish to reveal about yourself and to cut back when you need more isolation.

Needing isolation? If that sounds strange that you definitely are NOT an introvert :)

You see, introverts thrive  in isolated environments and when they neglect to have that alone time to recharge and refresh, they can find themselves annoyed and irritable due to the unlimited social-ness of their day.

Introverts don´t hate people, they just need to measure out how and when and in what way ....they spend time with others.

An introvert may have a grand ole time playing in public when they are in a costume, but they may suffer excruciating embarrassment if they were expected to behave the same way in their normal attire.

Introverts are just shy. Shy and modest about showing their real selves to others without limits being in place.

If you have introverted friends, it may be helpful if and when you invite them to attend a party with you, that you agree on a set time for leaving said party. This will provide the introvert with a time limit for the public exposure and bring a sense of control in what can sometimes feel overwhelming to a typically introverted person.

Physical barriers are sometimes helpful for introverts. Fences and doors and shields and privacy screens are all helpful to those who are introverts. They may feel more courage to be friendly if they feel they are more safe in a fenced off area where only certain people are allowed in their zone. Why? Because as I mentioned before....introverted people LIKE people, they just need the environment and type of interaction to be preplanned and limited. Introverted people like CONTROLLED environments. That is why the internet is a good helper to the introverted populations around the world. They can still make friends with folks all over the world, but on their own terms and their own limits in place.

Well, folks, that´s all for now.

Whether you are an introvert or simply just have introverted people in your family, please don´t pressure them to not be who they are. They are introverted for a reason and they should be allowed to remain as God created them.

Peace,

Carla

Listening to Waterfalls at the Rotary Islands

I wouldn't call it forest bathing. But definitely that chill vibe where you just sit quietly in nature...enjoying and absorbing the waterfall sounds and the scent of the lush plants and peaceful ducks resting by your feet. The key I would say, is just giving yourself enough time. 15 minutes is all it took for me to feel rested and connected.

Some folks get all scientific about it....saying that the ocean water has certain ionic qualities that help humans rejuvenate...but I really don't have the expertise on the sciencey part of it.

I just know that getting away to rest in nature restores my soul. God didn't make us to be trapped in front of a computer screen all day and then spend our free time on the couch watching a much bigger screen.

Sometimes it's important to actually experience in person the scent and feelings of being in nature.....of sitting on the ground and allowing a duck to waddle up to you and not be afraid.

The blessings were made for us.

Wishing you a good day Friends.

Peace be the journey.

Carla

Batteaux Park Food Forest

Batteaux Park Food Forest is located in Barrie Ontario Canada . It is only a couple years old. The apple trees with their labels still attached to the wee trunks are doing their best. 

Apples about the size of a toonie hang from the green limbs.

Those who feel drawn to permaculture will appreciate the effort that was made to plant and establish this food forest. Yay! Free food for all! 

Does your city or village  have parks or community gardens that provide free food for all?

I applaud the City of Barrie for investing in this ideal and allowing the volunteers to plant the saplings and edible landscaping. 

Peace,

Carla.

Harvest Mullein Stalks and Make a Torch

This is the time of year you can harvest the dried standing stalks of mullein. I found these as seen in the photos in a local park growing happily in a mound of dirt that has been naturalizing for the past few years.

I once watched a youtube video by a lady who makes her own torches in this manner. By the way, she does seem to favour the ¨witchy¨ side of belief systems... so I apologize if the link causes offense. I am not aligned with witch type of stuff, but I thought it only right to give the proper credit to the lady who showed me how to make this in her youtube video)

(https://youtu.be/DEKv9YUwfa4?si=q16eHYbEEvsr2rbv)

For the record...I subscribe to the Christian teachings of the holy bible, with faith in Jesus as Lord.

I am a maker. I love to make things. So ...learning how to recognize local herbs and where and how they grow is a passion of mine. 

So far this year, I am growing the following:

kale, wild raspberries, chives, green beans, marigolds, and parsley. The irises grew extravagantly well this year and I transplanted some lilies that someone else didn´t want in their garden any more. Not sure if the lily will bloom this year, as it is taking some time to acclimate to our yard.

So my adventure will be to melt some candle wax and pour it onto the dry mullein stalks and then let the wax dry and see how they work as a summer night torch. I hope the flame will not be too high!

Hope you are having a good summer so far, if it is summer where you live. And if it is another type of weather season where you live, I pray that you are warm and well fed and protected from the elements.

Peace and joy,

Carla.

P.S. New Update. I tried this ...and it worked wonderfully.

Yes the flames were quite high, so it is not something to do willy nilly and also the flaming piece broke off and fell onto the ground. But I did learn this wee tidbit of info....namely that dried mullein soaked with plain old white candle wax works great as a fire started. Perhaps if I don´t find a good spot to store these I might just break them up into pieces and seal them in mason jars or zip lok bags and keep them for the next time I try to start a fire in the chiminea.

I have watched prepper channels for years and rarely get to learn something new to add to my ¨preps¨....so here today I officially learned a new way to start a fire with low cost items.

By the way, for those of you who want to know...I did keep a bottle of water near by when I tried this experiment to make sure that the flaming pieces did not start random fires where they did not belong.

It´s always a good idea to have some water handy when you are starting a backyard fire, just in case a random spark or blowing piece of paper spreads your fire.

Peace,

Carla.

Eating Gluten Free...Simple Simple Simple

I try to observe a gluten free lifestyle....sometimes more than other times.

Thankfully I am not a Celiac, so the times when I do indulge in gluten-ish foods does not turn into a life threatening emergency.

Anywho, the reason for my post today is simply to talk about things that can be really simple, when you feel overwhelmed with seeking out gluten free foods.

There are some basics that work pretty well....and they are not expensive here in Ontario Canada. 

And so, permit me to share them here.

Basic fruits, such as bananas and apples and carrots and potatoes. All of these are pretty low cost, except perhaps for apples, which can be cheap or expensive depending on the season and the type of apples you prefer. 

Getting into a habit of keeping simple things on hand, can really help you out in a jam....especially when you don´t have time to prepare some kind of ¨elaborate lengthy meal¨. 

I tend to gravitate to things that I can make in less than an hour, even less than 30 minutes if I can.

Just boiling potatoes and serving them with butter and pepper and salt is a grand treat in my gluten free world. Putting a ripe banana in my duffel bag is helpful when I am on the go....and even if I don´t consume it, It´s not going to be a hugely expensive loss if it winds up in my compost bin.

Carrots are good both raw and boiled. Raw and dipped in sour cream or boiled with whatever else I happen to be throwing in a stir fry. Ontario is quite carrot friendly, as our climate is actually good for growing carrots. So the local carrots harvest helps to keep the carrot pricing nice and low in our province.

Other simple gluten free foods that often are a ¨go-to" quick and easy gluten free food are small tins of tuna with the oil and/or seasonings already included in the tin. They have these wee ones which have a pull up tab that are  very convenient and don´t require a can opener. These kind of tuna tins are smaller size portions and work well on the go, as long as you can handle having tuna breath for a wee time out in public.

Eggs Eggs Eggs Oh My! Yes, the humble egg is a good friend of the gluten free crowds. Scrambled  with some salt and bit of cooking oil or butter or gluten free margarine, or prepped in fried form ....sunny side up or over-easy.....yum! A dozen eggs are under 5$ in my part of Ontario and we try to keep them stocked up in our home. Remember how I talked about liking things I can make in 30 minutes or less? Well eggs are perfect for quick gluten free meals at home. You can add some gluten free cheese or mushrooms or your fave chopped veggies to your egg concoctions and turn them into omelettes...Delicious!

Well, that´s all for now. There are more I can add to the list, but for today we shall be content with what I have already listed. 

Enjoy your gluten free lifestyle and keep your chin up. 

NOTE: this post is not intended as medical advice. This post is intended for entertainment purposes only. All medical advice should be obtained by a licensed medical provider.

Wishing you well in your gluten free journey.

Peace,

Carla

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Cleaning a massively hoarded house for FREE!

If anyone has ever struggled with paralysis with regard to organizing or  tidying or cleaning a home or a business, these kind of youtube channels are fabulous....very cathartic and motivating.

The channel featured in this post is named Midwest Magic Cleaning. 

Another youtube channel that is highly helpful and motivating 

is a young mom who channel is named @nottheworstcleaner   .

Do you find channels like these helpful?

Looking forward to your comments.

Peace and productivity :)

Carla

Happy Canada Day Weekend to my Canadian friends!

Evangelism ...Thinking Outside the Box

Hi Folks.

I know that not all of my readers are christians....but perhaps some of you may find this post helpful.

Have been thinking more about evangelism in this modern day world of ours.

I am thinking about evangelism in terms of simply giving more people access to the same church ministries and materials that I enjoy.

Do I enjoy sitting and listening, praying and singing in my church. You betcha! Can I give other people invitations to my church? Sure I can. I know they will be welcomed.

I see a lot of folks suffering needlessly in loneliness... when there are many churches awaiting to welcome them with dignity and respect.

I am not saying that each church will be your perfect match....but at least give churches a try and don't give up until you find one that you can call your own.

I personally do not feel like one needs to be an extrovert to do evangelism. In fact, I don't think you need to speak out loud at all, if that is not your personality.

I am simply talking about giving more people who live in your city, province or country, the same access to the same ministries and ministry tools that you have enjoyed for years.

You can send out invitations to your church. Your church can print up invitations and you can mail them out to the folks in your city. You can mail out bibles, or half bibles, or just one book of the bible, along with a welcome note to strangers in your community.

I personally don't feel shy about mailing preprinted invites to perfect strangers. And yes, it costs something, it costs the price of a stamp and  possibly an envelope if the invite is not in the format of a mailable post card. You can address it simply as "To Resident" or simply "To Welcome Your Household" and then print in the address. 

No need to bare your soul. No need to even share your name. You are simply trying to invite folks out to your church, so that they know where they are welcome.

Do you think it is reasonable to mail out bibles to strangers? Well, I shall leave that up to you. Yes, there is definitely more cost involved. The cost of the bible, as well as the cost of mailing out something that weighs more than a postcard. Is it too dramatic? Is it too imposing? I really don't know. 

But I do know that whenever  I have seen places that have given out bibles for free, that it really made an impression on me. It is an incredibly kind and generous thing, to give a perfect stranger a black and white copy of the real Word of God, including both the old and new testament. What a gift!

Just having access to the Word of God, for me to use in my personal life, and read aloud is a great blessing.

I have a feeling that sometimes folks are just nervous to walk in to a church because they are shy, not because they don't want to learn more about God. When you send a bible to a stranger, you may just be meeting them at their point of need, with a kind gesture of generosity. You really don't need to pressure people to be inordinately personable with you in response to your invitations of gifts of the holy bible.

There is no need for pressure at all! People will follow their hunger for God into your churches and into the Bible. It  is important for the modern church to be consistent in teaching the Word of God, so that the modern Christian Body of Believers can be fully developed and mature in His teachings.

It's about sharing, It's about giving people access to one of the greatest treasures of our time....a copy of the bible that they can call their own, and thumb through and underline and scribble in the margins.

Many of us have not become addicted to the bible apps on our computers or phones. Some of us prefer to get our hands on an actual copy of the bible for ourselves.

Reading an actual printed copy of the bible also helps folks practice their literacy outside of the habits of social media. It enhances literacy and communication skills.

Well that's all for now. I've chatted enough. I would love to hear your thoughts, if you wish to leave comments on my blog..

Have a peaceful sunday,

Carla.

The things You wish you could Say to a Preacher

Hi Friends,

I sort of hope that no one reads this post. And then again....would it really be that bad if a preacher actually read it?

Ok, deep breath.... here goes.

Preachers, I just want to say that I thank you for all your hard work .....you prayers and the time and effort you take to  create a church that I can attend in comfort and cleanliness.

But, would you graciously allow me to vent....just for today?

I just need you to understand something. Although I like preachers, I do not go to church because I like the preacher that is speaking. 

I go to church to hear about Jesus. I want to learn more of the Bible. I want to understand the deep connections that pious preachers of yesteryears...made to explain life based on in depth studies of the holy scriptures.

I want to hear you explain the different meanings of a chapter of the bible based on the original foreign language it was written in.

I want to hear you worship....not because I like the sound of your voice.....but because I want to join with you in singing praises to my God.....who is holy.

When I leave church, I want to feel like I have been in the presence of God. I want the echoes of that presence to cling to my clothing....so that others can sense that glory. It isn´t my glory, .....its the holy glory of Heaven that pours upon His people when we take the time to worship Him.

And when I sit in church and watch the preacher intently, it is not because I like his appearance or clothing or the style of the podium......no. I watch the preacher because I am looking for Jesus. I long to hear Him speak. I long to hear the voice of my Saviour who says to me ¨Come unto Me, all ye who are weary....and I will give you rest.¨

=============

Admittedly, it must be quite trippy to be a pastor, to have so many humans listening to every word you utter. It must be quite challenging to stay grounded when your church takes off and grows into a juggernaut.

But in the midst of the growth and the fan fare and the need for bigger accountants and better ushers to manage the crowds....I find myself virtually alone in the sanctuary...feeling empty and unfilled.

I did not hear about Jesus today. I was not asked to read along in my bible I brought to the sunday service.

I heard about the pastor´s personal life from the pulpit today, whimsical and heartfelt stories of his life.

But that does not teach me anything about my Lord.

But how do I go on, without causing offence. I do not want to hurt the feelings of pastors who feel that they must preach from their personal experiences. How do I explain how hungry I am for the Word? How do I explain how the time is being squandered on humanistic experiences instead of sound teaching?

Please, Pastor, talk to me about Jesus. Worship Jesus on the pulpit, so I can join in.

Allow the speaking of tongues with interpretation, just like the early church did so many hundreds of years ago. Do not hate the prophetic.

Today the church was filled with fake smoke rolling across the stage. I couldn´t stop myself from coughing.

I am lonely for my Lord.

Canada Just SHOCKED The World With Terrifying New Law

Dear Friends,

I would not consider myself well versed in these matters and I admit that I don´t actually know much about this supposed law.

But I am particularly fond of freedom of speech.

Is Russell Brand correct in this video?

Is this new law actually as bad as this all sounds?

If you are Canadian, please do your due diligence and find out more about this issue.

We must do our part to protect our personal civil liberties in this beautiful country of ours.

Peace and beauty in Christ Jesus,

Carla.