There are far too many trite things that I could say but bottom line…Thank you
This just pretty much encapsulated how I’ve felt since COVID. I had a day in 2020 where I sat staring out the window thinking “I can’t live in a world like this”. But yet, here I am, having the same thoughts and reactions as you - thinking “This isn’t real” to “WTF is wrong with people”.
You mentioned a couple of posts ago about your number of subscribers. That number is important. Even if it’s just me (which I know it’s not) you are reaching people and that matters. Again…thank you.
I feel it too. I don’t think they understand how much this hurts decent people. The hate that is so casually displayed will be a catalyst for change. You said so and we all want to believe it.
Don’t let go now, revival is coming. You can see the darkness in the world, and sure, it exists. But there is forgiveness, hope , courage and love available to each one of us through Jesus Christ. If you are coming to the end of yourself, now is the time. There are people in your life who know Christ and can help you, there are Churches around you that can help you, go seek. I’ll pray for you.
You have a gentle heart and naturally felt everyone else did. It is dreadful to viscerally have to acknowledge that gentleness may not be the default. My opinion is, it’s more common than the Cluster B lunacy we are seeing so much of lately…but not by a lot, sadly. Eyes open. Please don’t let it make you bitter and mistrustful - only more alert.
Keep up the good work. Try to find a welcome intro bit and a closing bit/sign-off, whatever. But as far as your thoughts, I agree. Also a fan of Conan. They are missing the point. They’re focusing on the wrong thing. There was a murder over free speech. A man who was only always rooting for others to seek the truth. He was not hurting anyone and would never wish harm on others. They killed him because he was destroying all the false narratives on gender, race, equity, etc. Very sad.
I'm a little worried about you but I know you'll get through this along with the rest of us. What you need more than anything else right now is some sleep.
I think COVID played a role in taking away the feedback of face-to-face interactions so that we lost a lot of the self-regulation we once got from seeing other people's reactions to our ideas.
But I think a lot of what is happening to the world, and the USA in particular, has to to do with reality closing in on people on the Left, Center Left, and even the Center Right. When they were secure in their worldview that American voters could never elect someone like Donald Trump, they could ignore issues like immigration and crime. Then they found out that there were lots of their fellow citizens who didn't see the world as they did, and many of them began to build ideological walls to protect their notions of what is good and right and obvious to all sane people. They began to think of those outside the walls as not just wrong but dangerous and even less than human. One reason they hated Charlie Kirk is he was the one thing they couldn't forgive: he was agreeable in disagreement, which disproved their belief that all people on the Right are monsters of various stripes.
The way you described feeling shell shocked is how I’ve felt since HAMAS attacked Israel and the whole world decided Israel was the bad actor in the situation. I haven’t been able to make it make sense for two years.
I've thought of many things to say in response to this. Most of them trite, many of them none of my business. I've settled on this: Shine bright. Don't let the darkness win.
But if I may tiptoe into the NOMB territory: you've posted on this 12 times since it happened. Maybe a break is in order. Take a drive looking for fall color. Walk the Dunes. (There's a fabulous Italian restaurant in Chesterton; highly recommended.) Go to the IMA, see what dedicated, talented minds can create. Visit a shelter and scratch some ears, if that's your thing. The beauty of the world is still there, waiting for us.
The Charlie Kirk assassination didn’t hit me the way it did you Jim. Maybe because I’m 78 and maybe because I started to freak out a few weeks ago when that transgender guy who thought he was controlled by demons shot those kids praying in a church. What shocked me about this one was the number of people that I knew that I considered friends posting online that while shooting people is generally bad, Charlie had a lot of really rotten opinions so maybe it wasn’t that bad.
And now Jimmy fucking Kimmel is a free speech martyr. Disgusting.
Anyway keep posting what you want. It’s what we pay for.
The feeling of disbelief at these hideous and hate filled reactions - and how many of them there are - to Charlie Kirk’s assassination at times is overwhelming. Hearing that in your voice lets me know that I’m not the only one. As someone else pointed out, most decent moral people were deeply affected and I am sorry it has hit you especially hard.
I am not a formally religious person but I do have a deep belief in God and I don’t think He appreciates those that celebrate such evil.
You created a community where people can speak freely and they pay you for the privilege. For that you should be proud.
I’m thankful you didn’t fall off the wagon. I have close friends who aren’t in recovery and it’s…bad. You’re in my prayers. Really.
❤️ my heart goes out to you my friend
There are far too many trite things that I could say but bottom line…Thank you
This just pretty much encapsulated how I’ve felt since COVID. I had a day in 2020 where I sat staring out the window thinking “I can’t live in a world like this”. But yet, here I am, having the same thoughts and reactions as you - thinking “This isn’t real” to “WTF is wrong with people”.
You mentioned a couple of posts ago about your number of subscribers. That number is important. Even if it’s just me (which I know it’s not) you are reaching people and that matters. Again…thank you.
agreed!❤️
Jim, my man, hang in there.
I feel it too. I don’t think they understand how much this hurts decent people. The hate that is so casually displayed will be a catalyst for change. You said so and we all want to believe it.
I believe the catalyst already ignited my friend, enjoy the ride (;
True. Bit unnerving to be on the ride at times. We are spinning into control.
Indeed that was excellently put
Don’t let go now, revival is coming. You can see the darkness in the world, and sure, it exists. But there is forgiveness, hope , courage and love available to each one of us through Jesus Christ. If you are coming to the end of yourself, now is the time. There are people in your life who know Christ and can help you, there are Churches around you that can help you, go seek. I’ll pray for you.
I'm not coming to the end of myself, but I appreciate it. Thank you.
you gotta read the message without the religious references and you’ll see the beauty and truth in it (: ❤️
You have a gentle heart and naturally felt everyone else did. It is dreadful to viscerally have to acknowledge that gentleness may not be the default. My opinion is, it’s more common than the Cluster B lunacy we are seeing so much of lately…but not by a lot, sadly. Eyes open. Please don’t let it make you bitter and mistrustful - only more alert.
Hang in there. You've got this. There are many good people in the world, and many of us read you every day, and we are hoping and praying for you.
Amen!
Keep up the good work. Try to find a welcome intro bit and a closing bit/sign-off, whatever. But as far as your thoughts, I agree. Also a fan of Conan. They are missing the point. They’re focusing on the wrong thing. There was a murder over free speech. A man who was only always rooting for others to seek the truth. He was not hurting anyone and would never wish harm on others. They killed him because he was destroying all the false narratives on gender, race, equity, etc. Very sad.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't want to do that. Maybe someday, but not right now.
You don't need me to tell you who I am. You're already here.
❤️
I'm a little worried about you but I know you'll get through this along with the rest of us. What you need more than anything else right now is some sleep.
*all the sleep
sleep is helping (: family and friends are too!❤️
The longer your sobriety continues, the more precious it becomes, and the more worth protecting. I wish you continued strength.
Amen❤️
I think COVID played a role in taking away the feedback of face-to-face interactions so that we lost a lot of the self-regulation we once got from seeing other people's reactions to our ideas.
But I think a lot of what is happening to the world, and the USA in particular, has to to do with reality closing in on people on the Left, Center Left, and even the Center Right. When they were secure in their worldview that American voters could never elect someone like Donald Trump, they could ignore issues like immigration and crime. Then they found out that there were lots of their fellow citizens who didn't see the world as they did, and many of them began to build ideological walls to protect their notions of what is good and right and obvious to all sane people. They began to think of those outside the walls as not just wrong but dangerous and even less than human. One reason they hated Charlie Kirk is he was the one thing they couldn't forgive: he was agreeable in disagreement, which disproved their belief that all people on the Right are monsters of various stripes.
Here is what I mean, explained better.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-174045925
I am truly proud you didn't take a drink - you're an inspiration to many with that!
The way you described feeling shell shocked is how I’ve felt since HAMAS attacked Israel and the whole world decided Israel was the bad actor in the situation. I haven’t been able to make it make sense for two years.
I've thought of many things to say in response to this. Most of them trite, many of them none of my business. I've settled on this: Shine bright. Don't let the darkness win.
But if I may tiptoe into the NOMB territory: you've posted on this 12 times since it happened. Maybe a break is in order. Take a drive looking for fall color. Walk the Dunes. (There's a fabulous Italian restaurant in Chesterton; highly recommended.) Go to the IMA, see what dedicated, talented minds can create. Visit a shelter and scratch some ears, if that's your thing. The beauty of the world is still there, waiting for us.
Sorry if I overstepped.
And I'll keep posting about it until I run out of things to say. That's how it works.
You’re an amazing man!🥹❤️
The Charlie Kirk assassination didn’t hit me the way it did you Jim. Maybe because I’m 78 and maybe because I started to freak out a few weeks ago when that transgender guy who thought he was controlled by demons shot those kids praying in a church. What shocked me about this one was the number of people that I knew that I considered friends posting online that while shooting people is generally bad, Charlie had a lot of really rotten opinions so maybe it wasn’t that bad.
And now Jimmy fucking Kimmel is a free speech martyr. Disgusting.
Anyway keep posting what you want. It’s what we pay for.
The feeling of disbelief at these hideous and hate filled reactions - and how many of them there are - to Charlie Kirk’s assassination at times is overwhelming. Hearing that in your voice lets me know that I’m not the only one. As someone else pointed out, most decent moral people were deeply affected and I am sorry it has hit you especially hard.
I am not a formally religious person but I do have a deep belief in God and I don’t think He appreciates those that celebrate such evil.
You created a community where people can speak freely and they pay you for the privilege. For that you should be proud.
This means more than you know, your words are a light in the storm. Feel lucky to have the space (: