Betty, the philosopher

Swami hardly ever talks directly to callers and emailers or even acknowledges their existence. In fact, he never does. But Betty is something special.

In the course of five minutes, that’s 300 seconds, she sent nine emails to Talk of the County. Maybe it was 10 or 11, but somebody deleted a few before they realized that Betty was on one of her savant trips. Either that or she’s lifting cut-and-paste passages from Stewart Smalley’s Words to Live By website.

So, while Swami does not feel comfortable suggesting to editors that they waste paper and ink on her email spree, we thought we’d share it with you here.

You go, girl.

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Hope, like faith, is a step. Sometimes a big one. If you've ever had to walk in darkness you know this. One tentative inch forward after another, you feel your way through toward safety. Hopelessness stands still or sits down and gives up. But hope moves on. It tends toward something stronger, more solid. In going ahead, we're helped by knowing there's a path. Helped even more by knowing there's only one direction!

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Economic and social development challenges in impoverished countries can seem like abstract art in a world that prefers realism - people wonder, what does it mean that millions of children worldwide, 65 million of them girls, are not able to attend school? The failure to educate any child is troubling, but the social cost of not educating girls means higher child labor rates, poorer maternal health, and slower community development are just a few of the effects that can be passed along to the next generation.

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In this New Year, let us move beyond talking about the importance of loving ourselves and put into practice the actions that ensure our mental, physical and spiritual balance. Let's become guardians of our well-being; no one else can give us this nurturance, this root love and support that is so necessary and achievable.

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One of the most important things we must do to move our lives ahead is leave behind hurtful memories. Forgive ourselves for all of our mistakes. Forgive anyone who ever hurt us. Send them love. By doing this we free ourselves.

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The many things that we must do in this decade require unwavering faith and a belief in ourselves that only divine assurance offers. We've got the power! Bring on the decade! (Swami: I thought that, too, once. But the Millennium is over)
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In God is the answer to every question, the solution to every problem, and the order that ultimately gives meaning to all that seems chaotic and confusing. God is always available and will never fail to answer our call. (Swami: I called once. He hung up).

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Regardless of what civil law says, God instituted marriage at creation and only He can define what marriage is and who may enter it. God created the first humans as male and female and told them to reproduce. Marriage was instituted as the relationship in which they may have sexual union. The law is still in effect today. He requires that it be a lifetime commitment between man and woman, not two men or two women! (Swami: Betty. I understand your point but how do you explain God’s role in creating Michael Jackson? Or Sigfried and Roy?)

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Technically one's IQ is a compilation of scores indicating nothing more than the ability to answer the questions posed by an IQ test. A person's IQ may not have any relation to common sense. I know a couple of people who scored higher than I ever have. One cannot pass a driver's test and the other one can discuss quantum physics but has to consider for moments before she can tell a dog from a duck! (Swami: Yes, but I bet he can tell the difference when he goes to collect the eggs from that duck).