December 12th, about the Thirteenth.

I just watched the movie "Thirteen Days" about the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Kennedy's in the White House. Whew.

A statement was made concerning things to come. . . it's the classic argument about how to ward off FEAR. Fear as an explaination, is not being SURE that you can handle what you are facing. And what you are facing is always the unknown. . . It was said, you make the best decisions at the time - and then you slug out the consequences as they come at you. You make the best calls that you can, and everyone will second guess you. That you will have to take your beatings as you go along. Man, did the Kennedys EVER do THAT during this crisis for the country. But it certainly brings to mind what we all go though every day, some days more tense than others for a variety of reasons. So many men are poised to "kick butt" before truly considering all the consequenses that such an action - may or will provoke in the "kickee."

To just follow "protocal" or "rules of engagement" which are usually or wholly based on past judgement is simply not sufficient for the circumstances that come up for each of us, each day. If FEAR is a belief that a person won't be able to handle what comes at you, that it grows out of your unsureness to handle consequenses. . . what we really do as each day unfolds is we react to what happens to us, and/or we initiate actions to move our own evolution along as we are in this learning school.

In the movie, Kennedy says, "There is something Immoral about abandoning your own judgement."

There just is no real reason to FEAR what is coming - as all you can really do is "handle it when it gets here." LOLOLOLOL Sounds so EASY, eh? I used to wait tables in a busy restaurant, and before the horde would "hit us" I was always tense and fearful. . .but once the tables came in, once the people started ordering, things took place like clockwork and I just did my job. Sometimes it went well, sometimes it did not. I guess the best we can do is to just distract ourselves from "worrying" before things that we fear arrive. Those things that complicate or educate us as we live our lives.

I noticed that in the aftermath of the Cuban crisis - there was RELIEF - but there was also a kind of hollow feeling that was not celebratory but more of a quiet thankfulness and respect for all of the parties who were involved, and for how the situation was resolved. Peace was preserved, but it came so very close to not being the outcome, that there was just a powerful respect - that at least for the time being - Good Men Prevailed in the face of real Evil. A very good movie.