Saturday Service November 2020_2

77% Weekly Newsletter

Podcast:

The Saturday Service November 14, 2020

Podcast Notes

Epictetus: “What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things…So when we are thwarted or upset or distressed, let us never blame someone else, but rather ourselves, that is, our judgments.”
00:0001:00– Welcome and Happy Birthday, Alma!
01:0104:10 – 260+ days of COVID and losing our minds Links: SUPPORT: https://oldrotb.wpengine.com/support/ ETSY SHOP: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RabbiBrian
04:1105:04 – deep breaths!
05:0533:00 – quoteth Rabbi Brian: “What upsets people is not things themselves but their judgments about the things…So when we are thwarted or upset or distressed, let us never blame someone else, but rather ourselves, that is, our judgments.” -Epictetus Discussion from the peanut gallery – how can we interpret this quote? Maybe that judgment shouldn’t bother us so much? Spending too much energy on what is bothering you. Reflection on ourselves? Becoming the thing that we’re judging? Robert Schuler quote: “moral indignation is often jealousy with a halo” Examples: Discernment vs Judgment – kids on a basketball court not wearing masks… why are you judging this? Rabbi Brian: take your judgy pants off! Can we be judgmental without being so indignant? Eg: telling the kids that there is a pandemic and they should have their masks on calmly instead of screaming at them Difference between judgment of a person vs judgment of an action (Bob)? Hoping that lessons will be learned via the action done. “Hate the sin, love the sinner”
33:0136:10 – Breakout groups: A Quality of mine I like is… plus ANOTHER quality of mine I like is
36:1140:35 – feedback from the very short breakout: Peanut gallery said the breakout time was adequate. Rabbi Brian: every Friday, gather around the table and say 3 things you like about everyone else around the table. Suggestion for Zoom Thanksgivings.
40:3648:10 – Rabbi Brian: Draw a picture of a spoon. How, you ask? Draw the handle, then draw the bowl. Give it some depth by going along at the bottom. Then, draw in the shading around the bowl and handle. Then, you MIGHT have to title the work of art (if you draw like me). Accompanying quote: “If you dislike someone, the way they hold their spoon will offend you. If you like someone, they could drop a plate of food in your lap and you’d not mind.” Interpretation: How many of you like your drawings? If you didn’t, why were you less kind to yourself about your drawing? SO… BE KIND TO YOURSELF! Peanut gallery discussion
48:1149:30 – Shameless plug: spiritual discussions for friends hosted by Rabbi Brian
49:3155:10 – different question: would you like to share something with our lovely sympathetic group? John suggested the song Hello in There John Prine to reflect on loneliness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnyCJ…
55:1158:00 – Takeaways from today’s session? We are OK! Self-love, be kind to yourself.
58:01 Plug for James’ book and what celebrities can we get in touch with re: his book? Book:
 
PREVIEW of Next week: use of the word cathect?

With Bread

 Love. With Bread. ✧✧✧ I live in a very progressive city. But, not everyone is of one mind. In fact, three houses to the north live Merrilee and Sardar, who, prior to the 2020 election, posted a “Trump—MAGA 2020” sign in their yard. The day Biden was elected, I texted them that a number of my friends and I were

Read More »
5 wisdom biscuits

Five Wisdom Biscuits

tasty, bite-sized, easily digestible bits of insight ✧✧✧1. Humility, Always.✧✧✧ We need to be humble when we are wrong.AndWe need to be humble when we are right. “When I am wrong, makeme willing to change.When I am right, makeme easy to live with.”—John C. Maxwell ✧✧✧2. LOFTY GOALS✧✧✧ A quote by my BFF Larry Keene: “Our standardsare beyond us for

Read More »

Annoyance Bingo

Annoyance Bingo.Lose your patience. Win big. ✧✧✧ Game play begins Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 12:00am PT — First Prize: $100 ✧✧✧ The Origin of Annoyance Bingo. For years, I’ve asked mourners at funerals to track the least compassionate things said in an attempt to comfort them — and send me the best (and worst) examples. The idea: when someone

Read More »
77% Weekly Newsletter
77% Weekly Newsletter