Charlois

Even living, or trying to, I sometimes get off track.  The past couple of weeks is one example.  There has been much happening, what with the book, ‘The Charlois Manifesto,” the non-profit, Fellowship of ALL God’s Children, The For-profit, The Charlois Co., my mental health therapy, and yes even this Blog.  I should have plenty to keep me busy, but I suffer from too much activity.

Sometimes we have to take a step back, evaluate what’s going on, and devise a plan to take it one step at a time.  This is where I’m at right now; evaluating my options and direction.  I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I’m committed to working it out.

That is a characteristic of the Charlois Life.  Stick with it until you get past the difficult phase.  So hang in there and as the Bible says, “And it came to pass.”

Robert A. Charlois III

Over recent weeks I’ve written about the Charlois Principles.  I wrote a piece about each one of the 13.  Now it’s time to expand the discussion.

The 13 Principles are short statements about steps, that if followed, will help people become the best version of themselves, thus leading to an abundant life.

While each principle can be taken in turn, it is not required.  In fact, working on them all concurrently may be a more realistic approach.  The reason for this is that they feed off of each other.

Therefore, while addressing one you are simultaneously approaching the others.  In other words, say you are working on the one about reaching into your spiritual nature; that takes the personal discipline taught in principle 3.

So, I feel it is wise to scan the complete list and fit them together in a way that makes sense to you.

Just some information to consider while reading the Charlois Manifesto.

Mark 11:1-11 The telling of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Although I was not there, I believe it was more low key than the movies make it.  While I don’t doubt there was celebrating; I don’t believe it was the masses.  People had their own agendas for being in town on this Passover week.  Only his closest followers anticipated something victorious.

According to verse 11, it was late when He entered the temple and there wasn’t much going on.  No one had a clue about what would transpire on this holiest week of the year.

Because the church has expanded the view of what was happening, we really don’t realize the magnitude of this week for the Jews of the time.  We have highjacked it for our own purposes, ignoring those who have a different understanding.  I feel that in order to make it truly a Judeo-Christian event, we need to acknowledge that there was more to it than just about Jesus.

This has been a trend in the life of the church.  People of the Christian faith have trampled other people’s expressions of faith, all in the desire to propagate this new faith as the only way to God.  This is a travesty.

The God I believe in, and the one the Charlois Philosophy promotes is an all loving, all encompassing, God of the whole universe.  If we want to exclude other’s just because they don’t believe the same way we do, well then, I think we need to take a long hard look at ourselves.

Meditate on that for a while,

Go in God’s grace.

Pastor Yancy

In 2020, BJ Fogg, PHD. Wrote a book called “Tiny Habits, The Small Changes That Change Everything.”  Written after 25 years of research, with 40,000 people it is a groundbreaking treatise on habit formation.

The body of the work is 8 chapters of instruction in the skill of habit formation.  He postulates that there is a system to changing habits.  Working with the equation of Behavior = Motivation, Ability, Prompt; he says, any habit can be formed quicky and enjoyably.  He proves his point by giving the process, and then sharing examples from his work with others, through the “Tiny Habits Course.”

The book is a straight forward explanation of the steps; one per chapter that, when followed leads to the desired behavior.  He says, beginning with small steps to establish a habit, the expanding it over time, we can build the identity we are striving for.

At 306 pages, this is the best resource I’ve found to elicit change in our personal lives, plus it can carry over into other areas as well.  I encourage you to get a copy.  You can do as I did and check it out for yourself, or just go ahead and buy a copy right away.  Although I was introduced via the library, I’m definitely going to buy my own copy.

Get it, read it, and begin the journey to the life you desire.

With the Charlois Philosophy, the goal is to become the best version of yourself possible so that you can live abundantly.  With that abundance we are free to share our bounty with others, thereby completing the cycle of reciprocity.

In order to be our best selves, we need to focus on continual self-improvement.  That begins with an honest self-assessment, where our strengths and weaknesses are brought to our awareness.  We can’t fix ourselves if we don’t know where we stand.

Once we have the self-assessment completed, we can devise a plan on how to proceed.  It is our belief that we should find a balance between working on our strengths and our weaknesses.  By giving attention to our strengths, we increase our effectiveness in changing things.  Working on our weaknesses, on the other hand reduces the likelihood that we’ll create more problems for ourselves.

Finishing up this process calls for a periodic review of our progress.  By doing this self-evaluation we can be prepared to make corrections along the way, thus increasing our success rate.

It is that simple; Assess, adapt, succeed.  That is the formula for becoming your best self.  Now, begin the process.

Recently I’ve been having some problems; failing to view my successes, not sure of myself, and just an overall malaise.  So, I’ve started troubleshooting the problem.  What I have discovered is this; with all I have going on I’m not seeing progress in any one area.  It’s there, just hidden from sight.  So, the next step is to celebrate the past victories and see how far I’ve come.

Once I get my feet back under me it’ll be time to assess the current status of all my projects.  There will be some, the Non-profit for example, that are currently in the hands of others.  If that is the case, I need to put it on the back burner until it’s returned to my care.

That leaves those items that I’m still directly in charge of; of which there are two.  I need to focus solely on those at the moment and let the rest be cared for by their responsible parties.

If I am to accomplish my goals, I need to stay focused on those items that are currently on my plate.  There is no need to spend valuable energy on things that other people are working on.  I just need to trust that I have the best team to handle my projects.

Once I let the externals go, and start focusing on those items that are still my sole responsibility, I will find I have more creative energy to work on my stuff.  This post is a good example.  I’m currently the only one writing these so it makes sense that I give it my best shot.

These are lessons I wish I had learned a long time ago but I’m just glad I’ve got it now.

Don’t give up.  You will find the answers if you work at it.

“And He was transfigured before them” Mark 9:2b NRSV

What does it mean to be Transfigured?  For this passage, the disciples finally saw Jesus in all of his spiritual glory.  While earlier, when he asked them “who do you say that I am?” they got it right.  It was at that point that they recognized Jesus for who he was.  However, it wasn’t until he took them up the mountain did they get to see with their own eyes.

We too can be transfigured.  When we turn away from the ways of the world and start living a life dedicated to God and our fellow beings, then we become more beautiful, in a spiritual way.

People around us begin to see the difference.  Because we act differently.  It has been said that you can tell who’s child someone is by the way they walk.  This is true of the children of God.  When we embrace the heart and mind of God, we have been changed into something more beautiful, more glorious.

So, if you want to be the best version of the you that you were created to be, then life like the child whose you are.

Friday, February 17th, 2023

On August 28, 1963 a crowd of 250,000 listened to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. give his famous “I have a dream,” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  It was just another example of the prophecy of Joel.  “…I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” Joel 2:28b NRSV.  In the last days; and it shall truly be our last days if we continue on the path we are on.

Every great movement had at its heart a dream or vision that propelled people to action.  We are hoping that the Charlois movement is the same, for we, its founders have within our hearts a dream for a better way. 

We believe that in order for the human species to reach its full potential, and thus the survival of this planet, we call home, to be assured; we are going to start putting ourselves to the side and consider instead, what is best for all.  This is opposite of the way things are in large part today.  It’s a dog eat dog world, where most of us are out to drain all good from others in order to raise ourselves to an elusive pinnacle of success.

We further believe that if we join together, as one body, that there is an abundance available to all.  No more of this chasm between those that have and those that don’t.  With everyone working for the good of all everyone prospers.

That is what Charlois is trying to do.  “Helping Improve Lives, Because We Care.”  It is more than just a motto, but instead it is our battle cry.  By initiating jobs, programs, and causes; we hope to change the way this world operates.

So, stay tuned as we’ll be sharing more of the vision in the weeks ahead.  Until then, keep the faith and hope alive.  God bless.

Robert A. Charlois III

Living a Charlois Life is not without its drawbacks.  One of the biggest of those is our tendency to fret over not getting enough done.  I know I fall into that trap way too often. With our quest to become the best we can be we are constantly trying to improve.  If you’re like me that sets up the question, “when is it enough?”

At a recent therapy session my therapist suggested that I put together a list of accomplishments from this past year.  She went on to suggest I post that list where I would see it every day.  The purpose for this exercise is to have a visual reminder of the progress I’m making.

To take that exercise one step further I’m starting to do a nightly review of all I did during the day, then write a gratitude statement for all I managed.  This forces me to focus on the positives, and to be grateful.  When I do this I’m less likely to berate myself for not doing more.

Try it and see if it helps you.  It won’t hurt, and maybe you’ll be pleased to see your progress.

Robert A. Charlois III

Principal 13) The whole purpose of living these Principles is to gain union with God and Creation in service to the highest good which is the Perfect will of God.

Revelation 21 talks of a new Heaven and a new Earth where God and man will spend eternity together.

“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

     This question which has been asked in various forms since the beginning of time gets to the heart of the the human quest.  Man seems to be hardwired to want to seek a return to the presence of God.  It’s as if we are incomplete if we are not an integral part of the greater cosmos.

     In man’s search for meaning, it boils down to, what can I do to be a part of the greater reality?  We came from God, in the beginning and to God we will return in the end.

    In some faiths, there is the belief that we are recreated or born anew over and over until we evolve to a state where that return is possible.

     In other traditions we are given this one life and then the judgement, where it will be determined whether we have met the criteria for eternity with God, or, eternity separated from Him.

     We believe that God, given His perfect love nature, would give us every opportunity to meet whatever the criteria are.  Thus, yes, we believe in some form we are given multiple chances to learn the lessons necessary to make the transition from mortal beings to that which we desire, immortality.

     These principles are a way, one of many, that serves to aid us in that journey.  When we follow the teachings in this manifesto, we believe we are being equipped to make that transition.

“A Heart That Couldn’t Sleep Last Night.”

A heart that couldn’t sleep last night, for souls that anguish far below, and baptistries unused above; Would speak of things more tragic still, of hearts become as cold as stone;

When in the rush of daily things, of jobs and coin of mortal fare, why can we not more clearly see, what dangers lurk beyond the pale, and press t’ward legacies beyond, where moth and rust cannot prevail;

And on the final day we dwell, shall truth the final ledger tell, we might have done a better job, to run a race where none prevail, but in the last analysis it won’t much matter where we fit, as long as we have steered our course to let our Savior settle it.

Pastor Gordon Jones, August 10^th, 2021