* I believe in peace, good health,animal welfare- treating animals fairly & well, creating a sustainable environmentally friendly future and many other things.
** Today I would like to talk about how I believe it is important to be stand for what you believe in; in a peaceful way. The are many examples of people like Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa ,Mahatma Gandhi, Desmond Tu Tu. Nelson Mandela, The Dali Lama, Dr Zakir Naik, and Deepak Chopra all of whom you can learn about on www.google.com or www.youtube.com or your favorite library. They have done far greater things than I have.
I learned about this principle from my Grand father on my mom's side and my namesake.3 out of 4 lol, John Thomas Carruthers Sr. I think it might be helpful if I tell you a bit about his varied background that made him such a great teacher and example for me.He was born on August 21, 1907 in Ashburn, Virginia. He grew up in North Fork, Virginia near Purcellville. He served as a Marine in China for four years and then worked at the Navel Research Laboratories on Sonar and moving on to be in charge of the Technical Glass Blowing Department From there he went onto teach at the University of Maryland in the Chemistry Department for 22 years.During his teaching years he also taught at Gallaudet College for the deaf and at the local prisons so the prisoners would have a skill to use to earn an honest living when they got their second chance at life upon their release.He retired in 1969 and stayed in his home in Chevy Chase ( Somerset) Maryland until 1981 when he moved to Middletown, Maryland where he lived until his death in 1996. In my mind he never retired, and he is also with me everyday. I hope someday I am 1/2 the man he was.
*** Now let me tell you why. I never remember him sitting still, he was always on the move and most of the time doing something for others. Whether it be at home "In The Garden" which was also a song he wanted sung at his funeral or taking food or clothing somewhere for those in need. Twice a week he would get his old station wagons and take them to the local grocery store and filled them with everything that was dated that day and distribute it as best he could to those in need. As we rode along in the care he would tell me stories about some of the people he admired, many of whom are on the list above.He wrote a wonderful Book called observations that he had printed 15+ times and distributed himself. He took no financial profit from this, he only wanted to share what he found helpful. I hope someday this book will be available to download online.I have a cousin who may take on this project, if not I will.Grandad and I would drop the books off at numerous locations in Maryland and Virginia. He created homes for those in need around Washington D.C. and Fredrick Maryland. A man who himself never graduated College managed to stay married to the same woman Rachel Nourse Brown and raise 5 children who went on to have 14 grandchildren and 15 great grand children keep with 3 more on the way. He also had. Eight houses to leave to his family, but his good works were so much more important. The wonderful things he did could fill many more books.
He stood for many things and peacefully went about his life standing up for them through his actions, and his words of wisdom. I will share some related stories of my life, some equine related some not in future post. I have not done such grand things yet but have I have at times stood my ground in different ways for what I believe to be right and only hope I do a better job in the future.
I hope this has helped you in some small way.
Sincerely,
John
P.S. I must admit my favorite quote was his! "I expect to pass through this life but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
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